The SOPs Are Out For Thaipusam In MCO And CMCO Areas

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Thaipusam is just a day away and the government has issued the SOPs for the Movement Control Order (MCO) areas and also the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) areas.

Unlike previous years, the ceremony for 2021 will be limited with no public participation to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The information is taken from the National Security Council (NSC) who issued the SOPs on 25 January.
MCO SOP
Prayer ceremonies and other religious activities at temples are not allowed.
All activities are allowed except:
▪ Unauthorized Activities▪ Silver Carriage Parade▪ Carrying a “Kavadi”▪ Shaving hair▪ Bathing ritual in the Temple▪ Accompaniment / band▪ Physical contact such as shaking hands
Credit: MKN
Thaipusam pre-celebration sales
Sales / business activities are not allowedOnline sales activities are encouraged.
Credit: MKN
CMCO SOP
Prayer ceremonies and other religious activities at temples are not allowed.
All activities are allowed except:
▪ Unauthorized activities▪ Silver Carriage Parade▪ Carrying a “Kavadi”▪ Hair shaving▪ Bathing ritual in the Temple▪ Accompaniment / band▪ Physical activities such as shaking hands
Credit: MKN
Thaipusam Pre-Celebration sales or business activities are not allowed but online sales are encouraged.
Credit: MKN

It’s reported that for the first time, the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Batu Caves Temple Silver chariot parade will only involve 10 participants and is not open to the public following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In previous years, this procession is usually participated by hundreds of thousands of devotees and takes around 16 hours to complete, but for this year, it’s cut down to only three hours without stopping at any location.
The 10 people who participated in the 7.3 meter high car parade consisted of drivers, cable wire guards, wagon light guards, temple monks and 5 temple committee members.
Thaipusam as a public holiday
After the recent Thaipusam fiasco in Kedah regarding cancelation of the holiday, the state’s Chief Minister Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor mentioned that the decision is up to the specific state to decide as it’s not gazetted as a Federal Public Holiday.
Credit: Prime Minister’s Office
We searched the net to find out whether the statement is true and it turns out, it is.
Thaipusam holidays are given out based on the state and only the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and states such as Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Penang and Selangor recognise it as a public holiday.
Credit: Prime Minister’s Office

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Spas, Wellness Centres, & Massage Centres May Open In October

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The government announced that you can once again treat yourself at a spa wellness centre, and massage centres starting 1 October.

Of course, the staff and customers must all be fully vaccinated, not Covid-19 positive, have not been in close contact with someone with Covid-19, and do not show any symptoms.
The announcement was made via the 24 September update to the Phase 2 National Recovery Plan update.
It says that patrons may visit the facility through an appointment only. Walk-in customers are not allowed.
Although it is not written explicitly, we assume that the condition is in place so that the customers could test for Covid-19 and the business owners could prepare the necessary equipment.
The equipment needed includes disposable gloves, face covering, and face shield, which must be worn during the treatment or activity.
The SOP stipulates that the gloves, bedsheet, mattress, chair, and other equipment used in the process, including face shields, must be replaced or washed for each customer to prevent cross-contamination.
The owner of the premises must also ensure that the ventilation systems are maintained regularly.
These premises will be monitored by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
States currently in Phase 2 of the NRP are: Kelantan, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Melaka, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Johor.

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Police Arrest Man Who Lit Fireworks At MRR2 Highway

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Police arrested a 35-year-old man on 15 April for lighting fireworks on the road along the MRR2 highway.

The suspect, who works as a lorry driver, allegedly lit up the fireworks called Cake (138) due to a customer’s request at his friend’s premises.
Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Mohamad Farouk Bin Eshak said the suspect does not have any prior criminal records and tested negative for illegal substances.
The suspect will be remanded for four days until 19 April. The case is being investigated under Section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act 1957 and Section 3(5) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for playing with and lighting up fireworks and firecrackers.
Upon conviction, Section 6 carries a seven-year jail term or an RM10,000 fine or both. Meanwhile, Section 3(5) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 carries an imprisonment term of not more than a month or an RM100 fine or both.
Image: TRP File
Previously, a viral video showed a man lighting fireworks on a busy road on the MRR2 highway.
The man’s irresponsible act was criticised by netizens who believed that he exposed many road users to danger and could have caused a road accident.
READ MORE: [Watch] Man Lights Box Of Fireworks On Busy Highway

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New Low-Cost MYAirline Is Ready To Fly This December

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After getting approval from the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) & Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM), MyAirline is now ready to sell air tickets.

READ MORE: MYAirline Gets Approval To Sell Tickets And Undertake Commercial Flights
They have recently revealed on their social media the first few places that they’ll be flying to. Through their not-so-subtle hints, they’ll be operating flights to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi.

This new airline will be selling its tickets starting sometime this month, so you better keep your eyes peeled for announcements on their social media.
Founded only this year, MYAirline is a new low-cost carrier (LCC) that aims to provide better service and lower-priced tickets compared to its competitors in Malaysia. Will it serve up to its promises? We’ll soon find out.
READ MORE: New Low-Cost Carrier ‘MYAirline’ Promises Cheaper Tickets And Better Service
For more info, visit MYAirline’s Website, Facebook and Instagram.

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Ebit Lew Can Now Re-Enter Semporna

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The Sabah Park Authorities have allowed Ustaz Ebit Lew and his entourage to enter the Tun Sakaran Marine Park area after receiving the green light from the National Security Council (MKN).

The government organisation posted a response on Facebook following the complaint and statement uploaded by Lew a few days ago.
They said that special permission is required to enter any area of the park which is currently closed to the public during the period of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
In the statement, the organisation mentioned that they were not given the prior notice for special the permission to enter the area.
As said on Sabah Parks’ official social media page on 12 January 2021, the entire Sabah Parks area was temporarily closed to the public starting 13 January 2021 in accordance with the direction of the Movement Control Order.Sabah Parks via Facebook
After giving the permission, the organisation said that Ebit Lew’s entourage will still be subject to the SOPs of Movement Control Order.
Touching on the construction of building structures such as community centres in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park area, they said it’s subject to the procedures and guidelines related to the interests of the community of heirs in these islands as contained in Surat Pewartaan Taman Marin Tun Sakaran.
Previously, after a controversial conversion ceremony during a charity drive, Lew said he was barred from entering Sempoerna but did not divulge who barred him though police said the directive did not come from them.
READ MORE: “Face RM100K Fine Or Jail” Ustaz Ebit Lew Says He’s Not Allowed Into Semporna To Give Aid Anymore

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Biggest Jalur Gemilang Collage of 21,000 pictures sets new M’sian record

Over the weekend (August 17), 123 volunteers came together in Pulau Pangkor and put together 21,000 pictures on a Jalur Gemilang by the beach.

(Pic Credit: Bernama)

A Jalur Gemilang measuring 27.3 metres by 12.2 metres was used for the photos to be placed on. (27 metres is like the length of 2 buses put together).
Photos used were of memories of the volunteers with the Jalur Gemilang during various events held by the Malaysian Muslim Welfare Fund Foundation (YDKMM).

via GIPHY
Programme Director, Izzatul Athirah An-Nur Mohd Hizul Azri, explains that it took them 3 months to collect the pictures from members all over the world.
There are pictures of members with the Jalur Gemilang at events as far as Central Africa, Egypt, and Japan.

via GIPHY
The YDKMM volunteers actually had beaten an old record which used a Jalur Gemilang measuring only 22 metres wide and 10 metres long.

 (Pic Credit: Bernama)

Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR)’s research officer who witnessed and verified the patriotic endeavour presented the volunteers a certificate for their achievement.
Jalur Gemilang Malaysiaflag GIF from Jalurgemilang GIFs

The Jalur Gemilang came a long way to where it is today, read our article on how it first came about here.
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Johor’s Forest City Ranked World’s 2nd Most Useless Mega Project By Youtube Channel

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A Youtube channel Top Luxury ranked Forest City in Johor the second most useless megaproject in the world.

Forest City over in Iskandar Malaysia was built as a green futuristic smart residential city on four artificial islands and built around an artificial forest ecosystem.
It’s mainly built to attract Chinese nationals to make Malaysia their second home. According to Top Luxury, the road signs are in Mandarin and there are also a few schools there offering Mandarin courses.
Forest City’s proximity to Singapore is also supposed to make it appealing for investors. In fact, there’s a second link bridge going into Singapore from Forest City, cutting the distance between the two cities to just a 20-minute journey.

Out of the four islands, only one is near completion and it seems unlikely that the project is progressing well due to political interference.
Since Forest City was mainly funded by China and built to attract Chinese nationals, it was seen by some as a new form of colonialism in Malaysia. Thus, Mahathir Mohamad banned foreigners from owning properties in Forest City when he returned as prime minister.
The megaproject is now further delayed due to the current pandemic and travel bans. Even the sale of properties in Forest City has stopped due to the pandemic.
As of 2020, only less than 500 people are living there out of the 700,000 people that are supposed to occupy the city.
The video by Top Luxury drew mixed responses from Malaysians.
A netizen agreed with all the points made but also pointed out that the project was supposed to bring jobs and new housing for locals too. Instead, it was made out to be as if the whole land was sold to a foreign country.

Another person confirmed that the city is empty and dead except for the abundant mosquitoes.

The next person wrote that he lives nearby the ‘green’ city and the buildings with overgrown plants on the balconies now resemble a post-apocalypse city.

Another Malaysian agrees with Mahathir’s decision but also noted that Malaysia should stop building useless mega projects in the future.

Despite the negative views, a few people got defensive about the megaproject.

A netizen who lived in Forest City said it’s one of the safest, cleanest and most serene places she has ever been in.

