Here are the contests, events, and promotions on Tech ARP – everything from exclusive contests and giveaways, to our coverage of key tech events!
Our coverage of major tech, mobile and automotive events always features exclusive videos of the actual events. So it will be like you were there yourselves!
Don’t forget to check out our regular contests and giveaways, and SHARE THE NEWS!
Foxconn just announced that they will be building a 12-inch wafer fab in Malaysia!
Here is what you need to know…
Foxconn To Build New 12-Inch Wafer Fab In Malaysia!
On 17 May 2022, Foxconn announced that their wholly-owned subsidiary, Big Innovation Holdings Limited (BIH) will form a joint venture company with Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX), to build and operate a new 12-inch wafer fabrication plant in Malaysia.
Both DNeX and BIH have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on build and operate the new 12-inch wafer fab.
Under the MOU, DNeX and BIH will work together to “decide the location of the New Fab in Malaysia, financing structure of the project, and initial management structure and key personnel of the New Fab.”
The new fab is expected to produce 40,000 wafers a month, using 28-nanometer and 40-nanometer process technologies developed in 2011 and 2008 respectively.
The 28nm and 40nm process technologies are not new, but they are still in high demand for less complex chips used in industrial, consumer electronics and automotive applications.
New 12-Inch Foxconn Wafer Fab In Malaysia : Not A Done Deal
While this is exciting news for Malaysia, it is not a done deal. Both companies only signed a Memorandum of Understanding, not a contract.
There are no concrete details of where the wafer fab will be located, or how much Foxconn will invest. It is also unknown how many jobs this project would create.
One would do well to remember the $10 billion project that Foxconn announced with the Trump Administration in July 2017.
Foxconn was supposed to build and operate a 20-million square foot manufacturing campus in Wisconsin, that would build flat panel displays, and create 13,000 jobs, in return for $3 billion in subsidies.
In the end, that massive flat panel project was abandoned and downsized into a network operations and storage centre worth about $672 million, creating only 1,454 new jobs.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The US FDA just authorised the Pfizer booster dose for 5-11 year-old kids!
Here is what you need to know…
US FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Dose For 5-11 Yo Kids!
On 17 May 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) authorised the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids.
This booster dose is to be given at least 5 months after the primary series of two doses is given.
This follows the US FDA approval of a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 year old kids on 3 January 2022.
FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. said :
While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults, the omicron wave has seen more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalized, and children may also experience longer term effects, even following initially mild disease.
The FDA is authorizing the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age to provide continued protection against COVID-19. Vaccination continues to be the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 and its severe consequences, and it is safe.
If your child is eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and has not yet received their primary series, getting them vaccinated can help protect them from the potentially severe consequences that can occur, such as hospitalization and death.
Why US FDA Approved Pfizer Booster Dose For 5-11 Yo Kids
The US FDA approved the Pfizer booster dose for 5-11 year-old kids based on their analysis of the immune response data in a subset of children from the ongoing randomised placebo-controlled trial that supported the earlier October 2021 approval of the vaccine for this age group.
Increased Antibody Levels
The antibody response of 67 study participants who received the booster dose 7-9 months after completing their primary series vaccination, were evaluated, and found to increase antibody levels one month after receiving the booster dose.
Safety
The US FDA also assessed the safety of the booster dose in approximately 400 children who received the booster dose 5-9 months after completing their primary series vaccination.
The most commonly reported side effects were pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, and chills and fever.
Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said :
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is effective in helping to prevent the most severe consequences of COVID-19 in individuals 5 years of age and older.
Since authorizing the vaccine for children down to 5 years of age in October 2021, emerging data suggest that vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 wanes after the second dose of the vaccine in all authorized populations.
The FDA has determined that the known and potential benefits of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series outweigh its known and potential risks and that a booster dose can help provide continued protection against COVID-19 in this and older age groups.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The first dose of the free PICKids vaccine programme for 5-11 year old kids has been extended to 31 May 2022!
Here is what you need to know…
Free COVID Vaccine For 5-11 Yo Kids Extended To 31 May 2022!
On 13 April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that they will stop offering the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine under the PICKids programme after 15 May 2022.
Then on 25 April 2022, they announced that they would also stop offering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the PICKids programme after 15 August 2022.
Finally, on 12 May 2022, they announced that they will extend the first dose of the free COVID-19 vaccine to 31 May 2022.
From 31 May 2022 onwards, the PICKids programme will no longer offer the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 5-11 year old kids.
From 16 August 2022 onwards, the PICKids programme will no longer offer the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 5-11 year old kids.
the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine will no longer be offered at both public and private health facilities across Malaysia.
the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine will only be offered as a paid vaccination option in private health facilities.
While you may still pay for the Sinovac vaccine for your child, it is a far inferior vaccine to the free Pfizer vaccine.
Since MySejahtera stopped accepting registration for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids on 8 May 2022, here is what you need to know :
Parents who registered and made appointments on or before 8 May 2022, for vaccination dates on or before 31 May 2022, can continue with their existing appointments.
Parents who registered and made appointments on or before 8 May 2022, for vaccination dates after before 31 May 2022, will have their appointments cancelled automatically.
Parents who try to register on MySejahtera after 8 May 2022, will not be given any appointment.
Therefore, parents who have not registered, or are in the second or third category above, should walk into any KKM health clinic for their free COVID-19 vaccine, anytime from now until 31 May 2022.
There are only two exceptions to this 31 May 2022 deadline :
Children Infected With COVID-19
The first exception to this deadline are 5-11 year old kids who have to cancel their appointments (before 31 May 2022) due to a COVID-19 infection.
Their parents are advised to bring these kids to any government health clinic within 6 weeks after recovering from COVID-19, or by 30 August 2022 at the very latest.
Children Turning 5 After 31 May 2022
The second exception are for children who turn five years old on or after 31 May 2022.
Their parents can register and book their vaccine appointments for the first dose of the free COVID-19 vaccine until 15 January 2023.
These children must receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by 31 January 2023. Thereafter, the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be offered for free, and must be obtained as a paid vaccine at private health facilities.
So parents, please HURRY and get your children vaccinated for FREE!
Therefore, to avoid waste, the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF-C) decided to stop giving the COVID-19 vaccine under the PICKids programme.
CITF-C also amended the vaccination consent form for children (below 18 years of age), removing this clause :
2. I am responsible for the risks that may occur to children as a result of my decision/action because the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the side effect.
The clause was dropped to avoid confusion, and to convey the existing practice in which the Ministry of Health has never neglected, and is always ready to offer the necessary medical assistance if there are side effects from the vaccination.
I highly recommend that you bring your children to any government health clinic for their COVID-19 vaccination ASAP!
Please don’t waste this opportunity to protect them against COVID-19 for FREE!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Touch ‘n Go eWallet app was quietly restored to the Apple App Store, as quietly as it was removed earlier!
Here is what we know so far…
Touch ‘n Go eWallet Is Now Back On Apple App Store!
Apple quietly removed the Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) from the App Store in the first week of May 2022.
The TNG eWallet download page earlier stated “App Not Available – The app is currently not available in your country or region“.
It was also removed from the App Store search listing. The Boost eWallet now appears, instead of the TNG eWallet.
Even though the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app is no longer available in the Apple App Store, you can continue to use it if you had already installed it earlier.
The TNG Digital team stated that they are working to resolve the issue with Apple, and confirmed that the app that is installed in your iPhone will continue to work with all features fully-functioning.
Fortunately, the Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) app was quietly restored to the Apple App Store on 11 May 2022.
Was Touch ‘n Go eWallet NFC Feature Removed For Apple Users?
Neither Apple nor Touch ‘n Go eWallet stated why the TNG eWallet app was removed from the App Store.
At that time, believed Apple removed it because of the recently-added NFC top-up feature for physical Touch ‘n Go cards.
That’s because Apple Pay is the only mobile wallet / eWallet allowed to use the iPhone and iPad’s NFC capabilities for contactless payments.
That limitation has resulted in an antitrust charge by the European Union :
The European Commission has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices. By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)’ or ‘tap and go’), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on iOS.
The Commission takes issue with the decision by Apple to prevent mobile wallets app developers, from accessing the necessary hardware and software (‘NFC input’) on its devices, to the benefit of its own solution, Apple Pay.
However, the newly-approved Touch ‘n Go eWallet version 1.7.73 continued to feature the NFC reload option.
Therefore, it seems more likely that Apple removed the app earlier due to the Face Verification feature in the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app.
In fact, the new Touch ‘n Go eWallet version 1.7.73 now lacks the Face Verification feature. Their FAQ also stated that :
Face verification is being upgraded for iOS users, this feature will be temporarily disabled. Kindly use your PIN as alternate authentication.
The previous version of Touch ‘n Go eWallet could have contravened this App Store Review Guidelines rule :
2.5.13 Apps using facial recognition for account authentication must use LocalAuthentication (and not ARKit or other facial recognition technology) where possible, and must use an alternate authentication method for users under 13 years old.
