Tag Archives: Anwar Ibrahim

eMADANI : How To Get Free RM100 eWallet Credit!

Ten million Malaysian citizens will soon receive a special RM100 eWallet credit through the eMADANI programme! Here is what you need to know!

eMADANI : 10 Million Malaysian Citizens To Get Free RM100!

On 27 July 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government will give a special, one-off RM100 eWallet credit.

On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, the government announced that the eMADANI programme will benefit some 10 million Malaysian citizens and 2 million businesses, with a total budget of RM 1 billion.

The eMADANI programme is a new initiative that is designed to stimulate the micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS), as well as promote cashless payments, and alleviate inflationary pressures on the rakyat.

Here is what you need to know about the eMADANI programme, and the one-off RM100 eWallet credit…

eMADANI : How To Get Free RM100 eWallet Credit!

Here is what you need to know about the eMADANI programme, and how to get the free RM100 eWallet credit:

Who Qualifies For eMADANI RM100 Free Credit?

The eMADANI programme, and the free RM100 eWallet credit, is open to Malaysian citizens who are 21 years and older as of 1 January 2023; and have either:

received the Rahmah Cash Contribution (Sumbangan Tuna Rahmah) as of 7 November 2023, OR
have an annual income of RM100,000 or less, based on LHDN records as of 15 July 2023

However, those who received the eBeliaRahmah contribution earlier will not qualify for the eMADANI programme, as they have already received eWallet cash to promote the use of cashless payments amongst the youth.

The government estimates that 10 million Malaysians will qualify for the eMADANI free RM100 eWallet credit.

When Can You Redeem The RM100 eWallet Credit?

Those who qualify for the RM100 eWallet credit will be able to redeem it through selected eWallets (see below) from 8 AM on 4 December 2023 until 11:59 PM on 20 February 2024.

Which eWallets Do You Need?

You will need one of these four eWallets to receive the free RM100 credit through the eMADANI programme:

MAE
Setel
ShopeePay, and
Touch ‘n Go eWallet

Please note that these four eWallet providers will also be offering additional incentives in the form of vouchers, cashbacks, discounts, reward points, and coins. So be sure to “shop around” for the best offers, before deciding on which eWallet to use!

How Do You Get The Free RM100 eWallet Credit?

To obtain the free RM100 eWallet credit, follow these steps:

Download the eWallet of your choice (from the list of four above) from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or HUAWEI AppGallery.
If you have not registered and verified your eWallet account, please do so first.
In the eWallet of your choice, tap on the eMADANI redemption link.
Key in the required information in the eMADANI redemption page, and tap on the Send button.
You will be informed if your application is successful.

If successful, the RM100 will be credited into the eWallet, and you can use the money immediately.

Please note that you can only redeem the RM100 eWallet credit from one eWallet provider.

Where Can You Spend The RM100?

The RM100 eWallet credit must be spent physically in retail stores and businesses using the the eWallet of your choice, except:

peer-to-peer transfers
cash redemptions
bill payments through the eWallet
government fee payments through the eWallet
telco postpaid payments and prepaid reloads through the eWallet
game payments through the eWallet
parking and toll payments
investment activities through the eWallet
e-commerce or online transactions

When Must You Spend The RM100?

Please note that the RM100 eWallet credit must be spent by 11:59 PM on 29 February 2024.

From 1 March 2024 onwards, any unspent eMADANI credit will automatically expire, and be removed from the eWallet.

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Malaysia Faces US Sanctions Over Hamas Support?!

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Is Malaysia facing US sanctions after the US House of Representative passed a bill to sanction Hamas supporters?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Malaysia Faces US Sanctions Over Hamas Support!

People are sharing this warning on WhatsApp, which claims that Malaysia is facing US sanctions after the US House of Representative passed a bill to sanction Hamas supporters!

Malaysia already in RM1.5 trillion in debt and now will be sanctioned by US. Ringgit surely touch RM5 to US dollar and expect country to be affected economically resulting in more hardship for all Malaysians

The US House of Representatives approved a bill to sanction foreign supporters of supporters of the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad 4terrorist movements on Wednesday night.

Ready to brace another impact on our economy! 😭

To support the claim, the viral WhatsApp warning includes a link to an MSN article, which has the title – US House approves bill to sanction Hamas supporters

No Evidence Malaysia Faces US Sanctions Over Hamas Support!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / propagated on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : US House Bill Was Introduced In January 2023

First, I should point out that the US house bill in question – H.R. 340 : Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act (PDF), was actually introduced on January 12, 2023 (history).

Also known as the “Hamas International Financing Prevention Act“, H.R. 340 was introduced almost 9 months before the terrible October 7 attack.

In short – this bill had nothing to do with the October 7 attack of Israel by Hamas, but its passage was accelerated by the attack.

Fact #2 : Bill Only Passed US House Of Representatives

Next, I should point out that the bill is not yet law – it only passed in the US House of Representatives, with a 363-46 vote.

The bill now heads to the US Senate for its consideration. It is uncertain whether this bill would actually pass in the US Senate in its current form.

