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Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Ringgit unchanged at opening

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened unchanged today amid mixed market sentiment.

At 9.05am, the ringgit remained at 4.2820/2880 against the greenback.

AxiCorp global chief market strategist Stephen Innes said the market will refocus on the regional cyclical economic upswings and higher oil prices, which should be favourable for the ringgit.

“The oil prices and stocks are trading higher as I expected but the rating agency downgrade was a bit of a sideswipe although not fully unexpected,” he told Bernama.

On June 26, S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed Malaysia’s A- credit rating but revised its outlook from “stable” to “negative”.

“The rating warning is not that hugely negative for a currency, but in the case of Malaysia it will bring more focus on the budget deficit and the poor shape the government coffers are in,” he added.

Against other benchmark currencies, the ringgit was traded higher.

The local note appreciated vis-a-vis the British pound to 5.2673/2751 from 5.2788/2880 yesterday and rose versus the Singapore dollar to 3.0717/0778 from 3.0746/0800.

It also strengthened against the euro to 4.8125/8210 from 4.8254/8339 and was stronger against the Japanese yen at 3.9755/9818 versus 3.9933/4.0000.



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Ahli Parlimen boleh ganti speaker, tapi apa motifnya, soal pakar

Usul dibuat untuk menyingkir Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof dan timbalannya, Nga Kor Ming.

PETALING JAYA: Dua pakar perlembagaan berkata usaha Muhyiddin Yassin untuk menyingkir speaker Dewan Rakyat dan timbalannya adalah mengikut perlembagaan, pendapat yang berbeza dengan dakwaan bekas menteri undang-undang semalam.

Peguam Bastion Pius Vendargon berkata mana-mana ahli Parlimen berhak mengemukakan usul menyingkir speaker untuk dipertimbangkan dan diuruskan seperti biasa.

“Walaupun ahli Parlimen Pagoh kebetulan ketua di Dewan Rakyat dan perdana menteri, iaitu ketua eksekutif, tidak semestinya tindakan itu campurtangan eksekutif dalam legislatif,” katanya kepada FMT.

Verdargon berkata Muhyiddin memainkan peranan sebagai ahli Parlimen Pagoh dan bukannya sebagai perdana menteri.

Semalam. bekas menteri undang-undang Liew Vui Keong berkata langkah Muhyiddin itu tidak boleh diterima kerana tidak mengikut perlembagaan, bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan, dan melanggar doktrin pemisahan kuasa.

Muhyiddin cuba menyingkir Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof dan timbalannya, Nga Kor Ming.

Liew mendakwa Muhyiddin cuba mengelak usul tidak percaya yang mungkin dibawa terhadapnya bulan depan.

Lim Wei Jiet, timbalan pengerusi jawatankuasa undang-undang perlembagaan di Majlis Peguam berkata sebarang cubaan oleh seorang ahli Parlimen untuk menyingkir seorang speaker adalah mengikut perlembagaan.

Beliau berkata Perkara 57(2) Perlembagaan menyatakan seorang speaker hendaklah meletak jawatan sekiranya itu yang diputuskan oleh Dewan Rakyat.

Persoalan yang berkaitan adalah kenapa kerajaan pimpinan Muhyiddin mengambil langkah itu.

“Ini boleh disimpulkan sebagai cubaan untuk melantik seorang speaker yang mudah dengan kerajaan, dan harap dapat menghalang sebarang usul tidak percaya daripada diundi di Dewan Rakyat,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, seorang lagi peguam, Dominic Puthucheary berkata walaupun beliau belum baca usul itu, mesti ada sebab-sebab yang sah untuk menyingkir speaker, seperti percanggahan kepentingan atau pelanggaran lain yang serius.

Seorang speaker, katanya, tidak boleh disingkir atas sebab peribadi atau percanggahan pendapat. “Menyingkir seorang speaker atas sebab-sebab yang tidak berkaitan adalah tidak mengikut perlembagaan”, katanya, jika seorang speaker tersingkir kerana usul tidak percaya seperti yang dicadangkan Liew.

Bekas perdana menteri Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengemukakan usul tidak percaya terhadap Muhyiddin, yang diterima speaker.

Puthucheary berkata mengusulkan usul tidak percaya adalah hak di sisi perlembagaaan.



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Facing more than US$1 bil debt, Cirque du Soleil files for bankruptcy protection

The troupe has entered into a purchase agreement with its current shareholders. (Facebook pic/Cirque du Soleil)

MONTREAL: Cirque du Soleil announced on Monday it is filing for bankruptcy protection and cutting thousands of jobs as the world’s most famous circus troupe seeks to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Struggling with a debt of more than US$1 billion, the Canadian group said its application would be heard by the Superior Court of Quebec on Tuesday. If granted, the Canadian company will then seek bankruptcy protection in the US.

In a statement, Cirque du Soleil said it has entered into a purchase agreement with its current shareholders, including a mix of investors from the US, Canada and China.

It will immediately lay off 3,480 workers who had previously been furloughed.

“For the past 36 years, Cirque du Soleil has been a highly successful and profitable organisation. However, with zero revenues since the forced closure of all of our shows due to Covid-19, management had to act decisively to protect the company’s future,” said Daniel Lamarre, chief executive of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

“I look forward to rebuilding our operations and coming together to once again create the magical spectacle that is Cirque du Soleil for our millions of fans worldwide.”

Founded in 1984, the Cirque set up big tops in more than 300 cities around the world, delighting audiences with enchanting contemporary circus acts set to music but without the usual trappings of lions, elephants and bears.

But the pandemic left it fighting for survival, forcing it to cancel shows worldwide, from Las Vegas to Tel Aviv, Moscow to Melbourne, and furlough more than 4,500 acrobats and technicians – or 95% of its workforce.

Buying the Cirque

Founder Guy Laliberte had announced in May he was interested in trying to buy back the troupe, adding he wanted to keep the headquarters in Montreal and keep a Quebecois management team.

The Quebec government offered a conditional loan a few days later of US$200 million. The provincial economic minister also said that an agreement had been reached with Cirque’s current shareholders to buy out their participating shares.

“Our current shareholders, with the help of Investissement Quebec,” the Quebec government’s arm, have filed a “proposal” to purchase the company, Lamarre said, noting they will have first right of refusal.

A group of shareholders – which includes private equity firm TPG, Chinese conglomerate Fosun and Investissement Quebec – will initially acquire company assets in exchange for providing US$300 million in liquidity as the restructuring venture seeks other investors.

