LHDN: Income Tax Filing Deadline Is Next Week

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The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) is reminding Malaysians that the deadline for filing and submitting their income tax forms is fast approaching.
Income Tax Return Forms (ITRF) in the non-business category for assessment year 2019 have to be submitted by 30th June.
In a statement released today, LHDN urged taxpayers to keep important details up-to-date in the filing, such as full names, identification card numbers, active bank account details, mailing addresses, phone numbers and e-mails to ensure a smooth process for tax returns.
The deadline for ITRF in the business category for assessment year 2019 is 30th August. Those who miss the deadline to file their taxes will incur a late penalty fee.
Credit: LHDN
Malaysians can file taxes online at the ezHASiL website (HERE) or manually to the following address:
Pusat Pemprosesan MaklumatLembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri MalaysiaMenara HasilTingkat 7, No. 3, Jalan 9/10Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru BangiSelangor.
For further enquiries, visit the LHDN website (HERE) or call the Hasil Care Line (HCL) at 03-8911 1000 (locally) or 603-8911 1100 (overseas).

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6YO Ampang Boy Sells His Toys  To Treat 35 Orphaned Kids To McD’s Happy Meal

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Times are hard but little kind deeds make the world seem like a better place. Recently, a Twitter user @adawiyah shared an adorable effort by her 6-year-old son Sayf Mecca to treat orphaned children to McDonald’s Happy Meal.

It first started when Sayf saw a Mickey Mouse mascot standing outside a McDonald’s outlet while asking for donations. Sayf was inspired to treat orphaned children to a good meal and decided to sell his toys to raise funds.
To do so, he set up a table and lined up all of his toys such as Hot Wheels and monster trucks for sale in his house in Ampang. He charged around RM2 to RM5 per toy to achieve his goal.
Sayf Mecca(6 tahun) jual his toys utk nak belanja orphanage (35orang) happy meals! Thanks aunty uncle yang support Sayf Mecca. pic.twitter.com/2vZfN4MNNU— adawiyah (@_weahxx) March 27, 2022
pic.twitter.com/El7YWtHzw7— adawiyah (@_weahxx) March 27, 2022
The proceeds of the sale managed to treat 35 orphaned children to McDonald’s Happy Meals.
According to Sayf’s mother, he was initially shy to pass out the food but he gradually became excited because he managed to cheer up others with his initiative.
Sayf malu malu masa bagi bagi kan happy meal. Haha sikit lagi jd YB @SyedSaddiq . Btw, Sayf Mecca decide nak belanja friends dia sebab dia tgk ada mascot mickey mouse dkat mcd minta sedekah so dia came out with idea nak jual toys and tlg less fortunate friends. pic.twitter.com/sXJsQsJhnf— adawiyah (@_weahxx) March 27, 2022
Netizens were full of praise for Sayf for his ‘ultra’ kind heart and his parents for bringing up such a thoughtful boy.
The netizens thanked Sayf for helping out those who were less fortunate than him too.
Someone also joked that Sayf could list 17 years of experience in volunteerism in his resume by the time he’s 23-years-old at this rate.
Sayf showed everyone that kind deeds aren’t limited to age and anyone can help someone in need.
Hopefully, Sayf will be able to help more people as he grows older. Good job, Sayf!
Awh sweetheart, what a way! Born & bred good, may the force always be with you angel. Terima kasih for your kind act Sayf, terima kasih to those who were there altogether to make it happen, too ♥— hey Alyaa (@4lyaaShukrima) March 27, 2022
Comelnya adik Sayf Mecca. Insyaallah ada rezeki uncle dtg support k. Semoga membesar menjadi anak yg soleh, dgr kata ibu ayah, penyejuk hati ibu ayah, hensem, cerdik dan sihat ✨— ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴏʟᴠᴇʀɪɴᴇ 🐺🏴 (@iam_ein) March 27, 2022
Even at age of 6, his level of sharing is caring is just ultra!!! Kalah orang dewasa wei! May his love & kindness spread like wildfire. 👍👍— New Norm Yet to Normalize 🖖 (@darrenlam76) March 27, 2022
Satu family jenis hati mulia bagus didikan yang diterapkan 😍 before this Amy pun jual acc twitter sebab nak bantu orang juga tak silap.— Beauty Bawang | Zuliana Azira (@Zuliana_Azira2) March 27, 2022
His resume at the age of 23.. “17 years experience in volunteerism”— Presstige.my (@presstigemy) March 27, 2022
If you’re looking for more feel-good stories, check out this adorable story about a boy helping his schoolmate carry a heavy school bag.
READ MORE: [Watch] Mum Praises School Boy For Helping Her Son Carry Heavy Bag Downstairs

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[Watch] Schoolgirl Cried After Father Burned All Her Prized Kpop Merchandise Without Consent

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Children have feelings and their own interests so it’s heartbreaking to see this video on TikTok posted by @cikatienn.

The video showed a young school girl wiping away tears streaming down her face when she discovered all her favourite Kpop merchandise have been burnt by her father.
She walked around her room while trying to look for any remaining pieces. Based on the video captions, some of the expensive merchandise were given by her friends and others she bought with her money.
Pengajaran yang boleh kita ambil dari ini adalah inilah contoh parent yang saya pernah katakan tidak mahu ambil masa untuk faham minat anak-anak. Esok bila parent itu tua, dibakar semua benda minat parent itu kemudian ditinggalkan di rumah orang tua, tahu pun koyak. https://t.co/12KrrrsyUw— Pakcik Kapibara Bertwit (@PakcikBertwit) September 23, 2022
In another clip, she dug around the charred ground outside to try and salvage some of her most prized belongings.
Most of the items burned by her father were burnt to crisp. Despite the sad situation, she managed to find a box containing a few of her prized posessions but it was charred at the sides.
Netizens felt sorry for her and criticised the parents for not talking to their child before destroying their belongings.
It was alleged that the father burnt all the merchandise because he didn’t like the items in her room.
A netizen said parents do not need to understand their child’s interests, but they can guide them on better interests or paths instead of abusing their authority and invading the child’s privacy.
Look, I don't get half of the things my kids are into. I know about them, but I don't get them. But it isn't about me: It's about a kid having interests. And as a parent I just have to make sure that it's appropriate and talk to them about it. Bukan bakar macam orang tiada akal.— Pakcik Kapibara Bertwit (@PakcikBertwit) September 23, 2022
takut anak lalai, bakar konon kebaikan anak tp tak fikir perasaan anak. dia ckp anak dia baik, for now mmg lah baik buatnya budak tu pendam perasaan tak elok gak. what if only this thing can make her happy? can't imagine her feelings rn, nak marah memberontak pun tak boleh— elle is seeing txt soon (@tinybamtyun) September 23, 2022

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MAS Apologises For ‘Turning Up The Heat’ In Three Airplanes, Leaving Passengers Stranded Without The AC Turned On

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Malaysia Airlines has issued an apology to the passengers on board three of its aircraft that faced technical issues, leaving the plane with no electricity which led to the temperature inside the cabin becoming scorching hot.

The aircrafts involved – Kuala Lumpur to Kuching (MH2536) on May 3, Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan (MH2710) on May 8, and Alor Star to Kuala Lumpur (MH1205) on May 9 – were left with no power as a result of an inoperative auxiliary power unit (APU).
The national airline however said that all three incidents are not related as each aircraft faced separate technical issues.
“The APU system is a component fitted on an aircraft that supplies electrical power and pressurised air for the air conditioning system and engine starting on the ground.
“When anomalies are detected on the ground before take-off, an aircraft cannot be powered up, resulting in a warm cabin environment,” MAS said in a statement.
File picture
In order to ensure that there will be no repeat of the same incident in the future, MAS said that it will ensure that passengers are moved to the boarding hall within 10 minutes after an issue is identified while the rectification process is taking place
The heat inside the cabin had forced several parents to remove their children’s clothing in an attempt to help alleviate some of the heat.
Several disgruntled passengers also confronted the cabin crew while questioning the quality of service that MAS is providing.
READ MORE: [Watch] MAS Passengers Suffer Without Air Cond For Over An Hour Due To Faulty System

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Too Many Instant Journalists: Ismail Sabri Wants A Journalist Association To Combat Fake News

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has called for a national journalist association to crack down on fake news.

