Man beats 11 year-old son & wife with skateboard over RM10

In Terengganu, a mechanic was remanded by the police for allegedly beating his wife and 11 year-old son in a sudden fit of rage last Thursday.

Suspect being escorted by police to the Kuala Terengganu Court.(Picture Credit: Sinar Harian)

The 32-year-old man had reportedly gone berserk after he had failed to borrow RM10 from his son to supposedly purchase mobile prepaid top-up.

For a top-up? Really?
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Apparently the man entered the childâ€™s room while the boy was sleeping, asking for the boyâ€™s Duit Raya.

via GIPHY
After being denied his request, the man then proceeded to kick the child in the head.
His actions were quickly realised by the boyâ€™s mother who rushed to protect the child. This was when the man then took his anger out on the 31-year-old women, hitting her with a skateboard and injuring her in the process.

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According to the police, the man had a history of bad temperament and violent behaviour, having previously caused property damage and even injuries to other people.

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The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry reported that between 2013 to 2018, more than 26,000 child abuse cases had been reported.
The Womenâ€™s Aid Organisation (WAO) states that more than 17% of these cases were due to an imbalance of power and control within a household which often results in family disputes.
 Furthermore, 73% of children from these homes live within an environment where they are constantly exposed to some form of domestic violence.

If someone you know is or has been a victim of domestic violence and abuse, find out how you can help by contacting the WAO Hotline at; +60379563488 or through WhatsApp at; +60189888058 .
And always be sure to report anything suspicious to the relevant authorities.


5 F&B Brands You Probably Didn’t Know Were Malaysian

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You probably thought Milo and Maggi were Malaysian brands, didn’t you? Well, we hate to burst your bubble but they’re in fact, not from Malaysia. Milo is from Australia while Maggi is from Switzerland. Mind-boggling, isn’t it?

But we bet you think these guys however are from international waters. Think again. These are actually Malaysian brands! Time to be proud, dear Malaysians.
1. San Francisco Coffee
San Francisco. The name itself… Yes, they do have a lot of coffee shops over there, but surprisingly, this brand of San Francisco Coffee isn’t from the United States.
Did you know that San Francisco Coffee was the first gourmet coffee franchise in Malaysia, even before Starbucks and the Coffee Bean?
Although a Malaysian didn’t open the franchise, it was actually first established in Malaysia. Credit: San Francisco Coffee / Facebook
It was founded by Robert Boxwell in 1997, an American FROM San Francisco who came to Malaysia for a business trip. During his visit, he noticed the absence of coffee culture here at the time and decided to start a business with his friends.
The brand is currently owned by Lyndarahim Ventures Sdn Bhd under Datuk Abdul Rahim Zin and this coffee franchise has over 40 outlets in Malaysia. Give or take.
2. The Manhattan Fish Market (MFM)
Yes, this isn’t from the States as well. The idea of it was, though.
Founded by a group of young Malaysian entrepreneurs, George Ang, Dr. Jeffrey Goh, and Dickson Low, they drew inspiration from the reputable Fulton Fish Market which was once located below the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Who knew they were Malaysian huh? Credit: Flickr
They saw an opportunity to serve Malaysians American-style seafood cuisine and opened their first outlet in Mid Valley Megamall in 2002.
Fast forward to a couple of years, they’ve successfully expanded their restaurant chain in countries like:
SingaporeIndonesiaSri LankaMyanmarOmanBangladeshQatarUnited Arab EmiratesBruneiJordanMaldives
Currently, the MFM is owned by Revenue Valley Sdn Bhd who also handles other famous restaurants such as Tony Roma’s and NY Steak Shack.
3. Appeton
You must think that Appeton was imported from some European country, right? Nope. It’s Malaysian-based, peeps.
The iconic and colorful Vitamin C supplements that we used to get from our mothers when we were young are actually made by a local pharmaceutical company called Kotra Pharma.
Feeling nostalgic yet? Credit: Appeton Website
Now headquartered in Cheng, Malacca, Kotra Pharma was founded in 1982 and they launched their most successful product, Appeton in 1989. This company also later released other brands such as Axcel and Vaxcel.
Appleton has successfully reached around 30 international markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Indonesia, Phillippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Greece, and more.
Who knew, huh?
4. Beryl’s Chocolate
Isn’t Beryls from Belgium or something? Not in this world.
Did you know that this brand was originally named Real Chocolate? It was established in Desa Serdang in 1995.
They changed their name to Beryl’s Chocolate and Confectionery Sdn Bhd in 2000 and moved their production to Seri Kembangan Industrial Area.
Honestly, their physical stores all look like they’re imported chocolates!Credit: Beryl’s Website
They also have a Chocolate Museum Tour in their factory. Willy Wonka Chocolate enthusiasts can visit and learn how premium quality chocolate is made from cocoa beans sourced around the world. Exciting.
Beryl’s has victoriously penetrated the market both locally and overseas and can be found in over 15 countries around the world. Awesome.
5. Vochelle
Another chocolatier from wait for it… Malaysia. You would think that based on the company’s name, Maestro Swiss, this group would be from Switzerland, but that’s just not the case.
You must have seen these on the chocolate and sweets aisle in the supermarket, right?Credit: Maestro Swiss Website
Maestro Swiss Food Sdn Bhd is a fast-moving chocolate manufacturer based in Penang and also Petaling Jaya.
They were first established in 1999 and they are also the ones who produce Vico (chocolate malt drink) and Darry’s (Sweets).
Their products are distributed among 17,000 outlets in East and West Malaysia. They also export their products to more than 20 countries worldwide. Way to go Malaysians!
So there you have it. Some of the brands you think are from overseas but are actually from your own country.
Some other honorable mentions include Marrybrown, Carotino, Secret Recipe, Munchy’s, and Gardenia.

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The M’sian Paralympic Team Are Coming Home With 3 Golds And 2 Silver Medals And We Couldn’t Be Prouder

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As the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games comes to a close today (5 September), let’s take a moment to applaud Team Malaysia for their incredible achievements, sheer determination and astounding athletic abilities.

Team Malaysia consisted of 22 athletes competing in the categories of Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Cycling, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Wheelchair Tennis.
3 Gold and 2 Silver Medals
This year saw the most amount of medals by the Malaysian Paralympians with three golds and two silvers since they first participated in the 1972 Paralympics in Heidelberg, West Germany.

Debut, Returns and Firsts
(Credit: Paralympics Council of Malaysia)
On 28 August, powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin made his debut in the Men’s 72 kg Powerlifting finals and won the gold medal with the best lift at 228 kg. It was first medal for Malaysia at this year’s Paralympics.
Read More: Malaysia Wins First Medal At The Paralympics And It’s A Gold!
(Credit: Paralympics Council of Malaysia)
Malaysia’s second medal came from powerlifter Jong Yee Khie, who took Silver in the Men’s Under 107 kg finals on 30 August.
It was a triumphant return to the Paralympics for Yee Khie who previously competed in the Men’s under 97 kg in Rio and took seventh place.
Continuing the silver medal streak was Chew Wei Lun, who made Malaysian sporting history as the first athlete to win a medal in boccia at the individual BC1 event that took place on 1 September..
Chew Wei Lun playing boccia, a precision ball sport similar to bocce and related to bowls and pétanque.(Credit: Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia)
In another bout of firsts, it was the first time badminton was contested at the Paralympic games.
When national shuttler Cheah Liek Hou beat his arch rivalry in the Men’s Singles SU5 finals, he became the first-ever Paralympian to win gold in para-badminton.

Read More: Another Gold For Team Malaysia At the Paralympics!
Completing the three-gold target the Malaysian contingent was para-athlete Abdul Latif Romly who made a glorious return to retain his Men’s Long Jump T20 title.
(Credit: Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia)
Read More: [WATCH] Abdul Latif Wins Gold At The Tokyo Paralympic Games Despite Injury
Disputes and Disagreements
Although an overall successful run of events for Team Malaysia, it was not without some drama.
On day 3 of the event, 26-year-old Muhd Nur Syaiful Zulkafli made his Paralympic debut swimming at the 200m freestyle S5 (physical disabilities) and clocked in an Asian record at 2: 56.78s.
However, an unapproved plaster on his shoulder had him disqualified.
He eventually qualified for the finals but came in 7th.

Read More: This Is Why A M’sian Paralympian Swimmer Got In Trouble Over A Plaster On His Shoulder
In another dispute over disqualifications was with Paralympian Muhammad Ziyad Zolkepli.
Ziyad who would have won gold for his record-breaking performance in the Men’s Shot Put F20 finals but was stripped at a chance over a “Call Room” violation and was late to attend the event.
Credit: TeamMalaysia via Facebook
Read More: TLDR: How Malaysia Lost A Controversial Gold Medal At The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
Congratulations all-around to Team Malaysia for their superb effort and for instilling a sense of pride, unity and hope to your number 1 fans – Malaysians.

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[Watch] N. Sembilan Nasi Kandar Shop ‘Gangsters’ Beat Up Customer For Complaining

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A family meal at a mamak in Negeri Sembilan ended up in a fight due to a dispute over price yesterday, 5 May.