The expectation is that the company will emerge from the US bankruptcy process with less debt and able to “meaningfully advance toward an eventual restart by launching the in-court process immediately”, Cirque du Soleil said.

The plan establishes two employee assistance programs totalling US$20 million under the restructuring. Cirque announced it intends to re-hire most of the laid-off employees as soon as conditions allow.



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Report: Mall retailers say Covid-19, MCO cost them nearly RM2b in lost sales

Patrons throng the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur May 28, 2020. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Patrons throng the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur May 28, 2020. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The Covid-19 pandemic and the government’s containment measures in March and May cost the retail industry around RM1.8 billion, according to Malaysia Shopping Malls Association president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok.

Teo, in a report by The Straits Times, also said the estimated loss was only for the months when the movement control order (MCO) had been strictest and did not yet account for the sluggishness in consumer demand, which he conceded was improving.

"Footfall has now reached approximately 50 to 70 per cent and sales are up to 40 per cent," Teo was quoted saying in the report.

Sunway Malls and Theme parks chief executive HC Chan also reported a gradual return of shoppers, which he said was up to 70 per cent of pre-MCO levels.

“[We] expect we will see more people returning to resume their shopping and dining activities in the new normal,” he was quoted as saying, and ventured that the reopening of the entertainment and leisure sectors would further boost traffic.

“We expect recovery of 75 per cent to 85 per cent footfall by the year-end.”

Although Malaysia remains under a recovery movement control order until August 31, the government has effectively allowed nearly all businesses to resume with restrictions such as capacity limits, temperature scanning, and registrations for contact tracing.

Malaysia is expected to experience more economic hardship due to Covid-19, with the World Bank projecting that the local economy will contract 3.1 per cent this year versus last year’s 4.3 per cent growth.

New Covid-19 cases continue to be reported locally albeit at single digits daily and without sporadic infections.



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‘Harumanis’ name restricted to mangoes grown in Perlis since 2011, MyIPO clarifies

Moh Roslan said it is not illegal for the Clone MA 128 mango to be grown elsewhere outside of Perlis. — Bernama pic
Moh Roslan said it is not illegal for the Clone MA 128 mango to be grown elsewhere outside of Perlis. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has explained that usage of the name Harumanis applies exclusively to the variety of mangoes grown in Perlis, since it was registered back in 2011.

Sinar Harian reported its director-general Datuk Mohd Roslan Mahayudin as saying that mango farm operators who use the name elsewhere outside of the state can be liable for action in court under the Geographical Indications Act 2000.

"The Perlis Harumanis mango (Clone MA 128) was registered as a Geographical Indicator on August 2, 2011, on behalf of the Perlis Agriculture Department.

"Should any party claim their mangos are Perlis Harumanis when they were actually produced elsewhere such as in Kedah, Kelantan and such, an injunction can be made and compensation claimed under Section 5 of the Act, for providing a misleading picture on the Geographical Indicator product," he said.

Section 5 of the Geographical Indications Act 2000 states that “the court may grant an injunction to prevent any unlawful use of the geographical indication and award any damages and legal remedy as it deems fit” if the indication is abused.

Roslan was responding to the Perlis Harumanis Entrepreneurs Association, which requested that other states not use the Harumanis trademark in reference to their own mangos.

However, he added that despite protection for Harumanis as a trademark under the Act, it is not illegal for the Clone MA 128 mango to be grown elsewhere outside of Perlis.

With its scientific name Mangifera indica Linn, the Harumanis is a mango cultivar commonly associated with Perlis. Its name refers to its fragrance and sweetness, and is usually in season between April and June.


 



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Four found drowned, four more missing after fishing boat capsizes in Bachok

Civil Defence Force personnel retrieve the body of a man found drowned after a boat carrying 20 capsized in Bachok waters June 30, 2020. — Reuters pic
Civil Defence Force personnel retrieve the body of a man found drowned after a boat carrying 20 capsized in Bachok waters June 30, 2020. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Their excitement over a fishing trip in Bachok waters here ended in tragedy when a boat carrying 20 people including the skipper and several crew capsized after it was caught in a storm about 10 nautical miles from the Kuala Kemasin Base Jetty here last night.

Kelantan Deputy Police Chief SAC Abdullah Mohamad Piah said in the incident at 8pm, four of the men were found drowned, four more are still missing while 12 anglers were confirmed safe. All are between the ages of 18 and 60 years.

“The fishing boat they boarded for their trip was reported to have been hit by a storm and strong waves, causing the rope of the anchor to break and the boat to overturn, throwing all into the sea.

“Amidst the chaos, those who were saved were rescued by their friends on other boats, including fishermen, and four bodies were recovered in the vicinity,” he said in a press conference at the Kuala Kemasin Base Jetty here early this morning.

Abdullah said the four bodies and 12 men who were saved were taken to the jetty by a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) team and other fishermen boats at about 2.15am.

"The bodies and those who were saved were sent to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kota Bharu for a post-mortem and treatment while the search-and-rescue operations continue, with help from other agencies this morning,” he said.

He said 14 of the anglers were from Kampung Padang Tok La, Pasir Mas, while six others were the skipper and crew who set out on their trip from Kuala Besar, Kota Bharu at 3pm.

He said several others who have not yet been identified had boarded other boats and started fishing before the storm hit.

Those who died in the incident were Mohd Syahrizan Daud, in his 40s, Muhamad Zaki Muhamad Nordin, 19, Wan Aminudin Wan Hussin, in his 60s , and a Thai national known only as Pokta, in his 50s.

The four missing men are Arman Ismail, 43, Harun Daud, in his 60s, Syafiq Abdul Halim, 30, and Che Wadi Bakar, in his 40s.

Meanwhile, Mohd Rowi Hussin, 50, who is the nephew of victim Harun Daud hopes that his uncle is found soon.

“We accept what Allah decides. I received a call from the police at about 11 p.m. yesterday and rushed here to find out the latest development,” he said.

He added that the anglers had gathered in his house yesterday morning before leaving for Kuala Besar, all excited to go on their trip to catch fish and squid.

He said the last time he saw the group was a video recording of them on the boat sent to him via WhatsApp at about noon yesterday. — Bernama



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Fussy Japanese shoppers finally embrace online grocery shopping amid pandemic

People shop for seafood in Yokohama on June 23. It’s long believed Japanese people like to check the goods first-hand. (AP pic)

TOKYO: The coronavirus has forced Japan’s notoriously fussy food shoppers to abandon doubts about online grocery stores, sending retailers such as Aeon Co scrambling to meet a surge in delivery demand.

