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Showing posts with label CREDIBLE INFORMATION SHARING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CREDIBLE INFORMATION SHARING. Show all posts

Friday, April 22, 2022

The telltale signs of a scam, Macau scams: Spot, avoid and report scammers; It’s all in the details

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Victim usually fall prey due to fear, naivety or greed

Fear, naivety and greed may have caused victims to fall prey to scammers who cheat them of thousands of ringgit, says MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

He said aside from making phone calls, scammers would also write to the victim or even meet them in person.

“They claim to be government officers and they want you to park the money (temporarily) and you can take it back later – so the money will not be confiscated,” he said while elaborating on how some victims were conned.

“Are there such people who are kind enough to ask someone to hide their money? When I asked, the victims could not answer me,” he added.

Chong said some victims revealed that the scammers who claimed to be government officers had spoken to them in Mandarin, which is uncommon as the medium of instruction used by civil servants is either Bahasa Malaysia or English.

Some of them have also received calls after office hours, which is out of the norm.

“They will frighten victims by saying that they have been charged with money laundering or their property will be confiscated. Many victims get duped because they are scared.

“Let me ask one thing: if you have not done something wrong, then why are you scared? The conmen will know that you have done something wrong from the way they talk to you, and they will scam you further,” he added.

Chong said most of the victims will be told not to divulge any information to their family.

He cited a case where the scammer had accompanied the elderly victim to the bank to withdraw money. They would, however, wear a cap or sunglasses to ensure they cannot be identified or captured by CCTVs. The scammers would also address the victim as their parent to avert suspicion.

He said some victims were told not to cut the (phone) call until the “job” was done, and this could sometimes stretch for hours.

As for those who were lured with the promise of big prizes, Chong noted that simple logic applied here.

“If you didn’t buy any lottery ticket, how do you expect to strike the lottery?” he said.

There is also no clear demographic of scam victims.

“Age is not a factor but of course elderly victims are easier to target,” he said.

Chong also said banks should also be alert when elderly citizens are seen withdrawing huge amounts at one go.

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 Macau scams: Spot, avoid and report scammers

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KUALA LUMPUR: Despite constant reminders and notifications, people are still being duped by Macau Scams.

Last year, 1,585 Macau scam cases were reported nationwide resulting in RM560.8mil in losses.

This year, the number has already reached 1,258 cases between Jan 1 and April 19, involving RM65.4mil in losses.

ALSO READ: Got your EPF money? Beware the scammers

The Macau Scam modus operandi often starts with a phone call from someone pretending to be an officer from a bank, government or law enforcement agency or debt collector.

The scammer will then claim that the potential victim owes money, has an unpaid fine or has even been implicated in a crime.

The victim will then be given a choice to settle the matter – by transferring his funds to a mule account designated by the “officer” or by facing “dire consequences”.

These unsuspecting victim will then be asked to make payments to get him off the hook.

Hundreds of millions of ringgit have been lost to these scammers, who pose as officers from government agencies such as the police, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and even the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

ALSO READ: It's all in the details

The range of victims have also expanded to include those in the professional line such as doctors and lawyers.

Kuala Lumpur Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Asst Comm Mohd Mahidisham Ishak said several factors may address why Macau scam cases are still occurring.

“We believe it is a combination of a few things.

While we have conducted various campaigns to increase awareness, it could be that the message has not reached society thoroughly.

“We have utilised various platforms, including social media and public transport to spread more awareness on Macau scams.

“We will step up such campaigns to include having talks in schools to ensure that knowledge on such scams reach the masses,” said ACP Mohd Mahidisham.

Changes in the scammers’ modus operandi might have also contributed to such cases still occurring, ACP Mohd Mahidisham added.

“Scammers have posed as officers from the police force, Customs department, BNM and LHDN in the past.

“As mentioned in the past, scammers also used the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to mask their phone numbers.

“We hope the public will remain vigilant against such tactics,” he said.

ALSO READ: Recent cases of Macau scams tell a sorry tale

Victims not informing family members or authorities due to embarrassment could be another factor for such cases, he lamented.

ACP Mohd Mahidisham is also concerned that such scam methods have become more elaborate.

“Usually, the harassment by the scammers will last between one to two hours.

“However, since last month, we have been recording cases where the victims were harassed for about a week. It is important for family members to act if they spot any changes or peculiar actions (faced by the affected family member),” he said.

ACP Mohd Mahidisham also reminded the public that agencies such as the police do not conduct investigations over the phone.

“Witnesses or those who can assist the investigation will be required to make an appointment so that their statements will be recorded at the police station or headquarters.

“Don’t be fooled by such calls ... better yet, if you do not recognise the phone number, do not answer the call,” he stressed.

The public should never divulge any banking details to a third party, he added.

“Banking details should be kept safe. Don’t register the phone number of others for your bank account,” he said.

ACP Mohd Mahidisham urged those with enquiries to contact the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559/1599, Whatsapp the CCID info-line at 013-2111222, or log on to semakmule.rmp.gov.my.

“Utilise the facilities that we have prepared for the public.

“Preventing and busting scams, especially Macau scams, remain our priority,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Invesigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din recently said Macau scam syndicates were using a new tactic to target Tabung Haji account holders.

“We have recorded 65 cases amounting to RM3.6mil in losses already recorded.

“Based on investigations, these activities are being conducted by Macau scam syndicates.

“They would make calls to the victims and intimidate the victims with allegations of involvement in criminal activities and outstanding credit card debts among other tactics,” he said.

He said the syndicates would then ask for the victims to disclose their banking information to clear them of any wrongdoing.

“We have now detected cases where the syndicates have withdrawn money from Tabung Haji accounts linked to conventional bank accounts belonging to the victims.

“The convenience of Internet banking facilities by Tabung Haji and other conventional banks has made this possible,” he said, adding that investigations revealed the victims had provided banking information to unknown individuals over the phones.

He said as a result, the victims not only lost money from their bank accounts but also money from their pilgrimage fund accounts.

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Macau scams: It’s all in the details

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PETALING JAYA: Well-choreographed storylines backed with the victims’ personal information and the ability to instil fear over possible repercussions from the authorities – these are some of the reasons many are still falling for Macau scams despite wide media coverage.

