Rumsfeld, cocksure architect of Iraq war, dead at 88

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld briefs reporters at a Pentagon in October 2001 following the US bombing raids on Afghanistan. – AFP file photo

Donald Rumsfeld, the cocksure and unrepentant defense secretary who led the United States into war in Iraq and Afghanistan, has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 88.

In charge of the US military for most of George W. Bush’s presidency, Rumsfeld was stubborn and brash, famously dismissing widespread looting after US troops captured Baghdad by quipping, “Stuff happens.”

For millions who took to the streets to denounce the war in Iraq, Rumsfeld and vice president Dick Cheney were emblematic of what was seen as excesses in Bush’s “war on terror,” including the indefinite detention of suspects in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the abuse of Iraqis by US jailers at Abu Ghraib prison.

The former congressman’s brand of hawkish politics eventually fell from favor as politicians from both sides turned on “forever wars,” and the troops he first sent to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks will make their final withdrawal weeks after his death.

His family said that Rumsfeld — who after resigning in 2006 not only spent years defending his legacy but also dabbling in software and even releasing a solitaire app — died in Taos, New Mexico, and described “the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to the country.”

Bush called his defense secretary, whom he defiantly kept in his cabinet until rival Democrats won control of Congress in 2006, “an exemplary public servant and a very good man.”

“He was a faithful steward of our armed forces, and the United States of America is safer and better off for his service,” Bush said, without directly mentioning the decision to invade Iraq.

– ‘Known unknowns’ –

Rumsfeld had clamored to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, pushing soon after the fall of Afghanistan’s Taliban to move into Iraq, where he suggested there were weapons of mass destruction and perhaps links to terrorist groups.

Asked in 2002 about the lack of evidence, Rumsfeld gave perhaps his most memorable statement.

“Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know,” he said.

“We also know there are known unknowns — that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”

A consummate bureaucratic infighter, Rumsfeld was one of the longest serving defense secretaries in US history, holding the position for more than seven years in stints both under Bush and, more than 20 years earlier, Gerald Ford.

Born in Chicago, Rumsfeld showed his combative streak from an early age, becoming an accomplished wrestler and playing as a defensive back on an American football team when he went to Princeton University.

He served as a pilot and flight instructor in the Navy during the early days of the Cold War before being elected to Congress at the age of only 30.

Representing Illinois, Rumsfeld was initially known for his moderation and supported civil rights measures for African-Americans. But he quickly turned his attention to military affairs and became deeply concerned about the conduct of the Vietnam War.

He had been the youngest person ever to become defense secretary in 1975 at the age of 43 and, when tapped by Bush, became the oldest at the time, seen as a steady presence for an untested president.

– ‘War on terror’ transformation –

He was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 when airliners commandeered by Al-Qaeda hijackers flew into the World Trade Center in New York and then the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people in the deadliest terrorist attack ever on US soil.

In less than a month, he launched US forces in a war against Al-Qaeda that toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in December 2001 and redesigned the military for the “war on terrorism,” pulling back forces ready for traditional combat in Europe.

Many Americans embraced his tough-guy persona during the Afghan war, but it faded in the lead-up to Iraq.

Just weeks before the invasion, Rumsfeld dismissed a warning by the army chief of staff that several hundred thousand troops were required to occupy Iraq, calling the estimate “far from the mark.”

In remarks that would prove prophetic, Rumsfeld told reporters it was “not knowable” how many troops would be needed, saying they did not “have any idea whether or not there would be ethnic strife.”

The United States invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003 with a force of fewer than 100,000 troops. Baghdad fell quickly, and Saddam’s regime collapsed amid an orgy of looting.

But the failure to commit enough troops to secure the country became viewed as a central mistake, leading to intense civil war in which hundreds of thousands of civilians died.

With Saddam’s Baath Party disbanded, Sunni Muslims launched an insurgency that would later be the root of the brutal Islamic State group as the majority Shiites took the reins of power with backing from Iran.

Rumsfeld long defended the war. But in his memoir, “Known and Unknown,” he regretted that Bush did not accept his resignation after pictures emerged of prison abuse in Abu Ghraib, saying he had become a “dangerous distraction.”

“More than anything else I have failed to do, and even amid my pride in the many important things we did accomplish, I regret that I did not leave at that point.” – AFP

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Cosby: from US cultural icon to prison… and now, a reprieve

Comedian Bill Cosby once ruled Hollywood and fell from grace amid a series of sex assault scandals — now, he has been freed from prison after his conviction was vacated Brendan Smialowski. – AFP file photo

Bill Cosby’s trailblazing Hollywood career is recognized in the Smithsonian’s African American Museum of History and Culture in Washington — a decision the institution defended even after his conviction for sexual assault, which was noted in the display.

A new chapter in the 83-year-old comedian’s tumultuous life story was written Wednesday when he walked free from prison after Pennsylvania’ Supreme Court vacated his conviction.

It was another stunning turn of events for the Emmy and Grammy winner once known as “America’s Dad,” whose image was shattered when he was convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004.

Cosby — the first African American actor to star in a primetime US television drama and the man who personified upper-middle-class Black success on the small screen on his long-running eponymous sitcom — once commanded the utmost respect.