He said there needs to be an effort to clean up online content and ensure that the country’s social media platforms screen out unverified information.
The establishment of the association will ensure that the ethics of journalism are preserved, while strengthening the profession and welfare of journalists.
He expressed concern that the news industry had been affected by internet platforms and public accounts, as well as unaccredited social organisations and individuals especially instant journalists.
The field of journalism often faces various obstacles and challenges, especially with the advancement in digital technology, which has produced many instant journalists.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on the need to control online information.
Ismail Sabri said it is time for the people to open their eyes and see the duties and responsibilities of journalists in the media industry.
The Bera MP added that the media are essential to the country’s direction, whether from the political, economic or social aspects.
Petikan Ucapan YAB Perdana Menteri, @IsmailSabri60 pada Hari Wartawan Nasional (HAWANA) 2022#KeluargaMalaysia#BekerjaBersamaRakyat#KLCeria#CMSWPKL pic.twitter.com/CuIbYPlmXt— Jabatan Penerangan WPKL🇲🇾 (@JaPenWPKL) May 30, 2022
The Long, Hard Road To Gender Equality In Journalism
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was speaking at the National Journalists Day Award (Hawana) 2022 on Sunday.
Among those present were National Journalist Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya, editor-in-chief of media agencies as well as the country’s journalists.
29 May was gazetted as National Journalist Day in conjunction with the first publication of a newspaper in Malaysia, Utusan Melayu on 29 May, 1939, which became the first media platform in Malaysia.
On 30 Nov 2021, the government agreed to maintain 29 May each year as National Journalist Day.
Awards were handed out to recognize the services and contributions of journalists in empowering and developing the country through their profession.
Netizens expressed disappointment that female journalists did not get the recognition they deserve.
PM, dimanakah wartawan Wanita? Hanya wartawan lelaki layak menerima anugerah? Mana masyarakat berbilang kaum? Ini ialah realiti Malaysia? @JPenerangan pic.twitter.com/zyUcCLqWYI— Swashna Arora (@Swashna1) May 30, 2022
It highlighted how little progress has been made towards gender parity in the industry that has notoriously favoured men down the decades.
Malaysia's National Union of Journalists told female reporters not to look too attractive so they don't get harassed. Yeah, they had to walk that one back. https://t.co/6cSZq9lBEG pic.twitter.com/3Zl6MDbmCw— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) January 19, 2018
Does Malaysia Have Freedom Of Press?
In February 2021, online news portal Malaysiakini was found guilty by the Federal Court of contempt of court and fined RM500,000.
The comments posted by its readers were deemed to have attacked the judiciary
1/ We are concerned by the Federal Court's decision today against @malaysiakini and the impact it will have on press freedom in Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/qgROAl9wcy— U.S. Embassy KL (@usembassykl) February 19, 2021
In the same year, Malaysia’s placing in the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) fell to 119 from 101 in 2020.
The World Press Freedom Index, published every year since 2002, provides a ranking and analysis of media rights in over 180 countries worldwide.
Malaysia dropped 18 places to rank 119 in RSF's latest Press Freedom Index. For context, this is the worst drop in Southeast Asia. Singapore down 2 and Philippines also down 2 but Thailand up 3 and Indonesia up 6! pic.twitter.com/gxYHcaGxye— Jason Ng (@ByJasonNg) April 20, 2021
In the past, the authorities had been criticised for arresting journalists over reports which put the government in a bad light.
Foreign journalists had also been deported from the country and prevented from doing their work.
Holy f#%*. On labour day, you go after migrants. On World Press Freedom Day you summoned journalists. Bravo Malaysia. 🤬 #MigranJugaManusia https://t.co/zaQLuxOJnk— Ezrena Marwan ايزرين مروان 亞茲莉娜 瑪萬 (@ezrenamarwan) May 3, 2020
ICYMI- @AJ101East reporter Mary Ann Jolley was deported from #Malaysia following her investigation into the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. She confronts former Prime Minister #Najib Razak: https://t.co/rgxur7VJKN #AJNajibSpeaks pic.twitter.com/YATCp2a9MY— 101 East (@AJ101East) November 10, 2018
Many media outlets are either owned directly by the government such as Bernama or owned by component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which formed the government until May 2018.
The Star, touted as the number one English daily in circulation numbers, is controlled by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) which is a BN component party, though it is part of the publicly listed Star Media Group.

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Syed Saddiq Shows Off Fantastic Murals In Muar To Take OOTDs With

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In a Tik Tok video, Syed Saddiq showed off and posed with painted murals in Muar in a bid to boost local tourism.

The short 14-second video was also uploaded to his Twitter, which showed him walking past fantastic murals, such as dancing girls and a giant lizard, and even under an alleyway of rainbow umbrellas.
Tak payah dating jauh-jauh. We have the best murals to post OOTD with! Here's some of them 🌳🦈 #muomutiarajohor #Muar pic.twitter.com/UsukRnLyVj— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) August 11, 2020
Other Muar locals started posting their favourite murals that weren’t shown in Syed Saddiq’s video.
The Loving Sisters Mural – Jalan Arab, MuarCredit: Google pic.twitter.com/lS4jdBIvKX— ChekMad the Bangsar Bubble Boy (@TheChekMad) August 11, 2020
Not to be missed this one YB 😁 pic.twitter.com/43SRfshjxc— Moon Pardi (@moonpardi) August 11, 2020
Many Malaysians showed support and awe at Muar’s best kept secrets, but other netizens cheekily complained that more tourists would mean more jam for the locals.
Hahahaha trueeee!! Ni kalau geng Singaporeans dah boleh redah causeway lagi haru time hujung minggu 💀— ChekMad the Bangsar Bubble Boy (@TheChekMad) August 11, 2020
Yet everyone agreed that Syed Saddiq’s quick video did a great job at promoting his constituency.
i swear syed saddiq promotes muar better than malaysia promotes their own negara 🤣— uncle tortoise 🐢 (@haikalipstik) August 11, 2020
Syed Saddiq as Duta promote Muar. Lagi bagus beliau dari Tourism Malaysia nie hihihi— ⚡zombie ate myneighbour (@yanglu_yangteng) August 12, 2020
That’s why we need more young ministers like him. His ideas boleh pakai. Kalau nak mengharapkan menteri umur yang patut pencen, bole fikir sendiri jauh mana Malaysia pergi— LALA (@lailahamdan92) August 12, 2020
Malaysia is brimming with beautiful places to visit, and Muar is definitely on the list. During this time, local tourism is more important than ever to keep the country afloat and economy moving, but remember to always stay safe and practice physical distancing!

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How Malaysia’s Complex Laws Allow Child Marriage

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It’s been six decades after Merdeka, and the Malaysian government has yet to come up with proper legislation to ban child marriages.Recently, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said that her government does not have any plans to ban underage marriages for now and claims that they are committed to curbing underage marriages by implementing the “National Strategic Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriages” which you can check out in detail, HERE.

In a written Parliamentary reply, she said that this is because the root cause of underage marriage does not only need to be addressed through law amendments but instead requires education, advocacy, strengthening of family institutions and socioeconomic support in the community.
Read More: Rina Harun: Putrajaya Has No Plans To Ban Child Marriage
(Credit: Hari Anggara/Malay Mail)
Despite calls from all quarters of society to get an anti-child marriage law installed, it seems that Malaysia is still being held back from making this a reality.
Read More: Tweet By M’sian Brings To Light The Dark Side Of Child Marriages In Malaysia
Moreover, in 2019, a total of seven out of 14 states we have here in the country had opposed amending existing laws that allow children and adolescents below the age of 18 to be married:
KelantanKedahNegeri SembilanPahangPerlisTerengganuSarawak
Another five states have previously hinted at adopting the legislation, but has thus far been quiet:
JohorMelakaPerakPenangSabah
The state of Selangor is technically the only place in the country where the minimum age of matrimony is 18.
So what’s the problem?
Aside from the lack of political will, it can be summarised that the problem lies with Malaysia’s complex legislative system — a Federal vs State jurisdiction issue.
Under the country’s current Civil Law, the minimum age for marriage is 18. But this law only applies to non-Muslims.
The law also makes it compulsory for individuals under the age of 21 to seek permission from their parents to get married. But, 17-year-old boys and 16-year-old girls can still marry or rather be married with a licence issued from their state’s Chief Minister.
A totally different rule applies to Muslims in Malaysia
(Credit: Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee/Unsplash)
Under the Islamic Family Law, which falls under state jurisdiction, the minimum age for marriage is set at 18 for boys and 16 for girls. But those under that legal age limit can still be married with permission from the Shariah courts.
There also exists a customary law under the Native Courts Enactment which governs Malaysia’s native and indigenous communities.
An Orang Asli wedding ceremony.(Image Credit: Screenshot via Youtube @Sim E MK)
Additionally, based on Article 74 of the Federal Construction, a state has the authority to set rules within its borders or oppose laws made by the federal government.
This legal loophole makes it hard to set a universal minimum age limit for marriage.
Is the problem really that bad?
Based on available data (which is in itself outdated) 1,856 child marriages were recorded across the country in 2018 — of which around 90% were girls.
Between 2007 and 2017, some 15,000 child marriages were recorded — 10,000 of those marriages were among Muslims.
(Image Credit: Malay Mail)
Records from 2009 also revealed some 9,000 children had undergone pre-marital HIV testing:
Below 10-years-old – 32 childrenBetween 10 – 14-years-old – 447 children and teensBetween 15 – 19-years old – 8,726 children and teens
The state of Sarawak previously topped the charts for having the most registered child marriages.
(Image Credit: Malay Mail)
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the risk of children being married off due to school closures, economic disparity and cases of underaged pregnancies.
There is also evidence of children being married off as a solution to a family’s financial problems.
So is there hope for our kids?
Well yes, but it’s a long shot…
Based on Article 75 of the Federal Constitution, Federal Law shall prevail over any inconsistencies with State Laws. This includes amendments to the state’s Islamic and Shariah laws.
Malaysia had also signed several human rights agreements with the United Nations on banning child marriages and abolishing traditional practices that endanger a child’s health.
With enough pressure from the Federal Government, as well as Malaysians, there might still be a way to end child marriages in the country and let our kids be free to be just that… kids.

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Source:
NATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN IN HANDLING THE CAUSES OF CHILD MARRIAGE
Rina Harun: Putrajaya Has No Plans To Ban Child Marriage
Is child marriage ACTUALLY legal in Malaysia?
Close to 2,000 Child Marriages Reported In Malaysia In 2018
Child marriage: Why it is still a problem in 2018
Unicef Malaysia: Child marriage likely rose during Covid-19 pandemic as schools closed, economy worsened
Towards ending child marriage in Malaysia
Malaysia committed to addressing child marriage, says Rina Harun


USM Posts Graduate Research Assistant Job With RM650 Starting Salary, Netizens Appalled

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Job postings for full-time graduate research assistants at Universiti Sains Malaysia have surfaced with a shocking minimum salary of just RM650.

The job description requires at least a bachelor’s degree in biomedicine, molecular biology, medicine, dentistry, or any other related subjects plus a minimum CGPA of 3.0.
RM650 for a full time job is also quite illegal, as the minimum wage in Malaysia is now RM1,200. Usually, jobs with higher requirements in terms of education and skills should pay more as well, but it’s well-documented that our fresh graduates are just barely making more than the minimum.
READ MORE: Malaysian Fresh Graduates Are Barely Making Minimum Wage In 2020
Netizens were quick to shake their heads at the low wage provided, which spawned a larger conversation about how the sciences are under-appreciated in Malaysia.
This is appalling. How can a graduate research assistant get by on RM650 per month? Once again, pretty obvious why our brain drain is so bad in Malaysia – the average RA salary across the border in Singapore is about S$3,000 (that's about RM9,370). https://t.co/rWQWsAKpfK— Soon-Tzu Speechley 孫子 (@speechleyish) August 2, 2021
Some noted that this is a short-term grant, which usually serves as opportunities for young researchers to start off small.

