MIC akan jumpa Anwar berkait dakwaan ‘layanan buruk’ Umno

 

Menurut jemputan yang bocor, pertemuan bersama Anwar Ibrahim dijadual di ibu pejabat MIC melibatkan jangkaan kehadiran hampir 1,000 ahli. (Gambar fail)

PETALING JAYA: Pertemuan bersama Anwar Ibrahim diatur MIC Rabu ini, dengan sumber berkata ia berkisar “layanan buruk” Umno terhadap parti itu.

Sumber enggan dinamakan itu berkata, MIC tidak gembira dengan layanan Umno, rakan komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) ketika rundingan kerusi PRN enam negeri.

Umno adalah parti dominan dalam BN yang merangkumi MCA dan beberapa parti kecil lain.

Ads by Kiosked

Dakwaan layanan buruk dikatakan berlaku sebelum MIC memutuskan tidak bertanding pada PRN enam negeri.

“Ahli MIC dimaklumkan supaya memberitahu pengundi India, boikot calon Umno sebagai tindak balas. Anwar dijangka menenangkan mereka,” kata sumber itu kepada FMT.

Anwar, yang juga pengerusi Pakatan Harapan menjadi ketua dalam gabungan kerajaan perpaduan melibatkan PH, BN, dan parti dari Malaysia Timur.

Menurut jemputan yang bocor itu, pertemuan bersama Anwar akan berlangsung di ibu pejabat MIC.

“Semua negeri dan pengerusi bahagian mesti membawa bersama mereka ahli jawatankuasa, termasuk pimpinan Pemuda, Wanita, Putera, dan Puteri,” menurut jemputan itu.

Difahamkan, MIC meminta semua pemimpin bahagian dan ahli jawatankuasa hadir bagi menunjukkan kekuatan semasa Anwar tiba dalam pertemuan itu.

Ads by Kiosked

Parti itu menjangkakan lebih 1,000 ahli akan hadir.

Setiausaha Agung MIC RT Rajasekaran enggan mengulas ketika dihubungi. - FMT

Hawala system used in abuse of visa approvals, says MACC

 

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency was still tracking several transactions made through the hawala system. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The hawala system was used in cases linked to the foreign visa system approval for Bangladeshi nationals entering Malaysia, according to anti-corruption chief Azam Baki.

Azam, who is head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, said MACC was still tracking several transactions that the agency suspects were payments to obtain tourist visas, Bernama reported.

“We also suspect a large sum of money has been channelled through the hawala system to several places,” he said at a media conference here today.

Ads by Kiosked

Hawala is a popular and informal value transfer system based on the performance and honour of a huge network of money brokers. They operate outside of, or parallel to, traditional banking, financial channels and remittance systems.

Azam added that the surplus of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia was a result of the abuse of the visa system, for which a clutch of enforcement agency officers has been detained, including immigration officers assigned to the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The investigation revealed they are believed to have colluded with employment agencies in Bangladesh and Malaysia to deliberately abuse the system since 2021, allowing Bangladeshi nationals to work in Malaysia.

4 arrested in rare earths case

Azam also said four people have been arrested in connection with the rare earths mining scandal in Kedah and that MACC will be calling more witnesses for further investigation.

The commission was not just investigating the financial issue, but also the compliance of approvals, he said. - FMT

Jais probes Fahmi over speech in Rawang mosque

 

A photograph of Fahmi Fadzil at a mosque in Rawang has been widely shared on social media, leading to an investigation by Selangor religious authorities.

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) has launched an investigation after complaints about communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil speaking at a mosque in Rawang yesterday.

A photo of him at the mosque has been widely shared on social media.

Jais director Shahzihan Ahmad said the investigation is being conducted under the Selangor shariah criminal enactment for insulting religious authorities.

Last week, the department had instructed mosques and suraus to ban any form of political activities within their compound.

Shahzihan said in a statement that the Rawang mosque administrator would be summoned to give a statement. “Action will be taken once the investigation is completed,” he said.

