Malaysia just reversed its controversial decision to block use of public DNS servers using DNS redirection! Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia orders DNS redirection, affecting consumers too!
According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.
DNS redirection basically blocks the use of public DNS servers, by redirecting DNS queries to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).
The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that ISPs in Malaysia were ordered to implement DNS redirection for business/enterprise/government users, blocking their access to public DNS servers.
However, it now appears that the directive actually applied to everyone in Malaysia, not just business, enterprise, or government users!
After news broke that MCMC quietly ordered Internet service providers to implement DNS redirection in Malaysia, there was a public outcry, and people started looking up ways to bypass it.
The public outrage proved too much for the Malaysian government, and it backtracked on that controversial decision. On Sunday, 8 September 2024, Malaysia Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that he asked MCMC not to proceed with its DNS redirection directive.
… considering the feedback received through a series of engagements with @MCMC_RASMI and the public, I have requested that MCMC not proceed with the implementation of the Domain Name System (DNS) management redirection method.
At the same time, MCMC will continue its engagement series with all stakeholders to gather views, suggestions, and recommendations to ensure that the goal of a safer internet can be collectively achieved.
With that, Malaysia officially reversed its DNS Redirection decision within days of the news breaking.
There is no doubt that this reversal was due to many Malaysian netizens who spoke up against the controversial decision to hijack access to public DNS servers. So kudos to everyone who spoke up.
It is encouraging to see that public dissent can still force the government of the day to reverse controversial directives. But perhaps the government can avoid such controversies in the future by getting feedback from the public before quietly issuing controversial directives.
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Did WHO DG Tedros arrange for Robert Fico to be shot after failing to convince him to continue with the Pandemic Treaty?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WHO DG Had Robert Fico Shot Over Pandemic Treaty!
People are sharing a video of Meryl Nass, who appeared to suggest that WHO DG Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus may have ordered the failed assassination of Robert Fico, after failing to convince its populist Prime Minister to continued with the Pandemic Treaty!
“[F]irst Tedros was there [in Slovakia], and then someone tries to assassinate him [PM Robert Fico]…I can’t guarantee you the two things are related, but it is extraordinary that every major newspaper claimed immediately that the assassination was the result of a ‘lone wolf.'”
Physician and writer Dr. Meryl Nass (@NassMeryl) describes during a May 16 Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) roundtable discussion with Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) et al. how it had been reported that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had visited Slovakia and tried to talk the country’s prime minister, Robert Fico, out of “breaking consensus” for the WHO’s so-called “Pandemic Treaty” and International Health Regulation (IHR) amendments before the PM was the victim of an assassination attempt.
“It had been reported, actually, that Tedros, the Director-General of the WHO, had gone to Slovakia and had tried to talk him out of quote-unquote ‘breaking consensus for the documents,” Nass tells the roundtable participants.
“So, first Tedros was there, and then someone tries to assassinate him [Fico]…I can’t guarantee you the two things are related, but it is extraordinary that every major newspaper claimed immediately that the assassination was the result of a ‘lone wolf.’ And how they knew that—they obviously didn’t know that—but they obviously were all instructed to say that.”
Truth : WHO DG Did Not Have Robert Fico Shot Over Pandemic Treaty!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on X (formerly Twitter), and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : Dr. Tedros Did Not Fly To Slovakia To Meet Robert Fico!
Let me start by pointing out that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did not fly to Slovakia to speak with Prime Minister Robert Fico, in an attempt to convince him to continue with the Pandemic Treaty.
In fact, the last time Dr. Tedros flew to Slovakia was in June 2022 – almost two years ago, when he attended the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum, with Zuzana Čaputová, the President of the Slovak Republic.
Fact #2 : WHO DG Tedros Was In Paris + Geneva
Robert Fico was shot by a gunman while greeting people outside the House of Culture in Handlova, at around 2:30 PM local time on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.
A day before Fico was shot, WHO DG Tedros was in Paris, attending the Summit for Clean Cooking in Africa. He even posted photos of a high-level dialogue hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that day!
After that, a WHO spokesperson confirmed that Dr. Tedros flew back to WHO headquarters in Geneva, where he posted his condemnation of the attempt assassination of Robert Fico, before hosting Francophone ambassadors in Geneva.
It would be a miraculous feat for Dr. Tedros to be in two places at the same time. Needless to say, neither Meryl Nass, nor the people sharing her video / claims, ever provide any evidence WHO DG Tedros was in Slovakia in May 2024…
Fact #3 : Robert Fico Did Not Reject WHO Pandemic Treaty
Claims that Robert Fico was shot because he rejected the WHO Pandemic Treaty is nonsense. Robert Fico did not recently formally and/or publicly reject the WHO Pandemic Treaty, as some people have claimed or suggested.
It was Peter Kotlár, the Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for the COVID-19 pandemic, who formally and publicly rejected the “current version” of the WHO Pandemic Treaty on 10 May 2024. Even that was not a final, conclusive rejection of the WHO Pandemic Treaty.
While Robert Fico himself appear to speak out against the WHO Pandemic Treaty, he did not actually say that he was rejecting the WHO Pandemic Treaty. He only said that the SMER party will not support expanding the powers of the WHO, at the expense of the state’s right to tackle future pandemics.
In other words, it very much sounds like he’s okay with WHO gaining more powers, as long as Slovakia still retains the right to tackle future pandemics its own way.
Fact #4 : Fico’s Ministers Called It Politically Motivated
In addition, claims that media outlets were instructed to claim that the shooting was committed by a lone wolf is equally nonsensical.
For one thing – the gunman, who was later identified as 71 year-old Juraj Cintula from Levice, was immediately detained by Fico’s security detail.
Then, both Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok called the shooting “politically motivated,” with Šutaj Eštok saying that “the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election,” which ended just last month – on 6 April 2024.
Juraj Cintula frequented events organised by the pro-Russian paramilitary group, Slovenski branci (Slovakian Recruits), and praised the group and its anti-immigration stance multiple times on social media.
