A Calendar Of All The Postponed Movies Finally Coming To Local Cinemas In 2021

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2020 was, rather simply put, not a good year for movies. Cinemas were shut down to comply with SOPs, movies slotted to release were postponed or went straight to streams, and even filming for sme movies were delayed.

Many people, even regular cinephiles, didn’t even step foot into a cinema the whole of 2020. However, 2021 is set to change all that.
There are a good number of movie line-ups for the new year, and it looks good. Most titles were highly-anticipated movies from 2020, but the pandemic has caused them to be delayed for more than a year due to the closure of cinemas globally.
Here are some of our favourites:
January

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train
The highly-anticipated Demon Slayer movie was originally slated to premiere in Malaysia on 16 October 2020. Since cinemas were not allowed to operate during that time, GSC will be releasing the movie for fans on 9th and 10th of January instead.
February

Tom & Jerry
Yes, you read that right. The old-school cartoon Tom & Jerry will hit the big screen together with Chloë Grace Moretz and other well-known stars in a live-action and computer-animated mashup comedy film. The movie was intended to be released on 23 December 2020, but will now be shown on 11 February 2021.
March
(Credit: Twitter/Wikipedia)
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is one of Disney’s first forays into a titular Southeast Asian-inspired movie, written by a Malaysian screenwriter, who also wrote for Crazy Rich Asians! It also stars popular Asian actresses such as Kelly Tran and Awkwafina. It was originally slated to premiere on 25 November 2020.
The King’s Man
The prequel to the popular Kingsman: The Secret Service movie, The King’s Man tells the story of how the spy agency was founded in the first place. It was originally scheduled to be released on 18 September 2020, but after numerous delays due to the pandemic, will now be released on 12 March 2021.
April

No Time To Die
The 25th instalment of the James Bond film series features Daniel Craig in his fifth and final James Bond film. It was originally scheduled to be released in March 2020, but the premiere and all promotional tours were cancelled as fears of the pandemic reached its height. It has now been rescheduled to be released on 2 April 2021, a full year later.
A Quiet Place Part II
The sequel to sleeper hit A Quiet Place (2018), which made us all scared to make sounds, already had its world premiere in New York City on 8 March 2020. More than a year later, it will hit our screens on 23 April 2021.
May

Black Widow
The highly-anticipated solo film featuring Scarlett Johansson as titular character Black Widow is meant to kickstart phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While originally slated for release in May 2020, fans had to wait a year for the new release date of 7 May 2021.
Free Guy
Ryan Reynolds plays a background character in an open-world video game who gains sentience in this fourth-wall-breaking action comedy. Originally slated for 11 December 2020, it will now grace our screens on 21 May 2021.
F9
The ninth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise had run out of creative ways to name their movies after numbers and was delayed a full year from their original release date of 22 May 2020. F9 will be released on 28 May 2021.
June

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the eight installment in The Conjuring franchise, but is more commonly known as The Conjuring III. While originally scheduled for release on 11 September 2020, it has been delayed until 4 June 2021. Looks like even the Devil’s been affected by the pandemic.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
The sequel to Sony’s surprisingly good Venom was originally planned for release in October 2020. It has since been rescheduled for release on 25 June 2021.
July

Minions: The Rise of Gru
Parents, take heed: a new Minions movie is rolling into town. The yellow bug-eyed minions will be back on 2 July 2021, after being delayed a full year from their original release date in July 2020.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi, played by popular Asian-American actor Simu Liu, will make his official introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe on 9 July 2021. Shang-Chi was originally scheduled to be released on 12 February 2021 to match up with this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations, but was pushed back to allow Black Widow to open up the MCU for their fourth phase.
August

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
In this sequel to the action comedy film The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson will once again reunite to cause havoc. The original release date was 20 August 2021, but it has since been delayed until 28 August 2020.
September

Death On The Nile
Yet another Agatha Christie book-turned-movie, Death On The Nile is a follow-up to Murder On The Orient Express (2017). It was originally meant to be released in December 2020, but will now be released 17 September 2021.
October

Dune
Dune is a film adaptation from the scifi book of the same name, originally slated for release in late 2020. However, the underwhelming performance of Tenet at the box office during the pandemic had Warner Bros. think twice. Dune will be released 1 October 2021.
November
Mission: Impossible 7

Tom Cruise is gracing the big screen again as Ethan Hunt. While we were originally supposed to see him on 23 July 2021, the film has been postponed until 19 November 2021. Still, not too bad of a delay.
December
The Matrix 4

Yes, you read that right. 17 years after the last Matrix films in 2003, the franchise is back for a final bang in 2020 with the original cast. The Matrix 4 was originally meant to stream into our consciousness on 21 May 2021, but now we’ll have to wait a little more until 22 December 2021.

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No More Toll Monopoly For Touch ‘N Go, Says Works Minister

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Works Minister Fadillah Yusof said that highway tolls will soon have to offer digital payment alternatives, according to Free Malaysia Today.

This means that Touch ‘N Go will lose its current monopoly on the usage of toll payments via Touch ‘N Go card and SmartTag.
We all know of the two major traffic jams: before a toll and after a toll.(Credit: Malay Mail)
This announcement comes hot on the heels of the nightmare congestion when Touch ‘N Go’s RFID lanes replaced the SmartTag lanes, which prompted calls from commuters and the government to have alternative payment options to avoid future traffic issues.
Additionally, the Works Ministry has also instructed highway concessionaires to prepare for the implementation of a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system by 2025.
The MLFF is aimed to help ease traffic and reduce congestion as it is a barrier-free tolling system.
Similar to the toll system in Singapore, the MLFF does not have toll booths or dedicated lanes. Instead, it will use a gantry structure that has automated number plate recognition (ANPR) to charge the toll fee.
However, the Works Ministry notes that the new changes and introduction of other digital payment options will also depend on the rate of adoption of RFID tags within the population.
(Credit: Malay Mail)
RFIDs are a unique sticker that is attached to your vehicle, embedded with a radio frequency chip.
It allows you to link whatever mode of digital payment you prefer. This includes anything from your existing Touch ‘N Go card to any debit or credit card as long as the highway accepts such a mode of payment.
This also means that you will no longer need to rely on Touch ‘N Go cards or SmartTags alone to use the highways if you have one dedicated vehicle you drive regularly.
However, if you swap, rent, or borrow cars not linked to your account, then it may still be best to rely on a simple Touch ‘N Go card.
Regardless, it looks like Malaysia’s highway tolls are going to look quite different in just a few years!

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Johor Youth Suspected Of Setting Dog On Fire

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Animal abuse has always been a hot topic in this country. Recently, a CCTV camera footage of a 19-year-old young man allegedly abusing and setting a dog on fire has gone viral on social media.

The incident allegedly took place in front of a veterinarian clinic at Taman Impian Emas, Johor on 27 March 2023 at 2am.
In two Instagram posts, a veterinary doctor Salehatul Khuzaimah M. Ali pointed out that the dogs, although when abused, did not show any sign of aggression towards the young man.
According to My Forever Doggo, a platform that is dedicated to dogs and their well being, there are two dogs Milo and Mommy and both of them have been repeatedly abused by this young man.
The first incident took place on 8 March 2023 when he threw a vase at the dogs. The next attack was on 14 March where he threw bricks and rocks at the dogs.
The final blow came three days ago when he allegedly beat the dog with a metal rod before setting it on fire.
Out of the two dogs, Mommy was the one who was injured by the attack because Mommy is more trusting towards humans while Milo runs away from people that it does not recognize.
This incident has been reported to the Department of Veterinary Services and a police report has been lodged regarding the incident.

The dog is now being treated at Vetmedic Petlover on Jalan Impian Emas, Skudai.

Another netizen known as @xiaohui0105 dedicated an Instagram Story highlight on her page which showcases how caring and friendly these dogs are towards the people in the area.

The Rakyat Post learned that this netizen runs a beauty saloon in the area.
Meanwhile, the mother of the man came forward and posted on her Facebook page saying that she was aware of her son’s actions and has brought him to the veterinary clinic to apologise.
We learned that this however was rejected by the veterinarian who is in charge of the dog.
The mother of the man also shared about an alleged incident that took place last November where he was chased by the dogs and suffered broken bones and fractures. She also shared the police report that was made on the matter.

Since the incident went viral, many people have expressed their anger with the man’s actions.

No mercy to such kind of humans!— 7his.me (@aMabzing) March 29, 2023

Abusing animals should be taken seriously. These poor animals need a voice to defend them from such cruelty.

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Uncle’s “Unconventional” PPE Turned Heads At Vaccination Centre, But His Generosity Warmed Everyone’s Hearts

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Never judge a book by its cover has never rung so true after reading a post on Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Instagram.

Featured was a series of pictures of what appears to be an elderly man dressed in a pink polo top and beige Bermuda shorts.
While there is nothing strange about that, it is the clear plastic bag tied around the man’s head that according to the post, drew attention and garnered whispers and sarcastic laughs.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Universiti Sains Malaysia (@usmofficial1969)
The post said the uncle in the photos came for vaccination at USM’s vaccination centre (PPV) yesterday (8 July) looked a bit “bizarre” at first.
Once he got his jab, he then proceeded to the secretariat and what he did left everyone shocked.
“The frontliners have been working very hard. Please buy them lunch” said the uncle, and handed them a large sum of money.
He then left in the same taxi he came in, leaving everyone there to witness his generosity stunned.
Faith in humanity restored.
The post has since received 8,684 likes with comments filled support and heart emoji’s. Reading the post even made some netizens cry while one person said we don’t deserve him!
All in all, his good deed was inspiring and much needed after a difficult week.
In case you’re worried about the kind uncle’s safety with ventilation, he was advised to remove the unconventional ‘protection’ and was instead provided a face shield by health professionals on duty.
Bless his heart.