In the USA, the average hourly rate for a graduate research assistant is about $19, while the minimum wage there is $10/hour. For such a role in academia which requires higher education, the hourly wage is almost doubled.
Not the norm
Luckily, it seems that this job listing for USM is not the norm for graduate research assistants. Other open job listings at local universities for the same graduate research assistant position start their offers from RM1,400 to RM1,800. Some even provide more than RM2,000 for the job.

Research grants are usually provided by institutions, and not all grants are made equal. More popular research topics are given larger grants, which can also mean a better salary for the researchers.

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PM Says Ministers Meet Twice A Week On Inflation, But People Are Unhappy That Prices Remain High

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With the price of everything from eggs to meats soaring, Malaysians have little doubt about who is to blame: the government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

However, in his defence, the Bera MP said the government has always been serious about tackling the rising cost of living for the people.
He pointed out that the government’s special Jihad Task Force to address inflation meet twice a week.
Ismail Sabri said they are doing better than the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government administration which only held meetings related to the people’s livelihood twice a year.
This committee has been established for a long time, namely the Cabinet Special Committee to Address the Cost of Living in 2014. Then PH changed to the National Subsistence Action Council in 2018, which meets twice a year.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob comparing his administration with that of PH.
Dah brp kali mesyuarat?… harga minyak masak cam tu jerr— Pretty Hensome Ackworth (@Mcnickl) July 18, 2022
The Jihad Task Force looks at the current issues, namely the cost of living and the increase in the price of goods; this involves daily matters.
Ismail Sabri was speaking in Parliament in response to an oral question from Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol).
Hard At Work
The task force, chaired by Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, would report directly to the people.
It would inform the people of government measures for that purpose, said Ismail Sabri.
The Umno vice-president said press conferences are held daily, while the task force has to make weekly announcements.
We want the people to know what the government will do. There have been three meetings, and for each session, information has been released by the government.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob explaining what he has been doing.
The task force was set up at the end of June to help Malaysian families face the challenges of the rising cost of living.
Among the agendas discussed are the controlled prices for poultry and eggs, issues related to cooking oil and the distribution of Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia aid.
READ MORE: [Watch] If Eggs Are Expensive, Eat Fewer Eggs, KPDNHEP Gives Brilliant Solution
tu ler keje korang asyik mesyuarat benda yg sama je.. kementerian mesyuarat, kabinet mesyuarat, ni pasukan jihad mesyuarat lg..wal asal balik hasil..— cakar meow meow (@cakar_kucing) July 7, 2022
The task force’s role is to gather all information from ministries, agencies and the public to formulate strategies and coordinate actions to resolve inflation-related issues, mainly controlling the increase in prices of goods more efficiently and effectively.
READ MORE: Govt Maintains Subsidy For Polybag Packet Cooking Oil
Apart from Annuar Musa, the Jihad Special Team to Tackle Inflation comprised Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee; Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Talk Is Cheap
For Ismail Sabri’s fledgeling government, the stakes could not be higher.
Controlling inflation is crucial in a country where the price of staple food can reputedly decide elections.
Malaysia’s poor and middle class were already severely affected by the country’s stringent coronavirus pandemic lockdowns.
They are bearing the brunt of rising food costs as Russia’s war on Ukraine triggers steep gains in commodity prices worldwide.
Sekrng 50 dpt sebotol minyak masak je 😅… terasa harga barang mahal skrng… dulu spend 500 beli barang dapur mak penuh bonet sampai sit belkng… sekrng bonet pon bnyak ruang lagi 🤣 pic.twitter.com/8PG3UluvmG— H2O (@frettc_rawk) July 12, 2022
And they are not happy with the government conducting more meetings.
Kalau mesyuarat tapi tindakan tak ada takdak guna jugak. Buat perabih bihun saja.— wan (@waneizhanafeef) July 18, 2022
Tak payah lantik sesiapa kot? Tak perlu pun task force jihad jadah ni? Mael ada 70 lebih menteri buat apa? Goyang kaki duit masuk? Ini pulak lantik lagi menteri sama. More meetings more allowances. Gitu? Lain kali sblum ckp org bebal kurangkan bebal sendiri tu pakcik— Bruno 🇵🇸 (@afifsukhairi) June 30, 2022
The rise in inflation has coincided with the withdrawal of pandemic-era relief measures.
Back then, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) allows eligible members to withdraw their retirement savings as part of a government scheme to support the people.
People are complaining that the government’s current focus is on maintaining power.
The current Parliament’s term will expire in 2023.
Kepalabutoh pakhang la kimk @IsmailSabri60, hang ingat kami tak kerja sampai tgh malam ke?? Aku pun pernah tdo pukul 6 pagi buat kerja, pukul 8 masuk balik meeting la siel. Tapi kami tak dibyr sampai 50k sebulan pun macam kau anak haram https://t.co/50qQKNt8Ep— AEX ארג’ונה (@arrjunazx) July 15, 2022

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Malaysia’s “Forgotten” Paralympian Meets With KBS Minister & Gets New House

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63-year-old retired Paralympian Mariappan Perumal was said to have grinned from ear to ear when he heard the news that he would be rewarded with his dream home with the help of Youth and Sports (KBS) Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

The two-time powerlifting medalist who’s also the country’s first-ever Paralympic athlete was recently featured in a 10-minute documentary by VICE News which highlighted the plight of disabled persons (OKU) in Malaysia.
READ MORE: Vice Documentary Exposes Malaysia’s Negligence Towards OKUs
P. Mariappan bks atlet angkat berat para (Paralimpik Seoul ’88) blh tersenyum lebar krn impian beliau utk memiliki kediaman yg lebih selesa bakal tercapai menerusi bantuan drp Menteri Belia & Sukan, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican. @reezal_merican @wanfayhsal pic.twitter.com/GX947mt9cj— YAKEB (@YAKEB_) April 14, 2021
Starting his powerlifting career in 1980, Mariappan represented Malaysia seven times in the Paralympics. Since his retirement, the father of three supports his family on a small government pension and had been living in a humble People Housing Project (PPR) flat in Kuala Lumpur.
“Since I have made a lot of sacrifices for the country, people were sad to know that I stayed in a PPR unit. My name portrayed excellence, but my life was out,” grieved Mariappan in the VICE documentary.
Perumal with his family at home.(VICE News/YouTube)
The para-athlete was also featured on the Humans of Kuala Lumpur Facebook page in 2016, where he shared his hope that other national athletes won’t be left “forgotten” as he had been.
I want to make sure other athletes won’t be forgotten the same way as me. These athletes work hard all their life, and they only deserve the best.Mariappan Perumal via Humans of Kuala Lumpur

Past efforts and success
Mariappan was one of 10 retired national athletes who were present for a special ‘buka puasa’ event hosted by the National Sports Council (MSN) and attended by Reezal Merican.
The minister said on social media that his ministry will do its best to take care of the nation’s athletes.
We will pay them back for their previous efforts and success.Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican via Twitter
Terima kasih @DatoNoorul @YAKEB_ mengatur pertemuan saya bersama bekas-bekas atlet negara.Saya bersama @KBSMalaysia akan sentiasa cakna perihal mereka. Kita bantu sebaik mungkin. Usaha dan kejayaan mereka ketika dulu, kita balas kembali. https://t.co/zgeBPpTtoq— Reezal Merican (@reezal_merican) April 14, 2021

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Source:
Vice Documentary Exposes Malaysia’s Negligence Towards OKUs
Paralympian Mariappan Perumal


[Watch] Man Recites Azan In Front Of Hungry Ghost Effigy, Police Say He Is Mentally Ill

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Police are investigating a viral video of a man who recited the azan (call to prayer) in front of a paper effigy.

The paper effigy appeared to be that of the Ghost King, Tai Su Yeah (King of Hades).
The incident is said to have happened between 26 and 27 July at Pertubuhan Yulan Bukit Mertajam.
An event was held there in conjunction with the Hungry Ghost Festival, which is celebrated in July every year.
It is the month where, according to Chinese folklore, gates of the lower realms are thrown open for spirits to roam the human world.
When Things Go Viral
Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Tan Cheng San, commented that the incident was recorded on a 58-second video.
The video was uploaded by ‘Akademi Penyelidikan Agama Dunia’ on Facebook on Sunday.
Tan said the suspect was a local man in his 40s living in Jalan Kilang Ubi, Bukit Mertajam.

READ MORE: What Is The “Ghost Month” And How Does It Affect You?
Based on the testimony of the witnesses, we confirm that the suspect is a mentally challenged and demented person. This is the second incident, the first was in 2017.Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Tan Cheng San, explaining that the man is mentally ill.
Tan added that most people around the area are already familiar with the suspect.
The police reminded the public to respect each other’s beliefs and avoid any activity touching on the sensitivities between races and religions.

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Namewee Responds To Allegations That Hacked YouTube Channel Was A Gimmick

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Namewee almost lost all of his videos on YouTube two days ago due to a hack on Wednesday, 6 April.

Videos that he had worked on for nearly 13 years went missing and his username was replaced with a sentence in Russian.
Fortunately, he managed to recover his videos back on the same day and thanked those who helped him get his account back in order. He also thanked his fans for supporting him all these years.
READ MORE: [Watch] Namewee’s 13 Years Of YouTube Content Vanished When He Got Hacked
However, Namewee’s Facebook post on Thursday, 7 April, indicated that not everyone was on his side.
These parties claimed that the ‘missing videos’ dilemma was just a publicity stunt.

In classic Namewee fashion, he responded to the allegations and said that thousands of people helped to get back his YouTube account.
According to his post, the parties that helped him were:
YouTube headquarters in MalaysiaYouTube TaiwanYouTube AsiaWebTVAsiaHis colleagues in his company
He added that all these parties combined totalled at least 1,000 people, and they have put in a lot of effort to save his channel.
If this was a gimmick, I’ll be ratted out if one of the thousand people decides to discredit me.Namewee wrote on Facebook.
Namewee ended his post by saying that whoever chose to believe that it was a gimmick must be suffering some form of brain damage.