Even if it passes the US Senate, it must be signed into law by President Joe Biden, who has the power to veto it. GovTrack rates it as having only 37% chance in being enacted.

Until it is signed into law – no country or entity faces US sanctions through this bill.

Fact #3 : MSN Article Did Not State Malaysia Faces US Sanctions

The MSN article – which is actually an article by The Jerusalem Post, was shared in the viral warning as “evidence” that Malaysia faces US sanctions over it support of Hamas.

However, anyone who spends just a few minutes to read the article would quickly realise that Malaysia was never mentioned at all. In fact, the article did not mention that any country is at risk of being sanctioned by the US for supporting Hamas.

Fact #4 : Sanctions Are Only Imposed On Foreign Persons

The bill – in its current form – only requires the US President to impose sanctions on any “foreign person” that:

a) “assists in sponsoring”, or providing “significant financial, material, or technology support” or “goods and other services” to enable acts of terrorism; or

b) engages, directly or indirectly, in a significant transaction with a senior member of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Lion’s Den, or their affiliates / successors.

However, HR340 leaves it to the President to determine which “foreign person” actually qualifies to be sanctioned. On top of that, the President can issue a waiver on a case-by-case basis.

Fact #5 : Only Limited Measures Are Imposed On Foreign States

The bill – in its current form – does not impose any sanctions on foreign states. It only imposes limited “measures” on foreign states that:

a) provides “significant material or financial support” for acts of terrorism; or

b) engages, directly or indirectly, in a significant transaction that contributes to the terrorist activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Lion’s Den, or their affiliates / successors.

Again, HR340 leaves it to the President to determine which “foreign state” actually qualifies to be targeted, and the President can issue a waiver on a case-by-case basis.

Even if a foreign state is identified by the US President as materially supporting terroristic activities by Hamas, HR340 only requires:

the President to suspend US assistance to that foreign state for at least 1 year,
the Treasury Secretary to oppose and vote against any loan, financial assistance, or technical assistance by any international financial institution to that foreign state for a period of 1 year
the President to prohibit the export of American weapons to that foreign state

Again – the bill does not technically impose sanctions on foreign states, only limited measures or penalties.

Fact #6 : HR340 Is Unlikely To Impact Malaysia At All

Even if it passes the US Senate in its current form, and is signed into law by President Joe Biden, HR340 – the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act is unlikely to have any impact on Malaysia.

For one thing – the bill only targets foreign states that provide “significant material or financial support for acts of international terrorism”.

And even if Malaysia is somehow identified as such a country, the limited measures imposed by HR340 will have minimal impact, if at all.

According to the US Department of State, the US government only invests $1 million annually to train Malaysian military service members as part of its International Military Education and Training. The US also provided $220 million in security assistance for the FY2018-2022 – about $44 million per year.

Assuming everything remained the same, Malaysia would only stand to lose a total of $45 million per year in US assistance. That’s a drop in the bucket – 0.05% of Malaysia’s 2023 budget of about $84 billion.

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Anwar Ibrahim Announces Financial Aid For Malaysians!

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just announced a slew of financial aid to help Malaysians deal with inflation this year!

Anwar Ibrahim Announces Financial Aid For Malaysians!

On Thursday, 27 July 2023, Malaysia Prime Minister announced a slew of financial aid during the launch of Ekonomi Madani: Memperkasa Rakyat (Madani Economy: Empowering the People) in Kuala Lumpur.

Here is a summary of the financial aid Anwar Ibrahim announced to help Malaysians deal with inflationary pressures this year.

Adults Earning Less Than RM100K To Get RM100

The Malaysian government will give RM100 e-Tunai cash incentive to all Malaysian citizens aged 21 years and above, earning RM100,000 or less in annual wages.

This cash incentive will be distributed via e-wallet, based on the success and impact of the e-Belia Rahman e-wallet credit rollout programme in the past. This incentive is also expected to spur digital payments, and the economy.

The government estimates that this cash incentive will benefit 10 million citizens in the B40 and M40 categories, and cost the treasury about RM1 billion (about US$ 220.9 million).

The estimated number of eligible recipients is expected to be around 10 million Rakyat comprising those of the B40 and M40 with allocations of around a billion ringgit.

Recommended : Bantuan Tunai Rakyat Malaysia 2023 Scam Alert!

Civil Servants To Get RM300

Civil servants at Grade 56 and below will receive RM300 in special assistance aid within the next two weeks.

This special assistance is expected to benefit 1.3 million civil servants, while they wait for the adjustment of their salaries and allowances.

Government Pensioners To Get RM200

Government pensioners will receive RM200 in special assistance aid within the next two weeks. This special assistance is expected to benefit over a million pensioners.

Civil Servant Salaries To Be Reviewed

The Malaysian government will review the salaries of civil services, and adjust them according to the nation’s financial ability.

Minimum Wage To Be Reviewed

The Malaysian government will review the minimum wage, and explore the progressive wage model to reduce reliance on foreign workers.

120% Financing For Homes <RM300K

The Malaysian government will enhance the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (HCGS) provided by the Housing Credit Guarantee Company Berhad (SJKP).

