Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by weyyt

1,000% increase in measles

weyyt — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 12:01:45 +0800

Health Ministry: Misinformation has caused a huge spike in vaccine-preventable diseases

KUALA LUMPUR: Misinformation about vaccines has caused a huge spike in vaccine-preventable diseases, with almost a 1,000% increase in the number of measles cases compared to five years ago.

The Health Ministry said the exponentially increase in vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in the country was primarily due to misinformation about vaccines being spread on social media.

According to the Health Minstry, the number of measles cases jumped exponentially from 195 cases in 2013 to 1,934 cases last year.

Last year, there six deaths related to measles and none of the victims were immunised.

There were 22 deaths from whooping cough (pertussis) where 19 victims had no vaccination.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that from its monitoring efforts on social media, the influence of the anti-vaccine crowd was increasing.

"These irresponsible actions pose a challenge to the ministry's efforts and as a result, vaccine-preventable infectious diseases are on the rise," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 22).

He said immunisation could prevent these diseases and reduce complications that could lead to death.

The World Health Organisation has identified vaccine rejection as one of the global health threats for 2019, he said.

"There are groups and individuals who are influencing the general public to reject vaccines by spreading wrong and unfounded information.

"This is spread by those obsessed with claims that vaccinations and the government's National Immunisation Programme are of no benefit and have many negative effects.

"That claim is inaccurate," said Dr Noor Hisham.

The number of vaccine rejections recorded in government clinics increased from 637 cases in 2013 to 1,603 cases in 2016 but there was a slight reduction in 2017 – 1,404 cases – following the ministry's widespread advocacy efforts made in collaboration with the private sector and medical social media volunteers, said Dr Noor Hisham.

"If this vaccine rejection trend continues, there is a likelihood that infectious diseases that could be prevented by vaccines will continue to increase and all efforts will be futile," he said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019...cyuc2aRTKEGL.99

Gamuda Media Statement

weyyt — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 20:48:24 +0800

MRT2: 20,000 will lose jobs

weyyt — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 20:54:56 +0800

MEDIA STATEMENT

8 October 2018, Petaling Jaya

Reference is made to the Ministry of Finance’s (“MOF”) Media Statement dated 7 October 2018 in relation to the MRT 2 Project (“Project”).

Save and except for the aforesaid MOF Media Statement, MMC Gamuda has so far not received any communication nor notification from MRT Corp, the counter party to the award of the Project. Thus, there has been no official confirmation from MRT Corp that MMC Gamuda has been terminated as underground contractor.

Supportive of Government’s drive to improve fiscal health
In spite of the agreed contract price, in view of the present austerity measures pursued by the new administration and in support, in particular of the new Government’s review of its financial commitment on major infrastructure projects, MMC Gamuda has been engaged in discussions and negotiations with MOF over the past 2 months to review the scope of works and specifications of the Project with the aim of reaching a compromise on a cost reduction.

Following therefrom and at the request of MOF, MMC Gamuda has agreed to convert the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) model to a single Turnkey Contract for the elevated works with a price reduction of 23%. In respect of the underground works MMC Gamuda has so far offered a 24% reduction for the balance of the underground works. Through its Media Statement, MOF has informed that it has accepted the offer in respect of the elevated and system works only.

The offered reduction for underground works
The underground works awarded contract price is RM15.47bn. As progress achieved is now 40%, the balance of the uncompleted underground works is now valued at RM9.6bn. MMC Gamuda has offered a reduction of RM2.3bn which represents 24% of this value. The reduction is achieved through reducing the scope of works and lowering specifications for mechanical, electrical and architectural finishes of the stations. It was also achieved by reducing the number of entrances to stations and the number of active stations constructed. From a total number of 10 stations, 4 will currently be shelved.

Factors influencing the awarded underground works price
There are two (2) main factors that have a major influence on the price of the underground works, namely,

1. Employer’s Requirements
In comparison with MRT Line 1, the Employer’s Requirements has increased the scope of works significantly, e.g. larger floor space, a fivefold increase in the underground entrance and pedestrian walkways. As MRT Line 2 geology is complex, the average depth of the diaphragm walls in MRT Line 2 is 51 metres as compared with MRT Line 1 at 39 metres. During the initial tender process, MMC Gamuda had submitted an alternative proposal with savings by reducing the prescriptive requirements without compromising the safety, performance and functionality of the operational railway. However, MRT Corp elected not to accept the alternative offered by MMC Gamuda. The reductions currently on offer to MOF include some of these alternatives but only those applicable to the balance of the underground works.

