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Seorang peguam syarie berkata, beliau dan ramai peguam syarie lain perlu menangani sejumlah besar kes perkahwinan setiap hari.
PETALING JAYA: Seorang peguam menggesa kursus perkahwinan yang wajib bagi setiap pasangan Islam disemak semula supaya ia sejajar perkembangan semasa.
Peguam syarie, Nizam Bashir mencadangkan pihak berkuasa agama membuat semakan semula itu selepas berunding dengan peguam yang berpengalaman menangani masalah perkahwinan.
Katanya, beliau dan ramai peguam syarie lain mendapati mereka perlu menangani sejumlah besar kes perkahwinan setiap hari, menjadikannya jelas yang kursus sedia ada mempunyai kekurangan.
Beliau mendakwa ramai yang tidak berpuas hati dengan kursus itu.
“Saya terima banyak aduan daripada hadirin mengenai kandungan kursus itu serta sikap dan profesionalisme pengajar.”
Nizam menggesa pihak berkuasa agama untuk memastikan tingkah laku sewajarnya pengajar supaya tidak menimbulkan ketidakselesaan di kalangan hadirin.
Beliau mencadangkan kursus itu dilaksanakan dalam talian, tempoh 2 hari dikurangkan dan pasangan perlu menduduki ujian pra-kursus untuk menentukan tahap pengetahuan mereka.
“Pasangan kemudiannya hanya perlu menghadiri modul khusus berdasarkan pengetahuan mereka. Hanya mereka yang tidak mendapat markah memuaskan perlu mengikuti keseluruhan kursus.”
Katanya, pasangan yang mempunyai pengetahuan mencukupi dalam kandungan kurikulum patut dikecualikan menghadirinya.
Di Kedah, pasangan yang mahu berkahwin dalam tempoh perintah kawalan pergerakan tidak perlu mengambil kursus itu. Mereka hanya perlu melalui temuramah singkat sebelum berkahwin.
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Trump (second left) says the G7 in its current format is a ‘very outdated group of countries’. (AFP pic)
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would postpone the Group of Seven summit that he wanted to hold in late June and expand the list of countries invited to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One during his return to Washington from Cape Canaveral in Florida, Trump said the G7 in its current format is a “very outdated group of countries”.
“I’m postponing it because I don’t feel that as a G7 it properly represents what’s going on in the world,” Trump said.
The decision is a dramatic pivot for Trump, who had sought to host the group of major industrialised countries in Washington as a demonstration that the US was returning to normal after the coronavirus epidemic, which has killed more than 103,000 Americans to date.
The G7 is made up of the US, Italy, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Britain as well as the European Union.
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DAP legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh says the people have a right to know if the audio recording is authentic.
PETALING JAYA: The DAP said the alleged offer of positions in the Cabinet and government-linked companies (GLCs) by PPBM to Umno leaders is a form of corruption which must be investigated.
The party’s legal bureau chairman, Ramkarpal Singh, said the offer, if it is true, is a form of gratification amounting to corruption under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
An unconfirmed audio recording alleging that PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin wanted to entice Umno leaders to join his party with promises of government positions made its rounds on social media yesterday.
The recording was purportedly made at the PPBM Supreme Council meeting on Feb 23 – a day before Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister and as chairman of PPBM.
“If the said recording is proven to be authentic, it may result in those who offered and those who received such gratification being charged in court for indulging in corrupt practices,” Rsmkarpal said in a statement.
According to the recording, Muhyiddin had encouraged PPBM leaders to try to convince Umno MPs to switch sides. PPBM would have been the largest Malay party in the government if they succeeded, he purportedly said.
FMT is awaiting a response from Muhyiddin’s press secretary.
The meeting was held before the so-called Sheraton Move, in which MPs from Umno, PAS, PPBM and some from PKR gathered at the Sheraton hotel in Petaling Jaya, which led to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.
PPBM pulled out of PH after Mahathir resigned the next day, which led to the Perikatan Nasional government – helmed by Muhyiddin and comprising PAS and Umno MPs – being formed.
Ramkarpal said the offering of ministerial or GLC positions to MPs in PN “seems to be occurring since PN took over the government” and was “consistent with what was said in the said recording”.
This, he said, lent credence to the possibility of the said recording being authentic.
“The people have a right to know if the said recording is authentic and if so, whether MPs in PN were enticed into joining PN, which led to the fall of the democratically elected Pakatan Harapan government,” he said.
In such circumstances, the Bukit Gelugor MP said, the MACC and the attorney-general must act immediately without fear or favour by launching an investigation into whether the recording is authentic.
He called on Attorney-General Idrus Harun and MACC chief Azam Baki to “get the ball rolling” by starting a public and transparent investigation into the matter.
“Anything less would be a severe dereliction of duty on their part,” Ramkarpal added.
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Barbers and hairdressing salons have been closed since March 18.
PETALING JAYA: Barbers and hairdressers should be allowed to resume business by following the same procedures as nurses attending to patients, according to former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.
He questioned the government’s delay in announcing hygiene protocols for barbers and hairdressers since a public backlash followed when they were allowed to reopen in early May.
The delay was ridiculous, he said, as there were several methods available.
“The SOP can be the same as that for nurses treating ordinary patients – wear a good quality mask, wash their hands in between patients, and disinfect after dealing with each patient
“Or, have a plastic shield separating the customer and the hairdresser with only the gloved hands of the hairdresser touching the customers hair,” he said.
Lee, a medical doctor by profession, said there had not been any reports of Covid-19 transmission between patients and nurses. “SOPs do not need to be so difficult. It is just about how to prevent transmission,” he said.
Two weeks ago, senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said officials were drafting procedures for hairdressers.
Why not use hotels for quarantine instead of temporary hospitals
Dr Lee Boon Chye.
Lee also suggested that hotels facing closure be used as quarantine centres, instead of costly temporary hospitals being built for asymptomatic patients, mild cases and patients under investigations.