Although Japanese shoppers aren’t alone in going online during the outbreak, the shift is remarkable for a country that had been expected to take years to embrace online food shopping because of a zeal for fresh and perfectly presented produce.

“I think that this pandemic has triggered an inflection point in the adoption of grocery e-commerce,” said Luke Jensen, executive director of Ocado Group, hired to build a grocery e-commerce business for Japanese retail giant Aeon.

Most companies won’t disclose numbers, but retail executives and analysts estimate internet sales now account for about 5% or more of Japan’s total grocery sales, compared with 2.5% before the pandemic.

Although that is still lower than some pre-crisis estimates of 15% in China and even 7% in broadband laggard Britain, it challenges a long-held belief that Japanese shoppers will always go shopping daily and in person, checking the goods first-hand.

Yuri Ohtaka, a graphic designer living in Tokyo’s western suburbs, began ordering from multiple online supermarkets in March after seeing shoppers emptying shelves at a nearby store.

Although fears of shortages have subsided, online deliveries have made it easier as she works from home, making three meals a day for her family, including her 3-year-old son.

She’s also happy to avoid stores amid fears of infections.

“There’s no need for face-to-face, dealing with registers, or standing in line,” she said, adding that she’s also persuaded her parents to go online.

“They were shopping every day in the supermarket, and I really didn’t want them to.”

As more households have two people working, analysts say, people want to spend less time shopping.

But they still have exacting standards for service and produce quality, which have perplexed previous foreign entrants such as Carrefour and Tesco.

Such changes are closely watched as Japan is one of the world’s most valuable grocery markets, worth over 50 trillion yen a year.

Per capita, only countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Israel spend more on food.

Sudden demand

Major Japanese supermarkets, despite talking about online services for years, have only recently begun large-scale spending on e-commerce infrastructure.

Most have struggled to meet the spike in demand and would-be-shoppers on Twitter have complained of difficulty securing delivery slots throughout the crisis.

Aeon hired British online grocery pioneer Ocado in November to build state-of-the-art robotic warehouses, aiming to fend off rivals such as Amazon, Seven & i Holdings’ Ito-Yokado and a venture between Walmart-owned Seiyu and e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc.

But the first of those warehouses won’t start operating until 2023.

In the meantime, Aeon said it is hiring more staff to help pack online grocery orders, although it is having difficulty hiring more delivery drivers.

Despite such constraints, Aeon expects online grocery sales to grow 50% and account for about 10% of sales by the end of its financial year ending next February, according to company executives.

That is not an official target unveiled to investors, but the company confirmed President Akio Yoshida, who was appointed to the top job in March, set it as a goal.

Executives expect the shift to last.

“When people increase their use of online, they stay with it rather than going back.

In Japan we’d expect there to be a step up in the growth of e-commerce,” said Ocado’s Jensen, who is also chief executive of the group’s Ocado Solutions technology business.

Smart warehouses vs mom and pop

Analysts say the shift is also likely to favour bigger retailers who can invest in high-tech warehouses capable of handling large volumes rather than just having store staff pick items from retail shelves and package them for delivery.

That could put smaller supermarkets and mom-and-pop stores, already struggling to match the likes of Aeon and Ito-Yokado in pricing, at a further disadvantage.

But Violetta Volovich, who has researched global grocery industry trends for e-commerce consultancy Edge by Ascential, said remote and costly high-tech fulfilment centres were not the answer for all retailers.

Instead, she envisions many retailers adopting automating more jobs in existing brick-and-mortar stores and embracing features such as “click and collect”, in which shoppers pick up online purchases at the stores.

She also said the rise in food e-commerce didn’t mean an end to traditional grocery shopping.

“Just because people get pizza delivery doesn’t mean they will stop going to pizza restaurants,” she said.



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Monaco’s Sidibe to remain a Toffee until end of season

The fullback has made 24 appearances in all competitions for Everton this term. (Facebook pic/Djibril Sidibe)

MONACO: Ligue 1 club Monaco on Monday confirmed they have agreed a deal with Everton for fullback Djibril Sidibe to extend his loan spell until the end of the current Premier League season.

Sidibe joined Everton on a season-long loan last year, but the deal was set to end on Tuesday.

Instead, the French international will be able to remain at Goodison Park until the end of an English top flight campaign which was delayed for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Djibril Sidibe will end his loan period beyond June 30 to conclude the Premier League season,” Monaco said in a statement.

The 27-year-old Sidibe has made 24 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees this term, but has not played since the Premier League restart after suffering a minor injury.



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Life-threatening Covid-19 syndrome found in almost 300 US kids

It is not clear why MIS-C develops in some children and adolescents and not in others. (AP pic)

NEW ENGLAND: Nearly 300 cases of a rare, life-threatening syndrome in children and adolescents associated with the novel coronavirus have been identified in the US in two studies in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The US studies published on Monday follow several reports of the syndrome among Covid-19 patients in France, Italy, Spain and Britain.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), shares symptoms with toxic shock and Kawasaki disease, including fever, rashes, swollen glands and, in severe cases, heart inflammation.

A consistent picture is emerging of the syndrome occurring two to four weeks after infection by the coronavirus, Michael Levin, professor of paediatrics and international child health at Imperial College London, said in an accompanying editorial.

The syndrome affects two in 100,000 young people, defined as under age 21, out of 322 in 100,000 in that group who get Covid-19, he wrote.

While the studies identified about 300 cases in the US, Levin noted that there have been more than 1,000 cases reported worldwide and that a relatively high proportion have occurred among black, Hispanic or South Asian persons.

“There is a concern that children meeting current diagnostic criteria for MIS-C are the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and a bigger problem may be lurking below the waterline,” Levin wrote.

The first study, led by Boston Children’s Hospital, found 186 cases of MIS-C in 26 US states, with four out of five cases needing intensive care and one out of five requiring mechanical ventilation. Four patients died.

The second study, which observed patients in New York and was conducted by the state’s health department, found another 95 confirmed cases, with four out of five needing admission to intensive care unit and two patients dying.

It is not clear why MIS-C develops in some children and adolescents and not in others.



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Guitar-strumming globetrotter gets into Malaysia Book of Records

Jeshurun with his Malaysian Book of Records award. (Jeshurun pic)

PETALING JAYA: Musician Jeshurun Vincent was recently recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for being the Malaysian who has travelled to the most countries. He has visited 102 countries in total.

Diagnosed at a young age with a hearing disability, this music lover sank into depression but eventually found solace in travelling.

Since 2014, Jeshurun has been journeying the world guitar in hand, sharing his story, hoping it would make a difference in people’s lives.