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What Is A Pandemic?

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With Covid-19 spreading worldwide, countries are scrambling to curb the transmission of the deadly disease that has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide with more than 6,000 deaths reported so far.
Picture Credit: Health Ministry of Malaysia
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently classified the disease as a pandemic but urged people not to panic as the virus can still be contained if serious action is taken by countries.
But what does the word pandemic actually mean and what’s the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
According to WHO, a pandemic is defined as the worldwide spread of a new disease while an epidemic is the occurrence of an illness that happens more frequently than usual in a given community or region.
So, if a disease affects a community or country, it’s an epidemic but if the disease has reached worldwide, then it’s considered as a pandemic.
An example of an epidemic is Ebola that affected West Africa with 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths worldwide from 2014-2016, while HIV/AIDS is a pandemic that has affected 37.9 million people across the world as of 2018.
Picture Credit: Lifegate

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Dengue Cases On The Rise, Experts Foresee Outbreak

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Dengue fever is an illness which many, albeit erroneously, regard as a common ailment much like then flu or fever. Because it is so common, we learned to live with it while ignoring the fact that our behaviour contributes to its rise.

There has been an increase in the number of dengue cases in Malaysia and according to the latest figures, as BFM highlighted in a tweet recently, when compared to the same period last year, dengue cases in Malaysia increased by 158% from January to June.
Earlier this year, experts have cautioned that a dengue fever epidemic is predicted in Malaysia this year, peaking in 2024 and 2025, and they are encouraging both the government and the public to adopt precautionary measures.
According to the Health Ministry’s latest figures, the number of dengue fever cases recorded increased by 142 cases (5.8%) to 2,608 cases during the 23rd epidemiological week (4 June to 10 June) from 2,466 cases the week before.
This brings the total number of cases this year to 51,331 compared to 20,194 cases during the same period last year.
Three deaths were recorded during the 23rd epidemiological week which brings the total number of deaths to 37 compared to 13 in the same time frame in 2022.
Furthermore, up to 95 hotspots were detected this week, an increase from the 82 hotspots that were reported the week before.
Of these, 71 were in Selangor, 10 were in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, 6 were in Penang, 4 were in Kedah, and 2 each in Sabah and Perak.
Symptoms
Pic for illustration purpose only
According to an article by the Mayo Clinic, many dengue patients may not exhibit any symptoms or indicators of dengue illness at first.
When symptoms do show up, they typically start four to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may be mistaken for other ailments, like the flu.
Any of the following signs and symptoms, as well as a sudden high fever of 40 degrees celcius, are brought on by dengue fever:

Headache
joint, muscle, or bone pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain in the back of the eyes
Inflated glands
Rash

These are just mild signs of the dengue fever, or you may also call it as the first few symptoms of the dengue fever. However, some of the symptoms can worsen and grow into dengue shock syndrome, dengue haemorrhagic fever, or severe dengue.
Your blood vessels become damaged and leaky with severe dengue. Additionally, the quantity of platelets in your blood decreases. Shock, internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death may result from this.
There can be speedy development of severe dengue fever warning signs, which is a life-threatening emergency. The warning signals, which may include the following, may appear within the first day or two after your fever has subsided such as:

A terrible tummy ache
Continual vomiting
Bleeding from the nose or gums
Having blood in your faeces, urine, or vomit
Under-the-skin bleeding that may resemble bruises
Fast or difficult breathing
Fatigue
Easily irritated or restless

Thus, it is important to seek medical attention when one realizes that they have these symptoms.
Prevention
Pic for illustration purpose only
Prevention is always better than cure. Dengue fever has been here for many years and there are many ways one can prevent from getting infected by the illness.
As many may already know, the cause of the dengue fever is the aedes mosquito, and this mosquito can be found around our home.
Therefore, here are some prevention methods that one can use to make sure that the surrounding is safe from aedes mosquitoes.
Stay in well-screened or air-conditioned housing. Aedes mosquitoes are known to be active from 6.30am to 8.30am and from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. However, it has been known to actively bite at other hours especially when the surrounding temperature drops below 28 degrees celcius, which is the normal temperature for its usual active hours.
Put on protective clothing. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks, and shoes while entering mosquito-infested areas.
Apply insect repellent. You can spray permethrin on your shoes, clothing, camping gear, and bed netting. Additionally, you can purchase clothing that already contains permethrin. Use a repellent for your skin that has at least a 10% concentration of DEET, which is an active ingredient in many repellent products.
Reduce the habitat for mosquitoes. Typically found in and near homes, dengue-carrying mosquitoes develop in stagnant water that can accumulate in items like worn vehicle tyres.
By removing mosquito breeding grounds, you can contribute to a decrease in mosquito population. Empty and clean containers that retain stagnant water, such as flower vases, animal dishes, and planting pots, at least once a week. Cover any stagnant water containers in between cleanings.

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Amazon rainforest has been burning for 3 weeks, but Brazil president unconcerned

Yes, the Amazon rainforest has been- and still is!– on fire for 3 full weeks.
It’s resulted in smoke being seen from the space station,  SÃ£o Pauloexperiencing a 3pm daytime blackout, and the record for forest fires being broken.

Smoke from the Amazonia fires can be clearly seen… from space.Picture credit: NOAA

🌎Just a little alert to the world: the sky randomly turned dark today in SÃ£o Paulo, and meteorologists believe itâ€™s smoke from the fires burning *thousands* of kilometers away, in RondÃ´nia or Paraguay. Imagine how much has to be burning to create that much smoke(!). SOS🌎 pic.twitter.com/P1DrCzQO6x
â€” Shannon Sims (@shannongsims) August 20, 2019

THE AMAZON is on fire rn and media coverage has been slim to none. We need to save our earth!!!!! #PrayForAmazÃ´nia pic.twitter.com/gnpagP0Klz
â€” turducken (@turducken10) August 21, 2019

Brazil president Bolsonaro who also told his citizens “to eat less and poop every other day” is now dismissing the deadly fires, saying that it is the “season of the queimada“, which is when farmers use fire to clear land.
Wildfires do often occur in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching, similar to what Indonesia does.

Picture credit: Twitter

The Amazon rainforest (Amazonia) represents over 50% of the world’s rainforests and produces over 20% of the world’s oxygen.
The fire in the Amazon is critical, not just because it is unprecedented, but because its impact is global.
Picture credit: Twitter
In the face of extreme climate conditions, deforestation must stop. We have to protect what little trees we have left.
#PrayForAmazonia
Picture credit:Twitter


Covid-19 Disrupts Parliament, Forces MPs To Sit For Only 3 Hours A Day Until Budget 2021 Announcement

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Today’s parliamentary proceedings have been cut short with sessions ending at 1pm as the Covid-19 virus has made its way into Parliament, just a few days before the announcement of Budget 2021.

This week’s parliament was supposed to discuss issues pertaining to Budget 2021, which will be announced this Friday.
However, several Dewan Negara staff have tested positive for Covid-19, and due to close contact, several Dewan Negara senators could also have been infected.
Over the weekend, Senator Ras Adiba Radzi announced that her special officer, who is also her sister, has tested positive for Covid-19.
pic.twitter.com/liNPh9HMM4— Ras Adiba Radzi (@SenatorRasAdiba) November 1, 2020
Minister in Charge of Parliamentary Affairs Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan explained that due to the prevalence of Covid-19 within Parliament, the day’s session will be cut short to 1pm. Following that, all other sessions until Thursday will also be cut short until 1pm.
The decision was made in agreement by all leaders of the political parties present, including the Opposition parties.
However, the meeting for the presentation of the Budget 2021 on Friday will continue as planned without shortened hours.
The new parliamentary SOPs were agreed on with advice from the Ministry of Health.
Takiyuddin also mentioned that the Parliament premises undergoes sanitation everyday before the morning meetings at 9am.

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Ganja Is No Longer A Narcotic Substance In Thailand

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Thailand has removed cannabis – more commonly known as marijuana or ganja – from its list of narcotic substances.

The substance would no longer be classified as a Category-5 drug under the country’s Narcotics Act and would soon allow for the legal cultivation and production of cannabis-based products in the country.
In 2019, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise cannabis for medical use. The country had also recently decriminalized over 100 Category-2 drugs that include substances like opium, cocaine and morphine for medical and research purposes.
Reportedly, “cannabis clinics” have opened up across the country with physicians and pharmacists now legally prescribing medical marijuana to treat ailments, and the Thai government has also been promoting the plant as a cash crop for farmers in its agricultural sector.
(NST/AFP)
However, recreational use and possession of cannabis is still illegal in Thailand – meaning that without a permit or a doctor’s prescription, being caught with marijuana can still result in heavy fines and prison time.
Cash is green too
More and more countries have or are eyeing to legalize marijuana. According to a 2020 market research report, the global legal cannabis market is expected to be worth over RM299 billion by 2027.
Here at home, marijuana and cannabis-based products are still illegal regardless if it’s used for medicinal purposes or otherwise, where possession of the substance can land you heavy fines, imprisonment and lashes of the cane.
According to the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA), cannabis accounts for 3.9% of the illegal drug offences here in Malaysia with some 700 marijuana use cases reported as of 2019.
(NADA)
But, the nation has also stated interest in capitalizing on cannabis for the economy. Selangor lawmaker Mohd Shaid Rosli once suggested that Malaysia could become the largest producers of cannabis in the region. Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 also already allows for the growing of cannabis for medical purposes with strict rules and oversight by the government.
Let me give you an example. You can get RM3,000 an acre per-year for palm oil. Ganja brings in RM9 million a year. One acre with three harvests can get you RM9 million a year.Mohd Shaid Rosli via Malay Mail
Meanwhile, a proposal to decriminalise drug possession and personal use for cannabis and other scheduled substances have also been pushed forward in Parliament to classify drug abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal problem.
Drug decriminalisation will indeed be a critical next step towards achieving a rational drug policy that puts science and public health before punishment and incarceration. An addict shall be treated as a patient (not as a criminal), whose addiction is a disease we will like to cure.Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad

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Source:
Cannabis removed from drug list in Thailand
Thai medical marijuana craze as people rush to grow drug now it’s legal, and government encourages hospitals to champion its use
Thailand to allow medical use of cocaine, opium and morphine
Thailand rolls out cannabis clinic based on traditional medicine
Push for farmers to grow cannabis
Legal Marijuana Market Size Worth $73.6 Billion By 2027 | CAGR 18.1%
Drugs Statistics
Selangor can be world’s biggest ganja producer, says PPBM lawmaker
THE DECRIMINALISATION OF DRUG ADDICTS AND ADDICTION


After “Merry Christmas” Cake Fiasco, Netizens Curious If Big Brands Allowed To Market Off Holidays

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Over Christmas, netizens got whipped around over the topic of whether it was okay for halal-certified stores to advertise and display products in celebration of the year-end holiday or other religious festivals we celebrate in Malaysia.