2. Safety Requirements
Given the high risk of sinkhole incidents arising from tunnelling through the extreme karstic limestone in the City centre and threading the tunnels through high-end properties, with financial losses running into hundreds of millions if affected by ground collapses, the insurance industry around the world have introduced extremely stringent risk management requirements governed by International Tunnelling Insurance Group [“ITIG”] via the British Tunnelling Society Risk Management Code of Practice BS6164:2011 and ISO 31000 Risk Management.

Insurers have applied these measures on MRT Lines 1 & 2 tunnelling risks against which MRT Corp has in turn introduced strict pre-qualification requirements that cannot be relaxed for the insurance industry to insure MRT Corp on the Project.

MMC Gamuda’s continued in-house developments and customisation of the tunnel boring machines is an integral part of managing this risk against sinkholes that proved successful in MRT Line 1. The Variable Density TBM [“VD-TBM”] was developed together with the German manufacturer and despite winning an international Innovation Award from British Tunnelling Society, it still needs on-going improvements in its development to mitigate sinkhole risks more effectively.

The extent of the geological challenges presented in MRT Line 2 are reflected by the fact that of the 12 TBMs required, we need 10 TBMs to be of this variable density type to effectively mitigate the karstic risk. This also increases the quantum of enabling works of grouting and ground improvement prior to the tunnelling.

The Award and the Tender Process
MRT Corp awarded the undergrounds works to MMC Gamuda in 2016 following an international competitive tender that, due to the challenging ground conditions, had stringent pre-qualification requirements with only 5 contractors pre-qualified by MRT Corp to tender, of which MMC Gamuda was the only local contractor.

The bids were evaluated by the Reference Design Consultant, Arup Singapore Pte Ltd, appointed by MRT Corp. MMC Gamuda’s bid scored the highest technical score and offered the lowest price. MMC Gamuda’s price was lower than the pre-tender estimate prepared by Arup Singapore Pte Ltd.

Current progress of underground works
The underground works has progressed well and MMC Gamuda had not received any complaints from MRT Corp regarding the execution of the underground works. To date, all 19 sites are active with 40% of the works completed. Two of the TBMs are already mining with the balance being assembled and
ready to mine from next month onwards.

Consequences of termination
The termination of MMC Gamuda will result in immediate job losses to a work force of over 20,000 personnel involved in the underground works from a supply chain of over 600+ Malaysian companies. Of the 20,000, over 3,000 are made up of MMC Gamuda JV staff, and of this, more than 60% are
Bumiputera.

This will cause unnecessary hardship to a significant number of Malaysian work force in an already slowing market. In addition, the termination will unjustifiably expose MMC Gamuda to a flood of lawsuits for compensation from terminated employees, sub-contractors, suppliers, manufacturers,
etc whose contracts will similarly be terminated due to no fault of theirs

In an international re-tender exercise intended by MOF, unless MOF significantly lowers the requirements, only foreign contractors will be eligible. The award will invariably be given to a foreign contractor who in turn will use experienced staff from their own countries.

Amicable resolution
MOF’s belief that MMC Gamuda could offer more reduction for the underground works is premised upon the review by a local engineering consulting firm appointed by MOF. A significant part of the review findings were refuted by MMC Gamuda on technical grounds as being too simplistic and arising from a lack of relevant experience. Ironically, MRT Corp which has a huge staff of experienced technical experts also issued their own report of the aforesaid consulting firm’s proposals on 27 August 2018, which carried similar views as MMC Gamuda.

Notwithstanding MMC Gamuda’s disagreement, in order to bridge the gap MMC Gamuda had on 8 August 2018, 21 August 2018 and 24 September 2018 urged MOF to appoint an international engineering consulting firm with the relevant experience to carry out an objective review looking into all reasonable engineering and technical requirements.

Even though MOF has made known that the offered reduction of RM2.3bn is still not adequate, to date it has not been conveyed to MMC Gamuda an acceptable target figure that MOF has in mind. If the target figure is made known together with the components of the savings as individual items, both
parties would be placed in a better position to re-examine these components from where savings could be derived and narrow the differences. The appointment of an international engineering consulting firm as proposed by MMC Gamuda would greatly facilitate this exercise.

