International buyers still keen on Malaysian properties
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian properties market remains attractive to international buyers, especially for properties in Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands and Sabah, according to IBN Corp Ltd. In a statement today, IBN Corp director Megat Khalil Izzuddin Shah said Malaysia remains one of the most ideal countries for retirement due to its excellent weather and living environment. "The highly accessible public transportation system, affordable medical cost and cheap yet excellent education are also attractive prospects. "Phase one of IBN Highlands City is expected to be completed by December 2023, whereas IBN Bukit Bintang is due for completion in the second quarter of 2024. "We also have some other exciting new projects planned for this year, including a 40-acre recreational park near IBN Highlands City," he said.
Source:The Star
February 08, 2022 02:25 UTC
OpenSys clinches additional order from BSN to supply cash recycling machines
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 7): OpenSys (M) Bhd announced it has received an additional order worth RM10.8 million to supply cash recycling machines (CRMs) to Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches. CRMs are dual-function machines that replace standalone cash deposit and dispensing machines in banks and financial institutions. “This additional award from BSN demonstrates the CRMs’ ability to generate significant savings in operational costs, improving operational efficiency and enhancing customer service for banks. “We are proud to play a role in continuing to support banks’ digitalisation and operation enhancement efforts, and endeavour to further encourage these initiatives,” Lim said. With this latest order, BSN would commission more than 270 CRMs across branches nationwide by the end of 2022.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 07, 2022 22:42 UTC
QuickCheck: Were the people of Scandinavia called Vikings?
SCANDINAVIANS who lived between 793 to 1066 AD were called Vikings. Verdict:FALSEWhile the word "Viking" is commonly used to describe the seafaring people of Scandinavia (present day Norway, Denmark and Sweden), it would not have been what the "Vikings" would have called themselves. The word Viking has its roots in the norse word "vik" which means creek, inlet or bay. During the Viking Age, the word viking was actually an activity, something someone would do rather than the name of the person doing it. Anyone could be a vikingr as it was a word that the Vikings would use for other non-Scandinavian groups as well.
Source:The Star
February 07, 2022 02:20 UTC
This is the only Goldman banker standing trial for 1MDB
By now the broad outlines of the 1MDB scandal, or at least its most salacious details, are well known on Wall Street. Ng, the former head of investment banking in Malaysia, is charged with helping Jho Low and Leissner launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, or 1MDB. Jho Low, the alleged mastermind of the fraud, has denied wrongdoing and remains at large. Ng has said he was the first to inform Goldman Sachs compliance about Jho Low, sending “red flag warnings” not to do business with him. Even if he prevails in the U.S., his legal battle won’t end there: He still faces separate trial in Malaysia.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 07, 2022 00:30 UTC
Sabah wants full probe into claims of militants landing in Lahad Datu
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government wants a full investigation into claims that suspected foreign militant landed on Long Patau in the state’s easternmost tip of Lahad Datu in Tambisan. However, Hajiji said he had been briefed about the case by Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah and that there was no indication of the alleged intruders in Lahad Datu. On Saturday (Feb 5), Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said although there was no real evidence to show militants had infiltrated Lahad Datu, police would not take it lightly. Concerns over security over the east coast of Sabah surfaced late last year when unconfirmed reports claimed that southern Philippines based Sulu militants were hatching plans to invade Sabah. In Feb 2013, over 100 Sulu militants linked to a self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan intruded into Kg Tanduo in Lahad Datu and were defeated by Malaysian security forces.
Source:The Star
February 06, 2022 20:21 UTC
South Korea fines Mercedes-Benz US$16.87 mil over emission rigging
SEOUL (Feb 6): South Korea's antitrust regulator said on Sunday that it has decided to fine Mercedes-Benz 20.2 billion won (US$16.87 million) for falsified information on gas emissions of its diesel cars and ordered it to take corrective actions. The rigging means that the vehicles failed to meet permissible emission levels, but the German automaker falsified related facts in signs attached to its cars between April 2012 and November 2018, according to the commission. The Korean unit also advertised that the vehicles' nitrogen oxide emissions remained at a minimum level and they fully met the Euro 6 emission standards. "Such practices will or are feared to hurt fair market order by preventing consumers from making a reasonable decision," it added. Last year, the regulator either imposed a fine or ordered corrective steps for Audi-Volkswagen Korea, Nissan Motor Corp, Stellantis Korea and Porsche AG for similar emissions rigging incidents.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 06, 2022 18:17 UTC
An old controversy gets a new lease on life, mirroring the sign of the times
IT’S ironic that a controversial statement by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, largely forgotten or more precisely, generally unknown to most Malaysians, would get resurrected. The “shoot to kill” threat was reported in the media to have, in fact, been made by then Deputy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, her father. I remember reading the gaffe by Dr Mahathir, which angered me, although I can’t remember the subsequent details. Those of us from that generation would recall the Vietnamese refugees, known as Boat People, who began landing on the East Coast beaches in their rickety boats in 1975. All this became an explosive affair when Dr Mahathir made that remark.
