Japanese Woman Says Family Mart Malaysia’s Tom Yam Oden Is “Genius”

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To “spice up” her presentation at DevFest Kuala Lumpur, Google Chrome Web Developer Mariko Kosaka decided to share her thoughts on the localized food at Malaysian Family Mart stores.

Like Family Mart, Mariko originally hails from Japan, though she is currently based in New York City.
“I went to get snack at Family Mart before my talk and found the onigiri section interesting. I’m originally from Japan so I do check out Japanese convenience stores whenever I see them in a different country,” she said when contacted by TRP.
In a clip, which was shared on TikTok by user @durianator, Mariko is heard commenting on the onigiri section of the convenience store, saying she was unsure of the Mala Chicken and Crawfish onigiri as, in her words, Japanese people “can’t do spicy food”  and they don’t eat crawfish.
  @durianator She’s Mariko Kosaka from Google New York #devfest2022 ♬ original sound – durianator
A picture of a Garlic Mayo Shrimp onigiri that she shared also had three question marks next to it.
But Family Mart Malaysia’s Oden section fascinated her. Sharing a picture of the menu, she said, “This is genius.”
“Oden in [the] Japanese context is like a very simple bland fish broth, but like Tom Yam sauce and Satay sauce?! This is genius. You should import that back to Tokyo. You will do really well,” she says before getting back to work.
“I always try to make my presentation more engaging,” Mariko wrote in her replies to questions by TRP.
“Forty minutes is a long time to pay attention to technology and code on slides. It is totally unrelated to my actual presentation, but the aim of the onigiri review part was to “wake up” the audience after the lunch break,” she said.
She also said New York City has a few Malaysian restaurants so she was already familiar with local staples like Roti Canai and Nasi Goreng, among others.
I need mall food in US to get on this level. (Nasi Goreng at food court in KL) pic.twitter.com/i0vJdM0ixl— Mariko Kosaka (@kosamari) November 30, 2022
When asked if there was something she found especially delightful on her visit, Mariko said one dish stuck out for her: Soong Kee Beef Noodles in Lot 10.
“This beef noodle is not in NYC,” she said, adding that she “LOVED” it.
Yeah food court 🍜 pic.twitter.com/7QaV1RITbM— Mariko Kosaka (@kosamari) December 2, 2022

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Touch N’ Go: No More Parking Surcharge & You Can Reload TnG Card Via eWallet (Finally)

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According to The Star, Touch ‘n Go is finally going to make our lives easier by giving us what we’ve been asking for… a long time, really.

That’s right, you can finally reload your TnG card via the eWallet AND the 10% parking surcharge will be removed!
Effendy Shahul Hamid who has been the new CEO at Touch ‘n Go for just three months is moving the company into a more customer-centric approach. The two key problems they are looking at fixing is the ability to reload your physical Touch ‘n Go card through your Touch ‘n Go eWallet and the additional 10% surcharge if you pay for parking with Touch ‘n Go.
Soon, we’ll be able to top up our Touch ‘n Go card on the go.
No more reload fee, no more parking surcharge
The company is in talks with their reload agents to negotiate zero-surchage imposed on their end users. Already, certain merchants such as Watsons, Guardian, Caring Pharmacy, Giants, and even selected Petronas and Shell stations do not impose the surcharge. Soon, this RM0.50 reload surcharge will be a thing of the past.
In even better news, the 10% parking surcharge for using Touch ‘n Go to pay for parking is expected to be abolished nationwide within the first quarter of 2021, so we finally won’t need to pay extra for a little bit of convenience anymore.
The fragile relationship between the card and the eWallet
It will still take a while for you to be able to top up the balance on your physical card directly through the eWallet, but Effendy promises that the option will be made available by the end of this year.
When the Touch ‘n Go eWallet was first introduced, there was a reasonable assumption that the eWallet would have some sort of symbiotic relationship with the physical Touch ‘n Go card.
Credit: The Rakyat Post
However, that was not the case.
So far, the Touch ‘n Go eWallet still mainly operates as a stand-alone e-wallet. While you can register and link your Touch ‘n Go physical Cards to your account, you cannot use your eWallet to topup the card balance directly.
The non-intuitive separation between the eWallet and the physical card was a key complaint for Touch ‘n Go users since the eWallet’s introduction to the public in 2018.
However, the company is finally taking steps to join the two systems.
Since November 2020, you can technically use your eWallet to pay for tolls via the physical card. It works like this:1) Use your Touch ‘n Go physical card to pay at the toll2) The toll fee will be deducted from your eWallet balance, not the card balance
It’s not perfect, but at least it’s a workaround for when you want to pay for tolls using your eWallet balance instead.
The additional cost we pay for just using the service
There’s a lot of hidden costs when it comes to using Touch ‘n Go’s services daily, such as the 50 sen charge for topup or the 10% parking surcharge at malls.
Sure you save a bit of time instead of paying for parking at a machine, but at what cost?
Unlike a service such as a credit card, in which the cost of accepting credit cards are absorbed by merchants, the cost of using Touch ‘n Go is paid by the users.
That’s why when we topup RM20 to our Touch ‘n Go cards, only RM19.50 actually goes into our card balance, while the remaining RM0.50 reload surcharge is paid to the reload agents.
Which is why it’s good news that we may see the end of these surcharges come the end of the year!

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These Coffee Chains Are Giving You Discounts For Frappe Day On 7 Oct!

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It’s International Frappe Day today, the 7th of October, so get geared up to drink some indulgently sweet drinks! A bunch of Malaysian coffee chains will be running promotions, so don’t miss out!

1. Starbucks

Starbucks will be running a one-day only promotion of 50% off the second Frappucino, so why not grab a friend?
2. Gloria Jean’s

While technically this promotion isn’t for Frappe Day, it’s still a lovely October discount! Buy 2 drinks and get 1 free no matter what drink you order!
3. San Francisco Coffee

San Francisco Coffee will also be celebrating National Frappe Day today. Grab a Frisco Frappe at just RM10!
4. Dunkin’

Dunkin’, in true coffee fashion, is celebrating the whole of October since 1 October was International Coffee Day.
Althought it’s not for Frappes specifically, you can grab a coffee at just RM3.90!
5. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Like Dunkin’, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is running a coffee promotion for the whole month until the end of October.
Until the 31st, you can get 15% off your total bill when you pick-up your drinks at any CBTL store when you order with their pick-up service Leaf With Me.

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Penon Prison Inmates Are Sewing PPE For Covid-19 Medical Frontliners

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The Penor Prison sewing workshop in Pahang is working on a very important order. They are currently producing personal protecting equipment (PPE) for medical personnel to use when treating Covid-19 patients.
The 18 inmates have been working from 9am to 5pm daily to sew the PPE since Friday (27 March), including weekends due to the urgent need for PPE as the number of total cases in the country continue to rise.
(Credit: Bernama)
They were given 2,000 metres of fabric to use, and each unit of PPE (one unit is a complete head to toe ensemble) requires 5 metres. So far, theyâ€™ve managed to complete more than 20 units a day. These units are sent to the Pahang state secretary office to be distributed to the state health department.
In addition to the PPE, the Prison Women Staff and Wives of Prison Staff Association (Persiap) produced 525 units of face masks for Covid-19 medical personnel as well.
According to Penor Prison director Datuk Abu Hasan Hussain, several prison staff attended a PPE manufacturing briefing on 25 March to ensure that the PPE produced was in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP).
(Credit: Bernama)
Workshop Supervisor, Sergeant Muhd Mulyadi Abd Ghani, said that the inmates picked up the method of sewing PPE pretty quickly due to their past experience of sewing uniforms.Â
The most difficult part of the whole process is inserting elastic bands at the wrist, chin, and shoe cover.Sergeant Muhd Mulyadi Abd Ghani via Bernama
The sergeant also said that they created three special stations in the workshop to ensure the whole process runs as smoothly as possible. The three stations are: Materials Distribution, Cutting, and Stitching. At the end of the line, the prison staff check the finished product for quality control.
(Credit: The Star)
Speaking of their task, one of the inmates, Man, said the task has given him the opportunity to contribute in the fight against Covid-19. Meanwhile, another inmate called Saiful said he hoped the PPE they produce will help ease the shortage of equipment crucial in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

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Major Flood Once Every 50 Years: How The Recent Flood Stacks Up Against Previous Catastrophies

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When Malaysia was treated to a weekend of non-stop heavy rain, many areas in the Klang Valley experienced devastating floods that swept away cars, people, and even entire houses.

READ MORE: 50-Year-Old Ancestral Home Swept Away By Flood: Only The Staircase Remains
The non-stop rain is an effect of the monsoon season, but this year’s rain was uncharacteristically heavy and long, which led to floods. In fact, part of Indonesia and Thailand are also experiencing floods at the same time.
Cars stranded in a flooded street in KL, December 2021.
However, it’s not actually the first time that such devastating floods have hit Malaysia’s West coast.
The 1972 Kuala Lumpur Floods
In 1972, most of Kuala Lumpur was underwater in a major flash flood, also due to the monsoon rains. The raining began the day after Christmas, 26 December 1970, and continued until 5 January 1971– more than a week of constant raining.
The National Textile Musuem, across from Dataran Merdeka, was heavily flooded.(Credit: Rashdan Rose/floodcontrol.asia)
Major rivers in the Klang Valley swelled incredibly, namely Sungai Klang, Sungai Batu, and Sungai Gombak.
A total of 180,000 people were displaced in the flood with 32 fatalities. The total record was more than RM85 million in damages. In fact, it was so bad, then-Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak declared a state of national disaster in West Malaysia.
Royal Selangor Club, located at Dataran Merdeka in the city center, was also heavily flooded.(Credit: Ramli Abus Hassan/floodcontrol.asia)
Later on, in the wake of its devastation, the government set up the Kuala Lumpur Flood Mitigation Programme, which included additional reinforcement of rivers within the urban center, flood forecast and warning system, as well as the construction of the SMART Tunnel.
It happens every 50 years (or so)
The thing is, while the 1971 Kuala Lumpur floods was the worst major flash flood in modern history, it wasn’t the only one either.
Before 1971, the most devastating flood occured in December of 1926. It was called The Great Flood of 1926.
Nearly a full decade ago, researchers and scientists have already warned against the impact of rapid urbanisation.
In fact, this research paper critisises the British colonial government for their limited hydraulic management, which amplified the damage and impact of the heavy monsoon rain, especially in light of their rapid development of commercial industry and agriculture.
Stranded Malaysians try to escape flood waters almost a hundred years ago.(Credit: Fiona Williamson)
Even though 2021 isn’t the worst flood the country has faced, Malaysians are still reeling from the damage it has caused. People have lost homes, cars, but worst of all– lives.
READ MORE: Kematian Pertama Akibat Banjir Direkod Di Shah Alam, Malam Tadi (19 Disember)
While it seems like the worst of the flood has passed, the hard part comes after the devastation as people try to return to their damaged homes.
The question is, will we be prepared for yet another Great Flood, whether that will be next year, or another 50 years later?