The SJKP will now provide housing loans of up to 120% of the house’s value, for houses worth up to RM300,000. This will allow purchasers to cover the legal cost of the purchase, as well as renovations and furnishing their home.

The government will guarantee the scheme with a fund of RM5 billion (about US$1.1 billion).

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PM Anwar : Extra Public Holiday For Hari Raya 2023!

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The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, just announced that there will be extra day of public holiday for Hari Raya 2023!

Updated @ 2023-04-20 : Updated with the confirmed day of public holiday
Originally posted @ 2023-04-18

Extra Public Holiday For Hari Raya 2023 Confirmed!

On Thursday, 20 April 2023, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced that Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2023 falls on Saturday, April 22.

In keeping with the command of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and with the consent of the Rulers, I hereby declare that the date for Hari Raya for the states in Malaysia has been set for Saturday, April 22, 2023

Now that Hari Raya 2023 has been confirmed to fall on Saturday, April 22, the extra day of public holiday will fall on Friday, April 21.

For the full list of school and public holidays for Hari Raya, please click here!

PM Anwar : Extra Public Holiday For Hari Raya 2023!

On Tuesday, 18 April 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that there will be an additional day of public holiday for Hari Raya 2023!

In his public announcement, he said that the extra day of public holiday will depend on the first day of Syawal:

Friday, April 21 is a public holiday if the first day of Syawal falls on Saturday, April 22
Monday, April 24 is a public holiday if the first day of Syawal falls on Friday, April 21

The International Astronomy Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) predicted that the first day of Aidilfitri will fall on April 21.

The Prime Minister said the extra day of public holiday will make it easier for the public to make travel plans for the Hari Raya festivities.

This announcement only applies to Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, based on Section 8 of the Holiday s Act 1951. Prime Minister Anwar said that it will be up to the Sabah and Sarawak state governments to declare the date for the public holiday accordingly.

He also announced four days of toll-free travel. But please be warned that during the Hari Raya 2023 festive season, seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable, and will be referred to the courts.

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Hari Raya 2023, School + Public Holidays Confirmed!

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Hari Raya 2023 falls on Saturday, April 22, so here is what you need to know about the school and public holidays!

Hari Raya 2023 Falls On Saturday, April 22!

On Thursday, 20 April 2023, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced that Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2023 falls on Saturday, April 22.

Public Holidays For Hari Raya 2023

On Tuesday, 18 April 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that there will be an additional day of public holiday for Hari Raya 2023!

Now that Hari Raya 2023 has been confirmed to fall on Saturday, April 22, the extra day of public holiday will fall on Friday, April 21. Here are the updated public holidays for Hari Raya 2023:

Holiday	Group B	Notes
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	Friday, 21 April 2023 Saturday, 22 April 2023 Sunday, 23 April 2023 Monday, 24 April 2023	All states All states All states All states *, except Johor + Kedah

* This is a carry-forward holiday for the public holiday on Sunday

School Holidays For Hari Raya 2023

On 11 April 2023, the Ministry of Education declared that April 19 would be a special school holiday, in addition to the mid-term holiday which starts on April 20.

With the announcement, here are the updated holiday schedule for Hari Raya 2023.

Group A

Group A states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Festival Holidays	Group A	Notes
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	Wednesday, 19 April 2023 Thursday, 20 April 2023	2 extra days

Group B

Group B states are Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Festival Holidays	Group B	Notes
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	Wednesday, 19 April 2023 Thursday, 20 April 2023 Friday, 21 April 2023	3 extra days

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PDRM Offers Special RM50 Fine For Traffic Offences!

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The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is offering a special RM50 fine for all traffic offences!

Find out how you can pay for your traffic offences for just RM50!

PDRM Offers Special RM50 Fine For Traffic Offences!

On 18 April 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will offer a special RM50 fine for all traffic offences committed in 2022 and earlier!

From Friday, 21 April until Sunday, 21 May 2023, you will be able to pay RM50 for each traffic summon at all police district or contingent headquarters, or online using its MyBayar Saman app or website.

This special offer applies only to traffic summonses issued in 2022 and earlier. It does not apply to traffic offences committed in 2023.

PDRM Traffic Offences : How To Only Pay RM50

Here is what you need to know about the April-May 2023 PDRM discount for all traffic offences.

RM50 Fine Per Offence

PDRM is offering a special RM50 fine for every traffic summons issued in 2022 or earlier, from Friday, 21 April until Sunday, 21 May 2023.

Where To Pay PDRM Traffic Fines

PDRM will allow you to pay for your traffic fines at these physical venues (weekdays only) :

Summon Payment Counters at Police District Headquarters
Summon Payment Counters at Police Contingent Headquarters

Instead of queuing up at the police headquarters, you should use the online MyBayar Saman portal or app :

MyBayar Saman online : https://mybayar.rmp.gov.my/
Google Play Store
Apple App Store
HUAWEI AppGallery

The PDRM launched MyBayar Saman as an alternative payment option, instead of paying over-the-counter, or using private collecting agents like MyEG.

This would also save the public money as MyBayar Saman is FREE, and does not collect service charges. They can also pay their fines at their convenience, without wasting time queuing to pay.