His cultural influence was once so great that chat show queen Oprah Winfrey credited Cosby with helping to pave the way for America’s first black president, Barack Obama.

“The Cosby Show” — which ran from 1984-92 — “introduced America to a way of seeing Black people and Black culture that they had not seen before,” Winfrey said in 2013.

But then a Pennsylvania jury convicted him and he was led away in handcuffs — what had been thought to be the final fall from grace after years of scandal.

Wednesday’s decision by the high court in Cosby’s home state of Pennsylvania upended the script once again.

– The star few really knew –

When comedian Hannibal Buress took to the stage in 2014 to tell Cosby to stop moralizing to African Americans and accused him of being a “rapist,” the floodgates opened.

Around 60 women, many of them onetime aspiring actresses and models, came forward publicly to brand him a calculating, serial predator who plied victims with sedatives and alcohol in order to have sex with them over four decades.

But only one case had not surpassed the statute of limitations: the alleged assault of Andrea Constand at Cosby’s home in the Philadelphia area.

Both a first and a second trial — which ended with his conviction — revealed a dark underside to his signature role of benevolent father figure and affable obstetrician Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.”

“Everybody knows you, Mr Cosby,” said a police officer taking down his original deposition.

“Not really,” came the elusive reply.

– No remorse –

Born on July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia to a maid and a Navy cook, William Henry Cosby Jr. quickly emerged as the class clown, and joined the Navy after 10th grade, finishing high school by correspondence.

He won an athletic scholarship to Temple University and started doing stand-up. In his early 20s, he appeared on variety programs, but got his first big break in 1965 when he co-starred in the espionage thriller “I Spy.”

It was a pivotal moment — he was the first Black actor in a starring role in a weekly primetime drama. He won three Emmys for the show and went on to star in a string of successful movies in the 1970s.

Then from 1984 to 1992, he portrayed Huxtable, the funny dad with a lawyer wife in “The Cosby Show” — so named thanks to his star power.

The sitcom was a roaring success, turning Cosby into a major figure of US pop culture in the second half of the 20th century.

He was showered with awards for the show, which anchored NBC’s powerful Thursday night sitcom lineup and for the first time put an affluent African American family on primetime, turning him into an instant role model.

Along the way, he authored best-selling books, and was for decades a member of the Temple board of trustees until he resigned in 2014, stripped of honorary degrees as sexual assault scandals mushroomed.

Comedian friends like Whoopi Goldberg who once supported him denounced him.

But not once did Cosby publicly express any remorse.

In a public relations offensive before his first trial, and claiming to be legally blind, he suggested that racism had played a role in his legal woes, insisting he still wanted to write and perform.

Cosby did not testify at trial. Through it all, his wife of more than half a century, Camille, has publicly defended him.

The couple have five children. Their son Ennis was shot dead in 1997 while changing a tire in California and daughter Ensa died of renal disease in 2018. – AFP

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Golden Globes reform foreign language film rule

The Golden Globes is second in importance only to the Oscars in Hollywood’s film award season, but its future status has been called into question by threats of a boycott over some of the HFPA’s controversies. – AFP photo

The embattled Golden Globes on Wednesday announced changes that will allow foreign language and animated films to contend for the Hollywood award show’s top prizes.

Organizers are scrambling to reform the influential but scandal-hit Globes after NBC canceled next year’s ceremony amid widespread and vocal criticism of the group’s record on diversity and transparency.

Among the barbs thrown at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, many awards-watchers expressed outrage that the critically acclaimed “Minari” — an immigrant tale shot mainly in Korean but set in Arkansas — was restricted to the foreign language category at this year’s show.

It was not allowed to compete for the best comedy and best drama prizes, which are considered the Globes’ biggest accolades. Neither was “Parasite,” the previous year’s eventual best picture Oscar winner.

“As we reexamined our guidelines this year and listened to the industry, we decided to adopt new approaches for future shows ensuring these films receive the attention they deserve,” said HFPA president Ali Sar in a statement to AFP.

“Language will no longer be a barrier to recognition as the best.”

Comprised of some 90 journalists who vote for Tinseltown’s second-biggest annual film and television awards, the HFPA has been under fire for months following widespread allegations of racism, sexism, bullying and corruption among its ranks.

Last month, the group approved a raft of reforms to become “more inclusive and diverse” by an “overwhelming” margin, hoping to draw a line under the negative publicity.

But the backlash from Hollywood has been fierce, with A-listers such as Scarlett Johansson and Tom Cruise condemning the changes as too slow, lacking in specifics and failing to address some of the industry’s most fundamental grievances.

Two HFPA members have since resigned, calling the group “toxic.”

On Wednesday, the HFPA said the majority of its membership had “completed diversity, equity and inclusion training sessions, and significant strides have already been made in restructuring the organization.”

Changes would include banning members from accepting gifts, hiring diversity advisors and establishing an anonymous hotline for complaints.

The changes “will immediately go into effect, regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, demonstrating our commitment to diversity and inclusivity throughout all aspects of our work,” said Sar.