“There are so many hotels closing down, they have the facilities which can be converted to suit the needs with minimum facilities,” he said.
Lee also suggested that construction sites be allowed to house only five workers in a dormitory to minimise the spread of Covid-19. “At present about 20 to 30 workers are placed at cramped places,” he said.
Lee said social distancing among documented workers was equally important to prevent a spike in cases from cramped dormitories as in Singapore.
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A good source of old Malaya photos is the archive of G R Lambert & Co, a Singapore-based photographic studio that produced thousands of picture postcards and private portraits between 1875 and 1918.
The studio was established in 1867 in Singapore by Gustave Richard Lambert, who was originally from Dresden, Germany. The firm later expanded with regional offices in Sumatra, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
High-resolution versions of many of Lambert’s photos and works by other photographers of the period are in the public domain.
This is thanks to Leiden University Library and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) which, in 2015 and 2016, donated 5,574 high-resolution, mainly 19th and early 20th century photographs and works of art to Wikimedia Commons in a partnership with Wikimedia.
Here are a few examples of Lambert’s work. Take a look at Wikipedia Commons for large, high-quality versions.
Kuala Lumpur in the 1900s.
What a different place KL was in 1900. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is clearly recognisable and the forested hills beyond would be where the Lake Gardens, Bukit Aman and Taman Tugu now are located. The rows of houses in the foreground would be the Chinatown area around Petaling Street.
Gombak River in 1900 with the back of the Sultan Abdul Samad building on the right.
This view, again about 1900, is of the Gombak River with the back of the Sultan Abdul Samad building on the right. The buildings on the left bank of the river have all been replaced by high-rise tower blocks.
The river was tranquil and scenic in those days but prone to severe flooding. It has now been channelised with concrete embankments.
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur has tried to bring back some of the river’s former charm with its River of Life project, which has beautified the riverside with walkways, water features and new planting.
Panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur circa 1900.
This panorama shot dating from 1900 must have been taken from the slope behind Jalan Tangsi with the old Selangor Club facing the padang opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad building.
The hill behind Sultan Abdul Samad building has been flattened and built on. St Mary’s Church can be seen on the left.
Sultan Abdul Samad building in 1900.
This is another view of the Sultan Abdul Samad building taken in 1900. Apart from the lack of traffic and the rickshaws not much has changed.
Panorama of Melaka, taken in 1885.
This panorama of Melaka, taken in 1885, shows the extent of land reclamation that has taken place in the 140 years since. The buildings on the waterfront on the right still survive.
They now house the Malaysian Architectural Museum and the Islamic Museum in Jalan Kota but after several rounds of land reclamation, they are a long way back from the sea.
Stadthuys and clock tower in the heart of Malacca in 1900.
This view of the Stadthuys and clock tower in the heart of Malacca in 1900 is not much different from today, except that the bullock carts have been replaced by tourist buses and colourful trishaws.
Note the gas lamp. The roof of the Stadthuys looked a lot shabbier in those days and the place has been tidied up considerably, as you would expect since this is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Old Malaya photos by C J Kleingrothe
The following photos were by another German photographer, Carl Josef Kleingrothe (1864-1925) who was based in Medan, also from the Leiden University Library/KITLV Collection of Southeast Asian & Caribbean Images, public domain.
Headquarters of the Federated Malay States Railways.
The striped building with Mughal minarets is today the National Textile Museum, but when the photo was taken it was the headquarters of the Federated Malay States Railways.
The road is now called Jalan Sultan Hishamsuddin and the railway track has been moved about 100 metres to the west. Jalan Kinabalu now follows the route of the old railway line.
Batu Caves in 1910.
This photo of Batu Caves was taken in 1910. The Batu Caves railway station is more or less in the same place. This section of Batu Caves is where Ramayana Cave and the statue of Hanuman are now located.
Clark Road, Kuala Lumpur.
This photo is titled “Clark Road, Kuala Lumpur (from left to right): Tianchin & Co, The Dispensary Ltd and Mc Alister & Co”. This lane was actually Holland Street (Clarke Street was around the corner) and is known today as Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan.
The building on the left has been demolished but to the right of the block was Chow Kit & Co, a Chinese-owned, western-style general department store. The building still stands and houses the Industrial Court of Malaysia.
Osaka’s mother is Japanese while her father is Haitian. (Reuters pic)
LOS ANGELES: Two-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka joined the chorus of athletes condemning the death of an unarmed black man at the hands of Minneapolis police, posting pictures of protests from the Minnesota city on her Instagram account.
“Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all,” wrote Osaka, whose mother is Japanese and whose father is Haitian.
“It’s funny to me that the people who wanna wear chains, blast hip hop in the gym, attempt to get dapped up, and talk in slang are suddenly quiet right now,” added Osaka, the former world No 1 who was this week touted by Forbes magazine as the highest-paid female athlete in the world with earnings of US$37.4 million.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, has become the epicentre of violent protests since George Floyd died there on Monday after police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground for several minutes by kneeling on his neck.
Chauvin has been charged with murder and negligent manslaughter, but protests across the country have turned violent.
US sports stars attuned to social issues were quick to voice outrage at Floyd’s death.
Three-time NBA champion LeBron James contrasted the knee on Floyd’s neck with the kneeling protests of former NFL star Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
Kaepernick, who was ostracised by the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem in protest against racial injustice, has launched a fund to pay for legal representation for protesters who need it.
In Germany on Saturday, Schalke’s American midfielder Weston McKennie wore a “Justice for George” armband in his team’s 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Werder Bremen.
“To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on too long feels good!!!” the 21-year-old tweeted.
Rising US tennis star Coco Gauff applauded Osaka’s Instagram post on Saturday.
The 16-year-old African American, who burst onto the international scene with a fourth-round run at Wimbledon last year that included a triumph over her idol Venus Williams, had posted her own chilling condemnation of Floyd’s death on social media on Friday.
