How climate change affects our health, both directly and indirectly
However, there are other less obvious impacts of climate change on health. If commercial aviation were a country, it would rank sixth, after Japan, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Assuming there are 120 passengers (75% seating capacity) on the flight, the carbon dioxide produced per passenger would be 59.81kg. While global health and sustainable development need more international collaboration, there is also a pressing need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Former World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Margaret Chan stated in 2015: “The evidence is overwhelming; climate change endangers human health.
Source:The Star
March 02, 2021 04:52 UTC
my Say: The MP’s letter to the AG and the Agong’s response
It is also the case that members are immune from civil or criminal proceedings for what they say in parliament. The view from the AG’s chambers that even the committees of parliament cannot be convened impedes parliament from carrying out its functions. While the Covid-19 pandemic is a major crisis, an emergency certainly, the declaration of an Emergency in the Malaysian context has specific connotations. When it listed FGV at an IPO price of RM4.50, FELDA received RM6 billion and FGV itself received RM4.9 billion. Again, parliamentary oversight, on top of ministerial and regulatory oversight, could have prevented all this.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 02, 2021 04:07 UTC
Matching grants to prevent excessive withdrawal of EPF funds
Hence, the unconditional withdrawal of EPF funds should not be allowed to continue indefinitely. Perhaps one measure to consider in encouraging more savings by informal workers in EPF is through a ringgit-to-ringgit matching contribution, as has been done in Singapore. Under the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme in that country, the government matches every dollar of cash top-up made to the retirement account of Central Provident Fund Board members, up to S$600 (RM1,832) annually. In Malaysia, perhaps this kind of matching grant could also be given to parents whose children top-up their parents’ EPF savings or vice versa. The extra matching of monies would mean EPF will have more funds to invest despite withdrawals under the relaxed i_Sinar scheme.
Source:The Star
March 02, 2021 03:45 UTC
Big Smile, No Teeth: What’s the buzz about bitcoin?
“Buy bitcoin!” my friend told me way back in the spring of 2020. And just like that dodgy uncle, bitcoin seems completely unpredictable. Of course not, my friend told me. My friend told me all of this and I stared at him wondering why this would convince me to put money into it. Big Smile, No Teeth columnist Jason Godfrey – who once was told to give the camera a ‘big smile, no teeth’ – has worked internationally for two decades in fashion and continues to work in dramas, documentaries, and lifestyle programming.
Source:The Star
March 02, 2021 01:52 UTC
Premature baby in dire need of funds to survive
Her father Ang Theam Seah and mother Koh Pei Ying were working in Singapore when Koh unexpectedly went into labour. “The parents can raise only RM50,000 and they still need RM1.2mil, ” he said at a press conference at the organisation’s office. Chua said Theam Seah, 32, works as coordinator at a construction company and Koh, 29, works in the customer service line. Chua said those who wanted to donate funds could do so through One Hope Charity and Welfare’s Public Bank account: 3193433435. Alternatively, the public can also donate funds through the One Hope Charity and Welfare mobile app.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 23:37 UTC
Deputy minister: I complied with all rules for NZ trip
PETALING JAYA: A deputy minister who was criticised for taking a holiday in New Zealand says he got approval and complied with all requirements before travelling. Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar (pic) said he had applied for a 55-day leave through the Federal Territories (FT) Minister to obtain the Prime Minister’s approval via a letter dated Dec 3,2020. “I also complied with the Immigration Department’s procedure to apply for permission to leave the country by applying for MyTravelPass online. “I was unable to witness my nine-year-old child’s holy communion ceremony as I had been busy with my duties as Deputy FT Minister and Segamat MP. “I have never applied for sick leave or taken a holiday since I was appointed Deputy Minister on March 10,2020.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 23:15 UTC
Ex-pope Benedict chides 'fanatical' Catholics who reject his resignation
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict has chided conservative Roman Catholics who have not accepted his decision to resign as "fanatical", telling them that there is only one pope and it is Francis. But it was a fully conscious choice and I think I did well (to resign)," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera in a interview published on Monday. "They don't want to believe that it was a conscious choice," he said. Apparently addressing those who still look up to him as the real pope and are hostile to Francis, Benedict said: "There is only one pope." The presence in the Vatican of both a pope and a former pontiff with the title "pope emeritus", also wearing white, has irritated some Catholics.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 18:36 UTC
CIDB allocates RM7 mil to speed up Covid-19 screening for foreign workers
PUTRAJAYA (March 1): The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has agreed to allocate RM7 million to assist small and medium construction companies speed up Covid-19 screening for their foreign workers. “Covid-19 screening is crucial for foreign workers to reduce the risk of the viral infection at the construction sites. "The actual cost set is RM100 for the registered foreign construction workers with RM50 borne by CIDB, while the unregistered ones have to pay the full charge of RM100," he added. He said so far, 140,000 individuals had registered with CIDB and if there was a need, CIDB would ask for an additional allocation for the Covid-19 screening test subsidy. Employers can register their workers for screening at https://admin.cswms.com.my/ and for further information, call 03-40428880.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 01, 2021 16:07 UTC