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Malaysian Convoy In Ukraine Safely Reached Poland, Now On The Way To Warsaw

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When the chartered bus failed to show up to evacuate them, Malaysians in Ukraine were forced to travel in a convoy of four cars towards Lviv, about 80km from the Polish border.

The rescue effort was led by First Secretary Fadhilah Daud, who was on her first overseas posting. A Singaporean tagged along for the ride too.
READ MORE: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Malaysian Diplomats Flee Kyiv On Their Own After Chartered Bus Failed To Show UpAccording to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah, the convoy has safely reached the Malaysian embassy in Poland.
Alhamdulillah, konvoi yang memindahkan 9 rakyat Malaysia & 2 tanggungan mereka serta seorang warga Singapura dari Kyiv yang diketuai oleh Kuasa Usaha Sementara @MYEmbKyiv, Cik Fadhilah Daud telah selamat tiba di Korczowa-Krakovets, sempadan Ukraine dengan Poland. pic.twitter.com/gWPCrU5lwl— Saifuddin Abdullah 🇲🇾 (@saifuddinabd) February 26, 2022
The convoy made up of 9 Malaysians, 2 dependents and a Singaporean safely reached the Korczowa-Krakovets border between Ukraine and Poland on 27 February in the early morning.
They were greeted by two officials from the Malaysian embassy in Poland. The group is now on the road again, heading to Warsaw and expected to return to Kuala Lumpur soon.

Netizens were relieved to find out that the group managed to reach their destination safely. They also praised Fadhilah for her quick thinking while leading the group.
Bagi kredit yg sepatutnya kpd cik fadhilah, kecekapan beliau…patut di hargai dgn sebaiknya— ezlife (@ez_life1) February 27, 2022
And the quick thinking of @MYEmbKyiv— AMvanHuizen #StopTheWar (@amvanhuizen) February 27, 2022
For those who wondered why the group seemed slow to evacuate, a netizen explained that embassy officials are always the last ones to get out.
This is because it’s their duty to make sure their countrymen get out of the country safely first in any crisis.
Di waktu krisis, kakitangan kedutaan selalunya yang terakhir keluar, memastikan semua rakyat Malaysia selamat terlebih dahulu. Risiko betugas di kedutaan-kedutaan Malaysia seuruh dunia. Ini bentuk pengorbanan kepada negara dalam diam. Syabas— 🇲🇾Khairil H (@KHilmiM) February 27, 2022

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Najib Challenges Prisons Dept Decision To Bar Him From Attending Dewan Rakyat Sessions

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Jailed former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak has filed a judicial review to challenge the Prisons Department’s decision not to allow him to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

According to Bernama, the application was filed at the High Court yesterday through Messrs Shafee & Co.
Three parties have been named as the respondents; the government, Home Affairs Ministry and the Prison Commissioner General.
In his application, Najib – who retains his Pekan MP status despite currently serving a 12-year prison sentence – seeks to turn the decision of the Prison Commissioner General in barring him access to his aides for the purposes of parliamentary, legislative and constituent work.
He also challenged the decision not to allow him to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Apart from that, Najib is also seeking a declaration that he is entitled to have reasonable access to his aides regarding parliamentary, legislative and constituent work, as well as a mandamus order for the prisons department to take all steps necessary to allow him the access to his aides for those purposes.
Najib said the decision not to allow him to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting was conveyed to him at the Kajang Prison Office on 28 September.
He appealed against the decision to the Home Affairs Ministry on 30 September.
Najib said he filed the legal action due to the lack of response from the Ministry regarding his appeal.
The former prime minister said that, as the Pekan MP, he has a constitutional obligation to discharge his duties in accordance with Article 59 of the Federal Constitution.
“A denial of that right by the respondents in refusing me the ability to administer my constituency is in effect a denial of the wellbeing of the constituency of Pekan,” Najib stated in his affidavit.
The judicial review has been fixed for case management before High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid on 12 October.
Najib, the first former prime minister to serve time behind bars, was sent to prison for 12 years after he was found guilty of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He was also fined RM210 million.
Despite his incarceration, the former UMNO president retains his Pekan MP status after applying for a royal pardon and a judicial review of the Federal Court’s decision to reaffirm his prison sentence and fine.
READ MORE: Najib’s Request To Attend Dewan Rakyat Rejected By Prisons Department

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PJ Court Acquits Da’i Syed From Molestation & Unnatural Sex Charges

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The Petaling Jaya sessions court today acquitted celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohammad Shaiful, popular known as Da’i Syed, from two counts of molesting and committing unnatural sex with a private college student.

The verdict was delivered by Session Court Judge Jamaludin Mat who freed Da’i Syed from both charges.
“I agree with the defence counsel’s submission and I release and acquit the accused under Section 254 (3) for both cases. The bail (of RM25,000) will be returned,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
Dai’i Syed was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, for having unnatural intercourse with the 22-year old private college student at his rented house in Damansara Perdana here between 3am and 4am on 17 October 2020.
He was also charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, for using criminal force on the same woman with intent to outrage her modesty at the same place and date.
Dai’i Syed pleaded not guilty to both offences on 10 December 2020.
However, on 17 May, the court was told by deputy public prosecutor P Vitiya Monisha that the complainant in the case had withdrawn her police report against Da’i Syed.
Commenting on the matter, the preacher said that he was thankful that the case, which had affected his career, is now over.

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Najib’s Road To Freedom: Court Dismisses Dispute By His Lawyer On Panel Of Judges

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Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application to review the conviction and sentence in hiSRC International Sdn Bhd trial began with a dispute on the list of judges.

Before the proceedings could begin, lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah stood up.
He objected to the list of Federal Court Judges presiding over the judicial review.
 The judges who heard the proceedings were the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli; three Federal Court Judges, Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan and Court of Appeal Judge, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.
Muhammad Shafee objected to the composition of the panel of judges who also listed Abu Bakar’s name.
Berita Harian quoted him as saying that according to Section 74 of the Court of Justice Act (CJA) 1974, the composition of Federal Court judges must consist of Federal Court judges only.
What is the importance in terms of justice, putting Abu Bakar in the panel list where the Chief Justice did not state the reason for the listing.Lawyer Muhammad Shafee on why he objected to the list of Federal Court Judges.
According to Article 122(2) of the Federal Constitution, a judge of the Court of Appeal other than the President of the Court of Appeal may sit as a judge of the Federal Court if the Chief Justice thinks that the interests of justice so require.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk V Sithambaram said Najib as the applicant, must show that there is danger or bias when Abu Bakar is included in the panel’s list.
There is no question in the listing of this judge in the composition of the panel because it is made in line with the provision in the constitution. DPP Datuk V Sithambaram on why there is nothing wrong with the list of Federal Court Judges.
Sithambaram added that Abu Bakar is a competent and authoritative judge because the chief judge named the latter.
Court Holds Sway
Later in the afternoon, Najib’s objection to the panel composition was thrown out, and Abu Bakar remained on the five-man panel.
Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli said the law is clear that the Chief Justice can appoint a Court of Appeal judge for a Federal Court review.
Court dismisses Shafee's objection to CoA judge in Najib’s SRC review bid https://t.co/A45fVcdJs7— News Stand (M) (@m_newsstand) January 19, 2023
Meanwhile, Najib’s supporters gathered at the grounds of the Palace of Justice to show their support.
They distributed flyers explaining why Najib was innocent.
Hari ini Mahkamah Persekutuan mendengar permohonan Najib Razak bagi menyemak sabitan & hukuman penjara selama 12 tahun serta denda krn menyeleweng dana SRC International Sdn Bhd (RM42 juta)Flyers ini dibawa oleh penyokong ‘bossku’ bagi memberi sokongan di luar Istana Kehakiman pic.twitter.com/F1zCfu5WK7— zrnhs (@ZareenH_s) January 19, 2023
READ MORE: [Watch] Bossku Supporters Cry, Pray And Chant ‘Hidup Najib’ Outside The Federal Court

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47% Of Covid-19 Cases In Sabah Infected From Asymptomatic Individuals

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Almost half of the Covid-19 patients in Sabah had close contact with an asymptomatic case.
According to Sabah health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi, 47% of Covid-19 cases in the state had been exposed to an asymptomatic individual during the early stages of infection there.
She added that the patients involved those aged between 1 and 72 years old with no chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.
Dr Christina also explained that of the 315 total positive cases reported in the state so far, 60 of them were sporadic cases detected from tests conducted on those who had just returned to Sabah and those identified through domestic-targeted screening.
About 12% of Covid-19 positive cases in Sabah are students.Datuk Dr Christina Rundi
In this respect, Dr Christina announced that all students returning to Sabah will have to undergo quarantine before being allowed to return to their families to prevent further spread of Covid-19 infections.
She said that she was aware parents had complaints about the governmentâ€™s decision to quarantine their children who are just only returning from their university campuses.
However, she highlighted that the most vulnerable groups are children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses due to poor immune systems.
These groups are very different from the campus community which mostly composed of young people with strong immune system.Datuk Dr Christina Rundi via The Sun Daily

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Coldplay’s Billboard Teaser In Bukit Bintang Hints At Potential Malaysia Concert

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Fans of Coldplay, there’s exciting news for you! Word on the street is that the British rock band will be officially announcing the Asian leg of their World Tour soon.