In a video she referenced a number of unarmed black Americans who died in recent years at the hands of authorities or white fellow citizens.
“Am I next?” Gauff asked.
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Pope Francis waves as he leaves a rosary in the Vatican Gardens yesterday. (AP pic)
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called on Saturday for a “more just and equitable society” in the post-coronavirus world, and for people to act to “end the pandemic of poverty”.
“Once we emerge from this pandemic, we will not be able to keep doing what we were doing, and as we were doing it. No, everything will be different,” he said, speaking in Spanish in a video message to mark the feast of Pentecost.
“From the great trials of humanity – among them this pandemic – one emerges better or worse. You don’t emerge the same. I ask this of you: how do you want to come out of it? Better or worse?” he added.
People needed to open their minds and hearts to learn the central lesson from this crisis: “We are one humanity,” said the pope.
“We know it, we knew it, but this pandemic that we are living through has made us experience it in a much more dramatic way,” he added.
Now there was a duty to build a new reality particularly for the poorest, who had been discarded, the pope said.
“All the suffering will be of no use if we do not build together a more just, more equitable, more Christian society, not in name but in reality,” he added.
He called for action to “end the pandemic of poverty in the world”.
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A man takes a breathalyser test at a police roadblock on Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur May 30, 2020. — Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — A total of 979 individuals were arrested last year for driving under the influence of alcohol in an operation against drunk drivers, code-named “Ops Mabuk”, in the federal capital.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said some of them had been charged in court and there were cases still under investigation.
“Usually the drunk-driving trend in the capital occurs after midnight," he told reporters during an operation against drunk drivers by the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department here early today.
He said that between January and May this year, 455 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
On the two-hour operation which ended at 1am today, Mazlan said eight individuals, including two foreigners, were arrested at three locations, namely Solaris, Jalan Chulan Road and Jalan Klang Lama, as they were under the influence of alcohol. — Bernama
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Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh speaks to reporters outside Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur October 14,2019. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the attorney general must start immediate investigations into a leaked recording of a Bersatu party leader claiming rival lawmakers could be enticed with government and GLC posts, said Ramkarpal Singh.
Commenting on the audio clip said to be from the Bersatu supreme council meeting prior to the party’s withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan on February 23, the Bukit Gelugor MP said the political appointments since then appeared to corroborate its contents.
While the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration sought to avoid political appointments, the practice has returned in full force under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
“The people have a right to know if the said recording is authentic and if so, whether MPs in PN were enticed into joining PN, which led to the fall of the democratically elected Pakatan Harapan government.
“In such circumstances, the MACC and the attorney general must act immediately without fear or favour by launching an investigation into whether the said recording is authentic,” Ramkarpal said in a statement.
In the clip leaked yesterday, a senior Bersatu leader is heard saying that Umno MPs could be convinced to defect if they were offered positions as ministers or in government-linked companies (GLCs).
The voice appeared to be of the same leader who spoke in a previously leaked clip and urged the Bersatu supreme council to put its trust in chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, just hours before the so-called “Sheraton Move”.
A Bersatu party source authenticated the previous clip when contacted by Malay Mail.
Bersatu is locked in a civil war between the factions aligned with Dr Mahathir and president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On Thursday, the party notified Dr Mahathir and four others that their memberships have been revoked for consorting with rival parties in breach of the Bersatu constitution.
Dr Mahathir has refused to recognise the dismissal.
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The girl died due to internal organ failure from toxin caused by the hornet stings. — AFP pic
KUALA TERENGGANU, May 31 — An eight-year-old girl, who was reported in critical condition after being stung by hornets in an incident at Felda Kerteh 4 in Dungun yesterday, died early today.
Terengganu Health director Dr Nor Azimi Yunus said the girl died at 1.30am at the Intensive Care Unit of the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ).
“The girl, with 65 hornet stings, was admitted to HSNZ at 9.17pm yesterday from Dungun Hospital. She died due to internal organ failure from toxin caused by the hornet stings,” he told Bernama today.
Yesterday, Bernama reported two siblings were rushed to HSNZ after they were believed to have been stung by hornets.
According to their mother, Rohayu Mat Lazim, 39, the two siblings — Nur Nazihah Mohd Sabri, 8, and her brother, Muhamad Azib, 6 — and their older sister were playing with some friends at a hill near their home when her son rushed into the house in pain and with swellings on his body.
She took the children to the Ketengah Jaya Clinic before they were referred to the Dungun Hospital, and then sent to HSNZ. — Bernama
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Emergency workers transfer an elderly Covid-19 patient to a hospital in Manaus earlier this month. (AP pic)
BRASILIA: Brazil on Saturday reached 28,834 coronavirus fatalities, authorities said, surpassing hard-hit France and becoming the country with the world’s fourth-highest death toll.
At the epicentre of South America’s coronavirus outbreak, Brazil also saw an increase of 33,274 cases in the past 24 hours – a new daily record, the health ministry said.
That number brings Brazil’s total caseload to 498,444, the second-highest in the world, lagging only behind the US.
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro remain the hardest-hit states in Brazil in terms of sheer numbers, while per capita rates are higher in the country’s impoverished north and northeast, where health facilities are reaching capacity.
Brazil’s health ministry has indicated “there is no way to foresee” when the country’s outbreak will peak, and experts say the number of cases could be 15 times higher than the confirmed figure because there has been no widespread testing.
The pandemic is spreading across Brazil under a cloud of confrontation, as governors and mayors implement restrictive measures while President Jair Bolsonaro, who has pinned his hopes of reelection on a booming economy, has berated them for imposing what he calls “the tyranny of total quarantine”.
The US death toll now stands at 103,685. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, has a toll of 38,376 and Italy stands at 33,340, according to a latest count by AFP.
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A shariah lawyer says he and his colleagues have to handle many marriage cases every day.
PETALING JAYA: A lawyer has called for a revision of the mandatory pre-marriage course for Muslims, saying it needs to keep up with the times.