The night started when Twitter user Shahrul (@shahrulnizammm) and six of his family members decided to eat in Restoran Nasi Kandar Liga Maju around 12.30am.
There were not many eateries open at that time so they decided to dine at the mamak because they were hungry.
They planned on ordering fried chicken rice and teh tarik but they were told they could only order teh o ais or sirap ice for drinks.
When the food arrived, Shahrul claimed that they were served a plain dishes without any hint of vegetables so his mother questioned the waiter.
I don’t know. Later you can ask at the counter when you pay.The waiter
It was expensive!
Both Shahrul and his mother were shocked when they found out the total cost of the meal was more than RM50 for 3 plates of plain fried rice, 2 plates of plain fried maggi and plain nasi lemak.
The cashier said each meal was about RM6.
Its all started when we tried to make payments for the bullshit food they served us.Kitorg plan nak singgah makan nasi goreng ayam + teh tarik. Sbb it was late at night, we arrived around 1230am, mmg lapar gila so nak singgah makan lah. Korg tgk lah kualiti food diorg served pic.twitter.com/bFSnAYyAiK— Shahrul Nizam (@shahrulnizammm) May 5, 2022
Shahrul’s mother complained and said even if she reduced all the dishes by a ringgit (to RM5), it’ll still cost about RM45.
It’s still expensive. I don’t like this shop,Shahrul’s mother said before walking away.
Shahrul was about to pay for the meal when his mum walked away. However, the cashier said something in retort.
Then how much do you want it to be? RM2? RM3?Cashier to Shahrul’s mother.
Shahrul got angry at the cashier for shouting at his mum and slammed an empty tissue box on the counter to show his displeasure at the poor service.
The cashier and Shahrul argued for a few minutes until one of the staff allegedly came and pushed Shahrul.
Then si cashier and aku maki hamun for few minutes, until one of their gangster come and tolak2 aku. After that was very kecoh. 5-6 people holding my hand and whole body. While the gamgster keep coming to me. pic.twitter.com/SQb6xdzxpn— Shahrul Nizam (@shahrulnizammm) May 5, 2022
From there onwards, it became chaotic and Shahrul was held back by five to six people in the mamak while the others hit him on the back and sides.
Shahrul said they kept hitting him until he knocked over another customer’s table and fell to the ground.
He sustained injuries all over his body including his face because he couldn’t react fast enough.
Laporan polis telah dibuat, kes siasatan telah dibuka. Dan aku dah dapatkan rawatan di Hospital Jempol. pic.twitter.com/MUATaHQiSu— Shahrul Nizam (@shahrulnizammm) May 5, 2022
Staff are known to be rude
The situation only calmed down when he called the police and they arrived in less than 10 minutes. Some of mamak staff escaped but the police managed to herd 6 of them into the Black Maria van.
While making the police report, Shahrul was allegedly told by the police that the staff from this particular mamak are known to behave rudely like gangsters. Even one of the policemen had an encounter with them a day before.
However, it seemed like one of the policemen knows the owner of the mamak and pushed for Shahrul to settle with the owner privately.
The owner was willing to pay Shahrul’s family and another group of customers (whose table got knocked over during the fight) compensation for the trouble.
Even dlm office dlm balai tu, owner selamba mcm hentam dada cashier dia tu depan polis. Mcm dah biasa and tak takut langsung. He tried to be nice dgn aku lah. Sbb taknak aku continue report. Kebetulan mak aku dtg dekat aku, mintak dekat aku jgn settle tepi. Nak diorg belajar— Shahrul Nizam (@shahrulnizammm) May 5, 2022
Shahrul’s mother advised him not to settle privately with the owner so that they would be taught a lesson.
Shahrul and his family only got home around 7am after lodging a police report and undergoing a checkup at the hospital.
It turns out that the mamak has received complaints from other customers for bad food and service too.
And so that org laim tak kene pulak. Sbb bukan satu cerita weh. Sumpah korg google je lah nama kedai ni, banyak jugak complaint. Puji2 an semua yg 2-3 tahun lepas. (Ada mention sabah sbb gangster dia tu org sabah) pic.twitter.com/LlPQOXwEDY— Shahrul Nizam (@shahrulnizammm) May 5, 2022
Are both parties at fault?
Netizens were split about the issue. While they agreed that a fight was bad, they believe Shahrul’s mother should have been more tactful with her comments.
Some netizens advised Shahrul to watch his behaviour and reminded him that he had the choice to walk away as a customer.
Bruh kalau tgk makanan tu aku pun sakit hati dgn harga dia but your mum pun agak2 la. Siap cakap tak suka kedai ni depan org tu. kalau tak suka buat apa jejak. And ur mum expecting cashier give another discount because of she dont like it? Lol 🙄— Fazrini Yuseri (@wnfazrini) May 5, 2022
Dua dua ada salah. Dua dua bebal tunjuk perasaan sendiri. Dah makan bayar or sebelum makan tengok harga dulu. Mmg tengah takde kedai ni, jangan sampai provok baling tisu bagai.— ナビル (@thirtyoneyea) May 5, 2022
Satu je bang nak pesan lepas ni. Jaga adab bila di tempat orang sebab incident macam ni mungkin akan berlaku kat mana2 je. Abang boleh decide awalkan masa order tu nak makan situ atau blah je lepas tau tak boleh order air memacam. Customer also has right to choose n walk away.— Dejavu (@bangtanboys_is) May 5, 2022

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Water tarrifs to increase next year; here’s how it will affect you

2020 would will not be bringing you hoverboards, flying cars or a cure for all diseases, but rather, an increase in water tariffs.
Sad Upset GIF from Sad GIFs

The cabinet has recently approved a Tariff Setting Mechanism (TSM), which will be implemented by the government next year.
Depending on the area, the proposed tariff increase would be between 6 cents and 71 cents per 1,000 litres.
The government listed several reasons for the increase, including :

The current rate and the true cost of production
The weakening of water supply service providersâ€™ financial capability
The risk affecting the quality of water services to end-users

The Waterboy Adam Sandler GIF from Thewaterboy GIFs

Currently, the tariff is RM1.38 per 1,000 litres while the cost of production is RM2.31.
Despite this, the government pointed out that the proposed hike would be done in a manner that will not burden low-income households.
They’ve mentioned there would be a minimum increment for households that consume under 20 cubic metres per month.
FYI, about 47.8% of domestic consumers in Malaysia consume under 20 cubic metres per month with many of the consumers being a part of the lower income group (B40).
Job Money GIF from Job GIFs

Thankfully, if you happen to live in Selangor and have a household income of below RM4,000, you could enjoy free water for the first 20 cubic metres.
Better update your monthly budgets for 2020 as it looks like with the new fuel subsidy and increase in water tariffs means that you’ll have to spend more on expenses.
What are your thoughts on the increase in water tariffs? Let us know what you think on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!


University Student Goes Viral After Looking Up During Exam

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A photo capturing a student’s emotions during an exam is going viral online.

The photo shows a student from University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) looking up while sitting while other students were busy answering the exam questions.
UMP shared it on its Facebook page.
UMP uploaded other photos which showed the situation at the examination hall, but the particular photo caught netizens’ attention.
At the time of writing, the photo has been shared more than 11,000 times.

The student’s facial expression has left netizens chuckling; many said they could relate as they also had awkward moments during exams.
Netizens tried their best to figure out what was on his mind.
bila kau harapkan apa yang kau study last minit keluar masa exam tiba tiba buka paper langsung tak keluar satu apa pun.📷: Universiti Malaysia Perlis pic.twitter.com/OikJyrbhft— Waibi (@faeezzainal) February 7, 2023
Netizens also put on their creativity as they thought the picture was meme-worthy.

A fellow student who sat behind him was also not spared.

Some said it reminded them of the classic Mr Bean scene, in which the bumbling, childlike character was late and unprepared for his exam.

READ MORE: Elderly Men Sitting For End-Of-Semester Exam At UniSZA Inspire Malaysians Of All Ages
What Emotions Do People Get During Exams?
Fear is the most expected emotion that students feel during exams.
Students will notice how their heart races and their breath quickens when they see the question paper, and they do not seem to know the first two questions.
Many also experience nervousness or apprehension before, during, or even after an exam.
Feeling anxiety when preparing for and taking a test is perfectly natural.
Too much worry about a test is commonly referred to as test anxiety, which is very common among students.
Peer pressure, societal pressure and common factors can also aggravate the feeling.

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Government Extends EMCO For Tahfiz School And House In Hulu Langat To 5 May

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The Enhanced Movement Control Order (MCO) for two locations in Hulu Langat will be extended for another two more weeks until 5 May.
These are the Madrasah An-Nabbawiyah and a house in Batu 23, Sungai Lui.
Previously, the EMCO for both places was extended until 28 April while the rest of Sungai Lui, comprised of 7 villages in Sungai Lui ended on 13 April.
Since March 27, 7 locations have been declared as EMCOs throughout the country to enable tracing for Covid-19 cases after a high number of cases were found in these areas.
These are the 6 other locations with their EMCO duration:
Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid in Simpang Renggam, Johor (March 27 – 28 April)Masjid India Area, Kuala Lumpur (14 April – 28 April)Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion (7 April – 28 April)Menara City One (31 March – 28 April)Selayang Baru, Gombak (25 April – 3 May)KL Wholesale Market and Pusat Bandar Utara (20 April – 3 May)

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Hot Wheels Rolls Out 1st Gen 1985 Proton Saga, Set To Hit The Market In 2023

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We can finally see our first national car, the 1985 Proton Saga immortalised in the form of a miniature car.

Mattel, the manufacturer of Hot Wheels announced a partnership with Malaysian carmaker Proton to produce a miniature model (1:64 scale) of our legendary national car, earlier today at the Mattel Malaysia Plant in Perai, Penang.
The Mark 1 Proton Saga prototype at the plant displayed today, in red, white and brown. (Credit: FMT)
The plant, which is the largest Hot Wheels factory in the world, will be producing about half a billion new Hot Wheels cars every year from early 2023, as reported by FMT.
According to Bernama, Mattel Inc’s president and chief commercial officer, Steve Totzke, said the partnership is done to commemorate Mattel’s 40th anniversary in Malaysia.
This is an exciting partnership as we join to develop a Hot Wheels car, modelled after the original Proton Saga, the first model manufactured by Proton, which will now become a part of Hot Wheels’ singles collection. Steve Totzke, Mattel Inc’s President and Chief Commercial Officer
The new Hot Wheels Proton Saga model is expected to hit the market, worldwide, by the end of next year.
  @hotwheels.malaysia The worst part of life is waiting. The best part of life is having something worth waiting for. Celebrating Mattel 40th Anniversary by producing our very own 1985 Proton Saga #proudtobemalaysia | Hotwheels® Die-Cast #hotwheels #hotwheelsmalaysia #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #streamer #fastcars #carsoftiktok #gaming #love #wednesday #netflix #wc2022 ♬ SWIPE – ALYPH

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Penang to go ahead with smart parking app despite issues

If youâ€™re planning to drive up to Penang next year, do remember that you have to download the Penang Smart Parking app because the state is going fully digital next year.
It will be the first state in the country to do so and paper-based coupons will not be sold after 31 Dec of this year and will not be valid after 31 Dec of next year.