MMC Gamuda remains open to further discussion with MOF and is amenable to cooperate with MOF in reaching an agreeable reduction. Our perception of the latest cost gap is that it is an amount which is not unbridgeable. MMC Gamuda believes that MOF’s aim of achieving savings is best done by both
parties reaching an acceptable compromise instead of terminating the contract and re-tendering the remainder of the underground works.

Issued by MMC Gamuda
8 October 2018

Conclusion:
- Bodo Nobita will likely u-turn
- Buy Gamuda Stocks

Topkek iPhone XS cannot charge?

weyyt — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:02:11 +0800

[YOUTUBE]J_lRJuQtBmc[/YOUTUBE]

PAS lawmaker defends child marriage

weyyt — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 11:38:08 +0800

Old news

PAS lawmaker defends child marriage

A PAS lawmaker defended child marriage, saying that curbing it would only encourage pre-marital sexual relations among minors.

Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad (PAS-Pasir Puteh) said children below the age of 16 already have sexual urges and the curiosity to engage in casual sex.

“If we prevent them from marrying (young), they will have these urges and will be exposed or will have pre-marital sex,” he told Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) during the debate on the Child (Amendment) Bill 2015.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016...l4lOeqTGojt6.99

Jang Ye Won return to World Cup

weyyt — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 00:12:55 +0800

[YOUTUBE]vHhdAKIKIVk[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]IZOSmOlm3uI[/YOUTUBE]

She speak to her Chinese fans
[video]http://gslb.miaopai.com/stream/nrsPCIxPsPXCBYDOhrByr1iZh-5GRfyxrzDQwQ__.mp4[/video]
https://www.weibo.com/1271638160/Gm31qv96Q

Taiwan News report on her
[YOUTUBE]zsmtIMlNuXU[/YOUTUBE]

Amoi dengan mamak kybky?

weyyt — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:34:35 +0800

PH is so much better without PAS

weyyt — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:51:13 +0800

Now they can focus on nation building and tell talibans to fuck off with their stupid law.

PAS: Quranic recitals played for cows

weyyt — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 22:19:45 +0800

PAS wants Quranic recitals played for cows in Kelantan

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Cows in a conservative Malaysian state could be played Quranic recitals in the hope it will help them relax and improve the quality of their beef, a senior official said on Thursday (April 5).

Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, a member of the executive council in Kelantan state, put the idea forward in the hope that it will be taken up by cattle farmers in the rural state.

The influential Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) is in charge of the state legislature in Kelantan, in the north of the Muslim-majority country, and has previously attracted controversy for promoting tough Islamic laws.

"We believe that (reading the Quran gives) peace of mind to people, so it might give peace of mind to animals and produce better meat," said Che Abdullah, who oversees the agriculture portfolio in the local government.

"We believe the quality of the beef will get better if the animal is calm or in a relaxed situation."

The official added there was no timetable for the plan and it was not something the government would roll out on its own. It was hoping local farmers would lead the way in implementing it, he said.

PAS has been pushing to introduce a tough Islamic criminal code, known as hudud, in Kelantan that includes penalties such as amputations for theft and stoning to death for adultery.

In 2015, the state assembly passed a law mandating the hudud but it has not been implemented as the federal Constitution forbids it.

More than 60 per cent of multi-ethnic Malaysia's 32 million inhabitants are Muslim but a traditionally tolerant brand of Islam has been eroded in recent years as conservative attitudes gain ground.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/p...ows-in-kelantan

Bijan: RM25M for Entrepreneur Cina

weyyt — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 20:23:48 +0800

Yesterday, tongkat for Bumi: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4554801

Today, tongkat for Cina:

Najib: RM25mil for young Chinese entrepreneurs

SERDANG: Young Chinese entrepreneurs will be given RM25mil to help them ride the wave of digital transformation, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

The Prime Minister said the funds will be channelled into the newly launched eCommerce Micro Credit Scheme, which will help Chinese entrepreneurs aged 18 to 45.

“I hope we will be able to achieve big results in at least three key areas through the Micro Credit eCommerce initiative,” he said when launching the initiative at Wisma Huazong here on Sunday.

He added that the programme was to offer an efficient and affordable financing facility to assist young Chinese entrepreneurs.