Hafishah Ab Hamid, 37, who lost over RM30,000, said she was pressured into believing her identity was stolen, which not only caused her to have RM40,000 in income tax arrears with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), but also “a wanted person notice” for her involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking.

ALSO READ: Got your EPF money? Beware the scammers

She received a letter purportedly from LHDN before receiving a phone call on March 29.

“I was hesitant at first, but I was transferred to a ‘Sarjan Nadia’ who asked me to Google ‘Kota Baru police station’. She said I would receive a call from that number and I did, which is when I started to fall for the scam.

“This ‘Sarjan Nadia’ then called ‘Bukit Aman’ to check if I was involved in other activities ... the background noises were realistic – you could hear sirens, people yelling ‘emergency case’, and then an officer from ‘Bukit Aman’ informed me that I was involved in money laundering and drug trafficking.

“I started to panic, but she told me to not inform anyone, not even my husband.

“She said to imagine how my husband and children would feel if they knew,” she added.

ALSO READ: Recent cases of Macau scams tell a sorry tale

During the four-hour conversation, Hafishah was also transferred to “Datuk ACP Zul”, who was supposed to clear her name and suspend an arrest warrant issued in her name.

“‘Datuk ACP Zul’ asked for information on my bank accounts, and I told him everything, including my ASB (Amanah Saham Bumiputra) details. He told me to transfer my (ASB) money to my bank account so that they could check if the money was obtained legally,” she said.

The so-called Datuk ACP Zul also sent her an Android Package (APK) file, which is the file format used by the Android operating system for the installation of mobile apps.

“When I installed the app, a Bank Negara Malaysia logo appeared and I had to provide details such as my bank, full name, identification number, user name and password.

“I didn’t suspect anything at that time because I had just transferred my money (from ASB) to my account and I saw that my balance was RM32,000.

“I didn’t think I was being cheated because I didn’t transfer money to their account, but what I didn’t know was that they transferred my money to another account,” said Hafishah.

It is understood that the app she installed allowed the scammer to access her phone and obtain her information, which included her Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC) security number.

“I didn’t get back my money – I was told that they transferred my money in stages so it is very difficult to trace (it). Bank Negara said they couldn’t freeze the scammer’s bank account.

“The scammer contacted me the next day. I informed the police, but I was told to just block their number.

“So I feel sad because even though we have their number and they are actively using it, nothing can be done to trace them,” she said, adding that she hopes others will educate themselves and not fall for such scams.

ALSO READ: Spot, avoid and report scammers

Nurul Najwa Ibrahim, 23, was in confinement when she received a call from “Pos Laju” on March 10, claiming that she posted illegal items – bank and identifications cards – and these were held up at the Kuantan police station.

“The caller said I needed to lodge a police report because perhaps someone was using my personal information. When I said that I didn’t post anything, and he asked me to press ‘9’ before I was transferred to a ‘Corporal Nasir Ahmad’,” she said.

To convince her, Najwa was asked to Google the Kuantan police station phone number and she was told to expect a call from that number.

“‘Corporal Nasir’ gave (me) two options: they would issue an arrest warrant or I could cooperate.

“He sent me a bank account number and instructed me to bank in RM3,000 so he could check the source of my money.

“After a while, I thought to myself, how could they check if my money came from illegal means unless they had my bank statement? That was when I realised that I had been duped.

“But the fact that they knew my full name, my identification number and they called me using the same number as the one I Googled made me believe that they were genuine,” said Najwa.

She said she hopes that the authorities would do more to curb this scam menace.

“The public should be wary – don’t be afraid even if they claim that they have ‘police cases’ on us,” she added.

Desperate to get a new car, Mazura Mat Esa, 41, ended up falling into depression after being manipulated by a scammer on March 25.

“I saw an advertisement on an online marketplace and contacted the seller who claimed he had submitted my loan application to Maybank the same night.

“The next day, a ‘Maybank officer’ calling himself ‘Maran’ phoned and said he would help expedite the bank process for RM2,000.

“The way he spoke was so convincing and he could answer all my questions,” she said.

Mazura transferred a total of RM5,000 as “processing fees” and to book a licence plate number.

Until today, she still hasn’t received her dream car.

 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Weak in the knees

 

AS we age, our bodies begin to feel the effects of wear and tear. One of the most prominent implications of this is knee osteoarthritis. In Knee Pain and Functional Disability of Knee Osteoarthritis Patients Seen at Malaysian Government Hospitals by the Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, it is stated that roughly 10% to 20% of the elderly population in Malaysia suffer from the condition. Furthermore, the journal mentions that adults aged 40 and above are at greater risk of experiencing knee pain issues.
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The journal defines it as a musculoskeletal disease arising from the degradation of joint cartilage – characterised by symptoms such as joint stiffness, discomfort and pain in knee joints. This is because the loss of cartilage causes joint bones to rub off each other. In severe cases, there is also the possibility of functional disability.
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How to tackle osteoarthritis?
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There are several ways to manage symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. For example, losing weight through a healthy diet can help with reducing the physical strain on your knees. Physical therapy and exercise are also recommended to help in the weight loss process, with the added benefit of improving functional performance of the joint, according to Exercise and osteoarthritis published by the Journal of Anatomy.
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If symptoms heighten to a debilitating state, supportive devices such as braces and canes might be needed to reduce the strain on the knees when walking.
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Surgery is another option that can be considered to improve the condition of affected knees.
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Curcumin, an active compound found in the ginger turmeric, has historically been used for its medicinal benefits in both ancient Indian and Chinese cultures dating back to thousands of years ago. Based on Turmeric by American Journal of Healthsystem Pharmacy, it was commonly used to treat pain in the joints and muscular disorders in India.
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In modern times, according to Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health published by MDPI, curcumin has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties when combined with bioavailability-enhancing agents such as piperine – which helps the body absorb curcumin more efficiently.
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The study concludes that curcumin can help in the management of osteoarthritis, such as pain relief and reduction in inflammation symptoms.
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There are also a host of associated health benefits that include helping with anxiety, improved recovery from exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, management of other oxidative and inflammatory conditions, and more.
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This article is brought to you by Pharma care.
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For more information, call 03-7490 2138 or visit https://bioglan.com.my

Making hearing care accessible

 