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Batu Caves Monkeys Viral After Terrorising American Internet Personality (Video)

Every Malaysian knows that you should NEVER EVER MESS WITH MONKEYS.
ESPECIALLY the crazy ones that call Batu Caves their home.
But, kesian all the tourists lah. They go to Batu Caves, hoping for some culture and cool Instagram pictures.
Batu Caves(Credit: Star Travel)
Then, all they see is a cute, furry little creature and think that itâ€™s perfectly fine to go up to these little terrorists and play/pet/feed them.
Well, they always learn the hard way that NO, you NEVER feed the monkeys and you should run far far FAAAAR away.
Just like this American internet personality who thought it was a wise idea to go up to a thieving monkey in Batu Caves.
Kelvin PeÃ±a, aka Brother Nature, uploaded a 42-second video on Twitter of him screaming in fear as a Batu Caves macaque monkey hissed and lunged at him.
The Monkeys out in Malaysia are savages 😂 pic.twitter.com/CZeKiyp3sQâ€” Brother Nature (@BrotherNature) July 30, 2019

The American, who went viral for befriending deers, walked up to a monkey who had apparently stolen a drink bottle from a vendor and tried to tell it off.
Look at these thieving monkeys. Thereâ€™s no reason why you stole this from the merchant! Imma take it back.@Brother Nature via Twitter
Clearly, the monkey did not appreciate the reprimand and lunged at Kelvin, hissing viciously.
Never confront the monkeys at Batu Caves if you value your safety.(Credit: @BrotherNature/Twitter)
Just like any other mere mortal who come face to face with the monkeys, Kelvin let out a blood-curdling scream and backed off quickly.
Chill, chill, chill bro!Itâ€™s yours, you got it. Iâ€™m not trying to do the right thing!Why are you coming after ME?? Iâ€™m just trying to help! @Brother Nature via Twitter
The monkeys can and will attack. (Credit: @BrotherNature/Twitter)
The video quickly caught the attention of Malaysians and non-Malaysians on Twitter, with 26.5K retweets and 92.3K likes at the time of writing.
Seriously man. These Batu Caves monkeys are brutal.They are always ready to fight. https://t.co/6t5UJeTJYiâ€” Sheikh Ya Boo Tea 🍵 #Undi18 (@TharmaPillai) July 31, 2019

brother nature in batu caves: ahaha these monkeys are WILD lmaoo they hissing at ppl and shitmalaysians, who were taught since young that the monkeys at batu caves are fucking thieving gremlins who will DEFINITELY give you rabies: pic.twitter.com/S1LoLJQL0Uâ€” x23 (@poisonandnectar) July 30, 2019

Batu caves monkeys are WILD AF! I got jumped by one before and it stole my stuff😔 I didnâ€™t try fighting back bc it was 3 against 1 yâ€™all https://t.co/JCsLK0ttSMâ€” crying! @ the disco (@valriejoanne) July 31, 2019

I feel him, when I was in Malaysia those monkeys are quick to snatch anything from your hands😂 pic.twitter.com/YGo53uIxxbâ€” China🦋 (@mariaaa_ox_) July 31, 2019

Those Batu cave monkeys donâ€™t play. Onetime I was there, one of them straight up stole a piece of bread from a baby monkey and slapped the baby monkey as he ran up out of there #BatuCaves 🐒 https://t.co/MOisN2zQpRâ€” Previn Naidu 🇺🇸🇸🇬 (@PrevDiesel) July 31, 2019

Despite the hilarity, there are some safety precautions you should take when interacting with a monkey:
Keep food out of sight.If a monkey approaches you, remain calm and quiet.Do not make sudden movements.Do not maintain direct eye contact.Do not try to hit the monkey.Back away slowly. Do not turn away from monkeys and run.Hide or throw away an object that is attracting monkeys.If you are with a child, put him/her on your shoulders.
In addition, we also think this tweet deserves an honourable mention:
Maybe if Brother Nature spoke in Tamil the monkey at Batu Caves would’ve been cool with him🤷🏾♀â€” Annemarie Rayan (@nmarielionn) July 31, 2019

Hopefully, this will be a lesson to anyone who thinks itâ€™s safe to approach these deceptively cute creatures.
Monkey Pointing GIF from Monkey GIFs

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Lumi News App: An AI-Powered News Aggregator [Review]

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There are numerous news websites available, but considering the limited time you have each day to read them, it becomes inefficient to visit multiple sites for updates on local and global events. Imagine having an app that gathers all the news topics you’re interested in and presents them in one convenient location. This would save you time and effort by providing a centralised source for your news consumption.

Meet Lumi News. This is a news aggregator app that features breaking news from Malaysia and the rest of the world. It’s available in English, BM, and Chinese and can be downloaded and sign up for absolutely no cost.
What’s good about Lumi?
The app offers a personalised news feed, so I can choose my what languages that I want, my favourite news sites and topics, including politics, tech, sports, food, animals, and more when I first started using the app.

(credit: TechTRP)
(credit: TechTRP)

After that, based on the topics I have selected, it will automatically follow related news sites. You can also unfollow those news sites if you want. It even gives you the option to follow news sites that are in Bahasa and Chinese.

(credit: TechTRP)
(credit: TechTRP)

I can also customise notification settings and decide the amount of breaking news alerts I want to receive on my phone.
There’s no limit to how many articles and videos you can go through per day. It has a simple and modern UI design, which is easy to navigate and understand. Lumi also has a killer feature called AI News Brief powered by ChatGPT and ChatSonic.

(credit: TechTRP)
(credit: TechTRP)

This feature is available every Friday in English, Bahasa Melayu, and Chinese. Lumi claims it presents impartial and succinct summaries of the week’s most important news in a single paragraph. It also includes relevant articles and video links from multiple publishers.
Besides that,  the app also offers a 1-minute AI summary video. If I don’t have the time to read, I can just listen to the narrated videos that cover important headlines. I can also save any articles for reading later and share it to the social media platforms.
There are no advertisements in the apps, but you will see ads on the news sites. However, by turning on “Reader Mode” in the Display settings, the ads will be gone. Take note that the Reader Mode only works for selected news sites.

(credit: TechTRP)
(credit: TechTRP)

For accessibility, you can turn on “Dark mode”, which is great for OLED displays and night reading. Also, there’s a “Wide view” option that will enlarge the fonts and thumbnails for easier reading.
What are the limitations?
The app cannot collect news from gated or walled news outlets such as Bloomberg, Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insight, The Wall Street Journal and etc since it connects directly to the source.
Furthermore, the app is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate. Considering most modern smartphones nowadays have a 120Hz display, it would be nice if Lumi offered that as well. It would make scrolling and browsing the app a much more enjoyable experience.
Is it worth downloading Lumi News?
I would say yes. It’s free, easy-to-use, and it offers a convenient way to stay up-to-date with news without having to go to different news sites manually. The only thing I wish they can do is implementing a 120Hz refresh rate.
If you are interested, the Lumi News app can be download from App Store, Google Play Store, and App Gallery.

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Selangor Woman Gets Harassed By Shady Man At MRT Station Kajang Line

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Public transportation is meant to get a person from one place to another, cheaply and safely (not really…). Imagine if you’re harassed on a train full of people (not an okay situation to happen btw), at least you have eye-witnesses and people there to help you.

But what if you get off the train in an empty station early morning or at night? The environment enough is creepy, coupled with the fact that a shady person is watching you? Double the paranoia.
The Sungai Jernih MRT station’s entrance.(Credit: klia2.info)
As sadly as it is, this was the case for a young woman named Nad (@naddiiiee) in Sungai Jernih yesterday.
Her traumatic ordeal at the MRT Sungai Buloh/Kajang line began when she alighted at the MRT Sungai Jernih station at 7.40 am on 1 July.
As she was at the station, a man approached her and handed her his phone. He ordered her to search her Facebook account for him to probably ‘friend’ her.
She refused as politely as she could as she wasn’t comfortable with a stranger knowing her social media. The guy insisted on her giving her details and said it’s no big deal for a guy to ask for this.
“There’s nothing wrong about it,” said the guy, while persistently pressuring her for her Facebook account and dragging her hand to the side of the station.
(Credit: Freepik)
She told him that she was married, and he cynically replied, “Even if you’re married, there’s nothing wrong with us trying to get to know each other”.
Petrified at the moment, Nad was afraid to move or make a run because she was alone at the moment.
Suddenly, the man gripped her wrists by force, still demanding her Facebook account.
“I was scared to death”Nad, when the guy suddenly gripped her wrists with strength.
Then bravely, she threatened to scream if he didn’t let her go. He immediately let her go and headed for the escalator.
But it didn’t stop there
As Nad was walking away after the brief but terrifying incident, she noticed that the man was still following her, judging by the glass reflection at the station.
She quickly reached for her phone and called her boyfriend. Noticing her calling for help, the guy backtracked and used the lift to get down from the station.
Traumatised by the live incident, she broke down near the escalator, too afraid to go down, terrified that the man might be there, waiting.
She got away safely after ensuring no sight of the creepy man.
Netizens sympathize with her and shared some of their experiences as well
Me kena kt lrt dato keramat .. cross the bridge yg hala ke jln aman tu … Memula nmpk ade 1 mamat bangla ni jln bw beg mcm nk g kje..dh smpai kt sebrang tgk kanan.. dia bersandar kat rail tu sambil lancap anu nye .. mmg pusing lari selaju mungkin g lrt smula.. mgigil jap— mya husin (@myahusin) July 2, 2022
Even kita dalam kereta pun tak selamat. Girls always remember to lock your car bila partner keluar kejap. Mine pukul 6:30am lelaki like foreigner ketuk ketuk tingkap and tunjuk keys dia. I dah bagi sign no and refuse to knock 3x till dia take picture kereta.— syaz (@syazandriana) July 2, 2022
Never ended issues for ladies😮💨 Back then in 2010 housemate kena tahan kt roadblock sbb cermin kereta tinted. Bila traffic officer kta kena saman she said to him “Tuan, sy ni perempuan yg kerja shift blik drive tgh mlm sorg2. klu jdi apa2 kt sy, sy salahkan tuan”.— D (@HabibMaam) July 2, 2022
Better safe than sorry
Nad reminded ladies out there to be careful wherever they are, especially on public transportation, while travelling alone.
Even though you’re accustomed to travelling alone, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Here are some safety tips if you have to travel alone in a shady place:
Bring a pepper sprayDon’t wear headphones or earphonesCarry your keys (sharp enough to self-defend) or whistle in your handCall or at least pretend to talk to someone and tell them your location clearly
For more details on her tweet, read here.

untuk perempuan yang selalu naik public transport, please be safe ❤i was okay going anywhere alone all this time but today, 7.40am @ MRT sungai jernih, there's one guy approached me. dia hulur phone dia dekat i, and mintak i search nama Facebook i. I refused politely-— nad (@naddiiiee) July 1, 2022

TRP has reached out to @naddiiiee for further details on her harrowing ordeal.
READ MORE: E-hailing Driver Allegedly Threatens To Rape Passenger, Makes Lewd Comment And Drives Dangerously
READ MORE: Gym Trainer Rehired After Allegedly Sexually Harassing A Client, Full Investigation Underway
READ MORE: Trolley “Helper” Stalks KL Woman To Her Car, Mall Management Gaslights And Laughs At Her Instead
READ MORE: [Watch] PJ Woman Gets Groped And Cornered In Lift By Creepy Man

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Missed Out On Blackpink Tickets? KyoChon Contest May Just Be Your Last Chance!