Source:The Star
February 06, 2022 03:32 UTC
Future-proofing Malaysia's healthcare system
One of the silver linings of the Covid-19 pandemic is that it has brought healthcare to the forefront of our consciousness. One can argue that we are now more aware of the importance of a robust public health system, alongside a healthcare service that is able to serve current and future needs. Identifying potential future scenarios that may challenge our healthcare system is essential, alongside coming up with realistic strategies that can be implemented in a timely fashion. Mental healthAny future healthcare policies should incorporate solutions for mental health issues for all age groups. Any effort to improve our healthcare service will need to include policies that ensure better access to mental health support.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2022 11:00 UTC
Double joy for native couple
Native Kadazan Lorraine Tokuzip, 35, and her Bisaya husband Asmerol Alias, 35, also held their second reception on Chinese New Year, to celebrate not only their matrimony but to also usher in the Lunar New Year as well. Upkeeping tradition: Asmerol and Lorraine in their semi-modern Chinese wedding attires for the Lunar New Year. She donned a semi-traditional red Chinese wedding dress while her engineer husband, who is a Muslim, also put on matching clothes. This is a meaningful part of the traditional Chinese wedding as it symbolises the union of two families and respect for their elders. “That’s why for our Sandakan reception, we wore Kadazan and Bisaya attires and did the Sumazau dance (a must for native Kadazan weddings) among other practices,” Lorraine said.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2022 10:32 UTC
Covid-19: Number of new cases spikes to 7,234
PETALING JAYA: New Covid-19 cases have increased by over 1,500 cases on Friday (Feb 4) with 7,234 cases reported. Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cumulative number of infections in the country was now 2,895,014. "Of the new cases recorded on Friday, 234 were import cases involving 92 Malaysians and 142 foreigners," he said in a statement on Friday. On the country's infectivity rate Dr Noor Hisham said the national R-nought rate stood at 1.11. "Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak recorded a value of 1.04 respectively while Labuan recorded a zero infectivity rate," he said.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2022 02:45 UTC
Wilmar Adani to IPO at issue price of S$4.14 per share; 156.7 mil equity shares to be issued and allotted
SINGAPORE (Feb 4): Wilmar Adani, the 50:50 joint venture company (JVC) between Wilmar International and India’s Adani Group has finalised its issue price at 230 rupees (S$4.14) per equity share in relation to its initial public offering (IPO). The company on Friday (Feb 4) had also approved the issuance and allotment of 156.73 million equity shares to the respective applicants. The issuance and allotment were...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)
Source:The Edge Markets
February 05, 2022 00:07 UTC
Govt considers building SMART tunnel in Shah Alam
PUTRAJAYA: Shah Alam may be getting a SMART tunnel system as a solution to mitigate floods in the area, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said a national disaster management committee meeting chaired by him had heard a proposal for SMART tunnels to be constructed, especially in high-density areas such as Shah Alam. The meeting, held online, was attended by Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers, Chief of Armed Forces Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali. Other measures proposed were to improve the flood siren and warning system at Drainage and Irrigation Department centres as well as monitoring via closed-circuit television (CCTV). A flood forecast and warning system based on artificial intelligence would be developed while some 100 weather observation stations would be upgraded.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2022 11:38 UTC
M’sia, S’pore strengthen cooperation in entrepreneurship education, digital and creative technologies
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 3): Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to strengthen cooperation, especially in the field of entrepreneurship education, as well as digital and creative technologies that can benefit the people, especially those in rural areas. The agreement was reached during a discussion between Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Singapore’s Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, who paid a courtesy call on Mahdzir at the Rural Development Ministry (KPLB) here on Thursday (Feb 3). According to a statement issued by KPLB, the ministers also exchanged views on social development issues during the one-hour meeting. Masagos, who is also the Second Minister for Health and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, is on a three-day working visit to Malaysia beginning Thursday.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2022 03:07 UTC
Egypt, Malaysia agree on pushing bilateral relations forward
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): Egypt and Malaysia have agreed on the importance of pushing forward their bilateral relations and opening new horizons for joint cooperation at all levels. This was agreed upon at the recent Bilateral Political Consultations between the two countries held in Cairo on Jan 30. The inputs of the meeting were made available to Bernama by Egypt's embassy in Malaysia. The Bilateral Consultations was the first to be held between the two countries — representing a significant step in boosting Cairo-Kuala Lumpur relations. Egypt's delegation was led by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asian Affairs Ambassador Ayman Kamel, while Malaysia's delegation was led by Foreign Ministry's Secretary-General Tan Sri M. Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2022 01:20 UTC
QuickCheck: Is there only one sign language used around the world?
SIGN language is taught throughout the world, and those who know it can use it to communicate regardless of where they come from. Verdict:SOMEWHAT TRUEEach country generally has its own native sign language. The closest to a universal sign language that is understood internationally, is International Sign or IS. The language is generally used during international events such as meetings and events such as those held by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) or the Deaflympics. The need for a mutually intelligible language was discussed during the World Deaf Congress in 1951 when the WFD was formed.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2022 18:57 UTC