Nizam Bashir, a shariah lawyer, proposed that religious authorities make the revision in consultation with lawyers who have experience in handling marriage issues.
He told FMT that he and many other shariah lawyers were finding themselves having to handle large numbers of marriage cases every day, making it apparent that the course in its current form is deficient.
He claimed that many graduates of the course were not satisfied with it. “I have received many complaints from attendees regarding the course content as well as the attitude and professionalism of the instructors.”
Nizam urged religious authorities to ensure appropriate behaviour among instructors so as not to cause discomfort among attendees.
He suggested the course be conducted online, the two-day duration reduced and that couples be required to sit for a pre-course test to determine the level of their knowledge.
“Couples then only need to attend specific modules according to their knowledge. Only those who do not get satisfactory scores should be made to attend the whole course.”
Couples showing adequate knowledge in the content of the curriculum should be excused from attending, he added.
In Kedah, couples wishing to get married while the conditional movement control order is in force are not required to take the course. They only have to go through a brief interview before getting married.
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A man takes a stroll in central London on Tuesday following the gradual easing of England’s Covid-19 lockdown. (AP pic)
LONDON: The more than 2 million people who have been “shielding” from Covid-19 in England because they are deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable will be allowed to spend time outdoors from Monday for the first time in 10 weeks.
The government said on Saturday that the 2.2 million will be able to go outside with members of their household, while continuing to follow social distancing guidelines. Those who live alone can meet outside with one other person from another household.
“I do not underestimate just how difficult it has been for you, staying at home for the last 10 weeks, and I want to pay tribute to your resilience,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.
Those shielding remain at risk however and the government said they should only leave the house once a day, not go to work or the shops and should avoid crowded places where they cannot social distance.
Support provided to those with serious medical complications, such as the delivery of food, medicines and phone calls, will continue.
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Najib Razak ialah bekas perdana menteri pertama yang didakwa atas kesalahan jenayah.
KUALA LUMPUR: Selepas 14 bulan, perbicaraan Najib Razak atas pertuduhan rasuah berkaitan SRC International Sdn Bhd akan berakhir dengan pihak pembelaan dan pendakwaan akan membuat penghujahan lisan selama 3 hari mulai esok.
Hakim Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali dijangka mendapatkan penjelasan daripada pihak terbabit berhubung penghujahan bertulis yang difailkan terdahulu sebelum beliau membuat keputusan.
Najib, 67, diarah membela diri pada November tahun lalu atas dakwaan menyalahgunakan kuasanya sebagai perdana menteri dengan memberi jaminan kerajaan ke atas pinjaman SRC International sebanyak RM4 bilion daripada Kumpulan Wang Persaraan Diperbadankan.
Beliau turut berdepan 3 pertuduhan pengubahan wang dan 3 pertuduhan pecah amanah dalam pemindahan RM42 juta dana ke akaun peribadinya daripada bekas anak syarikat 1MDB itu.
Kira-kira 800 bukti dikemukakan sepanjang perbicaraan selama 91 hari yang bermula 3 April 2019.
Pihak pendakwaan memanggil 57 saksi untuk mewujudkan kes prima facie terhadap Najib, manakala pihak pembelaan menutup kesnya pada 11 Mac lalu selepas memanggil 19 saksi.
Najib ialah bekas perdana menteri pertama yang didakwa atas kesalahan jenayah. Beliau memberi keterangan bersumpah kira-kira 10 hari.
Saksi utama lain yang memberi keterangan ialah bekas ketua setiausaha Perbendaharaan, Irwan Serigar Abdullah; bekas menteri Jamil Khir Baharom dan Anifah Aman; bekas peguam negara Mohamed Apandi Ali dan bekas ketua pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia, Dzulkifli Ahmad serta Latheefa Koya.
Pihak pembelaan berkata, tiada penyalahgunaan kuasa kerana penyertaan Najib dalam proses membuat keputusan di mesyuarat Kabinet dibuat tanpa berselindung dan bersih.
Tambahan, katanya, tiada penyalahgunaan wang SRC sebanyak RM42 juta kerana jumlah yang dimasukkan ke akaunnya ialah sebahagian sumbangan daripada keluarga diraja Arab.
Pihak pembelaan juga berpendapat tuduhan pengubahan wang akan digugurkan jika mahkamah memutuskan Najib bersih daripada sebarang penyalahgunaan kuasa dan pecah amanah.
Pada 5 Mei lalu, pihak pembelaan mengemukakan penghujahan bertulis sepanjang 643 muka surat, manakala pihak pendakwaan menyerahkan 306 halaman. Dua minggu kemudian, kedua-dua pihak memfailkan jawapan untuk penghujahan bertulis mereka.
Peguam Muhammad Shafee Abdulah dan Harvinderjit Singh mungkin membuat penghujahan lisan dan penjelasan, manakala Pendakwa Raya ad-hoc, V Sithambaram mewakili pihak pendakwaan.
Sistem keadilan jenayah Malaysia, di mana seorang tertuduh dianggap tidak bersalah sehingga terbuka bersalah, memerlukan pihak pendakwaan membuktikan kesnya melebihi keraguan munasabah untuk mendapatkan sabitan ke atas semua pertuduhan. Pihak pembelaan hanya perlu menimbulkan keraguan ke atas kes pendakwaan untuk mendapat pembebasan.
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Protesters march in front of Trump Tower in New York yesterday. (AP pic)
MINNEAPOLIS: US President Donald Trump warned Saturday that his government would stop violent protests over police brutality “cold”, blaming the extreme left as thousands began to appear on the streets of major US cities and threatened another night of unrest.
“We cannot and must not allow a small group of criminals and vandals to wreck our cities and lay waste to our communities,” Trump said following another night of widespread looting and arson in Minneapolis.
“My administration will stop mob violence. And we’ll stop it cold,” Trump said.