Alternatively, you can also pay for your traffic offence fines at:

Maybank ATM nationwide
All Pos Malaysia counters

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Hari Raya 2023 : No Highway Tolls For Four Days!

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The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, just announced that there will be no highway tolls for four days for Hari Raya 2023!

Hari Raya 2023 : No Highway Tolls For Four Days

On Tuesday, 18 April 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that there will be no highway tolls for four days, in conjunction with Hari Raya 2023!

In a public announcement, he said that the toll-free travel will apply to all types of vehicles travelling on 33 highways in Malaysia. The toll-free period will last for four days:

From 12:01 AM on Wednesday, April 19, to midnight on Friday, April 21, and
From 12:01 AM until midnight on Monday, April 24

The Prime Minister said that the toll free travel will reduce the travel costs for people travelling back to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya 2023.

But please be warned that during the Hari Raya 2023 festive season, seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable, and will be referred to the courts.

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Malaysia Extends SSPN Tax Relief Until 2024!

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Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just announced the extension of the SSPN tax relief until 2024! Here is what you need to know!

Malaysia Extends SSPN Tax Relief Until 2024!

On Wednesday, 29 March 2023, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the extension of the SSPN tax relief until 2024!

The Prime Minister said that the decision was made after many quarters asked the government to consider the tax relief that was not included in the revised 2023 budget.

The SSPN tax break is expected to cost the government RM250 million (US$56.8 million) in tax revenue. The tax relief is limited to the first RM8,000, after being increased from RM6,000 in the 2019 budget.

I have agreed to extend this tax exemption until 2024 that will benefit 400,000 taxpayers and cost the government RM250 million.

Earlier : SSPN Tax Relief Missing From Malaysia 2023 Budget!

SSPN (Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional) – the National Education Savings Scheme, is a government-backed savings scheme designed to help parents save and invest those savings for their children’s higher education.

In past years, parents in Malaysia who put away money into SSPN for their children’s higher education enjoyed tax relief on the first RM8,000 contributed to the fund for the year.

The re-tabling of Budget 2023 for Malaysia noticeably did not include an extension of the SSPN tax relief. The Finance Bill 2023, which the government is proposing to amend the Income Tax Act 1967 with, includes this amendment:

Subparagraph 4(a)(iv) seeks to delete paragraph 46(1)(k) of Act 53 as the amount deposited by an individual for his child into the Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional shall no longer be allowed as a deduction under Act 53. This amendment has effect for the year of assessment 2023 and subsequent years of assessment.

As a result, SSPN earlier posted a notice on its website saying that it is seeking clarification from the government on the tax relief.

The announcement by the Prime Minister that the SSPN tax relief would be reinstated will definitely be a relief to parents who have had to put up with high inflation.

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CNY 2023 : No Highway Tolls On January 20-21!

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The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, just announced that there will be no highway tolls on January 20 to 21 for Chinese New Year 2023!

CNY 2023 : No Highway Tolls On January 20-21!

On Wednesday, 18 January 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that there will be no highway tolls on January 20 to 21 in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2023!

In a short public announcement, he said that the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Works took the initiative to discuss the matter with the highway concessionaires across Malaysia, and they agreed not to impose any highway tolls for two days.

The toll-free travel will apply to all types of vehicles travelling on all highways in Malaysia. The toll-free period will begin at 12:01 AM on January 20, and end at midnight on January 21, 2023.

The expected financial implication of these two days of toll-free travel is estimated to be about RM40 million (US$9.2 million).

The Minister of Works and the Minister of Transport took the initiative to discuss with the concessionaires, who agreed to eliminate the toll charges for the 20th and 21st (of January).

We hope that by waiving the toll charges for the two days, it will allow all Malaysians to enjoy travels during the Chinese New Year. My advice to road users is to obey the law and be safe on the road.

But please be warned that during the Chinese New Year festive season, seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable, and will be referred to the courts.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Ismail Sabri Order Maybach Pullman S 650 Limo?!

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Did former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri order a Mercedes-Benz S 650 Maybach Pullman limousine that costs RM3.8 million?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Ismail Sabri Ordered Maybach Pullman S 650 Limo!

At the end of November 2022, this message (together with a link and a screenshot) went viral on WhatsApp and social media, claiming to be evidence that former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri ordered a Mercedes-Benz S 650 Maybach Pullman limousine that costs RM3.8 million!

It also alleged that new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to auction off the Maybach Pullman S 650 limousine, instead of using it.

Previous PM, Ismail Sabri order a MAYBACH Pullman Benz S650, RM3,800,000 without any Tax!!

Anwar refused to use it, but soon expected for Auction it!

Note : I placed a FALSE overlay to prevent the viral message from being further abused.

Claim : Ismail Sabri Ordered Maybach Pullman S 650 Limo!

That is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : A Mercedes-Benz S600 Was Ordered, Not S 650 Maybach Pullman

On 28 November 2022, the new Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim spoke out about this claim.

He confirmed that a vehicle was ordered by a previous Prime Minister, but did not specific who it was.

He also confirmed that the model was a Mercedes-Benz S600 limousine, not the Maybach Pullman S 650.

