Attorney General drops criminal proceedings against LTTE 12 (updated)
“That is the common theme of all the 12 LTTE accused. Sri Lanka, the United States, Canada, India and the European Union have also labelled the LTTE a terrorist group. Any decision by a Malaysian Minister in 2020 to declare Sinn Fein a “terrorist group” would likewise be an error in law. LTTE was declared a terrorist group by the Minister of Home Affairs by an Order gazetted on 12 November 2014. That is the common theme of all the 12 LTTE accused.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 08:09 UTC
Foreign salesgirl gets jail, fine for posting fake news on Covid-19
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian woman was today sentenced to a weeks’ jail and a RM1,000 fine for posting online misinformation about the Covid-19 outbreak. The sentence was handed down to Fui Lina by magistrate Wong Chai Sia after she pleaded guilty to the charge. In the post, she urged the public not to go to malls to avoid getting infected by the virus, among others. “A fine is not sufficient enough in deterring the accused and the public from repeating this," he said. Fui was then ordered to serve a months’ jail if she fails to pay the fine.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 08:03 UTC
GDB gets shareholders nod for main market transfer
KUALA LUMPUR: Construction services group GDB Holdings Bhd (GDB) received shareholders approval at the company's extraordinary general meeting today to facilitate the transfer to the main market of Bursa Malaysia. Group managing director Cheah Ham Cheia said the main market transfer will be a landmark occasion in the group’s growth journey as it aims to continue its aggressive tender activity. "Our plan to graduate to the main market of Bursa Malaysia in just two years after our listing on the ACE Market is a natural progression for GDB and reflects our larger scale of operations currently. "This will only enhance our shareholders’ value from greater investor participation," Cheah said adding that GDB target to transfer to the main market in the first half of 2020. GDB was listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on 27 March 2018.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 08:03 UTC
Co-working Spaces: Standing out from the crowd
Asia-Pacific has seen a rapid increase in co-working spaces since the concept hit its shores less than a decade ago. Capturing the market opportunity are dozens of co-working space operators. In the Greater Kuala Lumpur area alone, there are 63 co-working spaces — mostly in suburban areas such as Bangsar and KL Sentral, according to property consultancy firm Savills Malaysia. In this environment, co-working spaces have to stand out from the crowd by offering additional value to attract and retain tenants. Sai is founder of Impact Hub, the first co-working space in Singapore.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 21, 2020 08:03 UTC
More Philippine immigration officers sacked as witness details scam
“The President considers this anomaly, which some define as the ‘pastillas scheme, ’ as a grave form of corruption which cannot be countenanced by the government, ” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. “The present situation in the Bureau of Immigration (BI), as well as how it is being run by Commissioner Jaime Morente, will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting, ” he added. Panelo told reporters the president had “received reports” about the racket and “found prima facie, or probable cause” against the BI personnel. By his reckoning, only 10 per cent of BI personnel were not involved in the scam in which he admitted he was also involved. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 07:52 UTC
MCA expresses regret over latest lawsuit against vernacular schools
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has described the move by Ikatan Guru Guru Muslim Malaysia to file a lawsuit on the existence of vernacular schools in Malaysia as yet another challenge to the nation’s Constitutional safeguards. The former deputy Education Minister said this is the third such lawsuit filed in the nation since Pakatan Harapan took over the nation’s administration in 2018. “However, with these court suits challenging the Constitutionality of vernacular schools, this suggests more proof of Malaysia’s impending slide into an age of extremism and radical rhetoric”, he said. In the suit on Feb 20, Ikatan Guru Guru Muslim Malaysia raised a constitutional challenge to Sections 17 and 28 of the Education Act. MCA has become an intervener in Khairul’s lawsuit, as well as in the joint one filed by GPMS and Mapim.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 07:41 UTC
Taiwan's 'Queen of ballroom dance' Serena Liu in critical condition after heart surgery
Taiwan's "Queen of ballroom dance" Serena Liu is reportedly in critical condition after her heart stopped during an operation two weeks ago, Taiwan media reported. Liu, 44, also known as Liu Chen, had gone for a heart valve repair surgery. However, the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, where Liu was hospitalised, confirmed the media reports later in the day. Wu, the head of Shin's management agency, also confirmed the news indirectly when he told the media he was aware of her condition. Liu, who has a four-year-old daughter with Shin, opted for heart valve repair surgery as she is hoping to have a second child.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 07:41 UTC
Msian Bar: Govt must stop resorting to lawsuits to address 'defamation'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar said it is dismayed that the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has decided to sue animal activist Koh Tat Meng for defamation. Its president, Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor, said the local authority’s decision to sue for defamation may appear to be acceptable, but it creates a chilling effect on public discourse. The suit by MPSJ was initiated against Koh pursuant to him filing a civil suit against MPSJ in December last year. File Photo: President Bar Council, Datuk Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor. “The solution lies not in initiating a counter suit for defamation, but in replying to or rebutting such allegations, with appropriate evidence, during the trial.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 07:07 UTC
#TECH: Move to boost Malaysian-headquartered tech firms