But at least Apple iPhone users can rest assured that they will continue to get the latest Touch ‘n Go eWallet app. They just have to live without the Face Verification feature for now…
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
You will not longer be required to wear a face mask, or physically distance, during air travel to and from EU countries!
Here is what you need to know…
EU Air Travel : Face Mask + Physical Distancing Not Required!
On 11 May 2022, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a joint statement, dropping their recommendation for the mandatory wearing of a face mask as well as physical distancing in airports and on flights.
From Monday, 16 May 2022 onwards, you will no longer be required to wear a face mask at airports, or onboard a flight across the European Union.
However, travellers with respiratory symptoms (coughing or sneezing) are strongly recommended to wear a face mask.
Airports are also no longer required to strictly implement physical distancing. Rather, they should adopt “a pragmatic approach”, and avoid imposing distancing requirements if they “will likely lead to a bottleneck”.
Airport operators are also not required to impose physical distancing if they are “not required at national or regional level”.
That said, they are still asking airport operators to encourage physical distancing where possible, particularly in the meet and greet areas and around baggage carousels.
Face Mask + Physical Distancing Not Required In EU, But Still Recommended!
While the EU will no longer require you to wear a face mask, or impose strict physical distancing during air travel, they are both still highly recommended to prevent COVID-19.
Here are selected excerpts from the latest EASA and ECDC guidelines (PDF) for air travel in the European Union :
Medical Face Masks
Medical face masks (hereafter referred to also as ‘face masks’) are among the most efficient means to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 including existing VOCs. As such, the wearing of masks should be considered in crowded indoor and outdoor settings, including air travel.
If the departure or destination States require wearing of face masks in public transport, aircraft operators should require passengers and crew to wear a face mask beyond 16 May 2022.
In other cases, starting 16 May 2022, aircraft and aerodrome operators should continue to encourage passengers and crew members, as part of their pre-flight communications as well as during travel through signage and announcements, to wear a face mask during flight as well as in the airport as a way to protect themselves and others and that they should respect others’ decision to wear or to not wear a mask.
In their communication, operators should highlight that people at high risk for severe COVID-19 are advised to wear an FFP2 respirator mask during the flight for their own protection. Experimental studies indicate that respirators are more effective than medical face masks both in limiting the release of infectious respiratory droplets when worn by the infectious source and in limiting the exposure when worn by the exposed person.
People with respiratory symptoms (coughing or sneezing) are strongly recommended to wear a medical face mask irrespective of the requirements on that particular flight.
Physical Distancing
Physical distancing, alongside the proper wearing of face masks, has proven among the most effective non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 (including VOCs) transmission. Physical distancing should be encouraged in all airport areas, the arrival terminal (with a particular focus for the meet and greet area) and around the baggage carousels. Signage and communication material should continue to encourage physical distancing where possible.
However, implementation experience has shown that in some cases, strict physical distancing measures in the aviation environment (airport and aircraft) is not operationally feasible and creates additional unintended bottlenecks in other areas, increasing the exposure times and leading to operational delays touching the flight time limitation requirements and, consequently, flight safety. Physical distancing could therefore be added to the use of face masks where operationally feasible and where it does not result in additional crowding in other areas. If physical distancing measures cannot be implemented, the use of face masks should be encouraged for passengers.
PPE For Airline / Airport Crew + Staff
Airport operators, aircraft operators and service providers/suppliers should provide the necessary PPE to their staff members and ensure that they are trained in its appropriate use:
— Staff members who interact with passengers directly (e.g. cabin crew members, security check agents, assistants for passengers with reduced mobility, cleaning staff, etc.) should be encouraged to properly wear a medical face mask or, where available and the legal framework permits, a higher-standard face mask (e.g. FFP2/N95/KN95 respirators).
— Staff should be encouraged to practise respiratory hygiene at all times as well as frequent hand hygiene, either via appropriate hand-washing or by applying an alcohol-based hand disinfectant. The use of a protective gown or a one-use plastic apron can be considered for tasks that may expose staff to splashes.
— Flight crew members should be encouraged to wear a face mask whenever interacting with, or in the proximity of, other people. Once they are in the flight compartment and the door is closed, flight crew members may remove their masks subject to their operator’s policy and mutual agreement. Furthermore, the flight’s crew members should remove their masks for emergency situations and whenever requested by appropriate authorities for official purposes such as identification or alcohol testing.
— Aircraft operators should have on board one or more Universal Precaution Kits (UPKs. Such kits should be used by crew members who are assisting passengers with COVID-
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Here are 16 games and 7 DLCs you can add to your Steam account for FREE, and they are yours to keep forever!
Don’t forget to tell your friends, and JOIN theTech ARP Facebook page to get these updates quickly!
Note On Free Steam Games + DLCs
Please note that some of these Steam games are not directly available on the Steam store. Please follow the instructions below.
Also, if any of the Steam games or DLCs are no longer free, please just let us know so we can remove them.
Thank you, and happy gaming!
Steam Games That Are FREE To Download + Keep!
Free Steam Game #1 : Mido and Di
This is a frantic action, third person, zombie shooting game. You play in simplistic, beautiful looking levels, trying to shoot zombie aliens before they got you.
The zombie aliens are coming in waves, like a tower defense game but this is a third person look to that mechanic.
You have three different weapons and they are very fun to use. Combining ice and fire weapon, you can even get coins out of zombies. With that coins you upgrade weapons.
Make sure you follow these steps to get Mido and Di for FREE, before 3 May 2022 at 1 AM (GMT+8) :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have the Fantasy Royal VR in your Steam account!
Free Steam Game #3 : Bodyless
Bodyless is a surreal VR experience based on the director’s childhood memory during Taiwan’s martial law period in the 1970s, when human qualities were simplified and quantified with few characteristics recognized and measured by the ruling class.
The player becomes a deceased political prisoner’s ghost in his journey to find his way home.
Follow these steps to get the Bodyless for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have the Bad Day in your Steam account!
Free Steam Game #7 : 告死天使之言 Death Angel
There is a terrible rumour in this city about the death of angels. It is said that people only need to see this creature called suicidal angel
You’ll get an invitation from the angel of death, but the people who went to the appointment all disappear.
My name is Kanju. I am a student living alone at home. On New Year’s Eve I looked at the window carelessly. It turned out that the tall building standing outside the window was……
Follow these steps to get the 告死天使之言 Death Angel for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have the 告死天使之言 Death Angel in your Steam account!
Free Steam Game #8 : iREC
iREC is a first-person atmospheric horror game, with puzzle elements, inspired by the environment of Outlast.
The game begins when a narcotics police officer gets a hint from an informant. No time to ask for a search warrant, he decides to act alone and invade the place, a logistics company called AtlasLog.
Follow these steps to get the iREC for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have the Blade Runner 9732 in your Steam account!
Free Steam Game #10 : Horatio Goes Snowboarding
Infinite State Games present “Horatio Goes Snowboarding” – an arcade game where you hire a board, go snowboarding, avoid serious injury, rinse and repeat!
It’s their homage to retro skiing and winter sports games from the past – no story; just pick up and play pure arcade thrills.
Follow these steps to get Horatio Goes Snowboarding for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! It is now part of your Steam account, and you can download and install it anytime you want!
Free Steam Game #11 : Angeldust
Explore endless magical worlds and battle fearsome creatures alongside millions of friends. Ride your own horse, bear or moa and discover the many game world wonders. Unleash your imagination by crafting beautiful buildings.
Play as the quirky builder, the fearless fighter, the perky scout or the mysterious sorceress and become a legend! Work together cleverly to complete daily quests and defeat even the most dangerous bosses.
Enjoy Angeldust online with your friends and millions of other players. Easily play together and make new friends using the ‘Play together!’ button. Enter the PvP ‘Hero battle!’ to show everyone your shooting skills.
Follow these steps to get Angeldust for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
That’s it! It is now part of your Steam account, and can be downloaded any time you want!
Free Steam Game + DLC #13 : Heavy Metal Machines + Dirt Devil Pack
Heavy Metal Machines is a fast-paced FREE TO PLAY Car Battle MOBA that combines unique gameplay on a post-apocalyptic world of Heavy Metal.
In Heavy Metal Machines you’ll control one of the several pilots in 2-team 4×4 competitive matches. Vehicular battles filled with strategy and adrenaline. Rush to reach the goals and launch the bomb to the enemy base.
Join a competitive community, be strategic, drive fast and battle for your life through multiple arenas to become a Legendary Metal Gladiator!
Make sure you follow these steps to get the both the base game and DLC for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Click on this link to add the base game to your account – this is an important step.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
Click on this link to add the DLC to your account – this is an important step.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have both the base game and the DLC in your account, even though they are both not available in many regions!