Santhara explains why he was abroad during MCO
KUALA LUMPUR (March 1): Federal Territories Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Santhara said his travel abroad during the Movement Control Order (MCO) was within the approved leave period and he had also complied with the Immigration Department’s procedure. He explained in a statement today that he had applied for a 55-working day leave which was supported by Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa on Dec 10, 2020 and approved by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Dec 18, 2020. He said the leave application was based on his leave entitlement as stipulated in the rules of his appointment as Deputy Minister, apart from unpaid leave entitlement. ‘’My intention of going abroad was to visit my children in New Zealand especially the one who is studying law. The Segamat MP would also be lodging a police report following the allegations which he claimed have affected his reputation as Deputy Minister and MP.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 01, 2021 13:30 UTC
Dear Sir or Madam: Paul McCartney memoir due out in November
Paul McCartney is finally ready to write his memoirs, and will use music - and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet - to help guide him. "The one thing I’ve always managed to do, whether at home or on the road, is to write new songs. Publishers have long sought a McCartney memoir, even though he has spoken often about the past and has participated in such projects as Barry Miles' biography Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, and the 1990s documentary and book The Beatles Anthology. The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards has been equally open about himself, but his 2010 memoir Life still sold millions of copies. He even mentioned McCartney in a poem Sideman: "I’ll be McCartney to your Lennon/ Lenin to your Marx/ Jerry to your Ben &/ Lewis to your Clark".
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 11:00 UTC
Edward Han appointed as president of Samsung Malaysia Electronics
KUALA LUMPUR (March 1): Long-time Samsung veteran Edward Han has been appointed as the president of Samsung Malaysia Electronics. Prior to this appointment, Han was the managing director of Samsung Electronics New Zealand. In a statement released last week, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said Han will be responsible for maintaining the brand’s strong reputation in Malaysia, lead business strategies and operations, and further drive business and sales growth. I look forward to solidifying Samsung’s position as one of the best brands and workplaces in Malaysia!” said Han. He has held senior leadership positions in several global markets in Samsung, such as Romania and India, director at Samsung Headquarters in Korea, and managing director in New Zealand.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 01, 2021 10:30 UTC
Covid-19: Works Ministry allocates RM7mil to subsidise screening costs for foreign construction workers
KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has set aside RM7mil under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to subsidise Covid-19 screening costs for foreign workers. Under the programme, each test is priced at RM100 and CIDB will bear half the cost for registered foreign workers. Unregistered foreign workers would need to pay the full cost. According to CIDB chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad 'Asri Abdul Hamid, the subsidy allocation of RM7mil was derived from the total number of foreign construction workers currently registered with CIDB. "There are foreign construction workers who are not registered with CIDB.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 09:49 UTC
Human Writes: Rich countries are hoarding Covid-19 vaccines
In 2020, we clung to hope to end the pandemic – hope for an effective vaccine and hope for unity across humanity. Today, in 2021, we have several effective Covid-19 vaccines – an extraordinary scientific feat – and vaccination has begun in Malaysia. In an ugly me-first scramble, a handful of wealthy nations have grabbed the bulk of vaccines while developing countries just watch and wait. More than half the Israeli population and a quarter of the British population have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data, an Oxford University project. Human Writes columnist Mangai Balasegaram writes mostly on health but also delves into anything on being human.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 07:31 UTC
We still have unequal access to healthcare
Access to healthcare differs depending on many factors. It is an open secret that money and power buys you access in many aspects of life, and this includes healthcare. An ageing population also plays a role in preventing adequate access to healthcare, especially as women are expected to stay at home to look after the elderly as per cultural and social norms in Malaysia. Access to healthcare for the elderly is not only hampered by inadequate infrastructure, but also retirement savings or the lack thereof. There is also a lack of easy access to a single experienced institution with the ability to perform appropriate tests.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 04:52 UTC
Edmund Santhara: My trip to NZ was approved by the PM, complied with SOP requirements
PETALING JAYA: Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara (pic) says his trip to New Zealand was approved by the Prime Minister and he had complied with the required procedures to apply for permission to leave the country. The application was supported by the FT Minister on Dec 10 and approved by the Prime Minister on Dec 18. “I have also complied with the Immigration Department's procedure to apply for permission to leave the country by applying for MyTravelPass online. “I was unable to witness my nine-year-old child’s holy communion ceremony as I had been busy with my duties as Deputy FT Minister and Segamat MP. “I have never applied for sick leave or taken a holiday since I was appointed as Deputy Minister on March 10,2020.
Source:The Star
March 01, 2021 04:52 UTC