The issue began following news of a local bakery which had refused to decorate a cake the way a customer wanted – having written “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”.
Apparently the bakery’s reason for the politically correct cake was in order to follow rules set by the Department of Islamic Development’s (Jakim) halal certification process.
Then came the explanation
Later, Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri stepped in to clarify that it was okay for products to have festive greetings on them as long as they are not put on display.
The former Federal Territories Mufti said on Twitter that halal-certified shops are allowed to have products with festive greetings as long as it is not meant for display or on products with the halal logo.
He explained that there are no specific restrictions against non-Muslim celebrations in the halal certification process – pointing out that the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020 only applies to applicants and holders of the Malaysian Halal Certificate.
To put it simply, if Store B with a Jakim halal certificate bakes a cake with a festive greeting for display on the premise, then it is not allowed, but if Store B prepared a cake that was ordered by A and there are festive greetings on the cake, it is allowed.Zulkifli Mohamad via Twitter.
Ringkasnya, jika kedai B yang ada sijil halal JAKIM buat kek dengan ucapan perayaan pada kek untuk tujuan pameran (display) di dalam premis, ia tidak dibenarkan tetapi jika Kedai B menyediakan kek yang ditempah A dan ada ucapan perayaan pada kek, ia DIBENARKAN.— 🇲🇾 Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri (@drzul_albakri) December 24, 2020
The same was said by Jakim
A statement made by Jakim Deputy-General (Operations) Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh, explained that festive greetings were indeed allowed on all products as long as they were not put on display in stores which had been certified halal by the agency.
There is no provision (in the halal certification) which touches on the celebration of any festivals, including Islamic festivals in the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020Abdul Aziz via The Star.
A merry misunderstanding?
Some Malaysians, however, were curious to know where authorities draw the line when coming up with their halal justifications.
Netizens came to question how the rules work when it came to bigger brands and companies with Jakim halal certification and their marketing for the festive seasons.
My brain right now 😵Forget about secret resipi & Starbucks. let’s talk about small businesses. They already spent thousands on halal cert now cannot even promote seasonal products? https://t.co/CpYgghTDNj— CoCoNat 🥥🥰 (@natnat494) December 25, 2020
How about Starbucks? Starbucks is halal certified too. Can Starbucks use cups that have Merry Christmas wording? Can the employees wear Santa hats?The hoops to jump through have no end in sight.— Magicmush (@Magicmush7) December 26, 2020
Tambahan pula, if referring to manual prosedur pensijilan halal JAKIM, is 6(c) not vague? Does “pengiklanan produk” extend to something like the ad below? Or only applicable to merry Christmas on cakes? Would a business like Starbucks get their halal cert revoked then? pic.twitter.com/qZXQ24sQzs— opinionated cactus 🌵 (@dhwrgas) December 25, 2020
The halal manual
Our quick study of the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020 – a manual for companies to follow to receive and keep their Jakim halal certification – reveals no specific requirements for festive or religious-themed greetings on products and advertisements.
The manual contains provisions against having immoral and obscene product packaging, labeling and advertising as well as displaying illustrations with animals deemed as “najis mughallazah” or impure by Islam, like swine and dogs.
It also provides a list of names and terms that cannot be used by halal-certified companies for their brands such as ham, bacon, beer, dog or bak kut teh, because of its associations with non-halal products.
(Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020)
The manual also prohibits the use of packaging, labels and advertising that contain statements, symbols, terms or references to the name of God or other religious deities.

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MOH Approves Pfizer Booster Shots For Individuals Aged 18 And Above

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Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine booster dose has been given the conditional approval from the Health Ministry for individuals aged 18 and above.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement that the booster dose will be given out to recipients at least six months after they’ve received their second shot.
He mentioned that this is the first Covid-19 vaccine approved for booster dose use in the country.
MOH would like to inform that the approval of this conditional registration requires information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of this vaccine to be monitored and evaluated based on the latest data from time to time. It is to ensure that the comparison of benefits over risk for the vaccine remains positive.Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
He added that the Ministry is always committed in improving access to Covid-19 vaccine products in Malaysia, by ensuring that they have been evaluated in terms of quality, safety and effectiveness by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and approved by the Drug Control Authority (DCA).
Pihak Berkuasa Kawalan Dadah memberi kelulusan bersyarat bagi pemberian dos penggalak (booster dose) vaksin COVID-19 Pfizer sekurang-kurangnya selepas 6 bulan dos kedua untuk golongan berumur 18 tahun dan ke atas. pic.twitter.com/fmyTTysFkB— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) October 8, 2021

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Man dies in firecracker accident on Deepavali: Here’s some safety tips

During the festive season, youâ€™ll often see and hear firecrackers set alight to celebrate the holidays.
Happy Holidays GIF from Happyholidays GIFs

Although they are fun to look at as they brighten up the night sky with colourful patterns, firecrackers can be dangerous.
Recently a man tragically slipped and fell onto some mercun that he had ignited. He suffered serious injuries all over his body and face and later died at the hospital after succumbing to his injuries.
According to regulations, the government does not allow any form of ignitable explosive firecrackers or fireworks except the brand Happy Boom and Pop-pop.
Sweet childhood memoriesPicture Credit: YouTube
However, the ignition of pyrotechnics is allowed during formal government events and concerts as well as events which have been approved by the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
Since fireworks and firecrackers can be illegally bought almost anywhere these days even with the current regulations, we’ve decided to share some safety measures to keep in mind if you find yourself with a collection of fireworks.
Bato Firecracker GIF from Bato GIFs

Here are some precautions :

Never try to make your own fireworks.
Always use fireworks outside your home and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
Steer clear of others setting off fireworks. They can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.
Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even as a joke.
Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting.
Wear eye protection
Don’t carry fireworks in your pocket â€” the friction could set them off.
Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances.
Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be very frightened or stressed by the Fourth of July and other big celebrations. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.

If accidents do happen where you or your loved ones are injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital.
Trust Me Im A Professional GIF from Dog GIFs

In the case of eye injuries, do take note of these measures :

Don’t touch or rub your eyes, this may cause even more damage.
Don’t flush the eye out with water or try to put any ointment on it.
Cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and get medical care right away.

In the event where someone is burned, remove clothing from the burned area, call the doctor immediately or go to the nearest clinic or hospital.
Do keep everybody in the vicinity of the firework as safe as possible or better yet, don’t light any up as most of them are illegal and may harm you or your loved ones.

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E-cig and vape related illnesses finally has official name: EVALI

In less than a decade, the e-cigarette and vape market has grown rapidly with all kinds of e-cigarette and vape brands becoming available in vape shops and online.
Vape Vape Nation GIF from Vape GIFs

Although at first considered a â€œhealthierâ€ alternative for smokers and for those who want to finally quit smoking, it appears that e-cigarettes and vapes are a danger to health in their own right.
According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of the beginning of this month, 33 deaths and almost 1,500 lung injury cases were reported in the US, allegedly associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products.

Picture credit: Pinterest

The situation has become so serious, that health officials have now started using the term EVALI, an acronym for E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury, to describe the ailment.
Although the exact cause of the mysterious lung disease is still uncertain, itâ€™s symptoms are strikingly similar to the flu and other respiratory illnesses, with patients reporting difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, and other signs of acute respiratory distress – which means that EVALI is often mistaken for something less serious.

Picture credit: Pinterest

Some health experts suspect that the onset of EVALI is connected to products sold on the black market, including illicit and counterfeit THC vaping cartridges believed to have high levels of vitamin E acetate oil.
This is due to the fact that most EVALI patients used vape liquids containing Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
However, not all patients have reported using THC products, with some saying they only used nicotine-containing products.
Grass GIF from Smoke GIFs

Health officials also highlighted another troubling observation to the EVALI outbreak: a handful of patients who were hospitalised were readmitted anywhere between five and 55 days after they were discharged.
Although the reason behind the readmissions isnâ€™t clear yet, doctors believe it could be due to one of two things:

Lungs were weakened by the illness or the medications used to treat the condition, or
Patients using e-cigarettes again after discharge.

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OLDTOWN Cracks Down Roti Kaya Conspiracy To Regain Customer Trust And Quality Control

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A recent complaint about the Kaya Butter Toast served at OLDTOWN White Coffee has gone viral on social media, prompting the company to investigate and respond.

The complaint, posted on Facebook by a customer named Chen, alleged that the butter used in the toast was inconsistent and had a strange taste.
Chen claimed to have ordered the same item multiple times at different outlets but encountered the same problem each time.
When contacted by SAYS, a spokesperson for OLDTOWN said that Chen’s replacement order should have met his satisfaction but that the customer did not provide any feedback on the replacement.
The spokesperson also noted that Chen did not inform OLDTOWN directly about the issue.
F&B Industry Driven by People, Says OLDTOWN
In response to the viral post, OLDTOWN conducted an undercover survey of the Kaya Butter Toast at several outlets.
The company randomly sent out mystery shoppers to evaluate the product but found no major discrepancies.

