1947, 1970s, 2008. Take your pick, inflationistas
FROM spikes in Americans’ cost of living to surging factory-gate prices in China, inflation is stirring in all corners of the globe. Pick your era: the 1970s, the aftermath of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc’s collapse or even the years after World War II. Let inflation go too far, and central banks risk a downturn if they have to rein in activity too forcefully. She told Bloomberg News last weekend that a bit more inflation would be a plus after years of lowball numbers. This is monetary policy 101.”Central bankers know how to jack up benchmark interest rates.
Source:The Star
June 12, 2021 01:25 UTC
Timely call for social protection reform
TO be blunt, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's call for a single, cross-agency social protection database (PDPS) is most likely going to end up as another flawed greater e-Kasih in the making, "'Social protection database vital'" (The Star, June 9). If we are serious about social protection reforms, we must start with low-hanging fruits that can make our society a fairer and more just place to live in. The two key ingredients missing from our social protection system are redistribution (reducing inequalities in income, opportunities and access) and risk-pooling (sharing of risks on the principle of solidarity). What we can do instead is to have a national household registry system that tracks the well-being of our family units over time. It is important to note that any social protection reforms must happen hand in hand with population mindset change.
Source:The Star
June 12, 2021 00:11 UTC
Golf-Koepka, in a U.S. Open state of mind, misses Palmetto cut
Koepka, who had knee surgery in March to repair a dislocated kneecap, said he struggled with focus all week as his mind was already looking ahead to the June 17-20 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. "I mean, that's probably where I think some of the poor scoring comes from, just from lack of focus. "But as far as commitment to the shot, striking it well, doing what I want with the ball, flighting it, I'm pretty pleased. I mean, I can almost squat down to read a putt like normal," said Koepka. "Didn't do it too much this week just because I don't want to screw it up for next week."
Source:The Star
June 12, 2021 00:02 UTC
Appoint non-Malays as university vice-chancellors
IT is rather rare that the posts of as many as five vice-chancellors of public universities are vacant at any one time, as is the situation now. This is a very opportune moment for the government, more specifically the Higher Education Minister, to take the historic step of appointing non-Malay professors as vice-chancellors of some of these five universities. And that many are not surprised if the top university leaders selected are not the best in terms of academic rigour. Malaysia is home to at least 20 public universities as well as many distinguished non-Malay academics who have over the decades been discriminated against by never being appointed as vice-chancellors. To begin with, out of the five existing vacant VC posts, I would propose that a Chinese and an Indian professor each be appointed as VC.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
‘Help elders check on appointments’
THE younger generation is advised to take the initiative to help elderly relatives with Covid-19 vaccination status checks to keep them from missing their appointments. She said due to shortcomings in the vaccination registration system, many recipients did not receive an SMS or notification of their appointment. “Some seniors had to go to coffeeshops or get help from their friends to check their status but with the current Covid-19 situation and the lockdown in place, they are advised not to leave home. “They just need to key in the person’s MyKad number and telephone number to check their status on the website. Wong reminded the public, especially younger family members that checking on the vaccination status was “homework” that needed to be done to ensure the national immunisation programme was successful.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
Staying sharp in pandemic
The 18-year-old built a driving range at home to perfect his swings and hand-eye coordination. “To keep practising at home, I constructed a driving range out of PVC pipes at the porch and laid green artificial turf on the ground. Besides using the homemade driving range an hour a day, Brenden works out at his mini gym at home. “The upkeep of the stadium in Batu Kawan costs RM15, 648 monthly for cleaning and RM5, 000 monthly for landscaping. “As for Sony Complex, the cleaning costs RM14, 625 monthly while landscaping costs RM4, 400 monthly.”