Despite initial issues when it first rolled out like lack of an Android app and the incomplete installation of the sensors, theyâ€™ve seemed to iron out some of the inconveniences and are pushing ahead with the move.
The council has deployed the Android app for two months now but some users are still facing problems using it.

Some are complaining of crashes, the inability to top-up, among other things and reviews haven’t been great over on the iOS side either.
Currently, the app has a rating of 2.9 stars on the Google Play Store and 2.5 stars in Apple’s App Store.

As for the sensors issue, The council plans to implement the sensors into the road surface in all 36,000 public parking spaces by August 2020.
The sensors are to alert app users if there are vacant lots that they can park in.

To make it easier for motorists who are unable to make online transactions to top up, there would be five official agents selling PSP e-coupons other than the council itself.
They are :

7Eleven
Happy Mart
Yang Agency
PH Ocean
Jefferson

On paper, it does seem like a great idea to have an app where you can pay for parking that also notifies for vacant lots nearby but we will have to wait and see if the system is implemented correctly

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Free & Discount Toll Rates On 30 Highways This Hari Raya

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Malaysians planning to return home for Aidilfitri can rejoice as the government today announced free tolls and discounts for all vehicles on 30 highways nationwide between 30 April to 1 May and 7 May to 8 May.

Prime Minister  Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the government had managed to strike a deal with the highway concessionaires to share the total amount of discounts given to the Malaysian Families, which is expected to cost RM77.11 million.
The free toll provision, according to Ismail, involves the North-South Expressway under PLUS Malaysia and the East Coast Expressway (LPT) under Anih Berhad.
“It will start at 12 midnight on April 30 until 11:59 pm on May 1, for all vehicle classes,” he said in a statement today.
KENYATAAN MEDIA YAB PERDANA MENTERITOL PERCUMA DAN DISKAUN TOL SEHINGGA 50 PERATUS SEMPENA PERAYAAN AIDILFITRI25 APRIL 2022#KeluargaMalaysia #BekerjaBersamaRakyat pic.twitter.com/oIILNURTZw— Pejabat Perdana Menteri (@MalaysiaPMO) April 25, 2022
He added that the toll-free travel on the North-South Highway and LPT will also be given on May 7 and 8.
“Meanwhile, a toll discount offer of between 30% and 50% will be given to other highways on the same date and time to all vehicles,” said Ismail.
Ismail said that it is hoped that the move would further bring cheers for the rakyat to celebrate Aidilfitri with their loved ones.
“The government’s decision also takes into consideration the impact of the pandemic on the Malaysian families’ source of income and to reduce the burden of highway users, especially the low-income group.
“At the same time, I hope the Malaysian Family can be tolerant and always be patient with the presence of millions of vehicles on the highway during the upcoming festive season. Drive carefully and always be careful on the road,” he said.
A toll discount of 50% off will be given for those using the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Cheras-Kajang Highway (GrandSaga), Sungai Besi Highway (Besraya), New Coastal Expressway (NPE), Ampang-KL Elevated Highway (Akleh), KL-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX) and Duta-Ulu Kelang Highway (DUKE).
Meanwhile, a 30% discount will be given for the Flood Water and Tunnel Management Project (SMART), Guthrie Corridor Expressway, KL-Kuala Selangor Highway (Latar), Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB), Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Kajang Ring Road (SILK), Sultan Abdul Halim Muad’zam Shah Bridge (JPP2), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), KL-West Traffic Dispersal Scheme Highway (SPRINT), Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas), New North Klang Straits Bypass (Grand Sepadu), Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE) and West Coast Expressway (WCE).

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It’s Alive! Giant Gundam Replica In Action At Japan Theme Park

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Japan, a place rich in history, cultural heritage and GIANT FIGHTING ROBOTS!

The Land of the Rising Sun shows off its latest jaw-dropping attraction with a life-sized, fully functioning replica from the iconic anime franchise, Mobile-Suit Gundam.
This big boi, dubbed the RX-78F00, stands 18-meters tall, weighs 25 tonnes, and is the centrepiece of Japan’s Gundam Factory in Yokohama – an amusement park themed around the 40-year spanning Gundam universe.
The theme park was expected to open in October 2020 but was delayed to launch on December 19 instead, due to circumstances from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The world got a glimpse of what this huge mecha – a sort of sub-genre in anime centring around machines being piloted by humans – in action when videos released online showed the Gundam moving in full view.
Footage showed RX-78F00 stretching its legs with a few short steps away from its “dock tower” and getting down on one knee with quite some dexterity with the video sped up.
The robot can even be seen moving its head, arm and fingers.
実物大ガンダムを動かすプロジェクト「ガンダム GLOBAL CHALLENGE」・2歩踏み出す・しゃがんで立膝・立ち上がる・右手を突き上げ、人差し指・しゃがんで立膝・バックステップでドックへ戻る・手首の回転の指の可動以前と違い、今回は爪先の動作まで確認できる位置より（速度加工済み）#GFY pic.twitter.com/JgwGILe2d5— よっくん (@yoshi115t) September 21, 2020
It is reported that the Gundam will only be on display for a limited time at the Gundam Factory until the end of March 2022.
Gundam is said to be one of the biggest media franchises in the world, grossing some RM108 billion in global revenues.
The popular series has spawned countless other spin-offs, tie-ins, comic books, manga, novels, video games and toys.
Gundam is number 13 in the rankings.(Title Max)

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Source:
『GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA』開催概要発表会
Gundam Factory Yokohama
Macross Vs. Gundam: The Key Differences Between the Classic Mecha Franchises
Gundam Factory Yokohama is finally opening on December 19
THE 25 HIGHEST-GROSSING MEDIA FRANCHISES OF ALL TIME


The secret to getting your child to open up emotionally as an Asian Parent

Asian parents have had to live through the “Tiger Mom” stereotype, where traditional parenting styles are condemned as tough, cold, and even brutal.
Yet, the stricter traditional parenting culture is just because Asian parents want the best for their children. Everything is for their own good! And the parents would know, because they’ve been through it! (Betul, kan??)
Winston Bishop This Is For Your Own Good GIF from Winstonbishop GIFs

But one thing many Asian parents fear is that their children are hiding things from them.
So, what then? How are parents supposed to protect their children if they don’t know what is going on in their children’s lives?
1) DO NOT go through their diaries
This is the number one way to ensure that they will never tell you anything, ever.
When your child catches you reading their diaries (and yes, it will be inevitable), they will be rightfully angry that you invaded their privacy.
Everyone needs time to figure out their feelings on their own. They may not be ready to tell you yet, but once you have gone into through their most private thoughts, they will never tell you anything willingly anymore.
Tina Imfine GIF from Tina GIFs

Worse, they will now be paranoid – and never write in their diary again.
2) DO NOT break a promise
A promise, to a young child, is like a commandment passed down from a higher power. They can’t explain why promises are powerful, other than it just is.
Pinky Promise Despicable Me GIF from Pinkypromise GIFs

By breaking your promise to them, you show them that:1. they aren’t important enough2. your words mean nothing
Even if it’s something as simple as “if you finish all your homework I’ll take you to McDonald’s!”, make sure you follow through.
Plus, you will teach your child the importance of keeping your word, and when they are older, they will keep their word to you too.
3) DO NOT go through their phones
Similarly to the first point, going through their phones is a huge breach of trust, especially as their phone is a direct link to their friends’ privacy as well.
We get it, you’re scared of cyber-bullying and sexual grooming. It’s natural for you to be paranoid. Yet, children need to learn how to navigate their social circle and relationships (digital or otherwise).
Sad Crying GIF from Sad GIFs

What you can do is to discuss related topics extensively to help them understand the full picture. Talk to them about cyber-bullying, gaslighting, harassment, and what to do in those situations.
Give them a chance to join in the discussion and let them learn from there.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
LISTEN.
Create a safe space for your children. No child is born untrusting of their parents. It’s instinctive for children to look to their parents for everything.
Children have always tried to reach out. If they say, “I’m tired”, or if they slack off in school work, or they just say “I feel sad”, those are all signs.
Don’t Ignore Me GIF from Dontignoreme GIFs

Unfortunately, many parents, teachers, and even their friends brush it off, saying “no la, you just need more sleep!” or “you just need to work harder”.
By saying that, the child is taught that their negative emotions has to be suppressed and that they can only present a side of themselves that wants to be seen by the adults in their lives.

With rising youth mental health cases in Malaysia, parents are right to panic. However, no human being ever turns to suicide lightly. They only do so when it’s the absolute last resort and they see no way out.
The only way for your children to open up emotionally is to give them a safe space, trust them, and respect them. You’ll be surprised at how willing your child shares when you do these things.
Baymax Comforting Hiro GIF from Bighero6 GIFs


Teen Fined RM5,000 For Removing Quarantine Tag So She Could Go Out

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A teen was fined RM5,000 by the police for removing her pink quarantine wristband and going out for a ride on a motorcycle.

The incident, according to the police, happened in Kamunting, Perak.
Taiping district police chief ACP Osman Mamat said the compound was issued under Regulation 17 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations 2021 (Act 342).
The 17-year-old was caught thanks to a TikTok video that went viral on social media.
The video shows the teen, all dressed up and wearing a helmet. Her sibling, who was recording her, warned the teen not to go out while in quarantine.
However, the teen then took her quarantine wristband out of her handbag and made a joke, as her sibling continued to warn her not to go out while also showing that her own wristband was still on.
Dia pakai gelang pink lepastu cabut sebab nak keluar ! Tolong lah jangan bodoh pic.twitter.com/9BMykVSPBA— Naffz (@naffz__) August 2, 2021

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Vivo X60 & X60 Pro Finally Comes To Malaysia & Their Photography Game Is STRONG

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Vivo Malaysia recently launched two new flagship smartphones, the X60 and X60 Pro, which heavily focuses on mobile photography.