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Are you a Blink who loves fried chicken? Well, then you wouldn’t wanna miss this.

Kyochon 1991 is organizing a contest for the public to win 10 tickets to Blackpink: Born Pink World Tour concert this 4 March at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
All you have to do is follow the steps below.
Register and become a KyoChingu member at this link here. Spend a minimum of RM30 in a single receipt at any KyoChon 1991 Malaysian stores through dine-in, in-store takeaway or web orders.Submit your entry through the Google Form here. Follow KyoChon 1991 on Instagram & Facebook.Stay tuned to KyoChon 1991’s social media to know if you’re one of the 10 lucky winners.
Did we tell you that the CAT 2 (category 2) tickets are worth RM988 each? They’re not mere seats, that’s for sure!
The contest starts from 20 February to 28 February so go get them fried chickens! For more info, visit here.

Besides that, they also have a limited-time offer combo to welcome Blackpink to Malaysia. For only RM30, the Blink Combo offers these items:
2 x drumsticks (Soy / Red / Shinhwa / Mixed)1 x Kimchi Fried Rice1 x Drink1 x Free Seaweed Soup (valid for dine-in only)
The Blink Combo will be available at all KyoChon 1991 stores across Malaysia except the Damansara Perdana & Setapak Platinum Walk outlets from 20 February 2023 to 5 March 2023 for dine-in, in-store takeaway or web-ordering only.
READ MORE: 2023 Sees Concert Scene In Malaysia Alive And Kicking, Check Out What’s In Store February Till May

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Perhilitan Tells You How To Avoid Snakes That Might Be Lurking About This Rainy Season

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Malaysia is a biodiversity hotspot home to many unique and amazing creatures that many may encounter on a daily basis, in our very own neighbourhoods.

(Vice)
But for most here in the Klang Valley surrounded by our towers of steel, brick and concrete, coming face-to-face with a wild animal might be a daunting and unfamiliar experience, especially if the said animal has a tendency to slither about when we’re not looking.
READ MORE: Snakes Seen Slithering In The Streets Of KL As City Laid Submerged
With the monsoon season expected to bring torrential downpours and flash floods across the country till March 2021, Malaysia’s Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) issued some quick guidelines on how you can best avoid and prepare your homes and businesses for any unexpected cold-blooded guests;
READ MORE: Malaysia’s Wet & Stormy Weather Predicted To Last Till Early 2021
Step 1 – Ensure that your homes and surroundings are clear of rubbish piles and debris.
Step 2 – Do a bit of gardening and trim away any tall grass or bushes as these are ideal places for snakes to hide and conceal themselves.
Step 3 – Close off any holes or exposed crevices around the interior and exterior of your homes and businesses to keep snakes out.
Step 4 – Properly dispose of food wastes to avoid attracting rodents and other pests that snakes like to snack on.
Step 5 – Inspect each and every space in your residences like the toilets, storerooms, bedrooms and others before you use em’
Step 6 – Inspect cold, dark places around your homes like shoe cabinets or any piles of junk and items that snakes may use as burrows.
[TIPS MENCEGAH KEHADIRAN ULAR DI KAWASAN KEDIAMAN DAN PREMIS]Kehadiran ular sering berlaku di kawasan kediaman atau premis terutama kawasan premis yang mempunyai ruang tersorok, sejuk dan gelap seperti rak kasut, kabinet atau mempunyai longgokan barangan yang tidak digunakan. pic.twitter.com/fT47WftyNF— Jabatan PERHILITAN (@PERHILITAN) November 20, 2020
But what happens if a snake does get into my home?
Wildlife experts note that snakes would come out of their natural habitats during the rainy season to look for new shelter and hunting grounds. Here are the steps to follow if a snake manages to slitter its way into your living spaces;
Step 1 – Don’t panic and confirm that there is in fact a snake in your house and where exactly it’s hiding.
Step 2 – Do not approach, provoke or make any sudden and quick movements when faced with the animal, as snakes have a higher tendency to attack when they feel threatened.
Step 3 – Try to identify what type of snake it is.
The Malaysia Biodiversity Information System or MyBIS has an excellent catalogue of venomous and nonvenomous snakes native to our country which you can check out HERE, or you can also download a copy of Malaysia’s very own guidebook on snakes and snakebites provided by the Health Ministry (MOH)
(myBIS/MOH)
If you cannot identify the snake, it’s best to assume that it is dangerous and to be kept away from.
Step 5 – Call the emergency 999 hotline and request for assistance from emergency services such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).

Step 6 – Keep a safe distance away from the snake and try to keep it within your sight to avoid it hiding somewhere else and make it harder for emergency services to locate and retrieve the animal.
(MOH)

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Source:
Snake Bite Cases on the Rise
nakes Seen Slithering In The Streets Of KL As City Laid Submerged
Malaysia’s Wet & Stormy Weather Predicted To Last Till Early 2021
https://www.mybis.gov.my/pb/1548


Police Looking For Port Dickson Murder Witnesses

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Police are tracking two individuals who are the main witnesses in a murder case.

A 38-year-old man was found dead at a food court in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan on 1 March.
Port Dickson District Deputy Chief of Police, Deputy Superintendent Muhamad Mustafah Hussin, said the two individuals are a man named Sin Poo Kiong, 40, and a woman, Leong Kar Yan, 34.
Their last known addresses are in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Masai, Johor and Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru, respecttively.
So far the motive of the incident is still under investigation and we are tracking these two main witnesses. We believe they can help complete the investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.Deputy Superintendent Muhamad Mustafah Hussin commenting on the case.

The victim is believed to have been stabbed with a sharp object in an incident in front of Medan Selera Lukut in Jalan Besar at 7.35 pm.
Immediately after receiving the information, police rushed to the scene and found him lying in the parking lot, unconscious and covered in blood.
Meanwhile, the police also requested the public’s cooperation if they have any information regarding the incident.
They are to immediately contact the Port Dickson District Police Headquarters at 06-6472222.
In addition, they can contact the investigating officer, Assistant Superintendent Muhammad Azril Ahmad Rapiee at 012-7791224.

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Young Man Asks Malaysians For Forgiveness: He Lost A Bet To Go Naked

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There is a Malay proverb – kerana mulut badan binasa – meaning we have to be careful about what we’re saying.

A haughty young chap, believed to be a Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) fan, is supposed to go naked from Kuala Lumpur to Johor.
He boasted that he would perform the full monty if Kuala Lumpur City FC can beat JDT in the recently concluded Malaysia Cup final at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Kuala Lumpur City FC won the game 2-0 and KL folks were rewarded with a ‘dear’ holiday.
READ MORE: Unplanned Public Holiday On 3 December Unnecessary, Can Cause RM400 Million In Losses
He made the wager in a 33-second video on TikTok under the username @tintedoffer just before the game.
  @shahapexapex #tintedoffer2 #viral #viralvideo #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #TheSprayMission #fypp #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fyptiktok  mari kita tengok sapa yg kena #sembangkari ♬ original sound  – MOHD MASLIN MASOR
After the goals went in, netizens asked if he would honour his words.
Instead of staying true to his wager, he got cold feet and begged the public for mercy and forgiveness, but not before initial defiance.
When God Harden A Sinner’s Heart
Following JDT’s defeat, netizens asked the man to fulfill his promise by flooding the comments section on his Tiktok account.
The man, however, did not entertain netizens’ requests.
Instead, he responded by saying that those who condemn him are committing a sin.
  @tintedoffer mana2 yg kecam aku tu berdosa tau. ♬ original sound  – Tinted Offer
Needless to say, the public was not amused, and pressure mounted on the man to deliver on his words.
Never Too Late To Repent
The public apology was made through video sharing on his TikTok account on Friday (3 December).
In the 49-second video, he promised not to repeat his actions and hoped that his apology would be accepted.
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahiwabarakatuh. I humbly apologize to all Malaysians for my viral video recently. I promise not to repeat it again and I vow to give free tinting (installation of tinted mirrors) to this surau. I hope Malaysians can forgive me.The young man asking for forgiveness from the public.
He did not say which surau, and merely showed the interior where he recorded the video of his apology.
  @tintedoffer2 sya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat malaysia… ♬ original sound  – tintedoffer2
At the time of writing, the apology video was viewed more than 1.1 million times.
To Forgive Is Divine
Most netizens forgive the man and hope he doesn’t repeat his mistake.
Some feel that the man would have maintained his attitude of superiority and contempt for others if JDT won the game.
Others suggested that if he does the full monty, he could use some tinting, ostensibly to protect his modesty and stop him from getting arrested.
Netizens giving their two cents. (Source: TikTok)
PAS Leader Weighs In
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad advised the man to forget about his wager altogether.
Idris, who is also PAS vice-president, was speaking to reporters at a press conference.
According to him, such a weird promise does not need to be implemented because it is not beneficial.
He said it also violates the teachings of Islam which sets the limits of aurat (the intimate parts of the human body which must, according to Islam, be covered by clothing).
It is not appropriate to do so, sure it is in the spirit of sportsmanship in supporting one’s team, but in terms of syarak (law based on the teachings of Islam), he does not have to implement it even if promised.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad on the naked wager.

