I WOULD like to express my concerns regarding the plan to impose new rules for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme on existing visa holders (“Condi-tional MM2H returns”, The Star, Aug 12; online at bit.ly/star_ 2ndhome). My companies have been actively promoting the MM2H programme in Malaysia for many years. However, we were all very saddened to read about the new MM2H programme, which our research shows will, unfortunately, have very few applicants. We have received dozens of messages from distressed visa holders. This means the number of MM2H visa holders currently living here is negligible compared with the general population.

It has always been a tradition for Malaysians to fly the flag high during the month of August to demonstrate our love for the country. The Jalur Gemilang is the country’s most cherished symbol. Our Malaysian flag was hoisted twice and no doubt caused a feeling of pride not only in the hearts of the winning athletes and their family members but also the rakyat and nation. I have always flown the national flag and I always will, no matter what. For a start, let’s proudly fly the Jalur Gemilang high in these trying times to show our love and loyalty to this country that we call home.

Azizulhasni’s height is slightly more than the average height of our men, 1.64m. Among Southeast Asians, Singaporeans are the tallest, with an average height of 1.71m for males and 1.64m for females. Among Asian nations, Chinese men register an average height of 1.72m and 1.60m for females. China is at number 53 among 130 nations in terms of average height according to a latest survey. He shocked the sporting world when he won gold in the 110m hurdle at the Athens Olympics in the 2004.

Of the total 17,584 licensed hawkers, 59.8% or 10,530 of them have not received their jabs. “But as of Aug 13, a total of 938,171 individuals or 52.9% of the population in the state have received their first dose. — Filepic“Depending on our test records and real-time Covid-19 hotspot locations, the test quota for PSC-19 will be shifted. “In the coming days from Aug 20, PSC-19 will be held at several locations on the mainland,” he said. “From this figure, 94.23% of the tests came back negative for Covid-19 and 1,850 of the RTK-Ag tests were positive.

ALTHOUGH the new liquor guidelines will be implemented soon, some affected shops in Kuala Lumpur say they are in no hurry to clear their liquor stock. A Chinese medicine shopowner in Taman United in Jalan Kelang Lama hoped the authorities would have a change of heart. “I usually buy my Chinese wine and liquor for cooking from the neighbourhood Chinese medicine shop as it is convenient. Taman United resident Peter Ho said he purchased liquor from convenience stores and Chinese medicine shops at Jalan Sepadu and in Overseas Union Garden. “It is going to be a hassle now to drive further to the malls just to buy liquor.

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have an option to call up independent mixed doubles pairs to strengthen the national squad for the Sudirman Cup challenge next month. Former doubles international Koo Kien Keat believes the youngsters in the national team should be given a chance as the Sudirman Cup has never been Malaysia’s forte. “I think there’s no harm in letting the juniors gain some invaluable experience from a major event like the Sudirman Cup,” said Kien Keat, who helped Malaysia secure bronze in the 2009 Guangzhou edition for the nation’s most successful outing. Only 18 then, Kien Keat, who was a rising men’s doubles star, teamed up with Wong Pei Tty in the 2003 edition in Eindhoven, Holland. The team could only finish eighth, but it did Kien Keat’s confidence a whole world of good.

GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of Penangites will have to wait at least another week for their second dose of Pfizer vaccine due to a shortage. It said the recipients of the Pfizer second dose would only get their jabs between Aug 22 and Sept 6. Penang health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin confirmed the shortage of Pfizer vaccines. Batu Ferringhi resident Joanna Jayaseele, 41, who received her first dose of the Pfizer shot in Selangor, changed the venue for her second dose to Penang, is now caught in a bind due to the shortage. Many advised me to get my second dose in Penang as I am looking after my mother here.

PETALING JAYA: Back-up singles shuttlers Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar and Wyman Goh have vowed to make their chances count as both are set for their long-awaited senior international debuts in Europe next week. Shaqeem, whose last international outing was reaching the quarter-finals of the World Junior championships in Kazan in November 2019, is aiming to justify the trip. “I’m so happy that the wait is finally over,” said Shaqeem, who impressed in 2019 by winning both the national Under-21 and Under-18 titles. Wyman, who is also the world junior meet quarter-finalist, believes he has become a better player under the tutelage of Hendrawan and Datuk Tey Seu Bock. “Now that I’ll finally get the chance to play in Europe, I hope to reach at least the semis in all the stops.