He said the programme will also help traditional Chinese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transform their businesses with digital technologies.

“We know this is crucial to our future. Advances in transportation and Internet technology are metaphorically 'shrinking' the geographic distance between even the most advanced cities and the most remote rural areas,” he said.

Najib added that there were three key focus areas in this programme - to nurture technopreneurship among young people, to improve living standards for youths in terms of income and quality of life, and to transform traditional SMEs so that they can remain competitive while enabling rural products to go global.

He said 41 Chinese-based associations and chambers of commerce nationwide have volunteered and committed to join the programme as strategic partners, adding that digital transformation was important for all businesses.

“It has been reported that one-third of leading firms will be disrupted by new competitors within five years, and it will be a case of transform or perish. There really is no alternative. We must transform or be left behind,” Najib added.

Also present at the event were Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Second International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and Malaysian Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Foundation founder Tan Sri SP Lim.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018...fy0kujkpXHOK.99

Bijan: Oppo Manisfesto missing Bumiputra agenda

weyyt — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 23:31:34 +0800

Najib: Bumiputra economic agenda 'missing' from Opposition's manifesto

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has chided the Opposition for abandoning the economic agenda of the bumiputras.

The Prime Minister and Umno president said he had looked through their manifesto which contained 60 promises, but only one of them touched on bumiputra economy.

"Promise number 30 doesn't have anything substantial to improve the economic standing of the bumiputras.

"At the most, they promised to table a report in Parliament about the equity held by bumiputras. That's all. What do the bumiputras get from this?" he said in his speech at a gathering with bumiputra entrepreneurs on Friday (March 30).

During the event, Najib announced 11 new incentives worth RM2.9bil for bumiputra small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a bid to make them more competitive.

These incentives will be distributed through various agencies, programmes and funds.

Among them will be the continuation of the Bumiputra Facilitation Fund, with an allocation of RM2bil starting from this year.

There will be another RM500mil to intensify the involvement of bumiputras in the retail and distribution industries.

The Prime Minister said that RM50mil will be set aside for companies listed on the Leading Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform while another RM40mil will be allocated for the Local to Global Corporation Ascend 800 programme.

He added that RM60mil has been allocated for the Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputra (Bumiputra Youths Budding Entrepreneurs) programme while the allowance to encourage the rise in SME exports will be extended for another two years until 2020.

In addition, RM50mil each will be allocated for the SpeedMeUp programme, Skim Pembiayaan Mudah Jaya (Easy Success Financing Scheme) and incentives for the WIRA eDagang Digital Free Trade Zone initiative for the next three years.

Najib also said that the Government’s Bumiputra Agenda Steering Unit will be empowered.

He said that he wanted to continue the legacy of his father Tun Abdul Razak, the country's second Prime Minister, who introduced the New Economic Policy.

"I will continue supporting the bumiputra agenda as a national agenda. This is my promise," said Najib.

The event was organised by the International Trade and Industry Ministry and SME Corp.

Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and his Deputy Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018...XZx5mYJHmjbG.99

MRT Construction Accident @ Jinjang

weyyt — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:56:24 +0800

Worker killed as launching gantry collapses at MRT construction site

KUALA LUMPUR: A construction worker died while two others survived when a launching gantry at an MRT construction site in Jalan Jinjang, collapsed last last night.

The Fire and Rescue Department, upon being alerted to the incident at 11.49pm, deployed its personnel from the Jinjang, Sri Hartamas and Hang Tuah stations to the scene.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director, Khirudin Drahman, said initial inverstigations suggested that a launching gantry at the construction site slid and crashed.

“One of the victims reportedly fell while two others, aged 24 and 38, were trapped in the incident at a height of about 12-metres.

“Firemen used a turntable ladder (TTL) to bring down the trapped victims,” he said.

He said one of the victims died at the scene. The victim was identified as Firdaus Md Taib, 41.

“The two others survived. However, one of them sustained injuries on his foot and was rushed to the Selayang Hospital.

“The last victim was brought down using the TTL at 1.15am before the operation was ended fully at 2am,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, MMC Gamuda said the incident occurred at the MRT Sungai Buloh Serdang-Putrajaya Line construction site at Jinjang.

The company said a launching gantry which was being advanced from one span to the subsequent one, partially fell to ground level.

