ALOR SETAR (Bernama): There is a need to tighten checks on the MySejahtera application status of individuals at all premises, especially supermarkets, to ensure those placed under the Home Supervision Order (HSO) do not gain entry. "In Kedah, in just one week, there were 523 MySejahtera check-ins (to premises) who were Covid-19 positive or high-risk individuals placed under home quarantine. Khairy said attention should be given to residents in several districts which still recorded low vaccination rates, such as in Pendang and Baling. He said his ministry had also asked all employers to tighten procedures at workplaces by allowing only fully vaccinated individuals to return to work. Khairy added that, for now, the supply of vaccines at every vaccination centre in Kedah was sufficient, in fact, excessive.

PARIS (Reuters) - The disciplinary committee of the French League (LFP) will meet on Monday to discuss the crowd trouble that marred Saturday’s RC Lens v Lille derby, the LFP said on Sunday. "The LFP strongly condemns the outbursts, the invasion of the pitch and the violence that occurred during the match between RC Lens and LOSC Lille," the governing body said in a statement. "In view of the seriousness of the events, the Disciplinary Committee will meet on Monday 20 September." The kickoff to the second half of the Ligue 1 game, which Lens won 1-0 to move up to provisional second in the standings, was delayed by about half an hour after crowd trouble erupted at halftime. Nice were this month docked two points, one of them suspended, after serious crowd trouble during their game against Olympique Marseille whose players clashed with home fans who pelted them with missiles and stormed onto the pitch.

KOTA KINABALU: Former Kunak assemblyman Datuk Nilwan Kabang, who passed away just before dawn on Sunday (Sept 19), was buried around noon. It was earlier reported that the Sabah Umno assistant information chief had succumbed to Covid-19, but his eldest daughter Nurina explained that her father had recovered from the virus. Nurina, 41, said that doctors had told them that her father had recovered from Covid-19, but was battling a lung infection. Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in conveying his condolences to the grieving family, remembered Nilwan as a strong willed person who did not back down from challenges easily. He added that the shocking and sad passing of Nilwan was a huge loss to the people of Sabah and Umno.

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron will have a call with U.S. President Joe Biden in the next few days, the French government spokesman said on Sunday, amid a diplomatic crisis triggered by Australia's cancellation of submarine contract with Paris. France said on Friday it was recalling its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra over a trilateral security deal also involving Britain which sank the multi-billion dollar order for French submarines. "President Biden asked to speak to the President of the Republic and there will be a telephone discussion in the next few days between President Macron and President Biden," Gabriel Attal told news channel BFM TV. France would be seeking "clarification" over the cancellation of a submarine order, Attal said. After the initial "shock" of the cancellation, discussions would need to take place over contract clauses, notably compensation for the French side, Attal added.

KOTA BHARU (Bernama): Ninety per cent out of the total 14,500 fire personnel nationwide have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, said Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid (pic). He said the remaining 10% had not been vaccinated due to several factors, including health problems. Mohammad Hamdan said as the first responders in any operation it was mandatory for firemen to get inoculated to protect them from the virus. He said this at a press conference after a making a working visit and a wearing of ranks ceremony at the Kelantan JBPM headquarters, here on Sunday (Sept 19). Present were JBPM Air Division director Nazili Mahmood and Kelantan JBPM director Zainal@Jainal Madasin.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): As one of the pioneer members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Malaysia is looking forward to welcoming economic powerhouse China into the fold, anticipated to be as early as next year. "The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti), Malaysia is particularly encouraged with the recent move by China to formally apply for accession into the CPTPP,” the Ministry responded to Bernama’s query on China’s decision. Widely regarded as the gold standard for regional trade agreements, CPTPP offers immense economic opportunities for both Malaysia and China. The CPTPP is a trade agreement among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Malaysia is currently on track in ratifying the CPTPP, pending a detailed and clear mandate from the Cabinet, Miti had said recently.

LONDON (Reuters) -Jimmy Greaves, one of England's most prolific strikers and Tottenham Hotspur's record goalscorer, has died at the age of 81, the Premier League club said on Sunday. Greaves, who suffered a stroke six years ago, scored 266 goals for Tottenham between 1961-1970 and his 37 league goals in the 1962-63 season remains a club record. He began his career with Chelsea and netted 124 league goals for the London club between 1957 and 1961. Greaves scored 44 goals in 57 internationals for England, making him the country's fourth-highest scorer behind Wayne Rooney, Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker. Tottenham striker Harry Kane said on Twitter that Greaves was a "true legend" while the north London club said "football will not see his like again".