Free Steam Game #14 : Challenge Speedball
Challenge Speedball is a cooperative multiplayer game based on the paintball variation called Speedball.
In this fast paced competition, teams of 1 to 5 players occupy a small playing field filled with inflatable “bunkers”.
Each team tries to eliminate each others players by “marking” them with paint until they are all eliminated. They can also win by reaching the other team’s home base.
Follow these steps to get Challenge Speedball for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
In the next page, select the Steam icon to link your Steam account.
Make sure you select Steam. If you choose another platform, you will NOT receive the free copy of NiGHTS Into Dreams.
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Click Allow to let SEGA activate the CD-Key into your Steam account.
That’s it! You now have NiGHTS Into Dreams in your Steam account!
At this point, you can continue to sign up for their mailing list, or just close the sign-up page. It doesn’t matter, because your Steam account already has the game.
Free Steam Game #16 : Puzzle – LINES AND KNOTS
Puzzle – LINES AND KNOTS is a logical puzzle game for meditation.
The goal of the player is to assemble a puzzle consisting of nodes. Easy-to-grasp mechanics, swap hexagons with lines.
Follow these steps to get Puzzle – LINES AND KNOTS for FREE :
Install and open the Steam client.
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Click on this link – this is an important step. Please let us know if it no longer works.
When asked if you want to allow this page to open Steam, select Allow.
That’s it! You now have Puzzle – LINES AND KNOTS in your Steam account!
Steam DLCs That Are FREE To Download + Keep!
Free Steam DLC #1 : Andy Priaulx Crowne Plaza Raceway
Blue skies and white beaches frame the mystical Andy Priaulx Crowne Plaza Raceway, a unique challenge even for a World Champion.
Designed to challenge the best, the island track weaves its way past palm trees and luxury hotels. Can YOU master it?
Andy Priaulx
As Triple World Champion Andy Priaulx is without doubt one of the biggest stars in the touring car racing world. And you can drive his car!
Push the BMW 320si WTCC to its limits around Crowne Plaza Raceway and feel the adrenaline rush of driving a World Championship winning race car!
Fabrizio Giovanardi
Once again Vauxhall took the British Touring Car Championship in 2007. The man taking the honours was Fabrizio Giovanardi in his Vauxhall Vectra VXR, defending the colours of Holiday Inn.
He took the championship in a glorious manner, beating the opposition in a thrilling fight to the flag. Can you be as succesfull as the ‘Italian Master’?
Take his winning Vauxhall Vectra out for a spin and see if you can break the lap record!
Follow these steps to get the Andy Priaulx Crowne Plaza Raceway DLC for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Fill in your details (if your country is supported), and click Register.
Check for an email with the Steam code.
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Go to Games > Activate a Product on Steam > Next > I Agree.
Key in the Steam code you received, and click Next.
That’s it! The DLC with both cars will be registered to your Steam account.
Note : This DLC requires the base game – Assetto Corsa – to work.
Free Steam DLC #4 : Plague Inc. : The Cure
Can you save the world? Take control and stop a deadly global pandemic by any means necessary. Allocate resources to boost testing capacity, make face masks compulsory, lock down countries or investigate experimental treatments in Plague Inc.’s biggest expansion ever!
Created with the help of world health experts from all over the world including the WHO, CEPI and GOARN, Plague Inc: The Cure is an engaging and timely simulation of a global disease response.
Follow these steps to add it to your Steam account. Plague Inc: The Cure will be free for all Plague Inc. players until COVID-19 is under control.
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
That’s it! You now have Plague Inc : The Cure in your Steam account!
Note : This is a DLC, which requires the Plague Inc base game to work!
Free Steam DLC #5 : Two Point Hospital : Free Sega 60th Items
To celebrate 60 years of SEGA’s proud history, these free items were plucked from the annals and gifted to you to spruce up your hospitals.
SEGA Out Run machine
One-eyed Mammoth (from Space Harrier)
SEGA Dream Catcher machine
SEGA Periscope Arcade Game
Put a smile on the faces of your patients with historic masterpieces from arcade times gone by (and a giant one-eyed mammoth from Space Harrier, because why not?)
Follow these steps to get the Two Point Hospital SEGA 60th Items for FREE :
Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Click on the Add to Account button to add it to your Steam account.
You can choose to install it now, or postpone the installation.
That’s it! You now have the SEGA 60th Items in your Steam account!
Note : You need the base game – Two Point Hospital – to make use of these items.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, these groups of travellers will NO LONGER be required to undergo pre-departure testing and on-arrival testing for COVID-19!
Fully-vaccinated individuals who are 13 years or older
Individuals who recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6-60 days
Individuals who are 12 years or younger, regardless of vaccination status
This ruling applies to both Malaysian citizens, as well as foreigners, including those performing the Hat and even foreign workers.
Please note that ALL travellers must still submit information through the Travellers option in MySejahtera, and obtain the Travellers digital card.
Travellers who are 13 years or older, and are not yet fully vaccinated, must continue with the existing testing and quarantine protocol :
Not vaccinated with medical exemption : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
Partially-vaccinated / unvaccinated (13-17 yo) : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.
Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated post COVID-19 : pre-departure professional RTK-Ag within 2 days (or Fit To Travel letter if hospitalised), professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.
Travellers who test positive on arrival in Malaysia will be asked to undergo a professional RTK-Ag test on-the-spot.
To make it easier for you to understand, I created this table to summarise the new rules :
Vaccination Status
Pre-Departure
On Arrival
Additional Test or Quarantine
Child (< 13 Years) *
No Test Required
No Test
No Quarantine
Travellers From
Singapore
Boosted (≥18 Years)
Fully Vaccinated (≥ 13 Years)
Fully Vaccinated +
Post-COVID-19 (6-60 Days)
Partially-Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (13-17 Years)
PCR test
within 2 days
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 24 hours
of arrival
On-Arrival
Professional
RTK-Ag
for travellers
transiting to
Sabah or
Sarawak
Not Vaccinated with
Medical Exemption
Partially Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (≥18 Years)
5-Day Quarantine
with
Day 4 PCR or
Day 5 RTK
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated + Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised
* By year of birth
** Also professional RTK-Ag if recovered from COVID-19 infection 6-60 days before departure
*** FTT = Fit To Travel
Malaysia : No More COVID-19 Insurance For Foreign Travellers!
Only these groups are earlierexempted from the requirement to purchase COVID-19 and travel insurance :
Fully-vaccinated citizens of Singapore or Malaysia
Fully-vaccinated permanent residents of Singapore or Malaysia
Fully-vaccinated Long-term Pass Holders of Singapore or Malaysia
That changes from Sunday, May 1, 2022 onwards – the US$20K travel insurance requirement is NO LONGER REQUIRED for ALL foreign travellers!
So foreigners can travel to Malaysia without that additional cost. Of course, getting travel insurance is always a good idea.
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter all private or public premises, s!
Owners of premises are only required to check the MySejahtera app of people entering, to prevent entry by :
Individuals who are still positive for COVID-19
Individuals who are still undergoing HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine
This includes travellers who are not fully-vaccinated, and just arrived in Malaysia
So please make sure you continue to use MySejahtera, even though it will also not be mandatory to check-in using the MySejahtera QR code.
You are also strongly advised to enable MySJ Trace, to help facilitate accurate contact tracing.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, this will be the new optional Test + Release procedure for COVID-19 positive cases :
Once you test positive for COVID-19, you must undergo a 7-day HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine.
On Day 4 of the quarantine, you can undergo a supervised (physical or virtual) RTK-Ag test for COVID-19.
The test result will be uploaded into your MySejahtera by the medical practitioner :
a) If the test result is negative, you may end your quarantine with immediate effect
b) If the test result is positive, you must complete your 7-day quarantine
No further test is required on Day 7, or thereafter, for those who tested positive on Day 4. You are immediately released from your quarantine.
Please note that the Day 4 test and release procedure is completely optional, and is meant to offer an expedited release from the HSO quarantine.
You can choose NOT to undertake the supervised RTK-Ag test on Day 4 of your quarantine. You just need to complete the full 7-day quarantine, and you will be released automatically.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to check in at premises using MySejahtera.
However, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you turn on MySJ Trace, to allow for accurate contact tracing.
That does not mean you can uninstall MySejahtera, because premise owners are still required to check your status – COVID-19 positive individuals, and those who have to undergo HSO quarantine are still NOT allowed into public spaces.
In addition, MySejahtera is required to show digital proof of your COVID-19 vaccination for travel purposes, as well for reporting your COVID-19 self-tests.
As all economic activities will now be allowed with 100% venue capacity, physical distancing is NO LONGER required, starting Sunday, May 1, 2022.
However, the Ministry of Health strongly recommends physical distancing in crowded situations, especially if you are not wearing a face mask.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to wear a face mask while outdoors.
