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WORLD - Troubled Waters: China's Claim Over South China Sea

  JAN 9 2022 The South China Sea (SCS) dispute, which began in the 1950s and instigated by China, is still unresolved until today. China’s reason for claiming sovereignty over the SCS is mainly fuelled by the region’s estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The affected ASEAN member-states of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam must join forces to confront China and put an end to their bullying tactics. These countries share an economic interdependence with China over the last 25 years, which has become the much needed support system for both economic development and bilateral relationship. However, constant trespassing by China via sea and air has resulted in resentment and anger among these ASEAN nations. If there is no end to the territorial intrusions and claims, it will affect future economic dealings and bilateral relationship between China and the bloc. In the Philippines, in a
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Money For Nothing

  Dec 27 2021 Since there is no assurance that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) can secure Malaysians financially when they have reached the age of retirement, contributors should be allowed to withdraw their own hard earned money with immediate effect. There is no point whatsoever in contributing to a scheme which is under a government that clearly do not have the intelligence to efficiently govern this country.     The current representatives whose job is to serve the people first are not doing so but have big fat salaries, allowances and allowed to travel as they please. In fact, their big fat salaries can easily help cover and contribute to the EPF scheme once Malaysians have withdrawn their savings which is rightfully theirs. Malaysians can transfer their money to the bank of their choice and manage the finances on their own terms. Twenty per cent of EPF contributors have now a balance of RM1,000 following the withdrawals of  i-Lestari, i-Sinar and i-Citra. This was claimed by P

Broken Speaker

Kuala Lumpur Dec 21 2021   Even if his own family members went missing, starving for food, stranded and forced to sit on their roof tops in the continuous pouring rain for days, the agenda at hand would still be the most important matter to him. This is what Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun ACTUALLY meant when he did not allow for the current national flood crisis to be debated in Parliament yesterday (Dec 20 2021). “We only have one agenda today. That is the debate on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.   “I don’t have the power to allow the jump from one issue to another,” Azhar (pic) told the Dewan Rakyat. Many MPs including Lembah Pantai’s Fahmi Fadzil reminded Azhar that the Speaker possessed the discretion to allow an emergency debate that affects the public, especially when it involves natural disasters which to date has claimed 14 lives, made thousands homeless with properties, infrastructure and roads destroyed.  The pleading by the

Wet Behind The Ears

Kuala Lumpur Dec 21 2021 At least eight people lost their lives in floods that resulted in more than 30,000 people being evacuated from their homes throughout the country. The continuous heavy downpour since Friday has caused rivers to overflow and submerged many housing areas nationwide with Pahang and Selangor being the worst hit states. In Pahang, floods have affected 14,000 people while about 10,000 people were made homeless in Selangor. Waterlogged roads left thousands of Malaysians stranded and were forced to take shelter in their vehicles. They spent the night in their cars while fearing that they may not have a home to return to and wondering if their loved ones were safe. Despite knowing the severity of the situation, the government did not react effectively and swiftly to take charge and end the predicament of the victims. Malaysians took it upon themselves to help their fellow citizens by ferrying people and their belongings to safety with boats.                

HEALTH - More Deaths Of Nurses Worldwide

     Geneva Dec 14 2021 The International Council of Nurses (ICN) said the number of nurses globally is steadily falling following the spread of the Omicron virus. It referred to The World Health Organization findings which estimate that at least 115,000 nurses have died from the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the world. ICN, which is based in Geneva, represents 27 million nurses in 130 national associations. This alarming number is said to be from the start of the pandemic through May this year but the actual figure could be possibly be double the amount. CEO of ICN, Howard Catton, on Friday claimed that many nurses are burned out from the Covid-19 pandemic and that of their intention to resign have doubled up to 30 per cent. Catton said there was already a global shortage of at least 6 million nurses before the pandemic began and some 4.75 million nurses are expected to retire over the next few years. He also noted that there is an imbalance present as Western countries increase their

SPORTS - Mix-Up Sees New Champions League Last 16

Switzerland Dec 14 2021 It was a mixed bag of results for the four English Premier League representatives in the Champions League when the round of 16 draw was conducted twice last night. The European football governing body UEFA had to conduct the draw twice after an initial “technical mix-up” left Atletico Madrid screaming foul and lodging an official complaint citing unfairness. During the first draw that was later declared void, the software system utilised for the ceremony somehow included Manchester United as a potential opponent for Villarreal. The two sides had played each other in the group stage and should be kept apart in the last 16. When the mistake was pointed out, United’s name was withdrawn. The real blunder happened when United were not reinstated for the next draw to pick the opponents for Atletico. Bayern Munich’s name was drawn to face Atletico, but the Spaniards cried foul because they were deprived of the chance of playing United, and let’s face it, nobody fancies

WORLD - Yule Be Sorry

 Sicily Dec 14 2021                   A bishop in Italy “threw soot down his own chimney” when he claimed that Santa Claus does not exist. Antonio Stagliano also told a religious festival in Sicily recently that the famous red costume worn by “Jolly Ol’ St Nicholas” was invented by Coca-Cola for publicity. The Roman Catholic diocese of Noto insisted that Stagliano did not mean to dash the dreams of children just two weeks before Christmas. Communications director, the Rev Alessandro Paolino, posted on the diocese's social media platform stating that Stagliano was merely trying to interpret in his own way on the true meaning of Christmas. He said Stagliano only suggested that the manner in which Christmas is celebrated nowadays is linked to consumerism. Several parents in the diocese accepted Stagliano's attempt to focus on the true meaning of Christmas while others criticised him for interfering with family traditions and celebrations, and crushing the spirits of chi