“Two workers who were working on the launching gantry were involved in the incident which occurred at 11.40pm.

“Both were immediately rushed to hospital and one was pronounced dead upon arrival. The condition of the other worker is stable.

The company said no member of the public was involved in the incident, which occurred completely within the confines of the work site and did not impact any public area.

It also said that emergency services, fire and rescue services and the police were immediately contacted when the incident occurred.

MMC Gamuda, which is the Project Delivery Partner of the construction of the MRT SSP Line, together with the project owner Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd, have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

“MMC Gamuda wishes to state that the use of launching gantries for constructing the MRT elevated guideway follows stringest safety procedures. Those which have been installed are safe. Nevertheless, as a precaution, safety checks and procedures have been stepped up at all existing launching gantries for the project.

“MMC Gamuda, MRT Corp and all involved in the project extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims. All support needed will be provided to the families during this difficult time.

“Further updates will be provided when they become available.”

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/...nstruction-site

Nazri: Logo meant for tourist, not locals

weyyt — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 22:15:45 +0800

Nazri: We stand by the Visit Malaysia 2020 logo despite the flak

PETALING JAYA: Despite some netizens taking a dim view of the newly-unveiled Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign logo, the Tourism and Culture Ministry is standing by it.

Its minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (pic) said receiving flak was not an issue.

“Criticism is normal, we cannot get the consensus of the whole of Malaysia.

“If we want to wait for everyone to agree, even by 2020 it (the logo) will not be completed,” said Nazri when contacted.

The ministry did not spend a single sen on the logo as its in-house design department came up with it, he said.

“We have our own in-house design department and they were responsible for designing all the logos from the first Visit Malaysia Year (in 1990), until this, which is the fifth.

“We didn’t pay any advertising house any money at all to design it.

“I’d rather trust my staff than the netizens. Anyway it was never meant for the locals, it was meant for tourists,” he said.

On Friday, Nazri unveiled the logo at the Asean Tourism Forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

It immediately came under fire on the Internet as netizens said that the design was not up to standard.

The logo, designed to look like a postage stamp, features the Petronas Twin Towers, an Orang Utan hugging a proboscis monkey and a turtle on a beach, all donning sunglasses.

It bears the tag line: Travel. Enjoy. Respect.

When asked about the design, Nazri said the logo comprised icons best-associated with Malaysia.

“We retained the Petronas Twin Towers in the logo as it is the most photographed tourism product in Malaysia.

“We have to be proud of the twin towers just as the French take pride in their Eiffel Tower,” he said.

As for the animals, Nazri said they were symbols used in previous Visit Malaysia Year campaigns.

“For the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign, we cannot erase them because the animals are symbolic to Malaysia,” he said.

To ensure that these animals are not claimed by other countries as their own tourism symbols, Nazri said the ministry decided to continue using the animals in the new logo.

“If we do not include these animals in our logo, other countries will claim them,” he said.

The logo was also designed to be colourful as Malaysia is a colourful nation, he added.

“Malaysia is truly Asia, so we have to depict our colourful nation with colours,” said Nazri.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018...spite-the-flak/

HSR: SG to choose China over Japan

weyyt — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 17:12:58 +0800

KL-Singapore HSR dynamics may vary

JUST before the Malaysia-Singapore Summit down south earlier last week, Japan came out strongly with improved proposition for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project.

It was unsure whether the announcements by the Japanese were timed to coincide with the bilateral meeting in Singapore, but the HSR was certainly a topic of discussion between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Singapore’s Premier Lee Hsien Loong.

It is understandable why the Japanese were doing so, as they might have already gathered intelligence that Singapore, previously bent towards Japan in the award of the RM50bil-RM60bil rail project, is now giving the Chinese its attentive ears.

Japan might have also realised that although it enjoys very close bilateral relations with Singapore, it could not take for granted that Singapore will choose Tokyo over Beijing amid aggressive lobbying by the Chinese.

The Chinese has adopted an all-out bid for the RM50bil-RM60bil HSR project. When mentioning the HSR, Chinese diplomats openly say they “must win at all cost”. In Mandarin, it is zhi zai bi de.

Hence, they are covering all fronts in their lobbying approach: diplomacy, economic influence and media relations.

China is the biggest trading partner of Malaysia and Singapore. In recent years, their investments are streaming into these two countries on an unprecedented scale.