That said, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you continue to wear a face mask outdoors, if possible. It will just be optional, and no longer mandatory.
However, please note that you are still required to wear a face mask whenever you enter an indoor premise (including shopping malls, schools and offices) or public transport (including e-hailing rides).
The government will continue to enforce the face mask mandate for indoor premises and public transport, except for these indoor situations :
performing heavy exercises (like in a gym)
alone within a specific space (like in your own office)
while you are eating or drinking
while you are giving a speech or presentation
while you are performing on stage
The Health Minister stressed the importance of wearing the face mask indoors, and on public transport, as ventilation is not as good as outdoors.
Even though it is not mandatory, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you wear a face mask while in crowded situations outdoors (like at a Ramadan bazaar or a stadium).
They also strongly recommend that you wear a face mask if you are symptomatic, or are about to visit vulnerable individuals like the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Zoom just announced that they ramped up their APAC team to meet demands for what they call the Era of Flexibility!
Zoom On The Era Of Flexibility In APAC!
On 26 April 2022, Zoom Video Communications, Inc (NASDAQ: ZM) announced that they just ramped up their senior leadership team for APAC, as well as key business momentum updates for the Asia Pacific region.
This announcement comes as APAC undergoes a critical transformation into a hybrid future, driving demand for secure, seamless, and connected experiences across virtual and physical channels. This is accompanied by an explosion of digital-native organisations born in the digital age and in the cloud, underpinned by the rise of a generation who has grown up in the presence of modern information technology.
Zoom believes that their capabilities across meetings, chat, phone, rooms, events and contact centre – all within a video-first paradigm – will help to address these evolving needs and provide a unified platform experience.
While customers desire hyper-personalisation and total convenience across virtual and physical touchpoints, the integration of video capabilities via the Zoom platform has allowed a range of organisations, spanning a variety of sectors including healthcare, education, and financial institutions, to reimagine the customer journey.
To meet employee demand for greater flexibility and freedom of choice, Zoom will also enable the ‘work-from-anywhere’ workforce, providing the technology required for enhanced collaboration, productivity, and inclusivity in hybrid teams.
Zoom Ramps Up APAC Team For Era Of Flexibility!
To keep up with demand of what they called the Era of Flexibility, Zoom announced several new additions to their senior leadership team in key APAC markets :
Lucas Lu, Head of Asia (ASEAN, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan). Lu joins Sameer Raje, General Manager and Head, India and SAARC, and Michael Chetner, Head of ANZ to drive business traction in the respective territories within APAC. Lu is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience, serving multiple leadership roles in global organisations across the technology, oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.
Cathy Yum, Head of Marketing, APAC, brings two decades of experience in building high-performing teams and delivering business goals and objectives for some of the world’s biggest technology giants. Yum plays a pivotal role in driving Zoom’s go-to-market strategies.
Gina Kuek, APAC Leader, People Experience Business Partner, comes with a wealth of experience in developing people and creating positive workplace cultures, and will champion Zoom’s culture of care as it expands across Asia.
Jacob Pereira, Head of Partners, APAC, is responsible for Zoom’s partner ecosystem and overall channel growth in the region. He has served in senior leadership positions in high performing technology companies.
Raj Natarajan, Head of Customer Success, APAC, comes with a proven track record of driving innovation and transforming business outcomes with some of the world’s most successful brands. In his current role, Natarajan oversees Zoom’s customer success initiatives in the region with a strong team of Customer Success Managers.
Zoom is also accelerating the region’s innovation and helping organisations create and grow their businesses on the Zoom platform. In APAC, these organisations include Australian retail platform Brauz; Vietnam’s business communication platform GapoWork; Singapore-headquartered ed-tech platform LingoAce; and Indonesia’s largest cellular operator Telkomsel.
Through the Zoom Developer Platform, developers, platform integrators, service providers, and customers are able to easily build apps and integrations, or integrate Zoom’s core technology into their products and services to deliver enriched video experiences to their end users.
Beyond its core video communications offering of Zoom Meetings and Zoom Webinars, Zoom has seen strong demand in the region for products like Zoom Rooms, Zoom Phone, and Zoom Events. In FY22Q4, Zoom closed its largest Zoom Rooms deal in APAC with a customer deploying more than 3,300 Zoom Rooms to drive hybrid work across their offices.
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
IBM just introduced the z16 system, powered by their new Telum processor with an integrated AI accelerator!
Take a look at the z16, and find out why it is the industry’s first quantum-safe system!
IBM z16 : Industry’s First Quantum-Safe System!
On 25 April 2022, IBM officially unveiled their new z16 system in Malaysia – the industry’s first quantum-safe system.
IBM Vice President for Worldwide Sales of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Jose Castano, flew to Kuala Lumpur, to give us an exclusive briefing on the new z16 system, and tell us why it is the industry’s first quantum-safe system.
IBM Z and LinuxONE Security CTO Michael Jordan also briefed us on why quantum-safe computing will be critical for enterprises, as quantum computing improves.
Thanks to its Telum processor, the IBM z16 system delivers low and consistent latency for embedding AI into response time-sensitive transactions. This can enable customers to leverage AI inference to better control the outcome of transactions before they complete.
For example, they can leverage AI inference to mitigate risk in Clearing & Settlement applications, to predict which transactions have high risk exposure, and highlight questionable transactions, to prevent costly consequences.
In a use-case example, one international bank uses AI on IBM Z as part of their credit card authorization process instead of using an off-platform inference solution. As a result, the bank can detect fraud during its credit card transaction authorisation processing.
The IBM z16 will offer better AI inference capacity, thanks to its integrated AI accelerator offering up to 1 ms of latency, expanding use cases that include :
tax fraud and organised retail theft detection
real-time payments and alternative payment methods, including cryptocurrencies
speed up business or consumer loan approvals
As the industry’s first quantum-safe system, the IBM z16 is protected by lattice-based crypto graphs – an approach for constructing security primitives that help protect data and systems against current and future threats.
IBM z16 : Powered By The New Telum Processor!
The IBM z16 is built around the new IBM Telum processor, which is specifically designed for secure processing, and real-time AI inference.
Here are the key features of the IBM Telum processor that powers the new IBM z16 system :
Fabricated on the 7 nm process technology
Has 8 processor cores, clocked at over 5 GHz
Each processor core has a dedicated 32 MB private L2 cache
The eight 32 MB L2 cache can form a virtual 256 MB L3 cache, and a 2 GB L4 cache.
Transparent encryption of main memory, with 8-channel fault tolerant memory interface
Integrated AI accelerator with 6 TFLOPS compute capacity
Centralised AI accelerator architecture, with direct connection to the cache infrastructure
The Telum processor is designed to enable extremely low latency inference for response-time sensitive workloads. With planned system support for up to 200 TFLOPs, the AI acceleration is also designed to scale up to the requirements of the most demanding workloads.
Thanks to the Telum processor, the IBM z16 can process 300 billion inference requests per day, with just one millisecond of latency.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The government of Malaysia just announced 30% to 100% highway toll discount for the 2022 Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday!
Here is what you need to know…
30% to 100% Highway Toll Discount For 2022 Aidilfitri Holiday!
On 25 April 2022, the government of Malaysia announced that they came to an agreement with 30 highway concessionaires to offer a 30% to 100% discount on highway toll charges during the 2022 Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday!
The 30% to 100% discount will only apply to all vehicle classes, on these dates and times :
From 12:01 AM on Saturday, 30 April 2022 until 11:59 PM on Sunday, 1 May 2022
From 12:01 AM on Saturday, 7 May 2022 until 11:59 PM on Sunday, 8 May 2022
Please note that there is no toll discount from 2 May until 6 May 2022.
2022 Aidilfitri Highway Toll Discount : Full List Of Highways
Here is the full list of participating highways :
100% Highway Toll Discount
Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS)
Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Hubungan Tengah (ELITE)
Lebuhraya Seremban – Port Dickson (SPDH)
Lebuhraya Butterworth – Kulim (BKE)
Laluan Kedua Malaysia Singapura (LINKEDUA)
Jambatan Pulau Pinang (JPP)
Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 1
Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 2
Lebuhraya KL – Karak (KLK)
50% Highway Toll Discount
Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS)
Lebuhraya Damansara – Puchong (LDP)
Lebuhraya Cheras – Kajang (GRANDSAGA)
Lebuhraya Sungai Besi (BESRAYA)
Lebuhraya Baru Pantai (NPE)
Lebuhraya Bertingkat Ampang – KL (AKLEH)
Lebuhraya KL-Putrajaya (MEX)
Lebuhraya Duta – Ulu Kelang (DUKE)
30% Highway Toll Discount
Projek Pengurusan Air Banjir Dan Terowong (SMART)
Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie (GUTHRIE)
Lebuhraya KL- Kuala Selangor (LATAR)
Lebuhraya Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (LLB)
Lebuhraya Kemuning – Shah Alam (LKSA)
Lebuhraya Lingkaran Kajang (SILK)
Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muad’zam Shah (JPP2)
Lebuhraya Lembah Klang Selatan (SKVE)
Lebuhraya Skim Penyuraian Trafik KL- Barat (SPRINT)
Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban (LEKAS)
Lebuhraya Pintas Selat Klang Utara Baru (GRAND SEPADU)
Lebuhraya Senai – Desaru (SDE)
Lebuhraya Persisiran Pantai Barat (WCE)
The cost of these discounts, estimated at RM77.11 million, will be jointly absorbed by the Malaysian government and the concession companies.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
If you become a close contact of a COVID-19 infected person, you are NO LONGER be required to undergo quarantine!