But it remains to be seen whether the industry that long tolerated some of the HFPA’s more questionable behavior will return to the awards, with the likes of Netflix and Warner Bros vowing not to work with the group until significant changes are made. – AFP

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Xi hails ‘irreversible’ rise of China at 100th birthday of Communist Party

The era of China ‘being slaughtered and bullied is gone forever,’ said Chinese President Xi Jinping. – AFP photo

President Xi Jinping hailed China’s “irreversible” course from humiliated colony to great power at the centenary celebrations for the Chinese Communist Party on Thursday, in a speech reaching deep into history to remind patriots at home and rivals abroad of his nation’s — and his own — ascendancy.

Speaking above the giant portrait of Mao Zedong, which dominates Tiananmen Square, from the podium where the famous chairman proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Xi said the “era of China being bullied is gone forever” praising the party for uplifting incomes and restoring national pride.

Drawing a line from the subjugation of the Opium Wars to the struggle to establish a socialist revolution in China, Xi said the party has brought about “national rejuvenation” lifting tens of millions from poverty and “altered the landscape of world development.”

Xi, wearing a ‘Mao-style’ jacket, added the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical course” and vowed to continue to build a “world-class” military to defend national interests.

In the summer of 1921 Mao and a clutch of Marxist-Leninist thinkers in Shanghai founded the party which has since morphed into one of the world’s most powerful political organisations.

It now counts around 95 million members, garnered over a century of war, famine and turmoil, and more recently a surge to superpower status butting up against western rivals, led by the US.

In a ceremony of pomp and patriotism, thousands of singers, backed by a marching band, belted out stirring choruses including “We Are the Heirs of Communism” and “Without the Communist Party there would be no New China” as maskless invitees cheered and waved flags in a packed Tiananmen Square.

A fly-by of helicopters in formation spelling ‘100’ — a giant hammer and sickle flag trailing — and a 100-gun salute followed, while young communists in unison pledged allegiance to the party.

– Power, popularity and purges –

Xi, whose speech braided the economic miracle of China with the longevity of the party, has cemented his eight-year rule through a personality cult, ending term limits and declining to anoint a successor.

He has purged rivals and crushed dissent — from Uyghur Muslims and online critics to pro-democracy protests on Hong Kong’s streets.

The party has pivoted to new challenges; using tech to renew its appeal for younger generations — 12.55 million members are now aged 30 or younger — while giving a communist finish to a consumer economy decorated by billionaire entrepreneurs.

On Beijing’s streets, praise for the party was effusive from those willing to speak to foreign media.

“We should thank the party and the motherland,” said Li Luhao, 19, a student at Beihang University performing in the celebration.

A man surnamed Wang, 42, said: “When I was a child there was a blackout for one hour every night and electricity shortages.”

“Now the streets are full of light. Food, clothes, education, traffic are all better.”

Xi has presented a defiant face to overseas rivals led by the US, revving up nationalist sentiment, batting back criticism of his government’s actions in Hong Kong, towards Taiwan and the treatment of the Uyghurs.

“The Chinese people will never allow any foreign forces to bully, oppress, or enslave us,” Xi said in his speech to great applause.

“Whoever wants to do so will face bloodshed in front of a Great Wall of steel built by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.”

– Party time? –

In its 100th year, the party has delivered a selective version of history through films, ‘Red’ tourism campaigns and books, which dance over the mass violence of the Cultural Revolution, famines and the Tiananmen Square student crackdown.

Instead, it has driven attention to China’s rebound from Covid-19, which first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, but has been virtually extinguished inside the country.

But reminders linger of the risks to stability.

Thursday also marks the 24th anniversary of the handover of former British colony Hong Kong to China, a date once met with mass demonstrations against Beijing.

One year ago, China imposed a draconian national security law on the city in response to huge — often violent — protests.

The measure has seen more than 64 activists charged, anti-China slogans criminalised and even the closure of a critical newspaper as the law sinks the once freewheeling city into what Amnesty International calls a “human rights emergency”.

Police have denied requests for demonstrations in the city, although several pro-democracy groups have vowed to defy a 10,000-strong police presence on the streets.

“The CCP can go to hell,” a Hong Konger who gave his name only as Ken told AFP.

“Anything that’s worthwhile, they destroy.” – AFP

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Triad tour shines light on Singapore’s gangland past

Now known for its clockwork orderliness and having one of the world’s lowest crime rates, Singapore was once a gritty port plagued by rival mobsters. – AFP photo

A reformed gang member points out what were once opium dens and brothels on a tour of Singapore’s financial district that explores the squeaky-clean Asian business hub’s seedy criminal past.

Now known for its clockwork orderliness and having one of the world’s lowest crime rates, the city-state was once a gritty port plagued by rival mobsters.

“This was the headquarters of the biggest gang in Singapore,” says tour guide Bruce Mathieu, gesturing at a quiet street now housing restaurants, a hair salon and brightly-coloured murals.

He recalled wandering the area as a child during the 1970s, among street food vendors pushing carts, gambling halls, and the distinctive smell of opium wafting down to the street from illicit upper-floor dens.

Singapore’s gangland history traces its roots to so-called “secret societies” formed by Chinese immigrants when they flocked to work in Singapore after it became a key British trading post in the 1800s.

The massive influx from China swelled the city’s population, and their descendants now form the bulk of its citizens.

The groups played an important role by providing the army of newcomers with a social network, help finding jobs — and protection.