THE ability to hear is crucial for us to communicate, socialise with family and friends and be more aware of our surroundings. Unfortunately, when hearing is affected, many people do not know who and where to look when in need of an audiologist.
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With a mission of making hearing care accessible to all Malaysians, 20db Hearing offers multiple packages to help people enjoy a natural listening experience despite their hearing problems.
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Best of its class
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20db Hearing introduces a range of affordable premium hearing aids – the Unitron Blu series.
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Your dedicated audiologists is able to customise your hearing aids to suit your hearing needs. You will have control of your own hearing aid settings, where you are able to adjust the volume, select the programme, boost clarity and adjust the comfort or focus of the microphones via the Remote Plus app.
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The Automic has noise reduction capabilities, and increases gain to speech sounds for improved speech clarity and comfort during conversations in noisy environments.
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IOS and Android compatible
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Made compatible for all phones, the Unitron Blu series offers the best in connectivity the ability to connect directly to both Android and Apple smartphones. with these advanced hearing aids, say goodbye to having to switch phones to adjust the settings. You can even access virtual assistants, accept and end calls, as well as pause and play media, with a double tap on the ear.
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“20db Hearing is proud to walk you through the technology and features that will be perfect for your hearing needs, with professional consultation and fitting by audiologists,” says Mok Yong Yaw, founder and chief executive officer of 20db Hearing. The company is a pioneer in hearing carecentres and is ISO 9001:2015 certified in Malaysia.
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Mok adds that 20db Hearing has the highest number of hearing aid outlets in Malaysia and has board-certified audiologists nationwide who are delighted to provide complimentary hearing screening, consultation and hearing aids trial up to 20 days for the first 100 customers.
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Terms and conditions apply.
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■ For more information, call 1800 88 2032, Whatsapp 012-942 7729 Or follow 20db Hearing on social media.-The Star Health
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Sunday, March 20, 2022

When men eat wrong


Hornby is among the young men trying to normalise seeking treatment for eating disorders by speaking out about his experience on social media. — TNS

Discover william hornby 's popular videos | TikTok

 Men can have eating disorders too

William Hornby looks straight into the camera, smiles and says: “Hi, I’m William and I am a man who is proudly in eating disorder recovery.”

It’s the kind of public and unashamed acknowledgement the now 22-year-old Temple University student in the United States wished he could have leaned on when he began his recovery in early 2020.

The video has been watched more than 21,000 times since Hornby posted it on TikTok in December 2020.
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An estimated 10 million men and boys have a diagnosed eating disorder – about a third of all reported cases, according to the US National Eating Disorder Association.
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Yet, because the condition is largely seen as a women’s health problem, men often struggle to find help.
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Treatment centres primarily cater to women.
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Clinicians are trained to recognise eating disorders among women, but often don’t pick up on the different warning signs among men.
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Even self-help is hard to come by, with far fewer men than women speaking out publicly about their experience.
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As a result, men are, on average, sicker when they’re finally diagnosed and more likely to require hospitalisation, which makes their path to recovery that much harder.

“Often, we don’t recognise they’re struggling until it’s too late,” said Brian Pollack, the founder and clinical director of Hilltop Behavioral Health in Summit, New Jersey.
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“They fall harder and quicker – or at least it’s perceived that way – because no one knows the signs and symptoms.”
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Unrealistic body images
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There are good reasons resources are dedicated to treating eating disorders among women.
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Just like women, men too feel the pressure to have a certain ideal physique due to the images portrayed in media. — Filepic Just like women, men too feel the pressure to have a certain ideal physique due to the images portrayed in media. — Filepic
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The cultural ideals for many American women – tall, thin, beautiful – have contributed to generations of eating disorders, especially anorexia, among women and girls who felt immense pressure to resemble the Barbie dolls they played with and the models they saw in magazines.
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Clothing designers are increasingly including models of all sizes in their advertisements; children’s movies feature heroines who don’t wear crowns and corsets; and dolls with realistic body proportions line toy store shelves.
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But there’s still a long way to go to undo such ingrained ideas about body image.
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At the same time, clinicians are grappling with how to better support men and boys experiencing body-image problems.
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For men, movies and music that conflate masculinity with ripped physiques or lean, toned bodies can contribute to eating disorders.
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Gym culture – working out hard and eating nothing but lean protein, then celebrating with indulgent “cheat day” meals – encourages a pattern of food restriction and binge-eating.
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“Behaviours might look the same (in men and women), but cognitive drivers are different and that’s linked to different body ideals,” said Stuart Murray, the director of the University of Southern California’s eating disorders programme and a founder of the US National Eating Disorders Association.
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Men also perceive their eating behaviour differently, which requires medical professionals to take a different approach to talking to men about these issues.
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For instance, binge-eating is considered a loss of control, however, men who are taught to always be in control may not view their binge-restrict eating patterns that way, Murray said.
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Where to turn to?
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Growing up outside Baltimore, Hornby said being around family members who dieted routinely, thumbing through health magazines, and having to change for gym class in a locker room full of his peers, made him question how he looked.
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He started to restrict what and how much he ate.
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“I would look at men’s health magazines and resent that I didn’t look like that, and be scared that I never would,” Hornby recalled of his 11-year-old self.
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Once on his own, in college, Hornby started to eat more, but would immediately feel guilty and force himself to limit his intake.
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At a particularly low point, he reached out to a Temple dietitian, who connected him to a therapist.
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With help from both of them, Hornby began to make progress in breaking his cycle in 2020.
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But figuring out how to move forward from his pattern of restrictive eating and bingeing was hard because he felt alone.
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“One of the most isolating and challenging things for me was I couldn’t find representation for men with eating disorders,” he said.
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“Even though I knew it was happening, I couldn’t find them.”
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Because eating disorders have been cast as a female problem, men may not recognise that their relationship with food is also troubled.
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Those who do realise they have a problem may not know where to turn for help.
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With an overwhelmingly female clientele, treatment centres often have a feminine aesthetic and programmatic approach to discussing eating disorders that doesn’t resonate with men, Pollack said.
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“Whether it’s an all-female organisation or the standards of care and the language around care is female-focused, men don’t feel comfortable,” he said.
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Data needed
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Improving eating disorder treatment for men must be about more than making them feel comfortable speaking out.Gym culture, which involves working out hard and eating lean meat with the occasional ‘cheat day’, encourages an unhealthy pattern of food restriction and binge-eating. — The Washington Post
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Gym culture, which involves working out hard and eating lean meat with the occasional ‘cheat day’, encourages an unhealthy pattern of food restriction and binge-eating. — The Washington Post >>
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The medical field must evolve to include men in clinical trials to understand the effectiveness of existing and future medications and therapies among men.
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“The provider has to rely on data drawn from predominantly female samples.
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“You have to kind of wing it and assume that the treatment that’s worked for females will work for males,” Murray said.
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Until about 10 years ago, the criteria a person needed to meet in order to be formally diagnosed with an eating disorder included loss of menstrual cycle – a physiological impossibility for men.
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Changing that criteria opened up new funding opportunities for studying and tracking eating disorders among men, but the field is still catching up.
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Less than 1% of studies about eating disorders have involved men, said Murray, who has extensively studied the dearth of re- sources for men.
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Researchers are learning that while influenced by personal circumstance, social media and popular culture, some people may be genetically predisposed to be vulnerable to eating disorders.
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Future treatments could involve therapies that retrain neural pathways in the brain, essentially reteaching the brain how to think about food and body image.
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Clinical studies for these treatments especially, must include men, whose brains work differently than women’s, Murray said.
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“We’re standing at the precipice of repeating history,” he said.
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Helping others
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With help from his therapist and dietician, Hornby has established nutritious eating habits and healthier expectations of his body.
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In late 2020, he decided to start posting videos and messages on TikTok and Instagram, offering encouragement to people who may not even realise they need it.
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He has posted hundreds of short videos with messages like “coffee is not a meal and neither is the milk in your coffee”, “your body isn’t addicted to carbohydrates, it just needs them” and “you aren’t faking your eating disorder if it’s happening when no one’s around” that have earned him hundreds of thousands of social media followers.
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He also recorded a song about body dysmorphia – a mental health disorder in which people obsess over perceived flaws with their appearance.
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It’s titled Clay, he said, “because when you have (body dysmorphia), your mind treats your body like clay” that can be pinched and moulded to a preferred shape.
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Sharing such a personal experience is scary, and at first, he feared people would think he was making it up for attention, he said.
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But the messages he receives from others who have found comfort in his posts are encouraging and have helped him maintain his progress.
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“Every single day I get messages from people telling me my content is what gave them the push to ask for help... it’s incredibly meaningful,” he said.
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“It can serve as a reminder that these are not rational thoughts people are having.
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“Then when I have those same thoughts later in the day, it holds me accountable.” – By Sarah Gantz/The Philadelphia Inquirer/Tribune News Service