Here is what you need to know…
No More HSO Quarantine For COVID-19 Close Contact!
On 14 April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that those who are identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person will no longer be required to undergo quarantine!
From 22 April 2022 onwards, the Home Surveillance Order (HSO) quarantine requirement will be lifted for COVID-19 close contacts.
There will no longer be any HSO quarantine for close contacts, irrespective of vaccination status. Even unvaccinated close contacts will no longer be required to undergo HSO quarantine.
Asymptomatic (No Symptoms)
You are NO LONGER be subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) quarantine.
However, for five (5) days from the last day of exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual, you must :
always wear a face mask when you leave your home
avoid crowded areas
avoid visiting people in high risk groups
ensure that there is good ventilation
make only essential journeys
There is NO LONGER a need to conduct RTK self-test, unless you are symptomatic. See the next section.
Symptomatic
You are NO LONGER be subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) quarantine. However, you are advised to undergo a self-quarantine.
You are also encouraged to conduct a RTK-Ag self-test on the day you become symptomatic (Day 1), and on the third day (Day 3).
Once you obtain a negative test result and have improving symptoms, you can conduct outdoor activities. However, you must :
always wear a face mask when you leave your home
avoid crowded areas
avoid visiting people in high risk groups
ensure that there is good ventilation
make only essential journeys
However, if your symptoms worsen, you should seek treatment at the nearest healthcare facility.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow the guidelines above for COVID-19 positive individuals.
Effective
22 April 2022
Quarantine
Testing
Asymptomatic
No HSO Quarantine
5 days of precautions
No Testing Required
Symptomatic
No HSO Quarantine
Advised to self-quarantine
Encouraged to test on
– Day 1 (symptom onset)
– Day 3
Previous COVID-19 Close Contact Quarantine Requirements!
For comparison, these were the previous close contact rules that were enforced until 21 April 2022 :
Adults 18 Years & Above
No quarantine * : Fully vaccinated with booster dose, not symptomatic on Day 1.
No quarantine : Fully vaccinated and just recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated with booster dose, but symptomatic on Day 1.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated without booster dose
7 days : Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
* Must conduct RTK self-test on Day 1 and Day 3, and if positive – report results in MySejahtera, and follow COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
Children Below 18 Years Old
No quarantine : Fully vaccinated and just recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated
7 days : Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
There is no longer a need to test for COVID-19, if you have no symptoms. However, you must finish the full quarantine period.
Those who become symptomatic during the quarantine, must either perform a RTK-Ag self-test, or go directly to a health facility if the symptoms worsen.
If you test negative for COVID-19, you must finish the full quarantine period.
If you test positive, you must follow the COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
* No test is required to be released from quarantine, if not symptomatic. However, you must complete the full quarantine period.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Sinovac and Sinopharm recipients will be allowed to get a second booster dose!
Here is what you need to know…
Sinovac / Sinopharm Recipients To Get Second Booster Dose!
On 14 April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health announced that they will offer a second booster dose to high-risk individuals, to improve their protection against COVID-19!
In addition, they will also offer recipients of the Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines the opportunity to get a second booster dose.
The second booster dose will be the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine, and it will be given at least 1 month after the first booster dose for Sinovac / SInopharm recipients.
This second booster dose is optional, and is not compulsory. Your vaccination status will not change, whether you take the second booster dose or not.
However, it will facilitate overseas travel for Sinovac and Sinopharm recipients because many countries do not recognise either vaccines.
Should Sinovac / Sinopharm Recipients Get Second Booster Dose?
If you are a Sinovac or Sinopharm recipient and need to travel overseas, you should definitely get the second booster dose.
Both vaccines have been EUA-qualified by the WHO. However, quite a number of countries do not recognise the Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines, due to their lower efficacy.
The massive RECoVaM study, for example, showed that the Sinovac vaccine’s limited efficacy quickly waned after just 2 months. And that wasn’t even against the highly-contagious Omicron variant.
Even Sinovac recipients who receive a Pfizer booster dose may not obtain sufficient protection against the Omicron variant. A recent Yale University study showed that Sinovac vaccine recipients will require TWO Pfizer booster doses, to adequately protect against the Omicron variant.
So if you have the opportunity to get the second booster dose, take it. Even if the country you intend to visit recognises the Sinovac / Sinopharm vaccine, you will better protect yourself against COVID-19 by getting the second booster dose.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The quarantine rules for people who test positive for COVID-19, or identified as close contacts in Malaysia have been updated… again.
New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!
On 8 February 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced new quarantine rules for people identified as close contacts, or positive for COVID-19 in Malaysia.
On 17 February 2022, KKM changed those new COVID-19 quarantine rules, which came into effect on Thursday, 17 February 2022.
On 24 February 2022, KKM changed the COVID-19 quarantine rules again for close contacts. which will come into effect on Tuesday, 1 March 2022.
On 14 April 2022, KKM changed the COVID-19 quarantine rules again for close contacts. which will come into effect on Friday, 22 April 2022.
Current Quarantine Rules For COVID-19 Positive Cases!
The current quarantine rules only considers your vaccination status, irrespective of whether you are symptomatic or not.
People who tested positive for COVID-19, with / without symptoms, will now undergo these quarantine periods :
7 Days : Received booster dose
7 Days : Fully vaccinated (without booster dose)
10 days : Partially / not vaccinated
Those who are not symptomatic should NOT go to the CAC, and only isolate at home.
On 17 February 2022, KKM announced that the following patients are considered high-risk, and will be hospitalised even if they are Category 1 or Category 2.
Have medical co-morbidities – diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension
Diagnosed with other non-contagious disease that are uncontrolled / untreated
Caretaker of paediatric or geriatric patient
Obstetric cases that require monitoring
Admissions through the emergency ward
Live in homes that are not conducive for self-quarantine
Note : Isolation period is the same for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
New Quarantine Rules For COVID-19 Close Contacts!
From 22 April 2022 onwards, the quarantine requirement for close contacts is no longer based on vaccination status (vaccinated or unvaccinated) or age. It will be based entirely on whether you are symptomatic, or not.
Asymptomatic (No Symptoms)
You will NO LONGER be subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) quarantine.
However, for five (5) days from the last day of exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual, you must :
always wear a face mask when you leave your home
avoid crowded areas
avoid visiting people in high risk groups
ensure that there is good ventilation
make only essential journeys
There is NO LONGER a need to conduct RTK self-test, unless you are symptomatic. See the next section.
Symptomatic
You will NO LONGER be subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) quarantine. However, you are advised to undergo a self-quarantine.
You are also encouraged to conduct a RTK-Ag self-test on the day you become symptomatic (Day 1), and on the third day (Day 3).
Once you obtain a negative test result and have improving symptoms, you can conduct outdoor activities. However, you must :
always wear a face mask when you leave your home
avoid crowded areas
avoid visiting people in high risk groups
ensure that there is good ventilation
make only essential journeys
However, if your symptoms worsen, you should seek treatment at the nearest healthcare facility.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow the guidelines above for COVID-19 positive individuals.
Effective
22 April 2022
Quarantine
Testing
Asymptomatic
No HSO Quarantine
5 days of precautions
No Testing Required
Symptomatic
No HSO Quarantine
Advised to self-quarantine
Encouraged to test on
– Day 1 (symptom onset)
– Day 3
Previous Quarantine Rules For COVID-19 Close Contacts!
Until the new close contact rules kick in, these existing close contact rules will still be enforced until 21 April 2022 :
Adults 18 Years & Above
No quarantine * : Fully vaccinated with booster dose, not symptomatic on Day 1.
No quarantine : Fully vaccinated and just recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated with booster dose, but symptomatic on Day 1.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated without booster dose
7 days : Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
* Must conduct RTK self-test on Day 1 and Day 3, and if positive – report results in MySejahtera, and follow COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
Children Below 18 Years Old
No quarantine : Fully vaccinated and just recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
5 Days : Fully vaccinated
7 days : Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
There is no longer a need to test for COVID-19, if you have no symptoms. However, you must finish the full quarantine period.
Those who become symptomatic during the quarantine, must either perform a RTK-Ag self-test, or go directly to a health facility if the symptoms worsen.