In fact, some netizens have reported sighting Coldplay advertisements on the billboard in various places in Asia such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and even Malaysia!
Teaser Coldplay Music of the Spheres spotted kat Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia so far pic.twitter.com/420WqMt7C7— Kelab Stan Menantu Siti (@IniAlalalannn) May 7, 2023
Netizens posted videos of the exciting teaser for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres concert that was shown on Pavilion Kuala Lumpur’s billboard in Bukit Bintang.
Coldplay will likely perform in Malaysia this year, and rumours say it’ll happen in November.
Concert organiser Live Nation also posted a teaser on its page, so they’re likely the official organiser.
For now, music fans can only wait for the official confirmation and announcement from the band and the concert organisers.
Despite the unconfirmed news, Coldplay fans are already getting hyped online and making plans. They’re also readying themselves to deal with the online traffic to buy the tickets.
Coldplay has not performed in Malaysia before. So far, their closest presence here was when they sponsored a watercraft, the Interceptor 005, to clean our rivers two years ago.
READ MORE: Why Is British Band Coldplay Paying To Clean Malaysian Rivers?
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Iman Tang (@imantang75)
#MOTSWT pic.twitter.com/hB8GcllPm8— Live Nation Malaysia (@livenationmy) May 6, 2023
🏟🇲🇾 #MOTSWT teaser spotted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! | via https://t.co/2s4nHQhQzJ pic.twitter.com/27BFePHWIH— Coldplaying (@coldplaying) May 5, 2023
coldplay live in malaysia tickets will be hunger games x100 i am not ready for that but a girl will fight 😮💨— Melinder Kaur (@melinderkaur) May 6, 2023
Coldplay in Malaysia that’s like a dream come true if real, hope its entire football stadium size for actual authentic Coldplay concert experience— AdrianKan (@AdrianKan) May 6, 2023
I’m a huge Coldplay fan. Been listening to them for years during my ups and downs. Im happy they are coming to Malaysia later this year for a live performance. I will start kumpul duit now. Anyone wants to come along? We can go in as a party— Faiz Azmi (@financialfaiz) May 6, 2023

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Ring In The New Year With Hennessy’s Lunar Wonderland Festival

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CNY is a celebratory occasion for both the young and old to commemorate joyous moments together. All of this is done in the spirit of inclusivity – a value that the iconic cognac brand Hennessy has upheld and demonstrated throughout its illustrious 250-year history.

This CNY, Hennessy has prepared a variety of felicitous curations to welcome the Year of the Rabbit – introducing new ways of celebrating the promise to unite and connect loved ones in all diversity.
Paint your palate
(Credit: Hennessy)
In line with Hennessy’s principles of unity and inclusivity, the renowned Maison has teamed up with France-based Chinese painter Yan Pei-Ming to create something absolutely exceptional.
Three iconic Hennessy bottles, V.S.O.P, X.O, and Paradis, are given a golden expressionistic makeover by the artist, who is renowned for his large-scale brushstrokes. Each bottle is vividly coloured red and gold, with the intrepid rabbit prominently featured on them to reflect the prosperous and auspicious themes of CNY.
(Credit: Hennessy)
The artist also created a painting titled La Grande Course, which showcases all 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac as a symbol of inclusiveness and hope. The monumental composition speaks of togetherness across generations and differences, and that culture is what connects us all. The animals’ spirited race toward new horizons conveys a singular truth: “Together, We Go Further.”
(Credit: Hennessy)
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are significant in the Lunar calendar and are also influential in the CNY canapés curated by Hennessy in collaboration with selected restaurants across Malaysia, including Yen at W Kuala Lumpur, Mezza 9, and Shang Palace in Shangri-La Hotel KL.
You too can have a taste of exquisite canapés and Omakase dining – at Hennessy’s Lunar Wonderland Festival!
Elevate your CNY with Hennessy’s Lunar Wonderland Festival
On 3 and 4 February 2023, Hennessy is hosting an exclusive Lunar Wonderland Festival at Menara Ken, PJ.
(Credit: Hennessy)
Among the highlights to anticipate are the Hennessy Lunar Carousel centrepiece and the limited-edition bottle showcase. Hennessy fans can also participate in various auspicious activities such as Strike a Gold, Golden Chance Toss, Prosper Lion Dance, Pond of Fortune, Seal the Victory, Lucky Wheel and God of Prosperity.
For the foodies and cocktail enthusiasts, the event features bespoke Hennessy cocktails and drinks, a scrumptious selection of canapés, an auspicious snack bar, as well as an exclusive Hennessy X.O VIP room Omakase experience to savour in style. There are limited slots available for the private Omakase session and is prioritised for Hennessy InnerClub VIP members and lucky draw winners.
Win exclusive Hennessy Lunar Wonderland tickets with TRP
(Credit: Hennessy)
Twenty of our lucky readers stand a chance to win 20 pairs of tickets for you and your plus one to the Hennessy Lunar Wonderland Festival by taking part in our Facebook giveaway!
Like the post on TRP’s Facebook page and post a comment with the tagline “Together We Go Further with Hennessy”.Include Hennessy’s Facebook page handle and the hashtags #HennessyCNY2023 #CelebrateWithHennessy #TogetherWeGoFurther.
And you’re all set to be one of the 20 lucky readers to win these exclusive tickets. Selected winners will need to provide their full name, contact number, and emails, as well as their plus ones that will be attending. They can choose from the following slots available to attend the festival:
Date: 3 February 2023, Friday OR 4 February 2023, Saturday Time: 12pm – 4pm Venue: Menara KEN, PJ
For more information on Hennessy’s CNY festivities and the Lunar Wonderland Festival, visit Hennessy Malaysia’s Facebook page.
*Hennessy advocates responsible consumption and we urge you to #DrinkResponsibly. Do not drink and drive. For non-Muslims aged 21 and above only.

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This Is How Covid-19 Has Changed The Future Of Malaysian Homes

We don’t need carefully worded think pieces spanning over 1,000 words to tell us that life after Covid-19 will NEVER be the same. In fact, our lives changed so much living with  Covid-19 that the years before now feels like a distant dream.
But even with so much change already turning our lives upside down in the past 12 months, one big change still needs to be made – our homes.

We’ve got a “new normal” for homes now
Cabin fever is as real as it can get. The physical distancing and self-quarantine has led to many feeling claustrophobic irritability or restlessness. With the four walls of your home now literally becoming your entire world, it’s led many to rethink their definition of a home and their lifestyle within it.
Credit: Pixabay
Malaysians cite location as the biggest factor when it comes to purchasing a home. But while locations reign supreme, SCMP notes that homebuyers are now looking at homes in the suburbs and closer to nature – essentially the new homes mark a lifestyle change hearkened by the pandemic.
Property experts around the globe have also noticed a dramatic shift in the thought process when selecting a new home. Forbes points out that homebuyers are “consciously becoming more conscious”, gravitating towards bigger spaces with access to nature over a great location.
The return of the suburbs
Credit: Envato
One the major reasons for this dramatic shift towards the suburbs is the advent of work-from-home regime in the pandemic era.
According to the Financial Times, a reduced need to commute given greater remote working, more online shopping, and less socialising will reduce the demand for space in city centres and increase it in the suburbs.
In Malaysia 44% of workers surveyed by the Statistics Department (DOS) reported that they worked from home during the lockdown.
This isn’t a temporary trend, either. Experts agree that the pandemic has accelerated the  global digital transformation. And with the recent launch of the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, we’re only going to witness further expansion in e-commerce and increases in the pace of adoption of telemedicine, videoconferencing, remote working, online teaching, fintech and more.
My home, my sanctuary
Credit: Gamuda Cove
As homes become less of a pit stop between work hours and more of a sanctuary,  it has spurred a new fervour for work-life balance.
Architectural Digest notes that homes in the future will be built on a new foundation beyond being a simple nest to being a safe place to spend time and foster a healthy environment for the inhabitants.
In Malaysia, these trends are already manifesting in various new developments with Gamuda Cove’s Enso Woods being the most notable example.
Credit: Gamuda Cove
Part of the larger new satellite city in Kuala Langat developed by Gamuda Land, the Japanese-inspired garden terrace homes are designed to be, well, a personal sanctuary.
Following the Japanese philosophy of “Danshari” or “decluttering”, every home at Enso Woods in Gamuda Cove has been specially conceived as a serene yet flexible space that enables greater practicality in usage.
Credit: Gamuda Cove
As a digitally-connected nature sanctuary, these homes can include almost anything you want – from a home office to a hobby room, personal gym and more. This “flexi-zone” – as they put it- means that one can dine or work from home while watching the children play in the living area.
The aesthetically-pleasing minimalist layouts also allows for connectivity to the outdoor green space where one can relax on the outdoor patio or simply enjoy the views of a private garden from inside the home.
Going beyond the homes, the town also has recreational facilities catered for the community, such as a 60-acre pet-friendly Central Park, direct access to the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands and a community pavilion equipped with zen working pods.
Credit: Gamuda Cove
What’s interesting about the community pavilion is the expansion of the “work from home” concept to “work near home”.  This is to meld together the flexibility of working from home together with the sociability and focus of the office – but in a completely relaxed space.
The zen-like Japanese theme prevalent in the Enso Woods designed are also strongly featured at the community pavilion’s working pods with soft wooden paneling and ample windows that frame the lush trees outside. This co-working in nature concept also expands to an urban farming plot for those who’d really like to flex their green thumbs.
Credit: Gamuda Cove
So while it might be a while before we’re released from the bounds of lockdowns, at least having a sanctuary will keep us sane in the meantime.

