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  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 In fact, their big fat salaries can easily help cover and contribute to the EPF scheme once Malaysians have withdrawn their savings which is rightfully theirs.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

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

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.                

     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

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

 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

Chelsea sweat it out ahead of draw Switzerland Dec 13 2021 The reigning Champions League Cup holders Chelsea are the only one among the four English Premier League sides in the competition who will be in pot two when the draw for the round of 16 is made tonight. The Blues shot themselves in the foot by failing to top their group after conceding a late equaliser during the 3-3 draw with Zenit St. Petersburg in their final group match last week. The unexpected two dropped points allowed Juventus to pip Chelsea to the top spot in the group. As the runners-up, the London-based club will now have to face one of the group champions in the next round. As teams are not allowed to face opposition from the same country or those they played against during the group stage, Chelsea will not be drawn against the Manchester clubs, Liverpool or Juventus. This leaves them with just four potential opponents – Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Ajax Amsterdam or Lille. To be drawn against the current leaders of

Verstappen Takes F1 Title Despite Protest Abu Dhabi Dec 12 2021 Despite two protests  lodged by Mercedes over  the controversial end to the race at the Yas Marina Circuit, Max  Verstappen is announced as the winner and the 2021 drivers' champion. The Dutchman in his Red Bull Honda overtook current F1 champion Lewis Hamilton  on the last lap to win the race and the championship   in Abu Dhabi . Verstappen, who was on softer and fresher tyres, passed Hamilton to claim the one of most dramatic of F1 victories and the world title. Mercedes argued that Hamilton would have won the race and the championship, and requested an amendment of the race result under the    FIA's International Sporting Code.   They claimed that Verstappen had illegally passed Hamilton behind the safety car before the restart and the decision to bring out the safety car  had shortened the race and therefore was not appropriate.   Both protests were dismissed by the FIA. FIA Race Director Michael Masi brought i

                                 The 11 Greatest Football Players Of All Time Kuala Lumpur Dec 12 2021   The most beautiful game in the world, football, has produced some truly legendary players whose heroics and legacy will be remembered for a very long time. The task of picking the all-time 11 best players in the world is a near-impossible job as every single one of us have a different perspective on whom to put on the list. It was a tough selection process, and this is A.com’s take on the best 11 players on the planet, ever. Every player on this list was chosen not just based on his skills and achievements, but also the ability to lift those around him and deliver in the most pressurised situation and on the biggest stage.   11. Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) Just like in a football team, every top 11 list needs a goalkeeper. And there was no better keeper in the world than Yashin, nicknamed the “Black Spider”. The Soviet Union shot-stopper earned the nickname due to his in

                            Chariots Of Fire Kuala Lumpur Dec 10 2021 “I will have a discussion with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob tomorrow. “Don’t worry. There will definitely be a solution to this.” These are the words of the current Human Resources Minister M Saravanan on the move by the government to place restrictions on celebrating Thaipusam on January 18 next year. He compared the restrictions to the thousands of people who gathered at the KLCC Convention Centre to attend the government-organised “100 Days Keluarga Malaysia Aspiration” event recently. “This (KLCC event) was held on a large scale and the turnout was even bigger than expected. There was no physical distancing. People packed the hall and were standing in close proximity,” he was reported saying. Speaking about large numbers and while it is very commendable for Saravanan to face Ismail Sabri on the Thaipusam issue, the Human Resources Minister must also be aware of the actual number of Malaysians who

                  We Don't Live On Bread Alone Kuala Lumpur Dec 9 2021 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently declared Dec 3 as the annual Malaysia Batik Day under his “Keluarga Malaysia” (Malaysian Family) concept. His aim is to unite the people of all races in Malaysia to appreciate and wear local Batik. Even if the Batik wear was given free by the government, the PM surely must know that right now his Malaysian family members are struggling to find ways and means to fill their own stomach rather than thinking about wax-resist dye clothes. The recent price hike on essentials goods has become the most talked about topic everywhere including at your neighbourhood “kedai kopi” or coffee-shops (places that could become extinct if the price increase of beverages is allowed). Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said everyone knows about the increased cost of essential food items “but no one is aware of the government’s immediate action to tackle the problem”. Anw