There is no evidence that Juraj Cintula was inspired to shoot Robert Fico because he was against the WHO Pandemic Treaty. In fact – none of those who made those suggestions or claims ever provided any evidence to back them up!
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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.
Is Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi alive after surviving the helicopter crash?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Iranian President Is Alive After Surviving Crash!
Within hours of news breaking that the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi and other officials crashed, people started sharing a photo while claiming that the Iranian President is alive, after surviving the helicopter crash!
Aussie Cossack (deleted) : Iran’s President survived the helicopter crash and is en router to Tabriz in the Presidential motorcade
Mario Nawfal : 🚨🇮🇷BREAKING: IRANIAN PRESIDENT AND FM CONTINUE TO TABRIZ BY CAR AFTER EMERGENCY LANDING
The President’s convoy continued to Tabriz, Iran, by land.
The Mi-171 helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdolahian landed hard in East Azerbaijan due to foggy weather.
East Azerbaijan Governor Ayatollah Al-Hashem and other officials were also on board.
Nadira Ali : Bad news for Zionists.. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is safe.
Truth : Iranian President Confirmed Dead After Helicopter Crash!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating on social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Ebrahim Raisi Was Confirmed Dead
On Sunday, 19 May 2024, the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi arrived at the northern border between Iran and Azerbaijan, to inaugurate the Gir Galasi hydroelectric dam with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. After that inauguration, the Iranian delegation left in a convoy of three helicopters to Tabriz.
At approximately 1:30 PM local time, the helicopter carrying the Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader Representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, crashed shortly after some passengers made an emergency call.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) described the crash as a “hard landing”. Even at 10:30 AM (GMT+8) on Monday 20, it was unknown if anyone was injured or killed in that crash.
An Iranian official told Reuters that rescuers were still struggling to reach the crash site, and that the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”.
At approximately 12:30 PM (GMT+8) on 20 May, Iranian state TV confirmed that President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several others were killed in the helicopter crash.
Fact #2 : Viral Photo Taken In July 2022, Not May 2024
The photo being shared as “evidence” that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi survived the helicopter crash was actually taken at Firuzkuh, Tehran on 30 July 2022 – almost 2 years ago!
That handout photo was taken and provided by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), and shows Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visiting Firuzkuh after floods.
Fact #3 : Crashed Helicopter Was Bell 212, Not Mi-17
In addition, the helicopter that crashed was a US-made Bell 212 helicopter with a blue and white colour scheme.
It is a completely different helicopter from the Mi-17 seen in the July 2022 photo, which has a red and white colour scheme, and the logo of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).
Here is a comparison of the 2022 photo being used to mislead people, and an actual photo taken of the Bell 212 helicopter that carried Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Beware of social media accounts that keep posting unverified and/or fake news, photos and videos. They are only doing it to generate income from the views, clicks, and engagement.
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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.
Did Israel and the United States cause the helicopter used by the President of Iran to malfunction and crash?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Israel + US Crashed Iran President’s Helicopter!
Within hours of news breaking that the helicopter carrying the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials crashed, people started sharing a message claiming that Israel and the United States caused the helicopter used by the President of Iran to malfunction and crash!
Reactions to the “purported” crash of the helicopter carrying the Iran President and other top ranking Iranian officials
📍 All the analysts believe that the President and the other ministers are probably dead by now despite rescue efforts underway to find the plane.
📍 Majority of analysts commenting believe that what caused the crash was the use by Israel 🇮🇱 and the US 🇺🇸 of their own systems to disable navigation systems and get the helicopter to malfunction and crash.
📍Relations between US 🇺🇸 and IRĀN 🇮🇷 were lately getting worse. Hezbollah in Lebanon has been using increasingly advanced weaponry against Israel 🇮🇱 and IRĀN 🇮🇷 has been showing signs of continuing with its program of Uranium enrichment despite US 🇺🇸 opposition.
Sharīf as-Sarifī, media anchor in Egypt 🇪🇬 who largely follows the Sissī line (hence why he is allowed to air, from Egypt 🇪🇬, in his YouTube channel) says: So now that the plane carrying Ibrāhīm Ra’isī and other important political personalities has disappeared. The majority thinks this is not due just to bad weather and this was an assassination.
📍Why? Because the plane was followed by two other two. It was just not any other plane.
📌How would that happen? Israel 🇮🇱 has some equipment that allows to mess up the navigation systems of planes and other vehicles, such as those carrying missiles. Now all the analysts are suspecting this is what impacted the plane carrying the Iranian 🇮🇷President and other ministers.
📍 Sharīf also points to the situation in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 with leadership there keen to move to develop its own nuclear enrichment program. Talks of a US-Saudi Nuclear deal is now in the open. This is all in the works and is the backdrop against which one should look at this possible assassination attempt.
📍This US – Saudi Nuclear Deal is restricted by the US, and it is all part of the normalization deal between Saudi 🇸🇦 and Israel 🇮🇱. The condition that the US is putting on the table for Saudi is: NO Saudi citizen should be ever allowed into the nuclear enrichment facilities to be established in Saudi and only US citizens can enter them so as to prevent any Saudi citizen from learning and being able to develop the program himself.
The Russian Foreign Minister is angry with Israel and claims:
“Israel carried out the assassination of the Iranian President under the auspices of the United States of America.”
No Evidence Israel + US Crashed Iran President’s Helicopter!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Unknown If Ebrahim Raisi Was Dead Or Alive At That Time
On Sunday, 19 May 2024, the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi arrived at the northern border between Iran and Azerbaijan, to inaugurate the Gir Galasi hydroelectric dam with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. After that inauguration, the Iranian delegation left in a convoy of three helicopters to Tabriz.
At approximately 1:30 PM local time, the helicopter carrying the Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader Representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, crashed shortly after some passengers made an emergency call.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) described the crash as a “hard landing”. Even at 10:30 AM (GMT+8) on Monday 20, it was unknown if anyone was injured or killed in that crash.