He said he had mixed feelings about receiving such an honour. “I wish my mother were here to witness this joyous occasion but, sadly, she died in April,” said Jeshurun.

The 33-year-old hopes this award will inspire others to make a difference with their lives.

Jeshurun has visited 102 countries, always with his eye-catching guitar case with the flags of all the countries he has visited on it. (Jeshurun pic)

Covid-19 and the resulting travel restrictions may have dampened his future travels but Jeshurun is grateful and he is looking at the positive side.

He said these few months have given him ample time to reflect on his past journeys and look at his own self-development and how to improve himself.

He is also using this opportunity to work on his second book about his journey to South America. His first book, “Into the Potter’s Hands” dealt with the trials he has faced in life.

The eager traveller has also drawn up plans and is waiting patiently for the day he can set out on his travels again.

“I was in Africa in January. My original plan was to travel via Egypt and head south to South Africa. I was in Burundi when I was told my mother was not well, so I took the first flight home. I would love to continue from where I stopped, which would be Tanzania.”

At first, Jeshurun was travelling and juggling a full-time job. But in June last year, he decided to become a full-time traveller, living off his savings.

Jeshurun with a group of children after a music session in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Jeshurun pic)

Fortunately, he has met many kind souls along the way who, once they heard his tale and about his purpose, helped him with the cost of his travels by purchasing flight or bus tickets. Many have also graciously hosted him in their homes.

Having travelled to 102 countries, Jeshurun humbly lives his life according to three simple but honest rules: Never ask for money, never try to gain sympathy to raise money and whatever money he has on hand is all he needs.



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Mata brace rejuvenates Getafe’s Champions League bid

Mata’s strike with 7 minutes remaining sees Getafe back into 5th in the league. (Twitter pic/mata)

MADRID: Jaime Mata scored twice as Getafe beat fellow European hopefuls Real Sociedad 2-1 on Monday to give their push for Champions League qualification from La Liga a boost.

Getafe had seen their top-four bid hit by a four-game winless run since the league restarted following the coronavirus pandemic, but they moved back to within two points of fourth-placed Sevilla.

Sociedad, who were in the Champions League places before the Covid-19 lockdown, have picked up just one point from a possible 15 since and are now seven points adrift in seventh.

Sevilla’s 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid on Friday had given Getafe a chance of narrowing the gap, and they took a 20th-minute lead through Mata’s penalty.

Former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj levelled for visitors Sociedad 10 minutes after the break with his third league goal of the season.

But Mata had the final word with seven minutes remaining as he latched onto Jorge Molina’s quick throw-in and poked a low finish into the net from the tightest of angles to send Getafe back into fifth.

Sixth-placed Villarreal remain in the Champions League hunt though, just one point further back.



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Report: EC chief Art Harun nominated as Parliament Speaker, sources claim

Election Commission chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun arrives at the nomination centre in Chini, Pekan June 20, 2020. — Bernama pic
Election Commission chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun arrives at the nomination centre in Chini, Pekan June 20, 2020. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The government has proposed Election Commission chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun for the post of Dewan Rakyat Speaker, a news portal reported citing sources.

According to The Malaysian Insight, Azhar (also known as Art) was nominated yesterday and has also served notice to the EC.

“He sent his resignation in. But it will be up to Parliament to debate his nomination when it sits on July 13,” the portal quoted one source as saying.

“It could go either way but Perikatan Nasional has the majority to push the nomination through.”

On June 26, the Muhyiddin administration submitted a parliamentary motion seeking to terminate Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof’s term as the Speaker and that of Nga Kor Ming as his deputy.

Both men were appointed during the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.

In May, Mohamad Ariff accepted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s motion for a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The government then removed Riduan Rahmat as the Secretary to the Dewan Rakyat in the aftermath.

Art Harun, a lawyer and vocal political commentator, was appointed as the chairman of the EC in September 2018.



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India to increase flights, trains despite rising virus cases

Indian migrant workers look out from a train window in Hyderabad as they return back to their villages last month. (AP pic)

NEW DELHI: India will allow more domestic flights and interstate train services to operate but keep schools shut as the nation of 1.3 billion further eases its lockdown despite growing concern about rising coronavirus cases.

The South Asian nation recorded almost 550,000 virus infections on Monday, including 16,475 deaths, making it the fourth worst-hit in terms of case numbers after the US, Brazil and Russia.

But with the economy struggling during the shutdown, authorities have sought to restart activities while maintaining “containment zones” to try and limit the virus spread.

“Domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner. Their operations will be further expanded in a calibrated manner,” the home affairs ministry said late Monday in its “Unlock 2” guidelines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to address the nation in a speech on Tuesday.

The new measures – which also include a shorter night curfew – will come into force on Wednesday and remain in place until the end of July.

The night curfew would be further relaxed to permit the movement of people and goods for work or when they take public transport, the ministry said.

Schools, metro trains in cities, cinemas, gyms and swimming pools would remain closed, while activities in “containment zones” would still be severely restricted, it added.

Under a major easing of the lockdown in early June, places of religious worship, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls were allowed to reopen.

The virus has particularly hit India’s densely populated cities and there are now major concerns for New Delhi which has overtaken Mumbai with more than 85,000 cases.

The government has been criticised over a lack of testing that experts say has hidden the true number of cases in India.

Click here for our live update of the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia.



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Apa nak jadi, penduduk Jakarta berdegil tetap ‘curi’ mayat Covid-19

Penduduk berpusu-pusu cuba mencuri mayat yang dipercayai Covid-19.

Ratusan penduduk kampung Ambon Maluku di Jakarta halang sebuah ambulans membawa jenazah pesakit Covid-19.

Menerusi rakaman video yang tersebar di media sosial menunjukkan ratusan penduduk menghalang sebuah ambulans dan membuka pintu untuk mengambil jenazah ahli keluarga mereka.

Berdasarkan laporan Tribunnews dalam rakaman itu, penduduk juga menjerit dan meluahkan kemarahan kepada anggota polis dan petugas perubatan yang mengawal jenazah.

Menurut penduduk, jenazah itu meninggal dunia dipercayai bukan kerana dijangkiti Covid-19, tetapi mempunyai penyakit lain.

Keranda ditinggalkan di tepi jalan.

Keadaan kemudian menjadi kelam-kabut, para petugas barisan hadapan terpaksa melihat penduduk “mencuri” jenazah dari ambulans untuk dibawa ke rumah dan meninggalkan keranda jenazah di tepi jalan.

