Playing our part as Malaysians
In Malaysia, the MySejahtera app and the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply website (vaksincovid.gov.my) are the primary sites for Covid-19 vaccine registration. For example, we started a Covid-19 vaccine trial with the Institute of Medical Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in January. On June 5, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that Malaysia would take part in a Phase Three Covid-19 vaccine trial by Shenzen Kangtai Biological Products. The UK National Institute of Health Research has a comprehensive online database system for volunteers to find suitable clinical trials. It is important for clinical trials to have representation from different age groups, genders, races and communities.
Source:The Star
July 07, 2021 01:07 UTC
Virgin Galactic's Branson calls his upcoming spaceflight a 'pinch-me moment'
The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other. By joining the flight on July 11, Branson has positioned himself to beat rival entrepreneur Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing head-to-head in the emerging space tourism business. Success for both ventures is considered key to fostering a burgeoning industry that aims to eventually make space tourism mainstream, at least for high-paying customers.
Source:The Star
July 07, 2021 00:22 UTC
Malaysian family discovers train that runs through a market in Bangkok
Thailand's Bangkok is known for its markets but among the many popular ones, I find Maeklong Railway Market to be the most fascinating. I had the opportunity to visit this railway market with my my wife, mother, daughters, and eldest sister a few years back. We made our journey to Maeklong Railway Market early in the morning by bus. The Maeklong Railway Station is a simple station with a single platform for embarking and disembarking. It is no wonder then that the Maeklong Railway Market is marked as a “heritage market”, and has appeared in many international travel documentaries.
Source:The Star
July 07, 2021 00:00 UTC
Radio station joins crisis relief squad in providing aid to three families in Bukit Jalil
Star Media Group’s Chinese radio station 988 FM teamed up with Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM), to help the needy at People’s Housing Project (PPR) Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur. The group visited three families who had placed a white flag in front of their units. “Sometimes, those who need help may not know where to turn to, but we can step up and contribute to lessen their burden,” she said. “We extended help to families in PPR Bukit Jalil during Chinese New Year this year and gave single parents, families with disabled persons, senior citizens and the hardcore poor some food and financial assistance. “When a resident told me about these three families putting up a white flag, we came to help,” he said.
Source:The Star
July 07, 2021 00:00 UTC
Chamber launches recruitment initiative for youths
THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) South Key has launched a recruitment platform called “Find My Job” as a way to reduce the unemployment rate in the wake of Covid-19. JCI South Key president Lee Joe Yee said the initiative, which runs until Sept 15, was a collaboration with recruitment agency Awesome Manpower Sdn Bhd to help the jobless to find suitable employment. “The Statistics Department revealed that as of April, the unemployment rate was at 4.6%, causing a sharp decline in income for many families. Although the government has initiated several policies to check unemployment, Lee said the number of those affected was still high. For more information, visit the JCI South Key Facebook page.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:48 UTC
Small businesses look forward to resuming operations under second phase of NRP
With this, the people, especially those in small businesses, can look forward to better days. City Car Wash owner K. Kaleswaran, 37, is happy to resume his business in Transfer Road, George Town, after three months of closure. “To be able to open my car wash business after three months comes as great news for me. “I have five workers and there will be at least 40 to 50 cars coming for car wash service a day. Besides car wash businesses, others allowed to reopen include computer and telecommunications outlets, bookshops and stationery shops, electrical goods shops and barber shops (basic services only).