Shahzihan reminded candidates and political parties contesting in the Selangor elections to exercise caution when they were inside mosques and places of worship.

Such caution was needed to avoid violating the Sultan of Selangor’s orders and the resolutions of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, he said. “Stern action will be taken against those who violate the orders.”

On July 22, Jais directed all mosque and surau administrators in Selangor to ban any form of political activities or programmes within the perimeters of such places of worship, including the putting up of political party banners, slogans or logos.

Shahzihan said campaign or political parties’ propaganda materials, in any form, should not be allowed within the compounds of a mosque, surau or other buildings. - FMT

WATCHING SPORTS EXCESSIVELY

 

We know how passionate sports can make us feel, especially if our team wins a big game or losses one. Maybe you have felt like you are in a romantic relationship with your sports team. Science has found it can go even further, that your team might affect you to the point of impacting your body weight. 

The emotions seem real, but does watching sports actually change our brains? 

According to ASAPScience, the answer is yes! Here is what is actually happening in your brains when we watch your team play:

We feel dominant.

After watching your team win, levels of testosterone skyrocket, especially so when compared to experiencing a loss. So, if you are a tortured Projek FAM-MSN football club fan, there are not many surges in testosterone... because the team you root for is faring poorly.

Studies show that increased levels of testosterone, among other things, can influence dominating and aggressive behaviour. This can help explain why so many riots happen after sports championship victories.

We feel a rush of pleasure. 

Some fans experience dopamine surges whenever their favourite team or athlete fares well. Psychology Today describes dopamine as a "neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres.  It helps regulate emotional responses as well as movement. Whenever a fan's team experiences a win, that individual's pleasure centres will be ignited.

We actually feel like we are playing in the game.

Cells in the brain called mirror neurons activate when sports fans watch games. Mirror neurons help people understand the actions of others and allow people to put themselves into another's shoes - in other words, to feel empathy. When it comes to watching sports, these mirror neurons cause fans to internalize the actions they are witnessing on the field and feel the accompanying emotions as if they were doing the action themselves.

In other words, we feel as elated about the game-winning sensation as the football player who scores the winning goal. The sadness we feel when our team loses can be as acute as if we were on the team ourselves, even though we did not actually win or lose anything but it can last for several hours.

While people get invested in sports and teams for different reasons, the hormonal reactions can be similar. And what is going on in our brains explains why we keep on watching. We are looking to recreate the physiological excitement that we cannot seem to forget from our team winning. We are basically addicted and keep coming back for more! 

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.

Pas is not being used by Gerakan, says Tuan Ibrahim

 

Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as individual party. -NSTP/NIK ABDULLAH NIK OMAR

SEREMBAN: Pas has dismissed claims suggesting that the Islamist party is being used by Gerakan for the state election in Penang.

Its deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as individual party.

"Both of Pas and Gerakan are component parties in PN.

"We are contesting in the polls as a coalition and not as an individual party.

And our candidates who are being fielded in the polls received their 'watikah' (appointment letter to contest in the state election) from PN (and not from Pas and Gerakan)," he told reporters after attending a ceramah in Paroi here today.

Perception that Pas is being used by Gerakan for the contest in the Penang state election persisted following the decision by PN to field Penang PN chairman Datuk Dominic Lau as its candidate for the Bayan Lepas seat in Penang.

The Bayan Lepas state seat became an issue of contention after Pas Bayan Lepas said it would not accept a non-Malay candidate in the Malay-majority seat.

Several Pas leaders had accused Lau of pulling strings with the top PN leadership to get the seat.

Lau has since then brushed aside such a claim.

On another matter, Tuan Ibrahim said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should remain as an independent institution or risk losing the faith and trust from the people.

The call by the Kubang Kerian member of parliament came on the heels on the statement by MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki who described the allocation of grants by the federal government to the youth of Terengganu as not illegal or corrupt.

Azam was commenting on the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of RM100,000 grant for the Central Development Authority (Ketengah) youth association and RM250,000 for the Terengganu Youth Council.