If you test negative for COVID-19, you must finish the full quarantine period.
If you test positive, you must follow the COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
* No test is required to be released from quarantine, if not symptomatic. However, you must complete the full quarantine period.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Why Second Booster Dose For High-Risk Individuals?
High-risk individuals, namely senior citizens with co-morbidities, are at a much higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.
Even though COVID-19 vaccines offer great protection against hospitalisation and death, their protection wanes over time. With the Omicron variant raging around the globe, and new variants coming up, it is important to boost their protection.
This is particularly important for those who received the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. Both Chinese vaccines offer markedly lower protection, which quickly wane over a matter of weeks.
A Yale University study, for example, showed that Sinovac vaccine recipients will require TWO Pfizer booster doses, to adequately protect against the Omicron variant.
Therefore, if you are offered the second booster dose, I would highly recommend you take it. Even more so if you received the Sinovac / Sinopharm vaccine earlier.
There is also a more practical consideration for people travelling overseas – some countries in Europe do not recognise the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, both as a primary series vaccine or a booster dose.
Therefore, they will be allowed to obtain a second booster dose, at least one month after receiving their first booster dose.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia will offer the COVID-19 booster dose to high-risk adolescents!
Here is what you need to know…
COVID-19 Booster Dose Offered To High-Risk Adolescents!
On 14 April 2022, the Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that high-risk adolescents will be offered the COVID-19 booster dose.
The COVID-19 booster dose will be made available to individuals 12 to 17 years old, who are moderately or severely immunocompromised :
Cancer patients
Organ transplant patients who undergo immunosuppressive therapy
Long-term haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis patients
Other conditions or illnesses that are categorised as moderate or severe immunocompromised
The COVID-19 booster dose that will be used is the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine, and it will be given at least 28 days after the second dose of the primary series vaccine.
This booster dose is optional, and is not compulsory. Your children’s vaccination status will not change, whether they take the booster dose or not.
Why COVID-19 Booster Dose For High-Risk Adolescents?
While this booster dose is completely optional, I would highly recommend that those who qualify should take it.
Vaccines have reduced efficacy in immunocompromised individuals, because their immune system is less able to react to the antigens presented by the vaccine.
Therefore, immunocompromised individuals generally require an additional dose, just to obtain the same protection as people with normal immunity.
Immunocompromised adolescents would definitely have lower protection from the primary series COVID-19 vaccination, and should take this booster dose.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health just announced that they will STOP offering the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for free to 5-11 year-old kids!
Here is what you need to know…
PICKids : No More Free First Dose For 5-11 Yo Kids Soon!
On 13 April 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced that they will stop offering the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine under the PICKids programme next month.
From 16 May 2022 onwards, the PICKids programme will no longer offer the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 5-11 year old kids.
the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine will no longer be offered at both public and private health facilities across Malaysia.
the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine will only be offered as a paid vaccination option in private health facilities.
They are calling on parents to quickly register their children for COVID-19 vaccination by 8 May 2022, in order to obtain an appointment date in time.
Therefore, to avoid waste, the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF-C) decided to stop giving the free first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine under the PICKids programme.
CITF-C has also amended the vaccination consent form for children (below 18 years of age), removing this clause :
2. I am responsible for the risks that may occur to children as a result of my decision/action because the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the side effect.
The clause was dropped to avoid confusion, and to convey the existing practice in which the Ministry of Health has never neglected, and is always ready to offer the necessary medical assistance if there are side effects from the vaccination.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Here are the LATEST air travel procedures and SOP for those who are flying to Malaysia!
Updated @ 2022-04-12 : Added RTK-Ag option for Singaporean travellers, RTK-Ag testing requirement for transit to Sabah / Sarawak, and other updates Updated @ 2022-03-31 : Added new updates to the air travel procedures Updated @ 2022-03-25 : Added the air travel procedures Originally posted @ 2022-01-24
Malaysia Air Travel Test + Quarantine SOP From 1 April 2022!
On 9 March 2022, the Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, announced that new quarantine rules for travellers to Malaysia.
These COVID-19 test and quarantine rules take effect from Friday, 1 April 2022 onwards.
But there have been a few updates, so check the latest requirements below!
A. Travellers Undergoing Quarantine : Immediate Release!
For travellers who started undergoing quarantine prior to 1 April 2022, their quarantine orders will be rescinded on 1 April 2022.
They will no longer be under quarantine on 1 April 2022, irrespective of when they started their quarantine.
B. Children + Teenagers : No Quarantine!
Children and teenagers who are 17 years old or younger do NOT need to undergo quarantine, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Only children and teenagers 7-17 years old need to undergo :
a PCR test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
Children who are less than 7 years old do not need to undergo any PCR test before departure, or after arrival in Malaysia.
C. Travellers From Singapore : No Quarantine!
Travellers from Singapore do NOT need to undergo quarantine, irrespective of their vaccination status. However, travellers 7 years and older age need to undergo :
a PCR or professional RTK-Ag test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia
Children who are less than 7 years old do not need to undergo any PCR or RTK-Ag test before departure.
And all travellers from Singapore are exempt from testing after arrival in Malaysia.
D. Vaccinated Adults : No Quarantine!
Fully-vaccinated adults (18 years and older), with or without a booster dose, do NOT need to undergo quarantine on arrival in Malaysia. However, they must undergo :
a PCR test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
E. Vaccinated + Post COVID-19 : No Quarantine!
Fully-vaccinated individuals who recovered from COVID-19 (infected in the last 6-60 days) do NOT need to undergo quarantine on arrival in Malaysia.
However, if they were not hospitalised, they must undergo :
a professional RTK-Ag test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
If they were hospitalised, they can use a Fit To Travel letter from the hospital.
F. Unvaccinated with Medical Exemption : No Quarantine!
Unvaccinated individuals with a medical exemption will be allowed, on a case-by-case basis, to travel to Malaysia without a mandatory quarantine.
However, they must undergo :
a PCR test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
G. Unvaccinated Adults : 5 Day Quarantine
Adult travellers (18 years and older) who are not fully-vaccinated, or completely unvaccinated, must :
undergo a 5-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in Malaysia, and
undergo a PCR test on Day 4, or a professional RTK-Ag test on Day 5.
After completing their quarantine, these travellers must comply with existing restrictions on individuals who lack the Fully Vaccinated status in Malaysia. For example, they will not be able to dine-in at restaurants.
Travellers who are exempt from vaccination for health reasons must upload the evidence of medical exemption into the MySejahtera app.
H. Unvaccinated + Post COVID-19 : 5 Day Quarantine
Unvaccinated individuals who recovered from COVID-19 (infected in the last 6-60 days) must:
undergo a 5-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in Malaysia, and
undergo a PCR test on Day 4, or a professional RTK-Ag test on Day 5.
If they were not hospitalised, they must undergo :
a professional RTK-Ag test within 48 hours before departure to Malaysia, and
a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
If they were hospitalised, they can use a Fit To Travel letter from the hospital.
Latest Malaysia Air Travel Procedure From 1 April 2022!
On 24 March 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health issued the official procedure for travellers who arrive by air, that will take effect from 1 April 2022 onwards.
Before Departure
Download the MySejahtera app, and register for your MySejahtera account.
Click on the Traveller icon in MySejahtera, and complete the pre-departure form
a) fully-vaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Traveller’s Card
b) partially vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
All travellers 7 years and above must undergo a PCR test 2 days before departure.
Travellers from Singapore can opt for either a PCR test or a professional RTK-Ag test 2 days before departure.
Those who had a previous COVID-19 infection (within 6-60 days before departure) must undergo a professional RTK-Ag test 2 days before departure, or alternatively, have a Free-To-Travel letter if they were hospitalised for COVID-19 during that time.
Non-Malaysian citizens (except Singaporean citizens) must purchase travel and COVID-19 insurance worth at least US$20,000.
Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated Singaporean citizens must purchase travel and COVID-19 insurance worth at least US$20,000.
On Arrival
All travellers 7 years and above must undergo a professional RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival in Malaysia.
a) this professional RTK-Ag test can be performed at any health facility of your choice
b) COVID-19 breathalyser / professional RTK-Ag tests are available at the airport
c) Cost of on-arrival RTK-Ag test must be borne by the travellers.
Children below the age of 7, and travellers from Singapore are exempted from the on-arrival test.
Partially-vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers must undergo a mandatory 5-day quarantine.
IMPORTANT : Travellers transiting through Malaysian international airports to Sabah or Sarawak must undergo professional RTK-Ag at the airport, before departing.
Testing Positive On Arrival
If you test positive on arrival, you must undergo a mandatory quarantine of :
Fully vaccinated : 7 days
Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated : 10 days
Testing Positive During Quarantine
If you are a partially vaccinated / unvaccinated traveller, you will need to undergo a 5-day quarantine, and get tested on Day 4 (PCR) or Day 5 (RTK-Ag).