In comparison, the influence of Japan is waning due mainly to reduced investments in this region.

The country of the rising sun, used to be a top investor in Asean, is trying to play catch-up but its speed is just too slow compared to China.

“It was true that Singapore used to lean towards Japan for its no-accident track record in rail technology, but we are now studying the Chinese technology given that they have made huge progress in the rail sector,” says a Singaporean diplomat.

China has built the largest HSR network in the world. Its HSR lines of 25,000km account for two-thirds of the world’s total.

Its technology has gained recognition globally, with Chinese railway companies being invited by the US and Britain to bid for their HSR projects.

The Middle Kingdom launched its high-speed Fuxing train running between Beijing and Shanghai in mid-2017. The Fuxings are the latest bullet trains fully designed and manufactured in China, capable of running at 400kph.

China just started the construction of the first section of the China-Thailand HSR in the north-eastern Thai province of Nakhon Ratchasima, linking also with Bangkok.

But despite all these achievements in the rail sector, China still has difficulty shaking off the shadow of a 2011 fatal accident in Wenzhou, which killed 40 people and injured 200. Hence, the speed of Fuxings is capped at 300kph.

However, Singapore may be prepared to see beyond the Wenzhou incident.

A senior manager in its rail sector tells Sunday Star: “With over 15 years of experience in HSR rail development and innovations made, China might be on par with or even ahead of Japan. If technology and reliability are not issues, politics and cost will come into play. Looking at reality, Singapore might have to choose China over Japan.”

It is learnt that the Chinese have been persistent in its efforts to convince Singapore that its technology is safe.

Many believe that Malaysia is leaning towards China due to their close bilateral ties and the financial rescue measures Beijing had extended to Kuala Lumpur in difficult times of 2016 and early 2017.

In addition, the HSR package announced by China covers full financing and easy repayment terms.

Although there are bidders for the project from the West and South Korea, most see China and Japan as the most serious contenders.

Japan’s bullet train is world famous, but its rail technology is also known to be much more expensive than that of the Chinese. Taiwan’s HSR, using Japan’s technology, is now heavily in debt.

......

Although Singapore’s relationship with China sank to the lowest in mid-2017, as evidenced by the fact that Lee was not invited to Beijing’s important Belt and Road summit last May, both countries have tried to close the wedge since.

Just before the important 19th congress of the Communist Party of China last October, Lee was invited by President Xi Jinping to Beijing. And the two leaders’ bilateral talks inevitably covered the HSR.

After being snubbed by Beijing and criticised heavily by Chinese nationals, Singapore has since taken a very careful approach towards sensitive issues on Taiwan and South China Sea issues.

Despite Singapore’s highly-acclaimed professionalism, most people believe that Singapore can ill-afford to offend China due to its strong dependence on China for trade and investments.

......

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018...oWrsOhD7FfBa.99

Cina miskin

weyyt — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 10:40:51 +0800

Majority of Chinese are low-income earners, says economist

THE perception that all Chinese in Malaysia are wealthy is wrong as data from government agencies indicate that a majority are wage-earners in this community, said economist Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid.

The DM Analytics founder and chief economist said wealth inequality among the Chinese is also highest compared with the Bumiputeras and Indians.

“When we talk about inequality or poverty, the gap between the races has actually decreased, compared with 40 years ago.

"Many people think the Chinese are rich. But that is not quite right. Yes, some of them are rich, but the majority of Chinese Malaysians is working class.

"The percentage does not differ much from the Bumiputeras, who are also working class," he told The Malaysian Insight.

Muhammed is the author of the bestselling The Colours of Inequality: Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia, published in 2014. The book has been translated into Bahasa Malaysia, Antara Dua Darjat: Agihan Pendapatan di Malaysia, and published last year.

Muhammed, who holds a doctorate from a leading university in France, said government data showed about eight in 10 Chinese were wage-earners.

"Data from the Statistics Department in 2016 showed that 70% of the Chinese were working class, compared with 72% Bumiputera and 83% Indians.

“However, there are more Chinese employers at 8% than Bumiputera and Indian employers, which are both 3%," said Muhammed, who was formerly economist at Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) and the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ISIS)

The income of wage-earners is not growing because owners and employers tend to keep a large portion of the profit for themselves instead of distributing it among the workers, Muhammed said

"Income distribution to workers is still low. From every RM1 that we earn, how much does the government take through taxes; how much does the government earn; how much do the corporations profit?