The spokesperson explained that OLDTOWN’s butter had been hand-cut according to their standard operating procedures since they started in 2005, which may result in slight variations.
The company has used SCS butter, Singapore’s premium quality butter brand, since 2005.
OLDTOWN added it had re-trained the outlet in question and reminded the entire chain to be vigilant in observing their SOPs.
The menu item has also been OLDTOWN’s top-selling product for 18 years.
OLDTOWN pointed out that people operate F&Bs, and they sometimes make errors.
Some netizens have taken to trolling OLDTOWN’s Facebook page with photos of the Kaya Butter Toast.

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“No Need To Declare Emergency At This Time,” Says Agong

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There is no need to declare a State of Emergency at this time according to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

According to a statement released by Istana Negara’s Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had applied for a State of Emergency to be declared to fight the spread of Covid-19.
“After refining the application and discussions with rulers and observing the situation being faced by the country, Al-Sultan Abdullah felt the current government has managed to deal with this epidemic effectively.
“His Majesty strongly believes in the ability of the Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister to continue to implement policies and enforcement actions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic from continuing to spread.
“Al-Sultan Abdullah is of the opinion that there is currently no need for His Majesty to declare a state of emergency in this country or any part of Malaysia,” read the statement.
However, the Agong has also warned politicians to stop any politicking which could cause instability in the administration of the country.
         View this post on Instagram           #agongkita #royal #malaysia #istananegara #kenyataanmedia #pressstatement A post shared by  ISTANA NEGARA (@istana_negara) on Oct 25, 2020 at 3:35am PDT
“Al-Sultan Abdullah also opined that there was no need for Members of Parliament to continue irresponsible actions that could disrupt the stability of the existing Government.
“His Majesty stressed that the National Budget 2021 which will be tabled in Parliament is very important to the people in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and reviving the country’s economy. Therefore, the financial allocation is very much needed by frontline staff to carry out their duties and responsibilities,” continued the statement.
His Majesty also expressed concern regarding the people’s anxiety due to the increase in new clusters and positive cases but expressed confidence in the high spirits and unity that has been displayed.
“In this regard, His Majesty called on all citizens, regardless of background and especially political beliefs, to put aside all differences and disputes to unite and play their respective roles in helping the Government and authorities curb the Covid-19 pandemic for their personal safety and the well-being of this country we love together.”

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[Watch] Ipoh Family Shocked When Walls Of New Home Collapsed Due To Landslide

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A family of five got a shock of their lives when the perimeter wall of their new home in Taman Sri Perkasa, Ipoh, fell during a landslide. The family just moved in two days ago.

According to The Star, freelance insurance agent Dina Liz Ismail, 37, said part of the slope next to their house on Laluan Lapangan 3 gave way during a thunderstorm just before dawn on Sunday, 15 May.
There was a blackout at about 5am, and we could see muddy water flowing on the road in front of our house and down the slope. At about 6am, the perimeter wall started to crack and then collapsed along with part of the slope.Resident of Taman Sri Perkasa Dina Liz Ismail
Image: The Star
The firefighters received a call at about 7am. When they got there, they inspected the location and made sure no one was hurt. They also advised the family and two other residents living near the landslide to vacate their homes to be safe.
Dina added that the developer had checked the house’s structure and it’s still stable.
Luckily, the developer said they would repair the damage and put the family up in a homestay nearby for the time being. It’s estimated that the repairs would take up to two weeks.

The potential cause of the landslide
The residents’ association chairman Datuk Zul Zukree Zakaria believed the landslide was caused by a development project nearby that started two years ago.
Since the project started, there have allegedly been several flash floods in the neighbourhood.
The residents’ association hopes that the Ipoh City Council will view the matter seriously and take action before more incidents happen.

Another resident, a former lecturer named Noah Wong, said it was a matter of time before the water entered their houses.
Gopeng MCA vice-chairman Cally Ting said she would meet all the relevant parties, including the developer of the project and the mayor, to find a solution to manage the flash floods in the area.
Former Ipoh city councillor Kok Pak Foo said there had been two landslides along the road and believed the drainage system could no longer accommodate the amount of water that flows through during heavy rains.

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Son Of Accused Dog Abuser Apologises, Insisted Dad Loves His Farm Dogs

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The son of the man who was accused of dragging a dog to its death behind a car has written a version of the story on his Facebook.

READ MORE: Dog Tied And Dragged Behind Car In Port Dickson Dies
Shi Shanwen (transliteration), the son of Heng Kee Roasted Pork’s owner, started by listing give reasons why he didn’t clarify the issue when the news broke.
The following reasons explained why he didn’t speak up sooner:

He wasn’t at the scene when the incident happened and he didn’t want to say anything inaccurate. He was at a temple with his mother in Seremban in the evening at the time.
What everyone saw in the video did not tell the whole picture.
He admitted that his father was wrong, but denied he was a dog abuser.
He wanted public anger to die down a little before coming forward with his story.
His father lodged a police report on the day of the incident and didn’t evade his responsibility.

What happened according to Shi?
Shi said the dog in question was new to the farm and kept attacking the poultry and other dogs on the farm. To manage the issue, his father decided to move the new dog to another farm.
However, it proved difficult to get the dog into the car as the dog kept biting and barking. Shi’s father was worried about getting bitten as he’s also diabetic.
He thought tying the dog to the back of the car and slowly driving to the other farm was a good solution. He claimed the dog cooperated and didn’t make any sound during the journey.
He only realized something was wrong when a man, Rajes, forcibly stopped him. Shi claimed his father wanted to take the dog to the vet after discovering what happened, but was stopped by Rajes and some men.
Screenshot from a previous viral video posted by Rajes Rajes/FB
They allegedly took away his car key and refused to let him leave. When the police arrived, the group allegedly still refused to hand over the car key.
By the time his father got back the key, it was too late to look for a vet. He was then recommended a vet in Seremban only to find that the vets are all closed on Sundays.
Shi claimed his dad had no choice but to try treating the dog’s wounds on his own before heading to the police station.
When the police finally visited the farm around 10pm to check on the dog, it was too late as the dog died from its injuries.
Despite the harsh criticism by netizens, Shi’s father buried the dog and continues to cook food for the farm dogs daily.
Shi reiterated that his father isn’t an animal abuser and loves the dogs on the farm. Shi’s father allegedly adopted the abandoned dogs and cared for them daily despite his poor health and frequent hospital visits.
Shi said the people in the village know that his father always carried buckets of food for the farm animals and the dogs, regardless of the weather conditions.
He ended his post by asking why the group of men didn’t help to get the dog treated and prevented his father from doing so. He wondered why the group did not prioritise to save the dog that day.
Despite all the grief the incident caused, Shi repeatedly apologised for his father’s poor actions.

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Gambling addict beats partner for broadband signal

A 40-year-old woman in Lahad Datu, Sabah, beat up her husband for suggesting that she stop walking around the house while trying to get better internet connection.
The suspect needed the internet connection to continue gambling online.
The 38-year-old victim was assaulted with a metal rod around the face and body by his wife, who tested positive for drugs.

via GIPHY
Abuse of any kind is no joke, and neither is addiction.
Gambling addiction is an impulse-control disorder, which means that the addict is unable to control the impulse to gamble, even if there are severe known negative consequences.
As long as the activity of gambling causes any problem that disrupts your life, that is considered a gambling problem.

via GIPHY
These gambling problems are very often associated with other behavior or mood disorders and substance abuse issues.
Addicts will do whatever they can to reach what they crave, even if that means hurting people they love.
Gambling addiction can be resolved with help. Addicts must first recognize their own problems and take responsibility for it.

via GIPHY
Family members or friends are advised to not loan money to addicts as they can easily slip back into the dangerous habit. Instead, support the addict emotionally while they enter rehab.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and is seeking treatment, you can walk in to any government clinic or hospital to seek help.


Drowning Is The Leading Cause Of Death For Young Children In Many Countries

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Tomorrow (Sunday 25 July) will mark the first-ever World Drowning Prevention Day (WDPD). It is a timely reminder for those in the northern hemisphere as the hot summer months correlates with a peak in drowning deaths.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) told reporters yesterday (23 July) that drowning is a leading cause of death for children aged under 5 in many countries.
They said that 2.5 million people have died due to drowning in the decade to 2019, of that 60% were under the age of 30 with the highest rates among children under 5.
In 2019 alone, 236,000 people lost their lives in drowning related incidents, excluding flood related mortality and deaths due to water transport accidents.
Higher drowning rates in low-middle income countries
Drowning rates in low-middle income countries like Malaysia are more than three times higher than in high-income nations.
In Asia, drowning deaths predominantly involve young children.
WHO has said drowning affects poor and marginalised communities which have the fewest resources to adapt to the risks around them.
Kids will be kids
In Malaysia, a study by the Perak Clinical Research Centre showed that about 500 people, mostly youth, drown in Malaysia annually, making drowning the second cause of death among those between the ages of 1 and 18.
A study also found that in the first nine months of 2017, 31 children between the ages of 2 and 9 drowned in hotel and theme park swimming pools in Malaysia. 75% of the victims being below the age of 5.
Risky areas for drowning
In a report by NST from 2019, National Water Activity Safety Council (WASC) had identified 15 high-risk areas and 39 risky areas for drowning nationwide and noted that most incidents occurred at (in order of frequency) rivers, canals, beaches, lakes, mining pools, waterfalls and sewage systems.
Having said that, young children should never be left unattended around water as a child can drown in as little as one inch of it.
 “ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE”
(Credit: Life Saving Society Malaysia -LSSM PG / Facebook)
Doctor David Meddings from WHO’s Social Determinants of Health department told reporters in Geneva that drowning as a cause of death is entirely preventable.
He said the following simple steps could prevent deaths:
Installing barriers around wellsProviding safe places for children to play away from waterTeaching youngsters basic swimming and water safety skillsGreater training in safe rescue and resuscitation techniques to assist anyone who is drowning
Meanwhile, WASC member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that local authorities should replace damaged or vandalised warning signage immediately while hotel managers and theme park administrators should tighten their security measures.
Lee also advised parents to constantly keep an eye on their children to avoid any unfortunate incidences from happening.
In addition to the prevention measures stated above, TRP spoke to a professor about life saving and was told she always has a length of rope in her car in case of a drowning situation. Not as a tether tor themselves to help, but for the person drowning to hold on to.
The chances of drowning in a water mishap are far greater than the death rate in road accidents and fires.
It is sometimes difficult to spot people who are drowning and that’s where organisations like the Life Saving Society Malaysia and International Life Saving Federation come in to educate and train.