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How to protect your pets from the worsening haze

With the sad news that this haze will be staying with us like a clingy ex, we should turn our attention to the ones in our lives that do matter: our pets.
Cats Funny Animals GIF from Cats GIFs

Our lovely pet cats, dogs, rabbits, or other fuzzy critters breathe the same air you do, and unfortunately they are even more susceptible to the haze due to their smaller size.
Here’s what you gotta do to protect your furkids:

Keep pets indoors as much as possible
Use an air filter or air conditioner near them
Limit outdoor time as much as possible
If the pet is outdoors and unable to be kept indoors, try spraying water in a fine mist around the pet’s roaming areas
Keep the fan running for them even when you’re away
Provide fresh water every day, with ice cubes to cool them down
Do not smoke or vape near them
Keep (PET-SPECIFIC!) eye drops on hand to relieve itchy eyes
Check them every day for signs of illness or discomfort, especially near the eyes and nose

Bunny Rabbit GIF from Bunny GIFs

All pets are at heightened risk of respiratory issues and general discomfort. If your pet has pre-existing health issues, keep an even closer eye on them.
Look out for:

Difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Unusual coughing, sneezing
Vomiting, loss of appetite
Swelling, irritated, red eyes
Open-mouthed breathing (especially for cats!)
Weakness/lethargy
Unable to stand

Sick Kitten Puking GIF from Puke GIFs

If they’re exhibiting any of the above or otherwise seem unwell, bring them to a vet- especially if they’re rather old!
Pets tend to hide their discomfort pretty well, so you may easily mistaken their discomfort for being lazy.
Stay safe and keep your furkids safer!


Couple Accused Of Slandering “Drunk” Lorry Driver Asks For Forgiveness From Victim’s Family

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On 3 January 2022, a lorry driver named Ahmad Sukri who was mistakenly believed to be inebriated rammed into cars along the road.

The incident was recorded in a video that quickly went viral. Sadly, the lorry driver was pronounced dead at the hospital due to a heart attack.
READ MORE: “Drunk” Lorry Driver Crashes Into Cars In Sungai Buloh, Turns Out It Was A Heart Attack
Although a lot of people posted the same video, netizens blamed a husband and wife pair for recording the video and making false accusations instead of helping the lorry driver.
The couple decided to explain and clear things up in a TikTok video.
  @mubarakkhan1535 tolong tonton video sampai habis Dan meminta maaf sekali lagi ♬ bunyi asal  – mubarakkhan1535
The husband explained that he first received the video through a Whatsapp group and decided to upload the video on his social media account.
He added that the damaged cars shown in the video are not his and that the voice of the woman in the video isn’t his wife’s voice.
His wife also asked for forgiveness from Ahmad Sukri’s family. The couple has made a police report to help clear up matters too.
Some netizens are forgiving and praised the couple for clearing up the issue. They also advised the couple not to share anything that they can’t verify themselves.

“My brother could have been saved”
Mohd Azmi, Ahmad Sukri’s brother, expressed his disappointment because he believes his brother could have been saved if only the people there that day didn’t make hasty judgements.
Based on a report by Harian Metro, Mohd Azmi was told by his sister that there were a few individuals who wanted to help his brother at first.
However, they didn’t offer help after listening to the false accusations saying that the lorry driver was drunk.
Mohd Azmi added that he read that some netizens said his brother should have stopped by the roadside during the onset of a heart attack.
I believe if my brother could withstand the pain, he would have done so (stopped by the roadside) but who knew how much pain he was in then.Mohd Azmi
After much discussion among the family, they decided to lodge a police report against the woman in the video, the people who shared the video and the negative comments by netizens.
The family didn’t want to make a police report at first but changed their minds so that it’ll serve as a lesson for everyone.
The loss was felt by the whole family. Mohd Azmi said his late brother was a bachelor and a good person.
His brother also financially supported their sister and her four children after the death of her husband in 2017.
Mohd Azmi said his late brother was buried in Tanah Perkuburan Islam Al-Muktafi Billah Shah in Dungun, Terengganu on 4 January.

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[Watch] Sago Worms Are Haram Because They Are Disgusting, Says Former KL Mufti On Bornean Delicacy

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Recently, a TikTok post that showed a woman eating sago worms had gone viral.

It is understood that sago worms are her favorite food.
However, it raised the question of whether the food is halal.
  @dsdellllll Balas @gibbyibeth_09 #makananviral #makanulat #ulatsagu #fyp #foryoupage #fypシ ♬ suara asli  – dsdelllll
The popularity of the video prompted former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri to weigh in.
He explained that sago worms or ulat mulong are haram because they are considered disgusting according to the opinion of scholars among the Syafie sect.
He added that the decision was also based on discussions and debates.
In fact, this opinion is also in line with the fatwa decision issued by the Sarawak State Mufti Department, dated 20 November 2014. In this case, the law is haram due to the defilement of the carcass and also its abomination.Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri on why sago worms are haram for Muslims.

He noted that there is second opinion that says it is absolutely halal because the worms are considered part of the fruit.
There are also opinions that say it is absolutely illegal because the worms are considered as carcasses.
But before concluding the question, Dr Zulkifli stressed that in Islam, it is good to prioritize eating foods in which the halal status is not in doubt.

What Does Sago Worms Taste Like?
Sago worms are delicacies in Sabah and Sarawak, enjoyed as nutritious traditional food by the indigenous community for centuries.
The wriggling bugs have a creamy taste when taken raw, and taste like bacon or meat when cooked.
They are often prepared with sago flour. In New Guinea, sago worms are roasted on a spit to celebrate special occasions.

Also known locally as butod, sago worm is the larvae of Sago Palm Weevil, a species of snout beetle that consumes sago palm during its infancy.
Accordingly, it sells for around RM40 to RM45 per kg.
Sago worms are usually found in sago palm, where they feed on the starchy pith of decaying sago palm trees.
The worms transform into beetle after 2 months.

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KL Underwater Again: Malaysians Share Scenes Of Flash Floods In The City

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Today’s (7 March) torrential downpour has the nation’s capital under siege by floods once again.

Read More: Masjid Jamek Is Now Pulau Jamek Due To Heavy Rain
Malaysians are going online to share reports of flash floods occurring in several parts of Kuala Lumpur.
Images and videos distributed via social media and personal messaging applications showed waist-deep water submerging cars believed to be stranded along Jalan Kucai Lama.
kl banjir gais take caree!!! stay safe pic.twitter.com/JY3fVFRnZk— bobe (@jijiabaobei) March 7, 2022
Netizens are also sharing scenes of water rising in Pudu, Masjid Jamek and other major areas across the city.
Padu banjir KL ni. pic.twitter.com/gVJ3dFkCiN— Farihin Mandagie (@farihinosteo) March 7, 2022
View from Wisma UOA#KLBanjir pic.twitter.com/LLnAuIVe35— Hakuna Matata🦁 (@amalhisyams) March 7, 2022
Hati3 geng keadaan di masjid jamekJgn kluar ke kl semua jln bnyk banjir pic.twitter.com/dxUJxxG3z7— Despacito (@fakry_ahmad10) March 7, 2022
Ibu hantar gambar KL skrg tgh banjir teruk. Ibu nak balik tak dapat sebab keliling office banjir. Semoga tak jadi apa2 kat ibu.. I’ll share kat bawak jugak some places yg banjir. Tadi ada nampak org tweet.. pic.twitter.com/Wd215U2NO2— Farah Jual Pin Box, Sandal, Tudung 💚 (@fadyyyyy24) March 7, 2022
According to Malaysian Insight journalist Elill Easwaran, sources from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) confirmed that certain parts of the city were underwater.
JUST IN : Certain parts of Kuala Lumpur is currently flooded.🔴 Kuchai Lama is one of the areas flooded.🔴 An official from Nadma also confirmed the matter that certain parts of KL is flooded to me 🎥: Social media #banjir pic.twitter.com/EmTPfIO6Wg— Elill (@Elill_E) March 7, 2022
People are advised to take great caution when commuting in and out of the city as netizens also report that several roads have been blocked by water.
Live traffic reports online show several major routes in KL in complete gridlock.
Floods have been reported at the Tabung Haji tunnel, Chan Sow Lin tunnel,  Jalan Pudu, Jalan Sri Pemaisuri, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Pahang.
1550 : Berhati-hati ketika memandu. Banjir kilat di sekitar Pusat Bandar. Terowong Tabung HajiTerowong Chan Sow LinJalan PuduJalan Sri PemaisuriJalan Tun Razak Jalan Pahang#kltu— ITIS DBKL (@ITIS_TRAFIK) March 7, 2022
Banjir kilat kat pudu. KL. Don’t come out here! pic.twitter.com/yfXYLUBYvB— uya anilahs (@Sarclover) March 7, 2022
Kuchai Lama area (KL-Seremban-NPE-BESRAYA) dah naik air? Atas bukit pun boleh banjir kilat. All highways around here gridlock!!! Not moving!!! pic.twitter.com/a7MdHPP79Z— CovidIsAirborne – Wear Your Face Mask Properly! (@Erouliismail) March 7, 2022
Read More: Major Flood Once Every 50 Years: How The Recent Flood Stacks Up Against Previous Catastrophes

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Kids 12 And Under Would Get Their Vaccine Shots By Next Year, Says KKM

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Kids aged 12 and under will receive their Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine starting in 2022, according to the Health Ministry (KKM).