An Iranian official told Reuters that rescuers were still struggling to reach the crash site, and that the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”.
How is it possible for anyone to know that Israel and the United States are responsible for the helicopter crash, when rescuers had not even reached the crash site that day, never mind investigate the cause of the crash at that time???
It was only at approximately 12:30 PM (GMT+8) on 20 May – almost a whole day later, that Iranian state TV confirmed that President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several others were killed in the helicopter crash.
The viral message claimed that Israel and the US brought down the helicopter carrying the Iranian president by [remotely] disabling its navigation system.
If there was an electronic attack on the helicopter, it would have affected the other two helicopters travelling in the same convoy. Yet the other two helicopters landed safely.
In addition, the flight crew and occupants of those two helicopters did not claim or report that there was an attack on the helicopter that crashed.
Fact #3 : Iranian State Media Blamed Bad Weather For Crash
Iranian state media did not blame Israel or the United States for the helicopter crash. Instead, Iranian state media blamed bad weather for crash, and said that the helicopter made a “hard landing” after getting into difficulties while travelling through heavy fog in the mountainous area.
The rain and heavy fog also made it extremely difficult for rescue efforts, with Iranian state TV broadcasting footage of rescuers trying to reach in the rain and fog trying to reach the crash site. Iranian state media quoted a regional army commander as saying:
The area has very cold, rainy, and foggy weather conditions. The rain is gradually turning into snow.
If the Iranians are not even blaming Israel or the United States for the crash, why would anyone claim otherwise???
Fact #4 : No Reputable Analyst Claimed Israel / US Involvement
The viral message claimed that “the majority of analysts” or “all the analysts” believe that the helicopter crash was caused by Israel and the United States. That’s utter nonsense.
Currently, no reputable analyst has made such claims. In fact, the viral message did not even name a single analyst who made such a claim!
Fact #5 : Viral Photos Show Trident Pier In Gaza!
To make the fake message more convincing, it comes with two photos, purportedly of US Army equipment used to attack the helicopter carrying the President of Iran. That’s just utter nonsense.
For one thing – the photos were taken at the Trident pier the US military built to provide aid to the Gaza Strip – over a thousand kilometres away!
In addition, it only shows point defences protecting the pier, specifically a Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) system with a 20mm Gatling gun, and the M-LIDS system which targets drones and other UAVs.
These point defence systems are very short-ranged, and cannot attack helicopters flying over a thousand kilometres away!
Fact #6 : Russia Did Not Blame Israel + US For Iran Helicopter Crash
Finally, the viral message falsely claimed that Russian Foreign Minister said that “Israel carried out the assassination of the Iranian President under the auspices of the United States of America.”
That’s not true. Sergey Lavrov has not commented on the Iranian president’s helicopter crash, never mind blame Israel and the United States for it.
Only Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on the helicopter crash, stating:
We are closely following the reports about the passengers of the third helicopter, which carried top-ranking Iranian officials, including President Raisi.
We sincerely hope that they are alive and their lives are out of danger. Russia is ready to offer all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the accident.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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 (KKM) just officially refuted claims by a pensioner that IJN discharged him for cost reasons!
Claim : IJN Discharged Pensioner Due To Government Cost Cutting!
Yesterday, a personal letter posted by CodeBlue went viral. In the letter, the anonymous writer who calls himself “Pensioner failed by the government” alleged that the National Heart Institute (IJN) is discharging all civil servants and pensioners, following a Ministry of Health (KKM) directive due to government cost-cutting measures.
In response to the letter, Datuk Dr. Christopher K.C. Lee – who was the former National Advisor for Infectious Diseases in the Malaysia Ministry of Health and a member of the Selangor Public Hleaht Advisory Council (SELPHAC), stated that only stabilised patients would be asked to return to cardiologists and doctors at other MOH hospitals for their follow-up. He also pointed out that this would free IJN to attend to other people who need more urgent care.
Only pensioners/civil servants who are stabilized will be asked to return to cardiologists/physicians at MOH for followup. This allows others who really need IJN care the opportunity to do; without clogging up IJN & running up the bill there. Pls see the Big Picture!
KKM Refutes IJN Discharging Pensioner For Cost Reasons Claim!
On 26 February 2024, Malaysia Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad posted the official response from the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM), which refutes the claims in the viral anonymous letter posted by CodeBlue.
Here are some salient points:
IJN has been a government-owned private hospital since 1992, but continues to support KKM public hospitals through patient referrals.
KKM itself has 10 hospitals offering cardiology services, and 7 hospitals offering cardiothoracic services.
IJN serves as a referrer centre for patients requiring cardiology and cardiothoracic services, with the government covering treatment costs for civil servants, pensioners, and their dependents.
Patients are only discharged from IJN when their conditions are stable, with a monitoring of at least 6 months to one year for adults, and one to two years for children (as I pointed out earlier).
Stable patients are then referred back to their original MOH hospital for ongoing care.
This policy allows about 4,000 new patients to be referred to IJN annually.
While not mentioned in its official response, I should point out that this policy isn’t new. It was implemented back in October 2002 – more than 21 years ago!
On top of that, patients can always be referred back to IJN if the cardiologist / cardiothoracic surgeon in KKM hospitals are unable to treat them.
Full KKM Response To IJN Discharging Pensioner For Cost Reasons Claim!
Here is the full KKM response to the claims that IJN is discharging all civil servants and pensioners due to cost-cutting measures.
RESPONSE TO MEDIA – CLARIFYING MISCONCEPTIONS: MOH AND IN COLLABORATION FOR OPTIMAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS
26 February 2024
In response to the article published in the CodeBlue on 26 February 2024 titled “IJN discharging all civil servants, pensioners due to government cost-cutting measures – Pensioner failed by the government”, the Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to respectfully refute the misleading accusations made in the article.