“When secret societies, or triads, first started locally in the 1800s, it was more for survival than anything else,” said Mathieu, a Singaporean whose mother is from the city-state but whose father is of French descent.

Chinese immigrants had to join secret societies to avoid “getting bullied, getting robbed, getting killed”, he added.

The societies were a “prominent feature of life” for the Chinese immigrants, but they also became associated with human trafficking, prostitution, kidnappings, the opium trade, and waves of violent riots, said Jean Abshire, author of “The History of Singapore”.

Despite their description, they were far from secret and drew huge followings — at the end of 1889 they had around 68,000 members, according to a history published by the National Heritage Board.

– Life of crime –

In the following decades, crackdowns and new laws — including one that in 1958 gave authorities the power to detain suspected criminals without trial — cleaned up the city and diminished the gangs’ influence.

Since Singapore’s independence in 1965, it has undergone a dramatic transformation into a wealthy society and leading financial hub.

Remnants of the gangs live on and criminal cases are still regularly linked to them — but nowhere near the scale of the past.

Besides sharing historical tidbits, Mathieu candidly recounts his life of crime and drug addiction in the hope it will keep others from making the same mistakes.

The ex-gang member has spent about 20 years in prison for drug possession, robbery, assault, stabbing, theft and forgery.

Corporal punishment is still used to punish some offences in Singapore, and Mathieu also endured 21 strokes of the cane for his crimes.

– ‘Machete on my neck’ –

Members of the tour gasped as the 51-year-old recalled his first gang fight at the age of 12 — after his friend was stabbed, he ran over to try to stop the bleeding with his t-shirt.

He shied away from specifics about his former gang’s activities, but vividly described his initiation ritual to the group.

“I’m kneeling down, there’s a guy with a machete on my neck. At any point in time, if I get nervous and recite (a loyalty oath) wrongly… I kid you not, the machete would be brought down.”

During his last stint in prison, which ended five years ago, the pain of being separated from his young daughter motivated him to quit drugs and leave his gang.

He now works as a motivational speaker and helps lead the popular “Triad Trails” tour to fight stereotypes about ex-offenders, an initiative partly organised by a non-profit group supporting former inmates.

“My favourite thing is actually the conversation with Bruce,” said Gabriel Neo, a 31-year-old banker on the tour.

“How he managed to pick himself up from the lowest point of his life… is a very valuable lesson that I can learn from.” – AFP

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Canadians pack into cooling centers as heat wave death toll doubles

A welcoming sign is seen on the door of the Hillcrest Community Centre, where people can cool off during the extreme hot weather in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. – AFP photo

Inside one of Vancouver’s 25 air-conditioned cooling centers on Wednesday, visitors quietly read books or worked on laptops as the death toll in Canada’s British Columbia province rose into the hundreds from a record-smashing heat wave.

“We’ve had heat waves before, but not to this extent,” said Lou, who provided only her first name. “I’m shocked by how many deaths there have been.”

“I have no air conditioning, only a fan at home — I came here just to work where it’s cool.”

Canada’s westernmost province has been scorched for days by record-smashing heat that reached 49.5 degrees Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit) in Lytton, three hours northeast of Vancouver, on Tuesday, surpassing its own previous all-time Canadian record a day earlier.

The heat has killed scores of residents, with the toll rising “by the hour,” police said Tuesday, while meteorologists warned of more extreme temperatures to come.

Among those being mourned was the mother-in-law of infectious diseases expert Tara Moriarty, who said the otherwise healthy senior was afraid to seek respite from the heat because she was only half-vaccinated for Covid-19.

“It’s quite devastating,” Moriarty said on Twitter. “My partner’s healthy mom died of heat stroke in British Columbia (Sunday) night.

“Heat stroke can kill very fast. If you have family, neighbours, friends afraid to seek cooler places (because of) Covid, check on them every couple of (hours) when it’s really hot.”

The British Columbia Coroners Service reported 486 “sudden deaths” between Friday and Wednesday, compared with 165 normally, while Vancouver police said calls for help overwhelmed emergency phone lines.

“While it is too early to say with certainty how many of these deaths are heat related, it is believed likely that the significant increase in deaths reported is attributable to the extreme weather British Columbia has experienced and continues to impact many parts of our province,” the coroner’s service said in a statement.

– ‘Alarming’ numbers –

“We’ve never experienced anything like this heat in Vancouver,” police Sergeant Steve Addison said, “and sadly dozens of people are dying as a result of it.”

Vancouver canceled schools for extreme heat for the first time, while firefighters turned their hoses on anyone in need of cooling.

“It’s been super hot in our house, we have really had to rely on friends to give us fans,” said Ashley Vaughan, walking with her three children as temperatures began to cool slightly Wednesday. “My kids have been miserable; there was a lot of crying because it was so hot.”

Meteorologists said the extreme weather is the result of an extreme heat dome above the Pacific Northwest, a normal summer phenomenon — but never this hot or early.

“This particular event is completely consistent with the science of climate change: more intensive heat waves, of a longer duration, more extreme heat, earlier in the season,” Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment Canada, told AFP.

“People in the meteorological community — weather forecasters and climatologists — are all holding our breaths looking at the numbers. They’re alarming.”

Peter Lohuaro, 70, was forced to stop cycling because of dangerously high ground-level ozone, prompting public warnings to stay indoors; but he said the heat wave also helped his joints.