Berita Harian quoted the Ministry who mentioned that currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is available for use by children under the age of 12 and is awaiting regulatory approval from the European Union and the United States.
KKM also said that Pfizer is expected to submit data related to the registration of vaccine use for children under 12 by the end of this year to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for evaluation and approval of registration.
They added that the government is currently in the process of procuring Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for immunisation use for children as the formulation differs from the adult population and is subject to approval from both the NPRA and Drug Control Authority (PBKD).
It is expected that a total of 5.9 million children will be vaccinated involving an estimated quantity requirement of 11.8 million doses.Health Ministry
The statement was as a response to a question from Subang MP Wong Chen who wanted to know whether the KKM intends to give vaccine injections to children aged five to 12 years and when do they expect it to be implemented.

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Upcoming Long Weekend Has Police Ramping Up Monitoring & Enforcement

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The police are going to beef up monitoring and enforcement in anticipation of increased traffic over the weekend after the government has allowed Malaysians to travel interstate, according to Bukit Aman JSPT Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) Deputy Director Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain.

Bernama quoted Mohd Nadzri who mentioned they will start on Friday, when the traffic is expected to be busy following as people are expected to take a four-day holiday in conjunction with Maulidur Rasul on 19 October.
Maulidur Rasul is a national public holiday which commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
He said enforcement deployments were the same as before the Covid-19 pandemic and patrols of monitoring teams would be increased.
Ops Lancar until Monday
Meanwhile, JSPT is carrying out Ops Lancar starting today to ensure the smooth flow of traffic following the interstate clearance.
He said operations will be on-going until next Monday as the police expect that there will be an increase of vehicles on the road.
Ops Lancar starts today to monitor the movement of traffic if there’s any congestion but for the time being, things are still under control.Bukit Aman JSPT Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) Deputy Director Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain

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Malaysia Ready To Open Borders, Faster Disembarkation With Emphasis On Safety And Efficiency

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The government will ensure that the process of opening the country’s borders , including air and land routes on April 1, runs smoothly, safely, efficiently and without much bureaucracy.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport (MOT), would ensure Malaysia is well prepared and safe for tourists.
The government will also ensure that the process of entry of foreign tourists at the country’s air gates can be shortened to 35 to 45 minutes compared to the current hour.

Therefore, many prerequisites need to be complied with and completed by foreign tourists before entering the country, including uploading the MySejahtera application and the Covid-19 screening test.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on new protocols for for international arrivals.
Fast And Easy
All the prerequisites must be done before they board the plane, thus avoiding congestion at the airport.
All tourists need to download MySejahtera, upload the PCR test results and fill in the pre-release form.
When it is complete, they will be able to get a traveller’s card through MySejahtera and be allowed to board the plane.
Once a tourist arrives, the person goes through immigration and if there is no problem with the documents, they can enter.
On arrival testing can be done at the airport or can be done outside within 24 hours, which is RTK Antigen which is done professionally.
The two testing methods conducted at KLIA starting 1 April are RTK Antigen and breath test, and the cost will be borne by the traveler.
Khairy was met by the media after attending a briefing session on readiness for the opening of the country’s border at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.
Also present was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong.
Khairy added that from 1 April, all Covid-19 screening test facilities at KLIA and KLIA2 will be closed.
Details on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the opening of the country’s borders, including air and sea, would be announced in a press conference on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Malaysia Enters Endemic Phase Starting 1 April, Eateries Open 24 Hours Again!
MOH And Transport Ministry Working Together
Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry will ensure that all matters, especially at KLIA and KLIA2 can run smoothly once the national border opens on 1 April.
Wee said the government is in a state of caution and all matters should be done well and simplified.
Therefore, we have instructed all airlines to ensure that every passenger downloads the MySejahtera application because it is a prerequisite to enter Malaysia. It will be able to reduce congestion when arriving in the country.Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong on the use of MySejahtera for international arrivals.
At the same time, he said the airborne Vaccination Travel Route (VTL) program that was introduced earlier received good response with the participation of 277,800 people.
He said the good response is commendable and has a big impact on the country’s economic recovery.
The VTL programme will benefit the state's economy and bring much needed revenue to the tourism industry that has suffered during the pandemic.#Malaysia #News #VTL #Tourism #ATAP #Singapore #Penang #Businesses pic.twitter.com/GIRmiFDohK— Malay Mail (@malaymail) March 19, 2022

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Police On The Hunt For Naked ‘Orang Minyak’ Who Commits Burglary

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Police are looking for a man who wandered around naked like an ‘orang minyak’ before committing a burglary.

Shah Alam District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying that the incident happened around 3.30 am at a house in Section 20.
The victim, a woman, was sleeping with her daughter in the living room.
She woke up due to a glare on her eyes, which made her aware of the suspect’s presence.
The victim’s screams caused the suspect to run out of the house immediately. Her husband rushed from the bedroom towards his wife but found that the suspect was gone.Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim elaborating on the burglary incident.
The victim suffered a loss of RM1,600 in cash, stolen by the suspect.
Mohd Iqbal added that a video showing the suspect wearing a face mask and naked, wandering in the Section 19 housing area, had gone viral.
He said efforts to hunt down the suspect is in full swing.
He said that any individual who has more information could contact the Assistant Investigating Officer of the case, Sergeant Mohd Shafarulrazi, at 010-8889910 or 03-55202222.
The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code.
The Legend Of Orang Minyak
In Malaysia, many myths or legends about ghosts and supernatural beings abound.
One of the most well-known is the urban legend of the orang minyak.
Jet black, sticky, and naked, the orang minyak was so famous that it was made into a movie named Sumpah Orang Minyak in 1958.

The orang minyak is said to have the ability to enter a locked house easily.
In addition, the orang minyak can quickly disappear into the night if chased because his body was smeared with shiny black oil.
The orang minyak can also cling to the ceiling like a lizard.
Contrary to popular belief, the orang minyak does not exist in historical Malay folklore.
The orang minyak (meaning "oily person") is said to be a man whose body is covered in black oil, making him hard to see in the dark and too slippery to catch. He's said to kidnap young women https://t.co/h8Dl0EO0Sf pic.twitter.com/GssykyiuBV— ❅ᜐᜋᜓᜎ (@uglyluhan) April 9, 2022

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Women Warriors In Mental Health: Helping You With Mental And Physical Health All In One App

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In recent years, there has been stronger attempts to raise awareness of mental health in Malaysia. At the same time, there has also been worrying reports of how more Malaysians are struggling with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

For Dr Tiffanie Ong, Chief Operating Officer of Naluri, a digital health therapeutics company, the two are not separate issues.
Mental health and physical health are highly inter-linked.Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
The Gender Difference
While Naluri’s services are tailored to the individual, there are general differences in the way men and women perceive and face health issues.
Malaysians, as a whole, suffer from chronic illnesses such as high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. However, men under the age of 30 are more likely to have hypertension, while women are more likely to have higher cholesterol impacts.
Women also face added stress from the implicit expectation and social norms to juggle multiple roles, such as being a good careerwoman, wife, mother, daughter-in-law all at once.
How many working women are also expected to keep their house spotless and clean as well?(Credit: Envato)
Additionally, women tend to benefit from more emotion-focused coping mechanisms, whereas men tend to focus on problem-focused coping mechanisms. Yet, problem-focused coping mechanisms are often regarded as the preferred and more effective method due to its more active approach, leaving women to feel unaccepted and less respected for their preferences.
For women, this lack of recognition negatively impacts their mental health, but is unfortunately often brushed off by society, especially in the workforce.
2 birds, 1 stone
Mental health does not exist in a vaccum, and neither does physical health. Dr Tiffanie explains that both are two sides of the same coin, each affecting the other.
Have you ever noticed an improvement in your mood after exercise?(Credit: TRP)
Those with serious mental health illness are at higher risk of developing chronic physical conditions and those with chronic physical health conditions have been showed to experience elevated levels of depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population.Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
Mental stress brings with it real psychological change, such as hormonal imbalances, but it also impacts social and cognitive functioning. This leads to poorer lifestyle choices and unhealthy behaviours, which in turn leads to a dimished quality of life, which further impacts mental health, and could easily lead to chronic physical health issues as well.
Because of how closely-linked mental and physical health are, Dr Tiffanie believes that a person’s health should be improved from all aspects at the same, instead of treating each symptom separately.
Health experts of all kinds
As the Chief Operating Officer at Naluri, she uses her expertise as a cognitive psychologist to develop a multi-disciplinary method to help clients. Naluri provides access to experts and specialists in various fields, so they can tackle and improve their lifestyle holistically and see more complete results.
The app allows you to chat with multiple professionals to improve your life.(Credit: Naluri)
Naluri users can be paired with dietitians, fitness coaches, medical advisors, pharmacists, financial planners, and executive coaches to improve all aspects of their life.
We recognise that for some, they may need more than psychological support/ counselling to alleviate their mental distress, therefore, on our platform, our users are able to reach out and seek guidance/ advice from specific experts. Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
However, Dr Tiffanie notes that the asynchronous chat service has been most impactful for Naluri’s users.
Aside from accessibility and affordability, the app’s chat service provides an outlet for people who may be too overwhelmed to book a 1-on-1 therapy session with a mental health professional and wait until the session to unburden themselves.
They may also lack the courage to reach out given the stigma that is still highly prevalent in our society.Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
The chat service, similar to WhatsApp, allows for a safe and confidential environment where individuals can reach out to help freely.
Mental stigma is still prevalent in Malaysia
According to Dr Tiffanie, as a whole, the understanding of mental health is still poor in Malaysia, especially around the causes and impact of poor mental health on the individual and those around them.
Even young children can face poor mental health but have no resources to turn to.(Credit: Bigstock)
Malaysians also tend to suffer in silence or resort to maladaptive coping behaviours due to poor awareness of early signs and symptoms, an unhealthy environment, and the strong stigma associated with mental illness.
Generally, we would advise people to reach out for professional help when the struggles or issues they have been facing has persisted for over 2 weeks and/or has started to impact their daily functioning. Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
Does that apply to a woman COO?
Empathy is a trait typically seen in women leaders, but isn’t often a trait coveted for top leadership roles. However, as Naluri sits within the industry of digital mental health, empathy is required at the front and center of all decisions made.
Dr Tiffanie Ong as a woman COO uses her empathic traits to its fullest in her job.(Credit: Dr Tiffanie Ong)
In addition, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a leadership team within Naluri that not only appreciates, but celebrates diversity. With that, I’ve personally not experienced any additional challenges as a result of being a woman COO.   Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
As a leader in her industry, she hopes that there will be more emphasis on being patient-centric with preventive care while moving away from being disease-centric.
Lifestyle interventions has the potential to serve as the first line of treatment of chronic diseases which will be more cost effective and sustainable than medications.Dr Tiffanie Ong to TRP
The Rakyat Post is partnering with leading Malaysian mental health NGOs & Social Enterprises to fundraise for Malaysia’s first Community Mental Health Fund. Donate to this cause and be rewarded with e-mental health info pack, one-month trial of Thoughtfull & Naluri app or art therapy for disabled children. Go here to donate or volunteer now https://reward.pitchin.my/projects/community-mental-health-fund #MYMinda