It is essential to clarify some misconceptions about cardiology services in Malaysia and the collaborative relationship between MOH and IJN. Initially operated under Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL) until 1992, IJN is now a government-owned corporatized entity specializing in cardiovascular and cardiothoracic services. Over the past two decades, IJN and MOH have remained longstanding partners, with IN supporting public hospitals through patient referrals. Currently, 10 MOH hospitals offer cardiology services, and 7 provide cardiothoracic services nationwide. Together with these hospitals, IJN serves as a referral center for patients requiring cardiology and cardiothoracic services, including civil servants, pensioners, and their dependents, with the government covering treatment costs.
Contrary to the article’s implications, MOH hospitals are well-equipped and staffed with qualified physicians and surgeons, offering services comparable to IJN. The strategy of referring complicated and critical cases to IJN is aimed at optimizing resource utilization and ensuring the access of the general public to MOH hospital services. Therefore, sharing patient loads with IJN should not be mistaken as any form of incapacity on the part of MOH hospitals.
More importantly, patients are discharged from IJN only when their conditions are stable, with a monitoring period of at least 6 months to one year for adults and one to two years for children. These stable patients then return to MOH hospitals for ongoing care under cardiology and cardiothoracic departments. This strategic approach allows approximately 4,000 new patients to be referred to IJN annually, maximizing cost-effectiveness.
It is also worth highlighting that the costs associated with patient referrals to IJN are covered by the federal funding provided by the Ministry of Finance. While the expenses for these referrals are increasing annually, prudent cost control measures are essential to treat as many patients as possible with existing resources, ensuring fairness to taxpayers.
Hence, we hope the public servants objectively view and support the government’s decision. By implementing this policy, we aim to strike a right balance between caring for public servants and providing necessary medical services to the wider population, adhering to the best international
standards for cardiology and cardiothoracic services. We also remain committed to strengthening MOH hospital services, fostering public confidence in the quality of medical care provided.
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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.
Did Germany just decriminalise child pornography?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Germany Just Decriminalised Child Pornography!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that Germany just decriminalised child pornography!
Here is an excerpt from the long, and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Germany Decriminalizes Child Pornography Offenses – Media Blackout
Possession and distribution of child pornography is no longer a crime in Germany, after the Federal cabinet voted to change the criminal law provisions regarding child sexual abuse material.
Pedophiles found in possession of child pornography will now be charged with misdemeanors, rather than crimes, as the normalization of pedophilia continues to pick up speed in the Western world.
“The classification as a misdemeanor – rather than as a crime – is also urgently necessary in order to be able to respond appropriately to the large proportion of young perpetrators and with the necessary flexibility, the draft law states. Because these usually acted “from a drive typical of the youthful state of development such as innality, curiosity, adventure lust or striving.”
“Among other things, the draft law will reduce the penalty for the distribution of such material from one year to six months and for procurement and possession from one year to three months.”
Germany is far from the only country moving to radically relax its laws in regards to child sex offences.
Governments across the world, operating under the control of the World Economic Forum, are waging war on our children. Klaus Schwab’s Young Global Leaders are systematically attempting to normalize pedophilia and decriminalize sex with children across the world.
In July 2021, Germany actually increased the punishment for distributing child pornography, with a prison sentence of between 1 and 10 years. Previously, those convicted of the crime would face imprisonment of between three months and 5 years.
However, the German government soon realised that the minimum sentence of one year was problematic in practice. It meant that even parents and teachers who forward these child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the police would face at least one year of prison!
The minimum 1 year sentence also meant the automatic classification as a crime, which means prosecutors and the courts cannot simply stop proceedings, as they would with misdemeanours. They would have to prosecute even people reporting child pornography to the fullest extent of the law!
That led investigators, courts, and even state justice ministers to push for a reduction in the sentencing guidelines.
As such, the German Federal Cabinet voted on Wednesday, 7 February 2024, to reduce the minimum sentence, from one year to six months. This would give prosecutors and the courts greater flexibility to address each claim proportionally.
As German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann explained, the new upper limit of 10 years would stay in place, but there will be a new minimum sentence:
In particular, people who receive such material involuntarily — for example in the context of a WhatsApp parents’ group — risk a minimum sentence of one year. The same also applies in the case of teachers who have discovered child pornographic material on students’ cellphones and have forwarded it to alert the affected parents.
This completely refutes claims by The People’s Voice article that the distribution of child pornography is no longer a crime in Germany.
Even after this new law is passed with its reduced minimum sentence, it will still have longer prison time than the original 3 months to 5 year sentencing guidelines.
Fact #3 : German Parliament Has Not Approved The Law
The German Federal Cabinet’s decision to amend the law does not immediately change it, as the The People’s Voice article appears to suggest.
Even though the German government urgently wants to implement the amended law, it has not been approved by the Bundestag – the German parliament. Until the new law is approved, the existing law continues to be in effect.
Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Source Clearly Explained Reasons
The People’s Voice article printed quotes from the German news service, Tagesshau, as “evidence”.
However, the Tagesshau article (machine translation) clearly states that the punishment was only partially reversed, which completely refutes The People’s Voice‘s claim that Germany has decriminalised child pornography.
Cabinet partially reverses increased punishment
The penalties for possession and distribution of child pornography are to be partially weakened. One reason: Until now, parents who forwarded images to highlight grievances also had to be punished.
After criticism from practice, the Federal Cabinet has decided to change some points in the criminal law provisions that came into force in July 2021 on the distribution of depictions of sexual abuse against children. Among other things, according to the draft law, the minimum penalty for disseminating such material will be reduced from one year to six months and for obtaining and possessing it from one year to three months.
Anyone reading even the title can clearly understand that child pornography has not been decriminalised in Germany. Why on Earth would anyone claim otherwise???
Fact #5 : There Is No Media Blackout
The People’s Voice article suggested in its title that there is a media blackout. That’s easily refuted. For one thing – its own article quotes the German news service, Tagesshau!
And anyone who bothers to look it up online, can easily find articles on the proposed amendment of the law. Heck, it was even reported by the Associated Press!