Ketua Polis Pulau Ambon Maluku, Leo Surya Nugraha Simatupang berkata, kejadian itu didakwa berpunca daripada salah faham.

“Petugas perubatan telah memberi penjelasan sebaiknya pesakit itu meninggal dunia kerana wabak Covid-19. Akhirnya keluarga memahami.

“Mereka kembalikan jenazah tersebut kepada petugas perubatan dan dimakamkan di Warasia seperti saranan ahli keluarga,” katanya.

Anda ada berita menarik untuk dikongsi? Sila email ke fmtohsem@freemalaysiatoday.com



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‘Alarming’: Los Angeles records 2,903 new cases in record spike

A truck stops in front of a bar in Los Angeles on June 29. California ordered bars to close on Sunday. (AP pic)

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles County recorded an “alarming” one-day record spike of 2,903 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, public health officials said, warning that hospitals could soon be overwhelmed, while several US states hit the brakes on reopening.

Los Angeles and neighbouring counties have become a new epicentre in the pandemic as coronavirus cases and hospitalisations have surged there despite California Governor Gavin Newsom’s strict order last week requiring masks in nearly all public spaces.

“The alarming increases in cases, positivity rates and hospitalisations signals that we, as a community, need to take immediate action to slow the spread of Covid-19,” Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County, said in a statement announcing the sharp upswing.

“Otherwise, we are quickly moving toward overwhelming our healthcare system and seeing even more devastating illness and death,” Ferrer said.

Los Angeles County, with a population of 10 million, has recorded 100,000 cases of the coronavirus.

California, which on Sunday ordered bars in Los Angeles and six other counties to close, is among a number of US states including Florida, Texas and Arizona battling a new wave of infections as the nation emerges from weeks of clamp-downs on residents and businesses.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Monday ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie theatres and water parks for at least 30 days.

Ducey also delayed the start of public schools until at least Aug 17.

Vice-President Mike Pence will travel to Phoenix on Wednesday to meet with Ducey about efforts the state is taking to combat the coronavirus, Pence’s office said.

Texas and Florida ordered the closure of all their recently reopened bars on Friday.

New Jersey, Kansas take new steps

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Monday indoor dining will no longer resume on Thursday in the state as planned and would be postponed indefinitely.

In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly imposed a statewide mandate requiring residents to wear masks in public spaces, a move she said was necessary to avoid another shutdown.

Beaches in Florida’s Broward County and Palm Beach County will not open for the July 3-5 holiday weekend, officials said on Sunday, a blow to residents hoping to celebrate Independence Day there on Saturday.

Miami-Dade County had already announced beach closures for the holiday weekend.

AMC, the largest US movie theatre chain, on Monday said it was pushing back the reopening of its theatres to July 30 from July 15.

Arizona and Georgia were among states reporting record new cases this week.

Last week, a total of 15 US states reported records, according to a Reuters tally.

In June, 22 US states reported record increases in new cases, often multiple times, including Alaska, Arkansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah.

Face coverings have become a political issue, with some conservative politicians and many supporters of US President Donald Trump arguing that such mandates are unconstitutional.

The city of Jacksonville, Florida, venue for part of the Republican nominating convention in August, said on Twitter it would be requiring masks for all public locations starting later on Monday.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday that Trump “has no problem with masks and to do whatever your local jurisdiction requests.”

Pence on Sunday pressed Americans to adopt face masks during a trip to Texas and wore one himself, a sharp turnaround for the administration.

Other Republican politicians in hard-hit states also are now calling for masks.

The New York Times reported on Monday that 43% of US deaths from Covid-19 were linked to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The paper cited its own tracking database.

Click here for our live update of the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia.



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Fearing an ‘aggressive’ Iran, Saudi and US push to extend arms embargo

The Houthis have recently targeted Saudi cities, including capital Riyadh, with a series of missile and drone strikes. (AP pic)

RIYADH: US and Saudi officials on Monday called for extending a UN arms embargo on Iran, warning of major implications for regional security, accusing Tehran of arming Yemeni rebels.

The embargo, put in place as part of a nuclear accord signed with Tehran in 2015, is set to expire in October but Washington is working to extend the ban as tensions with its arch rival remain high.

Lifting the ban would “embolden” Tehran and could trigger a regional arms race, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook told reporters in Riyadh.

“This is not an outcome that the UN Security Council can accept,” Hook said at a joint news conference with Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs.

At the conference venue, Saudi officials displayed remnants of intercepted missiles and drones they said were supplied by Iran to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Iran denies arming the rebels.

The Houthis have recently targeted Saudi cities, including the capital Riyadh, with a series of missile and drone strikes.

“Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist organisations. What will happen if the embargo is lifted?” Jubeir said.

“Iran will become more … aggressive,” he added.

Earlier this month, a UN report said cruise missiles and drones used in attacks last year on Saudi oil facilities were “of Iranian origin”.

The attacks on Saudi state oil giant Aramco’s facilities caused extensive damage and briefly interrupted production of half of the country’s oil output.

Russia, China vetoes at UN

Hook said later in Bahrain that if the arms embargo expired, Iran would be able to acquire advanced arms and pose a greater threat to Gulf security and international shipping.

“It will trigger an arms race in one region that needs it the least,” Hook said on his second leg of the Gulf tour to garner support for extending the arms embargo on Iran.

Allowing the UN arms embargo to expire would be a betrayal of the security council’s responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, he said.

The US official also said that the embargo has constrained Iran’s ability to freely move weapons to its proxies.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayyani expressed his country’s total support for extending the arms embargo on Iran, accusing Tehran of continuing to supply arms to militias in Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned last week of a return of UN sanctions on Iran if the Security Council fails to extend an embargo.

France, Britain and Germany, which all still support the nuclear deal, have also said they supported extending the embargo.

No date has been scheduled for a vote on the resolution and it is unlikely to pass, as veto-wielding China and Russia have already spoken out against extending the embargo.

Iran agreed with major world powers in 2015 to freeze its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of punishing international sanctions.

But in 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to roll back its own commitments.



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Fire safety plan needed for all hospitals, says researcher

Experts have called for the release of a 2016 report into a hospital fire in which six patients died. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: An academic has called for a comprehensive fire safety plan to be drawn up for all hospitals which takes into account the hospitals’ wiring, building design, and oxygen supply system.

Mohd Zailan Sulieman of Universiti Sains Malaysia said there was no single solution to prevent fires at all hospitals, hence the need for an urgent fire safety audit.

