Data Privacy: Tracing more than just contacts?
Despite their efficacy, these apps have brought about one very real concern: data privacy. The paranoia about data privacy is worse for those who have watched The Social Dilemma, which aired on Netflix recently and highlighted the potential harms of social media, or those who talked to those who have watched this documentary. MySejahtera — the main contact tracing application in Malaysia — claims that its personal data collection is aligned with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). “If you want to open up the world to seamless contact tracing, then Google and Apple are launching a comprehensive solution,” he says. According to a media statement from the system developer, the GAEN system solves the data privacy concern, as it works on decentralised architecture, where the system tracks nearby devices using Bluetooth Low Energy.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 16:18 UTC
Policymaking: Policies for the digital era: Catalysts for continued economic growth
Better laws and policies on dataData is the lifeblood of the digital economy, fuelling our ability to develop data-driven insights and policies. Today’s trade routes are digital and the digital economy depends on the trusted and uninterrupted flow of data between countries. Our participation in the global digital economy is dependent on the health and resilience of our digital talent and digital infrastructure. Digital divideThe growth of a resilient, sustainable and inclusive digital economy relies on resilient digital infrastructure, connectivity and devices. Ensuring that Malaysia’s digital infrastructure provides consistent, reliable and ultra-fast broadband service is key to unlocking the potential of the digital economy.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 16:18 UTC
Rakyat urged to practise self-lockdown to prevent infection
KUALA LUMPUR (May 23): Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has urged the public to practise self-lockdown so as to prevent a sudden surge in Covid-19 infections, with cases currently exceeding 6,000 daily. Do your own lockdown, stay at home, and tell others to do the same thing. Insya Allah, we will win," he said in a "Special Discussion on the Challenges of Covid-19 with the Prime Minister" broadcast over RTM and Bernama TV tonight. If we do that (close all economic sectors), we will have a big problem, then the country won't be able to recover." The six stimulus packages previously announced by the government were the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) involving RM250 billion in March 2020 and the Additional Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (Additional PRIHATIN) of RM10 billion in April 2020.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 15:11 UTC
Purchase of own vaccines allowed but get NPRA approval first, says PM
KUALA LUMPUR (May 23): Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said the government has no objection if certain quarters want to purchase their own Covid-19 vaccines, but they must first obtain approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). "If, for instance, agencies such as Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd) or others (want to purchase the vaccines), we cannot stop that. Muhyiddin said the government is working hard towards allowing the private sector including hospitals to administer vaccines to expedite the vaccination process to the masses. Meanwhile, the prime minister expressed confidence that Malaysia's herd immunity target will be achieved by the end of the year, following schedule guarantees given for the arrival of booked vaccines. Singapore was reported to have extended its vaccine dose interval, effective May 19, from three to four weeks, to six to eight weeks.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 15:03 UTC
MCO 3.0: PM says no total lockdown, must consider lives and livelihoods
KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need to balance between lives and livelihoods in the implementation of MCO 3.0, says Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said this was why the government decided not to impose a total lockdown such as MCO 1.0 as it would affect the people’s livelihoods and many would lose their jobs. “If the people do not work, the economy would collapse and to redevelop it, the government had to spend RM340bil with six stimulus packages,” he said. "We can close (all economic sectors), but when it reopens later, the system may collapse because we have to reopen i-Sinar, give Prihatin assistance, moratorium and others. I also don't want our economy to collapse," he said, adding that because of that, the government decided to tighten the SOPs of MCO 3.0.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 14:03 UTC
Japanese man fined RM49,000 in TV star Hana Kimura suicide case
A man who tweeted insults at a Japanese reality TV star after her suicide was fined 1.29 million yen (RM49,000) on May 19 after his comments had sparked concern over cyber bullying. The civil lawsuit for defamation was filed by the mother of Hana Kimura, a cast member of the Netflix show Terrace House, who took her life a year ago at age 22. "I am truly grateful that the court recognised it was an act of serious slander," Kyoko Kimura told reporters after the proceedings, which the man did not attend. Japanese media said he had tweeted in Hana Kimura's account shortly after her death: "Everyone is happy thanks to your death. In March, a different man was fined 9,000 yen over online abuse directed at Hana Kimura, without the case going to trial.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 12:10 UTC
Registration for Sinovac vaccine cannot be done at private clinics, says Perak MCA after viral message
IPOH: The Perak MCA was inundated with calls after a viral message claiming that a private clinic here was open for registration for the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine. Perak MCA public service and complaints bureau chief Low Guo Nan said recently, a viral message on WhatsApp stated that the registration for the vaccine could be done at a clinic in Ipoh Garden. He said the message had claimed that those who have registered with the MySejahtera app, and were waiting for their turn, could register for the Sinovac vaccine at the clinic. To clear the air, Low said the registration for the vaccine cannot be done at private clinics. He hoped the state Health Department would look into the matter seriously, enlightening the public on the viral message.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 10:30 UTC
Two-hour limit for customers at retail premises including shopping complexes