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Did the WEF order governments in Europe to ban Russians from owning foreign property?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WEF Ordered Russian Ban On Owning Foreign Property!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that the WEF order governments in Europe to ban Russians from owning foreign property!
Here is an excerpt from the article, which is long and (intentionally?) rambling. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
WEF Orders Govt’s To Ban ALL Russians From Owning Property
The World Economic Forum has ordered government’s in Europe to completely ban all Russians from purchasing or owning properties outside of Russia.
The WEF-controlled nation of Finland has become the first EU nation to implement the WEF’s new policy by completely banning Russian citizens from owning real estate in the country.
According to Young Global Leader and Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, the Finnish government has formed a cross-administrative working group tasked with assessing the possibility of a complete ban on real estate acquisition by Russians and preparing the final legislation.
Hakkanen said earlier that he expected the changes to cover not only the sales of property but also rentals. The working group is expected to devise the legislation by March 31, 2024. Moscow has not yet commented on this development.
Finnish authorities have blocked four property sales to Russians on security grounds so far. Three occurred in October 2023, and one more involving a “partially Russian-owned company” earlier in January. According to media reports, Helsinki has also been considering confiscating real estate already owned by Russians.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called these plans “another confirmation of the Russophobic nature of the policy of the current Finnish authorities, who disregard the rule of law.” She warned that such actions will not go unanswered.
WEF Did Not Order Russian Ban On Owning Foreign Property!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : WEF Did Not Order Russian Ban On Owning Foreign Property
Let me start by pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) did not order any foreign government to ban all Russians from purchasing or owning foreign property outside of Russia.
There is also no such WEF policy, new or old, of “completely banning Russian citizens from owning real estate” in countries outside of Russia. The People’s Voice article certainly offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.
The World Economic Forum is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and has no power over governments. It can lobby governments, but it cannot decide on their policies, or order them to do anything.
Fact #2 : Finland Is Still Working On Russian Property Ban
The People’s Voice article claimed that Finland is the first EU nation to implement the WEF policy of banning Russian citizens from owning foreign real estate. That’s simply not true.
In fact, it undermined its own claim by quoting Finland Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen, who said that the Finnish government was “assessing the possibility of a complete ban on real estate acquisition by Russians“, and that the working group is expected to “devise the legislation by March 31, 2024“.
To be clear – Finland has not implemented any such ban on ownership or purchase of property by Russian citizens.
Even when the legislation is finalised, it has to be voted on by the Parliament of Finland, and can only be implemented if it passes with a majority vote.
Fact #3 : Finland Property Restrictions Started In 2020
Finland’s decision to restrict Russian ownership and/or rental of real estate did not begin with the recent World Economic Forum‘s 2024 annual meeting.
Finland actually started restricting foreign property ownership in 2020, for non-EU citizens. Since then, any non-EU citizen who wishes to purchase real estate in Finland must obtain a special licence from the Ministry of Defence.
But after Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Finland further tightened control of its real estate, with legislative amendments that give authorities broader powers to cancel real estate transactions that are necessary to protect national security.
Finland used existing legislation to block three real estate deals with Russian buyers on 10 January 2024.
Fact #3 : Finland Property Restrictions Extend Beyond Russians
What The People’s Voice article does not tell you is that Finland requires permits for the sale of real estate to “persons and companies outside the EU and the EEA (European Economic Area).
In other words – Finland isn’t just targeting Russian citizens. Its restrictions on real estate transactions extend to other foreigners and foreign corporations as well, since 2020.
On 4 November 2022, the Finland Ministry of Defence announced the creation of a special group to explore additional restrictions on real estate transactions for citizens of countries outside the EEA, including their complete ban.
Fact #5 : Russian Property To Be Confiscated For Non-Payment
The People’s Voice article also does not tell you that Finland has proposed making it easier to confiscate property owned by Russian citizens, because many have not been paying their fees and taxes.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union imposed banking and payment sanctions that have made it difficult for Russian citizens to make payments on their real estate in Finland. In particular, unpaid maintenance fees and other expenses have led to problems in Finnish condominiums.
We cannot remain in this kind of everlasting stalemate in these cases just because we cannot get a certain notification delivered through official channels.
– Finnish Justice Minister Leena Meri
Currently, Russian property owners in Finland cannot be legally ousted for unpaid bills unless an official notification threatening confiscation can be physically delivered to them. The amended rules would allow electronic notifications to suffice.
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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 students can wear sports attire for the 2024-2025 school term!
Students Can Wear Sports Attire For 2024/2025 School Term!
On Friday, 19 January 2024, the Malaysia Minster of Education announced that students will be allowed to wear sports attire for most of the week for the 2024-2025 school term.
From March 2024 onwards, students will longer be required to wear their school uniform for two days per week. They can then wear sportswear for two days, and co-curriculum attire for one day.
School uniform : two days per week
Sportswear : two days per week
Co-curriculum attire : one day per week
This decision was made after consulting stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and the community. The Education Ministry had earlier announced that students and teachers could wear sports attire due to the hot weather.
The school attire from the 2024/2025 academic year will be … two days of school uniform, two days of sportswear, and one day of co-curriculum attire.
She also said that further details will be provided later, in the announcement letter that will be sent to schools.
For reference, the 2024-2025 school term in Malaysia begins in March 2024 and ends in January 2025:
Group A
Group A states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Group A : 2024 – 2025 school year will last from 10 March 2024 until 15 February 2025
Group A
School Starts
School Ends
Days
Term 1
10 March 2024
23 May 2024
48
Term 1 Holiday
24 May 2024
2 June 2024
10
Term 2
3 June 2024
12 September 2024
71
Term 2 Holiday
13 September 2024
21 September 2024
9
Term 3 Part 1
22 September 2024
19 December 2024
63
Term 3 Holiday
20 December 2024
28 December 2024
9
Term 3 Part 2
29 December 2024
16 January 2025
15
Year End Holiday
17 January 2025
15 February 2025
30
Group B
Group B states are Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Group B : 2023 / 2024 academic year will last from 11 March 2024 until 16 February 2025
Group B
School Starts
School Ends
Days
Term 1
11 March 2024
24 May 2024
48
Term 1 Holiday
25 May 2024
2 June 2024
9
Term 2
3 June 2024
13 September 2024
72
Term 2 Holiday
14 September 2024
22 September 2024
9
Term 3 Part 1
23 September 2024
20 December 2024
62
Term 3 Holiday
21 December 2024
29 December 2024
9
Term 3 Part 2
30 December 2024
17 January 2025
14
Year End Holiday
18 January 2025
16 February 2025
30
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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.