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[Watch] Daughter Gifts Dad A Motorcycle After He Sold His To Pay Her College Fees

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Five years ago, Wan Razali Wan Mohd sold his beloved motorcycle so that his daughter could further her studies. The prized Honda EX5 was sold to a used vehicle agent for RM1,000 and the money was used to pay off his daughter’s college fees.

He found it hard to part with the motorcycle because it was a birthday gift from his late wife about 20 years ago. His late wife knew he preferred riding a motorcycle instead of driving. As such, the gift held great sentimental value and a reminder of happier times.
After she passed from a fever, he was jobless but had to make ends meet to support his family.
All of his sacrifices to make sure his children were cared for bore fruit today. The father of two in Kampung Pulau Serai, Terengganu got a surprise of his life when his daughter, Wan Nuraisyah, gifted him a brand new motorcycle on his 58th birthday.
In the viral Tiktok video by @wanaisyahs009, Wan Razali could not hold back his tears at the sight of the red motorcycle.

In the video, the stoic-looking man wiped off tears of joy before trying out his new ride. “My father has given up a lot, including the motorcycle given by my late mother, to ensure that I can continue my studies. I now have a job and a stable income,” Nuraisyah said.
“I felt sad because my late wife gave me a motorcycle and now my daughter is doing the same. I do not expect anything in return (from my daughter) as it is my fatherly duty to provide for her,” Wan Razali told Harian Metro.

https://www.tiktok.com/@wanaisyahs009/video/7007657520697298203

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More Than 200 Ampang Residents Evacuated For Further Landslide Site Study

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With the last victim extricated from the site of the landslide today, the authorities are planning to study the area in-depth further to avoid a reoccurrence.

More than 200 residents from 48 homes in Taman Bukit Permai 2 were ordered to evacuate their homes while investigations are carried out.
The Malay Mail reported that the landslide wasn’t caused by logging or land clearing activities.
According to Utusan, Hulu Langat State Chief Dr Ani Ahmad said earlier investigations revealed that the heavy rainfall triggered soil movement and caused the landslide.
Thus, the in-depth study of the site would be carried out to ensure that it isn’t an active landslide before residents are allowed to return to their homes.
Due to the uncertain soil conditions, cleaning works couldn’t be carried out yet.
A temporary evacuation shelter (PPS) has been prepared at Dewan Orang Ramai Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) which is near to the location.
So far, no residents have taken up the offer to stay at the evacuation centre. Most have opted to stay with relatives, at the hotel or a homestay nearby. Nevertheless, the evacuation centre remains open for those who need it.
Meanwhile, a disaster management centre was set up to organize a better strategy and it involved help from several agencies such as MPAJ, Public Works Department (JKR), the police (PDRM) and firefighters (JBPM).
The landslide in Taman Bukit Permai 2 happened on Thursday, 10 March in the evening. It buried five victims alive. Only an elderly man survived the disaster with light injuries.
READ MORE: TLDR: Ampang Landslide Claimed 4 Lives, Only 1 Survivor

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[Watch] Kuantan City Council Spots Wrongdoers And Calls Them Out Live

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Have you ever felt the urge to call out litterbugs or wrongdoers with a megaphone? Well, the Kuantan City Council (MBK) is doing just that through their Control Center Supervision and Enforcement initiative.

In the video showcasing their efforts, the act of calling out wrongdoers live seems to be effective.
MBK staff monitor several locations in the city from the control center and issue warnings through a loudspeaker.

In one of the scenarios, an MBK staff issued a verbal warning to a man who left his food container in a public area.
This is MBK CCTV control unit. To the person who left his container on the Teluk Cempedak fort, please throw it in the rubbish bin provided immediately. If you fail to do so, action will be taken based on the CCTV footage. Thank you.Kuantan City Council staff to the litterbug.
The man could be seen quickly packing up the container to be placed in the rubbish bin before a small group of monkeys nearby could get a hold of it.
In another video, the MBK staff managed to deter another person from tagging a wall of a building in public.
If the Kuantan City Council’s efforts work well to deter small offences, perhaps it’s a solution that other city and municipal councils can adopt in their area.
Netizens welcome the council’s move to monitor public areas and added that it might even be able to reduce crime.
Some of them also wondered if the city council would be able to spot potholes and fading road lines and get the Public Works Department (JKR) to fix them.
They hoped that the monitoring effort wouldn’t be a white elephant project.

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Justin Bieber Concert Tix Sold Out, Scalpers Reselling For Up To 4x More

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Malaysians have been super excited to catch the Justin Bieber Justice World Tour on Malaysian soil since it was first announced, but tickets for all categories have sold out within hours.

Tickets for Categories 1-7 and VIP seats,  ranging from RM288-RM2,088, have all been sold out within just 3 hours.
However, while some fans were not able to obtain tickets, scalpers have already begun listing the concert tickets for up to triple or more of its original price.
Look at these irresponsible folks. So sickening 🥵 #viral #JusticeTourMalaysia pic.twitter.com/myecCsFskl— Héz (@hezrinshahnaz) March 31, 2022
Netizens are also cautioning distraught fans to not buy scalped tickets, as each ticket is linked to the buyer’s IC number.
As such, if the ticket holder and the ticket buyer do not have matching IC numbers, they would be turned away from the concert venue anyway.
PSA: PLEASE DONT BUY FROM ANYONE ELSE IF YOU DIDNT GET THE TICKETS. The organiser posted this 4 days ago! If you buy, you yang waste your money. #JusticeTourMalaysia pic.twitter.com/4fBON9Ts9E— Ayeesha (@ayeeshahshm) March 31, 2022
As a general rule, buying scalped tickets is a huge risk that is not worth the uncertainty and money. Perhaps, if Beliebers believe hard enough, the huge demand could lead the organisers to consider a second concert date instead.

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i-Sejahtera 2022: Phase 2 Payment Review Starting End of April

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The Penang state government will implement the payment for the second phase of the i-Sejahtera 2022 Program starting at the end of this April.

State Environment and Welfare Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh hoped the matter would be fully resolved before this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
The Senior Citizen Appreciation Program is a monetary contribution of RM150 that is given annually.
For senior citizens who passed away, a one-off contribution of RM1000 is given to the heirs of senior citizens.
What Is i-Sejahtera?
The i-Sejahtera is an annual financial assistance from the Penang state government.
The program targets the elderly, the disabled (OKU), single mothers, housewives and babies aged 2 years and below.
There are several types of assistance programs that can be applied for, namely:
Once A Year Payment
Gold Citizen Award Program : RM150Single Mother Assistance Program: RM100Golden Mother Program: RM100Disabled Assistance Program: RM150
One-off Payment
Golden Child Program: RM200Death Benefit: RM1,000
The Penang government has recently increased its annual aid for senior citizens and the disabled to RM200 each this year, up from RM150 previously.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow  was quoted by Malay Mail as saying that the cash payments under the welfare programme will benefit 217,868 registered recipients in the state.
i-Sejahtera 2022 Application Criteria
1. Gold Citizen Award Program
The applicant must be 60 years of age or older in the current year of registration. Registered in the Election Commission (EC) as a voter in Penang. CLICK TO REVIEW THE VOTER LIST
Supporting documents required:
Copy of the Applicant’s Identity Card. Copy of Beneficiary’s Identity Card. Copy of the latest bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. Make sure the bank account uploaded is an active bank account. Copy of the Review of the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) Voter Register. CLICK HERE TO PRINT SPR DOCUMENTS
2. Single Mother Assistance Program
Citizen of Malaysia. Registered in the Election Commission (EC) as a voter in the State of Penang. CLICK TO REVIEW THE VOTER REGISTERDivorced or death of husband Under 60 years old when registering Not remarried. Must have at least ONE child
Supporting documents required:
Copy of the Applicant’s Identity Card. A copy of the Identity Card of one of the children. Birth Certificate of one of the children. Copy of Beneficiary/ Beneficiary Identity Card. Copy of Husband’s Death Certificate / divorce documents / related documents. Copy of latest bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. Make sure the bank account uploaded is an active bank account. Copy of the Review of the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) Voter Register. CLICK HERE TO PRINT SPR DOCUMENTS
3. Golden Mother Program
Citizen of Malaysia. Registered in the Election Commission (EC) as a voter in the State of Penang. CLICK TO REVIEW THE VOTER LIST. The applicant is a housewife and has no fixed income. The woman is still married. Applicants must be under 60 years old when registering.
Supporting documents required:
Copy of the Applicant’s Identity Card. Copy of Husband’s Identity Card. Copy of Marriage Certificate. A copy of the latest bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. Make sure the bank account uploaded is an active bank account. Copy of the Review of the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) Voter Register. CLICK HERE TO PRINT SPR DOCUMENTS
4. Disabled Assistance Program
Citizen of Malaysia. Settling in the State of Penang. The applicant must be a disabled person registered with the Social Welfare Department.
Supporting documents required:
Copy of the Applicant’s Identity Card. Copy of Beneficiary’s Identity Card. Copy of OKU Registration Card. Copy of the front page of the bank book/bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the name and account number of the applicant/beneficiary. Make sure the bank account uploaded is an active bank account.
5. Golden Child Program
The child must be a Malaysian citizen. The child is less than 2 years old from the date of birth. Parents of children born must be registered with the Election Commission (EC) as voters in the State of Penang. CLICK TO REVIEW THE VOTER LIST
Supporting documents required:
Copy of the child’s Birth Certificate. Copy of parent’s identity card. A copy of the front page of the bank book/bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. Make sure the bank account uploaded is an active bank account. Copy of the Review of the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) Voter Register. CLICK HERE TO PRINT SPR DOCUMENTS
6. Taxi Assistance Program
MalaysianRegistered with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD)Have a Driver’s Card that is still validCarrying taxi services in the State of Penang only
Supporting documents required:
Copy of Applicant’s Identity CardCopy of Driver’s CardCopy of latest bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. (Please make sure the uploaded bank account number is still active)
7. School Bus Incentive Assistance
MalaysianRegistered with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD)Have a valid school bus permit for saleRunning school bus services in the State of Penang onlyIndividual/company applicants are only eligible to apply for a maximum of two (2) school bus permits only.
Supporting documents required:
Copy of Applicant’s Identity CardCopy of School Bus PermitComplete Copy of Each Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) Certificate SheetCopy of latest bank statement/account confirmation printout/online banking statement that clearly displays the applicant’s name and account number. (Please make sure the uploaded bank account number is still active)Copies of supporting documents if not using the company’s bank account.
How to Register & Application
The i-Sejahtera program can be applied for online at the i-Sejahtera portal .
Please click the New Application and Status Check button. Then enter the identity card number and follow the next steps for the application.
1. Check the Identity Card No.
2. Apply for the Appreciation Program to register an ID and password.
3. Log in Login using the specified identity card number and password.
4. Complete the application form and upload the supporting documents.
5. If the document is not uploaded through the system, the applicant must send a copy of the supporting document to the District Office/KADUN Service Center/District Social Welfare Office (for OKU program).
Refer to the Registration Guide via the following link:
Registration Status
Registration status can be checked through the i-Sejahtera Portal.
Please click the ‘New Application and Status Check’ button.
In addition, the check can also be done by logging in to the applicant’s account at the Applicant Login button.
Applicants can also contact the District Office, KADUN Service Center, District Social Welfare Center (for the OKU Assistance program) to check the registration status.
The contact list can be seen in the Contact Us section.
Payment Date
Payment will be made in stages to eligible recipients.
To enable the applicant to receive contributions for the current year, the applicant’s registration must be complete and confirmed before June 30 of each year.
Registrations confirmed after June 30 will receive a contribution payment the following year.
Phase 1 Payment: February 2022
Phase 2 Payment: April 2022
More Information
For more information, please visit https://isejahtera.penang.gov.my/ or contact the District Office in the following list:
North East RegionOfficer: ENCIK AHMAD KHAIRANIAddress: NORTHEAST PENANG DISTRICT AND LAND OFFICE LEVEL 50 & 51 KOMTAR, 10000 PENANGPhone: 04-650 5538Email: pdtdtl.isejahtera@gmail.com Southwest RegionOfficer: ENCIK KHAIRUL AZUAR/ ENCIK SYED ALIAddress: SOUTHWEST DISTRICT AND LAND DISTRICT OFFICE 11000 BALIK PENANGPhone: 04-868 9414 / 04-868 9421Email: pdtdbd.isejahtera@gmail.com North Seberang PeraiOfficer: ENCIK BASRI / ENCIK SHAHRUNNIZARAddress: DISTRICT AND LAND OFFICE, SEBERANG PERAI UTARA, BERTAM, 13200 KEPALA BATAS, PENANG.Telephone: 04-577 6571 / 04-577 65712Email: pdtspu.isejahtera@gmail.com Seberang Perai TengahOfficer: ENCIK ILYAS / PUAN KHAIRIYAHAddress: SEBERANG PERAI TENGAH DISTRICT AND LAND OFFICE JALAN BETEK, SUNGAI RAMBAI 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAMPhone: 04-548 8888 / 04-548 8861Email: pdtspt.isejahtera@gmail.com South Seberang PeraiOfficer: PUAN SURIATIAddress: SEBERANG PERAI SELATAN DISTRICT AND LAND OFFICE, 14200 SUNGAI JAWI, PENANGPhone: 04-585 7872Email: pdtsps.isejahtera@gmail.com