"Perhaps we need a guideline, what can be announced and what is against (the election regulation).

"Be clear and fair. Do not say (it is against the election regulation) when the opposition prepare a bus to transport their supporters," Tuan Ibrahim said. - NST

Frenchman who does extreme sports falls to his death from high-rise building in Hong Kong

 

Remi Lucidi began posting photos and videos on Instagram in 2016 of him scaling high-rise buildings and structures in countries such as France, the United Arab Emirates, and Portugal. - PHOTO: REMI ENIGMA/INSTAGRAM

A 30-year-old French national with a history of climbing high-rise buildings across the world died on Thursday after falling from a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong.

Mr Remi Lucidi fell off one of the buildings in the Tregunter Tower complex, and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Friday.

The police are investigating if Mr Lucidi had died while “practising extreme sports”, said the report.

An unnamed source who spoke to the Hong Kong-based newspaper said Mr Lucidi was last seen alive at 7.30pm on Thursday, when he was knocking on a penthouse window located on the 68th storey of the Tregunter Tower building.

A domestic helper in the penthouse called the police for help after seeing the man at the window.

The source said it was possible that Mr Lucidi had knocked on the window to ask for help, after being trapped outside the penthouse.

Hong Kong police found Mr Lucidi’s sports camera, which contained videos of extreme sports, and his French identity card at the scene of the incident, SCMP reported.

In 2016, Mr Lucidi began posting photos and videos on Instagram of him scaling high-rise buildings and structures in countries such as France, the United Arab Emirates, and Portugal.

His latest Instagram post, posted just six days ago, is a bird’s-eye view shot of Times Square in Hong Kong.

Mr Lucidi had checked in at the Ashoka Hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui on July 17, and was due to check out on Sunday, SCMP reported.

Hong Kong police said Mr Lucidi arrived at Tregunter Tower around 6pm on Thursday, and told a security guard that he was visiting a friend who lives on the 40th storey.

He had taken the lift up before the guard realised the resident did not know Mr Lucidi.

Mr Lucidi was then captured by the security camera getting out of the lift on the 49th storey, and was later spotted on the building’s top floor staircase.

The lock to the top floor was found to be forced open, but security guards were not able to locate Mr Lucidi, who was later found dead on the building’s ground floor. - The Straits Times/ANN

State polls: CAAM investigating use of four drones during nomination day

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The use of four drones in separate cases during nomination day on Saturday (July 29) is being investigated, with one case classified as intentionally causing hurt, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

The drones were seized and the four operators were detained by the police, said CAAM chief executive officer Capt Norazman Mahmud in a statement.

"Among the four cases reported, one resulted in an unfortunate incident involving an agricultural drone that crashed and injured a civilian.

"The victim was immediately taken to the hospital for further treatment.

"The case is currently under investigation by CAAM in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016 and the police under Section 325 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing grievous hurt," he said on Sunday (July 30).

Those found guilty of such offence may face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine or both, Capt Norazman said.

CAAM reminded the public that operation of drones is strictly prohibited throughout the period during the six state elections that cover nomination day, early voting on Aug 8 and election day on Aug 12, as well as during the 14-day campaign period. - Star

Muhyiddin says ‘Allah’ issue shows govt run by non-Malays

 

Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin says DAP members of the government were behind the decision not to appeal against the ‘Allah’ ruling.

KAPAR : Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has accused the Anwar Ibrahim unity government of being run by non-Malays, citing the “Allah” issue as an example.

He said that when he was the home minister in the Pakatan Harapan government of 2018-2020, he came under pressure from DAP not to allow an appeal against a High Court ruling on the use of the word “Allah” by a Sarawakian woman in her religious learning.

He said there is a big difference in the meaning of the word as used by Christians and Muslims.

“As a Malay leader, that is why I urged the PH government to appeal (against the High Court ruling). Even if we had lost the appeal at the highest court level, we could have made a law on the Allah issue,” said Muhiyiddin.