“It’s unprecedented — I’ve traveled to hot places like Death Valley (in California) and this was hotter,” Lohuaro told AFP at a city cooling center.

“For people who live in apartments without air conditioning or facing south, a lot had to go rent hotel rooms or really suffer.” – AFP

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Academic group urges govt to expedite distribution of laptops for students, vaccination for teachers

A student attends an online lesson from home during movement control order in Petaling Jaya on January 26, 2021. — Malay Mail photo

KUALA LUMPUR (July 1): The Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) called on the government today to distribute the rest of the 150,000 laptops promised to students by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in February and to vaccinate teachers as soon as possible.

In a statement, Gerak said it was “appalled” that only some 13,000 of the laptops, pledged to students in 500 schools nationwide, have been distributed.

“The various movement control orders notwithstanding, MoE should have assessed the situation and worked out a strategy to get the devices to the needy students.

“If not the MoE, with its body of experts and departments, who else?” it said.

Gerak also disagree with the government’s decision to close schools, saying that the decision was haphazard when the government’s online education initiatives were not effective.

It said the government must consequently enable schools and education-related institutions to reopen as soon as possible by prioritising vaccinations for teachers.

“We must treat all teachers, all educators, as front-liners.

“Gerak is appalled to know that, up until today, not all the teachers and educators are prioritized to receive any of the Covid-19 vaccines.

“The government is reportedly going to distribute more than 14 million doses of vaccine to all states in July. This provides the perfect opportunity for this government to right a wrong by prioritising education workers in this programme,” it said.

Gerak also called for a concrete and “well-thought-out” plan to open all educational institutions for the resumption of face-to-face teaching and learning after all teachers and staff have received the full amount of the needed vaccine doses.

On April 19, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin promised that 500,000 teachers will be vaccinated during the programme’s second phase — set to run between April and August.

Although it is unclear how many teachers have been vaccinated to date, three weeks ago, on June 6, Senior Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said that over 70,000 teachers had received at least one dose of their respective vaccines. – Malay Mail

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MOH: Only 2 districts in Malaysia record no Covid-19 infections in last 2 weeks

KUCHING (July 1): Only two districts in the country have recorded no Covid-19 infections over the last two weeks, according to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) infographics.

The two districts were Daro in Sarawak and Beluran in Sabah, pointed out the infographics on its Facebook page today.

As of yesterday, there were 26 Covid-19 yellow zones nationwide, eight of which in Sarawak, eight others in Sabah and the rest in Peninsular Malaysia.

The yellow zones in Sarawak were Limbang, Lawas, Pusa, Belaga, Dalat, Beluru, Kabong and Marudi.

Those in Sabah were Sipitang, Ranau, Tambunan, Pitas, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Tongod and Telupid while in Peninsular Malaysia – Hulu Perak and Kuala Kangsar (Perak), Padang Terap and Bandar Bahru (Kedah), Dungun, Kemaman and Setiu (Terengganu), and Pekan, Raub and Rompin (Pahang).

There were just 11 Covid-19 orange zones across the nation namely Betong and Lubok Antu in Sarawak, Nabawan in Sabah, Kangar in Perlis, Perak Tengah, Muallim and Kampar in Perak, Yan in Kedah, Jeli in Kelantan and Besut and Hulu Terengganu in Terengganu.

State and territories that recorded all districts red were Penang, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

The Ministry of Health categorises a district with no Covid-19 cases as a green zone, and over a two-week period, with one to 20 local tranmission cases as yellow, 21 to 40 as orange and 41 and more as red.

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Pemulih will help ease people’s financial burden, boost country’s economy – S’wakian youths

 

(From left) Mona Abdul Manap, Alexander Frusis and Wan Norizzati Wan Fazli

KUCHING (July 1): Youths in the state welcome the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih) announced by the government recently as they believed that it would help ease the people’s financial burden and boost the country’s economy.

A professional conference organiser Mona Abdul Manap, 36, said Pemulih is definitely a welcomed aid as any help especially to the most needy is critical at this time.

Stating that it could have been much better if more forward planning had been done in the beginning, Mona suggested for the government to look into whether or not Pemulih would help all levels of the society.

“We had more than a year of the pandemic. How much more time do we need to develop a comprehensive recovery plan for the country and our socio-economic predicament? The World Economic Forum published a study which described lessons from the Spanish Flu and one of the findings was that ‘early and forceful non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) did not worsen the economic downturn. Cities that intervened earlier and more aggressively experienced a relative increase in manufacturing employment, manufacturing output, and bank assets in 1919, after the end of the pandemic’.

“Had we put more research, thinking and expert input into our crisis management, we could be in a better position now just like Australia and New Zealand. We need to be more united and focused in our fight against this common enemy,” she pointed out.

On the loan moratorium, Mona said whether it is a targetted or blanket moratorium, it is crucial to keep individuals and businesses afloat during these few volatile months ahead.

“Of course, bankers are also looking at it from the macro-economic perspective and saying that the banks (and therefore public funds) may suffer if a blanket moratorium is given.

“However, everyone must understand that moratoriums will only reduce the profits of the banks and will not result in losses. On the other hand, being picky on who receives the moratorium may result in mental health issues (suicide is on the rise), crime, domestic violence, physical health issues due to stress and anxiety and many other health and social impacts.