Motorists in Malaysia can soon digitally renew their driving licence and road tax through the MyJPJ app… with a discount too!
Motorists Can Renew Licence + Road Tax Via MyJPJ App!
On Tuesday, 2 January 2024, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective 1 February 2024, motorists will be able to digitally renew their driving licence and motor vehicle licence (Lesen Kenderaan Motor, or LKM for short), which is colloquially known as the “road tax”.
The digital renewal of driving licence and road tax through the MyJPJ app will be carried out in stages. Initially, this feature will only be available to privately-owned vehicles belonging to Malaysian citizens.
These new features will make it easier for motorists in Malaysia to renew their driving licence and road tax digitally, saving time and costs, as well as reduce traffic and congestion at JPJ counters.
RM5 Discount If You Renew Digital Driving Licence!
On top of that, Anthony Loke also announced that for the year 2024, motorists who opt for the digital driving licence will receive a RM5 discount!
This RM5 discount or rebate applies to those who renew their digital driving licence, from 1 February until 31 December 2024, through:
the JPJ counter,
the mySIKAP portal,
the MyJPJ app, or
JPJ partners like Pos Malaysia or MyEG
However, this initiative to promote the use of digital driving licence is limited to Malaysian citizens. Foreigners, or pass holders, long-term permit holders, or people with MyKAS or MyPR cards will not receive this RM5 discount / rebate.
This initiative is only for Malaysians, and is not extended to to foreign nationals on any pass, long-term permit, MyKAS Card, MyPR Card holders.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
As nice as this discount is, I should point out that motorists who plan to drive overseas should still request for a physical driving licence. Otherwise, you may face issues with foreign law enforcement officials!
Physical Licence + Road Tax Still Available For Those Who Renew In 2024
Anthony Lok also announced that the physical driving licence and road tax will still be available for motorists who renew them in 2024.
However, JPJ will no longer provide them in their previous plastic forms. Instead, they will be printed on security paper, for those who prefer a physical copy.
As announced earlier, motorists are no longer required to display the road tax sticker on their vehicles. This applies to the new paper road tax.
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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.
Is Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza facing murder charges for millions of COVID-19 vaccine deaths?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Roberto Speranza Facing Murder Charges For Vaccine Deaths!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), claiming / suggesting that Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza is facing multiple murder charges over millions of deaths caused by mRNA vaccines!
First World Leader Faces Murder Charges Over Vaccine Deaths
Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza has become the first world leader to face multiple murder charges over the millions of deaths caused by mRNA vaccines.
“Former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza is under investigation for homicide after emails reveal that from the very start of the vaccinations, he knew the shots were killing people and gave orders to local health authorities to conceal deaths and serious side effects in order to reassure Italian citizens of their safety and to not jeopardize the vaccination campaign,” InfoWars host Greg Reese declared on X.
This bombshell development was reported on by both German and Italian news networks, but completely ignored by the mainstream press in the U.S.
Vigilantnews.com reports:
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s office is investigating Roberto Speranza, the Italian government’s Health Minister, during the time of COVID measures. He was responsible for the vaccination campaign. The investigations are the result of complaints related to the so-called AIFA emails from the Italian Medicines Agency. The former director of AIFA, Nicola Magrini, is also under investigation.
The publication of these internal emails revealed that they had been aware of the dangers of the COVID vaccination from the start. The accusation is that the responsible minister and the head of the drug authority knowingly and deliberately exposed the unsuspecting Italian population to this risk.
Yes, they encouraged Italians to get vaccinated. Vaccination was even made mandatory for certain professional groups. Consequently, many side effects, including fatal ones, came to light. The investigations are for murder, serious bodily harm, and more because Speranza and Magrini evidently gave instructions to the local health authorities to conceal the deaths and serious side effects that occurred immediately after the vaccinations began in order not to jeopardize the vaccination campaign — and to reassure the citizens about their safety.
The responsible minister and the head of AIFA are now expected to answer for these actions. According to the complaints from the police unions and the financial police, as well as from the private organization, “Listen to Me,” which represents 4,200 people damaged by vaccines in Italy, police officers and teachers were subjected to mandatory COVID vaccination.
Truth : Roberto Speranza Is Not Facing Charges For Vaccine Deaths!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Roberto Speranza Is Former Italian Health Minister
First, I should just point out that Roberto Speranza is the former Italian Health Minister, who served from 5 September 2019 to 22 October 2022.
The current Italian Health Minister is Orazio Schillaci, who has been serving in that capacity from 22 October 2022.
Fact #2 : No Evidence Roberto Speranza Facing Murder Charges
The article by The People’s Voice offered no actual evidence that former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza was facing murder chargers for the “millions of deaths caused by mRNA vaccines“.
Their title and lede appears to be a gross exaggeration of what’s being reported as an “COVID-19 investigation” involving Roberto Speranza and Nicola Magrini (Director-General of AIFA, the Italian Medicines Agency) by the Rome prosecutor’s office.
Those claims appear to be based on a photo of a document which allegedly shows Roberto Speranza and Nicola Magrini being added to the registry of suspects at the Rome prosecutor’s office.
Neither the photo, nor the purported document, have been verified to be genuine. But even if the document was genuine, it doesn’t mean that the Rome prosecutor’s office has decided to prosecute Speranza or Magrini, or that an official investigation had actually started.