Fact #2 : Mercedes-Benz S600 Is Different From S 650 Maybach Pullman

Both the S600 and the S 650 Maybach Pullman limousines are from the same company – Mercedes-Benz. However, they are completely different vehicles.

The S600 is an S-class sedan which seats four people. It has been discontinued, but was priced at over RM1.7 million when it was launched in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the S 650 Maybach Pullman is an ultra-premium stretch limousine that is much longer than the Mercedes-Benz S600, seating six people.

It is also significantly more expensive, with a base price of around half a million euros or about RM2.3 million.

Fact #3 : Mercedes-Benz S600 Order Was Cancelled

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also said that he cancelled the order for the Mercedes-Benz S600 limousine, so there was no need to auction it off, as the viral message claimed.

The Mercedes has not arrived yet, so I’m using this (Toyota Camry), okay? (I’ll just use) any car that’s available.

Actually, this (the S-class Mercedes) was ordered by a previous prime minister, but I checked to see whether we could cancel. (Thankfully) we could.

Anwar Ibrahim also said that no new official car will be purchased for his use, and no renovations would be carried out at his office, as part of a new culture against public funds wastage.

Fact #4 : Mercedes-Benz S600 Purchased Over Two Administrations

Interestingly, Berita Harian said that the purchase of the Mercedes-Benz S600 was first mooted during the Muhyiddin Yassin government, but only approved during the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government.

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Fact Check : Parting Words of Judge Augustine Paul?

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Take a look at the parting words of Judge Augustine Paul – the man who convicted Anwar Ibrahim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : These Are The Parting Words Of Judge Augustine Paul

After Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, people started sharing these “parting words of Judge Augustine Paul – the man who convicted Anwar Ibrahim“.

It’s really long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts…

The parting words of Augustine Paul, the judge who convicted Anwar

A very good and MUST READ article by former Judge Augustine Paul who was known for handing down the guilty verdict on Anwar’s sodomy case. Now you can read his regrets and confession over the case as he pointed the fingers at, who else – MM himself! _Yes I respected him at one time but I look upon him with pity. It is the year 2010, Augustine Paul is a broken old man living alone. Close to death, he spends much time mulling over the past.

One more day nearly over. I sit in my usual spot on the verandah, gazing over the weedy patch of garden and into the trees where the noisy sparrows come home to roost. There are great flocks of them, chattering nineteen to the dozen, happily playing tag before bedtime. Do they ever notice me sitting here, so still, so alone, always envious of their querulous companionship? Twilight, the saddest, bleakest part of the day, with the light bleeding rapidly away; twilight brings back memories and regrets. Oh, where is everyone? My wife, dead for many years, taken away by cruel cancer; my children dying one by one before their time as though the sins of the father must be visited upon his offspring in accidents and disease and murder, all except one, the estranged one who is living far away across the seas. I write him letters nearly every day: “Son, I am only an old man. How can you not forgive me after twenty years? Son, you must understand, I was only an obedient slave to the powers that were. They used me like an appliance in the trial that shook the nation.” Letters that I write and then tear up because we have been through this so many times before. Yet, each time I hold the pen in my hand, I think I can write an explanation so striking, so convincing as to deliver him the lightning flash of insight. But I know I cannot. So I sit and watch the sparrows fly.

Strange that I can barely remember last week, but the events of twenty years ago have sharpened to the polish of knives. That packed courtroom, the public gallery all eye and ears, the reporters, the gesticulating lawyer, the scared witness in the box with his downcast eyes and low voice because we all knew that he was lying, and Anwar himself, so calm, so collected as though he was already past caring. I think of him and the light of my memory is as glaring as the noonday sun, not so much memory as shards of glass to pierce the innards of my soul. At the market, I ran into Ramasamy a few days ago. He is the only one who will not turn his eyes away from mine. He was kind enough to take me to a coffee-shop where we chatted the afternoon away as old men are wont to. We talked of the most mundane matters but, just before we parted, he made a most curious remark. He said: “Augustine, whatever they say, I will always believe that you made the right decision about Anwar.” I
shook his hand but said nothing. Oh, What could I have said?

Ramasamy, you can’t not have known. Of course it was a travesty of justice. The whole purpose of that show trial was to convince the nation of Anwar’s imaginary crimes. Ramasamy, you were only being kind. The prosecution dragged in the most ugly evidences, but their witnesses were discredited one by one despite the fact that I gave the defence so little room until, finally, there was no case at all. Even the man in the street could tell, but I was the all powerful judge; I did not throw it out. I still pronounced him guilty on eight of the ten charges. That was what Mahathir wanted. It was necessary to let him off on a couple so the world would think it an independent judicial decision. But I was never free to act on my own. And then I sentenced him to twenty years. It was also what Mahathir wanted. Oh, what else could I have done? That cruel man, that dictator: he was always invisibly there all the time, pulling my strings. He stopped at nothing to satisfy his cruelty. It was nothing to him to use all the apparatus of government to achieve his end, nothing to him to sacrifice innocent lives like Anwar, Sukma, Munawar and Datuk Nalla.