PUTRAJAYA (May 23): Customers will be allowed to spend a maximum of two hours at all retail premises including shopping complexes beginning May 25, said Domestic Trade and Customer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. Another updated SOP is the operation hours of the distributive trade sector, which includes all retail, wholesale, distribution premises as well as restaurants, from 8am to 8pm. He said other improvements to be implemented is the rule to limit the total of customers inside retail premises including shopping complexes at one time, based on the space of business premises with the ruling of one person for every four square metres. Employee limit at all retail, wholesale, distribution, and shopping complexes, including management, operation, and support staff, is fixed at 60%, he said. "KPDNHEP enforcement officers will also intensify inspections on business premises including during weekends and holidays," he said.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 08:48 UTC
Sentul policewoman loses parents, younger brother to Covid-19 within three days
KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer attached to the Sentul CID lost her parents and youngest brother to Covid-19 within three days. Tragedy struck L/Kpl Siti Nurul Hawana when her youngest brother Muhammad Luqman Idham, 20, also died of Covid-19 at Hospital Sungai Buloh at about 6am Sunday (May 23). The eldest of four siblings, L/Kpl Siti Nurul Hawana said her brother-in-law and his baby were also confirmed Covid-19 positive and undergoing quarantine at home. L/Kpl Siti Nurul Hawana also mentioned that she has taken both doses of the vaccine with her second dose given on May 7. ACP Beh also presented contributions to L/Kpl Siti Nurul Awana, in representing Sentul police in offering his condolences.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 07:52 UTC
Cold weather in China kills 21 in ultramarathon, sparks outrage
BEIJING (May 23): Twenty-one people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during an ultramarathon in rugged Gansu province in north-western China, sparking public outrage on Sunday over the lack of contingency planning. The route would take runners through canyons and hills on an arid plateau at an elevation of over 1,000 metres. "The rain was getting heavier and heavier," said Mao Shuzhi, who was about 24 kilometres into the race at the time. A last missing runner was found dead at 9.30am on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 21, state media reported. 'Foaming at the mouth'Baiyin — including Jingtai — was expected to see moderate to strong winds from Friday night through Saturday, according to the China Meteorological Administration in Beijing late on Friday.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 07:30 UTC
Customers limited to two hours at retail premises from May 25, says Consumer Affairs Minister
He added that the new two-hour limit will apply to all retail premises, including shopping malls. "The time limit for customers at every retail premises, including shopping malls, will be limited to a maximum of two hours," he said on Twitter on Sunday (May 23). At the same time, the Minister said worker capacity for all retail and distribution premises, as well as shopping malls, including management, operations and support, was being capped at 60%. Nanta said the ministry will mobilise 2,262 enforcement officers nationwide to ensure SOP compliance at all premises involved in trade, retail, distribution and restaurants. "The Ministry will also not hesitate to propose to the NSC for the immediate closure of any premises found not abiding by the tightened SOPs."
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 06:39 UTC
He came back from the brink of dying from Covid-19
After seeing his family, Dr Anthony would have no memory of the following two weeks. As always, when he got home, Dr Anthony stripped off his work clothes in the laundry room and went directly to the shower. Dr Chemtob made arrangements to transfer his patient to AdventHealth Orlando, which had an ECMO unit that his Palm Coast hospital did not. Dr Anthony initially resisted being put on this mechanical ventilator as earlier studies – now disproved – showed that patients on it had poor outcomes. And on Dec 18 (2020), two months after he’d gone to the Palm Coast emergency room, he went home.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 04:52 UTC
Seniors register for second round of AstraZeneca opt-ins despite early glitches
On Twitter, user @minrazak_ asked: "I want to register AstraZeneca for my parents but why is the system stuck?" @vnisvdrinv_ concurred, saying,"Registering for the AstraZeneca vaccine but I can't even click on the "state"? Users have also tweeted their predicament to Coordinating Minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin, who has yet to respond. Minutes later, as of 12.28pm, Twitter users who finally managed to register their parents, shared their success. In a tweet at about 12.35pm, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force confirmed that the AstraZeneca appointment booking website was "back up and running".
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 04:33 UTC
My Say: Covid-19 ignites unexpected revolution at aviation shopfloors
Even though cloud computing and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) have been around for years, digital transformation has eluded the aviation shopfloor. The combined shock of mothballed aircraft and huge layoffs has served as a wake-up call, with many non-commercial aviation sectors leading the charge towards digital transformation. Digital transformation is no longer an option, but a need to sustain and secure long-term business health. So how can organisations achieve digital transformation, in an aviation industry context? It can well be the catalyst for true digital transformation of aviation shopfloors, globally.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 23, 2021 04:07 UTC
Depletion of geragau shrimp forcing a halt in Melaka belacan production
MELAKA (Bernama): Belacan, or prawn paste, is an important ingredient in many dishes, so much so that without it, the taste would not be the same. Problems getting a supply of geragau shrimp are forcing many belacan makers in Melaka to venture into other businesses. However, Mohd Azmi Doraman, 42, who manages the shrimp paste business under the brand name Belacan Maklong Tanjung, is still trying to keep this traditional business alive. He claimed that sea reclamation work, which has been going on for almost 20 years, is the main reason for the depletion of the geragau shrimp. In the past, I could get 200 tonnes of geragau shrimp from my suppliers.
Source:The Star
May 23, 2021 02:05 UTC