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UNIQLO Malaysia Donates Used Clothes To Homeless In Kuala Lumpur

https://www.facebook.com/uniqlo.my/posts/4826509917389406https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=154212051285906&story_fbid=4025750530798686
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For the homeless, clothes are often the only thing protecting them from the harsh weather and environment outside.

This means that their clothes get dirty and ruin quickly. Having a set of clean clothes to change into can help the homeless look more presentable, maybe even help them secure employment.
Which is why UNIQLO Malaysia’s effort to clothe the homeless is such a wonderful initiative.
UNIQLO Malaysia’s clothing corner at Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur. (Credit: Facebook/UNIQLO Malaysia)
The company recently set up a clothing corner at the Homeless Transit Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The clothes are made up of those donated by UNIQLO’s customers and include casualwear, sportswear, and formal workwear.
They announced the programme launch on Facebook, saying that the effort was aimed to help the homeless who are trying to restart their lives by looking for employment opportunities with the help of the transit centre.

The post has since been shared over 2,000 times and garnered almost 6,000 reactions from the public.
In the comments, people praised UNIQLO for their charitable contributions.

UNIQLO’s All-Product Recycling Initiative is a key activity implemented globally by the company. Aimed to maximise the use of clothing that their customers no longer wear, the company provides donation boxes at their stores where customers can drop their old clothes. UNIQLO then distributes the collected clothing to those in need.

The project started in 2006 when UNIQLO recycled donated clothing as material for the textile industry. However, as most of the items received from customers were still wearable and in good condition, the company extended the value of the donated clothes by sharing them with those in need instead.
In Malaysia, the All-Product Recycling Initiative started in 2014, where UNIQLO Malaysia collected used clothes from their customers and donated them to the refugee community in the country in support with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
UNIQLO Malaysia recycling process during its humble beginnings in 2014. (Credit: UNIQLO Malaysia)
If you’re interested in donating clothes yourself, you can bring clean UNIQLO products you no longer wear to any UNIQLO store during their operating hours on any day of the year. Place the used clothing in the recycling box in the store, or ask for assistance from any of their staff.
UNIQLO Recycling Boxes are available in-store for customers to donate old clothing. (Credit: UNIQLO Malaysia)
For more information, check out UNIQLO Malaysia’s website.

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Malaysian Superwoman Becomes First Asian As The Global Commonwealth Foundation Chair

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Datuk Sudha Devi has been appointed as the Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation – making her the first Malaysian and also the first Chair from the Asian region since the Foundation’s establishment in 1996 – for a two-year term starting 1 January 2021.

Based on the release by Wisma Putra, Sudha came out on top against candidates from Camaroon, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.
As part of her role, she will preside over Board of Governors’ meetings, represent the Foundation in international meetings and events; and serve the role as an ambassador to the organisation.
Previously, she was Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Australia and an Ambassador of Malaysia to Federative Republic of Brazil.
Sudha has also served in various diplomatic positions in Germany, Singapore and Switzerland.
Locally, she held various positions in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including as the Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning and Coordination, undersecretary for the East Asia Division and Deputy-General for the ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Foundation is a Commonwealth agency for civil society that’s dedicated to strengthening people’s participation in all aspects of public dialogue.
Ultimately, the Foundation seeks to ensure that policy and government institutions are more effective contributors to the development through the influence of civic voices.
Congratulations Datuk Sudha Devi for your fine achievement, we as Malaysians are proud that you’ve gone to such great heights.

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Foodpanda’s New Mascot Is A Pink Panda Named Pau-Pau

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You may have seen a pink-and-white panda character peeking out at you on billboards or advertisements online, but did you know what it is for?

It’s actually foodpanda’s newest (and cutest!) brand ambassador, Pau-Pau!
According to Foodpanda, Pau-Pau bit into a piece of pink bamboo which turned him pink.(Credit: foodpanda Malaysia)
Although foodpanda has always used a panda face as its logo, they have now unveiled a whole mascot in celebration of their 10 year anniversary.
A fuzzy pink champion
According to a foodpanda press release, Pau-Pau is designed to be fun-loving and free-spirited first-of-its-kind ambassador, championing empowerment and sustainability across the region.
Local graffiti artist Cloakwork’s mural of Pau-Pau in KL City.(Credit: foodpanda)
In creating Pau-Pau, we wanted him to also have a dimension of purpose — that he stands for something more than just being an adorable mascot.Eunha Bhang, Chief Creative Officer, Delivery Hero Asia
Pau-Pau’s 3 passions are empowerment and living life on one’s own terms; the environment, as foodpanda’s sustainability champion; and enthusiasm, for food and fun.
This ties in with foodpanda’s services, which enables customers by freeing up their time to get food or groceries, 24/7.
Pau-Pau delivering fresh groceries via a hot-air balloon.(Credit: foodpanda Malaysia)
Foodpanda also has implemented the default cutlery opt-out feature, which has saved 544 million pieces of single-use plastic in 2021 alone. Additionally, since August 2021, their Global Sustainable Packaging Programme to encourage merchants to switch to plastic-free, plant-based packaging.
Pau-Pau will be spear-heading these foodpanda core initiatives everywhere, so keep an eye out of the fuzzy pink mascot headed your way across all platforms, including the LINE messenger app and Instagram as cute emojis and stickers.

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This Malaysian Tamil Film Just Won At A Toronto Film Festival For Its Heart-Pounding Crime Thriller Story!

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Once again, Malaysian talent shines on the global stage with the local Tamil movie, Pulanaivu, winning the Best Crime Thriller Feature Film Award at the 2020 Toronto International Tamil Film Festival!

The Tamil Film Festival of Toronto (TTFF) is a nonprofit organization that provides a global platform for the appreciation of Tamil cinema and culture by showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Tamil diaspora.
Credit: Story Films Sdn Bhd/Facebook
Pulanaivu is an action-packed murder-mystery with a dose of romance by local husband and wife director duo Shalini Balasundaram and Sathish Natarajan.
During its release in November 2019, it actually broke records in Malaysian Tamil cinema history with a whopping 64 cinemas listing nationwide!
The film features a talented cast including Shalini herself, Datin Seri Shaila V, Kabil Ganesan, Sarankumar, Krithigah Nair, Shabby Ley, Shahrwind, KS Maniam, Shashi Tharan, Desmond Dass, Mardinii, Irfan Zaini, Pashini Sivakumar, and Ramkumar Ravichandran.
Credit: Story Films Sdn Bhd/Facebook
In a 2019 interview with Malay Mail, Datin Seri Shaila explained that Pulanaivu, meaning “intelligence” or “investigation”, is a romantic crime thriller where she plays a cop in pursuit of a murderer who committed a crime at a college.
She also noted that the film produced by Shaibha Vision and Story Films, tried to portray a cop that’s firm and hard at work, but also a key part of her family as a wife and mother.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Shaibha Vision (@shaibhavision) on Sep 15, 2020 at 1:24am PDT
Clearly, the intriguing storyline and solid characters paid off with this award!
Overwhelmed by the recognition, director Shalini took to Facebook to pen her appreciation on the win after bracing stiff competition from amazing Tamil films from all over the world.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank every individual who has been directly or indirectly part of this project, not forgetting our technicians, cast and most importantly our loving audience who have supported this film since day one.We are more than glad to share this joy and gratitude infinitely.Shalini Balasundaram via Facebook.