And, after Anwar’s conviction, with the nation torn apart in the most horrible manner, I began to have my doubts. But in those days, I could sweep them all aside; I was part and parcel of the corruption in the judiciary, the government, the ruling party, and I shared in the tainted rewards. I was decorated with titles and promoted to the Bench of the Federal Court. Rumours were circulating of my nomination for the ultimate prize – the post of Chief Justice – when the broom came. Like many, I chose to resign rather than face removal.

I sometimes dream that I acted very differently from the expectations of the powers that were. I dreamt that I acquitted Anwar of all charges in one blazing moment of truth and justice: the jubilation in the streets, the worldwide applause, the consternation of the government who had thought it could not lose. And Mahathir would have found some airy-fairy charge to throw me into prison and possible torture, but I would have become a hero. Mahathir would have fallen quickly after, and the nation would have escaped great distress. But these are only thin, insubstantial dreams. It’s easy to be brave in hindsight but you cannot turn back time and tide. Now, for me, there is only the blackness and the sleepless nights. What happens after death? An old man at death’s door thinks too much of these things: God’s justice, lost souls, eternal torment in lakes of burning fire. I pray
every day and the Reverend Peters visits me once a week to assure me of God’s forgiveness. But can I ever forgive myself?

It’s all dark now, the sparrows are quiet but the mosquitoes are biting. I must go inside, turn on every lamp to dispel the shadows – I have become like a child once more, afraid of the dark, but a child without a mother – and perhaps try once more to write that letter. I hope God will take me tonight in a small, quiet hour of sleep but, if not, I’ll be here again tomorrow to watch the sparrows fly.

AUGUSTINE PAUL PASSED AWAY IN 2010 AT THE AGE OF 66.

Show less

Truth : These Are NOT The Parting Words Of Judge Augustine Paul

That is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Note : The fact check credit goes to ManaSiaTauSiaMabuk.

Fact #1 : Augustine Paul Convicted Anwar Ibrahim In April 1999

First, let me just offer a quick refresher on Judge Augustine Paul, and his relevance to Anwar Ibrahim.

Augustine Paul was confirmed as a High Court judge less than six months before he presided over Anwar Ibrahim’s corruption case in November 1998.

After a 78-day trial, Judge Augustine Paul convicted Anwar Ibrahim on corruption charges, and sentenced him to six years in prison on 14 April 1999.

Note the 14 April 1999 date. This will be important in dismissing this article as fake later.

Fact #2 : Augustine Paul Died In 2010

Judge Augustine Paul would later die on 2 January 2010, after battling pancreatic cancer. This will be an important point, as you will see later.

Fact #3 : Augustine Paul Had A Wife + Two Children

Augustine Paul was not alone when he died. He was bedridden due to his illness, but was survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Paul, and his two grown-up children – Dr. Juliana Sharmini and Alan John, who were 29 years old and 27 years old in 2010.

Fact #4 : The Footnote Was Removed

The “parting words by Judge Augustine Paul” was originally shared with a disclaimer, stating:

Disclaimer: Extracted from soc.culture.malaysia; by: apaul@mahathir.show.trial

But in later versions, someone decided to remove the disclaimer, probably to make it appear genuine.

Fact #5 : It Appears To Be Written As “Fan Fiction”

The original source of the “parting words of Judge Augustine Paul” is this article called “I Watch The Sparrows Fly“, allegedly penned by the justice himself.

However, the letter itself was prefaced by this statement:

It is the year 2018 and Augustine Paul is a broken old man living alone. Close to death, he spends much time mulling over the past.

The “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” article was also published on 20 December 1998, at 4 PM to be precise.

That was almost four months before Judge Augustine Paul sentenced Anwar Ibrahim to six years in jail.

Even if you believe that the date of the original posting was fabricated, Judge Augustine Paul died in 2010 – 8 years before he allegedly penned “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” in 2018.

The only reasonable conclusion we can draw is that “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” was penned by an anonymous writer as a kind of “fan fiction”, which has no basis in fact.

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Can Agong Appoint Anwar Ibrahim As Interim PM?

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Find out WHY the YDP Agong CANNOT just appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the interim or caretaker PM of Malaysia!

YDP Agong Asked To Meet Anwar Ibrahim + Muhyiddin Yassin

22 November 2022 will go down in history as a day of great drama, with many news portals falsely claiming that the YDP Agong appointed Anwar Ibrahim as Interim / Caretaker Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia had earlier given political coalitions and parties up to 2 PM on 22 November 2022 to gain enough support to form a government.

Unfortunately, that 2 PM deadline came and went without any announcement. So the Yang di-Pertuan Agong asked the leaders of the Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional coalitions to meet him at 4:30 PM.

The media anxiously watched as Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yassin entered the National Palace to meet the YDP Agong.

Why Agong CANNOT Appoint Anwar Ibrahim As Interim PM!

That is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by trigger-happy Malaysian media outlets, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Many Media Outlets Prematurely Ejaculated

In an effort to beat their rivals, a number of media outlets posted that the YDP Agong appointed Anwar Ibrahim as the interim or caretaker Prime Minister of Malaysia.

It started with Free Malaysia Today (FMT) which claimed that the YDP Agong appointed Anwar Ibrahim as an interim Prime Minister, only to take the article offline shortly after, and posting an apology.