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Less Restricted Interstate Movement To Last Until Sunday

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Regulations have been loosened for those travelling interstate until Sunday, according to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He mentioned that the police has allowed for the public who are stuck in their kampungs to go back to the city via public transport and motorcycles besides permitting cars to allow more than 4 people in one vehicle.
Ismail said it is to make it easier for those with large families to use vehicles that can fit up to 6 people.
The main concern now, he said is the rest & relaxation (R&R) stops nationwide where it’s feared that these places would be overcrowded with travelers, but he said that currently, the situation is under control.
Acknowledging that many live and commute between Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, Ismail said that these three areas will be classified under a single category, allowing interstate travel between these three locations.
He said that 500,000 people have registered with Gerak Malaysia, the app used for registering the police to grant permission to travel interstate.

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This 200 Year-Old Malay Folklore That Was Almost Lost Is Now Retold In A Beautiful Picture Book

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Some of you may have heard of ‘Hikayat Raja Babi’, some of you may not – both are understandable as the tale itself is nearly 300 years old and somehow got lost in the shadows of more prominent Malay folklore such as ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’ or the recently controversial ‘Dayang Senandong’.

But 2020 marks the time for the tale of a prince cursed to be born in the body of a pig to finally be in the spotlight – this time as a beautifully illustrated picture book in English called ‘The Malay Tale Of The Pig King’.
We can thank local indie publisher, Buku Fixi, award winning children’s book author Heidi Shamsuddin and Indonesian artist Evi Shelvia for reintroducing the 18th century tale to the modern world.
Award-winning children’s book author Heidi Shamsuddin translated the original ‘Hikayat Raja Babi’ from 18th century Malay to a children’s book in English.(Credit: heidishamsuddin.com)
‘Hikayat Raja Babi’ is one of my favourite epics but it was almost dead – which is why I wanted to bring him back. I wanted to adapt this story to suit our lives today because this is how stories, especially fairy tales have been adapted and modified through time.Heidi Shamsuddin to TRP.
Written by a merchant named Usup Abdul Kadir who was sailing from Semarang to Palembang in 1775, the tale is an inspirational one where the hog-bodied prince overcomes adversity and prejudice through his intelligence, courage, and good heart.
Behind the scenes look at the illustration of ‘The Malay Pig King’.(Credit: @evishelvia/Instagram)
This Hikayat was unusual because it had an identifiable author – Usup Abdul Kadir – and it wasn’t commissioned for the royal family. The result is a manuscript which was written for the pure joy and entertainment of the author, and contains fantastical elements which would rival any epic fantasy book we have today.Heidi Shamsuddin to TRP.
Sadly one of the main reasons ‘Hikayat Raja Babi’ remained so hidden was that the manuscript in Jawi was locked away in The British Library for so long. It was only in 2015 that Buku Fixi published the first ever Romanised script of the tale transcribed by Arsyad Mokhtar.
Hikayat Raja Babi in its original Jawi stored in The British Library.(Credit: National Library Singapore/Facebook)
‘The Malay Tale Of The Pig King’ is simply the next evolution of the nearly 300-year-old Malay folklore.
Though Heidi describes the translation process as difficult and tedious due to the archaic vernacular and winding descriptions, she is excited for people to rediscover the lost tale and watch it continue to evolve.
‘Hikayat Raja Babi’ didn’t really survive and was kind of lost but now, it’s been resuscitated as a children’s book, and hopefully this will propel the story into other forms – modern retellings, movies, video games etc. Heidi Shamsuddin to TRP.
Credit: @evishelvia/Instagram
In fact, when she gave the world a little sneak peak of ‘The Malay Tale of the Pig King’ cover art by Evi on social media, the reception was overwhelmingly positive with the crowdfunding campaign by Matahari Books – an imprint of Buku Fixi specializing in non-fiction- achieving their target in just two short days.
My new picture book ‘The Malay Tale of the Pig King’ is based on Hikayat Raja Babi and will be out soon. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? ❤ #TheMalayTaleOfThePigKing #HikayatRajaBabi pic.twitter.com/DTirJMOk4m— Heidi Shamsuddin (@heidishamsuddin) July 20, 2020
Initially, I wanted to target children between 9 – 12 years old, together with their parents (who will be buying the books). The language of the story is simple but I tried to make it lyrical in order to appeal to older readers. However, it seems that we may have tapped into another market – adults who are after a beautifully illustrated Nusantara story. Heidi Shamsuddin to TRP.
However, Heidi is aware that some may not be pleased with ‘The Malay Tale of the Pig King’ – be it for missing out different aspects of the story or the artistic choice of the illustrations where some have accused the publisher of “whitewashing a Malay tale.”
Credit: @evishelvia/Instagram
Nonetheless, she welcomes the comments – noting that it can contribute to a lively discussion on how traditional tales should be represented, and most importantly, it is literally bringing ‘Raja Babi’ back to life.
This book is Evi’s and my adaptation and interpretation of ‘Hikayat Raja Babi’. It’s just one small aspect of the whole tale. Those criticising are free to write their own adaptation. In fact, I would actively encourage them to do so because this is how stories proliferate and disseminate.Heidi Shamsuddin to TRP.
But at the end of the day, the resuscitation of a long-forgotten folk tale is always welcome and as Heidi puts it, the tale itself is “simply a good, cracking read!”
‘The Malay Tale of the Pig King’ will be out in late August and available online at Buku Fixi’s website (HERE) and Shopee store (HERE).
#TheMalayTaleOfThePigKing may now be purchased! Only 900 copies are still available.There are 2 ways to order online:1) https://t.co/4WvmLYX6A0 (with a free copy of #2020Anthology by Fixi Novo if you order by 31 August).2) https://t.co/1I20ICYWjs pic.twitter.com/TH0zaO9enN— Matahari Books (@mataharibooks) August 17, 2020

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Source:
Hikayat Raja Babi 200 tahun diterbitkan semula


Covid-19: Train Passenger From JB To Kelantan Tests Positive, Other Passengers Urged To Get Tested

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A passenger onboard an Express Timuran train from Johor Bahru to Tumpat, Kelantan on 10 November has reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.

As such, six other passengers who had been in coach T6 of the same train have been urged to come forward and get themselves tested for the deadly virus as well.
The news was confirmed by Kelantan Health Department Director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin who spoke to Malaysiakini.
We ask these six passengers to come forward and undergo the testing for Covid-19.Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin, Kelantan Health Department Director via Malaysiakini.
The six passengers held the following ticket numbers:
T201035922381T201078130791T201152111087T201176241266T201182443886T201193852880
Kelantan was placed under a conditional movement control order (CMCO) on 21 November, effective until 6 December.
Yesterday, the state recorded nine new cases, bringing the cumulative number of cases there to 288.

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[Watch] “Some Jokes Don’t Land” SG Comedian Criticised For Joking About Malaysia’s MH370

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Humour is subjective because what’s considered funny to someone may not be funny to another person. While it’s not to say we can’t enjoy dark comedy, a line has to be drawn for certain topics.

Singaporean stand-up comedian Jocelyn Chia recently got into trouble for making a joke about the missing Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight during her performance at Comedy Cellar in the United States.
In the viral video, Chia started fine by making fun of the typical rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia.
I am a HUGE supporter of standup comedians, especially from this region. IDC that this S’porean said FU Malaysians bcs we make fun of them on stage too. But I draw the line at turning MH370 into a joke. Not acceptable. A good standup never turns tragedy and deaths into a joke. pic.twitter.com/i8U7LILyeS— Kudsia Kahar 🇲🇾, Malaysian First (@Kudsia_Kahar) June 6, 2023
However, things got a little off-tangent when she touched upon MH370.
While still pitting Malaysia and Singapore against each other, Chia joked that Malaysians can’t visit Singapore because Malaysian planes “cannot fly” and implied that the plane “cannot land.”

What? Malaysia Airlines going missing not funny huh? Some jokes don’t land. This joke kills in Singapore.
Jocelyn Chia at Comedy Cellar
Someone in the audience said she would get a bad Yelp review for her joke. Chia said, “It’s ok. They don’t have internet.”
Netizens find that part of her joke unfunny and unacceptable for making fun of a tragedy which involved multiple deaths.
According to netizens, Chia was punching down and her usage of vulgar words didn’t sit well with them.
They also compared her to other comedians such as Kumar who managed to make fun of everyone without hurting feelings.
Another netizen also explained that stand-up comedy is not a Western import, but there’s a way to execute wholesome comedy routines.
When confronted about her crass joke, Chia said on her Instagram, “Tragedy plus time=comedy. It’s been long enough man.”