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
Moving forward in teaching and learning
First, there is a lower score for hands-on and practical subjects in vocational schools, which indicates that online learning affected the students’ performance. This is in line with the findings of internationally published research on the effects of online learning on vocational school students. The result of that survey showed that students in urban schools outperformed their counterparts in rural areas in language, Mathematics and Science. The government should also accelerate its policy on online learning. If possible, make online learning part of the curriculum delivery (blended learning environment) to prepare students for the culture of distance learning.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
Seniors happy to get their jabs
He said not much coaxing was needed to convince his 80-year-old mother, R. Sinthamani, to get the jab. The residents’ children had been asked to visit the home to sign consent forms prior to the vaccines being administered. “He too was happy to see me and we found time to make some video calls to his three children and grandchildren in Perak,” she said. Dr Ilyanis said Kulai Health District office had conducted the immunisation programme at four other old folks homes in the district earlier. “We have given jabs to between 40 and 60 residents in each of the four homes and this home has the highest number of recipients at 65,’’ she said.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
Make vaccination easier for persons with dementia
UNCLE Pak Chee, 73, rode his bicycle to a Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in Ipoh and got his jab. People living with dementia and those who are affected by it are already living a very difficult life. Ensure appointments are given in advance to allow caregivers to make the logistical and mental preparations. Allow caregivers to accompany the person with dementia all the way through the vaccination process. Include “dementia” and “mobility challenged” in the registration form to allow identification and execution of the above suggestions.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:26 UTC
Old sprint coach, new vision for Khairul
PETALING JAYA: Former sprint champion Khairul Hafiz Jantan is more fired up to beat the SEA Games qualifying mark at the Qosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on June 19 after being reunited with his coach. Khairul has to run faster than the qualifying mark of 21.22s in the 200m to make the cut for the SEA Games in Hanoi in November. The 22-year-old Khairul said his coach has made clear of his targets in Almaty. Khairul gained prominence when he set a new national record in the 100m with a time of 10.18 at the 2016 Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Kuching. He then went on to win the blue ribband event in the 2017 SEA Games with 10.38, beating then favourite Eric Cray from the Philippines.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 23:03 UTC
Dept expects more illegals to leave if programmes extended
PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department expects more illegal immigrants to leave the country if the repatriation recalibration programme is extended until year-end, with close to 100, 000 foreigners having been sent home already. Khairul Dzaimee said that to date, 97, 892 illegal immigrants had signed up for the repatriation programme with compounds totalling RM47, 412, 400 collected. Of these, 80, 284 illegal immigrants had returned with the rest waiting for the time to leave Malaysia. As for the labour recalibration programme, he said names and details of 110, 817 illegal workers were already placed in the system, involving 5, 151 employers. Welcoming the proposal to extend the labour programme, Syed Hussain said this would allow more undocumented migrants to participate.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 21:45 UTC
Full lockdown extended another two weeks
PUTRAJAYA: The nationwide full lockdown will be extended for another two weeks starting June 15. Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made after considering the high number of daily cases reported. “It has been decided that the lockdown will be extended for two weeks, taking effect from June 15 to 28, ” he said in a statement. Sources said those who attended the meeting agreed that the lockdown should be extended. I can’t imagine if the government were to relax the restrictions.”Director of a software company, Gwee Chee Seng, 55, also agreed that the lockdown should be extended.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 21:41 UTC
LRT: Prasarana beefs up SOP on safety, operations and rail maintenance
KUALA LUMPUR (June 11): Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) has taken immediate steps to beef up its standard operating procedures (SOP) related to safety, operations, manpower and rail maintenance for the Kelana Jaya Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) service which operates automatically without a driver. “These measures are in addition to the existing SOP and international guidelines. She said the SOP had also been tightened immediately to tackle any communication disruptions between the Operational Control Centre (OCC) and manually-driven trains. Norlia said the SOP, which came into effect on May 30, included setting the requirement for two hostlers for all manual trains under the Kelana Jaya Line LRT tunnel between Pasar Seni and Damai stations. “The speed of manual trains was limited to only 20 kilometres (km) per hour and a safety bulletin will be regularly issued to reiterate safety aspects and SOP to all Prasarana employees,” she said.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 11, 2021 17:37 UTC
Elderly woman walks 3km just to get vaccinated
She said that she was earlier scheduled to get the first dose of the vaccine last month but had to postpone the appointment due to transportation problems. But I didn’t want to miss my appointment for a second time, so I decided to walk all the way to the PPV. "The day before the appointment, my granddaughter called me to tell me to go to the PPV to get my jab. "Alhamdulillah, I am thankful that I have received my first dose of the vaccine jab. Senior citizens like me should get vaccinated so that we will not be easily infected with Covid-19, ” she said, adding that she would be getting her second dose of the vaccine jab on June 22.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 15:00 UTC
Why Filipino politicians love ivermectin
WHENEVER there’s a health crisis, politicians have a tendency to tout simplistic solutions and make knowledge claims to support these solutions, even against the advice of those who know better. (Few if any politicians would claim to be unscientific, but most politicians misuse, and selectively use, science.) For indeed, regardless of its pharmaceutical efficacy, ivermectin has political efficacy for our politicians: It makes them feel like they are doing something – at a fraction of the effort of doing something meaningful. Ivermectin, moreover, allows politicians to distance themselves from institutions the public has come to distrust, painting themselves as smarter, more independent, more sensible. Ivermectin, finally, gives politicians free publicity.
Source:The Star
June 11, 2021 15:00 UTC