Anwar Perdana Menteri Sementara : Anwar Ibrahim dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri sementara.

Anwar Is Interim Prime Minister : Anwar Ibrahim was appointed as interim Prime Minister

Then The Vibes claimed on Twitter that Anwar Ibrahim was named the 10th Malaysian Prime Minister.

JUST IN : @anwaribrahim has been named the 10th Malaysian Prime Minister

Even the New Straits Times (NST) posted TWICE that Anwar Ibrahim was appointed, alternately as interim and caretaker Prime Minister!

Anwar Ibrahim appointed interim PM – Party sources | New Straits Times

Anwar Ibrahim appointed caretaker PM | New Straits Times

Melissa Goh from CNA (Channel NewsAsia) also posted on Twitter, that Anwar Ibrahim was appointed as an interim Prime Minister:

JUST IN : Anwar appointed interim PM, he just needs to build his majority : Anwar’s aide

CNA also repeated that claim on TV, also stating that Anwar’s aide was very excited about it.

The truth is – the YDP Agong did not appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, at least not today – 22 November 2022.

Fact #2 : Anwar Ibrahim Confirmed No Decision On PM Had Been Made

After meeting the YDP Agong, Anwar Ibrahim himself addressed the press outside the National Palace, and stated clearly that no decision has been made on who would be Prime Minister of Malaysia.

I, of course, expressed my gratitude to His Highness, and said that we would do our best and digest his advice, and wait for the final decision, which is of course, at the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. There has been no decision [on who would be Prime Minister].

How did FreeMalaysiaToday, The Vibes, NST and CNA announce that Anwar Ibrahim is the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, when the man himself said that no decision on that has been made?

Fact #3 : First Group To Exceed 111 MPs Can Form Next Government

The 15th General Election (GE15) resulted in a hung Parliament in Malaysia, with no political coalition or party winning a majority of Parliamentary seats.

Hence, the political parties in Malaysia are anxiously negotiating and bartering with each other… because the first group with at least 112 Members of Parliament will form the next government.

The winning group will then present their new political coalition, and their prime minister candidate, to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, for his consent.

Fact #4 : Agong Appoints Prime Minister With Majority MP Support

The Constitution of Malaysia is very clear about how the YDP Agong appoints the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Under Article 43 (2) (a), the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint a Prime Minister who, in his judgement, is likely to command the confidence of the “majority of the members of [the House of Representative“.

In other words, the YDP Agong can only appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia if he is confident that Anwar Ibrahim has the backing of the majority of the newly-elected Members of Parliament!

Of course, Article 40A (a) stipulates that the YDP Agong “may act in his discretion” on “the appointment of a Prime Minister“.

Even so – the YDP Agong cannot appoint Anwar Ibrahim as an Interim Prime Minister, because there is no provision for such a position in the Constitution!

If the YPD Agong ends up appointing Anwar Ibrahim as the Prime Minister of a minority government, it will be as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, not as an interim Prime Minister.

Fact #5 : Malaysia Already Has A Caretaker Prime Minister

It is also not possible for the YDP Agong to appoint a caretaker Prime Minister, because one already exists!

The previous Prime Minister of Malaysia becomes its caretaker Prime Minister once Parliament is dissolved, and until the next Prime Minister is appointed.

Currently, the caretaker Prime Minister of Malaysia remains Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Fact #6 : Muhyiddin Yassin Revealed Why Anwar Was Not Appointed As PM

After he left his audience with the YDP Agong, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that the King suggested that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) form a unity government.

It is likely the King “suggested” that Anwar Ibrahim would be the Prime Minister of such a unity government.

However, he rejected the suggestion as Perikatan Nasional will not cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.

I was asked to sign a document to state if we agree (to cooperate with PH) I signed the paper but I wrote at the top that we disagree (to work with PH.

Everyone knows why we can’t cooperate with PH. This is our stance before and it is still now. We will not work with Pakatan Harapan.

Because PN rejected the King’s proposal, PH still does not have the requisite number of MPs to form the government.

Hence, as per Article 43 of the Constitution of Malaysia (see Fact #4 above), the YDP Agong cannot appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

That is also why the YDP Agong asked to meet all 30 MPs from the Barisan Nasional party tomorrow morning. It is likely that he wants to see if they can be convinced to join PH in forming a unity government.

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Will Agong Use Online Poll To Appoint Anwar Ibrahim As PM?!

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Did the YDP Agong ask for Astro Awani to conduct an online poll, so he can use it to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Agong Wants To Use Online Poll To Appoint Anwar Ibrahim As PM!

People have been sharing this Astro Awani online poll and message on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is going to use it to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia!

To all Malaysians, please vote so that DS Anwar Ibrahim is appointed as the 10th Prime Minister. This analysis was made at the request of YDP Agong. Please viral as soon as possible. Thank you.
https://undi.astroawani.com

It is sometimes sent with an audio file of someone claiming to be a member of Invoke Malaysian confirming that this Astro Awani poll is not fake.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WhatsApp-Audio-2022-11-21-at-18.27.45.mp3?_=1

Another audio file also claims that this is not fake news, but is a way to get the YDP Agong to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister, instead of Muhyiddin Yassin.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WhatsApp-Audio-2022-11-21-at-16.49.07.mp3?_=2

Truth : Agong Will NOT Use Online Poll To Install Anwar Ibrahim As PM!