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Applicants who failed to get a place in Public Universities (UA) may submit an appeal, 11 days after the announcement to check the results of admissions to UAs for the 2021/2022 session on Wednesday (Sept 15). The Higher Education Department’s Public Higher Education Institutions (IPTA) Student Admission Division director Wahi Nordin said appeals could be submitted through the Student Admission Application System (UPUOnline). "Applicants may submit only four appeal options, and the interview or test programmes only for options one and two. "So candidates may choose programmes that suit their results in the four appeal options," he said. Meanwhile, he said that the offer given was final, and applicants were not allowed to change courses or universities.

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Ulangan (SPMU) 2021 will be conducted from Sept 21 to 23 with 8,077 candidates registered to sit for the examination. The Examination Board (LP) in a statement today said 1,568 examination personnel had been appointed to ensure the smooth management and handling of SPMU 2021 at 201 examination centres nationwide. LP reminded all candidates to refer to the examination timetable for information on the examination date, time, code and paper as well as directions and warnings to adhere to during the examination, which can be downloaded from the official LP portal at http://lp.moe.gov.my. Candidates are reminded to bring their identification document and examination registration statement to the examination centre as well as to comply with the Central Assessment and Public Examination Management Guidelines found in the latest School Management and Operation guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE). LP said candidates are also required to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Health Ministry (MOH) to ensure the smooth management of examination and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection by downloading the guidelines at the official MOE portal at https://www.moe.gov.my.

MANILA (Reuters) - A faction of the Philippines' ruling political party on Sunday nominated boxing star Manny Pacquiao as the party's presidential candidate for the 2022 election, his close ally Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said. Pacquiao, currently a senator, was nominated by his PDP-Laban party allies during the group's national assembly, days after a rival faction nominated President Rodrigo Duterte as its choice for vice president and his long-time aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, as the party's presidential candidate. (Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

PETALING JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has promised to return his paycheck as the special advisor of the former prime minister to the Covid-19 fund. Ahmad Faizal, who was appointed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug 5 as his special advisor, said that he will give back the entire RM27,000 he received. I intended to return the entire paycheck to the Covid-19 fund," said Ahmad Faizal. Ahmad Faizal held the special advisor's post for 11 days in the previous government. In light of the matter, Ahmad Faizal apologised and hoped it could set a precedent for parties to work together in efforts to build the country.

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post): Major restructuring completed recently at Pertamina is expected to help the state-owned energy giant achieve US$93bil in revenue and $21bil in net profit within three years. “Still, Pertamina faces challenges, including the energy transition from fossil fuels to new and renewable energy,” Fajriyah told The Jakarta Post on Friday. "This transformation is [also] in line with the global transition to renewable energy," Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati said in a statement issued on Sept 10. “The challenge in moving forward after the restructuring process lies within Pertamina itself,” he told The Jakarta Post on Friday. “Any internal [issues] would have to be resolved immediately to achieve the [revenue] target,” Reforminer Institute executive director Komaidi Notonegoro told the Post on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has not ruled out seeking re-election to Parliament within the next two years, despite a corruption conviction that would block him from running. Speaking to Reuters on Saturday (Sept 18), Najib challenged his disqualification, saying: "It is subject to interpretation. Najib said in the interview that he has discussed with Ismail Sabri a possible role for him in government. Najib said he had discussed the proposal with Ismail Sabri, who has so far not agreed to it, and he had also discussed it with Muhyiddin, who rejected it. Spokespersons for Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

PETALING JAYA: Common sense should be applied if there are differing interpretations of the law, says social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic). "It’s probably best if we apply the common sense approach. Among the factors that define the common sense approach is compassion. "As long as the court ruling does not set a dangerous precedent, its interpretation of the law as in this case should be accepted," said Lee. "If children of Malaysian mothers born in Malaysia can automatically be entitled to citizenship, children of Malaysian mothers born anywhere else should also be entitled to the same privilege," he added.

JOHOR BARU: Over 1,600 positions in the Fire and Rescue Department are still vacant, says Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib. Ismail said that this included some 1,610 vacant rank and file positions as well as 55 officer posts in the department. "At the moment, only 12,416 of the 14,026 available rank and file positions in the department have been filled. "Meanwhile, for professional posts, only 435 out of the 490 available positions have been filled," he said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused a delay in filling up the posts. He said this to a press conference after visiting the Johor Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here on Sunday (Sept 19).