That’s not all though, Pulanaivu had also won big at the 11th Norway Tamil Film Festival in February for Best Actress and Best Screenplay!
Combined with previous Malaysian films’ international recognition, including a silat movie at the New York Asian Film Festival and a Sabahan’s animated film shortlisted at a US film festival, our film industry is brimming with talent and potential!
Congratulations to the team of Pulanaivu!

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Source:
Women director, actresses tackle murder, mystery and romance in local Tamil film ‘Pulanaivu’ (VIDEO)
Toronto Tamil Film Festival


Cendol Durian D24 Cake is in Ikea Malaysia

Durian lovers, you’ve convinced Ikea to hop on the Durian wagon too!

via GIPHY
Ikea Malaysia has embraced Raya full swing by featuring their new Cendol Durian D24 Cake.
Two Malaysian favourites; the creamy cendol meets the delicious goodness of D24 type Durian just entices us on so many layers (pun intended).
Up Close the Cendol Durian Cake (Pic Credit: KL Foodie)
Ikea also produced 2 other Malaysian cakes Ondeh-ondeh cake and Pulut Hitam cake.
(Pic Credit: Ikea Malaysia)
Up Close the Onde-onde cake(Pic Credit: KL Foodie)
Bubur Pulut Hitam made into a cake(Pic Credit: KL Foodie)
Unfortunately the cakes are not sold by slice which has upset some Netizens on Facebook.

We suggest to share this cake because it’s said to be delicious.

These cakes are only being made for a limited run and will only be around till June 4, 2019.

via GIPHY
So get â€˜erm quick!


From RM2 To RM20: Car Owners Outraged At Bukit Jalil Stadium Parking Fee Hike

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The price of everything seems to be going up these days.

Cooking oil, seafood, chicken and vegetables are all hitting record highs.
Meanwhile, parking fees are surging too which is certainly unwelcome news for Malaysians as the majority of them own a car.
Chinese media Sin Chew reported that a netizen had a shock when he went to Bukit Jalil National Stadium to watch the 2021 Malaysia Cup Final.
Upon arrival, he was aghast to find that the car park, which was only RM2 previously, had gone up to RM20!
Although the game starts at 9 pm, some fans arrived as early as 4 pm.
Upon realizing that the parking fee is so exorbitant, they immediately posted about it on social media to remind other fans to take public transportation.
TikTok user @Faizaljurani_ posted a time-limited video showing a receipt for the parking.
A screenshot of the RM20 parking fee receipt. (Source: TikTok)
As can be seen from the photos posted on the Internet, the parking fee receipt does say RM20!
Other netizens also posted their unpleasant surprise.
Tiket parking Stadium Bukit Jalil Rm 20 sekali masuk..Mahal nak mampus #parkingklsc pic.twitter.com/6nCtHEdh9f— Shereenor Shaari (@Sh3r33n0r) November 30, 2021
celaka, parking stadium bukit jalil sampai RM20. bukannya old trafford.. luck dapat parking depan rumah orang huhu— Luqman ➐ (@luqmankenobiii) November 30, 2021
Who Profits From The ‘Crime’
In addition, some netizens pointed out that because the parking fee is RM20 per entry, the car park management stands to make a killing.
Although it is difficult to do business due to the impact of the epidemic and the rising prices of goods, such unreasonable on-site price-hike is really hurting the consumers’ pockets.
READ MORE: No Relief: Prices Of Essential Goods Expected To Keep Rising
Apparently, as of 2 pm on 1 December, the management of the relevant garage had not responded to this.
Do you think such price hikes are reasonable?

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Kelantan Youth Drowned From Exhaustion When Ferrying Flood Victims To Safety

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A 20-year-old Kelantan youth tragically drowned after falling off a raft while helping flood victims in his village on Wednesday (6 January).

Mohammad Hakimin Rahim was said to be ferrying friends to a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) in Kampung Manjor when he collapsed from exhaustion and fell into the water at around 10 pm.
An image of Mohammad Hakimin aiding villagers during the flood.(BuletinTV3)
According to his mother, Mohammad Hakimin was paddling the raft together with his friends when the incident occurred, and it took several moments before they realised what had happened. Unable to see clearly in the dark and with flood currents raging, all they could do was turn the back around to inform other villagers.
The mother added that Mohammad Hakimin had spent his day busy helping out villagers to evacuate and was tired, cold and suffering from cramps because of the chilly weather.
Reportedly, search and rescue (SAR) personnel were rushed to the scene but had to call off their operations due to rain, low visibility and rising water levels, but Mohammad Hakimin’s father and two twin elder siblings were said to have spent the entire night searching for him by dredging the bottom of a nearby river with bamboo poles.
Mohammad Hakimin’s body was found by the family the next morning, not far from where he went overboard.
Public advised to stay put!
Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) had advised flood victims to shelter in place and await rescue because of the dangers of traversing the floods without expert supervision.
Kelantan Bomba said that around 80% of flood victims taking shelter at PPS had travelled there using their own boats and rafts.
I should buy a boat…(Bernama/Malay Mail)
Flood victims are instead asked to seek help and provide authorities with information on those who need to be evacuated and rescued to avoid tragic mishaps.
The flood situation in the East Coast states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu have reportedly worsened – forcing people to leave their homes for safety.
The number of flood evacuees in Kelantan has also doubled overnight with over 4,800 people taking refuge at 64 designated PPS across the state.

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Source:
Youth ferrying flood victims drowns after falling off boat
'Arwah berkejar masa nak tolong penduduk'
Wait to be rescued and don’t evacuate homes on your own, Kelantan flood victims told
Number of evacuees surges as floods worsen in Terengganu, Kelantan
More evacuated as floods worsen in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu


[Photos] Pearly-Thinaah’s Gruelling Fight In Badminton Finals Wins Hearts Of Fans

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National women’s badminton team, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah gave it their all in a nail-biting badminton final but unfortunately lost.

The match was one of the most intense and gruelling fights in Perodua Malaysia Masters 2023, and fans were on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The comeback that the world’s 11th-ranked pair tried to spark – after losing the first set and when they fell behind in the third set – did not end as expected.
Pearly-Thinaah’s determination and fighting spirit inspired fans around the world. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
The ‘comeback queens’ were forced to submit to the hands of the South Korean pair, Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee 20-22, 21-8, 17-21 in action at the Bukit Jalil Axiata Arena.
As champion Ha Na-So Hee took home a cash prize of US$33,180 (RM152,661), while Pearly-Thinaah took home US$15,960 (RM73,431) as runner-up.
Despite Injury, Thinaah Fights Hard Until The End
Both players gave it their all, with each point being fiercely contested.
The game was a true battle of skill and endurance, with neither side giving an inch.
Despite suffering an injury, Thinaah continued to play through the pain. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
In the game’s late stages, Thinaah suffered an injury, but she continued to play through the pain.
Despite this setback, Pearly-Thinaah continued to fight hard and made a valiant effort.
Pearly & Thinaah gave their all out sampai Thinaah vomit.. Umpire urging them to play(?) but Coach Rexy turun padang.A fatherly figure indeed 🙌🏻 Tq coach.. Thank you PearThin for all 🍀#PERODUAMalaysiaMasters2023 pic.twitter.com/nIIjApN5bw— Z 💎🇲🇾 (@theone_xyz) May 28, 2023
However, things got heated when Thinaah’s coach Rexy Mainaky intervened and disputed with the umpire over a call.
The incident caused a brief delay in the match, but Thinaah regained her focus and continued playing.
The dispute between coach Rexy Mainaky and the umpire caused a brief delay in the match. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
Despite their incredible efforts, Pearly-Thinaah eventually lost the match.
However, their fighting spirit and determination won the hearts of their fans.
Many took to social media to express their admiration for Pearly-Thinaah’s performance, with some even calling it one of the greatest matches in badminton they’ve seen.
Their performance in the final will be remembered for years to come, and fans will eagerly anticipate their return to the court. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
Pearly-Thinaah were gracious in defeat, congratulating their opponent on a well-deserved win.
They also thanked fans for their support and promised to return stronger.
A teary-eyed Pearly Tan getting some encouragement from her family. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
A Better Tomorrow
Although Pearly-Thinaah may not have won the tournament, they have cemented their place as one of the sport’s most promising, talented and inspiring players.
Pearly-Thinaah have the opportunity to make up for their disappointment this time when they play at the Singapore Open next week.
In the first round, they will open the curtain against the Japanese team, Rin Inagawa-Kie Nakanishi.
Pearly-Thinaah were mobbed by fans after the game. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

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15 Ministries Involved In Approving Work During Lockdown, Says Azmin Ali

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1.57 million workers or 15.39% out 10.2 million registered under the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) have been approved to work during the Movement Control Order.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the Ministry has approved 128,150 companies or 21.8% out of 586,308 who’ve registered under the system as of 3 June.
However, touching on the travel permission for work that needs to be re-submitted through the COVID-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0, Azmin said that the relevant Ministries are required to approve their respective sectors.
MKN in a media statement on 31 May 2021, informed that the letter of permission to operate for the services sector must be issued after obtaining confirmation from the ministries that regulate the sector. This proves that the letter of permission to operate will only be issued by CIMS 3.0 after the ministries that regulate the sector allowed to operate give verification to MITI.International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali
To date, he said, 15 Ministries have used the CIMS 3.0 system to facilitate the evaluation process of permission applications to operate under their respective sectors.
Once the ministries confirm the applications, the company can continue to print the letter of permission to operate through CIMS 3.0.International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali
With the implementation of the MCO, he said that all economic and social activities are not allowed to operate except for the 17 industries which are deemed of essential services with the workforce capped to 60%.
The 17 industries currently allowed to operate by MKN can be summarised as:
ManufacturingAgricultureFisheriesLivestockPlantation and CommoditiesConstructionDistribution and Trade
This means various sectors of the economy under the supervision of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP), Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (MAFI), Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC), and Works Ministry (KKR) are allowed to operate during the implementation period of MCO 3.0.International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali
Azmin also quoted data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) which says that the total workforce in Malaysia at the end of February 2021 amounted to 16.05 million workers.
Of this number, he said, only 2.26 million employees (14.13%) work in the manufacturing sector which is half the number of employees working in the services sector at around 4.38 million workers (27.38%).