“Income for workers is still low compared to capitalist countries, such as the United States, Britain, and Singapore. In Singapore, the workers’ share of the economy is bigger. Here, not so much,” he said.

Near poverty

As with the other ethnic groups in Malaysia, absolute poverty rates among the Chinese have dropped, to just 0.1%. The rate for Bumiputeras is 0.5%, and Indians, 0.1%. The country’s overall poverty rate is 0.4%.

The problem, said Muhammed, is that although there are comparatively few who were impoverished, there are many living on the brink of poverty.

"This is the situation Malaysians are in, regardless of race.

“Among the Chinese, half of those who work earn a monthly salary of less than RM2,350. This is a difference of only about RM400 from Malays who work. The majority earn low salaries, not between RM5,000 and RM6,000."

The Chinese are adjudged wealthy because people make assessments based on what they see, Muhammed added.

"Sometimes, we sit in Bangsar and we see the Chinese and their Mercedes cars. That is an inaccurate picture. There are many more out there who are financially straitened.” – January 20, 2018.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/33423/

cb rempit buat hal lagi

weyyt — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:10:33 +0800

Three bystanders injured after mat rempit clash on New Year’s Day
Monday, 1 Jan 2018

PETALING JAYA: A married couple and another man were injured after they were caught in the middle of a spat between two groups of mat rempit shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day (Monday, Jan 1).

A group of men on eight motorcycles threw firecrackers during the clash at about 12.45am on Monday as church-goers were finishing a service in Sea Park to commemorate the new year.

The attack left a 48-year-old man and his 45-year-old wife with minor injuries while a 45-year-old man from Zimbabwe suffered minor burns to his forehead.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din said initial investigations revealed that the church was not the target of the attack.

“It just so happened that there were two groups of motorcyclists facing off in front of the church.

“We believe they were targeting each other with the firecrackers as one fell at the side of the road while another fell near the church’s entrance,” he said when contacted.

He added that eye-witnesses at the scene could not give a clear picture of what occurred as it happened so fast and the surrounding area was dark.

“We also learnt that group of motorcyclists were chased away by two other men.

“The incident has nothing to do with religious tension and we are in the midst of collecting CCTV footage at the road near the church,” he said.

ACP Mohd Zani urged anyone with information to contact the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters at 03-97662222.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018...-new-years-day/

Tongshan mari tolong Penang

weyyt — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 14:05:29 +0800

China boost for Penang’s flood relief fund

THE Penang government has received a RM50,000 donation from the People’s Republic of China.

It’s consul-general to Penang Wu Jun said that many people in China also expressed their concern over the incident.

“We hope Penang can recover as soon as possible,” he said.

Wu added that a donation of RMB100,000 (RM63,127.54) would been channeled soon from the Hainan province to the Penang government while some Chinese-based associations were also in the midst of collecting funds for Penang.

At the state assembly building yesterday, PKR Hulu Selangor branch donated a truckload of items.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the contribution was part of the party’s effort to help Penang.

“They are sending things like mattresses, pillows, diapers and food stuff.

“More are coming from Selangor as we speak,” he said.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said details of donations could be obtained from the newly launched www.penangbangkit.com.

“Other announcements are also there including our hotline numbers,” he said during lunch break of the state assembly sitting yesterday.

Lim added that donors on Penang island, who wished to donate in kind, should send their donations to the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged in Sungai Dua.

“The home is owned by the state and has a big space to keep the items before the distribution to the flood victims,” he said.

Meanwhile, state secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said as of 10am yesterday, a total of 1,467 flood victims still remained at 15 relief centres in north Seberang Prai and central Seberang Prai.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news...TtbPCVueVZLM.99

Penang records highest rainfall in history

weyyt — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 10:21:17 +0800

GEORGE TOWN: The rain which lashed Penang overnight is on record to be the highest – 45 mm more than the previous record of 270mm recorded on Sept 15, this year.

And in terms of its deadly effect, it is tenfold more as more roads were affected and more landslides were recorded over the weekend compared to Sept 15.

Over the weekend, four elderly Penangites drowned while one Bangladeshi was killed when a tree fell on his makeshift staff quarters in Butterworth.