“Who are we to say if a person is not eligible for the moratorium and therefore will not benefit? The 85 per cent of borrowers who resumed loan repayments after the first blanket moratorium is used to justify the fact that many can afford their loans and were just taking a free ride on the moratorium.

“But, has a research been done that perhaps these same people could fall under those who can’t afford loans anymore now that we’re well over a year into the pandemic?”

As for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) i-Citra withdrawal scheme, Mona believed it is a stop-gap solution but a longer term plan needs to be put in place as these funds belongs to the employees.

It does not benefit those who do not have enough in their EPF accounts, and those eligible may not be able to recoup their savings post-pandemic, she said.

Instead, she hoped that there would be a robust economic plan to mitigate the on-going swelling of unemployment, personal and business debt and overall economic uncertainty.

For a contractor Alexander Frusis, 30, the incentives announced by the Prime Minister are very good and could alleviate the burden of the people whose income is affected during the Movement Control Orders.

“In my opinion, the government has listened to the voices of the youths especially regarding the loan moratorium and the I-Citra withdrawal. Moratorium and the I-Citra withdrawal are very appropriate steps to help the people, especially the youths.”

He said with the loan moratorium, the people do not need to pay their loan for six months thus giving them six months increase in disposable income which could be used for other important matters.

“We need to survive now and not to worry too much about later. It is all about survival for the both of the peoples and economy,” he said.

A student cum part-time worker Wan Norizzati Wan Fazli, 25, said the loan moratorium would help those who have just started working as they may not have enough savings to cover their car loans after taking a pay cut due to the pandemic.

“This means that they can instead money that is supposed to be used to pay their loans for daily needs and have some savings in case of an emergency, as most had already dug into their savings to sustain their lives.”

Wan Norizzati said It would also allow them to have some capital to start a small home business like making cookies or food for sale to earn extra income.

For a 38-year-old insurance agent who wished to remain anonymous, the introduction of loan moratorium and i-Citra are great news for the people.

“Although, a sound retirement fund is crucial for a comfortable lifestyle in the later part of our life, the continuity of life now is of utmost priority for those affected with the countless Movement Control Orders.

“I believe after we have passed this critical period, a rational retirement goal is achievable through prudent financial planning.”

For now, she urged everyone to play their part by showing empathy and kindness, and to be mindful of those around us that are suffering financially and emotionally.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the Pemulih aid package, which included a six-month moratorium to be granted to all individual borrowers and micro-entrepreneurs, regardless of their income bracket, and would be approved automatically after application.

Besides that, he also announced EPF would introduce the i=Citra withdrawl scheme, which would enable 12.6 million EPF members to withdraw up to RM5,000 with a fixed payment rate of RM1,000 a month for five months, subject to the balance in their respective accounts. i-Citra is a continuation of the previous EPF withdrawal initiatives known as i-Lestari and i-Sinar.

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PSB Marudi brings food packs, drinking water to vaccination staff

Izahar (left) and his team with the donated items.

MARUDI (July 1): Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Marudi yesterday presented contributions in the form of food packs and drinking water to the vaccination staff at Baram Civic Centre PPV.

Team leader Izhar Taha said some 700 food packs and mineral water were distributed by appointed members of the PSB branch.

He said the food packs and mineral water were donated by potential PSB candidate for Marudi for the coming state election, Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.

Meanwhile, according to a source, more than 1,000 people from Marudi area and the surrounding longhouses and nearby villages turned up at the Baram Civic Centre PPV for vaccination.

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Voon: Respond to those raising ‘white flag’

Voon Shiak Ni

KUCHING (July 1): Social activist Voon Shiak Ni is urging people to respond to the White Flag campaign by raising a white flag when they are desperately in need of food and are feeling helpless during this Covid-19 pandemic.

“Put up a white flag or a piece of white cloth in the compound of your house. Let us identify and reach you,” she said in a press statement yesterday.

Members of the public are also urged to help identify the same and offer help in ways they can.

Community leaders and activists could also lend support, she said.
“The White Flag campaign is a peoples’ initiative by the people, for the people. It is a very thoughtful initiative with the objective to identify families needing help be it in the forms of food or a friend to anyone going through emotional stress.

“We all understand that the pandemic, lockdown, isolation and the uncertainty of livelihood are taking a toll on families not only in terms of financial strains but also emotional stress.

“We are also alarmed by the rising number of suicides since last year. Already in the first quarter of this year, there are 336 suicide cases reported in Malaysia,” she said.

Quoting sources from helpline of the Befrienders KL, Voon said the calls from people who are distressed and needed emotional support from March to May this year hadshot up to 10,412 cases, a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year.

I personally, as a lawyer, also note the trending increase in the number of people calling us for consultation on family disputes, marriage problems and divorce matters.”

Through the campaign Voon said she hoped to tell the society that Malaysians care.

“All of us cares. Let us know if you need help and this is the objective of the White Flag campaign.

“This initiative by the people is an action beyond politics and we encourage all to participate regardless of parties’ affiliation. Be it a deed sincere and true to help those who need us.

“Let us all be aware of this campaign and do whatever in our capacity to help those families in need of help. Let us weather through this difficult times and the pandemic together,” said Voon.