I'm lowkey into dark jokes but this is just not it. Something about her delivery is also annoying lmao dark joke shouldn't be treated as a way of being a complete jerk. Welp, maybe this is the result of having to live around bad food 😮💨— CJ69 (@theartsbycat) June 7, 2023
A friend shared the video as well. I am in agreement with your view. Tragedies are not meant to be ridiculed! Well, her mere usage of vulgar words is far off & don’t come close to the likes of Russel Peter or George Carlin! 🙏— Mikaimran@اتمران (@Mikaimran6) June 6, 2023
Not funny la. Kumar makes jokes about Malays all the time but he makes sure he kenakan all the races so it's fair and square. And he is so terribly funny. This woman is plain annoying.— nasiheart (@shafikismail) June 7, 2023
She's a plain "tryhard" SU comedian. Other SU comedians like Russell and Kumar pon make fun of other countries or races but their jokes are funny and eventually ada punch line. But that's not a joke coming from her, she's a joke.— nmk (@nmk_lol) June 7, 2023
We have stand up for decades. It’s not a western import. Jamali Shadat old monologues from the 70s were wholesome. They are the descendants of court jesters and bards. I have no problem with comedy. You punch down. This lady is not even funny that’s the crime.— Effi Saharudin (@1Obefiend) June 6, 2023
Who is Jocelyn Chia?
According to her official website, Chia was a lawyer before she ventured into standup comedy.
She’s also a regular at New York City comedy clubs such as Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club.
She was also voted as one of Singapore’s top comedians by Buro, Best in Singapore, and Simibest.

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No Mask, No Problem. Malaysians Get Creative Buying Groceries During MCO

https://www.facebook.com/9w2fyz/posts/2768391026531286
While many anxiously scramble to find face masks as they go grocery shopping during the movement control order (MCO), it seems that some have found an ingenious solution.
Unassuming shoppers at a supermarket in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya witnessed a bizarre sight as a Tyrannosaurus rex joined them in their supply run on Day 6 of the MCO.
Much to the delight of fellow shoppers, the T-Rex was spotted waddling around the supermarket, picking out groceries while pushing a trolley.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Betty Rahmad (@bettyrahmad) on Mar 23, 2020 at 1:28am PDT
Of course, images and videos of the shopping dinosaur popped up on social media and it wasn’t long before the T-Rex was unmasked as local actress Betty Rahmad.
Sharing her experience on Instagram, Betty expressed her delight in bringing smiles to peopleâ€™s faces on her birthday – especially to the supermarket staff who are on duty in these uncertain times.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-E5Bi7gffF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Meanwhile in Pahang, Spiderman was seen out getting food supplies as well.
The man behind the mask was not Peter Parker, but a Malaysian named Faizal who figured this was the best way to get full body protection during the outbreak.
Spiderman spotted out getting groceries during the MCO in Pahang.(Credit: Faizal Fyz/Facebook)
Taking to Facebook, Faizal shared snapshots of the webbed superhero from picking out fish to pondering at the refrigerated section and more.

These two creative folks certainly had some dino-mite ideas to keep things light while we brace the Covid-19 pandemic. Those solutions probably didn’t help keep them fully safe, but sure warmed hearts.
FYI, the Health Ministry has also stated that it is not necessary to wear a face mask in public if you do not have flu-like symptoms – coughing, sneezing and fever. Remember to practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently with soap.
Stay safe, everyone!

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High Court Finds Tronoh Assemblyman Paul Yong Guilty For Raping Maid

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Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong has been guilty of raping his Indonesian maid three years ago in the High Court today.

According to NST, judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed made the decision after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused.
Yong is sentenced to 13 years in prison and two strokes of the cane.
He allegedly raped his 23-year-old domestic helper in a room on the top floor of his house in Meru Desa Park between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on 7 July 2019.
Yong, a Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) treasurer-general and a former state exco, pleaded not guilty on 23 August 2019.
He was tried under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, and possible whipping, upon conviction.
He was then the state housing, local government, public transport, non-Islamic affairs and new villages committee chairman.
In 2020, the Federal Court allowed Yong’s appeal to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court and he was ordered to enter his defence on 7 December 2021.

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Leadership Programme Or Political Rally? Uni Students Caught Covid From Event And Netizens Are Fuming

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A student from UiTM Lendu in Alor Gajah has been tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a leadership programme at a resort believed to be organised by Barisan Nasional (BN) for the upcoming Melaka state election.

The Alor Gajah Health Office received a notification from the university’s clinic on Tuesday (9 November) at 2pm.
According to Melaka Health Department director Dr Rusdi Abd Rahman, eight more students had upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTI).
In a report by NST, the nine students attended the leadership programme that was held from 3 to 7 November.
The programme was attended by at least 45 other students from various UiTM campuses.
Syed Saddiq calls out old political ‘tactics’
Muar MP Syed Saddiq took to Twitter to condemn the old political campaigning practice.
“Hold a political event during the pandemic, make attendance compulsory [for students], the students get Covid. That’s enough of old politics. Look for new ideas to campaign. Forcing students to attend events is old political [tactic],” Syed Saddiq wrote.
In one of the screenshots he posted, a parent whose child attended the leadership programme wrote to say the students shouldn’t be blamed because they were forced to attend events like these.
However, Syed Saddiq’s tweet was rubbished by one of the programme facilitators.
Hello YB, I’m one of the facilitators on that programme and this is totally misleading! 1.This is not a program anjuran politik tetapi hasil kerjasama pihak NGO dan UiTM sendiri.2.Pihak pelajar tidak dipaksa untuk join this program sama sekali. YB boleh tanya para peserta – https://t.co/TzpEm5Lavw— ainaa fakhira (@AinaaFakhira) November 11, 2021
Ainaa Fakhira (@ainaafakhira) said the leadership programme was not related to politics and was organised by an NGO and the university.
She also claimed students weren’t forced to attend the programme and encouraged Syed Saddiq to check with the attendees himself.
Ainaa went on to say the programme modules did not influence anyone to support BN. Instead, the attendees are taught about mature politics without siding any political parties.
She ended her tweet by requesting Syed Saddiq to remove his tweet.
Netizens aren’t convinced
Netizens, including UiTM alumni, find the whole clarification a big BS.
“Alaa on paper it’s not a political event but just slip in some bias towards one party,” a netizen wrote.
alaa on paper kata bukan political event. tapi selit2 bias towards one party. Palau dh semua jemputan parti itu. 👀 macam kem jati diri masa jadi fasi minggu haluan siswa la. pakcik2 fasi dok sebok brain wash anak muda sokong BN. Experienced that myself. 🥵— Fatihah Ramle (@norfatihahramle) November 11, 2021
“Did UiTM ever force [students] to join the programme? Kahkahkah,” another person wrote sarcastically.
Pernah ke uitm tak memaksa join program kahkahkah— 🏴 (@gthsakers) November 11, 2021
“I think you’re the one misleading. ‘Not a political programme’ but: 1. There were politicians present. 2. They are only from one side. If you can’t be truthful, correct not those who are,” the next netizen tweeted.
I think you are the one misleading. ‘Not a program anjuran politik’ but:1. there were politicians present2. they are only from one sideIf you can’t be truthful, correct not those who are— Shamsul Kamal (@shamsul__kamal) November 11, 2021
“Stop misleading the people.. I was once a student from UiTM, in my first semester in Diploma, we were told to follow so called ‘gotong-royong’ and have to wear a red shirt, instead it’s a meet & greet with the politician.. We are not stupid to know this all are politics agenda,” an alumni wrote.
Stop misleading the people..I was once a student from UiTM, in my first semester in Diploma, we were told to follow so called ‘gotong-royong’ and have to wear a red shirt,instead is a meet & greet with the politician..we are not stupid to know this all are politics agenda.— Zafir 🇵🇸🇲🇾🏴 (@MZaf_93) November 12, 2021
“So young already good at spin. There’s a talent to become Dira [PRN candidate Khaidirah Abu Zahar],” a netizen wrote.
Muda muda dh pandai spin.. Ada bakat jdi Dira..— Dean of Deen : (@Mulut_Cabai) November 11, 2021
“There’s no need to give a long story. If you invite politicians from only ONE SIDE, it’s a political event. There’s no argument you can make that would make this statement wrong. You now have 3 options: 1. Agree 2. Disagree and admit you don’t know anything about politics 3. Delete,” another netizen tweeted.
There’s no need to cerita panjang. If you invite politicians from only ONE SIDE, it’s a political event. There’s no argument you can make that would make this statement wrong. You now have 3 options:1. Agree2. Disagree and admit you don’t know anything abt politics3. Delete— Karim (@Karimmyman) November 12, 2021
“Why are the invited only people from UMNO? Why are some of the invited guests the candidates for the Melaka elections?” someone else wrote.
Tapi kenapa jemputan semua orang UMNO? Kenapa jemputan UMNO segelintirnya calon PRN Melaka? https://t.co/lsV1GMGMtU— 朱安持 🇲🇾🏴 (@aqiljunaidi_) November 11, 2021

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Why Malay Reserve Lands Are Subpar and How Kampung Baru Is Struggling With Progress