Friday, March 18, 2022

China sends tough signal ahead of Xi-Biden talk to set firm position on bilateral ties, Ukraine issue

 

Yang Jiechi (1st L), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (1st R) in Rome, Italy, March 14, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 The Point:Xi & Biden to talk Ukraine

Just hours before the phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Friday, China, in a rare move, sent tough signals, stating it will never accept US threats and coercion over the Ukraine issue and vowing to make a strong response if the US takes measures harming China's legitimate interests.
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In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, an anonymous Chinese official said China accepted the US' proposal for the phone call between the heads of the two countries on China-US relations and the Ukraine situation out of considerations of bilateral relations, promoting peace talks and urging the US to take right stance.
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China will never accept US threats and coercion, and if the US takes measures that harm China's legitimate interests and the interests of Chinese enterprises and individuals, China will not sit idly by and will make a strong response, the official stressed, noting the US should not have any illusions or miscalculations about this.
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China's strong signals were sent as the Biden administration has intensified its disinformation campaign over China's "military support" to Russia and attempted to threaten China with "dire consequences."
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that Biden will make clear during Friday's call that China will "bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," he told a media briefing.
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Chinese analysts said China's clear statement on its stand is very necessary and timely, when the US seeks to manipulate Friday's talk to coerce China to change its diplomatic position, provoke China-Russia relations and smear China's image, which is sinister and vicious.
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China is sending a stern warning to the Biden administration not to harbor any illusions of changing China in Friday night's talk, and is urging Biden to calm down on the practical issues of the two countries, analysts said.
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Just days after the Rome meeting between senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the US reached out to China again for a higher-level meeting, which in some Chinese analysts' view reflected the US' growing anxiety over the uncontrollable consequences of the worsening Ukraine crisis, especially after its attempt to change China's position failed in Rome and the US is in dire need of China's help to deal with the chaos it created but failed to handle.
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Friday's scheduled phone call is being made as the US is caught in double plight: worrying about possible nuclear conflict with Russia with its extreme pressure against it and the risk of a rapid escalation of conflicts with China over the Taiwan question, Chinese analysts said, noting the Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue will be high on the agenda of the exchange.
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Behind the Biden administration's designed pressuring on China was its deep anxiety and pressing need for help from China on the Ukraine crisis, Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
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"Friday's meeting for the US is far more urgent than other issues Biden has dealt with since he took office. The exchange will be held as the US, under extreme urgent circumstances, requested to have exchanges with China on Ukraine," Li said.
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Some American media are also aware of the US' dilemma. In covering Friday's exchange, Bloomberg News said in its headline that, "Biden looks to China for help with Putin." An opinion piece for Bloomberg said the worse Russia does, "the greater the risks America and its European allies may face."
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The Ukraine issue is the consequence of accumulated problems between the US and Russia or the US-led NATO's continuous pressuring and challenging of Russia's security, thus the US, deep inside, does not expect China to solve it, but it still wants to draw China into its mess or ask China to help it out since the current situation is beyond its expectations and it will become harder for the US to avoid being directly involved in it, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
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Lü pointed out that Biden has been naïve for thinking that Russia will not fight back when faced with the US' provocations, and now he is using fuel to put out the fire in Ukraine while being afraid the fire will reach NATO.
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However, the US on one hand is seeking China's help with the worsening Ukraine crisis that it created but failed to handle; on the other hand, it is pressuring and threatening China, which is typical American practice, Li said, noting that it is unwise and counterproductive.
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"If the US harbors an illusion that China will yield to its pressure on the Ukraine crisis and China-Russia relations, it only reflects that the US has a too superficial understanding of current complex international situations and the right and wrong of facts," Li said.
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Many of the US and West's sanctions against Russia were done purely via long-arm jurisdiction without permission from the UN. And such a practice of framing relations with other countries based on its domestic law and forcing third countries to accept it is undoubtedly contrary to the spirit of international law and the principles of the UN Charter,Chinese analysts said.
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While trying to drag China into the mess the US created, Washington is also smearing China-Russia relations with rumors and disinformation to sow discord between the two.
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After Sullivan warned China that it would "absolutely face consequences" if it helped Moscow evade sanctions, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced Sullivan's remarks on Thursday, saying it is another manifestation of Washington's imperialist and hegemonic ambitions. China-Russia relations have strong internal momentum, which are not affected by international changes, she said.
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China and Russia have reiterated there is no military cooperation, and the high-level strategic partnership between the two countries has never targeted any third party, nor will it be affected by any third party. This is a key point that the US and the West never understand, analysts said.
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China has developed bilateral relations with Russia and the US respectively and it does not use bilateral relations to target Russia or the US. Currently, the conflicts between the US and Russia and between China and the US all have roots in the US, and the US is trying to sow discord between Russia and China, Lü said, noting that this is why China has reiterated that the US' actions should fit its remarks.
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Explosive issue on China-US relations
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Lü said that the US should not expect other countries to solve the mess it made in Ukraine while it still ramps up assistance and offers weapons to Ukraine. Therefore, China will still focus the talks between the top leaders on China-US relations and how bilateral relations will develop.
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While driving Russia into a corner on the Ukraine issue, the US has also tried to drive China into a corner with the most "explosive issue" for bilateral ties - the Taiwan question, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.
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The US has been quickly advancing its Indo-Pacific strategy using Taiwan as its pawn, and kept sending wrong signals to Taiwan secessionists by sending former American diplomats to visit the island, which shows its conflict with China over Taiwan question is rapidly escalating, Yang said.
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Some US officials also hyped the relevance of the Ukraine issue with the Taiwan question, but the two are fundamentally different.
`
Top US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach connected the situation in Ukraine with the question of Taiwan, claiming that one of the "key lessons" the Chinese are taking from the Ukraine situation is the "solidarity of the global community," and that if China behaves in a similar way against the island or another neighbor, "something more robust will happen."
`
The Chinese side will stress that the US has to take seriously China's major concerns regarding its own core interests, and if the US does not take seriously China's concern but just wants to seek China's help for its own purposes, such pattern of interaction would not work out but only inject more uncertainty into China-US relations, analysts warned. 