However, the appeal did not proceed further because Anwar’s government came into power last year, Muhyiddin said. “He became the prime minister and decided to stop the appeal, and when you don’t appeal it means you agree to the court order which allows Christians to use the word ‘Allah’.”

He alleged that Anwar’s decision was because of pressure from DAP. “Even when I was with them (in the PH government), they pushed me not to allow an appeal.”

He accused Anwar of being willing to do anything just so he could remain in power. “He is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it’s befriending Umno.”

The “Allah” issue arose when a Sarawakian woman, Jill Ireland, sought a court order to allow the use of the word for the purpose of religious education in Malay and her native Melanau language in Sarawak.

In a landmark decision in March 2021, the High Court declared as illegal a 1986 home ministry ruling to prohibit the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” by non-Muslims.

The government filed an appeal but on April 18 this year, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, representing the home ministry, notified the Court of Appeal that it did not wish to pursue the case. - FMT

State polls: Azmin will lose anywhere he contests, says PKR's Rodziah

 

Selangor PKR vice chairman III Rodziah Ismail described Azmin’s departure from his previous Bukit Antarabangsa state seat to now Hulu Kelang. -NSTP/HAIRUL ANUAR RAHIM

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali is a 'sore loser' who will lose wherever he contests.

That was how Selangor PKR vice chairman III Rodziah Ismail described Azmin's departure from his previous Bukit Antarabangsa state seat to now Hulu Kelang.

"Regardless of where he contests or how he is likening the move to him returning to his hometown of Hulu Kelang, he will lose.

"Maybe he forgot that he had actually served longer at Bukit Antarabangsa, that is since 2008, instead of Hulu Kelang.

"But, the people will reject him because he was the one who orchestrated the conspiracy that caused the collapse of the previous federal government.

"The people will not forget what he did. The rakyat are wise," she told the New Straits Times, referring to the 2020 Sheraton Move.

Rodziah was an executive councillor during Azmin's tenure as Selangor menteri besar and when he was PKR deputy president.

In the 15th General Election, Azmin defended the Gombak parliamentary seat on a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia ticket.

However, Azmin lost to Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, his menteri besar successor.

Rodziah, who is PKR Shah Alam division chief, also ridiculed Azmin who decided against his earlier intention to rest from politics.

Azmin is contesting under the Perikatan Nasional banner at Hulu Kelang challenging Pakatan Harapan's Juwairiya Zulkifli of PKR.

"Suddenly, he says he is contesting. He is the one jumping seats, so did Datuk Seri Rina Harun, who had gone from the Titiwangsa constituency to Sepang and now Shah Alam (Batu Tiga state seat).

"It is them who are switching seats, not us. They are both sore losers.

"Perhaps, Azmin should eat more vitamins to refresh his memory," said Rodziah when met at a campaign trail in Bandar Baru Ampang.

Yesterday, Azmin said he was not running away from his Bukit Antarabangsa constituents, unlike someone else who switches from one seat to another.

He did not mention names, but his remarks were an apparent jab at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Azmin said he was given the mandate for Hulu Kelang in 1999.

He added that when he was elected as Gombak member of parliament, Hulu Kelang was part of Gombak.

He said the issue of him running away as claimed by political parties did not arise.

"The one running away from his political base is someone who was first in Permatang Pauh, escaping to Port Dickson and then to Tambun.

"That is running away," he was quoted as saying.

Anwar held the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat for four terms before he was jailed in 1998.

After his release, he won and contested in the Port Dickson by-election in 2018 and was then Tambun MP in the 15th General Election. - NST

Selangor voters can't view state election as experiment

 

Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said BN, together with its partner Pakatan Harapan (PH) offered continued development and a better future to the people of Selangor in line with its position as the ruling coalition at both federal and state levels. -BERNAMA PIC

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) has advised voters in the state to make the wise choice in choosing candidates from parties aligned to the unity government during the state election.

Its chairman, Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said BN, together with its partner Pakatan Harapan (PH) offered continued development and a better future to the people of Selangor in line with its position as the ruling coalition at both federal and state levels.