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Prove Your Claims According To The Federal Constitution, Muhyiddin Tells Anwar

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Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must provide solid proof in accordance to the Federal Constitution that he has a majority within the Parliament to form a new government.

In a statement released on social media, the PM writes that Anwar’s claims for premiership fall flat unless it can be made in accordance with the systems of law.
The PM said that until Anwar can confirm his support, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government remains as the country’s ruling power with him as its legitimate leader.
Muhyiddin asks that the rakyat remain calm in advent of the situation.
Read more: Snap Polls Or Vote Of No Confidence? Here’s The Deal

Meanwhile, in a joint statement released to the press, the PN coalition consisting of; Barisan Nasional (BN) Parti Bumi Bersatu (Bersatu), the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku Rakyat Sabahy (STAR), commit their full support for Muhyiddin’s leadership.
The statement, signed by each party’s Secretary-General, said that Anwar’s claims were merely a cheap publicity stunt that the latter had performed many times before.
The statement notes Anwar’s recent move proves his lust for power without thinking of repercussions to the nation.
Concurrently, a statement issued by the Royal Palace reveals that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was scheduled to meet with Anwar on September 22, but was postponed due to the YDPA feeling unwell.
The King is said to be currently undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
His Majesty commands the rakyat to remain calm and for all parties involved to think of what’s best for the country.
Finally, the YDPA invites Malaysians to pray that the country remains protected and prosperous.

On September 23, 2020, Anwar announced that he has acquired a “formidable” majority in Parliament to form a new government, with himself at the helm as Prime Minister.

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Malaysia Looking To Increase Covid-19 Tests

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Malaysia is bolstering its Covid-19 testing capabilites as Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that soon the country would be able to do 6,000 more tests on top of the current capacity of 16,000.
He said initially the country had the capacity of 11,500 tests before it was gradually increased.
We have increased our capacity to 16,000 and yesterday we managed to do 13,614 samples a day, so which means we are pushing our capacity to 16,385 from the 43 labs that we have. Health D-G Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
The Health Ministry is also looking at installing automated testing machines from China in two locations – Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and a public health lab in Kota Kinabalu.
We have two centres – Institute of Medical Research (IMR) that we’re going to install the Beijing Genome Insitute (BGI) automated testing so that will give us an increase of 5,000 testing a day. Health D-G Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
MOH also looking to install the machine at a National Public Health Laboratory in in Kota Kinabalu, which can add another 1,000 more tests in Sabah.

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New Year’s Eve At Dataran Merdeka Cancelled, Says PM

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that the large-scale New Year’s Eve celebration at Dataran Merdeka has been called off.

The annual celebration is cancelled due to the floods in the country.
Seeing that there are floods and the hardship of the people, the government has decided to cancel the large scale New Year’s celebration in Dataran Merdeka.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in the press conference today (21 December).
Sambutan Ambang Tahun Baharu 2023 dibatalkan mengambilkira bencana banjir yang menimpa sebahagian negara.— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) December 21, 2022

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10 Covid-19 Facts The Health Ministry Wants You To Know

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As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve, there is more and more information we need to pay attention to each day. Thankfully, as the Health Ministry handles more and more cases, they also learn more about how the virus behaves.

Here are ten important facts about the Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia as of 31 August 2020, that the Health Ministry wants you to know about.
10 fakta penting #COVID19 di Malaysia 🇲🇾 setakat 12pm, 31 Ogos 2020. 1. 6 kes baharu (2 tempatan, 4 import)2. 6 pesakit discaj3. Satu kematian di Kedah. Kematian pertama dari Kluster aktif terbesar ketika ini, Kluster Tawar.4. 127 kes kematian #COVID19 setakat ini.— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) August 31, 2020
1. As of 31 August, six new cases were detected in the country. Of the six cases, two were from local transmission while the other four were imported.
2. As of 31 August, six more patients have been discharged.
3. There was one Covid-19 death reported on 31 August. The victim in Kedah was from the Tawar cluster, which is also the largest currently active cluster in the country.
(Credit: Health Ministry)
4. There have been 127 Covid-19 deaths nationwide so far.
5. A new positive case was been detected in the Telaga cluster, also located in Kedah. This brings the total number of cases in that cluster to five cases.
(Credit: Health Ministry)
6. A new positive case has also been detected in the Tawar cluster. This brings the total number of positive cases in that cluster to 73.
7. A new cluster has been reported involving four crewmen on a ship. The cluster has been named Bunga cluster.
(Credit: Health Ministry)
8. A total of 941 positive cases involved Malaysians and Permanent Residents (PR) returning to the country. They are given a mandatory quarantine order upon arrival. The Ministry also reported no local transmissions from this.
(Credit: Health Ministry)
9. There are six states nationwide with green zone status. They are Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Sabah.
10. Malaysia’s Covid-19 recovery rate is 96.94%, among the highest in the world. Meanwhile, our Covid-19 death rate is 1.36%.
(Credit: Health Ministry)

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Cameron Farmers Burn Thousands Of Ringgit Worth Of Crops Each Day As City People Starve

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Farmers here may have hundreds of miles of fertile land, but they could not reap the harvest of late.

During the recent Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Kampung Raja and Tringkap, which restricted movement, they had to dump their vegetables.
In Tringkap alone, it was estimated that around 100 tonnes of farm produce were thrown away each day.
Assuming vegetable prices were at their lowest, it would have easily amounted to more than RM200,000.
Vegetable prices have been climbing steadily.(Credit: Fernando Fong)
Everyone could only watch helplessly as the farmers lost their wits for more than two weeks with no room for manoeuvring.
During this troubled time, farmer Low Ngah Man dumped two to three tonnes of vegetables each day.
“In these pandemic times, food is precious, and city folks need it even more so, but we are forced to throw it away.
“We are not even allowed to give away the vegetables to the needy,” said Low, a farmer with more than 20 years of experience.
For him, the lockdown measures were reckless and put the entire farming community in peril.
Low argued the same standard operating procedures (SOP) for factories could not be applied for agriculture.
Producing vegetables requires a significant amount of time, not just by turning on a switch. Most crops need an average of two months to harvest.Low, sharing his woes.
Dumping of vegetables at a farm in Tringkap.(Credit: Fernando Fong)
Vegetable distributor Chloe Cheng agreed that not all lockdown measures were absolutely necessary.
“The authorities could have let those who tested negative tend to the farms and send out the harvest.
“Everyone has been affected by the pandemic, and farm produce are essential to revive the economy.
“This line of reasoning should have been clear to the authorities,” she said.
Meanwhile, local MCA leader Wong Yap Wah believes the authorities were sincere in aiding the farmers.
A cluster of farms in Tringkap as seen from above.(Credit: Fernando Fong)
Despite the restrictions and a very recent raid against foreign farmworkers in Tringkap by the Immigration Department, he is convinced they had no improper intent.
Wong even acknowledged that the authorities had tried their best to accommodate the farmers while having their eyes fixed on the big picture at all times.
“The farmers never hesitated to comply with the SOP.
“But they are really in danger of being overrun by financial ruin, which made them very anxious with the implementation,” said Wong, a farmer himself.
The EMCO for Tringkap ended on Sunday (11 July). The announcement is like storm clouds after a long drought for the farmers.
“Hopefully, there will be no more surprise so we can have a bright future before us,” said Yap, who dumped at least RM30,000 worth of vegetables these past two weeks.
The farmers lost out on a golden opportunity as the prices of vegetables are considerably reasonable recently.
Piles of tomatoes awaiting customers at a wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur.(Credit: Fernando Fong)
For example, the consumer price for Japanese cucumbers is RM6 per kg compared to under RM2 when prices are low.
Tomatoes currently sell for RM5 per kg in the Klang Valley as opposed to just over RM1 at the other end.

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Kind Pahang man opens pay-what-you-want restaurant to help poor & needy M’sians

Did you know that Malaysians, especially those within the B40 community, are starving and malnourished?
To help combat this crisis, the government set up a Foodbank initiative earlier this year targeted to help feed university students in the public and private sector who could not afford to eat.
This restaurant in Pahang is also doing their part to help the needy!