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`Beijing's current policies toward Russia and the US have high support among the people

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US fails to trap China over Ukraine at Yang-Sullivan meeting

On the same day as a seven-hour meeting between senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome on Monday which was described by some media outlets as "intense," US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach blatantly threatened to teach China a lesson from the Ukraine situation, which could be applied to the Taiwan question. Such conceit was defied by the first direct high-level engagement between Chinese and US officials over the situation in Ukraine on which Washington had tried to misguide Beijing to serve its own interests, although failing to do so as the Chinese side stressed its consistent stance on the issue and urged the US side to correct its wrong words and deeds.

 

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Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Good ventilation curbs the spread of Covid-19, Virus spreads easier in low humidity environment, Incentives to improve premises

 Source: Human Resources Ministry and Health Ministry Source: Human Resources Ministry and Health Ministry

> Increase outside air ventilation. > Increase air filtration.

> Adjust or reconfigure air flows.

2. Administrative Controls

> Reduce crowd or occupancy. > Limit the use of small spaces that are shared.

3. Reconfiguration Of Building Spaces And Furnishings

> Use partitions to reduce risks of transmission and minimise direct

Having good ventilation at business premises can help reduce contaminants in the air and curb the spread of Covid-19, say health experts.

Universiti Malaya public health medicine specialist Prof Dr Victor Hoe said good ventilation would not only prevent infectious diseases and reduce sickness, but also improve morale and productivity.

Dr Hoe said people are usually enclosed inside buildings without fresh air.

“They are recirculating the air and the reason is to conserve energy as the cost of cooling fresh air is higher than recirculating cool air,” he said when contacted.

He added that businesses should not hastily decide to change their ventilation system without consulting with experts.

“While many people have recommended opening windows to allow fresh air into the building, this will alter the air flow. The air from the outside is usually warmer than the air in the building.

“Mixing cool and warmer air will generate moisture and this will increase the chances of fungal formation in the ventilation system.

“Fungal issues are as bad if not worse than the Covid-19 pandemic. The other issue with moisture is that it will affect electronic systems,” he said.

As such, to ensure good ventilation, Dr Hoe said the air exchange per hour (ACH) should be increased.

“In a normal office that uses a centralised air conditioning system, the ACH is usually between four and six air changes in an hour.

“At this rate, the time required for removal of 99% of the contaminants in the room is between 69 and 46 minutes.

“To improve the ACH, we can install Hepa (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filters which can increase the ACH to 10, reducing the time it takes to remove contaminants from 46 to 28 minutes,” he said.

Dr Hoe reminded businesses that ventilation improvements would only reduce Covid-19 risk but could not eliminate it entirely.

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said having good ventilation is not just good for business entities but also for homes.

He said a good ventilation system could help prevent virus particles from accumulating in the air.

“Good ventilation, along with other preventive actions, like staying 2m apart and wearing masks can help prevent you from getting and spreading Covid-19,” he added.

To have better ventilation, Dr Raj suggested that there should be, among others, an increase in ventilation and enhanced air exchanges, as well as exhaust fans.

For those in enclosed spaces, he recommended they consider having portable air cleaners for localised air cleaning.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (Ashrae) Malaysia chapter president Ng Wen Bin said ensuring proper ventilation with outside air could help reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants, including viruses, indoors.

“Proper ventilation also reduces surface contamination by removing some virus particles before they can fall out of the air and land on surfaces. However, by itself, increasing ventilation is not enough to protect people from Covid-19.

“But when used along with other best practices recommended by Ashrae and others, increasing ventilation can be part of a plan to protect people indoors,” he said.

As most schools, offices, and commercial buildings have air conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems with filters, Ng said increasing ventilation and filtration was usually appropriate.

But due to the complexity and diversity of building types, sizes, construction styles, ACMV system components, and other features, he said a professional should interpret Ashrae guidelines for their specific building and circumstances.