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:37 UTC
Farmers in a quandary over unharvested crops
“Although I have a worker staying at my farm, neither he nor the rest of us are allowed to harvest the crops even though they are ready to be picked. He said that would be the hefty amount of weekly losses he would suffer if the vegetables could not be harvested. “The farm is managed by my brother and his workers, while I handle the logistics of our business. “There are three areas in Tringkap where residents are not allowed to leave and the areas are fenced up. “We are now packing both dry and wet groceries to be given to those within the cordoned-off areas.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:37 UTC
Turning pain into a hit song
GEORGE TOWN: He lost his first love, and in the months staying at home during the pandemic, singer and songwriter Govin Raaj turned the memories of that pain into a song. Aruginil is a Tamil song which was officially released this April. “The song is about a heartbroken guy whose former lover strung him along for personal benefit,” he said, admitting that he penned the song from his own experience of being lost in love. “As cliche as it may sound, writing this song helped me get the closure I needed to move on. “It actually only took me two days to write the song and around two weeks to complete it.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:26 UTC
MOT: Permission letter for transportation sector can still be used
For sectors other than warehousing, loading or unloading activities are limited to companies named under the list of essential services of the enhanced MCO. The MOT said that the warehousing sector was not subject to the operational limits of essential goods only as it provided storage and unloading services of finished goods to the port. “The warehousing sector activities do not involve any manufacturing activities. “As such, the warehousing sector can continue to operate without restrictions on the types of essential and non-essential goods,” it said. The ministry added that the essential services that were permitted for the transportation and logistics sector included sea, air and maritime transport; goods and public transport; as well as ports and airports.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:12 UTC
Chong Wei says he can be effective chef de mission from home
PETALING JAYA: When Lee Chong Wei was first appointed as the chef de mission (CDM) for the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, he did not envisage that he will be carrying out his duties – from home. The 38-year-old badminton legend has confirmed that he will not be travelling with the Malaysian contingent to the postponed Games from July 23-Aug 8, but would continue assuming his CDM role remotely. The decision did not come as a surprise as it was not ideal for him to travel amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Chong Wei was diagnosed with nose cancer in 2018 and it led to his premature retirement a year later. “We’re living in a different world right now, even the world leaders hold their meetings online.”In Chong Wei’s absence, OCM secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib has been tasked to manage the contingent’s affairs in Tokyo.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 23:03 UTC
Sigh of relief from retailers
Malaysia Retailers Association general manager Evelyn Cheong said Penang going into Phase Two will be good for the state’s economy after the prolonged closure. “Reopening retail outlets in phases will help the economy recover. “We are hoping for all the retail businesses to reopen as that will help the economy and those running these businesses,” Cheong added. While many rejoiced at the reopening of retail outlets, Cheong reminded everyone to focus on stringent compliance with the standard operating procedure to keep the virus at bay. Other activities allowed are shops selling computers, telecommunication devices and electrical appliances and car wash businesses.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
PM: Vaccination plan on right track
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia achieved its highest daily Covid-19 vaccination rate so far with 313,761 doses administered on Monday, signalling that the country’s inoculation initiative is on the right track. The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) said on its Twitter account yesterday that more than 10% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated. He also thanked and congratulated National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. “My thanks also goes to the frontliners, volunteers and all Malaysians for taking part in the vaccination programme and making it a success,” added Muhyiddin. The procurement of about 5.4 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the government is also expected to arrive this month.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 22:30 UTC
Invest in You
During times like these, having a solid financial plan is critical in weathering the worst of the storm. The reality of it is, financial planning, or FP for short, can be as simple as putting RM100 aside weekly for a rainy day. However your financial plan turns out to be, we can all agree that financial security is the most important part of the FP process. Invest in yourself; take the first step towards developing your financial plan by meeting with a licensed professional. At Kenanga Investors Bhd, we appreciate that each investor’s financial journey is as unique as their person.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 22:30 UTC
Soccer-Italy reach final to continue storming comeback from World Cup failure
"Spain were great, they have star players but we fought until the end and we did it," said Italy's Chiesa. Mancini's side are looking to win the European Championship for the first time since 1968 and secure their first major trophy since winning the 2006 World Cup. "They only wanted to get to penalties in extra time but we could have played for half an hour more. Italy could have put the game to bed, but Simon saved twice from Domenico Berardi and Morata made them pay. Once again Morata was a crucial part of the story, but not in the way he would have wanted.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 22:00 UTC
Aeon Credit earnings up 520% in first quarter
PETALING JAYA: AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd ’s net profit for its first quarter ended May 31, 2021 has ballooned five times year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM163.09mil from RM26.28mil previously. This was mainly due to lower impairment loss and prudent cost management recorded in the quarter. The group’s revenue rose 5.4% y-o-y to RM410.97mil from RM389.88mil in the corresponding quarter last year. Aeon Credit’s total transaction and financing volume had increased by 80.9% to RM1.41bil while its transaction and financing volume also saw an increase by 11.5% as compared to the preceding quarter. The company’s gross financing receivables for the quarter saw a slight decrease of RM460.07mil to RM10.06bil while non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.75% as of May 31, 2021, compared to 1.42% a year ago.
Source:The Star
July 06, 2021 21:33 UTC