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Palestinian Islamist Movement, Hamas, Eyes Malaysia As Operations Base

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Hamas, the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, and nationalist organization is looking at setting up its external operations base here in Malaysia.

According to international foreign affairs reports, Hamas is being forced to move from its base in Turkey due to the country’s warming ties with Israel, the arch-enemy of Hamas.
“Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas’ deputy political bureau head, and former military commander, reportedly was among those expelled” from Turkey Hamas eyes Malaysia as a possible operations base https://t.co/eVvljJayuG— Soner Cagaptay (@SonerCagaptay) May 8, 2022
Malaysia is seen as a potential base because the group has nowhere else to go in the Middle East.
The country is geographically and culturally more distant from any Arab country, but this could be offset by the popular support enjoyed by Hamas.
Malaysia sees Hamas as freedom fighters that deliver social welfare programmes, rather than militants as reported by Western media.
On May 13, Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah orders internal investigation into RTM Mandarin for labelling Hamas as 'militants'. https://t.co/SEtwTLJjbU— Norman Goh (@imnormgoh) May 18, 2021
Malaysia’s political leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Muslim Youth Movement Malaysia (Abim) also enjoy a close relationship with Hamas.
Ketua Biro Politik Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh menelefon Menteri Luar Malaysia, Saifuddin Abdullah untuk memberi taklimat kepadanya tentang perkembangan semasa di Masjid al-Aqsa, penyerbuan tentera penjajah Israel ke dalam Masjid al-Aqsa dan pencerobohan pendatang haram Zionis. pic.twitter.com/7iSyM1UOai— Nu'man نعمان 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@numanmazlan) April 18, 2022
Pertemuan ABIM & #hamas Khalid Meshaal."The future of Palestine is with HAMAS! " ujar beliau dengan penuh optimis. pic.twitter.com/yNDiQWD9Ur— ABIMalaysia 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@abimalaysia) December 6, 2013
Should Malaysia Get More Involved?
Malaysia is a strategic ally of the United States in the war against terrorism (like Turkey and Qatar) even though it publicly supports Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the US.
Political analyst Dr Abdul Razak Ahmad told The Rakyat Post that Palestine vis-à-vis Hamas is an Arab world issue and needs a solution brokered by the Arab world.
The former Special Advisor to Johor Menteri Besar and Minister of Higher Education said it is a problem that needed strong Arab nations’ political support for political resolutions.
While Malaysia and other nations are supportive of Hamas and Fatah, it must be seen in the context of supporting resistance against occupation of the Palestinian land, not supporting a terrorist movement or any such organisation.Dr Abdul Razak Ahmad on Malaysia’s participation in the Middle East conflict.
He stressed that Malaysia’s support has always been humanitarian and political but never about armed struggle.
On the other hand, Hamas’s political network is global in many ways and means.
Dr Abdul Razak, who heads a political think tank in Kuala Lumpur, said it is not strategic for Hamas to have one specific location for their operation and presence.
Thus while Hamas may have some presence in Malaysia, it is more of an outreach establishment for the Palestinian cause and public relation office rather that a Hamas Political and operational officeDr Abdul Razak Ahmad on the nature of Hamas’s activities in Malaysia.
He added that Malaysia has the necessary sophistication to regulate every foreign-related establishment under its legal framework.
READ MORE: Malaysia Must Appoint Special Envoy On Islamophobia To Fight Discrimination And Racism, Says Political Analyst
Dr Abdul Razak Ahmad speaking at an international conference on Uyghurs in Istanbul, Turkey. (Pix: M4U)
Bloodshed Spilling Over In Malaysia
Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh was a Palestinian engineer, academic and member of Hamas.
He was assassinated on 21 April 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while heading to a mosque for dawn prayers
Fadi was involved in Hamas rocket and drone development, and the killing was widely blamed on Israel.
let's not forget this happened on our soil a few years back.."The family of Fadi al-Batsh, 35, has accused Israel's spy agency Mossad of being behind his killing on Saturday."Palestinian lecturer and Hamas member killed in Malaysiahttps://t.co/vhIjceEaUb— S•G 🇲🇾🏴 (@ShazGhaF) May 15, 2021
The murder suspects were never caught, but in January this year, Hamas said they had arrested a Gaza Palestinian.
The man was alleged to have collaborated with the Israeli Mossad spy agency in the killing of Fadi.

Israel’s overall national security agency ShinBet has also accused Hamas of training militants in Malaysia including on parachute attacks.
In recent years, the #ShinBet has uncovered a large number of cases in which #Hamas terrorists have been trained in #Malaysia and received regular military training. https://t.co/cmpSay2H9w— Mirjam Fischer (@Mirjam_Fischer) April 24, 2018
Malaysia has dismissed the claims as ridiculous allegations.

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Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope In New Malaysia Cover Issue, Mistake Or Intentional?

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Recently, a particular book from a local publisher has stirred controversy mainly due to its cover resembling the Jata Negara or the country’s coat of arms.
Titled Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope In New Malaysia, the cover of the book has angered many netizens who pointed out the similarities and urged authorities to take action.
Viewing it as an offence, government officials and agencies have issued statements on the issue.
Authorities take action
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah views the publication as unpatriotic and wants hefty punishment to be given.
As a Malaysian, the individuals should be aware of their unpatriotic and irresponsible actions. It is rude behavior that we cannot compromise. The police will conduct a thorough investigation, and I hope those involved will be given a hefty punishment.Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah via NST
Even the Prime Minister’s office came out with a statement saying that the actions should be punished as it’s against the law.
Any party who infringes on the use of the National Coat of Arms may be prosecuted and punished under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1964.Prime Minister’s Office via Berita Harian
Under the Act, those who violate section 3 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding RM1,000.
The aftermath
The publisher of the book later apologized as Chong Ton Sin, the Director and Founder of Gerakbudaya said that it was unintentional and they did not think that it would catapult into such a big issue.
Meanwhile, the police have started investigating those behind the creation of the book, which are the author, editor and publisher.
They also confiscated around 300 copies and based on their findings, there are 1,000 copies that have been printed.
The case is being investigated under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, the Sedition Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act as well as the Communications and Multimedia Act.
It’s not offensive, some say
Lawyers of Liberty slammed the investigation as Coordinator Zaid Malek said that the act only prohibits the use of the coat of arms without written permission from the Minister.
It does not prohibit any artistic rendition inspired by the nation’s coat of arms such as the one used on the cover of the book, which no sane person would mistake for the country’s actual coat of arms.LFL Coordinator Zaid Malek via FMT
Local cartoonist Zunar also questioned the investigation as he said that the designer used the coat of arms as a visual reference and that artists shouldn’t be held responsible for the public’s interpretation of their work.
But who made the cover?
As for the origins of the artwork, another local artist, Fahmi Reza explained that the cover is in fact, a painting that has been in existence for years now.
The painting was made by Shia Yih Yiing and was showcased at a local art exhibition in 2014.
Bagi yang tak tahu, artwork yg digunakan sebagai design kulit buku yg didakwa "menghina Jata Negara" sebenarnya sebuah oil painting lama. Pernah dipamerkan dalam sebuah art exhibition yg terbuka pada orang awam di sebuah galeri di KL, 6 tahun dulu masa zaman BN pada tahun 2014. pic.twitter.com/aNbYLubHks— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) June 29, 2020
The painting didn’t attract as much controversy back then as it did this time around because 6 years ago, the artwork was displayed in galleries but it didn’t attract any negative backlash despite it being in public spaces.
Local news outlets even made articles highlighting the artist’s artwork and according to Chong, the painting was even sold before the arrangements for the book cover was made.

What do you think? Do you think that’s there’s an intention of malice or was it just misinterpretation? Let us know on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


MKN Announces SOPs For CNY, Receives Backlash From Malaysians

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With Chinese New Year being just around the corner, the government has announced the SOPs for those who celebrate the holiday which lands on 12 February.

Restrictions will be imposed for this year’s Lunar New Year, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri as Malaysia is still battling with Covid-19.
Below are the list of activities announced by the Minister:
CNY celebrations can only be celebrated with people within the same houseCNY dinners can only be done with people within the same house.Prayer ceremonies at temples are not allowed – only limited to 5 committee members of that particular temple.Any cultural events and performances such as the lion dances, operas, are not allowed.People are not allowed to visit their neighbours.Interstate and inter-district travel is not allowed – except for Sarawak and it’s up the state government to decide.
How did the people react?
In short, not too well.
National Unity Deputy Minister and MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker was quick to post his reaction on Facebook about the news, saying that the SOPs could be better.
Someone has made a mistake here . This SOP must be quickly withdrawn and rectified! 🤔National Unity Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker via Facebook

Meanwhile, Segamat Member of Parliament (MP) Hannah Yeoh was critical of the announcement, saying that the government are inconsistent in their SOPs.
(2) I suppose that's the current dilemma-to protect the elderly or to make them sad. Better for MKN to guide people through proper SOP for the dinner instead of a blanket ban. Anger stems from other SOPs being given green light but not reunion dinner.MKN, try improving this ok?— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) February 4, 2021
Even comedian Dr Jason Leong chimed in on the subject and offered a solution to the CNY conundrum.
So during this MCO, I cannot visit my parents for CNY as we live in different houses but it's okay.My family and extended relatives are all meeting up to at least say hi and exchange angpows.At the nearest pasar malam.— Dr Jason Leong 🇲🇾 (@DrJasonLeong) February 4, 2021
National Unity Ministry to the rescue
After the SOP backlash, it’s reported that the National Unity Ministry will put forward criticisms from the Chinese community to the National Security Council (MKN).
The Ministry said it had received views and appeals with regards to the issue of reunion dinner and allowing the community to be present at temples for prayers.