“Increasing ventilation may not always be possible or practical. In such cases, the effective rate of ventilation per person can be increased by limiting the number of people present in the building in general, or in specific rooms,” he said.

Source link

 

Virus spreads easier in low humidity environment 

 

GEORGE TOWN: Any virus will spread more easily in an air-conditioned environment, where humidity will be much lower, says an expert.

USM virology scientist Dr Muhammad Amir Yunus said typically, the humidity in air-conditioned spaces would be low and this contributed to the transmission of viruses in droplets.

“Relative humidity will affect the transmission of airborne virus on top of poor ventilation.

“High humidity can partially inhibit the travel of viruses in droplets and aerosols,” he said.

Dr Muhammad Amir said he was not aware of any hard and fast rules on the value of ventilation to prevent the transmission of viruses.

He, however, pointed out that there was direct correlation between poor ventilation and carbon dioxide levels.

“Higher carbon dioxide levels can be used as an indicator for poor ventilation or air circulation indoors,” he said.

He said the recent announcement on the tax-exempted expenses for renovations and refurbishments of premises would definitely be beneficial.

“The system is not cheap. It involves many components.

“The tax cut will encourage businesses to pay attention to this aspect, which very directly relates to public safety,” he said.

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Incentives to improve premises 

 Business groups want a clearer picture on tax deduction for renovations


PETALING JAYA: Business groups are seeking a clearer picture on the tax incentive meant for them to renovate and refurbish their premises, which they say is helpful to ensure that their ventilation can be upgraded.

Malaysian Retailers Association vice-president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin hoped the criteria to enjoy the tax benefit would not be so strict.

“It should be very simple so that any improvement, however small, would benefit the consumers.

“Most of the larger shopping centres comply with the ventilation requirements as they are required to do so, but this incentive will be useful for smaller retailers or older hypermarkets which may not have complied with the new ventilation requirements,” he said when contacted yesterday.

On Nov 5, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out that under Budget 2022, the government has extended the tax incentive for the renovation and refurbishment of business premises.

He said that this would allow more businesses to invest in good ventilation to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Under Budget 2022, the government extended the tax deduction of up to RM300,000 on the cost for renovating and refurbishing business premises until Dec 31, 2022, in order to comply with requirements such as ventilation and customer seating.

However, Ameer pointed out that the incentive should not just include ventilation but also general refurbishments as it was equally important.

“This will be good for the older malls to be able to spend some money to become more competitive. This can perhaps be used to make the shopping centre not just be refurbished in a normal way but with the added technology to give customers a better experience,” he said.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan concurred that the tax incentive would be helpful for restaurant owners.

But he said they remained unclear on the criteria to get the tax incentive.

“We are not sure, so we hope the government will give a clear explanation on how to plan for this ventilation,” he said.

Jawahar suggested that the government give a special grant to outlet owners to purchase ventilation equipment that is suitable for them.

“The local authorities should also make the application easier for outlet owners to do renovation by not asking unnecessary documents and charging us exorbitantly,” he said.

He said outlet owners should also not be charged a fee for placing chairs and tables at the five-footway in front of restaurants, especially corner lots, which does not pose a hindrance to the public as this would help customers sit in open spaces.

“Enforcement officers should not take this as an opportunity to summon outlet owners,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng said the industry welcomed any form of tax deduction, incentives or allowances.

However, Yap said they hoped that this tax incentive could be applied on top of any other existing incentives to ease the burden on the upgrading expenses, particularly in ensuring public safety and hygiene.

SME president Ding Hong Sing said any incentive from the government should be translated into action, noting that their focus right now was on ensuring the survival of businesses.

Source link

 

PUBLIC AREA SETTING 

 1. Engineering Controls

Source: Human Resources Ministry and Health Ministry Source: Human Resources Ministry and Health Ministry

> Increase outside air ventilation. > Increase air filtration.

> Adjust or reconfigure air flows.

2. Administrative Controls

> Reduce crowd or occupancy. > Limit the use of small spaces that are shared.

3. Reconfiguration Of Building Spaces And Furnishings

> Use partitions to reduce risks of transmission and minimise direct 

 

Incentives to improve premises

PETALING JAYA: Business groups are looking for a clearer picture of the tax incentive for them to renovate and renovate their premises, which they say is helpful in ensuring that their ventilation can be upgraded.

Vice President of the Malaysian Retailers Association Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin hoped that the criteria for enjoying the tax benefit would not be so strict. “It should be very simple so that all improvements, no matter how small, would benefit consumers.

“Most of the larger malls meet the ventilation requirements because they are required to do so, but this incentive will be useful for smaller retailers or older supermarkets that may not have met the new ventilation requirements,” he said when contacted yesterday.

On November 5, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out that under budget 2022, the government has extended the tax incentive for renovation and refurbishment of business premises.

CLICK TO ENLARGECLICK TO ENLARGE

He said this would enable more companies to invest in good ventilation to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

According to Budget 2022, the government extended the tax deduction of up to RM 300,000 on the cost of renovation and refurbishment of business premises until 31 December 2022, in order to meet requirements such as ventilation and customer seats.

However, Ameer pointed out that the incentive should not only include ventilation but also general renovations as it was equally important.

“This will be good for the older malls to be able to spend some money to become more competitive. This can perhaps be used to get the shopping center not only to be renovated in a normal way but with the extra technology to give customers a better experience, ”he said.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) President Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan agreed that the tax incentive would be helpful to restaurant owners.

But he said they remained unclear about the criteria for obtaining the tax incentive.

“We are not sure, so we hope the government will provide a clear explanation of how to plan for this ventilation,” he said.

Jawahar suggested that the government make a special contribution to outlet owners to buy ventilation equipment that is suitable for them.

“Local authorities should also make the application easier for store owners to do renovations by not requesting unnecessary documents and charging us unreasonably,” he said.

He also said that shop owners should not be charged a fee for placing chairs and tables on the five-foot road in front of restaurants, especially corner areas, which does not constitute an obstacle for the public as this would help customers sit in open spaces.

“Authorities should not take this as an opportunity to call out store owners,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO Yap Lip Seng said the industry welcomed all forms of tax deductions, incentives or compensation.