That is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : First Group To Exceed 111 MPs Can Form Next Government

The 15th General Election (GE15) has resulted in a hung Parliament in Malaysia, with no political coalition or party winning a majority of Parliamentary seats.

Hence, the political parties in Malaysia are now anxiously negotiating and bartering with each other… because the first group with at least 112 Members of Parliament will form the next government.

Fact #2 : Agong Appoints Prime Minister According To MPs, Not Online Poll

The Constitution of Malaysia is very clear about how the YDP Agong appoints the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

To be clear – the YDP Agong cannot appoint Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister merely on the basis of an online poll of random people on the Internet!

Fact #3 : Astro Awani Poll Asked For Prediction, Not Preference

I should also point out that the Astro Awani poll was NOT asking their viewers for their preference of Prime Minister. Everyone did that earlier, by voting for the political party of their choice during GE15.

If you read the poll carefully, you will see that Astro Awani was only asking its viewers for their “prediction” of who they think will end up becoming Prime Minister.

Instead of asking “Who do you want to be 10th PM?“, Astro Awani asked, “Who will be the 10th PM?”

Hung Parliament: Who will be the 10th PM?

Fact #4 : You Can Vote Multiple Times

You can only select one of the three options and pass a CAPTCHA test, but otherwise, the Astro Awani online poll has no restrictions.

Critically – you can vote as many times as you like. That makes the poll completely useless as a guide of the people’s sentiment.

In last two general elections, Malaysians had their fingers dipped in indelible ink, specifically to prevent anyone from voting more than once.

If voting online multiple times is allowed, then governments will be elected by those who have the most supporters clicking the fastest and the longest.

This Astro Awani online poll only serves as a gimmick to bring people into their website. Cynical observers may wonder if the fake message was created by Astro Awani to drive traffic to their website…

Fact #5 : Astro Awani Called It Fake News

On Sunday, 20 November 2022, Astro Awani issued a press statement, calling the viral message “fake news” and “irresponsible”, and denied any involvement.

Unfortunately, Astro Awani continue to leave the poll running. The traffic from the viral message must be really awesome.

They may or may not have created the fake viral message, but they are sure enjoying the traffic it brings!

Do the right thing, Astro Awani – delete the poll, and replace it with your press statement about this fake news instead.

Please WATCH OUT about such FAKE NEWS on WhatsApp and social media. They are designed to reduce voter confidence in the electoral process.

Regardless of what you may read or see on social media, please have faith in the electoral process, which is safeguarded by the Malaysian civil service and many volunteers.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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KKM : MySejahtera Was NOT Sold To Private Company!

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The Malaysia Ministry of Health has clarified that the MySejahtera app and its data was not sold to any private company.

Here is what you need to know!

Claim : MySejahtera Was Sold To Private Company!

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed that MySejahtera will be sold to a private company – MySJ Sdn. Bhd. through direct negotiation.

The MySejahtera application was rolled out in April 2020, under the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM). It was built by KPISoft (now Entomo) as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

According to his statement, the government appointed MySJ Sdn. Bhd. through direct negotiation to take over MySejahtera on 26 November 2021.

Then in December 2021, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) proposed that the government should take over MySejahtera since it is now “an integral part of the national health system”.

KKM : MySejahtera Was NOT Be Sold To Private Company!

On 27 March 2022, the Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin issued a press statement, clarifying that the government did not sell MySejahtera to any private company.

Here are the key points of his statement on the claims that MySejahtera was sold to MySJ Sdn. Bhd. :

On 26 November 2021, the government decided that MySejahtera is owned by the government, and the Ministry of Health (KKM) was appointed as the main owner of the application.
The government did not pay KPISoft any money for the development of MySejahtera, which was carried out from 27 March 2020 until 31 March 2021.
This was based on the company’s offer to let the government use the app for one year for free, as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
After the CSR period ended on 31 March 2021, the government agreed to extend the use of MySejahtera, and work with KPISoft to expand its features.
On 26 November 2021, the government ordered KKM to form a Price Negotiation Committee comprising of stakeholder agencies to negotiate the purchase and service maintenance of MySejahtera for two (2) years.
The scope of the procurement and management of the MySejahtera app included operating MySejahtera, system development including additional modules, maintenance, datacenter management and third-party services like Google Map and Places API, as well as SMS services.
On 28 February 2022, the Ministry of Finance approved KKM’s procurement of the MySejahtera app.
MySejahtera data has been under KKM’s supervision from the first day it was used, and the data is processed according to KKM procedures.
KKM does not share MySejahtera data with any government agency, or private companies.
All data from the MySejahtera app are uploaded to a cloud server network, and can only be accessed by the MySejahtera app only.

In short, the MySejahtera app was not sold to any private company, and was purchased by the Ministry of Health with approval from the Ministry of Finance on 28 February 2022.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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