I WAS planning to make a trip to the Tokyo Olympic Games after my retirement in July 2020 with my wife. Now that the Tokyo Olympics is done and dusted, let’s do some evaluation and move on. Yes, in some way as we can see it in the investment, result and interest shown in the recent Olympic Games. To make Malaysia a sporting nation, the passion and love for sports must start with the dream of being the best in the world. This is where the passion and love for sports must start with the dream of being the best in the world.

And then, threats on social media. Life has been miserable for Kedah’s Renan Alves, who was sent off in a match that saw the Red Eagles lose 2-4 to Selangor in the Super League on Friday. Alves could stomach the calls directed at him as irresponsible but he said it was not right to hurl threats at his loved ones. “I get criticised and name-called, but I don’t think it’s fair for the fans to wish something bad to my family, my grandparents and brothers. “I apologise to my teammates because that’s what hurts me, seeing the team lose.

Some are happy they can finally reopen for business while others whined that they have to continue to wait until their state achieves at least 50% vaccination rate among the total adult population. “It has been almost three months and I can finally reopen my gallery,” said furniture retailer Stephen Wang, whose outlet is in Serdang. The Phase 2 states include Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Sabah, while the Phase 3 states are Perlis, Sarawak and Labuan. M. Kumaran, 45, who runs a car wash place in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, was also happy to reopen his business. “We are both living in Phase 1 states but he still cannot reopen because Melaka’s vaccination rate is still below 50%,” he added.

SINGAPORE, Aug 18 (The Straits Times/ANN): The Covid-19 cluster at pre-school My First Skool in Chin Swee Road has grown to 31 cases, with 11 new cases reported on Sunday (Aug 15). Meanwhile, the total number of patients in two clusters linked to public bus interchanges increased from 22 to 27. The Bishan bus interchange cluster has one new case, bringing its total to 10. The cluster at Sengkang bus interchange grew from 13 to 17 cases. There are no new clusters today, and nine clusters have been closed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Singer Poki Ng of Hong Kong boy band Error has been accused of drugging and raping women in a case which echoes the recent one of Canadian star Kris Wu, who was arrested last month in China. In a series of Instagram Stories on Friday (Aug 13), Hong Kong singer TL Hon, 29, wrote: "A member of a Hong Kong band is suspected of drugging and raping women. Hon claimed in his post that he had seven women who were prepared to come forward to testify against Ng. Hon claimed it was a mistake and that Ng had blown the matter up. On Saturday, he posted a couple of Instagram Stories of accounts from women who claimed to have had encounters with Ng.

Inside the building in Biddenden, near Ashford, is a treasure trove of 26 quirky and rare pianos, amassed over a lifetime by Californian David Winston. What he does say is that other major commissions have included restoring the French Pleyel piano belonging to his "great hero" Frederic Chopin. A selection of pianos are seen on display at royal piano restorer David Winston's workshop in Biddenden in south-east England. Pianist Xiaowen Shang plays a 1929 Pleyel double grand piano, made in Paris, formerly purchased for Madeliene Lioux Malraux, wife of the French novelist and politician Andre Malraux, at royal piano restorer David Winston's workshop. A gorgeous piano decorated with red and gold chinoiserie from 1925 plays piano rolls, a once-popular technology that allows a piano to play music automatically.

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) is on track to achieve its target of getting 50% of Malaysia's adult population fully vaccinated in the month of August, according to its coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin. This, he said, was achieved through an average daily vaccination rate of almost 400,000, surpassing its target of 300,000 daily doses in July. This, he added, involved immunising an average of 235,000 doses daily in the Klang Valley alone throughout the exercise. Khairy pointed to the success in Labuan and Sarawak, which now have 60% and 56% of its total population respectively fully vaccinated. "I will not stop until every adult is fully vaccinated by the end of October.