Both models are available for purchase with the X60 retailing at RM2699 while the X60 Pro is priced at RM3299.
Emphasis on photography
Both phones have the imaging system co-engineered ZEISS, a German company which specialises on making lenses, to improve on picture quality.
Another similarity between the two phones is the three camera setup, as well as a 32MP front camera.
What differentiates the two is that the X60 Pro has a slightly better camera rear camera than the X60 and also a front flashlight.
The cameras are also fitted with other neat features such as Gimbal Stabilization 2.0 for steadier shots and Extreme Night Vision 2.0 for shooting in low light.
Credit: Vivo Malaysia
Spec’d out
The X60 and X60 Pro is a powered by Qualcomm chipset that is able to handle day-to-day tasks and some heavy gaming, a big battery with fast charging capabilities and also 5G.
Although Malaysia doesn’t have 5G yet, the country has been trying to roll out the technology in phases starting the end of this year.
Based on reports, 5G is a next generation wireless network technology which is 100 times faster than 4G.
Both models also have a 6.56 inch display and comes in two colours – Shimmer Blue or Midnight Black.
The X60 and X60 Pro is now available for pre-order at all of their Vivo concept stores, Vivo authorised dealers and also online platforms such as Shopee and Lazada.
Credit: Vivo Malaysia

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BossKu toy cars most probably NOT made by the original manufacturer

Pictures of “LIMITED EDITION” toys with his likeness and catchphrase were shared by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his Facebook page this evening.
Within an hour, his post received over 1,000 shares, 3,000 comments with 23,000 reactions.

One appears to be a pickup truck and the other a DeLorean DMC-12 repainted with his likeness and his Malu Apa Bossku catchphrase on the box.

“Whether it’s real or not, I don’t know. A friend WhatsApped just now. If you find it, don’t just look at it. It’s limited edition. After you buy it, upload a picture.”
 Najib Razak Facebook page
Well, we can say that while they might physically exist, they are not made by the original manufacturer.
This is according to a knowledgeable source close to the company who replied to us when contacted.
The source said there probably modifications of the diecast toys by a customer.
So whether you’re a BossKu fan or not, maybe don’t get too worked up?


Russia Claims It Developed World’s First Covid-19 Vaccine That’s Safe For Public Use

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Russia claims that it has developed the world’s 1st Covid-19 vaccine and approved it for public use after just 2 months of clinical trials.

The Sputnik-V vaccine, named after the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, is said to be effective and provides “stable immunity” from the coronavirus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin even claimed that one of his 2 daughters had taken part in the experiment to test the vaccine and was inoculated with Sputnik-V.
Putin said that 2 separate injections were provided which caused his daughter to develop a brief fever before feeling “normal” again.
Apparently, Russia plans to push the vaccine for public use in October 2020, and it’s said that several countries as well as private pharmaceutical companies have shown interest in Sputnik-V.
However, the international medical community remains skeptical of the safety and effectiveness of Russia’s vaccine.
Reportedly, Sputnik-V was developed without following established guidelines with Russia failing to provide any scientific data on its testing.
(WHO)
Clinical trials are essential research to study and evaluate the effects of medical treatments on human health and are conducted carefully, usually over an extensive period.
The World Health Organization (WHO) outlines 4 phases of the clinical trial process according to international standards;
Phase 1: New drugs, or in this case vaccines, are tested for the first time on a small group of people to determine a safe dosage and identify side effects.Phase 2: After passing the 1st phase, tests are now done on a larger group of people to monitor side effects.Phase 3: Testing is done on a large population, in different regions or countries before approval.Phase 4: Studies are done after a country has approved the vaccine, testing a wide population over a longer period.
According to WHO, currently, there are 6 different Covid-19 vaccines that have entered Phase 3 of trials with no guarantees that they would work, and Russia has reportedly skipped the step in trials for Sputnik-V before approving it.
Globally, there are over 100 vaccines for Covid-19 in early development with experts being quoted as saying that a viable one might take years, even decades to be successfully produced and distributed.
Read more: It Might Be Compulsory For Malaysians To Take Covid-19 Vaccine Once It’s Found

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Source:
Putin says Russia has approved 'world first' Covid-19 vaccine. But questions over its safety remain
Coronavirus: Putin says vaccine has been approved for use
Scientists ask: Without trial data, how can we trust Russia's COVID vaccine?
Clinical trials
Muhyiddin: “Once Available, Asean Must Ensure Covid-19 Vaccine Affordable, Accessible To All”
Malaysian Researcher Is Helping To Create Covid-19 Antibody Test
It Might Be Compulsory For Malaysians To Take Covid-19 Vaccine Once It’s Found
The World Might Have To Just Live With Covid-19 Forever, Even With A Vaccine
World Would Only Return To Normal Once Covid-19 Vaccine Is Found, Says UN
Covid-19 Vaccine Human Trials Might Begin In Singapore Sometime This Week
Covid-19 Vaccine: US Biotech Company Moderna Entering Final Stages Of Human Trials On 27 July


Can’t Watch Thor 4 In Theatres? You Might Get To Watch It On Disney+ Hotstar

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We all saw it coming, didn’t we? *cries in silence*

READ MORE: Disney Announces That Thor: Love And Thunder Won’t Be Showing In Malaysia
Well, we guess there’s no better way than to go overseas and watch Thor in Singapore or Thailand. Okay, that may be too much.
We’ve been waiting for almost a month to watch Thor: Love And Thunder here in Malaysia, right?

But now that it’s officially banned here, we’re gonna have to find other ways to watch this most awaited Marvel film to date.
But what if we do have another way to watch it?
Firstly, bear in mind that this is all just a possibility (conspiracy theory-ish), not definite.
As Disney owns Marvel and the rights to the whole Thor film franchise, you can supposedly watch it on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Most Marvel films will eventually hit Disney+ after their theatrical release, like Eternals (it took 3 months) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (it took 47 days).

So if Thor is coming to Disney+, it’s just a matter of when. It could arrive on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar between mid August and early September 2022.
However, another question remains. Will it be available in MALAYSIA though?
Lightyear is coming on Disney+ Hotstar, then theoretically Thor 4 would too, right?
A little bird told us that Lightyear is coming to Disney+ Hotstar. Remember? The one that got ‘banned’ in Malaysian cinemas previously? 👀
(Credit: Azizul Rahman Ismail / TRP)
Most people speculated that it was because of the LGBTQ ‘element’.
READ MORE: “We Didn’t Ban ‘Lightyear’, It Was The Distributor,” Says Censorship Board On The Movie Not Showing In Cinemas
But hey, would you look at this? It’s coming to Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia!
(Credit: Azizul Rahman Ismail / TRP)
Of course, it doesn’t say when specifically but worldwide, it’s coming to both Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar on 3 August 2022.
So what does that say about Thor: Love And Thunder? There could be a chance that it will be aired on Disney+ Hotstar too. We just have to wait for it. AGAIN. 🙃
We’ve reached out to Disney+ Hotstar for further clarification regarding the possibility.
Well, what do you think? Is there a high possibility of Thor 4 being in Disney+ Hotstar?

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Johnson & Johnson To Stop Selling Talc Baby Powder In 2023

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Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will no longer sell its popular yet controversial talc-based baby powder globally in 2023. The product has not been on the market shelves in the United States and Canada since two years ago.

According to Malay Mail, J&J has made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio, noting that cornstarch-based baby powder is already sold in countries around the world.
In 2020, J&J announced that it would stop selling its talc Baby Powder in the United States and Canada when the market demand has fallen due to misinformation about the product’s safety and a series of legal challenges.
The allegations centered on the presence of asbestos, a known carcinogen, in the popular talc Baby Powder.
To date, J&J faces about 38,000 lawsuits from consumers and their survivors who claimed the powder caused cancer.
An overview of Johnson’s talc Baby Powder. Image: TRP File
Is asbestos in the talc Baby Powder?
An investigation by Reuters in 2018 found that J&J knew for decades that asbestos was present in its talc products.
The investigation revealed that internal company records, trial testimony and other evidence from 1971 to the early 2000s showed that J&J’s raw talc and finished powder sometimes tested positive for asbestos in small amounts.
In response to the evidence of asbestos contamination, J&J has repeatedly said its products are safe and do not cause cancer.
According to Reuters, J&J said decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals have shown that its talc powders do not contain asbestos.
Pending lawsuits paused
J&J spun off subsidiary LTL Management assigned its talk claims to it in October and immediately places it into bankruptcy, pausing the pending lawsuits.
However, consumers could try to use J&J’s decision to pull the products as evidence if a federal appellate court allows the case to move forward.
If the case does go forward, Ben Whiting, an attorney with the plaintiffs firm Keller Postman, said “it’s a very big deal.”
Before the bankruptcy filing, J&J faced costs from $3.5 billion in verdicts and settlements, including a case in which 22 women were awarded a judgement of more than $2 billion.

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‘End Ramadhan buffets to stop food wastage’?

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday shared some shocking facts at an opening ceremony for the Food Bank Seminar Malaysia in Putrajaya.
Guys, there’s a lot of food that is wastedPic Credit: Malay Mail
During the speech, he said there have been proposals to shut down Ramadhan buffets to reduce the amount of food waste.
However, he regrets that the government does not have the power to do so.
Neither does his ministry have the power to control or restrict the amount of food in the hospitality industry.

via GIPHY
Saifuddin then divulges some serious numbers about food wastage and shares his concern on this matter.
He reports that according to Solid Waste Corporation of Malaysia (SWCorp) there is more than a 30% increase of food being thrown out during Ramadhan compared to other months.
Malaysians on average throw away about 15,000 metric tonnes a month, which translates to feeding about 12 million people three times a day.

via GIPHY
Instead, he suggests the hospitality industry do more charity and take care of the welfare of the poor.
Saifuddin says his ministry has a list of people who would benefit from such help, especially during these times (Ramadhan) and volunteered to share the information.
Source via:1. Malaysia Gazette, May 13, 2019 (Ada cadangan larang bufet Ramadan elak pembaziran makanan â€“ Saifuddin) 2. New Straits Times, December 2018, (Amount of food wasted by Malaysians enough to feed 12 million people a day)


Online ‘Slap’ Service For Sale On Shopee, Over 200 Slaps Sold

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When it comes to capitalism, EVERYTHING is up for grabs!