Malaysians on social media have come up with the #benderaputih (White Flag) movement for those in dire need of food and essentials to indicate this to neighbours without needing to beg for help.

The movement suggested that those who desperately needed assistance fly a white flag or cloth outside their homes, to let those able to help know which households were facing extreme difficulties.

The initiative arose amid growing reports of Malaysians being pushed to their breaking points by the near-total and indefinite closure of the economy due to the pandemic.

Even Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin has also announced and tweeted her undivided support for the campaign.

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Galong leads officers to identify ferry point along Jiwa Murni road

The convoy of 4WD vehicles led by Galong along the ongoing Jalan Jiwa Murni project from Sungai Baleh bridge to Nanga Merit.

KAPIT (July 1): A group of government officers led by deputy Kapit Resident Galong Luang, who is in charge of infrastructure and amenities development, took a drive along the 60km road from here across the Sungai Baleh bridge to Nanga Merit.

Among those joining him for the trip were Kapit division engineer Bujang Kanang, Kapit district officer Cerisologo Sabut and administrative officers from the Kapit Resident’s Office and District Office.

The objective was to identify a suitable site for a proposed ferry point across the Rajang river.

The road costing RM140 million is constructed under the Jiwa Murni project and is scheduled to complete on 31 Aug this year. Construction commenced two years ago.

There was a soil erosion approximately five km from the Sungai Baleh bridge, prompting the convoy to continue their journey via a logging road – Jalan Nanga Bawai – which took them two more hours to reach Nanga Merit, where Penghulu Esit Nalo and councillor Aman Yokow were waiting for them.

While at Nanga Merit, they inspected the proposed landing points for the ferry to link both banks of Rajang River.

Nanga Merit Sub-district is halfway between Kapit and Belaga along the Rajang river. It takes about two hours by 400HP speed boat to reach.

The wooden row of shops, health clinic, agriculture station, district office are at the west bank of Rajang river. The ongoing Jalan Jiwa Murni project from Sungai Baleh bridge to SK Nanga Merit is on Kapit side of the Rajang river.

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Saifuddin: Malaysia ranked among top 10 countries with highest commitment to cybersecurity

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah – Bernama file photo

KUALA LUMPUR (July 1): Malaysia has successfully been ranked among the top ten countries with high commitment to cybersecurity in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2020 report conducted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said in the global ranking involving 194 countries, Malaysia obtained a score of 98.06 to be ranked joint fifth along with Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

He said at the Asia Pacific level, Malaysia is ranked second after South Korea and Singapore tied for the first position with a score of 98.52.

“This is a better achievement compared to 2018 where we were in the eighth spot,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Saifuddin said Malaysia took the top ten spot after obtaining full score of 20.0 in three out of five key  performance indicators of the 2020 ITU cybersecurity agenda, namely legal measures, capacity development and cooperation, while the two other scores were technical measures (19.08) and organisational measures (18.98).

“This acknowledgment proves the government’s capacity, commitment and willingness in providing expert services, advocacy and preparedness in cybersecurity,” he said.

Saifuddin said in terms of capacity development, Malaysia has technical and competency skills training programmes as well as professional certification involving the cybersecurity domain.

Elaborating, he said Malaysia is capable of producing cybersecurity professionals not only internally but also from abroad through the Global ACE Certification Scheme and collaborations with the public and private sectors, industry and institutions of higher learning.

He said through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), the country is accredited to train participants from Asean and also Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

Saifuddin said Malaysia is also active in strengthening partnerships to fight cyber terrorism on a global level through various international platforms, including the Asean Computer Emergency Response Team (Asean Cert), the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), and the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP).

Other platforms include the Budapest Convention, the United Nations (UN) Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT), the OIC-Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CER) and the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST).

“Partnerships have also been formed with regional Asean countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam as well as countries like the United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy and Australia,” he said.

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry, together with Cybersecurity Malaysia, remain committed to continuing to empower and sustain cybersecurity infrastructure and ecosystem to remain competitive in order to achieve the aspiration of bringing Malaysia into the age of digitisation and to become a regional pioneer in digital economy. ― Bernama

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Loan moratorium for borrowers tops property sector players’ wish list- Sim

Dato Sim Kiang Chiok

KUCHING (July 1): Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) Kuching chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok said an automatic bank loan moratorium for B40, M40 and T20 borrowers tops the wish list for property sector players.

Speaking in response to the RM150 billion “Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi” (Pemulih) as announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on June 28, which included the moratorium will be made available for six months from July to December this year.

He also added however, for small-medium enterprises (SMEs), some terms and conditions have to be fulfill before their banks will grant the moratorium.

“In our development industry, we do not want non-performing loans (NPL) for house purchases as this would affect the market price when banks put houses up for auction due to non-loan repayment.

“This will cause a negative spiral effect on the property market and the bank’s own valuation or worth.

“Thus, to have the automatic bank loan repayment moratorium for all such as the B40, M40, T20 and SMEs, will assist in giving time for the working society, businesses and industries to resume, recover, and revitalise its business and economy on the growth path again,” he said in a statement yesterday.

As for additional funds for SMEs can borrow through Pemulih, since Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will add another RM2 billion to the remaining RM6.6 billion from the RM25.1 billion fund set aside for new SME applicants.