Fact #4 : Rome Prosecutor Appears To Decline Investigation
According to La Repubblica (archive), the “prosecutor’s office therefore decided not to proceed with the investigation.”
If that La Repubblica news report is correct, that means the Rome prosecutor’s office had already decided not to investigate Roberto Speranza and Nicola Magrini in November 2023, if not earlier.
If that is the case, why would anyone still claim that Roberto Speranza was facing murder charges for the millions of deaths from the mRNA vaccines?
Fact #5 : Complaints Were Forwarded With Dismissal Request
On November 23, 2023, Rai News (archive) – website of Italy’s national public broadcaster, published a story which quoted Roberto Speranza’s attorney Danilo Leva as saying that those complaints about the COVID-19 vaccines had been “forwarded to the competent Court of Ministers with a simultaneous request for dismissal“.
With regard to the press reports relating to the registration of the former minister Roberto Speranza in the register of suspects at the Rome prosecutor’s office – we read in the note – following some complaints regarding vaccines, it is specified that the documents were forwarded tocompetent court of ministers with simultaneous request for dismissal.
In other words, it appears that the Rome prosecutor’s office received some complaints about the COVID-19 vaccines, declined to investigate, and summarily forwarded them to the Court of Ministers with a request to dismiss them.
The Court of Ministers will have to make a formal decision on whether to dismiss the complaints, typically within 90 days. But from what we have seen so far – there does not appear to be any murder investigation involving the former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza, or AIFA Director General Nicola Magrini.
Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing Fake News
The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.
Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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.
Is Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza under investigation for murder for concealing COVID-19 vaccine deaths?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Italian Health Minister Under Investigation For Vaccine Murder!
People are sharing an article (archive) by Vigilant News Network, claiming / suggesting that Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza is under investigation for murder for concealing COVID-19 vaccine deaths!
Italian Health Minister Under Investigation for Murder for Concealing COVID-19 Vaccine Deaths
“He knew the shots were killing people and gave orders to local health authorities to conceal deaths and serious side effects.”
“Former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza is under investigation for homicide after emails reveal that from the very start of the vaccinations, he knew the shots were killing people and gave orders to local health authorities to conceal deaths and serious side effects in order to reassure Italian citizens of their safety and to not jeopardize the vaccination campaign,” reported InfoWars contributor Greg Reese in viral X post shared by Alex Jones.
These staggering accusations were been reported on by both a German and Italian news network.
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s office is investigating Roberto Speranza, the Italian government’s Health Minister, during the time of COVID measures. He was responsible for the vaccination campaign. The investigations are the result of complaints related to the so-called AIFA emails from the Italian Medicines Agency. The former director of AIFA, Nicola Magrini, is also under investigation.
The publication of these internal emails revealed that they had been aware of the dangers of the COVID vaccination from the start. The accusation is that the responsible minister and the head of the drug authority knowingly and deliberately exposed the unsuspecting Italian population to this risk.
No Evidence Italian Health Minister Under Investigation For Vaccine Murder!
Let’s take a closer look at the claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Fact #1 : Roberto Speranza Is Former Italian Health Minister
First, I should just point out that Roberto Speranza is the former Italian Health Minister, who served from 5 September 2019 to 22 October 2022.
The current Italian Health Minister is Orazio Schillaci, who has been serving in that capacity from 22 October 2022.
Fact #2 : Murder Investigation Claims Started In November
I should also point out that the viral claims of a Roberto Speranza murder investigation over COVID-19 vaccines originated in November 2023.
The Italian TV show ‘Fuori dal Coro‘ covered it, and so did the conservative Italian newspaper, La Verità. It was only some three weeks later that the story was picked up by English websites and social media users, including Infowars.
Fact #3 : No Evidence Of Roberto Speranza Murder Investigation
The Vigilant News Network article offered no actual evidence that former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza is being investigated for murder for concealing COVID-19 deaths. It appears to be referring to what was “reported” by Greg Reese, an Infowars contributor.
In any case, these claims appear to originate from a photo of a document which allegedly shows Roberto Speranza and Nicola Magrini (Director-General of AIFA, the Italian Medicines Agency) being added to the registry of suspects at the Rome prosecutor’s office.
Neither the photo, nor the purported document, have been verified to be genuine. But even if the document was genuine, it doesn’t mean that the Rome prosecutor’s office has decided to prosecute Speranza or Magrini, or that an official investigation had actually started.
Fact #4 : Rome Prosecutor Appears To Decline Investigation
According to La Repubblica (archive) – a moderate Italian daily outlet, the “prosecutor’s office therefore decided not to proceed with the investigation.”
If that La Repubblica news report is correct, that means the Rome prosecutor’s office had already decided not to investigate Roberto Speranza and Nicola Magrini in November 2023, if not earlier.
If that is the case, why would anyone still claim that Roberto Speranza is being investigated for murder over the COVID-19 vaccines?
Fact #5 : Complaints Were Forwarded With Dismissal Request
On November 23, 2023, Rai News (archive) – website of Italy’s national public broadcaster, published a story which quoted Roberto Speranza’s attorney Danilo Leva as saying that those complaints about the COVID-19 vaccines had been “forwarded to the competent Court of Ministers with a simultaneous request for dismissal“.
With regard to the press reports relating to the registration of the former minister Roberto Speranza in the register of suspects at the Rome prosecutor’s office – we read in the note – following some complaints regarding vaccines, it is specified that the documents were forwarded tocompetent court of ministers with simultaneous request for dismissal.
In other words, it appears that the Rome prosecutor’s office received some complaints about the COVID-19 vaccines, declined to investigate, and summarily forwarded them to the Court of Ministers with a request to dismiss them.
The Court of Ministers will have to make a formal decision on whether to dismiss the complaints, typically within 90 days. But from what we have seen so far – there does not appear to be any murder investigation involving the former Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza, or AIFA Director General Nicola Magrini.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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.