The US leader said the rioters were dishonouring the memory of George Floyd, the African American who died on Monday after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes and who has become a fresh symbol of police brutality against blacks.
“The violence and vandalism is being led by Antifa and other radical left-wing groups,” Trump said, referring to the loose-knit militant anti-fascist network.
Rioters to be ‘decimated’
Police officers on bicycles block a path as protesters march yesterday in downtown Miami. (AP pic)
His comments came as crowds began to gather again in Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and other cities, with authorities preparing for another night of violent protests over what African American leaders called “systemic” mistreatment by law enforcement.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called up more national guards Saturday and warned they would “decimate” rioters after Friday night’s violence in the northern state overwhelmed law enforcement.
Protests against police brutality spread across America, leading to one of the country’s worst nights of civil unrest in years with police cars and other property set alight and destroyed in New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and other cities.
Protestors shouted and chanted for hours outside the White House in Washington on Friday, as Trump sat inside facing the most serious spate of civil unrest of his presidency, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cleaning the streets
Walz said he was mobilising the state’s entire 13,000-strong National Guard to deal with rioters who have looted shops and set fires in the Minneapolis-St Paul area.
Thousands who defied the first night of curfew overwhelmed the police and troops who had been deployed.
People were congregating peacefully on Minneapolis streets Saturday afternoon, chanting Floyd’s name and carrying brooms to help clean up the scores of shops ransacked in the violence of the previous nights.
Some placed flowers in front of the shop where Floyd was arrested on Monday, before his death in the hands of police was recorded in a horrifying cellphone video since seen around the world.
“Our community has stepped up, there are more people cleaning the streets than looting,” said Nicole Crust, 41, owner of a beauty salon that was broken into.
Crust echoed officials who said the worst violence was from outsiders, but added a key theme of the protests: “Police brutality must stop.”
Stiff warning
Walz warned that protestors staying out Saturday past the 8pm curfew faced “a dangerous situation”.
“Our expectation is to have the curfew in place. Our expectation is to restore order,” Walz said.
Saying the rioters were possibly members of anarchist and white supremacist groups and drug gangs, often from outside the city, he said: “Our goal is to decimate that force as quickly as possible.”
African American and other Minneapolis community leaders pleaded for local residents to stay home Saturday night, as the curfew was expanded to multiple cities in the state.
“It makes no sense for us not to protect our community, our assets,” said Lul Osman, who heads a Somali women’s association.
‘I can’t breathe’
Protests were underway Saturday also in New York, Philadelphia and Miami, and more were expected in western US cities.
Many demonstrators bore signs with the words “I can’t breathe”, which Floyd repeatedly said to the police officers before he died.
In New York’s Harlem neighbourhood, several hundred people gathered for speeches on racism at a midday rally. Later in the afternoon, the crowd grew to thousands and they began marching through the streets.
“We’re not turning the cheek anymore. Black lives matter. They will always matter. And we’re here today to show that,” said make-up artist Melissa Mock, who joined several thousand in a daytime protest in Miami.
Protests were expected to continue throughout the weekend even after the now-fired Minneapolis police officer accused of Floyd’s death was arrested and charged with third degree murder on Friday.
With a video showing the officer, Derek Chauvin, pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes until well after the man went motionless, while three other officers assisted, Floyd’s family and many protestors demanded more arrests and tougher murder charges.
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Online interviews give candidates the opportunity to frame themselves in the best light possible during the screening process. (Rawpixel pic)
Many companies worry that the online interview feels too impersonal and can ruin the candidate experience, and rightly so as this is an essential factor throughout the hiring process.
It can impact your employee retention and your employer branding; a candidate’s first impressions are formed early on and will affect their decision-making down the line.
When managed properly, candidates report that online interviews are actually more enjoyable than in-person interviews.
Digital interview tools help move the hiring process along more quickly, and job auditions can keep candidates engaged from early in the hiring process.
Reduce stress
Face-to-face interviews can be nerve-wracking for many applicants. Stressed interviewees can inadvertently send the wrong signal of their capabilities. In some instances, they aren’t as eloquent as they could be, hindering their ability to land the job.
Brief recorded video interviews and assessments based on real job situations can alleviate this challenge, giving interviewees an opportunity to re-do specific questions. It allows them to frame themselves in the best light possible during the screening process.
Online interviews also eliminate the added auxiliary stress of the experience. Multiple factors inevitably add to the pressure of a face-to-face encounter. Will there be a traffic jam? Can you find the right office block? Where will you park?
These are all auxiliary factors that cause unnecessary anxiety. They are all quickly eliminated by an online interview process.
Increase opportunity
One-way video interviewing also creates opportunities for passive job seekers to discover a new role. Many talented individuals are not seeking a different job but could be interested in new opportunities.
Traditionally, driving across town to interview during work hours would be difficult, but thanks to pre-recorded interviews and online job auditions, it is a lot easier for candidates to attend interviews.
Online interviews ensure that passive job seekers have broader access to opportunity and career advancement.
Video interviewing makes it easier to conduct meetings after hours, alleviating the stress of pursuing a career change under the watchful eye of your current employer.
Another bonus of online interviews for applicants is the increased, global availability. Candidates can attend interviews and apply for jobs around the world, removing the stigma or limitations of geography.
With today’s technological advancements, more and more companies are offering remote working solutions, and this opens the door for talented employees worldwide.
With today’s technological advancements, more and more companies are offering remote working solutions. (Rawpixel pic)
Be consistent
Consistency within the candidate experience helps ensure that your brand is represented the same way across different touchpoints, which impacts your marketing efforts and customer loyalty.
An AI-powered online interview solution designed to hire at scale can communicate with those who complete your skill assessment, letting them know the next steps.
There are a number of HR tech tools and platforms that help teams communicate consistently with candidates throughout the hiring process.
Make sure whatever tool you choose is customised to include the same logo, branding, and company description as is on your LinkedIn page, social media channels and careers page.