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Here’s How You Can Bring A Sense Of Ceremony Into Your Everyday Life

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Most of us think of ceremonies as something that’s connected to major life events, such as weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries. However, there is a surprising power of having a ‘sense of ceremony’ when it’s brought into the mundane, everyday things of life.

Bringing a sense of ceremony into our everyday lives is a beautiful way of celebrating the little things. It’s more than just taking a break – it’s being intentional with time.
While most of us relate to taking breaks from scrolling through our Instagram feed, studies have shown that social media breaks don’t actually give our minds a break at all. Being intentional with our breaks creates a sense of ceremony that helps elevate daily routines into something comforting and meaningful.
Indulge your senses
(Credit: No Revisions/Caleb Dow via Unsplash)
When you carve time out for yourself, be mindful of what you’d like to feel more often and why. It’s important to engage at least one of your senses and trigger your mind to feel safe, happy and relaxed.
Taste and smell are deeply interconnected with your brain’s function, so anything taste or scent-related are great to incorporate into your intentional breaks.
For example, maybe you’d like to start your week feeling relaxed and inspired. Create a simple Monday morning ceremony. Make a cup of coffee, prepare something sweet to snack on, light a candle, and write down three things you’d like to accomplish this week and why. After a few Mondays, as soon as you smell the burning candle and bite into your snack, your subconscious will be triggered to relax and look forward to the week ahead.
If you’re looking for something that’ll help you indulge your senses as you create your own ceremonies, we’ve got just the thing you need.
Charm In Every Bite

Julie’s Charm biscuits are the perfect indulgent treat for your intentional break. Why do we say this? Because Julie’s Charm gives you a mouth-watering, aromatic taste housed in a biscuit shell, with smooth and creamy dessert-inspired fillings!
Julie’s Charm are the perfect accompaniment to your ceremonies. By making it a habit to have this sweet treat after every meal or during your breaks, you’re purposefully setting aside time to give yourself that little extra TLC that you deserve!
Take your pick between two decadent flavours: Double Chocolate or Tiramisu.
(Credit: Julie’s Malaysia)
Double Chocolate gives you a rich, indulgent, and gratifying chocolate-y experience, and Tiramisu is a unique option for those looking for that perfect balance of sweet and bitter.
So before you pick up your phone and call that taking a break, pick up a pack of these biscuits and plan a Charm-ing ceremony for yourself. Love yourself and make every day worth celebrating.
Julie’s Charm is available at your nearest stores or online at Julie’s official Shopee and Lazada stores. Check out Julie’s Biscuits’ official website and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
 #JuliesBiscuits #JuliesCharm #LuxuriousCreamSandwichBiscuit

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This Cat ‘Buys’ Fish With Leaves, But Some Are Not Buying The Story

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A few days ago, a cat on Twitter became an international internet sensation when a picture of him holding a dried leaf in exchange for a fish went viral with 2M views.

The account, @UnionRebelMs posted a picture of a brown tabby cat staring into a glass door with its puppy dog eye while biting a dried leaf in his mouth.
The story was that the cat brought the leaf to a shop one day after seeing a lot of people handing money to the owner to pay for a fish. Then the cat also imitated the customers by bringing a leaf, in hopes of exchanging it with a fish.
The shop owner thought it was cute on the first day so he gave her a small fish. Now, legend has it, the cat has been coming to the shop every day to buy fish with a leaf. Smart cat with a feel-good story.
Paired with an adorable and innocent picture of him holding the leaf, the story of the intelligent cat is actually so cute that everyone finds it convincing.
Seeing people come to buy fish and handing the owner, money, this cat went out and got a leaf to pay for her fish. On the first day, the owner of the shop thought this was very cute, so he gave her a small fish. Now everyday this cat comes in to buy a fish with a leaf. pic.twitter.com/AhKKDY2oL9— Justice 🍀 (@UnionRebelMs) January 5, 2023
Since then, people have been sharing pics and stories of their own pets bringing ‘presents’ to them to show their undying love to their owners.
This cat and dog also bring their owners leaves, in exchange for a treat.

This dog brings his owner a stick instead of a leaf for a bone treat.

There are also similar amusing stories of cats and dogs using their brilliant minds to understand human logic.

However, as convincing as it sounds, allegedly, people have been saying the original story to be a lie.
Turns out, it’s just a clickbait story
The cat is actually someone’s (@tvfridges) cat called Mr Bill and she told everyone that the picture of her cat became viral on Reddit years ago. Now, it has resurfaced with the same story that got us hooked on it.
The owner is claiming that the account is using her cat’s picture as clout for more views on the post. She even provided pictures of her cat on the same patio, and him looking into the glass door from outside.
The reason behind the leaf in his mouth was that he has pica, a condition where a person/animal compulsively swallows non-food items such as plastic or crunchy things. He was chewing on it and wanted to go back inside when the wind scared him.
She appreciates everyone loving the adorable picture of her cat but it was just frustrating for her to see the picture of her cat being used as clickbait by a lot of people.
Ok this is going to make me lose my mind. I keep seeing this everywhere. This is my cat. He does not bring leaves. That is an apartment patio in the background. Somehow our cats photo (which went viral on Reddit years ago) is clickbait EVERYWHERE with this fake story.— bubblegum dropout (@tvfridges) January 7, 2023
Since then, the account has replied to her claim saying that they’re not using it as clickbait and they’re not harming anyone with the feel-good story.
Fake or not, at least we can agree on one thing. This cat is super cute!
What are some of the things that your pets gift you? A lizard? A rat? A piece of your old missing sock?

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I Had Dinner With 100 Strangers Online And Here’s What Happened

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With most of Malaysia under the Movement Control Order (MCO) or the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), it feels like it has been ages since I was able to have a drink with strangers. This begs the question, given the current situation, would an entire hosted dinner online work?

Personally, I have never been a fan of online events, many argue that it’s the future but to me, it can’t compare to the conversations you have with strangers who end up seated next to you.
Having to go through an entire course dinner, you always leave with new found friends.   Despite my prejudices going into this, Hennessy X.O Odyssey Home campaign did not disappoint.

The Format
Taking notes from their ground event management experience, the process was seamless.
The concierge kindly notified me prior to the dinner and a beautiful 35.cl bottle of Hennessy X.O was sent over along with with other goodies like the stylized food package which comes with heating instructions.

The dinner started at 8pm and was hosted by Shing Queen. The show began with ice breaking and understandably, having 100 people talk at once wouldn’t work so essentially, you would type in what you wanted to say and the host would react or read out your comment.
Within the zoom call you are also able to talk to individual attendees by searching their name. This came in handy for private yam seng calls and sessions.
You will be given a different menu depending on which state you were in – which is understandable given the logistics of the endeavour.

The host introduced each menu, the background of the Chefs and the restaurants involved to take guests on an odyssey and explore the depths of Hennessy X.O’s 7 Worlds.Swapping between English and Mandarin, guests were guided through various set course meals and many complimented on the multitude of flavours that Hennessy X.O embodies.
From sweet notes, rising heat, spicy edges, flowing flames, chocolate lull, wood crunches and even culminating in infinite echo – each drop of Hennessy is an odyssey.This was followed by a brand walk through with Hennessy X.O’s ambassador Chong who took questions and enlightened us on history of the brand.
The Food
Skillet were the ones responsible for preparing the food and they are quite popular among KL foodies after the establishment first opened it’s doors in 2015.
They are no strangers when it comers to accolades as they’ve took home multiple awards with their latest being listed in “the Top 20 restaurants in Malaysia 2021” by Tatler Malaysia.
Helmed by Chef Raymond Tham, they offer a variety of Modern European cuisines.

The menu for the dinner was specifically curated for this event with all the dishes being created using the finest ingredients paired perfectly with Hennessy X.O.
As is common in most fine dining affairs, the starters did not disappoint.
Consisting of a set of four, I was spoiled with prawn head aioli, oyster’s tempura with fermented tomato coulis, skillet’s truffle and a Duck & Foie Gras Croquette.

Meanwhile, the main consisted of Lamb Pithivier which is basically a home made puff pastry consisting of mushrooms and lamb but what made this stand out was the addition of Jus and notably a Hennessy Truffle Emulsion spray and summer white truffles.
This ensured that the pie was not dry which is common given the logistical demands of the dinner. Armed with these ample additions one could adjust the preferred flavours of this dish easily.

The Artisan cheese box consisted of 3 types of cold cuts, 4 types of European cheeses, grapes, walnut and crackers as well as a prune compote. Nothing significantly outside the norm here.
The only let down of the dinner was the Hennessy chocolate Mousse which whilst rich and flavourful came in a tiny jar which made navigating the dish with even a dessert spoon almost impossible.
The Company
I left the dinner having made a few friends via the private chat function. This was a reprieve given the isolation that many of us have felt whether in MCO or EMCO. One user who I will not name had a drink with me as we spoke about what isolation was like with his wife.

Some other familiar faces that I have met at previous events opted to continue the party online as the dinner ended.The company was great and the crowd for the most part, they were active and this was driven mainly by the host of the event striking a balance between engaging the audience whilst giving them their time to do their own thing.However, there were a few online guests who did not show their camera or were otherwise passive. I think this was probably due to many not having had haircuts for weeks. For this, I would humbly suggest wearing a cap.
The Verdict
Having been put in an online room with 100 strangers not expecting much as I personally hate online events, I am happy to say I was presently surprised by the food and the rundown of the event. It came as a much-needed reprieve during lockdown but I would however suggest a larger dessert jar.
For those interested in trying the food and drink do visit this website or you can purchase Hennessy X.O. on Shopee.

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