Sim believed that it should be able to meet the various needs of SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs in easing the cash flow constraints of their business.

This is due to the fact that the majority of businesses have gone through 18 months of various levels of lockdowns and disruption to their operations and most will need new capital to resume.

“BNM should also allow banks to assist in re-capitalising (sic) businesses and relax their lending rules which are based on pre-Covid requirements and these are difficult to meet now. The usual rules of proven income, excellent payment record and classification of NPL must be relaxed from three months to six months when the new bank momoratorium ends in Dec this year,” he said, adding that BNM must allow banks to lend based on assets.

Although there is no definite timeline given for moving from one phase to the other, Sim said Pemulih is set to end at the end of this year, matching the National Recovery Plan launched on June 15, with a road map of four phases with three main criteria to meet based on infection rates, availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and fully vaccinated rates.

With the availability of vaccines and a roll out plan, Sim is positive that the government is able to vaccinate 80 per cent of the population by the end of the third quarter this year, and that will allow the country to exit the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The direct cash assistance to pull through the lockdown period with Bantuan Perhatin Rakyat (BPR) worth RM4.9 billion and additional assistance with Bantuan Khas Covid (BKC) worth RM4.6 billion with both schemes paying out in stages till end of the year will help a great number of the population (emerge) from hardship from the lockdowns,” he added.

As for wage subsidies, he noted under the previous programme, they were only applicable for employees with a salary lower than RM4,000.

This condition has been taken off from the latest wage subsidy programme, meaning employers may apply for the programme even for employees earn more than RM4,000.

This, Sim said, will not only help to reduce unemployment rates, but utilise human resources and assist businesses in keeping manpower.

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#benderaputih movement spreads to Kuching

Noni raises the white flag outside her house. – Photo by Roystein Emmor

KUCHING (July 1): The #benderaputih (white flag) movement has spread to Kuching, with several houses spotted with white flags indicating the occupants’ cry for food and essentials assistance during this pandemic.

Among the areas spotted with white flags is Lorong Foochow 1T, Chawan Road, where many of those migrating from rural areas to the city have called home for many years and are living on daily-paid wages.

Noni Umpik, 57, was one of those spotted with a white flag and she related how difficult life has become during the Movement Control Order (MCO) as they struggle to pay for house rent and to buy food to put on the table.

She said she was encouraged to raise the white flag to make others aware of her family’s predicament.

“It is so hard to get enough salary during this MCO. For example, my husband is a daily paid labourer who only gets paid when he is called to work. He is paid RM40 per day, and would only receive the money when he is working and there will be no money when he is not at work,” she said.

Hailing from Kampung Mangka in Samarahan, she and her husband have been living at Lorong Foochow 1T for 13 years where they are renting a house at RM300 per month.

She added due to lack of earning, they are now running late in paying rent and depend on food baskets sent to the family and those received during charity programmes to ensure they have enough to eat.

“Sometimes I work at the temple nearby for several days to supplement my husband’s salary, and at times I could get RM400 per month. But, it is so hard nowadays.

“So, whenever there is charity programme where there are food donations, I would go there. I don’t feel ashamed in doing it.

“It is better to do that than asking for loans from people,” she said.

Asked how long the food basket would last, she said it is often not enough especially since she also has to feed her grandchildren who would stay with her when their parents are working.

“We are really struggling now. That is why I am hoping there is more assistance for people like us to help us survive and relieve some of our financial stress,” she said.

Another house spotted with a white flag is home to 45-year-old labourer Peter Lim @ Mohd Faizal Abdullah and his family.

Faizal said life is a struggle now as he has not had any work for the last two months due to the MCO. As such, he raised the white flag so that necessary aid can be given to his family.

Faizal puts up a pole for the white flag in front of the house where his family lives. – Photo by Roystein Emmor

“The last time we received government assistance was two weeks ago. We have also applied for financial assistance but so far no favourable response.

“I have no work, no income. Sometimes I have to ask for financial support from relatives,” he said.

He added he tried to apply for assistance under Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) and Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) but his application was not approved.

“Being in my position, I lack information and access to such financial assistance. I hope some assistance can come soon,” he said.

Malaysians on social media have come up with the #benderaputih (white flag) movement for those in dire need of food and essentials to indicate this to neighbours without needing to beg for help.

The movement suggested that those who desperately needed assistance fly a white flag or cloth outside their homes, which would let those able to help know which households could be facing extreme difficulties.

The initiative arose amid growing reports of Malaysians being pushed to their breaking points by the near-total and indefinite closure of the economy due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii could be seen on his Facebook page delivering aid to several houses which raised the white flag.

In a post, he said his team was contacted by a group of families that lived in a workshop area requesting for help as they did not have enough to buy food for their families because the head of their families worked as daily-paid labourers.

“Since implementation of the MCO, they are not allowed to work and thus have no income to buy food for their family. Many of them have little children among them as well.

“So we responded to their call for help and try our best to provide for them from our own resources and kind donations from the public. We may not have much, but we will try to do as much as we can,” he wrote in the post.

In an earlier post, he wrote that for constituents of P195 Bandar Kuching, they do not need to put up a white flag if in desperate need of help for food, but to contact his office and they will try their best to help.

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