However, Yap said they hoped this tax incentive could be applied on top of all other existing incentives to ease the burden of upgrading costs, in particular to ensure public safety and hygiene.

SME President Ding Hong Sing said all government incentives should be put into action, noting that their focus right now was on ensuring corporate survival.

Source link

 

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Friday, October 29, 2021

Malaysia Budget 2022

 


 The theme for Budget 2022 is "Keluarga Malaysia, makmur sejahtera" (Malaysian family, prosperous and peaceful). 

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said it is based on three core concepts "rakyat yang sejahtera" (people's wellbeing), resilient businesses and a prosperous economy.

Screengrab from the live broadcast of the Budget 2022 speech from Parliament on Oct 29, 2021.

PETALING JAYA: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has started delivering his Budget 2022 speech in Parliament here on Friday (Oct 29).

The Finance Minister is expected to deliver a Budget in line with the Malaysian Family concept, which will concentrate on the country's recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday (Oct 27) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Budget 2022 was from the people, by the people, for the people and would be of high impact for all layers of society and businesses.

Ismail Sabri said Budget 2022 would also generate more jobs to tackle unemployment and enable the recovery process to return the country and its economy to the pre-Covid-19 pandemic with new norms in place.

He added that Budget 2022 was drawn up carefully and comprehensively, taking into account the views of all quarters, including Opposition parties.

Here are the highlights of the Budget 2022 speech as they are delivered:

Budget 2022 allocation

Budget 2022 has a total allocation of RM332.1bil, the largest-ever for the country. This surpasses Budget 2021 allocation of of RM322.54bil.

Tengku Zafrul said this involves RM233.5bil in administrative expenses, RM75.6bil in development, RM23bil for the Covid-19 fund and RM2bil for unexpected expenses.

Family focus

The Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia outlined in Budget 2022 will benefit over 9.6 million recipients with an allocation of RM8.2bil.

Households with three children or more with household income less than RM2,500 will receive RM2,000 in aid. An extra RM500 will be given to for single mothers/fathers with dependents and monthly income of up to RM5,000. This means single mothers/fathers with three children and above are entitled to a maximum RM2,500 in aid.

An additional allocation of RM300 will be given to senior citizens.

Overall, RM2.4bil in welfare aid is allocated to benefit over 440,000 households.

Education first

Education gets the biggest slice of the pie in Budget 2022 with RM52.6bil for the Education Ministry and RM14.5bil for the Higher Education Ministry.

Tengku Zafrul said this includes RM450mil in aid to be provided to three million students.

Health matters

Health Ministry gets an allocation of 32.4bil, the second-largest after the Education Ministry.

From the allocation, RM2bil will be channeled to purchase of vaccines and RM2bil for additional Covid-19 expenses.

He added that the government would be purchasing another 88 million doses of vaccines, which includes the third dose for children between the ages of 12 and 17.

PTPTN repayment incentives

Government to give discounts to PTPTN borrowers for payments from Nov 1 to April 30.

Borrowers will get a 15% discount for full settlement; 12% for payments of at least 50% of the outstanding balance in a single payment. Those who make repayments through salary deduction or scheduled direct debit will get a 10% discount.

Just for jobs

Allocation of RM4.8bil to create 600,000 job opportunities under the JaminKerja initative.

With a target of 300,000 hires, the initiative will offer incentives to employers such as 20% of the first six months' pay, and 30% of the following six months pay for hired employees making above RM1,500.

Among others, RM1.1bil has been allocated for training and upskilling programmes for 220,000 trainees.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector will receive an allocation of RM6.6bil under Budget 2022.

Tengku Zafrul said the focus is on eeting industry needs and an additional allocation of RM200mil has been allocated for joint venture programmes with industries.

Boosting healthy lifestyles

There will be an excise duty imposed on nicotine-based gel or liquid products for vaping and electronic cigarettes, says the Finance Minister.

"Towards a healthy lifestyle the government plans to broaden the scope of excise duty to include premix sugary drinks made from chocolate, malt, coffee and tea," said Tengku Zafrul.

Women matters

The goverment will make it mandatory for all publicly-listed companies to appoint at least one woman to its board of directors.

Tengku Zafrul said RM5mil would also be allocated for the Women Leadership Foundation to encourage female participation in the economic sector.

Free self-hygiene kits will be given to young women in the B40 category monthly, which will benefit some 130,000 youths nationwide.

Tengku Zafrul added that RM11mil would be allocated for free mammogram and cervix examinations.

New villages

A total of RM200mil has been allocated for the Chinese community, among them for the purpose of upgrading Chinese new villages, as well as financing schemes for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

RM145mil has been set aside for the Indian community, among them for the implementation of programmes to strengthen the community's social economy through Tekun Nasional, the national Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund, under the Indian Entrepreneurs Development Scheme.

Levelling up eSports

To push the eSports industry in the country, RM20mill will be allocated under Budget 2022.

This includes RM5mil to develop an excellence centre for drone sports in the country.

Housing for all

RM1.5bil has been allocated for continuing low-cost housing projects. Another RM2bil allocated for housing credit guarantee scheme to help those without a stable income to buy a house.

Tengku Zafrul also said the government would no longer impose the real property gains tax (RPGT) on Malaysians, permanent residents and companies when they dispose of their real property assets from the sixth year onwards.

For sporting excellence

To further improve the national Paralympics team, the National Sports Council (NSC) will receive a RM10mil allocation. This is to enhance training programs and organise leagues for various sports to prepare for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

RM158mil will be allocated to renovate, enhance and build sporting facilities around the country.

RM50mil will be allocated to encourage people to continue leading an active lifestyle.

Cash in hand

Employees’ contribution rate to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) that was reduced to 9% in 2020 will remain until June 2022.

Boost for youths

A RM300mil allocation to provide RM150 in credit into eWallets of youth aged 18 to 20 who are students at institutions of higher learning.

Lower vehicular taxes continue

To reduce the cost of vehicle ownership, the government will extend the 100% sales tax exemption on completely knocked down (CKD, locally-assembled) passenger vehicles and 50% on completely built-up (CBU, imported cars) including MPVs and SUVs for six months until June 30, 2022.