“By right, all electrical wiring in any building must be replaced every 15 years under the law. A hospital is a public building and we must make sure that this is followed through and through,” he told FMT.

On Sunday a fire broke out at Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru, the second time since a fire in 2016 killed six patients. No one was hurt in the latest incident.

Mohd Zailan Sulieman of Universiti Sains Malaysia

Zailan said older hospital buildings, built before the Universal Building Bylaws came into effect, were not built to meet today’s standards. HSA was built in 1938 and Penang Hospital in 1854.

Although fire safety management in most government hospitals were at “satisfactory levels”, lack of funds remained a problem.

Government hospitals must look into the standards adopted by private hospitals. New buildings must use the right building materials. Wooden materials and plastic wallpaper should be banned. Attention must be also given to the design of medical gas supply systems, to avoid fire hazards.

Zailan praised HSA staff for safely evacuating the 24 patients in the HSA ward on Sunday. However, he alleged that most public hospital staff remained ignorant of fire escape routes and procedures. Research at several hospitals had found that firefighting cabinets had been used instead as storage for janitorial items, causing difficulty in case of fire.

Another stumbling problem was incompetent maintenance of fire system equipment. He alleged that most smoke detectors were ineffective, not connected to a central fire alert system.

Zailan, an associate professor at USM’s School of Housing, Building and Planning, called for the release of the 2016 findings by the special committee investigating the HSA fire.

“From there, we can get useful recommendations to prevent future fires,” he said and called for fire safety experts, not doctors, to advise and coordinate on fire safety plans.

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Minum hand sanitizer akibatkan 3 maut, seorang buta

Dalam norma kehidupan baru ekoran Covid-19, semua orang digalakkan untuk mengamalkan pemakaian topeng, hand sanitizer dan penjarakan sosial.

Namun apa yang berlaku di New Mexico sesuatu yang memeranjatkan apabila 3 individu dilaporkan maut, manakala seorang lagi mengalami kecacatan penglihatan kekal selepas minum hand sanitizer.

Menurut laporan CNN berdasarkan kenyataan seorang pegawai kesihatan, kes kematian ini dikaitkan dengan keracunan metanol.

Menurut Jabatan Kesihatan negeri, 3 lagi individu yang dipercayai turut minum hand sanitizer kini berada dalam keadaan kritikal.

Insiden tersebut dianggap berkaitan dengan alkoholisme.

Kes ini kemudiannya dilaporkan kepada Kawalan Racun New Mexico selama beberapa minggu, Mei lalu.

“Kesemua individu yang dipercayai meminum hand sanitizer mengandungi metanol,” menurut Jabatan Kesihatan dalam satu kenyataan.

Segelintir individu menggunakan hand sanitizer berasaskan alkohol untuk khayal.

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Bangsar South: Most sought-after property investment today

Bangsar South has seen tremendous growth and development in recent years. (Property Advisor pic)

For those looking to live and work in an integrated development in Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar South is a great option whether you wish to own a property there or rent.

Formerly known as Kampung Kerinchi, the name change to Bangsar South was made by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in 2012 to reflect the area’s upgraded image. However, in 2019, the name Kampung Kerinchi was resurrected to pay homage to the history of the area.

Today Bangsar South specifically relates to the ongoing development of a 60-acre parcel of land, undertaken by the UOA Group, which acquired it in 2005. The site is located near Menara Telekom and Mid Valley Megamall.

To date, Bangsar South has seen tremendous growth in every aspect including rapid development by well-known developers such as Suezcap Capital Sdn Bhd, Weida Properties Sdn Bhd and KL Eco City Sdn Bhd.

The area is a self-sustaining ecosystem that lives up to the demands of modern-day living.

It is a transit-oriented development (TOD), being well-connected to transport infrastructure and surrounded by prestigious Grade A office towers, hotels, high-rise residences, as well as retail and F&B options.

For this very reason, Bangsar South has become the residence of choice for many expatriates, said Reapfield Properties real estate negotiator Jonathan Low.

“The number of expatriates and locals are increasing in the area, forming a steady economic environment. Further development of this ecosystem would attract conglomerates to tap into this development,” he told Property Advisor.

High-rise residences dot the landscape of Bangsar South, which is also a transit-oriented development. (Property Advisor pic)

The high incomes of those residing in Bangsar South has meant that the standard of living in the area has improved significantly. Thus, the ability of many to pay a higher rental is also viable, said Low.

“I’ve seen the rental of studios, one-bedroom and 1+1-bedroom type units increase from RM1,800 per month to RM2,400 per month from the year it was completed.

“Its selling price has also seen an average capital appreciation of 6-7% per year before the Movement Control Order (MCO) started.”

Low noted that since most of the residents are higher-income individuals and successful businesspeople, the township has higher levels of security with resilient CCTVs to deter potential crime.

He also revealed that the demographic profile of buyers and tenants in Bangsar South has changed in recent years. There is now a higher demand from the Asian expatriate community, mainly those from China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.

“Traditional occupant groups from Europe (UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands) and the United States are dwindling.

“Investors are mostly from China or Hong Kong now,” he said, adding that Bangsar South had become home to many successful companies like Bakertilly, Touch & Go, Honeywell, Orange and Razer as well.

Metro Homes Realty Bhd executive director See Kok Loong said the location of Bangsar South is strategic, nestled as it is between Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Bangsar and easily accessed via the Federal highway, New Pantai Expressway (NPE), and SPRINT Highway.

“Residents of Bangsar South also enjoy the convenience of public transportation via the Universiti and Kerinchi LRT lines and stations, including a new phase of LRT lines to be constructed for Pantai Sentral Park.

“Other good accesses via roads are from Mont Kiara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kelana Jaya and Brickfields,” said See.

Office space is snapped up fast in Bangsar South as many companies relocate here because of better access to talent pools that other locations cannot provide. (Property Advisor pic)

Reapfields’ Low said with reliable accessibility, Bangsar South has enormous potential to flourish, especially for office spaces.

“Several businesses from Mont Kiara, Old Klang Road, Petaling Jaya, even Cyberjaya that rented offices from me in Vertical Office Suites and KL Gateway Corporate Offices said the reason they relocated was because of the better access to talent pools which prior locations could not provide.

“They (business) said it was hard hiring due to the lack of accessible public transportation and the difficulty in finding parking spaces. As a result, many businesses move to TOD hubs like this to set up operations. This can be seen from the high occupancy of Bangsar South office spaces.”

Low said that rental yields throughout Kuala Lumpur have been on the decline due to an oversupply of office space, but Bangsar South’s office rent has been the most resilient, holding its rates firmly through the years.