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Source:
What COVID-19 Will Mean for Design Trends in 2021
Coronavirus has changed our sense of place, so together we must re-imagine our cities
The future of work after COVID-19
Covid-19 and Work in Malaysia: How Common is Working from Home?
More Malaysians Willing To Buy A Home In 2020
‘New way of life’: pandemic shifts investor preferences in Hong Kong, New York luxury property market
How The Pandemic Is Changing Residential Buyers' Preferences
How to make cities more liveable after Covid-19


Misunderstanding Over Planting Of Trees Leads To Murder In Kelantan, Elderly Man Staring Criminal Charge

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When a misunderstanding occurs, it is possible for the outcomes to be more serious than some people may imagine.

A man was remanded for six days to assist in investigating the murder of a senior citizen who was also his neighbour in Jalan Kelochor in Kelantan.
The Magistrate’s Court issued the remand order starting today until Wednesday against the 62-year-old man.
Kosmo reported that the man is suspected of beating his neighbour to death with a stick.
People Lose Their Tempers, Sometimes Too Easily
The cause is a misunderstanding about planting trees near their house.
The victim, who was in his 60s, was found lying unconscious in the house’s kitchen by his wife.
Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said in a statement that the police received information about the incident at about 12.20 pm.
The investigation found a misunderstanding between the victim and his neighbour, who was also in his 60s.
According to him, the man is said to have scolded the victim for planting trees in the road area, making it difficult for the suspect’s vehicle to pass through the route.
The victim suffered wounds and swelling on the back of the head and scratches on his hands and was sent to Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital here for autopsy.Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun on the police investigation.
The autopsy found that the senior citizen died due to a heart attack and injuries he suffered.
Muhamad Zaki added that the urine screening test found the suspect to be drug negative, and the case was investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

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WHO Gives Everyone A Real Reason To Avoid Their Dentists

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New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that you should avoid visiting your dentist during this time because of the risk of spreading Covid-19.

What you need to know: WHO suggests that those without an urgent need to get their teeth checked should postpone their dental appointments for the time being.
Of course, dental emergencies such as oral infections, bleeding in the mouth, trauma to the mouth, and severe mouth pain should still require a hasty trip to the dentist. However, consider postponing your dental appointments for non-essential healthcare such as regular check-ups, cleanings, and preventive care.
Why it matters: WHO outlined the risk as dental procedures involve close contact between a patient and the dentist. Saliva and other microscopic particles are often thrown into the air, and dentists have to be very close to their patient’s mouth to perform their duties.
Since the coronavirus spreads easily and is even suspected to spread through airborne droplets, the risks of transmissions are high during dental visits.
Read more:Considerations for the provision of essential oral health services in the context of COVID-19 [WHO]

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Foreign Woman Sentenced To 1-Month Jail Time For Trying To Board A Plane With Another Person’s MyKad

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Tawau Magistrate Court today sentenced a female foreign person to 30 days in jail and a fine of RM2,000 after she was caught trying to board a plane to Kuala Lumpur using an identity card belonging to a local woman.

According to Harian Metro, Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu, handed down the sentence after Malyn Julismu, 27, from Kampung Selamat Semporna pleaded guilty to the offence.
She was caught committing the offence at Tawau Airport Departure Hall, at 10.30am, on 27 July.
Based on the charge sheet, Malyn who is also a holder of the Temporary Resident Identification Card (MyKas), was accused of possessing without valid reasons, an identification card with the name of Norlina Binti Abbai, 28.
The charge against her was in accordance with Regulation 25 (1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007), which is punishable with a maximum prison sentence of three years or a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both.
The prosecution was handled by National Registration Department (NRD) prosecuting officer Mohd Naser Mohd Nadzeri, who argued that Malyn had committed a serious offence.
“There are many negative implications if an impersonator commits a criminal offence, including causing bank accounts to be frozen.
“There are even cases involving the owner of the real identity card who has been registered dead, thus disrupting daily life,” he said.
Malyn meanwhile asked for a lenient sentence – requesting a minimum fine and an exemption from jail sentence – as she had to take care of her sick father.
The court also sentenced her to two-month prison time if she failed to pay the fine today. She however managed to pay the fine.

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Form Five Students To Get Vaccines Starting Next Month, Says KJ

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Form Five students will be getting their Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines starting next month, according to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Malay Mail quoted the Minister who said that they are trying to get it done by July as requested by the Ministry of Education.
He also added that the vaccines would be administered in schools.
Yes, first dose in July. Form Five students, because the Education Minister wants the option. This has not been decided by the National Security Council (NSC), but he wants the option to send the exam students, Form Five and Form Six students back to school, perhaps by the end of July or August, depending on the spread of cases.Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin via Malay Mail
Pfizer conditionally approved for children aged 12 and above
Recently, the Health Ministry has approved the use of Comirnaty vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech to children aged 12 and above.
It was given a conditional registration on 8 January this year, and is used to vaccinate individuals 18 years of age and older.
Although these additional indications have been approved, the MOH is of the view that the priority of vaccination is still to high-risk groups in line with the existing policy set under the National Covid-19 Immunization Program (NCIP).Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
The Ministry also agreed to grant conditional registration approval for use during a disaster for two (2) vaccine products produced by CanSino Biologics Inc (China) and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Vaccine which has been granted approval by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Emergency Use Listings (EUL).
Its reported that both vaccines only require only one dose.

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Two-Headed Turtle Hatchling Found In Terengganu Conservation Centre

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A green sea turtle (penyu agar) hatchling caught the conservationists from the Lang Tengah Turtle Watch by surprise last Tuesday (30 August 2022) when not only one but two heads appeared during their post-emergence inspection around 11 am at the Tanjong Jara Resort project site in Dungun, Terengganu.

As reported by Sinar Harian, this is the first live double-headed hatchling discovery found in the said conservation centre according to Abidah Zaaba, the head of the conservation project.
“Everyone was excited when we saw the two heads. This is a very rare occurrence.
“There was another same find last June but when we found it, it was still inside its egg and was already dead.”
(Credit: Lang Tengah Turtle Watch / Facebook)
Post-emergence inspection is often done by them to identify the percentage of turtles hatching. This particular one is believed to hatched 3 to five days before it was found on Tuesday.
According to Abidah, the turtle has dicephalism, a rare condition for sea turtles caused by genetic factors.
Some interesting observations done by the team were:
The two heads shared a similar morphology but responded differently to external stimuliThe right head was evidently dominantThe facial scales on each head are different which means they can be identified as different individuals
The special hatchling was handed over to Rantau Abang’s Turtle Conservation and Information Centre (TCIC) on the same evening that it was found. This is because the team do not have the facility, skill and expertise to protect and care for the said hatchling, currently.
However, TCIC is only 15 minutes away from their project site, so they will be keeping tabs on the hatchling development as long as it lives.
(Credit: Lang Tengah Turtle Watch / Facebook)
A rare finding means a lower survival rate
Abidah joined the conservation project in 2017 and explained that usually, these types of turtles have a fewer survivability rate (up to two or three months) as compared to normal turtles.
A similar case was recorded in Pulau Mabul, Semporna, Sabah in 2019 where a two-headed green turtle hatchling was found and died only three days after.
READ MORE: A two-headed baby turtle just hatched in Sabah!
Another case back in 2014 tells the same discovery of a two-headed hatchling in Pulau Redang, Terengganu, but it also died almost 3 months after due to pneumonia.
Abidah hopes that this baby turtle could live quite a long life this time for the sake of research and conservation.
The Lang Tengah Turtle Watch Conservation Project in Tanjung Jara Resort has saved around 93,660 green sea turtle and painted terrapin eggs. They have also successfully released 66,037 baby turtles back to the sea since their inception in 2016.
This year only, around 20,351 green sea turtle and painted terrapin eggs from 278 nests have been successfully incubated at the centre.
Watch the video below for the momentous miracle.
  @langtengah.tw What a discovery! Double-headed hatchling 🐢 ♬ Atlantis – Seafret
READ MORE: 31 Sea Turtles In Terengganu Found Dead Within 3 Months
READ MORE: Endangered Green Turtle Returns To Terengganu Beach After ‘Missing’ For 16 Years

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BN Recruits ‘Mat Kilau’ To Recapture Selangor From PH In Next GE

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Recently appointed Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth icon, Singapore-born actor Datuk Adi Putra pledged to go all out to help UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) wrestle Selangor from Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the next general election.

According to UMNO and BN Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Adi was announced as the Selangor BN Youth icon during the launching of its machinery recently.
“It’s an honour to have a great warrior by our side. My old friend, actor Datuk Adi Putra who is famous for playing Mat Kilau the freedom fighter is a loyal Umno member and will help Umno and BN recapture Selangor in GE15.
“We recently had a good discussion on our plans and strategies in the coming election, and the importance of patriotism as displayed by Mat Kilau will be an important element,” Asyraf was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
He shared two pictures of a meeting with the famous actor on his Facebook.

Adi Putra, who played the main character in the highest-grossing film in Malaysian history ‘Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan’, also reposted Asyraf’s Facebook post on his Instagram.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by ADI PUTRA #taatpadayangsatu (@adpadiputra)
According to Asyraf, Adi Putra, who became a Malaysian citizen five years ago, had joined Umno and had helped the party and BN coalition during the 14th General Election.
Selangor is undeniably a PH stronghold after the coalition had managed to capture the state from BN in the 12th General Election.
The coalition had also recorded a landslide victory in Selangor in GE14, winning 51 out of 56 seats offered in the Selangor legislative assembly. BN meanwhile only manage to win four seats while PAS won the remaining one seat.
However, if a recent study were to be believed, PH may face trouble to retain Selangor in the next general election due to the waning support from the Malays, which made up the majority of the electorate in the country.
READ MORE: BN Leading Is The Race In Peninsula According To Research, PH Might Face Problem Retaining Selangor

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‘Every Time Raya Comes, There’ll Be Elderly Folk Left At Hospitals’

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While most people are excited every time Eid comes along, there are a lot of people still suffering during Eid.