A Nepalese fish farm worker at Bukit Tambun remained missing with fears that he was washed into the sea by the rising tide.

This time also, there was more debris such as fallen trees compared to two months ago.

In terms of the volume, it is a tremendous assault of rainwater, said Penang Water Authority (PBA) CEO Datuk Jaseni Madinsa, who also told theSun that the three dams in Penang remained secured despite the heavy rainfall.

"We have not released any water despite the record level of rainfall. It is 315mm – the highest to date," said Jaseni.

But there are signs that the effects are now abating with more effort focused on the recovery efforts such as securing hill slopes where landslides occurred, dispersing traffic congestion, restoring power supply to the eight localities and helping those displaced by the floodwaters, State Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said.

At press time, traffic managed to enter several roads which were previously reported as impassable, while the local authorities were busy removing the debris although, in Balik Pulau, traffic remained congested due to the debris on the two access roads.

At the Penang International Airport, flights resumed at their normal pace after three flights were diverted on Saturday night.

Airline passengers recalled their anxious moments with one passenger saying that his flight tried to land in Penang twice but failed; each time having to return to Kuala Lumpur airspace due to the rainfall.

Another passenger said that her flight from klia2 landed safely in Penang at 1am after a delay but she was stuck at the airport until 7am as there were no taxis or ride sharing providers willing to drive pass flooded roads to her home in Green Lane.

http://thesundaily.my/node/500176

Fake dentist get jailed 1 mth + 70k fine

weyyt — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 15:03:26 +0800

Bogus dentist gets jail, RM70,000 fine

KUALA LUMPUR: A bogus dentist was jailed a month and fined RM70,000 for setting up a dental clinic without the approval of the Health Ministry.

Chen Jianghong, 48, a China national, pleaded guilty to the charge of running a private dental clinic at a hotel room here.

The judge ordered the sentence to run from Sept 28, the day Chen was nabbed.

He also instructed the accused to be jailed six months if he failed to pay the fine.

The judge added that Chen was a foreigner and should not have carried out dental services without a certificate from the Health Ministry.

Earlier in mitigation, Chen's counsel Tan Teck Yew submitted that his client was an assistant to a dentist, the sole breadwinner to his family and that he supported his aged parents, wife and an eight-year-old child in China.

The ministry's deputy public prosecutor Nurul Khairiyah Samsudin had urged the court to mete out a deterrent sentence in view of public interest and the safety of patients.

Chen was detained by the ministry's officers when he was carrying out dental treatment on a man in the hotel room. At that time, Chen was wearing a face mask and standing in front of the man who was sitting on a chair.

He was holding dental equipment in one hand while his other hand was in the man's mouth. It was learnt that the man had sought Chen's services to make dentures.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017...wm6plyRIi8hS.99

Pakai seluar pendek kena fine

weyyt — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:59:17 +0800

KOTA BARU: A Muslim man who wore shorts to play futsal now finds himself facing a fine by Kelantan's religious authorities.

Wan Khairul Hayyee Wali, 30, said he had no idea that he could not even wear shorts to play futsal.

He said he has been wearing shorts to play futsal for many years, ever since he was in school.

"Therefore it came as a shock to me when a religious department enforcement officer gave me a notice saying I have flouted the Syariah Criminal Enactment for exposing my knees," he said.

"Seriously, they can't expect me to wear a sarong to play futsal," added Wan Khairul, a general worker at a wholesale store.

Khairul was slapped with the notice at 10.45pm on Monday.

He was ordered to attend a counselling session next month, failing which he would be called to appear before the Syariah court where he risks being fined RM1,000 if found guilty.

Khairul had tried explaining to the officer that he was on his way to play futsal and that he had got down from his car for a short while to buy a burger for his wife.

"If I did not stop to by a burger, I would never have known that it is an offence to wear shorts even when we are on the way to play sports," he said.

Khairul said he would attend the counselling session.

"If it is an offence, they have to make it clear to the public. How are we supposed to know that it is an offence because even football players wear shorts," he said.

A Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department officer said the dress code was strictly applicable to Muslims only.

"We do not take action against non Muslims. We do not even take action if a female non-Muslim wears shorts in public," said the officer.

The officer also said Wan Khairul would not have to pay any fines if he attended the counseling session.

"We just want Muslims to dress decently when in public spaces, in keeping with our religious teachings," said the officer.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017...us-authorities/