If you test positive on Day 4 or Day 5, your quarantine will get extended for 5 more days.
Malaysia Air Travel Test + Quarantine SOP : Summary
To make it easier to compare the myriad air travel requirements to Malaysia, I created this table to summarise the key requirements.
Vaccination Status
Pre-Departure
On Arrival
Additional Test or Quarantine
Child (< 7 Years) *
No Test Required
No Test
No Quarantine
Travellers From
Singapore
PCR test or
professional
RTK-Ag **
within 2 days
No Test Required
Boosted (≥18 Years)
PCR test
within 2 days
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 24 hours
of arrival On-Arrival
Professional
RTK-Ag
for travellers
transiting to
Sabah or
Sarawak
Fully Vaccinated
Fully Vaccinated
+ Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised
Children / Teenagers
(7-17 Years)
PCR test
within 2 days
Not Vaccinated with
Medical Exemption
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated
Day 4 PCR or
Day 5 RTK 5-Day Quarantine
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated + Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised
* By year of birth
** Also professional RTK-Ag if recovered from COVID-19 infection 6-60 days before departure
*** FTT = Fit To Travel
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Malaysia Minister of Education just announced that ALL primary school students will be able to attend school without rotation starting April 17!
Here is what you need to know…
Earlier : Some Primary School Students Undergo Rotation
When the new 2022-2023 school term began in Malaysia, roughly half of primary school students were only allowed to attend school on a rotation basis.
Standard 1, Standard 2 and Standard 6 students in primary schools with enrolment of more than 600 students, were allowed to attend school, without rotation.
But Standard 3, Standard 4 and Standard 5 students in those larger primary schools were only allowed to attend classes in rotation – one week on, one week off.
No More Rotation For Primary School Students From April 17!
On 8 April 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Education Dr. Radzi Jidin announced that all primary school students will be allowed to attend school without rotation :
Group A states (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) : April 17 onwards
Group B states (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya) : April 18 onwards
Pupils who were attending school on a rotational basis now can return (in full).
The most important thing is everyone’s adherence to the standard operating procedures. Even though we are transitioning to the endemic phase, it is still important to follow the SOPs.
I ask parents to always remind their children that they should make sure they adhere to the SOPs.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Just two days after announcing that all non-medical face masks must be SIRIM-certified by 4 July 2022, the government delayed it to 2023!
Here is what you need to know about this new requirement!
Non-Medical Face Mask Must Be SIRIM-Certified By 2023
On 5 April 2022, the Trade Descriptions (Certification & Marking) of Non-Medical Face Mask Order 2022 (download) was gazetted under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011.
It required all non-medical face mask manufacturers and importers to apply for MS SIRIM certification, and labelling from SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd.
This new requirement will ensure that all non-medical face masks sold in Malaysia will comply with safety standards that already exist for respirators and medical face masks.
It will also prevent the dumping of poor quality / substandard face masks in Malaysia, which may not offer adequate protection against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
Just two days after the gazettement, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the SIRIM certification for non-medical masks is now postponed to 1 January 2023!
I want to assure consumers to not be overly worried as if this gazettement will cause a price hike. Number one, I already warned manufacturers and importers to not use this as a reason to hike up prices.
Secondly, to users, we will be heading to a time whereby face masks will no longer be mandatory, but before it goes there that is why I announce that we had already fixed July 4 for the enforcement in this gazettement for face masks and after taking into consideration the feedback from all parties, we, this evening, already discussed and have agreed that the enforcement be postponed to January 1, 2023.
SIRIM Requirement For Non-Medical Face Masks From 2023 Onwards
From 1 January 2023 onwards, all non-medical face masks sold in Malaysia must be SIRIM-certified, and have a SIRIM label clearly printed on the box or packaging.
Non-medical face masks (defined as any face mask which covers mouth and nose other than medical face mask regulated under the Medical Device Act 2012 [Act 737]) will have to comply with one of these standards :
SIRIM 40,
CWA 17553, or
AFNOR SPEC S76-001.
Companies that fail to comply, can be fined up to RM200,000 for the first offence, and up to RM500,000 for the second and subsequent offences.
Individuals that fail to comply, can be fined up to RM100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 3 years for the first offence. For the second and subsequent offences, they can be fined up to RM250,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years.
Please note that this requirement only applies to manufacturers and importers of non-medical face masks.
Despite the social media uproar, individuals will NOT be fined or jailed for wearing a non-medical face mask that is not SIRIM certified.
Always verify the facts first, when you see such social media comments or posts.
SIRIM Certification Process For Non-Medical Face Masks
Manufacturers and importers of non-medical face masks should proceed with the SIRIM certification process, which consists of :
Enquiries
Issuance of Quotation
Application
Document Evaluation
Initial Audit
Sample Selection and Testing
Recommendation and Approval
Purchase of SIRIM Label
Surveillance Audit
Renewal
Here are the application forms for the SIRIM certification of non-medical face masks :
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Intel joined over 600 other companies in condemning and leaving Russia over its invasion of Ukraine!
Here is what you need to know…
Intel Condemned Russia Over Invasion Of Ukraine!
A week after Russia invaded Ukraine, Intel issued a press release condemning the invasion, and announcing a stop to all shipments to both Russia and Belarus.
While Belarus did not directly participate in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it continues to be a willing partner in the invasion, allowing Russian troops, tanks and aircraft to attack Ukraine from their territory.
This announcement on 3 March 2022 effectively cut off supply of Intel chips to both countries.
Intel condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and we have suspended all shipments to customers in both Russia and Belarus. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this war, including the people of Ukraine and the surrounding countries and all those around the world with family, friends and loved ones in the region.
We are working to support all of our employees through this difficult situation, especially those with close ties to this region. We have launched an employee donation and matching campaign through the Intel Foundation that has already raised over $1.2 million for relief efforts, and we are proud of the work our teams in surrounding areas including Poland, Germany and Romania are doing to aid refugees. We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and the global community in calling for an immediate end to this war and a swift return to peace.
Intel Leaves Russia Over Invasion Of Ukraine!
After Russia’s initial attempt to seize Kyiv and topple the Ukrainian government failed spectacularly, Russian forces began a wholesale bombardment of Ukrainian cities.
Even worse, it was recently discovered that Russian forces raped and massacred Ukrainian civilians in the town of Bucha.
All those atrocities may have made it untenable for companies like Intel to even maintain a local presence while waiting out the war.
On 5 April 2022, Intel announced that they immediately suspended all business operations in Russia.
It is unknown what will happen to their 1,200 employees in Russia, but Intel says that it is now working to support those employees.
Intel continues to join the global community in condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine and calling for a swift return to peace. Effective immediately, we have suspended all business operations in Russia. This follows our earlier decision to suspend all shipments to customers in Russia and Belarus.
Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this war, particularly the people of Ukraine and the surrounding countries and all those around the world with family, friends and loved ones in the region.
We are working to support all of our employees through this difficult situation, including our 1,200 employees in Russia. We have also implemented business continuity measures to minimize disruption to our global operations.
Intel joins over 600 companies that have withdrawn from Russia, according to the Yale School of Management.
They include major brands like 3M, Adidas, Amazon, Cisco, Ikea, LVMH, Mastercard, McDonald’s, VMware, Visa, Western Union.
Notably, Chinese companies like Alibaba, Didi, HUAWEI, Tencent and Xiaomi continue to operate in Russia.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The EU has officially accepted the MySejahtera digital COVID certificate from Malaysia!
Here is what you need to know!
EU Officially Accepts Malaysia Digital COVID Certificate!
On 4 April 2022, the EU Ambassador to Malaysia, Michalis Rokas, announced that Malaysia has officially been connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework.
Some great news: The EU 🇪🇺 has accepted Malaysia 🇲🇾 @officialmosti
request for establishing the equivalence between EU’s Digital Covid Certificate and Malaysia’s MySejahtera.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/534 of 1 April 2022 establishing the equivalence, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, of COVID-19 certificates issued by Malaysia to the certificates issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
EU Accepts Malaysia Digital COVID Certificate : What Does It Mean?
But what exactly does it mean by this EU decision to accept Malaysia’s MySejahtera digital COVID certificate?
To help you understand what this means, I created this FAQ :
No, Malaysians will not receive the Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC), which is the EU equivalent of the MySejahtera digital COVID-19 certificate.
The EUDCC is used only by residents in the 27 EU countries, and a few non-EU countries that are in the Schengen Area, or have an open border with the EU :
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
San Marino
Switzerland
Vatican City
If you have been fully-vaccinated with an EU-authorities vaccine, you may request for an EUDCC, but that’s a separate matter altogether.
So The EU Accepts The MySejahtera Certificate?
Yes. European Union countries will accept the MySejahtera digital COVID-19 certificate as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate.