Every year, there will be elderly people either waiting for their family members at old folks’ homes or worse, left at hospitals.
Recently, a pharmacist named Ammar Kamar brought attention to this issue on his Twitter.
Manusia apa yang lebih teruk dari khinzir?Manusia yang hantar parents ke hospital dan DENGAN SENGAJA1. Bagi nombor telefon salah.ATAU2. Block no telefon hospitalATAU3. Ignore bila hospital call sebab taknak dtg ambil.Ni mesti lajak sampai lepas raya.Biadap.— Ammar Bin Kamar (@AmmarKamar) April 10, 2023
He pointed out that there are people out there who are willing to leave their elderly parents in hospitals on purpose, and some intend to never pick them up again.
These people who leave their senior citizen parents at the hospital have these common tactics that they use every year.
Giving the hospital the wrong numberBlocking the hospital’s phone numberIgnoring the calls because they don’t wanna pick them up
This might seem appalling to some, but sadly, this happens every year during festive seasons, no matter Eid or CNY.
Ammar said that this is a normal scenario for those working in hospitals. Senior citizens are often bullied like this, especially those who are ill and bedridden. They are viewed as a burden, especially on Eid. So they get dropped off at hospitals.
Some people share their stories, agreeing to the sad reality
One commenter said that there’s even a case where a son/daughter even dared to stop giving medications to their parent for a few days. They then called the ambulance and got their parent into the emergency department. After that, they whole family went on a holiday.
1st time sy baca sini dulu, anak2 sengaja stopkan ubat darah tinggi bbrp hari. call ambulance, masuk ED. then anak menantu pergi holiday. saja nk cakap la. korang2 yg konfiden cakap “beranakla byk2, nnt anak boleh jaga bila dh tua”. korang sembang ngan doktor je lah tau realiti— NoOneYouKnow (@NightOwlGenY2) April 10, 2023
One user recalled a story that a nurse told her. A senior citizen was left home alone. When the senior citizen was sick and called for an ambulance, the paramedics found the door unlocked and medication all prepared, as though the whole situation had been planned.
Teringat cerita ni staff nurse hospital cerita. Patient dah tua. Family tinggal seorang kat rumah. Lepastu patient call ambulans cakap sakit. Datang rumah macam dah plan, pintu semua tak kunci. Ubat semua dah siap siap tersusun. Sanggup buat macamni sebab nak beraya.— 🇲🇾 (@_whhsnasofin) April 10, 2023
One netizen also pointed out that no matter what race, this case happens quite often than you think. Some of them gave various reasons to postpone the date to pick them up. He said that even if they don’t know how to take care of them, nurses there are willing to teach. His last resort was to call the police, which the guardians had to eventually come.
Pernah kena beberapa kes di hospital besar. Benda jadi tak kira kaum. Kita pun dah banyak tolak ansur bila depa minta tangguh nak ambil dengan bermacam alasan. Tak pandai jaga, kita dah minta waris datang belajar dgn staf. Sampai aku ugut nak call polis. Baru pandai nak mai.— Asyraf Nor (@AsyrafNor2000) April 10, 2023
Over 2,000 senior citizens were “abandoned” in the last 5 years
Just the last five years alone (2018 – 2022), around 2,144 senior citizens were abandoned at the hospital, as told by the previous Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Rina Harun in the Dewan Rakyat last year.
In those numbers, only 914 people were successfully returned to their family members and the other 1230 have been placed in welfare institutions.
Social workers at hospitals would normally trace the senior citizens’ next of kin by checking their identification cards, contacting the families, doing house visits or tracing them through the National Registration Department’s system.
(Credit: Freepik)
Some guardians gave reasons such as lack of guardians and family problems, while some even deny having any relations with them.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) added that some of the elders were not truly abandoned. Factors such as having illnesses like dementia and psychiatric conditions, socioeconomic factors such as financial difficulties or stressed and overburdened caregivers might pose special challenges for families to care for the elderly.
As reported by The Vibes, Senior Consultant Paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh H.S.S. also supports the fact that families at times may not have the resources to care for the sick and elderly.
He further said that Malaysia could look to nations with proper social and elderly care initiatives to rectify the situation.
We have not developed adequate quality, aged-care facilities with government support. Dr Amar- Singh, Senior Consultant Paediatrician

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Best 7.7.21 Deals On Tech, Gadgets, And Home Appliances.

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The awesome folks at SoyaCincau made finding the best bang for your buck this mid-year shopping season way easier with a live blog listing all the best prices you can find on Lazada and Shopee.

Categories

For your convenience, the deals listed have been divided into several categories.
Looking for a new smartphone for work, play, or school? There’s a plethora of choices to choose from in the Smartphone category with prices ranging from the RM299  Samsung Galaxy M02 32GB up to the RM2,299 Vivo NEX 3.
To listen to music, watch shows, or block the world while you focus, there’s a selection in the Headphones category, from Sony and Apple.
If the smartphone is too small, you can’t go wrong with the selection of iPads in the Tablets category.
TVs are cheaper than ever and with the selection of Android TVs in the TVs category, you can watch what you want and whenever you want to.
Finally, if you want to keep your house or room clean and could not be bothered to clean up, there are some affordable robot vacuums in the Vacuums category.
It’s a live blog
Don’t see something that you like? Keep hitting that refresh button as new items will be added at the bottom of each list as they find them.
Want SoyaCincau to make this your best 7.7? Click here.

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Health D-G: No Evidence Covid-19 Infections Can Spread From Food

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Have you been mildly suspicious of your food since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic? Considering the fact that the coronavirus is pretty contagious, whether or not we can contract the disease from food products carrying the virus is an obvious concern.
Thankfully, our Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah is here to set our minds at ease. During his daily Covid-19 briefing, the doctor explained that there has been no hard evidence to suggest that individuals can get infected with Covid-19 from food.
He was addressing concerns raised by the public after several wet markets across the country were closed due to a spike in Covid-19 infections in these locales. He was also asked if food purchased from supermarkets needed to be dried under the sun before being consumed.
Traders at Taman Megah SS24 Wet Market were tested for Covid-19 after the number of cases at the market spiked. (Credit: Malay Mail)
Dr Noor Hisham advised that the best practice would be to cook the food thoroughly before it is consumed to get rid of any pathogens, including the coronavirus.
He highlighted that so far, there have been no known infections in the country that arose from consuming food. However, he noted that currently, the Health Ministry has no knowledge of whether traces of the virus can be found on food.
Recently, it was reported that a local poultry farm was shut after a number of its employees tested positive for Covid-19.
The public became concerned about the safety of their food after several wet markets and a poultry farm was closed due to a spike in Covid-19 cases.
On this, Dr Noor Hisham said that we must wait for a report from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to know if the virus is associated with chickens.
What is important is that we cook the food at a high temperature thereby killing the virus.Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah via Malay Mail
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in an advisory that experiences from previous outbreaks involving coronaviruses, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), shows that there were no infections transmitted through food consumption.
According to WHO, cooking your food thoroughly, at a temperature of at least 70Â°C can destroy the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
However, the public health governing body acknowledged that while coronaviruses appear to be stable at low and freezing temperatures for a certain period of time, good food hygiene and safety practices can easily prevent any possible transmission.
Specifically, coronaviruses are thermolabile, which means that they are susceptible to normal cooking temperatures of 70Â°C. Therefore, as a general rule, the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided.WHO via who.int

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Pfizer Is Making A Covid-19 Pill,  Here’s What You Need To Know About It

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An experimental antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 by Pfizer that has been developed is said to cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89% in vulnerable adults.

This comes a month after pharmaceutical company Merck announced their pill to treat Covid-19.
Trials for Pfizer’s pill Paxlovid suggest that its results surpass Merck’s pill Molnupiravir by halving the chance of dying or being hospitalized for Covid-19 patients at high risk of serious illness.
The Trials and Treatment With Paxlovid
According to Pfizer, the trial for the drug stopped early due to its high success rate and plans to submit trial results to the American Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) before 25 November.
However, treatment of Covid-19 with Paxlovid isn’t so straightforward as taking a few pills every day.
It is given in combination with an older antiviral drug called ritonavir, an antiretroviral medication used together with other medications to treat HIV/AIDS.
The treatment also consists of three pills given twice daily.
Not an alternative to vaccines
Vaccines are still the most effective and reliable tool to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and Dr Grace Lee, professor of paediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine says:
These oral medications are going to augment our ability to really reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, which is huge, but it won’t prevent infection.
There’s currently no news of Malaysia purchasing Paxlovid by Pfizer.
However, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin agreed last month to purchase 150,000 courses of Merck’s experimental antiviral pill Molnupiravir.
Read More: Malaysia To Procure Merck Covid-19 Pill And What You Need To Know About ItRead More: Here’s What You Need To Know About The New Covid-19 Pill Molnupiravir

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Microsoft Will No Longer Support Internet Explorer Starting Nov 30

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Internet Explorer is, all things considered, one of the most used web browsers in the world, but also the least popular. It is regularly made fun of for being slow and clunky, and many people only use it once: to download the other web browsers of their choice.

Finally, Microsoft has decided to pull the plug on life-support for the 25-year-old web browser, citing in a blog post that it will no longer support Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) beginning November 30, 2020.
By August 17, 2021, all Microsoft apps and services will no longer support IE11 either, which means that users will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on IE11, face degraded browsing experiences, and not be able to access newer features.
Instead, the Microsoft team is replacing Internet Explorer with a newer web browser, Microsoft Edge, which they claim will enable better, more innovative online experiences.
For companies and clients who still use Internet Explorer, don’t worry. You can still access IE11 by using Microsoft Edge and its Internet Explorer mode for a standardized user experience.
For many who have used Internet Explorer since the internet was first invented, it’s like saying goodbye to an old friend. But all good things come to an end, and it’s time to let Internet Explorer retire.