If you’ve ever felt the urge to slap someone right across the face, then look no further than to the bestselling ‘viral slap’ service on the Shopee online store.
Pioneered by Shopee storeowner areld54 from Sabah, the service offers customers a chance to send a virtual smack to anyone of their choice for the small price of between 36 to 47 sen, complete with a personalised message and no shipping required.
Consumers can either send a ‘regular’ slap or the pricier ‘HD’ slap via WhatsApp to a friend, an ex-lover or maybe even that annoying colleague who wants you to come by the office instead of WFH.
(Credit: areld54 via Shopee)
But customers be warned, be sure to read the product description thoroughly before making a purchase or you’ll be the one who’d be getting a hand sent your way.
Please include the WhatsApp number or I’ll slap you instead 😘.areld54 via Shopee
From the looks of it, that the virtual slap service appears to be high in demand – with over 200 slaps sold – and testimonies reveal almost everyone was satisfied with the service provided.
(Credit: areld54 via Shopee)
So what are you waiting for, send a slap to someone who deserves it today!

DISCLAIMER: TRP does not condone slapping anyone, either virtually or in real life, without their express consent.

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Lim Guan Eng Apologises To GPS

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DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today issued a public apology to Sarawak premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government.

“I apologise for my remarks that may have offended the Sarawak Premier and the GPS Sarawak state government,” he posted on Facebook.
His apology comes after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said he had a meeting with Abang Johari this morning where he apologised on behalf of DAP if any of their leaders said anything that had offended GPS and Sarawakians in the past.
Lim in his apology said the future of the country was more important.
“Let us make a fresh start to cooperate together to preserve the diversity, inclusiveness and unity of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society as well as protect our Federal Constitution for the benefit of all in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak,” Lim said.

While Lim did not specify what he was apologising for, in 2019 he remarked that Sarawak could go ‘bankrupt in three years‘ if GPS were voted in again.
He said this before the last Sarawak state election which took place in 2021 after being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In calling for Sarawakians to replace the GPS government, citing the state’s RM11 billion budget in 2018, he said with a state reserve of RM30 billion and if Sarawak continued to spend RM11 billion every year, they’d have nothing in three years and ‘end up like Kelantan’.

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Marvel Studios Reveals Phase 5 Complete Lineup, First Phase 6 Details Revealed

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Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige unveils the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 lineup at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). The announcement excited fans since Marvel Studios have skipped SDCC for a couple of years.

First things first, MCU Phase 4 will end with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. MCU Phase 5 will kick off with Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania.
MCU Phase 5 lineup. Image: IGN
The Ant-Man film will be followed by:
Secret Invasion (Spring 2023)Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (May 2023)Echo (Summer 2023)The Marvels (July 2023)Loki season 2 (Summer 2023)Blade (3 November 2023)Ironheart (Fall 2023)Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Winter 2023/24)Daredevil: Born Again (Spring 2024)Captain America: New World Order (3 May 2024)Thunderbolts (26 July 2024)
MCU Phase 5 will conclude with Thunderbolts in July 2024.
Just announced in Hall H: Marvel Studios’ Daredevil: Born Again, an Original series starring Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, streaming Spring 2024 on @DisneyPlus. #SDCC2022 pic.twitter.com/Nrt7xQmqfi— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 24, 2022
The highly anticipated announcement from the lineup is none other than the 18-episode Daredevil: Born Again television series, which will see Charlie Cox reprise his role.
This also means fans get to watch Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, who showed up in the Hawkeye series, again.
Are we getting the new Avengers line-up?
Marvel Studios seemed to be reserving the highly anticipated Avengers 5 film for MCU Phase 6.
With the introduction of the character Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Falcon and the Winter Soldier), it can be surmised that Marvel’s Phase 5 might focus on the villains with Thunderbolts first.
What do we know about MCU Phase 6?
Marvel Studios welcomes you to The Multiverse Saga. pic.twitter.com/HC1b747YPl— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 24, 2022
For Phase 6, the first details of the lineup include:
Fantastic Four (8 November 2024)Avengers: Kang Dynasty (2 May 2025)Avengers: Secret Wars (7 November 2025)
Marvel also revealed that Phase 4, 5 and 6 will be collectively known as The Multiverse Saga.
Based on the line-up, it seems like Kang the Conqueror will be the main villain in this era (it looks like all the guesses in the Loki series are close!).
More shows coming up
Check out this new poster for Marvel Studios’ #IAmGroot. All Original shorts start streaming August 10 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/7P9EDPVIVt— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 22, 2022
Additionally, Marvel is releasing a host of animated series on Disney Plus over the next few years.
Shows such as What If…? season 2, Marvel Zombies and Spider-Man: Freshman Year are part of the MCU canon.
X-Men ’97 and I Am Groot are allegedly set in separate continuities.

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A Sabahan Senator Built A Solar Electric Buggy To Help Rural Villagers

https://www.facebook.com/adrian.lasimbang/posts/10158029042763340
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Not keen on wasting time, even during a 14-day quarantine, Sabahan Senator Adrian Banie Lasimbang made full use of his time to make a solar powered buggy.
After being instructed to isolate when a close contact of his tested positive for Covid-19, the 43-year-old told Channel News Asia (CNA) that he decided to embark on this long-postponed project.
I had always planned for a solar buggy, but kept putting it off, because my team and I were busy with micro-hydroelectric projects here in Sabah and around the country.Adrian Banie Lasimbang, Senator in Dewan Negara to Channel News Asia.
The solar electric buggy can fit up to 6 people.(Credit: Adrian Banie Lasimbang/Facebook)
The Dewan Negara senator is also a rural empowerment activist and heads the Center for Renewable Energy & Appropriate Technology (CREATE) Borneo, a social enterprise which specialises in rural electrification. He’s usually busy with micro-hydroelectric power supply or installing solar-powered water pumps for rural villages with limited access.
As the Movement Control Order (MCO) was in effect, Adrian and his team couldn’t carry out their usual projects and some couldn’t even go back to their hometowns. So, they decided to build a prototype of a solar-powered electric buggy that could be used by rural communities.
Senator Adrian Banie Lasimbang in his workshop.(Credit: Adrian Banie Lasimbang/Facebook)
Adrian told CNA that the goal was to create a usable and affordable transport system and power source for rural villages.
Villagers from rural communities currently depend on generators that run on expensive fuel for electricity. They also spend a significant amount of time and money to go to the nearest town to bring back fuel to run their generators and motorcycles.
Building the buggy
Adrian documented the project on his social media, sharing progress pictures of the buggy and doing a mini tour of the workshop behind his house.

First time buat FB live.. Share sikit projek #DudukRumah saya.Posted by Adrian Banie Lasimbang on Thursday, April 2, 2020

He built the frame using materials from the workshop including solar panels, integrating the electrical power system with the drive system, a 5.3 horsepower direct current (DC) motor and a steering system which was salvaged from an old Proton Wira.
It is also fitted with an inverter, to regulate and convert the flow of DC (direct current) power from the battery to AC (alternating current) which lets it power other electrical appliances.
The pedals of the solar electric buggy.(Credit: Adrian Banie Lasimbang/Facebook)
The buggy’s 1000Ah solar battery bank allowed it to supply power of 5 kilowatts for up to 2 days, which Adrian says is enough to run basic appliances like fan, lights, television and phone charging.

Test runs also show that the solar electric buggy has a top speed of 25km/h. It’s no Speedy Gonzales but it can fit six people, and useful for farmers to transport harvested rice from paddy fields.
While he’s pleased with his prototype, Adrian told CNA that he’d still like to improve the vehicle’s safety and weight. However, he is optimistic about its potential.
If we can finish this, and once the MCO is lifted, I’d like to see how we can go about getting the buggy certified for public use, such as going to the Road Transport Department or the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.Adrian Banie Lasimbang, Senator in Dewan Negara to Channel News Asia.

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Source:
Malaysian senator builds solar-powered buggy while under home quarantine for COVID-19


TLDR: US-Based Asia Sentinel Claims Agong And Top Politicians Secretly Keeping Vaccines For Friends & Family

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An article published on the Asia Sentinel made its rounds on Malaysian social media recently, sparking difficult conversations online.