Not all lands are equal in Malaysia.
In Peninsular Malaysia, the major ethnic group has plots of land reserved for them known as Malay Reserve Land under the Malay Reserve Enactment introduced by the British in the early 1900s.
Since its inception, almost every state in the Peninsular has such land except for Melaka, Penang, and also Singapore – which was still part of Tanah Melayu at the time.
Many pro-Malay blogs (please let us know if you have any credible sources) claim that even Malay rulers have underlined the significance of land ownership in their “7 Wasiat Raja Melayu” or “7 wills of Malay Rulers” which states that 50% of the land should be reserved for Malays while the remaining is fair game for all races.
What is Malay Reserve Land and why is it being talked about by various stakeholders?
Kampung Baru is a Malay Reserve Land in Kuala LumpurPicture Credit: Bernama
Made a century ago
The Malay Reservation Land Law was introduced in 1914 when the Malay Reservation Enactment 1913 was implemented in the Federated Malay States – Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang.
It was then repealed in December 1933 and was replaced by the Malay Reservation Enactment 1933.
In 1935, the Malay Reservation Enactment 1933 was then reviewed and republished as the Malay Reservation Enactment (FMS Cap 142) that is used until today.
Other states soon followed such as Kelantan (Malay Reservation Enactment Kelantan 1930), Kedah (Kedah Reservation Enactment Kedah 1930), Perlis (Perlis Reservation Enactment Perlis 1936) and Terengganu (Malay Reservation Enactment 1941).
How Kuala Lumpur looked like when the enactment was implementedPicture Credit: Pinterest
Malay-only lands
As of 2015, Malays are the largest ethnic group in Malaysia with 61.8% of the total population while the Chinese make up 21.4% and Indians, 6.4%.
The Federal Constitution defines a â€œMalayâ€ as a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay customs.
According to the Department of Director General of Lands and Mines – under the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources, the purpose of Malay Reserved Lands is to prevent state land in reserved areas from being disposed to the non-Malays.
What that means, these lands can only be transferred to buyers within the same community and the non-Malays can’t buy or even lease the land.
Although the government is allowed by law to acquire these lands for the purpose of the redevelopment, the Federal Constitution has stipulated that the land must be replaced.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia
Below market value
As of 2018, Malaysia has around only 12% of the land reserved for Malays and much of it is attributed to the lack of replacement lands given.
In 2019, the media reported that Terengganu only has 0.003% or less than 100 hectares of Malay Reserve Land left despite 95% of the population being Malays while Perak has the highest percentage with 43.5% followed by Kedah (31.86%) and Pahang (12.41%).
Another issue hampering the development of Malay Reserved Lands is its special status and these lands are often considered as “second class” due to the “Malays only” stipulation.
Often these lands are overlooked, contributing towards the decline in value.
The margin in rates is said to be up to 40% where a piece of freehold land is valued at RM100,000, but the value of a similar plot of Malay Reserve Land will only be around RM60,000 to RM70,000 with detractors saying the evaluation is unfair to the Malay community.
What it looked like in 2014Picture Credit: Bernama
The age-old Kampung Baru complications
Another issue regarding a Malay Reserve Land circulates around Kampung Baru – a 307-acre area situated in the capital that was established more than 100 years ago.
It’s no secret that it’s one of the last “untouched” areas in the capital that is located near key areas in Kuala Lumpur such as Bukit Bintang, Chow Kit, and KLCC – something the government and property players are aware of.
Although previous governments have made efforts to acquire the land for the purpose of development, each administration has failed throughout the years.
Following the footsteps of past governments, Pakatan Harapan too is looking to revitalise the area with developments according to  Federal Territory Minister, Khalid Samad.
These include a mosque in Kampung Baru – the centrepiece of which would include a 9.6 hectares Malay community heritage park, similar to Kampong Morten in Melaka but on a larger scale.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia
In 2019, the government also made the final offer to purchase the land by offering residents RM1,000 per square foot, an increase from the previous offer of RM850.
Residents will be offered at least 85% of the payout in cash while the remainder will be paid in the form of shares in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that’ll be announced in the future.
To take over Kampung Baru, the Federal Administration has to cough up RM6.7 billion.
Although landowners pushed back, the reason for it wasn’t because of racial sentiments but the amount being offered by Putrajaya which they felt was undervalued.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
The argument was the land price (RM850 per square foot) in contrast to neighbouring areas such as KLCC which can fetch up to RM3,000.
The issue even caught the attention of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Riâ€™ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah who decreed that Kampung Baru will be redeveloped with the rights and interests of Malay residents in mind.
The government will make the announcement in June whether to purchase the land as the Kampung Baru Development Corporation (PKB) is still working on briefing landowners on the  being offered.

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Why Mandarin Oranges Are Given Out At CNY & Surprise Twist: They Aren’t “Oranges”

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Chinese New Year is coming up and with it will invariably come the oranges which will be given as gifts between families, friends and even among companies.

There are four types of oranges that people give out during Chinese New Year; mandarin oranges, tangerines, clementines and satsuma mandarins.
But why oranges? Well actually, most of the fruit that are given out aren’t actual oranges.
Would a fruit by any other name taste so sweet?
While they both belong to the citrus family, oranges and mandarins are actually two different fruits but most people call them all “oranges” because they have the same orange leather-like skin.
The mandarin orange, or rather the mandarin, is the mother of the clementine, tangerine, and satsuma mandarin.
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
The clementine, also known as the tangor or the temple orange, is a hybrid of the mandarin and sweet orange.
The tangerine is a hybrid of the mandarin and the pomelo, the latter being a much larger citrus fruit.
The satsuma is also another mandarin-pomelo hybrid, but its outer layer skin is much softer compared to the tangerine which make it easier to peel. It’s also much rarer than the others.
Fine, but why give out mandarins?
Living in Asia, we know that Asian culture is full of symbolism. For many years mandarins have been considered a very auspicious fruit.
In the Cantonese language, mandarins are called “kam“ which sounds similar to the word “gold”.
So to give “kam” to your neighbour, friends and family during Chinese New Year is a symbolic way of wishing them happiness and prosperity.
Photos by Sharon McCutcheon on UnsplashPhotos by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
Some might amp up the prosperity by adding a mandarin on top of an ang pow; a red envelope filled with cash.
The influence of the fruit’s symbolism is so wide it’s basically a mandatory decorative item everywhere; whether at homes, offices and shops, as its presence acts as an invitation to bring more wealth and luck into ones home and business.
So go and fill your home and offices with mandarins! Hopefully it’ll bring riches into your life.

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Immigration Dept Website Hacked, Now Under Maintenance

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Earlier today, a Twitter user posted that the Malaysian immigration website was hacked.

A search on Google revealed that the immigration website’s name has been changed to “Hacked by CaptainSmok3r.”
At the time of writing, the website remains inaccessible.
(Pura-pura terkejut dengan keselamatan siber lamam web dan pangkalan data kerajaan)Kenapa macam tak hangat berita ni? pic.twitter.com/KltRzR0KmZ— Sic (@sicfallacy) April 4, 2023
Image: TRP
The Immigration Department informed on Twitter that their site is currently undergoing maintenance.
Netizens lamented about the poor security of government websites and the increasing number of scams due to weak security.
A netizen advised the government to hire better cybersecurity personnel to monitor such attacks in the future.
LAMAN WEB JABATAN IMIGRESEN MALAYSIA SEDANG DISELENGGARA Dimaklumkan bahawa, laman web Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) iaitu https://t.co/wjlb72vzMw sedang diselenggara buat sementara waktu.➡ https://t.co/4W2bb4XoGI pic.twitter.com/ToibB6P45y— Imigresen Malaysia (@imigresenmy) April 4, 2023
Lemah betul cyber security @fahmi_fadzil— Q (@qalroslan) April 4, 2023
Sebab tuu scammer senang betul nak scam orang kita ni. Kalau pengkalan data kita ni senang2 je kene hacked, apatah lagi nak dapat maklumat peribadi yg ada dlm pengkalan tuu.— Kai 🇲🇾 (@khairulayams) April 4, 2023
Aku x heran benda ni…hackers bersepah, gov cube la hires anti hacker yg burkaliber— 🇲🇾 Panglima budi Al-qassam🇵🇸 (@sahrinmission) April 4, 2023

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How Asean Is Coping With Covid-19

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Covid-19 is a pandemic that has affected countries worldwide as nations struggle to contain the coronavirus from spreading.
The same is true for our neighbours in Southeast Asia as each country is putting in measures to stop the coronavirus.
We take a look at how nations in Asean are coping with the pandemic.
Vietnam
Despite being a next-door neighbour to China, where the first Covid-19 outbreak was reported, Vietnam has a low number of infections (268) and zero deaths.
The government now is looking at easing movement restrictions in most parts of the country.
Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the countries badly affected by the coronavirus as cases now approach 7,500 with 635Â deaths – the highest in Southeast Asia.
To curb the spread of Covid-19, the government has imposed bans for air and sea travel until the end of June.
Thailand
Thailand’s number of cases now is close to 3,000 with 50 deaths recorded but there are encouraging signs as the new infections in the country have lowered from 188 a day in 22 March to only 13 in 23 April.
Reports point out that this is maybe due to limited testing, and the actual number of infections is believed to be higher.
Singapore
Singapore is another country negatively hit by the coronavirus as they’ve recorded 1,000 new cases per day for three consecutive days, bringing the total close to over 11,000 cases.
The spike in number of cases is mainly due to the government’s crackdown on the infection among foreign workers.
The Philippines
The lockdown in Manilla has been extended until 15 May and measures will be expanded to other regions according to the severity of the outbreak.
They have recorded more than 6,700 cases with 446 deaths.
Malaysia
As of 23 April, Malaysia has recorded 5,603 cases with 95 fatalities and has undergone phase 4 of the Movement Control Order.
After recording more than 100 cases per day, it has slowed down recently as the reports of new cases dipped below 100 for the past few days.

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Malaysia Won Gold In Women’s Dota 2 At Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022

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Malaysia’s Dota 2 women’s team defeated the England team and took home a gold medal at the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championship on 6 August.

The Malaysian team comprised of Tan “Shizuma” Lyn Xhin, Wong “HG” Wei Sian, Stephanie “Auroraa” Lim, Nadrah “Nada” Saufi and Bette “iStarx” Chia put up a stiff competition against the English team of Gimmick, Karenlyl, Bellemiku, Ruby, and Always-Changing.

According to Esports.gg, the Malaysian team beat the English Women’s team in two straight games and won the best-of-three matchup 2-0.
With this win, England is left with the Silver medal while Singapore took the Bronze after defeating Australia earlier in the day.