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Three Injured In A Petrochemical Plant Explosion In Pasir Gudang, Fire Raged For 3 Hours

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 A huge fire erupted in a petrochemical plant in Kompleks Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat, Pasir Gudang, Johor yesterday evening (24 February) causing a thick black mushroom-shaped smoke to form.

A spokesman from the Johor Fire and Rescue Department said that their side received an emergency call regarding the fire at Titan Himont Petrochemical Plant at 5.16 pm.
(Credit: Twitter)
Around 38 rescuers from the Pasir Gudang, Larkin and Johor Jaya’s Fire Department were sent to the said location to put the fire out.
According to a report, the fire was successfully extinguished around 8.30 pm.
(Credit: Astro Awani)
Earlier investigations report that the blaze was caused by two exploding cement tanks that caused further damage to the tanks.
Seri Alam Chief District Police, Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said that the flames luckily did not claim the lives of anyone.
However, two workers were reported to suffer from burns on their hands while one victim suffered a broken left leg after trying to save his life by jumping out of the building. All of the victims were sent to Pasir Gudang Penawar Hospital to receive further care and treatment.

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Zoo Negara, Aquaria KLCC And More Family Friendly Attractions Open For Visitors 1 October

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The recent news of Klang Valley moving into Phase 3 starting 1 October means most family-friendly attractions will be re-opening again.

Read More: Klang Valley Moves Into Phase 3 Starting 1 October
So if you and your family are in desperate need of a time out from being cooped up at home, then good news is here.
Zoo Negara, Aquaria KLCC, and Farm In The City are all set to welcome you back.
Discounts, and new additions to Zoo Negara

Zoo Negara has had a bit of trouble in the last few years with a decline in visitors since 2015. They have however been proactive to ensure their animals are taken care of through different methods of raising money like animal ‘adoption’ and virtual tours.
The latest Move Control Order (MCO) seemed like the last straw. But finally, after months of uncertainty, Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly @ Rahmat Ahmat Lana said they are now reopening and eagerly anticipating visitors.
In celebrating its reopening, visitors to the zoo on Friday (1 October) will enjoy 20% off tickets with prices ranging from RM18 for Malaysian children under 12, RM23 for Malaysian senior citizens, RM45 for Malaysian adults, and RM88 for foreigners.
The first 500 visitors will also be given UNLIMITED access to the zoo from January to March next year, except on weekends and public holidays.
(Credit: Yusof Mat Isa @ Malay Mail)
In addition to the deals, animal lovers can catch a glimpse of the new giant panda cub born in May this year. This is the third panda cub to be born in Malaysia and will be available to view from a special enclosure at the giant panda exhibit (that already has four giant pandas!).
There will also be 26 new exhibits including a new Tapir calf, a Reptile house, and four Ring-Tailed Lemurs
Read More: Zoo Negara’s Cheetah Is One Of World’s Rarest; Only 30 Of Them Exist Today
Website: https://www.zoonegaramalaysia.my/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/znegaramalaysiaHours: 9 am – 5 pm
Aquaria KLCC are excited to “sea” you
(Credit: Aquaria KLCC / Facebook)
Ranked as one of the top five aquariums in Asia, Aquaria KLCC is also set to open tomorrow (1 October) and welcome fully vaccinated visitors.
TRP reached out to their hotline to verify what it means for children, fret not – children are allowed in as long as both parents are fully vaxxed.

With the health and welfare of their visitors, staff and living creatures a top priority, entrance to the aquarium will be limited to 400 visitors at one time.
Therefore, visitors will need to PRE-BOOK a slot here.
Note that the Aquaria KLCC official website is currently receiving a high volume of visitors and urge visitors to be patient when booking a slot.
Website: http://www.aquariaklcc.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AquariaKLCC  Hours: 10 am – 7 pm
De-stress and chill-out with new ‘friends’ at Farm In The City
(Credit: Farm In The City / Facebook)
For a unique village-themed park where wildlife meets nature, Farm in the City located in Seri Kembangan offers a petting zoo experience for you to get up close and personal with over 100 species of tamed and exotic animals.
And yes, they are opening on 1 October too!

You can either walk in to purchase a ticket but it’s preferred to buy online here.
They currently have a family package at RM132 which includes 2 adults and 2 children up to the age of 11. It’s free admission for younger children with a height below 90cm.
Website: https://www.farminthecity.my/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarmInTheCityMalaysia/Hours: 10 am – 6 pm (Weekdays), 9:30 am – 6 pm(Weekends/Public holidays). Closed Tuesday except for school/public holidays)

Did we miss any other family-friendly attractions like this? Let us know on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Mud, rock & water crashed down Genting Highlands during massive landslide [Video]

[UPDATED – This article previously incorrectly stated that the landslide had affected both lanes of Jalan Genting to the Amber Court apartments, it has been corrected to the road leading to Amber Court and Ion Delemen]
Malaysians were more than happy with the coming of the monsoon transition phase that brought an end to the previously suffocating transboundary haze that blanketed the entire nation.
Though the clear smokeless skies and chilly mellow weather is a blessing, the frequent onslaught of heavy downpours and thunderstorms have caused some areas to be affected by flooding and even worse, landslides.

This was exactly what happened at Genting Highlands on Tuesday (November 5) when a major landslide had buried and blocked one of the roads leading up and down the mountain.
Video footage and images of the landslide went viral on social media.
In one video, a river of mud, rock and water can be seen crashing down a hillside, blocking the path of several vehicles on the road.

Fortunately, no one was hurt during the natural disaster.
Reportedly the incident happened at around 5pm, affecting the road leading to Amber Court and Ion Delemen.
According to the Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue Department, there was still ground movement occurring at the affected area and authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure public safety.

(Image Credit: The Star)

The area was also sealed off to allow for cleanup works.

(Image Credit: Facebook)

However, the main public road leading up and down Genting was unaffected by the wall of dirt and its business as usual at the highland resort.

You can catch the full video of the landslide as it happens here:

Genting Highlands landslide caught on tape: pic.twitter.com/TtM4IPW2NG
â€” Khabir (@KhabirM) November 5, 2019

In July, heavy rains had previously caused flash floods that trapped several tourists on top of the mountain.

BMW pun hanyut bhai. Lokasi Genting Premium Outlet pic.twitter.com/J18vKczYU8
â€” Han Luthfyy 🧸 (@hanluthfyy) July 14, 2019

The flooding was attributed to the areaâ€™s drainage systems being unable to accommodate the massive volume of rainwater.

If you have anything to share about the Genting landslide or the downpours were experiencing in the country, hit us up on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
[UPDATED – This article previously incorrectly stated that the landslide had affected both lanes of Jalan Genting to the Amber Court apartments, it has been corrected to the road leading to Amber Court and Ion Delemen]ï»¿


[Watch] Woman Fined A$2,664 For Failing To Declare Sandwich At Airport, Subway Pays Her In Full With Giftcard

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Filling out the customs declaration form when entering a country is essential.

A customs declaration is a form that lists the details of goods being imported or exported when a citizen or visitor enters a customs territory (country’s borders).
An Australian woman learned it the hard way when she took home a Subway’s sandwich from Singapore.
She was fined A$2664 (RM8,175) for failing to declare the fast food at the airport in Australia.
Jessica Lee had purchased the foot-long sandwich at Singapore Airport, and it was half eaten when the customs singled her out.
She shared her experience in a TikTok post, which went viral with 1.1 million views in three weeks.
  @_jessicaleeee Australian government tings 🥰🥰 starting that OF back up again to SURVIVE the next few months #fyp #australia #subway #boujee ♬ original sound – Jessica Lee
I thought the little declaration thing you do is for your carry-ons and your luggage, so I didn’t tick chicken and I didn’t tick lettuce. Chicken and lettuce!Jessica Lee on being given a hefty fine over a sandwich.
Jessica acknowledged that it was her mistake to fail to declare, but she didn’t think that her fast food would get her into trouble.
A Year’s Supply Of Subway
In response, Subway made up for her disappointment with a gift box which included a voucher for A$2664 worth of food.
She posted the happy moment on TikTok with the caption, “@subwayaustralia ARE YOU KIDDING? Basically free subs for a year”.
  @_jessicaleeee Replying to @subwayaustralia  ARE YOU KIDDING?! 😩😻😻 basically free subs for a year #fyp #subwayfine #subway #eatfresh ♬ original sound – Jessica Lee
Subway also wrote her a card.
To say thank you for eating fresh we’ve uploaded a Sub card with $2664 just for you. We hope this covers all your chicken and lettuce needed. Love from your Subway fans.Subway’s loving message to its customer Jessica Lee.
Jessica was not the first traveler to face such a fine for failing to declare her items.
In 2018, a Malaysian traveller was fined NT$30,000 (RM4,000) by the Taipei customs for bringing two pieces of fried chicken into Taiwan.
According to Sinchew, the passenger lined up in lane number 6, designated for those with nothing to declare.
The two pieces of fried chicken weighed 160g.
Taiwanese authorities said fried chicken is classified as a meat product and therefore is strictly forbidden to be brought into the country.
Unlike Jessica, she was not compensated in any way.