And, ensure you can customise the experience to reflect the voice of your organisation.
How to choose an online interview tool
When it comes to selecting an online interview tool, it helps to evaluate your objectives as a company. Your online interview tools should aim to include skills assessments, pre-screening interviews and/or video calls.
Before choosing your online interview approach, it is worth considering the following factors.
What are your goals? Before you start to compare features, you need to know how you will measure success. As mentioned above, consultation with all stakeholders in the business will help you determine goals that are meaningful to your organisation; from finance, to hiring managers.
Going digital with your interviews is an opportunity to review your full hiring process. Does your team want to improve candidate quality? Do you need to reduce recruiting costs? Is time-to-hire your most important metric?
Being able to articulate a goal will not only help you measure success, but make it easier to talk to software providers to make sure they can deliver according to your needs.
What skills does a successful applicant need to possess? This question can help you narrow down what type of tool will best fit your needs.
For instance, a sales role will require a tool that tests someone’s communication skills; an engineer or IT position is better suited to an online coding interview.
Choosing which tool to use for an online interview is largely dependent on the skills a successful applicant must have for the job at hand. (Rawpixel pic)
What features should your software have?
Can you use the platform for any role? Or is it limited to just one section of the business?
Will you be able to design the experience according to your brand, including logos, images, brand videos and custom emails?
Will the tool save you time by grading candidates for you, so you can focus on people with the right skills?
Can your candidates edit and answer questions in multiple formats to reflect the role?
Can you configure instructions and write your own questions or are you limited to pre-loaded templates?
Some tools – such as Google Hangouts or Zoom – are free, but they provide almost no ancillary features that make the overall online interview process more efficient. While some online interviewing tools come with a fee, the ease and better candidate experience they provide make it worth the cost.
Return to your goals; how much is your current process costing you, and will you see return on your investment with this tool?
Pricing for interview software can vary depending on your company’s needs. There are various components or features that will affect pricing. When you are searching for the right tools, make sure you pay attention to the unique pricing model and how that will change over time.
For example, if you find software where you pay by seat but you have a host of hiring managers who will require one, your price will drastically increase. Or, if you pay by interview but you know you want to run hundreds of calls, perhaps another tool is better suited.
Most of the value of digital interviewing comes from saving time, so focus on the tools that will benefit you and your company needs the most. At times, perhaps the higher price is worth it to increase your turnover and return on investment drastically.
There are plenty of tools out there to aid you in conducting an effective online interview. Each of these platforms offers a set of features designed to support you in the hiring process. It is about finding the perfect fit for your requirements.
This article first appeared in Vervoe. At Vervoe, their mission is to fundamentally transform the hiring process from mediocracy to meritocracy.
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Pakar Jepun mendapati topeng hidung dan mulut boleh menyebabkan kanak-kanak bawah 2 tahun kesukaran untuk bernafas.
Kanak-kanak di bawah usia 2 tahun tidak digalakkan memakai topeng hidung dan mulut kerana boleh menyebabkan mereka mengalami kesukaran bernafas dan berisiko tinggi untuk diserang strok haba, demikian amaran dari pakar Jepun.
Persatuan Paediatrik Jepun mengeluarkan peringatan kepada golongan ibu bapa agar tidak memakaikan topeng pada bayi yang berusia 2 tahun ke bawah, meskipun pihak berkuasa Jepun menyarankan semua individu memakai topeng bagi mengekang penularan wabak Covid-19.
Dalam risalah yang dikeluarkan kepada orang awam, badan perubatan Jepun mengingatkan bahawa, bayi akan mengalami peningkatan beban pada paru-paru ekoran pemakaian topeng.
Tambahan, topeng yang digunakan juga menutup hampir keseluruhan wajah anak sehingga menyukarkan ibu bapa untuk melihat perubahan ekspresi atau warna pada wajah anak yang menunjukkannya mengalami masalah pernafasan.
Risalah itu menyatakan, “Kemungkinan face mask boleh menyebabkan bayi mengalami kesukaran untuk bernafas dan meningkatkan risiko serangan strok haba.”
Selain itu, saluran udara yang sempit boleh menyebabkan tercekik terutamanya anak kecil yang muntah di sebalik topeng.
Oleh kerana kanak-kanak mempunyai risiko yang rendah untuk dijangkiti Covid-19, lembaga Jepun mendapati golongan kanak-kanak tidak mempunyai alasan logik untuk menghadapi risiko yang ditimbulkan dengan memakai topeng itu sendiri.
Kakitangan MPAJ memasang kanvas di kawasan tanah runtuh di belakang 7 rumah di Taman Kelab Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa semalam.
KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak RM2 juta diperuntukkan untuk membina tembok penahan di kawasan tanah runtuh yang menjejaskan 7 rumah di Taman Kelab Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa, di sini, kata Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Zuraida Kamaruddin.
Beliau berkata, Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) diarah mengambil tindakan serta-merta untuk membaik pulih kawasan terjejas.
Katanya, kerja pembinaan dan baik pulih dijangka dilaksanakan dalam masa 6 bulan dan penduduk diarah mengosongkan kediaman mereka dalam tempoh berkenaan.
“Saya telah arahkan kontraktor mulakan kerja mereka, peruntukan itu diluluskan serta-merta untuk MPAJ lakukan kerja mereka,” katanya selepas melawat tempat kejadian semalam.
Mengenai penduduk yang diarah mengosongkan kediaman, ahli Parlimen Ampang itu berkata, mereka akan ditempatkan sementara di Hotel De Palma, Ampang.
“Mereka akan diberikan masa untuk kosongkan rumah dan bomba akan membantu mereka ambil barang keperluan dan sebagainya.
“Mereka dan keluarga kemudian boleh ke De Palma sebelum memikir tempat tinggal mereka untuk 6 bulan, sama ada di apartmen atau sebagainya.