The article, titled “Malaysia Fades in Covid Fight” writes that Malaysia initially started strong while other countries faltered during the pandemic, but has now slipped up, with non-stop rising Covid-19 cases and a miserable vaccine rate at just 3.2% of the population.
However, the article then comes up with further claims, implying the corruption of our current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and top politicians regarding the vaccine for Covid-19.
Allegation 1: Agong receives illegal vaccines from the UAE
In the article, author John Berthelsen claims that “two well-placed sources” say Sultan Abdullah went to the United Arab Emirates in January, with the Foreign Minister Hishamuddin Hussein and the Attorney General Idris Harun in tow.
This is a scandal which is being talked about in social circles and at highest levels of government, but no one dares to go public because of the sedition laws and the emergency called by the king.The anonymous sources quoted by the Asia Sentinel claim that this news is hushed up.
They visited the Agong’s best friend, the crown prince of UAE Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan. While there, they were vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine, which is not recognized by Malaysia– and is therefore illegal here.
The Agong has been best friends with UAE Crown Prince since their studies together in Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK.(Credit: Instagram/Istana Negara)
Allegedly, the Agong then received 2,000 more doses of the vaccine, which he then brought back to Malaysia to be distributed to his family, friends, and business partners.
The Agong has not been the only royal implicated. Two princesses from Spain who also visited the UAE admitted to receiving the vaccine and faced major backlash from their own country as critics slammed the move as “preferential treatment for royalty”.
According to this article, the problem began when the Health Ministry began issuing the ‘yellow booklets’ to show that the holder has been vaccinated and can travel internationally.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah allegedly stopped the Ministry from issuing these booklets to the Agong’s family as the vaccine they used was not recognized by Malaysia and therefore should not receive the booklet.
Allegation 2: Health DG’s fall from grace
According the to article, Dr Noor Hisham also fell out of favour within the politcal sphere.
Dr Noor Hisham has previously been applauded for his work in containing Covid-19 in Malaysia.(Credit: Malay Mail)
[Noor Hisham] …who initially was regarded as being instrumental in keeping cases down but who now is widely disliked in government circles for being dictatorial although his public image remains positive.The anonymous source as quoted by Asia Sentinel
According to the article, Dr Noor Hisham dictates what can be and cannot be done in a “totally dysfunctional cabinet made up of incompetent ministers”.
Some have even criticized how long it took Dr Noor Hisham to approve the Pfizer vaccine for use in Malaysia, long after other countries have approved it. As a result, Malaysia’s vaccine supply has to be mixed with vaccines from other countries, like the Sinovac vaccine.
Split reactions?
Netizens held mixed reactions. Many condemned the scandal and cronyism, while other were more critical of these sources that spoke to Asia Sentinel.
Ya Allah. Kau laknatilah penguasa & pemimpin zalim, politikus korup & sekutunya, yg khianat amanah negara, yg hidup selesa hasil keringat derita rakyatnya. Moga ditarik darinya nikmat bahagia, tak tenang jiwanya, disusahkan di dunia & akhirat. Aminn yra— IP (@ipenatlahh) April 17, 2021
Government officials slam Asia Sentinal article
The government has denied all claims, saying that such unfounded allegations tarnishes our Agong’s name.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba also questioned where the author received the sources of his claims, and accused the author of trying to create a negative perception of Malaysia.
Additionally, Dr Adham noted that the procurement of all vaccines must go through stringent procedures set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and only after that will the vaccine receive the approval to be distributed by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba pose with the arrival of the Pfizer vaccines.(Credit: @kementeriankesihatanmalaysia/Facebook)
The doctor named in the Asia Sentinel article, Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid from Hospital Chancellor Tuanku Muhriz (HUKM), came out to state that he had never administered the Sinopharm vaccine to anyone.
I have nothing to say as it is just not true.Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid on a Facebook comment
What is the Asia Sentinel?
Asia Sentinel is categorized as left-center biased by Media Bias Fact Check, and historically has used emotionally-loaded headlines with poorly-sourced articles and does not provide hyperlinks. They have yet to respond to the denials of their allegations.
Still, the article sparked conversation among the rakyat, many who have been rather disappointed at the delayed roll-out of the vaccines.

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Malaysians Fiercely Defend Sugu Pavithra After TV Producer’s Snide Remarks Over RM10K Appearance Fee

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The internet was abuzz today about Malaysia’s favourite cooking couple, SuguPavithra when a TV producer made snide remarks over their RM10,000 appearance fee on Instagram.
On an Instagram story, the producer said she was shocked to hear the high figure after inquiring about the couple appearing for a cooking show.
Are YouTuber rates more expensive? I called SuguPavithra to propose a one-hour cooking show. She asked for RM10k. I felt feverish after hearing that. They’re on Chef Wan’s leveh eh.
TV stations trying to milk profit out of Pavithra and her husband, Sugu but was shocked by the price suggested? If you can’t afford it just be silent lah don’t try to taint their name. Pavithra pun dah bagitau dia saje bagi harga macam tu sebab nak fokus YouTube & family je. pic.twitter.com/n99RPpqDy9— Anon (@AkaunAnon2) June 19, 2020
The screenshot of the story immediately went viral on Twitter with Malaysians angrily defending the cooking couple.
How dare you shame her! 1. She’s freaking amazing.2. She deserves 10k more than the other talentless tripe on ‘irrelevant’ air.3. You act like you are doing her a favour-really?4. Get up to speed- she is relevant, relatable and authentic! https://t.co/nFQjDqxRtd— Asha Gill (@_AshaGill) June 19, 2020
Women have always underrated themselves in the work sector. So it’s good that Sugu recognises her worth and her right to ask for decent payment! Her skills are definitely worth more than RM10k! Go Sugu Pavithra!#WiraAWAM #AWAMEverydaySheroes https://t.co/NBnd2x3hm4— All Women’s Action Society (@AWAMMalaysia) June 20, 2020
Dia yang nak exploit orang tu, pastu tuduh orang tu diva. Excuse me, Sugu and Pavithra know their worth. In fact they should be paid more than that. Ingat senang ke nak build a youtube following. It’s not kerja makan gaji. Kalau tak rajin, takde income.— Nadia Nazir (@Nadia_Nazir) June 19, 2020
sugu pavithra got 700k subscribers and millions viewers. she carried the whole cooking industry in her kitchen during a damn pandemic. pay more to the queen! pic.twitter.com/zfae4L5vzX— ninja (@fakhrulaimman) June 19, 2020
All malaysian support sugu pavithra pic.twitter.com/eHgVRNKuc9— Aisyah tak bersalah (@AisyahAqmar) June 20, 2020
dei leave my sugu pavithra alone lah i bite you if you dont 😤— geek (@justabigjoke) June 20, 2020
As it turns out, Gempak reported that M Sugu and his wife, S Pavithra, did not want to be on any television cooking show, preferring to continue sharing recipes on their YouTube channel.
They told the Malay-language entertainment site that they’ve been inundated with interview requests and cooking show offers.
The couple also admitted to feeling especially overwhelmed since they do not have a manager and handle all these requests by themselves.
We don’t have that much time, except to take care of our family. So when it comes to parties that are quite intent on having us, we just give them a figure like that. In reality, we do not want to be involved in television programmes. If we can just focus on cooking videos to upload on YouTube, that’s enough.M Sugu to Gempak.
Sugu and Pavithra quickly shot to fame in early May when their cooking videos on the SuguPavithra YouTube channel began gaining traction. Scores of Malaysians fell for the humble couple for their pleasing tutorials in fluent Malay and spick-and-span kitchen.
Even Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is a fan, quick to send them gifts and even referred to them by name in his Short-term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) announcement on 5th June.
To date, the SuguPavitra YouTube channel has over 700,000 subscribers with each video receiving more than 100,000 views.

https://youtu.be/g480j09Vmi8

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Source:
Didakwa Minta Bayaran RM10,000 Sejam Bagi Program Masakan, Ini Penjelasan Sugu Pavithra...


Malaysia’s Drunk Driving Problem

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It looks like Malaysians are out for blood with the recent rise in road accidents involving drunk drivers.
A quick look through social media reveals that a majority of Malaysians have grown rather weary of the ongoing news reports of tragic incidents caused by irresponsible individuals who continue to jeopardise the safety of others while being intoxicated behind the wheel.
Almost everyday we encounter news about drunk driving. No matter how careful we are, there will always be irresponsible ones creating unfortunate situations in the end. About time we strengthen the laws cos this involves other people’s lives. Just don’t drink and drive. Easy.— Neelofa (@Neelofa) May 26, 2020
Malaysia is no longer safe bcoz every day there are people die or injured due to drunk driving. Shame.— Hang Lucky jr. (@r_marvelous) May 22, 2020
I’m really sick of seeing the same posts every week making drunk-driving a racial/religious issue. Literally nobody supports drunk drivers, you can ask any non-Muslim. Everyone rational supports heavier penalties.Nobody hates drunk drivers more than those who drink responsibly. https://t.co/FSH3VpYSuo— Ming Yao (@themingyao) May 23, 2020
What the law says
Under the current Road Transport Act 1987, a person who is caught behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be punished with a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or receive jail time of no more than three months.
Moreover, repeat offenders can be fined for no less than RM2,000 and are also liable to a jail term of not exceeding 12 months.
A man undergoes a breathalyzer test during a roadblock in KL.(Credit: NST)
Furthermore, those who cause an accident which results in the injury or death would be met with imprisonment for a maximum 10 years and be fined up to RM20,000.
Not only that, those who are merely inside a vehicle whilst drunk can be met with fines and jail time.
However, based on the general consensus at the moment, these punishments are seen as inadequate to prevent people from drunk driving.
What experts are saying
Criminologist Datuk Shahul Hamid Abd Rahim told Bernama that Malaysia must look into reforming the nation’s laws to provide stricter punishment for drunk drivers.
This opinion was shared by International Islamic University of Malaysia’s (IIUM) sociology and anthropology expert, Associate Professor Dr. Noor Azlan Mohd Noor who told Bernama that action and enforcement towards drunk driving must be taken immediately.
The Professor explained that strict action can be taken to those who disobey the law now, on a case-by-case basis, before the powers at be finally decide to enact changes to the rule of law governing the matter.
What politicians are saying
Despite years of back and forth, the government (past and present) is yet to make any substantial move to enact changes to the drunk driving rule.
In response to ongoing public pressure, a couple of DAP politicians have stepped up to challenge the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to take action against drunk drivers.
The statement claimed that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration had previously tried to amend the Road Transport Act and introduce harsher penalties for driving under the influence (DUI), which should’ve been brought to Parliament this year.
However, the PH politicians explained that this move was cut short following the recent regime change in Putrajaya.
(Credit: Bernama/Malay Mail)
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong recently said that the government was looking into reviewing the current laws and considering implementing a RM100,000 fine and a 20-year jail term for DUI offenses.
Concurrently, the country’s sole Islamic party, PAS, had called on the government to immediately cease and suspend all production and sale of alcoholic beverages until measures can be taken to put a stop to drunk driving in Malaysia.
In 2018, Malaysia reportedly had the 3rd highest fatality rate from road accidents in the Asian region according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.
Furthermore, based on data provided by the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), drunk driving accounted for approximately 25% of fatalities on Malaysian roads as of 2018.
(Credit: The Asean Post)

Most recently, a 64-year-old Sabahan man was slapped with the maximum fine of RM6,000  for DUI offenses when he tried to run a police roadblock during the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) lockdowns.

M’sia To Review Drunk Driving Laws: What You Need To Know
We’ve even written about the laws regarding drunk driving back when Pakatan Harapan was in government.