KUALA LUMPUR: MDEC has set up a new division called Global Growth Acceleration (GGA) to help boost high-potential Malaysian-headquartered tech companies to skyrocket on the global stage. We have also witnessed an upward trend of Malaysian tech companies expanding exponentially into the region. “Beginning 2020, the GAIN programme will be embracing prolific tech startups to leverage on the tried and tested growth-intervention strategies that we have been deploying for tech scale-ups. This will allow MDEC to provide clear end-to-end expansion support for Malaysian tech companies at all growth stages,” said Gopi. Also present at the GGA Kick-off 2020 were founders of three prominent Malaysian tech companies - Forest Interactive, Innovate2U and Softspace.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 06:56 UTC
Seniman president among four charged with fear mongering over Covid-19
SEPANG (Bernama): The Malaysian Artistes Association (Seniman) president Zed Zaidi and three others were charged at the Magistrate’s Court here Friday (Feb 21) with publishing statements on Facebook and Twitter regarding Covid-19 which are likely to cause fear or alarm to the public, last month. Zed Zaidi, whose real name is Rozaidi Abdul Jamil, 40, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Magistrate A.Akhiruddin@Boy Acho. At the same court, a company director Mohd Khairul Anuar Rosli, 30, also pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the same charge. Meanwhile, two other men - a technician Mohd Afendy Mohd Said, 34, and a businessman Syed Mohd Faiz Syed Nasir, 28, - pleaded guilty to the charge. Both of them admitted to having committed the offence using their Facebook and Twitter which were read by the MCMC on Jan 27.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 06:45 UTC
Zed Zaidi among four charged with fear mongering over Covid-19
SEPANG: The Malaysian Artistes Association (Seniman) president Zed Zaidi and three others were charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with publishing statements on Facebook and Twitter regarding Covid-19 which are likely to cause fear or alarm to the public last month. Zed Zaidi, whose real name is Rozaidi Abdul Jamil, 40, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Magistrate [email protected] Acho. Zed Zaidi allegedly committed the offence through his tweet @rozaidijamil at 12.51pm on Jan 27, which was read by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Cyberjaya at 10.30am on Jan 29. Meanwhile, two other men – a technician Mohd Afendy Mohd Said, 34, and a businessman Syed Mohd Faiz Syed Nasir, 28 – pleaded guilty to the charge. Both of them admitted having committed the offence using their Facebook and Twitter which were read by the MCMC on Jan 27.
Source:New Strait Times
February 21, 2020 06:45 UTC
Robot chefs and free software among masks, gloves and biohazard gear as China Inc donates to contain Covid-19 outbreak
At the Hubei Land Resources Vocational College, a quarantine facility in the epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, a robot is cooking up a storm. Haidilao International Holding donated 5mil yuan (RM2.98mil) toward the coronavirus relief effort, including 2mil yuan (RM1.19mil) of instant hotpot to medical staff in Wuhan. There’s Shanghai Xiaoai Robot Technology, whose voice-recognition technology is powering the call centres at the provincial authorities of Hubei, Shandong, Beijing and Shanghai to provide basic information on disease prevention to callers. Hisense Home Appliances Group, one of China’s largest television makers, is offering all of its paid-TV content to Wuhan for free. The company donated more than 200mil yuan (RM119.22mil) of cash and products since late January to the fight to contain the coronavirus.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 06:11 UTC
Wuhan hospital doctor dies from Covid-19 infection
WUHAN (Xinhua): Dr Peng Yinhua, a doctor at a Wuhan hospital that receives patients infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19), died from the viral infection on Thursday (Feb 20) night, according to the local health bureau. Dr Peng, 29, a respiratory acute care medical professional, became infected while working to combat the coronavirus at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District of Wuhan. He was hospitalised on Jan 25 and transferred to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital for treatment on Jan 30. He died from the virus at 9.50pm on Thursday despite doctors' efforts to save his life at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. The local health bureau of the Jiangxia District mourned the death of Dr Peng and expressed condolences to his family.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 06:11 UTC
Wan Azizah: American in Malaysia who tested positive for Covid-19 clear of virus
PUTRAJAYA: The American cruise ship passenger who tested positive for the Covid-19 in Malaysia is now clear of the coronavirus. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the 83-year-old woman who is currently being treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital has been tested repeatedly for Covid-19, with the results showing that she is clear of the virus. "Once she is cleared of the symptoms, she can be discharged,” said Dr Wan Azizah at a press conference after chairing a high-level committee meeting on Covid-19 here. Two tests taken on the woman showed that she was positive for Covid-19, and she was then put in an isolation ward at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. Her husband tested negative but he chose to stay and accompany the woman at the hospital.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 06:01 UTC
Former national aquatics coach acquitted of rape charge for third time
KUALA LUMPUR: A former national aquatics squad coach who was accused of raping a diving athlete three years ago has been acquitted of the charge for the third time. High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ordered Huang Qiang to be released after dismissing an appeal by the prosecution. The judge found that the trial court had not erred in its judgement when it said that the prosecution did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. However, after the prosecution appealed against the acquittal in the same year, Huang was ordered to enter defence on the rape charge under Section 376(1) of Penal Code. He was acquitted at the end of his defence trial last year, and the prosecution filed an appeal again.
Source:The Star
February 21, 2020 06:00 UTC