Prior to this, Malaysia also won another gold medal in the eFootball (Open) Grand Finals.
Stadium Astro reported that Nor Haikal Noh, who represented Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), defeated his Scottish opponent 2-0.
One 🥇 medal… but a HUGE team effort ❤Congratulations to our new eFootball Open champions – Malaysia! 🇲🇾@MalaysiaEsports @thecgf @British_Esports @ICC_Birmingham #CEC2022 #worldconnected #CommonwealthSport pic.twitter.com/qDgDVu0m7X— Global Esports Federation (@GE_Federation) August 6, 2022
Malaysia has a chance of winning a third gold medal when they take on England in the Dota 2 (Open) Grand Finals on Sunday.
They are being represented by William “MangO” Yeoh, Denise “Wonder’boy” DanialAbdullah, Chung “Ws`” Wei Shen, Ahmad “Ahyad” Ayhad Husam, Pang “ponyo” Sze Xuan, and Yong “LOyd” Bing Jie.

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Bank Refuses To Exchange Dyed Ringgit Notes From ATM? Here’s What You Can Do

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A TikTok user recently lamented that the money she withdrew from the automatic teller machine (ATM) was stained with a red dye.

When she returned to the bank to exchange the notes, she was allegedly told that the bank wouldn’t accept the tampered cash.
She was allegedly told there was no evidence that it came from the bank’s ATM although she provided the receipt.
Feeling lost, she asked netizens what she should do.
Biasanya kalau jadi macam ni, apa perlu dibuat? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Y30NXoFQkh— Jalal Misai (@jllmisai) March 18, 2023
Netizens advised her to lodge a police report so that they could investigate the bank’s CCTV and ATM.
Meanwhile, others jokingly suggested that she bank in the dyed notes and withdraw money again. In response, the TikTok user said she couldn’t do that due to the dyed note.
Fortunately, she managed to exchange the tampered notes at another bank.
  @yusuf.syanadz Replying to @Amirul Purple Shop ♬ Ngopi Maszeh – Happy Asmara

What can you do if you receive dyed notes?
If you ever find yourself receiving dyed or tampered notes, there are some things you can do.
First, you can try exchanging the tampered notes at the bank. A netizen said they insisted the bank help them change the money and the bank acquiesced.
If that doesn’t work, you can lodge a police report and bring a copy of the report to the bank to change the money.
Pernah kene… Same gak die ckp xde bukti… Xcheck cctv pun…. Sy buat keras je xmo bganjak dr kaunter 2….last2 die mgalah… Hmmm.. Boleh pun… Yer2 mule2 suh g tukar sndiri kt bank negara…— Emre Hasegawa (@eamir_emre) March 18, 2023
Pergi balai polis report, kemudian bawa salinan report ke bank yg mana ko withdraw. Inform the bank which atm machine you did your transaction. They should have your account activity, plus CCTV. Posting the issue in tiktok or any social media won’t solve the matter.— Faisal (@faisal_mn_) March 18, 2023
The other option is to head over to Bank Negara to change the money. However, they might want to assess the currency notes first so that will take some time.
According to Bank Negara’s website, the value will be refunded to your bank account after the assessment.
Why are some notes dyed?
If the money you withdrew from the ATM sport dye marks, it could probably be due to a dye bottle leaking inside the machine.
The dye bottle or ink bomb is installed in some machines to deter robberies and mark stolen money.
This is likely why most banks are wary of helping customers exchange any dyed notes just in case.

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Anwar: The Untold Story biopic Film Makes RM1 million On The First Day Of Screening

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Anwar: The Untold Story, a biopic film portraying the ups and downs of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s struggle, has made history.
The movie collected RM1 million on its first screening day in Malaysia.
The film, which runs for 108 minutes, covers the period from 1993 to 1998 when Anwar held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.
The film was screened in 120 cinemas across Malaysia and competed with international films such as Fast X.
DMY Creation, the official distributor of the film, confirmed that the film received an overwhelming response from the public, and most cinemas across the country were fully booked on the first day.
Filem Anwar: The Untold Story dah cecah kutipan RM1 juta !!!!Baru hari pertama, luarbiasahttps://t.co/OnxNssQEJk— Tok Perak (@TokPerak8) May 19, 2023
A Groundbreaking Success
Datuk Mohamed Yusoff, the chairman of DMY Creation, said Anwar: The Untold Story paves the way for filmmakers to produce biopic films about other living national figures.
Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, the film’s executive producer and original story writer, expressed his gratitude for the remarkable reception.
He stated that according to surveys, audiences did not miss the opportunity to watch this film and filled several selected cinemas around Klang Valley, such as Atria, MBO, Paradigm Mall, One Utama, and KLCC.
He also hoped that the public’s response to Anwar: The Untold Story would continue as they aimed for a high collection for the film.
Zunar, as he is popularly known, also said that Anwar: The Untold Story created history by being the film with the earliest bookings by cinema operators.
For instance, cinemas in MidValley and Penang were already fully booked and reserved in advance for the film’s screening.

The film, shot in Malaysia and Indonesia, stars Farid Kamil as Anwar and Indonesian actress Acha Septriasa as Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the main protagonist.
The film was directed by Indonesian director Viva Westi and featured Hasnul Rahmat, Firdaus Karim, Saskia Chadwick, Piet Pagau, and Dewi Irawan.
Anwar: The Untold Story depicts Anwar’s struggle and sacrifice against corrupt practices with the support of his wife.
What Happened In 1988
The film has become popular due to its rarity in Malaysia as it reveals the truth and what happened in 1988.
Despite its success, the film also has its fair share of critics.
Some felt that the editing was not smooth, and there were abrupt jumps between scenes, making it seem like the movie was edited on Capcut or some other software.
For context, CapCut is a video editing app developed by ByteDance, the company that created TikTok.
Some thought the script was poorly written, almost like a kid wrote it.
However, most people still think it’s a good movie and recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about Anwar, as it is an awakening experience.
– Cringey, bad dialogues– Actors were in DIRE NEED of a dialect coach– Good moments wasted by choppy editing and lazy directing– Everyone in the cinema groaned at Nurul Izzah– Farid as Anwar Ibrahim was meh at best– Acha as Wan Azizah carried the movie#AnwarTheUntoldStory pic.twitter.com/Sin8bkCXbe— neddo khan (@neddokhan) May 19, 2023
READ MORE: Here’s What The Public Has To Say About “Anwar The Untold Story” After Cinema Release

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New Highway Bypassing Menora Tunnel In The Works To Reduce Accidents, Says Perak Government

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The Perak state government had received and approved the proposal for a new highway along North-South Expressway beginning from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar – which will bypass the Menora Tunnel – in its bid to reduce accidents at the hotspot.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said that the proposed 64-kilometre project, built under a private finance initiative (PFI), had also received the Cabinet’s approval.
Speaking on the new proposed highway, Saarani said that drivers will save time by choosing the new route, despite it being longer than the current path, explaining that the new highway does not go over the hills.
“In one year, the company has succeeded in meeting the Public Works Department and the Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) for further discussions.
“The company has received approval from the government since April and would take two years to obtain a financier and for land acquisition,” Saarani was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He added that it is hoped that the more favourable driving conditions on the new highway – with no uphill or steep zone – would help reduce accidents and ease traffic congestion.
The Menora Tunnel has been long been infamous for its tragic accidents, including the recent tragedy that took away the lives of five Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah students, after the car they were travelling in burst into flames in an accident involving two trailers nearby the tunnel.

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Netizens Unhappy At Local Website’s Snarky Comments Towards Student Activist Ain Husniza

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Just the other day, student activist Ain Husniza posted a short video documenting her third day at her new school.

The 15-second video showed a visibly happy Ain flashing peace signs at various locations in Cempaka Cheras with upbeat music reflecting the overall positive mood.
Her supportive father Saiful Nizam also posted on his social media to say Ain is happy at her new school, along with the video.
She's happy 🙏 alhamdulillah.#AinHusniza #MakeSchoolASaferPlace #CempakaSchools pic.twitter.com/9BQsDM0hFv— Saiful Nizam #MakeSchoolASaferPlace (@saifulnizam769) November 9, 2021
However, it seems not everyone is happy with this move.
‘Negative’ comments sparked by media
Twitter user @omarfaayiz recently posted a screenshot made by a local infotainment website of a Facebook post they made on 10 November.
The caption appears to have taken a subtle dig at Ain for moving from an SMK school to a private one that costs “tens of thousands” in fees while the headline of the article the post links to reads: “Accusing the teacher of joking about rape, ‘happy’ teenager moves to a private school.”

Omar then commented:
How to make Malaysia progress when we have headlines that attract negative comments instead of positive ones.
His tweet from yesterday (11 November) has since received close to 6,000 retweets with over 7,000 likes.
Netizens react
Some comments to Omar’s tweets were in agreement with one netizen saying the comments on Facebook stressed her out.
sebenarnya takyah buat pun news ni, lagipun si Ain pun dah upload vid dia pindah sekolah. Buat news macam ni tambah dengan headline yang tah pape buat orang yang tak sokong si Ain ni makin triggered, makin nak kecam. I pun stress baca komen kat facebook, busuk hati gila— yara (@ysabeen_) November 11, 2021
Others said it was expected from a tabloid.
Tabloid standardla. Nak clicks— fake luktur (@lilacfla) November 11, 2021
what do you expect from a tabloid? if the headline change too "Sekolah kerajaan lebih kuno pemikiran dari sekolah swasta yang liberal dari segi percampuran minda." nanti jadi lain pulak.— NazAmin (@Saphiraz08) November 11, 2021
This netizen however thought it was all part of a ploy for easy marketing.
that negative comment attracts you to comment and quote. easy marketing for them by the sheeps.— Popo (@iyammeow) November 11, 2021

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