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Source:
Hukuman lebih berat terhadap pemandu mabuk - Pakar kriminologi
DAP: Perikatan stopped caring about drunk driving after coming into power
Govt considering 20-year jail sentence for reckless, drunk drivers
PAS: Suspend sale of alcohol until drunk driving resolved
Finally, Proof That Malaysian Drivers Are The WORST
Strategies to tackle the issue of impaired driving for road safety in the Asia-Pacific Region: Implementation framework
Drink-driving during MCO: Man gets maximum RM6,000 fine


Malaysians Use 27% More Water Than Recommended, Here’s 3 Easy Steps To Recycle Water At Home

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You wouldn’t think that Malaysia, a country with so much rain, should need to worry about the lack of water. Yet drought is a real problem that we will face in the near future.

Due to climate change, many places in Malaysia have faced periods of drought. In fact, the country expects a major drought sometime in 2025, and we are already gearing up to prepare for it.
READ MORE: Malaysia Too Faces Climate Change Issues, Here’s How IWK Offers To Be Part of the Solution
Hauling buckets of water is almost a national sport.(Credit: Shafwan Zaidon/Malay Mail)
In Malaysia, water is really, really cheap, but that doesn’t mean we should disregard the true value of water! We have a very high rate of water consumption in the country, at 219 litres per person daily, compared with the WHO recommended rate of 160 litres per day.
Naturally, this means not wasting water, so why not try to build a habit of reusing water? Here are some easy steps:
1. Start a rain barrel
This is as simple as it sounds: stick a barrel or bucket (or a simple black plastic trash can) outside your house, or on the balcony, and collect rainwater. It’s how our ancestors used to do it back in the day, after all!
Of course, because this collected rainwater is not treated, use it only for non-potable water activities. This means to use it for things that don’t require clean water, like drinking or cooking.
The safest way to use collected rainwater is to use it outdoors, such as for watering plants and washing your balcony or front porch. If you still have more water left, consider giving your car a good wash too!
Your car deserves a nice wash too!(Credit: Freepik)
CAUTION: Dengue is a real concern in Malaysia, so never leave your water barrel open as the stagnant will become a breeding ground for mosquitos. Instead, cover the top tightly and finish using the water within the week.
2. Use rice water for your beauty needs
If you use Asian beauty products, you will notice that a good majority of them feature rice water in it. And since we all eat rice anyway, why not make your own rice water for your beauty needs?
Rice, rice, baby.(Credit: Envato)
Rice water is particularly beneficial because it is packed with nutrients and minerals that comes with rice. These nutrients are known to be great for skin, especially effective against harsh weather conditions such as Malaysia’s blazing hot sun and humidity.
Benefits range from skin brightening, anti-aging, boosting skin barrier health, soothing sun mild sun damage, and mattifying oily skin! Plus, you can apply it directly to your skin with a simple spray bottle.
Wash your face with rice water for glowing skin!(Credit: jcomp/Freepik)
Of course, if you’re still feeling iffy about it, try putting it in your hair instead for strong, smooth, and shiny hair!
It’s as easy as spraying rice water on your hair and roots for a while.(Credit: Freepik)
So when you’re washing your rice for dinner, don’t drain the rice water down the sink. Instead, collect the rice water in a container. If it is stored in the fridge properly in an air-tight container, it can last for up to 7 days!
3. Reusing washing machine grey water
Did you ever think the soapy, sudsy water from your washing machine can be reused? Yup, it certainly can! This sort of water with soap and dirt is called grey water, which has many uses around the house.
Clean clothes AND a clean toilet.(Credit: BigStock)
How you reuse grey water depends on where your washing machine drains out to. Regardless, it’s just a simple step to adding a large container to collect the grey water.
If your washing machine drains water into a bathroom area, consider taking a bit of time to give your toilet floors a good scrub as the water drains away.
Alternatively, set up a larger container for collection so you can flush your toilet with the grey water. However, never put grey water directly into your toilet’s water tank. Use an open bucket and water pail instead.
It’s really as simple as a big bucket and a pail.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
If your washing machine drains water out of your house, then it’s a simple job of attaching a hose to the outlet and watering your plants with the grey water. Yup, the magical power of plants will be fine even with sudsy grey water!
However, if you do plan on reusing grey water for your garden, make sure not to use bleach or fabric softeners as sodium, bleach or borax will damage your plants.
Humans need and use a lot of water daily, but only a small percentage of that use requires potable water (suitable for drinking). A majority of our water needs can be met with non-potable water, especially when it comes to things like flushing the toilet or cleaning floors.
Take note that you should only shower with potable water, or else you risk putting pathogens all over your body and falling sick!(Credit: Envato)
So why let a precious resource go to waste? With a little bit of effort, we can reuse water the right way!

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Here Are 23 Valentine’s Day-Themed Food Deals For You Lovebirds Tomorrow

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Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day is approaching.

With that, a lot of F&B businesses are going to have food deals and promos for you guys!
So grab a chance to savour these deals for a limited time only.
However, so note that some of these F&B businesses offer discounts on their meals and some are just specially Valentine-themed.
So, here are the F&B deals and Valentine-themed food for you to enjoy with your significant other:
1. A&W
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by A&W Malaysia (@anwmalaysia)
2. Secret Recipe
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Secret Recipe Malaysia (@secretrecipemy)
3. Kenny Rogers Roasters
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Kenny Rogers ROASTERS Malaysia (@krrmalaysia)
4. Kyochon
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by KyoChon Malaysia (@mykyochon)
5. PizzaHut
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Pizza Hut Malaysia (@pizzahutmalaysia)
6. Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart MY (@hokkaidobakedcheesetart)
7. The Alley
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by THE ALLEY 鹿角巷 🇲🇾 (@thealley.my)
8. Daboba
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by DABOBA Malaysia (@dabobamalaysia)
9. Chatime
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Chatime Malaysia (@chatime.malaysia)
10. Starbucks
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Starbucks Malaysia (@mystarbucks)
11. J.Co
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Jco Donuts & Coffee, Malaysia (@jcomalaysia)
12. Coffee Bean Tea Leaf
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf MY (@coffeebeanmy)
13. Baskin Robbins
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Baskin-Robbins Malaysia (@baskinrobbinsmalaysia)
14. US Pizza
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by US Pizza Malaysia (@uspizzamalaysia)
15. Dunkin Donuts
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Dunkin’ Malaysia (@dunkin_my)
16. Sakae Sushi
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Sakae Sushi Malaysia (@sakaesushimy)
17. Famous Amos
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Famous Amos Malaysia (@famousamos.my)
18. Godiva
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Godiva Malaysia (@godivamalaysia)
19. TGIF
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by TGI Fridays Malaysia (@tgifridaysmy)
20. Tony Roma’s
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Tony Roma’s Malaysia (@trmalaysia)
21. KFry
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by K Fry Urban Korean (@kfrymy)
22. Haagen Dazs
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Häagen-Dazs Malaysia (@haagendazsmy)
23. Ikea
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by IKEA Malaysia (@ikeamalaysia)
So, there you go. Some of the F&B promos and deals this Valentine’s Day. If you’re single, hey, don’t worry, you can enjoy these deals with your mother, sister, brother, best friend, scandals or even all by yourself. Hey, we don’t judge. 😌
Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!
Don’t know what to do on Valentine’s Day? Try some of our non-cliche suggestions here.
READ MORE: 12 Unconventional Activities To Do On Valentine’s Day In The Klang Valley
Wanna give her flowers? Try these florists across the Klang Valley for online purchases or even let her choose her own bouquets face-to-face!
READ MORE: 11 Fresh Florists In Klang Valley To Smell The Flowers Or Have Them Delivered

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You Can Actually Conference Call Up To 50 People For Free On Facebook Messenger Room

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10111842688504101
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As the Covid-19 pandemic caused more people to turn to video calls due to the resulting worldwide quarantine lockdown, Facebook is catching and riding this tech wave by rolling out a new group video call feature called Messenger Room.
Aimed to compete with services like Zoom, Skype, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, Messenger Room enables users to create a video chat room using the Facebook or Messenger app which can contain up to 50 people, including those who don’t have Facebook accounts.
The video call is also completely free and has no time limits.
This latest feature arrived just in time for those who are looking for alternatives to Zoom. In recent months, Zoom faced a number of security and privacy issues after more and more people used the service.
Facebook Messenger Rooms began rolling out in selected countries in early May and then expanded to become available globally in mid-May.

Keeping the same privacy issues in mind, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a live stream that the company has been “very careful” and tried to “learn the lessons” previously faced by other services.
Therefore, Messenger Rooms’ privacy protections include the ability to control who can see your room, and the option to lock or unlock it.
Unlocked rooms will allow anyone with a link to join and share the room with others, though the room creator has to be present to start the call first. The room creator can also control who is allowed to join and remove participants at any time.
If a room violates Facebook’s rules, it can be reported. However, the reports won’t include any video or audio from the call. The company stressed that they won’t be listening to any calls at all.
Creating a room
(Credit: TRP Ghetto Images)
To start a video call on Messenger Room, you’ll need to have the latest version of the Facebook and/or Messenger mobile app downloaded on your phone. This can be done via the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Once you’ve got the app, follow these steps:
Open the Messenger appTap the People tab at the bottom right of the screenTap Create a Room at the middle top of the screen and select the people you want to include in the conference call.
(Credit: TRP Ghetto Images)
If you want to add people who don’t have Facebook accounts, just share the shareable room link with them. You can share this link in your Facebook News Feed, Facebook Group pages and Facebook Event pages as well.
According to Facebook, you can join a room from both your phone or your computer without needing to download anything.

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[Watch] Ignorant Honda CRV Driver Repeatedly Blocks An Ambulance, Sparks Outrage

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A shocking viral video recently showed a car continuously blocking an ambulance on the road.

The road was traffic-free; the ambulance could have reached the hospital earlier if not for the car’s obstruction.
The ambulance has its siren and lights on, but the driver in front of him refused to move away.
The white-coloured Honda, which is visible in the video, obstructed the ambulance’s way all the way through.
The ambulance driver had no option but to take a video while driving to show that such people who have no human values exist

Netizens Demand Justice
Netizens want the police to arrest the driver for deliberately blocking an ambulance on the highway.
They said that what happened was deplorable and inexcusable and sought punishment for the driver.
Some sarcastically remarked that the car was soundproof so the driver could not hear the siren.
A handful of netizens shared the video on social media and tagged the police as they urged the authorities to intervene.
Netizens also appealed to everyone to always allow the right of way to ambulances and emergency vehicles as they rush to save lives.