“Kos berkenaan akan ditanggung oleh saya dan Azmin Ali (Adun Bukit Antarabangsa)…untuk kediaman kita anggarkan RM3,000 sebulan untuk satu keluarga.”
Kira-kira 40 penghuni rumah teres 2 tingkat diarah mengosongkan kediaman masing-masing susulan tanah runtuh awal pagi semalam.
Sementara itu, Azmin berkata, agensi berkaitan akan melakukan siasatan punca kejadian tanah runtuh kerana masih terdapat pergerakan tanah.
Katanya, beliau dimaklumkan kerja menambah baik cerun di kawasan itu sudah ditawarkan kepada kontraktor layak pada Mac lepas, namun ia tidak dapat diteruskan kerana perintah kawalan pergerakan (PKP).
“Pergerakan tanah ini serius, maka kita perlu lihat semula perkara ini secara menyeluruh.”
Sementara itu, kerajaan Selangor akan memantau lokasi berisiko berlaku tanah runtuh di Bukit Antarabangsa dari semasa ke semasa bagi mengelakkan insiden sama berulang.
Menteri Besar, Amirudin Shari berkata insiden tanah runtuh pernah berlaku di kawasan itu pada 2008 dan tahun lalu.
“Kawasan ini sedia maklum memang agak tidak kukuh, tapi sebahagian rumah telah dibuat sejak 80-an, jadi apa yang dibuat kerajaan negeri kita akan pantau dari semasa ke semasa untuk elak kejadian begini berlaku atau bencana lebih besar,” katanya selepas meninjau lokasi tanah runtuh di Taman Kelab Ukay semalam.
Disember tahun lalu, sebuah banglo di taman itu diarah dirobohkan selepas berlaku pergerakan tanah serius dan penghuni rumah terbabit serta 2 rumah berhampiran turut diarah dikosongkan serta-merta.
Amirudin berkata, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran akan membaik pulih Sungai Sering dan anak sungai itu yang tersumbat bagi mengelakkan banjir.
“Projek ini sedang berlangsung, tapi sebab PKP kita tidak dapat teruskan…MPAJ akan membawa hal ini ke Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negeri Khamis depan.”
Zuraida berkata, kerajaan negeri mungkin perlu menambah peruntukan menambah baik aliran Sungai Sering dan anak sungai itu yang sebelum ini menerima peruntukan RM100,000.
Beliau meminta wakil penduduk di kawasan terbabit memantau keadaan cerun di kediaman sekitar mereka terutamanya apabila hujan.
Yang Dipertua MPAJ, Abd Hamid Hussain berkata, tembok penahan setinggi 4m dengan kepanjangan 70m akan dibina untuk membaik pulih cerun terjejas.
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A senior fellow at the IDEAS organisation says someone who buys a yacht contributes to the wages of those who built the yacht.
PETALING JAYA: An economist has proposed that income tax rates be reduced in order to free up the people’s cash flow and to encourage spending and consumption.
He also believes that the affluent should not be taxed more at this time, as there would be a greater spillover effect on society by leaving more money in the hands of the rich.
The economist, Carmelo Ferlito, a senior fellow of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, said the principle of redistributing the tax collections from the rich to help the poor seemed fair and sound.
However “in this peculiar moment, we don’t need to get resources away from the market, quite the contrary. In a moment in which the economy suffers from the lack of consumption because many people have lost jobs, we need the more affluent part of society to regain trust and confidence and spend money,” he said.
“By spending money and by consuming, the rich can help the less rich or the poor to regain jobs and therefore get back on track.”
He said the effect would be greater and more targeted than the government’s redistributive capacity, by creating jobs and allowing resources to remain in the market.
Putrajaya should not target a specific group while planning the economic recovery, as this could dampen the confidence needed to restart the nation’s consumption.
He said the money spent by the rich on certain goods and commodities will also contribute towards paying the wages of workers involved in the supply chain.
“Even if that money is spent on luxury goods, they are helping the poor. For example, if you go and buy a yacht, you are contributing to pay the wages of all the people that worked to build that yacht,” he said.
Back to GST, but with rates between 3% and 10%
Carmelo Ferlito
Ferlito added that he was in favour of a return to the goods and services tax, but with some tweaks to make it more progressive.
He said GST was a more effective system than the sales and services tax (SST) in terms of the government’s collection as well as its implementation from the business side.
“A reintroduction of GST must be done in a way that addresses the concerns that led to its abolition, including that the burden of the tax falls disproportionately on the middle class.”
He proposed that different GST rates be charged, with luxury goods associated with higher-income households charged 10%, while “key-development” items related to culture and education can be charged a lower rate of 3%.
Basic goods regularly consumed by the lower-income group, such as rice, could be GST-exempted, he said, while other items are charged a standard 6% rate.
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Egypt has been battling a long-running Islamist insurgency spearheaded by the IS group. (AP pic)
CAIRO: Egypt’s military said Saturday it killed 19 suspected militants in targeted ground and air operations as part of its battle to quell a long-running insurgency in north Sinai.
In a video statement replete with a dramatic score released on its social media, the army said troops killed three “extremely dangerous” militants as well as 16 others in precision airstrikes on their “terrorist hideouts”.
Troops found troves of automatic rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades in possession of the militants, the army added.
Security forces have been battling a long-running Islamist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula – in Egypt’s northeast – that is spearheaded by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.
The fighting intensified after the military’s 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
In February 2018, authorities launched a nationwide operation against militants, focused on north Sinai.
Around 970 suspected militants have been killed in the region along with dozens of security personnel, according to official figures.
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Sebanyak 749 kompaun dan 116 notis pembersihan dikeluarkan kepada pemilik premis yang membiak Aedes sepanjang tahun ini. (Gambar AFP)
IPOH: Sebanyak 454 kes Chikungunya direkodkan di Perak sejak Januari lalu hingga Sabtu lepas, meningkat lebih 30 kali ganda berbanding hanya 13 kes bagi tempoh sama tahun lalu.