“As first impressions count, the offices here are conducive for businesses because the building facades and grand entrances to an office is exactly what companies want to present to their clients.

“This is especially important for companies that are participating in technology or who have a team of young talents.

“That’s however not just the only reason for choosing grade A offices in Bangsar South,” Low said, explaining that the internal server houses and fibre optic backbone inside the office buildings live up to the demands of the increasing number of businesses that adopt new technologies in their day-to-day operations.

This article was written by Sharina Ahmad of PropertyAdvisor.my, Malaysia’s most comprehensive source of property data, property analytics and insights.



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Kembali ke pangkal jalan untuk perjuangan Malaysia lebih baru

Ada 2 sikap yang saling bertentangan dalam menghadapi keadaan negara hari ini. Pertama, ambil sikap negatif. Atau kedua, ambil sikap positif.

Apa yang dimaksudkan dengan bersikap negatif ialah berputus harap dengan keadaan yang ada, dan menerimanya sebagai sesuatu yang tidak dapat dilakukan apa-apa. Ia juga merupakan suatu sikap pesimis.

Sikap kedua adalah sebaliknya. Bukan saja seseorang boleh terus menaruh harapan tetapi sanggup bangkit dan tampil untuk mengubah keadaan. Ia bermakna mengambil kepercayaan bahawa perubahan untuk keadaan yang lebih baik boleh dilakukan. Ia juga merupakan suatu sikap optimis.

Untuk itu perlu dilihat apakah yang dikatakan keadaan sekarang? Pertamanya, negara kini sedang dalam perintah kawalan pergerakan pemulihan (PKPP). Selepas fasa ini, yang dirasakan boleh berjaya, ancaman Covid-19 akan dianggap dapat dikalahkan.

Tetapi dalam pada itu, Malaysia terpaksa mengamalkan norma baru yang bersifat mengongkong hinggalah ditemui vaksin untuk Covid-19, dijangka pada tahun depan, atau setahun lagi.

Akibatnya keadaan ekonomi pasti terus terjejas dalam suasana tidak menentu dengan kesan sosial yang juga dijangka berat.

Dalam keadaan ini sewajarnya para cerdik pandai negara, para profesional, dan ilmuwan bergabung tenaga mencari jalan mengatasi ancaman krisis ekonomi dan sosial. Ini perkara serius dan seseorang wajar tidak mengambil mudah dengan beranggapan bahawa keadaan boleh kembali pada kedudukan sebelum Covid-19.

Ini membawa kepada keadaan yang juga penting, iaitu politik. Negara tidak boleh kembali kepada keadaan di mana Pakatan Harapan menjadi kerajaan bawah pimpinan Dr Mahathir Mohamad. PH sudah terburai walaupun mandat rakyat pilihan raya umum ke-14 masih terpakai hingga 2023.

Keadaan politik hari ini berada dalam 2 keadaan. Di satu pihak ialah kerajaan Perikatan Nasional yang tidak memiliki mandat rakyat dan selanjutnya tidak perlu memenuhi sebarang janji manifesto. Tetapi kerajaan ini dipimpin dan diterajui oleh sebahagian bekas ahli politik PH.

Walaupun kerajaan ini telah dan sedang memimpin usaha negara melawan Covid-19 tetapi ia masih belum berdepan dengan sidang Dewan Rakyat. Ditambah pula kerajaan ini melantik ahli-ahli politik menerajui agensi dan syarikat berkaitan kerajaan yang jelas meragukan tidak menyumbang pada keyakinan terhadap prospek kebangkitan ekonomi negara.

Di pihak satu lagi ialah PH yang sejak kehilangan kekuasaan berusaha hendak mengambil balik hak mandat rakyatnya. Bukan saja mereka tidak berjaya tetapi perbalahan antara Mahathir dan Anwar Ibrahim hanya mengukuhkan kedudukan Muhyiddin Yassin dan kerajaan beliau.

Maka dalam keadaan sekarang, adalah wajar bahawa rakyat tidak boleh mengharapkan PH. Sama ada Mahathir dan penyokongnya menjadi sebahagian daripada PH atau tidak, gerakan yang berjaya mengalahkan Barisan Nasional pada 2018 sudah tinggal menjadi sebahagian daripada lipatan sejarah.

Keadaan ini akan membawa kepada kerajaan PN terus mentadbir sehingga pilihan raya ke-15. Apabila PRU baru diadakan kelak, dengan dijangkakan bahawa Barisan Nasional akan kembali berkuasa. Sama ada ia berada dalam bentuk Muafakat Nasional dengan sokongan PAS ataupun ia mampu kembali seperti dulu dengan penyertaan semula Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Sementara itu PH pimpinan Anwar tanpa bersama penyokong Mahathir sudah menjadi begitu kecil hinggakan sukar untuk membayangkan ia akan mampu mengalahkan BN.

Keadaan politik ini tentu mendatangkan kekecewaan pada sebilangan besar rakyat yang mengharapkan suatu Malaysia Baharu selepas kemenangan PH pada 2018. Mereka mungkin berasakan dikecewakan bukan saja oleh Muhyiddin dan Azmin Ali tetapi juga Mahathir dan Anwar yang tidak boleh berpakat.

Kekecewaan ini menimbulkan gambaran bahawa sistem pilihan raya negara ini tidak menghormati mandat rakyat. Apa yang utama adalah pilihan ahli Parlimen dan bukannya pilihan para pengundi.

Ia menjadikan seolah-olah proses pilihan raya di negara ini tidak bermakna. Ia hanya merupakan satu proses untuk mengisi jawatan politik dan bukannya memenuhi aspirasi mandat rakyat.

Satu lagi perkara penting ialah kempen penentang kerajaan PH yang memainkan isu perkauman dan keagamaan selama hampir 2 tahun sebelum PN memperoleh kuasa.

Walaupun tujuannya adalah untuk mendapatkan sokongan orang Melayu kepada pakatan BN-PAS, tetapi lebih utama ialah gagasan yang ditekankan dalam kempen itu. Iaitu asas negara ini adalah pada mempertahan kedudukan orang Melayu dan Islam.

Ia membayangkan bahawa kuasa hanya wajar berada pada tangan Umno-PAS. Segala amalan buruk para pemimpin Umno sebelum ini dianggap tidak relevan. Apa yang penting hanyalah kuasa orang Melayu. Hakikat bahawa kerajaan PH juga adalah bawah pimpinan Melayu dipandang sepi. Mereka menolak Malaysia Baru. Mereka mahukan Malaysia Lama.