He said Malaysians cannot turn the state election into an experiment and think that the results would not impact the existing federal government.

"Voters cannot allow the state government formed following the state election to be in opposition to the federal government as it would hinder important planned development for Selangor," he told reporters after officiating the an economic and entrepreneurial forum organised by the office of Senator Datuk Seri Zurainah Musa together with government agencies and non-governmental organisation at SIRIM Bhd headquarters here today.

Megat Zulkarnain, the BN candidate for Gombak Setia, said he was convinced Selangor voters were wise enough to assess the current political situation and realise every vote would determine a brighter future for the state.

He added that the Selangor PH-BN five-year manifesto that is set to be launched tomorrow would promise something that benefits the state and its people, adding that the current development and prosperity enjoyed today was due to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari's good administration based on the BN's previous successes after PH took over the state government in 2008.

"With the combined depth of experience of BN and PH, I'm sure our offer will be better and of more use to the people," he said. – Bernama

Calon Muda isytihar harta dalam masa terdekat, kata Syed Saddiq

 

Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman berkata 19 calonnya yang bertanding pada PRN akan isytihar harta.

PETALING JAYA: Muda akan mengisytiharkan harta calonnya yang bertanding pada PRN 12 Ogos dalam masa terdekat.

Presidennya, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman berkata, semua ahli parti itu yang bertanding dalam pilihan raya wajib mengisytiharkan harta mereka.

“Bagi membolehkan mereka mendapat borang daripada presiden untuk menjadi calon, mereka diwajibkan untuk mengisytiharkan aset (terlebih dahulu),” katanya menurut Bernama.

Ads by Kiosked

Sebelum ini, Muda mengumumkan bahawa ia akan meletakkan 20 calon untuk bertanding dalam PRN di empat negeri iaitu Selangor (14), Pulau Pinang (tiga), Negeri Sembilan (dua) dan seorang di Terengganu.

Bagaimanapun, Jawatankuasa Pilihan Raya Muda memaklumkan, Muhammad Noriswan yang sebelum ini diumumkan sebagai calon Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Repah, Negeri Sembilan mengambil keputusan menarik diri atas sebab-sebab peribadi.

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya telah menetapkan hari pengundian pada 12 Ogos dan pengundian awal pada 8 Ogos bagi PRN di Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kedah serta Kelantan. - FMT

Perak govt to take over management of Lenggong Valley world heritage site

 

Tiong King Sing looking at handicraft on sale at a stall in conjunction with the Warisan@Lenggong programme today. (Bernama pic)

LENGGONG: The tourism, arts and culture ministry, through the national heritage department, today handed over the management of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site of Lenggong Valley to the Perak state government.

Minister Tiong King Sing said he hoped the site would be better managed under the leadership of the Perak menteri besar and various agencies under the state government.

“In terms of finances, the state government can apply for the necessary allocations to the federal government.”

Ads by Kiosked

He spoke to reporters after the closing ceremony for the Warisan@Lenggong programme in conjunction with the 11th anniversary of the Lenggong Valley Unesco world heritage site as well as a cultural arts festival at Dataran Lenggong here today.

Tiong also announced an allocation of RM5 million for the Perak state government to promote Visit Perak Year 2024.

Menteri besar Saarani Mohamad expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Lenggong district council for striving to ensure that the world heritage site continued to be preserved. - FMT

Narcotics case items missing after break-in at police store

 

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said a laptop on the exhibits was also missing but no arrests had been made yet. (Facebook pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Items linked to narcotic cases have been reported missing after the exhibit store at the Sepang district police headquarters was broken into on Friday.

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the incident when contacted by Bernama today, adding that no arrests had been made yet.

“It’s still under investigation. We have to rectify many things first,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code.

Ads by Kiosked

A police report claiming that the store had been ransacked and case items had gone missing went viral recently. Among the items stolen was a bag containing a laptop with information on the exhibits, the report said.

The report also mentioned that checks revealed that the closed circuit camera at the location was damaged and not functioning. - FMT