Picture credit: Sinar Harian

Restoran Dapur Infaq Ummah at the Kompleks Dagangan Indera Mahkota in Kuantan allows their customers to eat anything they like, take as much as they want, and pay whatever they can.
Which means that if the customer has no money to pay, they can essentially just eat there for free.
Clapping Drake GIF from Clapping GIFs

The owner of the restaurant, Badrul Jamili Kamaruddin said that the restaurant is run this way to ensure that those who are poor and needy can still eat properly.
The restaurant, which has been operating for three months, serves naan, mutton curry, chicken curry, nasi lemak, sticky rice, vermicelli and a variety of local kuihs to students and Asnaf groups in the area who just drop any amount of money they can afford into a money box located at the cashier.

Example of the dishes served at Restoran Dapur Infaq Ummah (Picture credit: Kuantan Lokal)

Badrul cooking at his restaurant (Picture credit: Sinar Harian)
Badrul admits that his restaurant does not make much profit but insists that it is a necessary step to help the community. He isnâ€™t worried about losing money, saying that his core purpose to pursue the business was to do good deeds and gain pahala/rewards from Allah.
In fact, the restaurant uses the profit collected in the money box to cover expenses for the restaurant and donates the rest to the needy.
You can find out more about Restoran Dapur Infaq Ummah in the video below:

The restaurant operates every Monday till Friday from 7am to 12pm. If youâ€™re in the area and have extra money to spare, do make a trip to his restaurant and donate to his cause!

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DAP’s Gobind Turned Down Cabinet Role, Rafizi To Share His Views On Unity Gov Soon

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Malaysians had many questions regarding the new Cabinet line-up, such as DAP being accorded fewer seats, although the party has the largest number of MPs (40) among the other coalitions.

In Anwar’s Cabinet, there are 15 Pakatan Harapan (PH) members, 6 Barisan Nasional (BN) members, 5 from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), 1 from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and 1 non-political member.
Among PH, PKR has 8 seats, DAP has four, Amanah has 2 and Upko has 1.
Senarai pekerja baru 2022-2027 #RakyatAdalahBoss pic.twitter.com/LqOEdMPifD— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) December 3, 2022
The rakyat also questioned the absence of former minister Gobind Singh Deo in the Cabinet line-up.
Previously, he served as the communications and multimedia minister in the PH government formed in 2018 after the 14th general election (GE14).
Gobind explained he had declined to be part of the Cabinet again to focus on his current role as Damansara MP.
He said Anwar did ask him to join the Cabinet but ultimately rejected the invitation after thinking it through.
I wish to thank him for asking me to be part of his Cabinet. I again express my full confidence in his leadership and believe that he will be able to successfully take Malaysia to greater heights.Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo

It wasn’t a pretty negotiation
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who was one of PH’s negotiators in forming the unity government, said the negotiations weren’t pretty and “it was noisy outside.”
Rafizi said he’ll make a video on it to voice his personal opinions on the unity government soon.
He was appointed as the Minister of Economic Affairs and is one of the eight MPs from PH included in the Cabinet.
Kah3 opps PRU15.Cepat ka Twitter introduce feature edit ni.— Rafizi Ramli (@rafiziramli) December 3, 2022

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[Watch] “As Long As They’re Happy” Father Brings Home Discarded Toy For His Kids And Isn’t Embarrassed About It

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A father’s love for his children knows no bounds and this statement is proven when a father salvaged a toy from a rubbish dump for his daughter to play with.

Based on a TikTok video shared by @abieaisymikhail, the father came across a pink trolley toy at a rubbish dump near his home when he was on the way to work.
Despite only having two visible wheels intact, the trolley is still relatively in good condition to play with.
According to Harian Metro, Mohd Zakiman Irwan Othman, 35, didn’t immediately retrieve it. He returned to the rubbish dump later in the day and saw that the trolley was still there.
He took a picture of the trolley to show his wife who gave the approval to bring it home for their children.
He brought it home and made sure to wash it clean before letting his children play with it. His two children posed happily beside their new toy from their dad.
  @abieaisymikhail X malu ke ambik mainan kt sampah…x kisah lh org nk ckp apa.asal kn ank2 aku hppy dgn cara aku ♬ original sound  YC – bOyS_sLoE
In the video caption, the father of two said he isn’t embarrassed about what he did as long as his children are happy. His children knew where the toy originated from and paid no mind.
Mohd Zakiman Irwan said he usually buys his children toys from the RM2 shop because that’s what he could afford as a factory worker.
He told Harian Metro that he wouldn’t accept money from others because there are others who needed it more than him. However, he said it’s not an issue if it’s gifts for his children.
Netizens were touched by his love for his children and told him to ignore the critics who looked down on him.
They assured him that his children think of him as their hero for bringing back toy gifts for them.
A few of them also shared that they used to collect toys from the rubbish dump because they knew their parents couldn’t afford to get them toys.
They said the toys are safe for children to play with as long as the toys can be cleaned and washed once they are brought home.

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Only 1 Malaysian Student Receives Google Scholarship Out Of 2,600 Recipients Worldwide

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Congratulations to Evelyn Chen Siaw Yin for receiving the Generation Google Scholarship: For women in computer science (Asia Pacific).

In a LinkedIn post by Marc Woo, the Managing Director of Google Malaysia & Frontier Markets, notes that Evelyn is the only Malaysian to receive the honour.
 I believe that stereotypes are widespread against women in tech. I want to prove this does not hold true and one ought to be adequately and fairly recognised for their character and contributions.-Evelyn Chen via Marc Woo’s LinkedIn
Evelyn, who is currently a student at Taylors University pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, was quoted in a still video on Marc’s LinkedIn page stating that she has experienced discouraging statements in the past and she’s here to prove that such assumptions do not hold true.
(Credit: Marc Woo via LinkedIn)
Building futures with Google Scholarships
The Generation Google Scholarship was established to help aspiring students pursuing computer science degrees excel in technology and become leaders in the field.
Google describes the award for students who have demonstrated a passion for technology, academic excellence, and have proven themselves as exceptional leaders and role models.
Applications were open from 1 March – 29 March for applicants around the world including Europe, Middle East, Africa, United States, Canada, Ireland, and Asia Pacific.
Aside from Malaysia, the majority of the recipients in the APAC region came from India (68) while four were in Taiwan, three in Singapore, two in Indonesia and the rest in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Thailand – all of whom received USD1,000 (approximately RM4,222) for their 2021 – 2022 school year.

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To Avoid Spreading Coronavirus, People Are Ditching Handshakes For Wuhan Shake

As the number of Covid-19 cases continue to spread globally,
people are quickly learning to adapt safe practices to prevent infections.
While weâ€™ve seen serious educational guides, it seems that jokes and rap dances might be the new way to effectively teach people how to limit the spread of this novel coronavirus.
Enter, Wuhan shake â€“ a new way to greet people without spreading
coronavirus that has now gone viral.

https://twitter.com/V_actually/status/1233785527788285953

The Wuhan shake is simple enough to do. Instead of using
handshakes or hugs to greet people, you just tap your feet against one another â€“
basically a foot shake.
The trend appeared to have emerged from a light-hearted
video from China, but it has since taken over social media and mainstream media
for its simple brilliance.

No kissing, no hand shaking, no hugs. A demonstration of how Iranians may be greeting each other today in these coronavirus times. #Iran pic.twitter.com/RoRjoqEwu2— Sharmine Narwani (@snarwani) February 23, 2020

Newscasters from Singaporeâ€™s Channel News Asia have demonstrated
the Wuhan Shake on air and even the President of Tanzania was spotted doing the
leg shake with a veteran politician at the State House.

Lets do the #WuhanShake – a hands-free greeting after new #coronavirus prevents us from doing our usual greetings – #NoKissing #NoHandShake @SteveLaiCNA @ChannelNewsAsia pic.twitter.com/yXs76KcprV— GlendaChongCNA (@GlendaChongCNA) March 3, 2020

The "Wuhan Shake" has made it to #Africa where #Tanzania's President John Magufuli greeted Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad at the State House with a "leg shake" rather than a traditional handshake: https://t.co/c1tJKYCv2B pic.twitter.com/8VGjEJjsId— Eric Olander æ¬§ç‘žå…‹ (@eolander) March 4, 2020

The popularity of this trend follows calls of health officials around the world to refrain from hugging and kissing as greetings. Franceâ€™s health minister had warned French people to resist doing the nationâ€™s customary double-cheek kiss, while Malaysians have been urged to use the â€œSalam Malaysiaâ€ gesture by placing one hand over the chest instead of shaking hands.
Since the novel coronavirus is believed to spread via
droplets that can be spread from coughing and sneezing, hands-free greetings
such the Wuhan Shake and â€œSalam Malaysiaâ€ are effective preventative measures.
Salam Malaysia as seen in tourism promotional images.(Credit: summerland.com.my)
At any rate, thatâ€™s less hand sanitiser wasted and the
perfect excuse to just â€œshake legsâ€!

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The Cast Of Apple TV+’s Dr Brain Shares The Making Of The Show

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When I heard about Dr Brain, Apple TV+’s first original Korean series, I was intrigued to find out more about the show because it reminded me of an old American scifi drama series titled Stitchers.

The six-episode series masterfully combines two genres that I like: the scifi genre and a murder mystery thriller.
Based on a webtoon of the same name, the story follows a neuroscientist Koh Se-won who suffers a personal tragedy when his family fall victim to a mysterious accident.
In a desperate attempt to find out what happened, Se-won embarks on a risky experiment using ‘brain syncs’ with the dead to uncover clues in their memories.