Dalam keadaan ini, seseorang boleh menghadapinya dengan penetapan sikap, sama ada sikap positif atau negatif. Kalau bersikap negatif, seseorang boleh saja melupakan politik dan membiarkan urusan negara pada ahli politik.

Sama ada negara menjadi lebih baik atau buruk, seseorang boleh saja menerimanya. Kalau ia dijangka menjadi lebih buruk, seseorang boleh saja bersikap pesimis. Sikap ini juga berpegang pada asas bahawa rakyat tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa terhadap sebarang salah laku ahli politik sedia ada.

Tetapi bagi mereka yang memilih untuk menjadi optimis dengan mengambil sikap positif, maka apa yang boleh dilakukan ialah kembali ke pangkal jalan perjuangan asal. Ini kerana mereka sudah tersesat ekoran kejatuhan kerajaan PH.

Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan pangkal jalan itu? Untuk mencari pangkal jalan, perlu dilihat di mana permulaan jalan perjuangan. Perjalanan perjuangan adalah panjang, malah boleh dilihat sebagai sentiasa bergerak sejak dari dahulu lagi.

Tetapi untuk memudahkan perbincangan, permulaannya boleh dikira apabila negara ini diwujudkan iaitu sewaktu Malaya mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos 1957. Tetapi ia juga boleh dikira lebih awal. Umpamanya semasa berakhirnya Perang Dunia Ke-2.

Mungkin waktu itu boleh dianggap terlalu lama. Maka boleh dicari juga pangkalnya pada perjuangan pembangkang melawan Mahathir. Maka untuk itu, pangkal jalan boleh dikira bermula dengan naiknya Mahathir sebagai perdana menteri. Ketika itu yang menjadi pembangkang adalah PAS, DAP, dan Parti Rakyat.

Jadi apa yang disebut sebagai pangkal jalan adalah relatif. Tetapi kalau asasnya adalah untuk membina Malaysia Baru, maka pangkal jalan boleh dikira daripada penubuhan PH yang asalnya terdiri daripada PKR, DAP dan Amanah untuk menggantikan Pakatan Rakyat.

Penyertaan Mahathir dan PPBM membawa kepada kemenangan PH yang bertanding menggunakan lambang PKR. Apabila PPBM keluar, kerajaan PH tumbang walaupun Mahathir dan pengikutnya tetap bersama pakatan itu.

Pangkal jalan PH adalah untuk kepercayaan bahawa Malaysia yang ada sekarang tidak boleh diterima dan dibiarkan. Keadaan yang lebih baik boleh dicapai. Kalau Malaysia Baru tidak dapat dicapai kerana PH berpecah, maka pangkal jalan bagi perjuangan ialah untuk Malaysia yang lebih baru.

Maka untuk bersikap positif dan optimis, kembali ke pangkal jalan adalah memulakan semula perjuangan PH sebagai pihak pembangkang untuk menuntut Malaysia yang lebih baru.

Perjuangan ini bukan saja untuk memenangi pilihan raya bagi mendapatkan kuasa, tetapi apa yang lebih penting ialah rakyat dapat manfaat daripada negara mereka yang dikongsi bersama, secara adil dan bebas daripada kleptokrasi, korupsi, dan penyelewengan lain.

Artikel ini adalah pandangan penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili FMT.



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UK shuts Leicester down again after alarming Covid-19 spike

A British soldier mans a walk-in mobile Covid-19 testing centre at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester yesterday. (AP pic)

LONDON: Britain on Monday reimposed lockdown measures on a city hit by an outbreak of coronavirus, in the first big test of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “whack-a-mole” strategy to control the disease while getting the economy moving again.

Ministers ordered schools and non-essential shops to be closed and postponed the planned reopening of pubs in the central English city of Leicester after an alarming spike in cases of Covid-19.

Britain has suffered the deadliest outbreak of the virus in Europe, with more than 43,000 deaths, but Johnson last month began easing nationwide stay-at-home orders imposed in late March.

Amid warnings he was moving too fast, with infection and death rates falling but slowly, he vowed to clamp down on local outbreaks like the game “whack-a-mole”.

Virus-hit hospitals and factories have been shut so far but the measures in Leicester, with a population of 340,000, is the first move to restore lockdown on such a large scale.

“We must control this virus. We must keep people safe,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told parliament after a lengthy meeting with local leaders, some of whom had opposed the measures.

“Local action like this an important tool in our armoury to deal with outbreaks while we get the country back on our feet.”

Build, build, build

The dramatic action threatens to overshadow Johnson’s big speech on Tuesday setting out how he plans to “build, build, build” to get Britain out of a deep recession brought on by the lockdown.

Johnson said Britain needed the type of massive economic response that US president Franklin D Roosevelt mobilised to deal with the Great Depression.

He has earmarked £1 billion for school repairs and a further £4 billion for “shovel-ready” projects that cover everything for road maintenance to public transport.

In extracts of his speech released by Downing Street, Johnson said his plan “sounds positively Rooseveltian, it sounds like a New Deal”.

“All I can say is that if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand.”

Roosevelt launched the New Deal programme in the 1930s that created a comprehensive social care system whose legacy lives on to this day.

‘Left behind’

Johnson won an 80-seat majority in December’s parliamentary elections with a promise both to get Britain out of the European Union, and spend more on poorer regions outside London.

Brexit happened on Jan 31 – although London is still negotiating a trade deal with Brussels – but coronavirus derailed the rest of his agenda.

In the speech on Tuesday in Dudley, near Birmingham in central in England, he will promise to use his building scheme to address regional inequalities.

“Too many parts of this country have felt left behind, neglected, unloved,” he will say.

The government has so far avoided a big increase in unemployment with a furlough scheme that has supported nine million workers temporarily laid off, but it begins being rolled back in August.

The independent Resolution Foundation think-tank said the government had little choice but to spend even more because “the virus will continue to hold activity below its pre-pandemic level”.

Johnson should try to generate “job creation via direct public investment in social care and retrofitting”, it said in a report.

The government’s focus on spending poses a challenge for the main opposition Labour party, which was routed in December’s election but now has a new leader, Keir Starmer.

“We are on the cusp of one of the biggest economic crises we have ever seen. The government must immediately prioritise protecting people’s lives and livelihoods,” Starmer said.

Click here for our live update of the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia.



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Uncle Ting Tong’s ‘monumental’ work

Street performer Roslee Yusof does whatever it takes to provide for his children, whether taking orders at his roti canai stall or posing as a statue to amuse the public.

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