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Chivas Rises To The Occasion In Epic Party Celebrating The New Gen

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Whisky brings with it a sense of tradition and a touch of melancholy, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Chivas Regal smashed open that assumption with a 2-night-long party that pays tribute to the up-and-coming generation pumped full of energy and passion for art, music, and everything they do.
Guests were treated to a great night of powerful music, edgy fashion, incredible dances, and of course, the new Chivas 12 in a mixture of fun cocktails.
A fun night made better with Chivas 12 cocktails.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
R, I, S, E
There’s more to Chivas than just drinks, as shown by the four specially-curated rooms that takes you on a journey through Chivas’ passions. Joining hands with four personalities, the Hero Risers, they created a novel walkway spelling out RISE that also showcases the best of industry talents.
The floorplan of the I Rise We Rise party made full use of the space.(Credit: Chivas Regal/Facebook)
Architectural Designer Pamela Tan created a unique tunnel of lights and colours inspired by the sunrise and the smooth gold liquid of Chivas. Her interpretation of ‘I Rise, We Rise’ was built within the ‘I’ room, the straight tunnel brightly lit up.
The yellow lights and angular edges brought to mind movement and energy, making it a gorgeous backdrop for photography for you to stand in while being a literal walk toward the “light at the end of the tunnel”.
Pamela Tan’s bright and colourful art installation points you towards the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
Following that, we head into a colourful mural created by artists Wong Ming Hao, Wong Chee Hwa, and Jason Teo. Painted on the curved graffiti walls is a semi-realistic painting done up in a whimsical comic-style drawing. The three artists worked together to convey the breaking of boundaries and creating endless possibilities, just like how Chivas continues to do so globally.
In fact, visitors were welcome to leave their own mark on the walls, and to try their own hand at a bit of graffiti! The glow-in-the dark spray paint lit up with traces from everyone who walked though the installation, a bright mish-mash of fun notes and signatures.
Graffiti is all about self-expression and having fun.(Credit: Chivas Malaysia/Facebook)
Next is a little shrine dedicated to both fashion and football. Renowned streetwear label Nerdunit founder Ronald Chew and his team created a pair of limited-edition jerseys in time for the FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar.
Raise The Roof
Last but not least, the final bend opens up to the large wall-less hall of Sentul Depot, packed with partygoers in wild fashions and a fashionable black cup in hand. The huge stage is backed by a massive screen, with a stunning light show that sweeps across the crowd.
Partygoers were treated to a fabulous show.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
Work hard, play hard is the name of the game. Just like the hustlers that Chivas pays homage to, the party itself is a high note from beginning ’til the end.
The bartending stage smack in the middle of the hall is headed by Hero Riser Jon Lee of Penrose KL, together with his peers Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami, Karl Too of Happy Stan, Julian Brigget of Bar Trigona, Affie Adut of Here & Now, and Mel John Chavez of Smoke & Mirrors in Singapore.
Carefully hand-crafted for each party-goer.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
Each bartender created a fantastic special cocktail for the evening, featuring the bold new Chivas 12. Who says whisky has to be taken neat? The Chivas 12 goes wonderfully in cocktails, as the younger whisky has sweeter honey notes that lends a depth to any drink.
All the Chivas cocktails, all night long.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
The DJs never stopped keeping the party going, as DJ Reeve and his DJs Playground collective pumped out beat after beat after beat. Local favourites such as DJ Pennie, Ramsey Westwood, and BATE played up the immense energy of the crowd alongside international acts such as DJ Pei Pei from Taiwan, SCNDL from Australia, and Roxy June from Thailand.
MC Vibe getting into the party vibe with Chivas in hand.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
12 Years A Whisky
The party also saw the launch of the new Chivas 12 bottle, changed to reflect the changing times yet still recognisably classic. The redesign sees the iconic Chivas 12 bottle elongated to stand taller and prouder, though still retaining its rounded shoulders.
The crest itself has seen a redesign as well, showcasing the ‘luckenbooth’ icon, representative of Chivas’ ambition, generosity, and unapologetic success.
Each measure of Chivas deserves great attention.(Credit: Fernando Fong/TRP)
We believe this generation of scotch whisky drinkers definitely resonate with the message of ‘I Rise, We Rise’ that inspires success by your own terms and raising the community around you.Benny Tsang, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Malaysia
Rise Up With LISA
In case you missed the news, LISA was announced as the first female face of Chivas in Asia earlier this year.
Lisa as the face of Chivas.(Credit: Chivas Regal)
If you’re a big enough fan of Lisa, pick up her very own limited edition bottle of the Chivas 18, which is a beautiful symbol of the luxuriously rich and complex taste that masterfully blends malt and grain whiskies from distilleries all over Scotland.
The fun and vibrant limited edition bottle features Lisa’ signature and iconic star shape.(Credit: Chivas Regal/Instagram)
Not only that, Lisa even has her own specialty cocktail, aptly named ‘Pink Spice’ after her sweet yet fierce personality and enhances the 85 tasting notes in the Chivas 18.
Pink Spice recipe features a party mix of flavours such as sweet guava, tart lemon, spicy Tabasco in a smooth base of Chivas 18. Top the cocktail off with a chilli garnish and the drink is ready to spice up any party.
A pretty pink drink to go with a pretty pink bottle.(Credit: Chivas)
I had so much fun working with the team at Chivas on this limited-edition bottle. The bottle is typical LISA– bright, bold, and unique– and I’m so excited for everyone to finally see it. It is amazing to now have my own bottle– and cocktail to!Lisa on her own limited edition bottle.
Stay tuned to the official Shopee store or the Chivas Malaysia Facebook page to find out how you can get your own Chivas 18 LISA Limited Edition bottle.

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Rina Harun Denies That Her Ministry Is Not Doing Their Part To Protect Bella

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In denying the ministry’s inaction, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said that several measures have been taken with regard to the neglect and abuse case of a teenager with Down Syndrome known as Bella.

Rina said that action has been taken since last year, including depriving Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali of her right to custody of her adopted children, while also imposing a seal order on the welfare home and issuing a compound notice in July 2021.
Rina said that efforts are being made to ensure of Bella’s well-being.
“We have provided emotional guidance and support (to Bella) because she was traumatised. We need to make sure she is healthy both physically and emotionally,” Rina was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Meanwhile, Rina also said that the case had brought changes the nation’s law for adoption.
 “We have also tightened the law for adoption. Several amendments have been made to ensure things like this never happen again,” she said.
She explained that the reason for the ministry to remain silent on the case was to safeguard the well-being and safety of the teenager.
“There are things that we have done before that we did not make public, but it does not mean that we did not take any action,” she said.

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Get Ready, The Highly Popular Uniqlo AIRism Mask Is Coming To Malaysia In September

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Malaysians can breathe a sigh of relief as the massively popular – and highly anticipated- Uniqlo AIRism mask will finally be available in Malaysia from 14 September onwards!

This is the very face mask that witnessed long-queues that went viral when it released in Japan and Singapore earlier this year.
[#UNIQLO's #mask queue at Gifu and #Kakamigahara]🤔😷😤Many people were shooting as they tried to line up at the end of the line. pic.twitter.com/xGZwq2M8Zk— Jeremy Song (@tezuma75) June 19, 2020
Why the AIRism face mask is so popular
One of the main reasons for this popularity is the simple fact that Uniqlo’s AIRism innerwear series is just so damn comfortable
The fabric is lightweight and breathable – basically a godsend to hot and humid Malaysia.
With the AIRism face mask, this fabric is incorporated into a triple-layer structure to ensure protection.
According to Uniqlo’s website, the outer layer of the mask consists of a mesh fabric that can block up to 90% of ultraviolet rays while the inner is the moisture-wicking AIRism fabric. Sandwiched between the two is a filter that blocks bacteria and pollen.
Credit: Uniqlo
The masks are also washable, and will hold up for at least up to 20 washes before it begins losing it’s filtration efficiency.
However, it is important to note that the Uniqlo AIRism face mask is not a medical grade mask – and therefore, cannot guarantee to prevent the transmission of diseases.
What will I get on 14 September?
AIRism face masks will be available in three sizes – small (18cm x 12cm), medium (22cm x 14cm) and large (23cm x 14.5cm) – and only in black or white colours.
Credit: Uniqlo Malaysia/Facebook
A pack of three face masks will retail for RM39.90 and can be purchased at Uniqlo stores or online (HERE).

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Meet The First Malaysian Screenwriter To Ever Win A Prestigious Oscar-Governed Grant

https://www.facebook.com/NichollFellowships/posts/10157707310817603
Malaysiaâ€™s luck with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hasnâ€™t always been the best, but it seems that the tides are finally turning.
Meet Renee Pillai, the first Malaysian screenwriter to ever win a prestigious Oscar-governed grant called the 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.
This honour was bestowed upon the Malaysian in November 2019 at Beverly Hills, California, where she claimed one of the 5 coveted fellowship spots along with US$35,000 (RM143,000) and the golden opportunity to launch a career in the competitive, yet glitzy, scene of Hollywood.
 Renee Pillai is the first Malaysian screenwriter to ever win the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship.(Credit: Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting/Facebook)
Renee’s winning screenplay â€“ which beat out over 7,000 scripts from all over the world- is called â€œBoy With Kiteâ€, a drama about a surly woman in her 50â€™s who has to care for her estranged brotherâ€™s young son after he passes away.
I love this script- the bickering, the fussing, the bantering, the fighting, the little boy whoâ€™s not talkingâ€¦I have to say, yes, she made me cry. And weâ€™re happy to have her here.Tyger Williams at the 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Awards Ceremony.
With this feather in her cap, Renee will receive guidance from academy members as to complete a feature-length screenplay during her year-long fellowship.