Pengarah Kesihatan Perak, Dr Ding Lay Ming berkata berlaku peningkatan 441 kes berbanding tempoh sama tahun lepas.
“Daerah Kampar mencatatkan bilangan kes tertinggi tahun ini, iaitu 157, diikuti Larut Matang dan Selama (109 kes), manakala Kinta (99 kes).
“Dalam tempoh sama, Kinta menunjukkan peningkatan tertinggi bagi kejadian kes dan wabak Chikungunya,” katanya dalam kenyataan semalam.
Katanya, terdapat 15 lokaliti wabak Chikungunya yang masih aktif, termasuk satu lokaliti wabak tidak terkawal, iaitu tempoh wabak berlarutan lebih 14 hari di Kinta.
Terdapat 14 lokaliti wabak terkawal, iaitu tempoh wabak adalah 14 hari atau kurang dan Kinta mencatatkan 12 lokaliti serta 2 lokaliti di Kampar.
Beliau berkata, tiada kematian direkodkan akibat Chikungunya sehingga kini.
Katanya, hasil pemeriksaan mendapati punca utama penularan jangkitan Chikungunya disebabkan indeks pembiakan Aedes yang tinggi di lokaliti terbabit.
“Antara tempat pembiakan nyamuk Aedes yang ditemui adalah longgokan sampah haram, lot kosong terbiar seperti premis atau rumah kosong yang tidak berpenghuni, terutamanya dalam tempoh perintah kawalan pergerakan (PKP).”
Sebanyak 4,969 bekas positif pembiakan nyamuk Aedes ditemui semasa pemeriksaan.
Katanya, Jabatan Kesihatan dan pejabat kesihatan daerah melaksanakan pelbagai usaha bagi membendung jangkitan Chikungunya, antaranya pemeriksaan dan penghapusan tempat pembiakan di premis persendirian, perniagaan dan tanah lapang.
Beliau berkata, 749 kompaun dan 116 notis pembersihan dikeluarkan di bawah Seksyen 8 (1) Akta Pemusnahan Serangga Pembawa Penyakit 1975 terhadap pemilik premis yang membiak Aedes setakat tahun ini.
“Selain itu, pendidikan kesihatan diberikan kepada penduduk setempat menggunakan media sosial dan siar raya semasa PKP dan ketika aktiviti kawalan dilaksanakan oleh PKD, malah aktiviti larvisid, semburan ruang termal (SRT) dan ‘semburan ultra low volume’ (ULV) di semua lokaliti berwabak dan berpotensi wabak di Perak.”
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An Afghan security forces member inspects the bus in Kabul yesterday. (AP pic)
KABUL: A roadside bomb killed a television journalist in Kabul on Saturday, soon after a top Afghan official appointed to lead peace talks with the Taliban said his team was ready for the long-delayed dialogue.
The blast, which targeted a minibus carrying 15 employees of private television channel Khurshid TV, was claimed by the Islamic State group, according to Site Intelligence which monitors militant activity.
The attack, which the government called “heinous”, claimed the lives of a reporter and a driver, and punctuated an overall reduction in violence that has followed on from a three-day ceasefire the Taliban instigated May 24.
Just hours before the blast, Afghanistan’s former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who has been appointed to head talks with the Taliban, said his team was positioned to start dialogue.
Abdullah credited the general lull in violence for setting the tone for discussions.
“The ceasefire, a reduction in violence and the exchange of prisoners have all paved the way for a good beginning,” Abdullah said at his first press conference since taking on the role.
“The negotiating team is ready to begin the talks at any moment,” he said.
However, he insisted on a fresh ceasefire during the talks.
The attack in central Kabul targeted Khurshid TV’s white minibus, the interior ministry said, and caused extensive damage to its front end.
It was the second such attack targeting Khurshid employees in less than a year.
In August 2019, two passersby were killed when a “sticky bomb” – a type of homemade explosive attached to vehicles with magnets – struck a similar Khurshid TV van in an unclaimed attack.
Afghanistan is one of the world’s deadliest places for journalists.
IS have targeted the media before.
The deadliest attack came in 2018, when the group killed nine journalists from various news organisations – including AFP’s chief Afghanistan photographer Shah Marai – in another Kabul blast.
‘All on the same page’
Afghanistan’s truce ended Tuesday night but violence since then has stayed relatively low, though government security forces have suffered some attacks that authorities blamed on the Taliban.
The ceasefire and general drop in violence has injected hope into Afghanistan’s peace process, which had earlier this month looked to be on the verge of collapse because of soaring Taliban violence after they signed a deal with the US in February.
Peace talks were initially scheduled to begin on March 10.
Momentum has also built thanks to the government’s release of hundreds of Taliban prisoners in recent weeks, as part of a swap that has also seen the militants free government security force captives.
Late Saturday, Afghanistan’s National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said the government had freed another 710 Talban prisoners since Friday in an ongoing process that would fulfil its promise to release 2,000 insurgents in response to the Taliban ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has made it a priority to end America’s longest war and withdraw all troops by next May. US officials have pushed the Taliban and government leaders to hold peace talks.
Abdullah was appointed to lead the process after he ended his bitter political feud with President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month.
He had announced himself as a rival president after rejecting the result of the September election, which incumbent Ghani eventually won amid fraud claims.
With the end of the dispute, the Afghan government appeared unified in terms of the peace process, a member of Abdullah’s negotiating team said.
“Now we all are united, all on the same page on the question of peace,” Matin Bek, a senior government official, told AFP.
Saturday’s attack illustrated the long road ahead to a secure Afghanistan even if the peace process is successful, with other militant groups such as IS continuing to operate in the country.
A key tenet of the US-Taliban accord is that the insurgents will not allow groups like Al-Qaeda and IS to use Afghan soil to plan attacks against the US and its allies.
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.JPG "A man takes a breathalyser test at a police roadblock on Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur May 30, 2020. — Picture by Hari Anggara")