At the same, netizens demand that actions are also taken against VIP convoys which block ambulances.
READ MORE: [Watch] Yet Another Ambulance Forced To Make Way For VIP, Despite Different Direction
Ambulans: pls i need to get to the hospital to save this person life menteri: haha convoy go brrrrr https://t.co/OLEW70AvoL— Navien (@nachopablo1_) December 27, 2021
Dah cakap menteri ni selfish. Menteri tu lagi penting daripada nyawa rakyat yang ada dalam ambulans tu.Menteri, driver menteri, dengan polis yang halang trafik tu sekali moga moga dapat balasan yang setimpal dekat dunia dan akhirat https://t.co/uYEaCu154C— Rain Abdullah 🏴🏳 (@RainieAbdullah) April 18, 2022

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Don’t Know What To Do With All Those Spare LEGO? This App Can Help

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LEGO is one of those evergreen toys that almost everyone had when they were a kid. Unlike other playthings, LEGO has this strange quirk of rarely breaking or going dull. Instead, they tend to get lost and end up in piles.

Although they are meant to spark creativity, more often than not, without building instructions, these piles of LEGO either gather dust in bins or get handed down.
But let’s say you pull out that bin of LEGO to play with your kids, you all want to build something fun, but you don’t even know where to start.
That’s where the BrickIt app comes in.
What It Does
The BrickIt app uses AI to scan your collection of bricks and suggest builds with step by step instructions.
One of the tricks the app uses is ignoring the colours of the pieces you have and focuses on their shapes instead.
The results can be wacky, wild and unique.
How It Does It

To tell you what you can build, the BrickIt app needs to know what you have. Entering each piece into the system one by one would be tedious.
The app instead uses the camera on your smartphone to scan the LEGO you have.
All you need to do is to take all your LEGO to a well lit area, spread it all out in a single layer, remove any specialised pieces (odd shapes for specific builds), and take a picture using the app.
BrickIt will identify and count all the pieces you have and match them with the instructions inside its database.
The more LEGO you have, the better.
The Result

The app will then suggest builds that can be made with the pieces it has identified. Pick one and it will give you step by step instructions on how to build them.
The app could even point out where it thinks the pieces are in the pile.
Each build prioritises shapes instead of colours.
For example, while a lion would usually have a dark tan body, a brown mane, and white teeth, yours could have a blue body, a green mane and rainbow teeth.
It all depends on what LEGO pieces you have.However, you can go down your own path and create whatever you like based on the suggested build. This is still LEGO after all.
The App

BrickIt is currently available on iOS only. However, an Android version of the app is expected to be released sometime between September and December.
You can check out the BrickIt website for yourself, here.

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Floods In Sabah, Johor and Pahang Worsen

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With the northeast monsoon season still in effect, the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, west of Sarawak and east of Sabah are prone to flooding between November and March.

Currently, states such as Sabah and Johor are facing harrowing situations because of the flash floods with Pahang and Sarawak being the latest states to be affected.
The number of flood victims is on the rise following continuous heavy rain.
More than 6,300 people evacuated in Sabah
As reported by Bernama, the number of flood evacuees increased drastically from 1,421 to 6,313 as of today by 12 pm.
A total of 26 relief centres have been activated in five districts in Sabah; Kota Marudu, Kudat, Pitas, Paitan and Lahad Datu.
(Credit: Jabatan Bomba Dan Penyelamat Malaysia Negeri Sabah / Facebook)
Kota Marudu has the most number of evacuees at the moment with 4,784 people from 1,731 families all placed in 11 relief centres, as revealed by the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat in a statement.
Around 5,400 people evacuated in Johor
In Johor, as of this morning, Bernama reported 5,455 people have been relocated to 55 relief centres with Pontian being the latest district to be hit by the floods.
Other districts affected are Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat, Mersing, Batu Pahat and Muar with Segamat recording the highest number of evacuees at 1,801.
In a separate incident in Kampung Jemari, Mersing, a high-powered motorbike convoy faced anxious moments when they were almost swept away by strong currents yesterday afternoon (25 January).

“Six Singaporean riders were headed to Kuantan from Kluang and were trying to manoeuvre a flooded stretch,” said the Mersing district police chief Supt Abdul Razak Abdullah Sani.
The riders were assisted by the Malaysian Armed Forces who were monitoring the floods in the Kampung Jemari area and no injuries nor casualties were reported, he added.

Floods in Pahang & Sarawak
Pahang was also hit by floods yesterday and the number of victims is increasing.
As of this morning, three temporary relief centres were opened in Rompin to accommodate 164 victims from 49 families. The three are the Kampung Setajam relief centre, Bukit Lepas community hall and Bandar Perwira Jaya community hall.
Sarawak, being the latest state affected is currently housing 53 people from 16 families in two relief centres in Lundu and Sematan districts.
MetMalaysia has also warned of thunderstorms occurring in several areas in Sarawak including Kuching, Sri Aman, Betong, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang until tonight.

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No Mountain Or Hill Too High When It Comes To Rescuing Fur Babies

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It’s not everyday you see an average person willing to go above and beyond to help, especially if the task is arduous and dangerous.

Yet these good samaritans did.
Over the weekend, a stray dog was spotted stranded on the treacherous cliff of Forest Hill in Damansara Perdana and has been drawing a lot of attention on social media.
The Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA) Selangor called for help on their Facebook page for the dog to be rescued from the steep cliff, claiming in their post that the Fire Department was unfortunately unable to help with the situation.
While things begin to seem hopeless, a group of animal lovers, spearheaded by seasoned rescuer Francis Poh, decided to take on the mission of rescuing the male mutt.
In a Facebook posting, Poh recalled the mission saying that it began at 8am and carried on till 4.30pm.
Few tagged me, then I offered to help and asked who would like to join me in the residential group. Instantly, I had Kevan, Stefan, Chia Leng, Azhar and Mr. Gan offer themselves. Honestly grateful. We started from 8am and finished by 4.30pm. We did (it in) two parts, first from the lake and second from the top of the jungle. We have done it successfully without major injuries but minor cuts.Francis Poh via Facebook
He added that they had an elderly man who helped out in guiding them in the dense jungle area.
The video he had posted depicted the challenging journey all six rescuers endured, from getting on the boat to climbing through thickets of vegetation and finally reaching the dog who was seen sitting calmly waiting for the rescuers to get it down.
All of us were not only sun burnt, but our stamina has been tested to the max.Francis Poh via Facebook
According to Malay Mail, the dog was later released at the construction site after the team reached the top safely.
After the whole mission had been completed, the team was treated to a meal for their hard work.
I would like to thank the residents of ForestHill for actually staying with us till the end, we came back with water, pizza, Starbucks, bread, so nice of them.Francis Poh via Facebook

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16YO Boy Dies In Toilet That Caught Fire In Puncak Alam After Prank Attempt Goes Horribly Wrong

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A 16-year-old schoolboy was tragically killed in a freak accident after he was trapped in an abandoned public toilet that caught on fire in an incident at Bandar Puncak Alam Phase 3 yesterday.

The victim, Muhammad Damin Mikhail Kansol, was hanging out with his two close friends and they were playing mobile phone games prior to the incident, reported Harian Metro.
Ironically, the fire was started by the victim’s two friends – a 15 and a 16-year-old schoolboy – as a prank.
“The victim was said to be sleeping on the sofa in front of the toilet door before his friend lit a fire under the sofa as a joke,” Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis was quoted as saying.
He said the situation escalated after the fire grew bigger, causing thick smoke to fill the toilet.
Norazam said that the victim’s friend rushed out of the toilet structure while the victim, half-asleep after his friends woke him up, ran inside the abandoned toilet.
He added that the department was alerted at 2.35pm before 19 personnel and four fire trucks from the Bestari Jaya Fire and Rescue Station were rushed to the scene.
“As soon as we arrived, we found the body of a 16-year-old boy charred in the abandoned toilet,” he said, adding that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, Sungai Buloh district police chief, Supt Shafa’aton Abu Bakar said that based on the initial investigation, there was no object that could prevent the victim from leaving the toilet.
According to another Harian Metro report, the abandoned toilet was doorless.
It was also learned that the victim and his two friends who are inseparable, had only become close quite recently.
The three of them went to school together at  Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Puncak Alam 3.

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Sajat Found At Luxury Condo In Thailand After Evading Malaysian Religious Authorities

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Local cosmetics entreprenuer Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman and wanted person by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) was reportedly found in a luxury condominium in Thailand together with a Thai national.

A warrant has been out for her arrest since earlier this year on the grounds of defamation of Islam, according to Section 10(a) Selangor Syariah Crimes Enactment No. 5 1995, for wearing a female-attired baju kurung to a charity event in 2018, some 3 years ago.
READ MORE: Sajat Vs JAIS – Here’s A TLDR Of The Drama Surrounding The Arrest
Sajat Kamaruzzaman in baju kurung. (Credit: Buzzkini)
Caught in Thailand
According to the report, the Thai police were working with Malaysian authorities to track her movements since March.
On 8 September, the Thai police raided the luxury condominium and detained Sajat. Thai authorities did so on charges related to illegal immigration, as Sajat’s Malaysian passport has been cancelled by the Malaysian government.
However, reports say someone only known as “Misha” posted the bail of USD2,000 (about RM8,343) to have her released from the Thai Immigration Headquarters’ Branch of Illegal Immigrants on 10 September.
Although Sajat was released on bail, she has been ordered to appear before the Thai immigration courts every 14 days.
Credit: Sajat
Currently, it is reported that she is still residing in the luxury condominium, although Malaysian authorities are negotiating with the Thai government to bring her back to Malaysia so she can face trial in the Syariah High Court in Selangor.
Eyeing protection in Australia
Sajat definitely doesnt feel safe in Malaysia, because she has also applied for a refugee status in Australia.
Credit: Nur Sajat02/Instagram
According to the report, Sajat applied for the status claiming that she has received death threats, especially after announcing that she will renounce Islam after JAIS assigned over 100 of its officers to arrest her.

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