While Renee gets ready for her Hollywood break, her journey to claiming her prize is worthy of a Hollywood tale of its own.
In an interview with The Star, Renee revealed that she has been working as a freelance writer in Malaysia for many years. But contract work meant that money was always a concern, coupled with the fact that there was a medical condition in her family.
So a good portion of whatever she earned went to paying medical
bills and keeping a roof over her familyâ€™s heads.
When she sent in her application for the Nicholl Fellowships, the self-taught screenwriter had little confidence, but her talent did all the work for her.
 Renee Pillai (second from right) with the Nicholl fellows at the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Awards and Live Read in Beverly Hills, California.(Credit: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)
After several blind readings and stringent scoring, Renee was selected as a finalist, and finally a Fellow!
When I found out I had become a finalist, I immediately thought, â€œOh, no. I have no travel documents.â€ Then when I found out Iâ€™d become a Fellow, that started the whole thing off again, â€œOh my God, I have no travel documents!Renee Pillai to Go Into The Story.
Speaking to screenwriting blog Go Into The Story, Renee recalled freaking out over getting her passport, visa and clearance to travel as the awards ceremony was less than a month away.
With no savings of her own to fund for the documents and travel, her friends turned over their pockets and handed her any amount they could â€“ coins and all.
We ended up with USD160 (~RM650) in a pile of coins. So I ended up paying in coins. And bless them, the (bank) officers there, they just took that. They closed six counters, and they all counted coins. No complaints.Renee Pillai to Go Into The Story.
A picture of the coins Renee used to pay for her visa.(Credit: Go Into The Story)
Then problem No 2 hit when her visa interview date was set on 8th November at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur â€“ a day after the awards ceremony. â€œGame over, man. Game over,â€ she thought.
But the Academy refused to accept defeat and a fellowship official contacted the cultural affairs office at the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. They managed to arrange a meeting to appeal for her visa request to be expedited and the rest, as they say, is history.
In her acceptance speech, Renee expressed her deep gratitude to family, friends and the Academy who helped her achieve what she thought was a far-fetched dream.
Fact is, Iâ€™ve never taken a writing class. I come from 14,000 miles away. I donâ€™t even speak English half the time, and I want to write movies here in Hollywood.What kind of fool thinks thatâ€™s possible? (points to herself)Renee Pillai.

Even then, real life isn’t a Hollywood movie and Renee will be doing her Fellowship here in Malaysia due to financial constraints.
She does, however, hope to fly back to the US when she receives the next installment of her grant money, which is given in parts depending on the progress of her writing.
Nonetheless, Reneeâ€™s win with the Academy also marks an exciting time for Malaysian filmmakers.
Upin & Ipinâ€™s bid for an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film at the 92nd Academy Awards marked 15 years since Malaysiaâ€™s last Oscar bid in 2004 with Puteri Gunung Ledang.
More excitingly, a documentary produced by Malaysians Teng Poh Si and Cheyenne Tan, St Louis Superman, picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Short Subject.
Several local novels have also been made into international movies (Read more HERE), so it looks like 2020 is going to be a huge year for Malaysian talent!

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Source:
This Malaysian screenwriter won an Oscars-governed grant, beating over 7,000 other scripts
Screenwriters Chung, Pillai get career jumpstart with film academy honor


Malaysians Dispose Enough Edible Food To Feed An Estimate Of 2 Million People Every Day, Says NGO

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Did you know that Malaysians waste a total of 17,007 tonnes of food waste per day as reported back in 2021?

What’s more, almost 24% of food waste is classified as edible meaning this can feed almost two million people daily, which is higher than the population of Kuala Lumpur.
According to a report by BFM News, the Lost Food Project — a Malaysian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to a sustainable future by rescuing ‘lost’ food and finding it a new home with people who need it most — said 2021 government data showed Malaysians generate over 16,700 tonnes of waste daily, including 45% of food waste.
That’s definitely a concern especially in Malaysia, we are a country that is home to about 5.6% of the poverty rate and that is equivalent to about 400,000 households in Malaysia.Business Operations Manager Rossin Bassi
BFM News also reported that data showed that the lack of knowledge and experience by business owners on waste disposal is among the reasons for the 21% increase in solid waste in the past five years.
Back in March, the New Straits Times reported that an extra 75,000 tonnes of food waste in Malaysia can be expected during Ramadan, if nothing is done to reduce wastage.
Speaking to NST, SWCorp chief executive officer Ismail Mokhtar said food wastage was not only the highest in Malaysia but also the primary cause of pollution.
If food waste is not managed well, we will continue to depend on dump sites, which are untreatable. So when there is a lot of food waste in dump sites, it results in pollution to the environment due to leachate, which needs to be treated. When the amount of leachate increases, so does the cost of treating it, and this is borne by the government. Leachate can flow and contaminate rivers, kill fish and pollute other food sources. We need to heighten awareness and we need people to join us to reduce food waste.SWCorp chief executive officer Ismail Mokhtar
But wasted food isn’t just a social or humanitarian concern — it is also an environmental one.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, when we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it.
And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane — a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.
About 6% to 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food.
Hence, as the world’s population continues to grow, our challenge should not be how to grow more food, but to feed more people while wasting less of what we already produce.
Food wastage is also a recurring problem here in Malaysia and needs to be addressed properly.
As Malaysians, the least we can do is play an equal part in trying to reduce as much waste as we can.

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Why It’s So Dang Hard For Malaysians To Avoid Diabetes

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When we speak of diabetes, we think of obese kids stuffing their face with ice-cream and fast food or a fat old man with declining health.

Diabetes wouldn’t happen to you, after all. You’re moderately healthy. You go on walks a couple times a week, you don’t eat fast food all the time, and you only have one (or two) cups of teh tarik in the morning to help you through the day. You get mixed rice and even add in a helping of vegetables.
So you’d be safe, right?
Sorry, But The Malaysian Lifestyle Is Built For Diabetes
It’s shown in the numbers, too. 3.9 million adults are affected by diabetes in Malaysia, the highest rate in Asia. The disease is pretty prevalent and is affecting younger age groups.
Diabetes is affecting more people at a younger age.(Credit: Dr Norlaila)
The problem is worsening as the years go by. While in just 1996, diabetes more commonly affected those above the age of 30 and only had an 8% prevalence, by 2019 the disease is affecting all age groups above 18 years old with a 18.3% prevalence, according to Dr Norlaila of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) UKM.
More Malaysians of all age groups are now at risk of diabetes, which points to a lifestyle problem. But why?
Malaysians Don’t Know What’s Healthy
According to a study done in Malaysia on whether or not people with diabetes could correctly identify components of a diet and its suitability, it turns out that we’re just not that great that figuring what’s ‘good for you’ and what’s ‘not that good for you’.
Only 61.7% of diabetes patients could correctly identify a diet suitable for healthy eating. Only 49% could identify carbohydrates, while only 33.7% could identify foods with high-fat content.
As much as we adore our morning roti canai, it really isn’t the healthiest thing to eat regularly. Ps. Roti is mainly carbohydrates, while teh ais has a lot of sugar in it due to the addition of condensed milk.(Credit: TRP)
The Big Problem With Malaysian Food
Yeah we get it, our food is our national pride. We love food and we love eating at all hours of the day.
Yet another study done on Malaysian adults with diabetes found that a whopping 80% ate more than 4 meals a day, 60% ate lots of carbohydrate-heavy snacks, 80% consumed sweetened foods and drinks with their meals, and only 22% consumed fruits daily.
It turns out we really don’t need to eat this much.(Credit: TRP)
1. We overeat. A LOT.
Malaysian portions have grown steadily throughout the years, especially as we come to recognize generous portions as being more ‘financially worth it’. As Uncle Roger puts it, “We don’t eat until we are full. We eat until we recuperate the cost of the buffet”.
As a result, we also end up eating more, when all we really need is around 2,000 calories a day!
As anyone who has counted calories before can tell you, 2,000 calories is a lot less than you think. That’s one McDonald’s set meal’s worth of food that should last you the whole day.
For some, this is merely an appetizer.(Credit: TRP)
2. We love our CARBS
We are a carb nation through and through. Everything we eat is carbs and meat with not enough vegetables.
In fact, even if you go for nasi campur, the entire plate is loaded with rice before you pick your sides.
A giant piece of chicken on a giant bed of rice.(Credit: TRP)
That’s not to say that carbohydrates are bad, of course. But like the basic principle of toxicology, “the dose makes the poison”.
3. We eat ALL THE TIME
We also find all the reasons to put things in our mouths. There’s breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, tea time snack, dinner, and supper.
In between, we might even find the time for some keropok lekor or cekodok pisang.
Five is the minimum.(Credit: Wan Jaapar/Unsplash)
Small meals throughout the day might work as a diet for some people to keep their blood sugars even, if portions were small and well-balanced. However, we Malaysians seem particularly fond of our sweet teh tariks and pastries or fried dough fritters, and one is never enough.
The Struggle For Those Who Have Diabetes
96% of diabetes patients report that they feel like it controls their life, taking up mental and physical energy to control their blood sugar and plan their meals. In fact, there’s even a name for this – Diabetes Burnout, a state of emotional or physical exhaustion from trying to self-manage diabetes.
Diabetic patients must always be aware of their blood sugar levels.(Credit: Freepik)
Since it’s so hard to choose the right food to eat in Malaysia, meal replacements by nutritionists have gained popularity as an easy solution for diabetic patients, such as Glucerna by Abbott.
These meal replacements come in powder form and promise complete nutrition and satiety, so patients won’t feel the need to cheat on their diets after.
There are ways to decrease the stress faced by diabetic patients, but it’s a good wakeup call for everyone else to check their lifestyles before it’s too late.

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“Weâ€™re not trying to change the Constitution but seeking equal rights for all” DS Anwar Ibrahim

Prime Minister-in-waiting, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says that the Pakatan Harapan government has no plans to rewrite the Constitution but instead seeks equal rights for all in order to improve the nation’s economy.

via GIPHY
Anwar who currently chairs the parliamentary caucus on reform and governance, explained that the nation’s current economic policies (which notably favours the Malays and Bumiputera majority…) were obsolete and must be removed from future plans.

(Image Credit: Twitter)

The PKR president said that Malaysia must move forward from race-based policies and ensure that every Malaysian citizen, especially the poor and needy, are attended to and have equal standing in the nations economic growth.

â€œI am equally, if not more committed in terms of reducing inequality and elevating the position of the poor. And to also check on this unbridled capitalism of helping the few conglomerates at the expense of the vast majority.”
â€œIâ€™m not here to question what has been enshrined in the Constitution, including privileges and quota. “
â€œOur understanding after 61 years of independence is that we need to create this awareness that all Malaysians should be seen as one community with equal rights and privileges.â€
Anwar Ibrahim via Malay Mail

(Image Credit: imgflip)

Earlier this year, Putrajaya announced that the government would be making efforts on creating a new economic policy based on the concept of â€œshared prosperityâ€.

via GIPHY