The exemption was introduced by the government in 2020 to drive sales in the automotive sector which was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Defending the nation

The Defence Ministry will get an allocation of RM16bil, of which RM1.6bil is to upgrade the readiness of main assets of the Armed Forces. This allocation also involves RM14mil to replace main equipment of Naval Special Forces (Paskal) and Air Force Special Forces (Paskau) such as parachutes, closed-circuit diving equipment and boats.

e-vehicles to get a power up

Tengku Zafrul said the government sees the potential of electronic vehicles (EV) to minimise pollution, and therefore plans to give up to 100% exemption of import and excise duties as well as sales tax.

Road tax exemptions of up to 100% will also be given out for electronic cars.

Tax relief of up to RM2,500 will be given for the purchase, assembly, renting and leasing of EVs.

Tourism budget

A total of RM1.6bil has been allocated for the tourism industry. RM600mil will be allocated under the Penjana Tourism Financing dan BPMB Rehabilitation Scheme while RM85mil will be go towards a three-month special assistance for over 20,000 tourism operators.

Zafrul also announced matching grants for the purpose of the renovation of budget hotels and homestays, with an allocation of RM30mil.

To spur domestic tourism, the RM1,000 tax rebate will be extended until 2022.

Sabah and Sarawak

The two states will receive increased development allocations of RM5.2bil and RM4.6bil respectively under Budget 2022.

Fisheries and agriculture

RM1.7bil allocated for the various incentives and subsidies for the fisheries and agriculture industries.

Please folllow The Star's coverage of Budget 2022 here.

Click on the logo to see the full text of Tengku Zafrul's Budget 2022 speech in Malay.Click on the logo to see the full text of Tengku Zafrul's Budget 2022 speech in Malay.

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Budget 2022: RM2.4bil in welfare aid allocated to benefit over 440,000 households

 Source link

 

 Here are five key takeaways from Malaysia’s 2022 budget:

5 key takeaways:

1. What’s in it for households, firms hit hard economically by COVID-19?

https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2021/10/881438/bajet-2022-bantuan-keluarga-malaysia-bkm-sebanyak-rm2000

Households are set to benefit from a new cash aid scheme - Malaysian Family Assistance. Under the scheme, RM8.2 billion will be allocated to households, benefitting more than 9.6 million recipients, said Mr Tengku Zafrul. 

 Households with three or more children and a monthly income of less than RM2,500 will receive a one-off payment of RM2,000. 

Additionally, single parents or households earning less than RM5,000 each month will receive a one-off payment of RM500. Senior citizens will also receive RM300 each. 

Companies will also receive aid to get back on their feet.

Among others, income tax instalment payment for micro, small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) can be deferred for up to six months until Jun 30, 2022. 

Landlords who give rental discounts of at least 30 per cent to businesses will be granted tax relief. 

Firms are also given tax deduction of up to RM300,000 to renovate their spaces, such as to improve seating arrangement or air circulation, in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. 

2. What additional resources will the health sector get?

The Health Ministry is set to receive RM32.4 billion, the second largest allocation behind the Education Ministry. 

Mr Tengku Zafrul outlined that RM4 billion has been allocated for COVID-19 management, of which RM2 billion is for vaccines and another RM2 billion is to boost the capacity of public health facilities such as by purchasing test kits, personal protective equipment and medication. 

He added that the government has signed agreements to obtain 88 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which are sufficient to immunise more than 140 per cent of the population, and enough to give third doses to all residents above the age of 12.

Mr Tengku Zafrul also announced that RM100 million will be allocated to sponsor 3,000 contract medical and dental officers to pursue specialist programmes.

3. What are the green measures?

Meanwhile, Mr Tengku Zafrul said the 2022 budget was formulated while keeping in mind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (under the the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) and the implementation of environmentally friendly programmes. 

In line with Malaysia’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, he announced that the Voluntary Carbon Market initiative will be launched under the auspices of Bursa Malaysia. 

“This initiative will act as a voluntary platform for carbon credit trading between green asset owners and any entity towards a shift to low-carbon practices,” said Mr Tengku Zafrul. 

 Related:

Tengku Zafrul added that the government is also looking to support the development of the local electric vehicle (EV) industry, and intends to provide full exemption on import duty, excise duty and sales tax for EV vehicles. 

Road tax exemption of up to 100 percent is also given to the vehicles.

In addition, individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 will be given to offset the costs of purchase and installation, rental and hire purchase as well as subscription fees for EV charging facilities.

4. How will tourism industry players benefit? 

The budget also encompasses initiatives targeted at players in the tourism industry, which have been hit badly by COVID-19. 

Mr Tengku Zafrul said a total of RM1.6 billion will be allocated for a number of efforts, including a RM600 million wage subsidy for tour operators who have experienced at least 30 per cent dip in income. More than 26,000 employers and 330,000 workers are expected to benefit from these subsidies, he added. 

Tengku Zafrul added that matching grants worth RM30 million will be given to more than 700 budget hotels and homestays registered under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for repair works. 

He said RM60 million in incentive funds will be allocated for activities to promote domestic tourism. Moreover, special individual income tax relief of up to RM1,000 for residents who spend on domestic tourism will be extended until 2022. 

5. What kind of assistance will be given to women, children?

A key highlight for the 2022 budget is the special assistance given to women and children. 

Mr Tengku Zafrul announced that the government is making it mandatory for all public listed companies to appoint at least one woman to its board of directors in order to recognise women’s roles in the decision-making process. 

“Currently, women hold 25 per cent of the board positions in 100 main public listed companies. 

“However, 27 per cent or 252 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia still do not have women on their boards,” he said. 

The minister added that companies who hire unemployed women, housewives and single mothers will receive government incentives. Putrajaya will pay incentives amounting to 30 per cent of their monthly wages for the first six months, and 40 per cent for the next six months. 

This applies to monthly salaries of RM1,200 and above, the minister said. 

Additionally, the government is looking to allocate an additional RM13 million to the police’s Sexual, Women and Children’s Investigations Division (D11). 

Addressing the issue of orphaned children whose parents succumbed to COVID-19, Mr Tengku Zafrul said that RM25 million will be allocated to Yayasan Keluarga Malaysia to ensure their education, welfare and future.  

“The government urges all parties, including NGOs, local communities, local leaders and even corporate companies to play a role to ensure that the welfare of these children continue to be safeguarded so that everyone can live together as one family without separation and build a bright future,” he said. 

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