This is reciprocal – Malaysia will also accept the EUDCC as equivalent to the MySejahtera digital COVID-19 certificate.
This means that holders of certificates issued by these two countries will be able to use them under the same conditions as holders of an EU Digital COVID Certificate.
At the same time, the two countries agreed to accept the EU Digital COVID Certificate for travel from the EU to their countries.
What Are The Advantages Of Connecting To EUDCC?
The instant Malaysia is connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate system, all MySejahtera digital COVID-19 certificates are automatically valid in the EU.
Malaysian travellers to the EU will be exempted from travel-related testing or quarantine across the entire EU+ are, including all Schengen Member States, and the four Schengen Associated States – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Is This Necessary For Free Movement In EU?
No, the MySejahtera digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate or the the EU Digital COVID Certificate are not necessary for free movement, which is a fundamental right in the European Union.
Unvaccinated individuals are still free to travel across the EU. They are just subject to restrictions like testing or quarantine.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The deadline for ALL senior citizens and Sinovac vaccine recipients to receive a booster dose in Malaysia has been extended… AGAIN!
Booster Deadline For Seniors + Sinovac Recipients Extended Again!
On 7 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that these individuals will be required to get a booster dose by 28 February 2022.
60 years and older who were fully-vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine
18 years and older who were fully-vaccinated with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine
On 24 February 2022, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the deadline has been extended, and both groups will have until the 31 March 2022 to get their booster dose.
On 1 April 2022, the Malaysia Health Ministry (KKM) extended the deadline again, this time by three (3) months.
This means individuals in both groups who do not get their booster dose will lose their fully-vaccinated status only on 1 July 2022, .
To be clear – this is not a vaccine mandate. You are free to refuse the booster dose. However, your MySejahtera will show that you are not fully-vaccinated.
KKM Still Offers Sinovac Booster Dose
On 7 February, the Health Minister also shared that 3.5 million people who were fully-vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine still have not received their booster dose.
To encourage them to get their booster dose, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) is now offering Sinovac recipients the option of aSinovac booster dose.
They are only offering the Sinovac booster dose, because it is better than not taking one at all. As Khairy quipped, “If you are going to travel to a cold country and refuse the coat that KKM offers, it’s better that we give you a t-shirt than let you go naked“.
That’s quite an apt description, as recent studies (here, here and here) have shown that the Sinovac booster dose is about as useful as a t-shirt in winter.
That said, Khairy also said that there are currently no plans for a 4th shot for Sinovac recipients.
That is why I completely agree with KKM, and highly recommend that Sinovac recipients opt for the much better Pfizer or AstraZeneca booster dose.
If you prefer a Chinese vaccine for work or geopolitical reasons, then opt for the Sinopharm vaccine, which is at least slightly better than the Sinovac vaccine.
But no matter what you choose – please get the booster dose ASAP.
You can walk-in for your booster dose at any Mega PPV or Offsite PPV, or get an appointment at a GP PPV. So it’s really convenient.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Hollywood celebrities are angry at antivaxxers, and have started a Vax-A-Thon to fight back!
Hollywood Celebrities To Antivaxxers : Piss Off!
Hollywood celebrities aren’t the brightest bulbs in America, but even they have finally gotten angry at antivaxxers for constantly claiming that they were being killed or injured by the vaccine.
Hollywood Celebrities Start Vax-A-Thon To Fight Antivaxxers!
When antivaxxers started going after Bruce Willis, something broke. Not a dam. Maybe the rose-tinted glasses they have been wearing in the past two years.
So they got together for some mimosas and decided to do something about it – A Vax-A-Thon, with a twist.
For every $1000 donation to the FDA, you will get an autographed card of your favourite pharmaceutical executive. Pfizer’s Albert Bourla was reportedly 2:1 as popular as Moderna’s Stéphane Bancel. But Johnson & Johnson will give out cards signed by Ye, since they have no one famous on their team.
But here’s the kicker – if you can cough up a cool $1 million, you can get your favourite Hollywood celebrity to either receive or consume an ENTIRE COVID-19 vaccine vial of your choice!
Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and beloved country songstress Dolly Parton were amongst the first celebrities to get a full vial “the traditional way” this morning, and say that they have never felt better in their lives!
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow declined to get the shot in her Pure Blood body, but will prepare and drink a delicious Moderna sorbet (recipe to be shared on Goop) on YouTube Live next week.
Jim Carrey reportedly wanted to reprise his 1997 “man kiss” of Alicia Silverstone with Paltrow on her YouTube Live stream, and slurp the Moderna sorbet from her mouth.
That Paltrow-Carrey livestream will certainly be interesting… if it happens! Brad Falchuk allegedly told Carrey to keep his super-big mouth out of his wife’s mouth.
Nicki Minaj, unfortunately, is not in the list of participating celebrities. Her spokesperson, however, issued a statement saying that she would be open to getting the full vial if Pfizer comes out with a version that gives her nails like Wolverine.
Oddball celebrity Steven Seagal asked to participate, but wished to gift the vial to his good friend, Vladimir Putin, who is forced to sit at really long tables because he was only vaccinated with Sputnik V. No word yet on whether his request was taken seriously, or laughed out of Tinseltown…
But if you are a Putin fan and want to keep him alive for another invasion of Georgia or the Baltic states, make sure you have $1 million handy!
1 Week Toll-Free Travel Between Singapore + Malaysia!
To kickstart the reopening of the land border, Malaysia will offer toll-free travel to and from Singapore for one week!
From 1 April until 7 April 2022, the toll fee will be waived on all vehicles travelling via the Johor Causeway (Sultan Iskandar) and the Second Link (Tanjung Kupang).
This toll fee waiver are for Malaysian citizens, who are Touch ‘n Go and SmartTag users, travelling in both directions.
This toll fee waiver is in addition to the Road Charge waiver for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia at both the Johor Causeway and the Second Link.
PLUS Highway estimates that at least 42,000 vehicles will enter Malaysia through the both locations every day. This toll fee waiver is estimated to benefit over 300,000 cross-border journeys between Malaysia and Singapore.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia + Singapore Land Border Travel : Only For Fully-Vaccinated!
Please note that this only applies to FULLY-VACCINATED travellers, who received a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO Emergency Use Listing.
However, there is good news for those who received a COVID-19 vaccine that is NOT in the WHO Emergency Use Listing. Malaysia will accept these “unapproved” COVID-19 vaccines :
Zifivax : China, Indonesia, Pakistan
Minhai : China, Indonesia
CoviVac : Cambodia, Russia
Median : Taiwan
ZyCoV-D : India
Turkovac : Turkey
Covifenz : Canada
Just make sure you bring the relevant digital or physical COVID-19 vaccination certificate to prove that you are fully-vaccinated!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The lower dose Moderna paediatric COVID-19 vaccine was just proven to be safe and effective for kids 6 months to under 6 years of age!
Here is what you need to know…
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Safe + Works For Kids Under 6!
On 23 March 2022, Moderna announced the interim results of the Phase 2/3 KidCOVE study, which looked at the safety and efficacy of their paediatric vaccine in children 6 months to under 6 years of age.
The interim results showed that their lower-dose paediatric vaccine delivered a “robust neutralising antibody response” with a “favourable safety profile”.
Based on these interim results, Moderna will ask regulators like the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to authorise this lower-dose paediatric vaccine for use by kids 6 months to under 6 years in age.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids Under 6 : The Interim Results
The KidCOVE trial is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled study (RCT) designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the lower-dose Moderna vaccine for use by kids 6 months to under 6 years in age.
The study involved approximately 11,700 children in the US and Canada, of which two groups received the vaccine :
2 to under 6 years in age : 4,200 kids
6 months to under 2 years in age : 2,500 kids
The paediatric Moderna vaccine comprised of two doses of 25 μg (micrograms), which is a quarter of the adult dose (100 μg), and half the dose for 6-11 year old children (50 μg).
The KidCOVE study (NCT04796896) was conducted in collaboration with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The Omicron variant predominated during the KidCOVE study, and its ability to escape vaccine protection was confirmed.
The Moderna vaccine efficacy (against symptomatic infection) was reduced against Omicron, which is consistent with what was seen with the adult vaccine.
However, the vaccine was shown to protect against severe disease, hospitalisation and death./
Two 25 μg doses provided similar immunogenicity to two adult doses of 100 μg.
Efficacy vs symptomatic infection by Omicron (under 2) : 43.7%
Efficacy vs symptomatic infection by Omicron (2 to under 6) : 37.5%
Majority of Omicron cases were mild.
No child in both vaccine groups developed severe COVID-19.
No child in both vaccine groups were hospitalised for COVID-19.
No child in both vaccine groups died from COVID-19.
Moderna will continue to monitor all participants for 12 months after their second injection to assess long-term protection and safety.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