Adding realism to a fictional technology
Although the ‘brain sync’ technology is fictional, director Kim Jee-woon took the time to consult a brain scientist Dr Jaeseung Jeong, who’s also a professor at Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Based on the research by Dr Jeong, we try to adapt this [fictional] idea into something that’s more realistic.  The concept of looking into the consciousness and brains of other people [is] very new and innovative. I used a lot of scientific hypotheses to try to add authenticity to our work.Director Kim Jee-won during a virtual press conference
Adding realism to the show was also important to actor Lee Sun-kyun who plays the brilliant neuroscientist Se-won.
In order to convey a sense of realism to the audience, he decided to focus on showing the experience of being under a ‘brain sync.’
“The phrase ‘brain sync’ in itself sounds unfamiliar and strange. I focused on how I should express the character’s state and reaction after going through the brain sync,” Lee said.
The character Se-won coming out of the ‘brain sync.’
He also explained that a ‘brain sync’ is more than just obtaining memories. “Even the emotions and the characteristics or habits of the other person are transferred [to my character],” Lee explained.
For those who are still not sure what ‘brain syncing’ is, Lee said “The closest metaphor that [the director and I] can find was the AirDrop function in Apple devices.”
Despite his character’s brilliance, Se-won actually has trouble engaging with the people around him due to his autism.
What makes his character compelling is that he begins to gain empathy when he undergoes several brain syncs while trying to solve the mystery.
“He realizes that he hasn’t been a good father or good to his family. He starts off as a seemingly cold-hearted person and it ends on a passionate note. I really like that about Se-won,” Lee said.
Director Kim Jee-woon with the main cast Lee Sun-kyun, Lee You-young, Park Hee-soon, Seo Ji-hye, and Lee Jae-won.
Creating a compelling story
As it is with adaptations, there are some elements of the show that slightly differs from the original webtoon.
Director Kim said the webtoon moves at a faster pace and focuses more on the murder mystery. For the show, he tried to bring in more layers to the story and the characters in order to also give it a heartwarming side.
One of the ways it differs from the webtoon includes slightly changing the way the character Kangmu, who’s a private investigator, is portrayed in the show.
Park Hee-soon, who plays the charismatic investigator, shared that he had to strike a balance between his character that is portrayed in the webtoon and the series.
“In the original webtoon, my character is a mysterious and charismatic man.  But in the series, you can see some humanity in him. [While helping Se-won], he squabbles with him and sometimes gives him advice and hints.”
Lee Sun-kyun plays the neuroscientist Se-won while Park Hee-soon plays the private investigator Kangmu.
Park also added that Kangmu has a more humanistic side as compared to his character Mu-jin in another Korean series titled My Name. He had fun portraying Kangmu as a more witty and laidback character too.
The cast expressed their excitement to have the original series air on Apple TV+, and hope fans will enjoy watching Dr Brain as much as they did filming the series.
Directed and co-written by Kim Jee-woon, Dr Brain stars Lee Sun-kyun, Lee You-young, Park Hee-soon, Seo Ji-hye and Lee Jae-won.
Dr Brain can be streamed on Apple TV+ every Friday with new episodes published weekly.

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Government Announces RM10 Billion Stimulus Package Extension For SMEs

Malaysia’s Prime Minster, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today made an announcement to lessen the burden of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Considering that SMEs employ 2/3 of the nation’s workforce and generate about 40% of the country’s economy, Muhyiddin said it’s important that the government expand the help that was given to the rakyat via the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional to business owners affected by COVID-19.
“Prihatin Tambahan” is an economic stimulus package aimed at SMEs worth RM10 billion to reduce the plight of enterprises and make sure that two-thirds of the nation’s workers don’t lose their jobs.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
Increase in wage subsidy program allocation
First, the allocation for the wage subsidy program announced on March 27 will be increased from RM5.9 billion to RM13.8 billion, an increase of RM7.9 billion.
Under this additional initiative, all companies with local workers earning RM4,000 and below will receive subsidized wage assistance as follows:
For companies with more than 200 employees, a subsidy of RM600 per employee is maintained. However, the maximum number of workers eligible for subsidies will be increased from 100 to 200 workers. Â For companies with 76 to 200 employees, they will receive a subsidy of RM800 per employee. Â For companies with up to 75 employees, they will receive a subsidy of RM1,200 per employee. Through these improvements, companies will receive more benefits and assistance.
This assistance is for 3 months and is for employers registered under the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or local authorities before January 1, 2020 and are registered with SOCSO.
It’s expected to benefit 4.8 million workers.
For employers who choose to receive this assistance, they are required to retain their employees for at least 6 months, within 3 months of receiving a wage subsidy and 3 months thereafter.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
PRIHATIN Special Grants
The Government will provide a Special Grant of RM3,000 to each micro company that will benefit nearly 700,000 micro SMEs nationwide.
Micro SMEs must register with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to enjoy this facility.
The Government has also called for lender organizations registered under the Lenders Act 1951 to provide credit facilities for a moratorium on SME installment payments for 6 months beginning April 2020, as provided by the bank.
To ensure SMEs fully benefit from all the announced benefits, the government announced a few initiatives:
1. Abolishing the 2% interest rate to 0% for the RM500 million Micro Credit Scheme under Bank Simpanan Nasional. The micro loan scheme for the micro company was also extended to TEKUN Nasional with a maximum loan limit of RM10,000 per company at 0% interest rate.
2. Excluding rental payments or provide rental discounts to SME retail dealers for premises owned by Government-linked companies and Muhyiddin also urged private premises owners to provide the same facilities at least during the MCO period and 3 months after the order ends.
Owners of buildings or business spaces that provide rentals or leases to renters of business premises will be given an additional tax deduction equal to the amount of the rent reduction for April 2020 to June 2020.
3. Allowing a 25% reduction levy payments involving foreign workers to all companies whose employee’s work permit expires from April 1 to December 31, 2020.
This reduction in levy payments does not apply to domestic workers.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
On retaining or reducing manpower
Touching on to retaining manpower, Muhyiddin said the government has agreed to encourage consultation between employers and workers on the terms of employment.
These include the option of pay cuts and the provision of unpaid leave during the MCO period.
Employers and employees can consult the Department of Labor for advice on any issues that may be resolved and any consultation should be subject to employment law in this country.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
Extension on submitting statutory documents
Considering the difficulties faced by companies in submitting statutory documents to meet the requirements of SSM during the MCO period, the government has agreed to grant a moratorium automatically within 30 days of the MCO’s last date for companies to submit. Â In addition, the filing period for financial statements was also extended to 3 months from the date of the MCO. This flexibility is granted to companies with financial years ending September 30 to December 31, 2019.
However, businesses will need to apply for such relaxation from SSM and no late delivery fee will be charged on the application.

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We Did Not Force Principals To Arrange Anwar Biopic Screenings, Says Education Ministry

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The Ministry of Education has refuted claims that it issued a circular mandating the viewing of a biopic about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a statement, the Education Ministry said no such directive regarding the film screening was ever released.
Previously, a circular allegedly attributed to Education Director-General Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali stated that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had instructed heads of departments, state education directors, and principals to watch the biopic titled “Anwar: The Untold Story” at their nearest cinema, accompanied by teachers and students.
A few days earlier, a screening of the movie took place at SMK Putrajaya Presint 5, with Fadhlina in attendance, which was organized by the ministry.
However, the school administration later clarified that the screening was an extracurricular activity and no students were compelled to watch it.
It is important to note that the movie was released on May 18 and sparked criticism on social media.
READ MORE: Free Screening Of Anwar Biopic For Form 6 Students And Firefighters Earns Criticism
READ MORE: Here’s What The Public Has To Say About “Anwar The Untold Story” After Cinema Release

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Expect Heavy Traffic This Aidiladha, Get To Know “Smartlanes”

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With Hari Raya Aidiladha just around the corner, naturally traffic on Malaysian highways are expected to increase.

According to Mohd Yusuf Abdul Aziz, the operations senior general manager of PLUS, around two million vehicles are expected to use the highways especially on peak days, such as June 28 (Wednesday) and July 1 (Saturday), which would be an increase of 12% from the daily average of 1.7 million vehicles, as reported by The Star.
ANIH Berhad, that operates the East Coast Expressway 1 (LPT1) and the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) in a statement said over one million vehicles are expected to use the KLK during the holiday season, a phenomenal 70% increase.
Imran Gulcharan Abdullah, CEO of ANIH Berhad said around 430,000 cars are estimated to commute along the LPT1, seeing a significant 60% increase.
To reduce the traffic congestions, both expressways have taken steps to help the people have a smooth journey.
ANIH Berhad has released a Travel Time Advisory (TTA) to help the people in their effort to plan their journey for the festive season.

Furthermore, ANIH Berhad stated that they have increased their employees by 20% to reduce traffic congestion during this festive season.
Included in this are more employees at toll booths, LPT Ronda teams, the Traffic Control Centre (TCC), and the dispatch of more than 170 RELA members to key highway points.
If additional toll lanes for manual transactions are required, ANIH Berhad will activate them and, if necessary, execute contra-flow strategies at the proper locations.
To avoid delays or inconveniences at toll plazas, road users are advised to make sure they have enough money in their Touch ‘n Go and e-wallets before setting off.
PLUS has also taken the initiative to activate the “Smartlane” from 24 June to 2 July 2023 from 10am to 6pm, where the current left-most lane is opened as a second lane during that time to boost its capacity and help with traffic flow during the morning rush hour.

Highway users can learn more about the “Smartlane” routes by looking for the “SmartLane” signs or by visiting PLUS’ social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
Below is a list of the locations with the “Smartlane”:

Tapah Route (KM306.7) to Gopeng Junction (KM297.0) – northbound
Slim River Route (KM367.3) to the Sungkai Junction entrance (KM354.1) – northbound
R&R Rawang (KM439.6) to Sungai Buaya Intersection (KM435.5) – northbound
Port Dickson Junction (KM260.0) to Seremban Junction (KM263.1) -northbound
Senai Utara Junction (KM19.0) to Kulai Junction (KM27.0) – northbound

Highway users also need to make sure that their vehicles are in good condition for long journeys.
It is vital to make sure the tyres, black oil, brakes, lights, battery, and radiator are in tip top condition.
As mentioned above, the number of vehicles are going to increase on these highways, so it is important to adhere to traffic rules, especially concerning speed to ensure that everyone on the road will have a safe journey.

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