Did Singapore make a sudden U-turn and recommend against getting the second COVID-19 booster dose?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-12-19 : Refreshed after it went viral again.
Originally posted @ 2022-07-26
Claim : Singapore Recommends Against Second Booster Dose!
People are sharing a link to a Channel News Asia article, claiming that the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) are advising people aged 60 to 79 against getting the second booster dose.
They are also claiming that the Singapore government made this sudden U-turn due to adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccines.
Singapore MOH: Second COVID-19 booster NOT RECOMMENDED for people aged 60 to 79.
Truth : Singapore Recommends Second Booster For Vulnerable Adults
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by anti-vaccination activists to scare people from protecting themselves against COVID-19, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : It Was An Old Article
First, let me establish some facts about the Channel News Asia article. It’s a genuine news report, in which, Singapore’s Director of Medical Services said that :
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 (EC19V) does not recommend that people aged 60 to 79 years take a second booster shot, but they can take the jab if they wish to.
However, that news is not recent – it was published on 22 April 2022 – more than 3 months before it went viral in July 2022, and more than 1.5 years when it went viral again in December 2023. I will explain below why this is critical.
Fact #2 : There Was No U-Turn
Anti-vaccination activists falsely claimed that this was a U-turn, to mislead you into believing that they did so because of adverse effects from the booster dose.
The truth is – there was no U-turn. The April recommendations actually expanded who can receive the second booster dose.
In March 2022, the Singapore Expert Committee on COVID-19 (EC19V) recommended that only people age 80 years and above should get the second booster dose.
The April 2022 announcement actually expands coverage to senior citizens 60 to 79 years in age, although they do not recommend that they get the second booster dose yet.
Fact #3 : First Booster Dose Still Provided Good Protection
Anti-vaccination activists are also misleading you on WHY the Singapore MOH said that the second booster dose was not recommended for people aged 60-79.
The CNA article itself already stated the reasons clearly, but the trouble is – most people don’t even bother to read beyond the headlines.
So here is the truth – the Singapore MOH recommended against the second booster dose for that age group because the effectiveness of the first booster dose for that age group remained high – 80% to 90% at the 120- to 180-day mark.
This affirms the importance then of having up-to-date vaccinations to reduce the risk of getting severe infections and dying from COVID-1.
Fact #4 : It Was A Strategy To Defend Against Next COVID-19 Wave
Singapore had COVID-19 under control in April 2022, and the additional protection from the second booster dose wanes after about 2 months.
So they wanted to delay vaccinating the younger population (under 80 years old) until they face a new wave of more virulent Variants of Concern (VOC).
That was when the second booster dose would be most effective – boosting protection at a time of high viral transmission.
If we need to provide the second booster dose for the younger population, this is more appropriate as a strategy to augment immune protection in a time when we are experiencing a new wave of a highly transmissible or highly virulent novel VOC (variant of concern) rather than at a time where the situation is improving.
Fact #5 : Singapore Expanded Second Booster To 50+
On 10 June 2022, the EC19V updated their recommendations, offering the second booster dose in Singapore to:
all persons aged 50 years and older
persons aged 18 years and above who are medically vulnerable too severe COVID-19
This decision came after Singapore got hit with a new wave fuelled by the highly-contagious Omicron variants that started in May and continues to surge even now, at the end of July 2022.
Fact #6 : Second Booster Dose Same As Primary Vaccine
Singapore offers three booster doses – Moderna Spikevax, Pfizer COMIRNATY and Novavax Nuvaxovid.
The Pfizer and Novavax booster doses have the same dosage as the primary doses, but the Moderna vaccine is offered at half the primary dose.
The first and second booster doses are really the same vaccine as the primary series vaccine, so there is no reason for new adverse effects to develop.
If you experienced no adverse effects with the first two primary doses, there is simply no reason why you should develop new adverse effects with either the first or the second booster doses, if they are of the same vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.
In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.
Anti-vaccination activists have often claimed that those who received the vaccine would die. Yet, the opposite was true – the vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in protecting people from getting hospitalised or dying from COVID-19.
Even Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
And please protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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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.
Find out why your eMADANI application may be rejected, and how to appeal!
6.5 Million Malaysians Received Free RM100 eMADANI Credit!
On 27 July 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government will give a special, one-off RM100 eWallet credit under the eMADANI programme.
The eMADANI programme kicked off on 4 December 2023, giving 10 million Malaysian citizens the opportunity to receive the RM100 eWallet credit.
As of Wednesday, 6 December 2023, some 6.5 million people have had their eMADANI applications approved. According to the Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, another 1.8 million eMADANI applications are being processed.
However, many reported they failed to get the free RM100 eWallet credit. Find out why your eMADANI application may be rejected, and how to appeal!
Those who do not meet those qualifications won’t be able to receive the free RM100 eWallet credit.
You Received eBeliaRahmah
Those who received the eBeliaRahmah assistance earlier are automatically disqualified for the eMADANI programme, because they have already received eWallet cash to promote the use of cashless payments amongst the youth.
You Did Not Submit Your Tax Return
Unfortunately, the eMADANI programme is using your LHDN tax return for the 2022 assessment year to determine your income level, if you are not receiving the Rahmah Cash Assistance.
People who did not file a 2022 tax return will, unfortunately, not qualify for the free RM100 eWallet credit, even if they earned too little to require filing taxes with LHDN.
After applying for eMADANI, your application will be approved and rejected within 1-5 days. Unfortunately, if your application is rejected, the notification will not tell you WHY it was rejected.
The good news is – there is a dispute process. Sort of.
Contact The eWallet Service Provider
The first thing you can try is to reach out to the eWallet service provider you registered with, to find out why your application was rejected.
It is possible that you may need to submit additional information, or documents, like a copy of your identification card for verification.
If you are using the Shopee app, you can raise a dispute with their customer service.
Select eMadani Claimants as your user type.
Select “eMadani Unable to claim“
Fill in your personal details.
Upload any necessary photos or screenshots.
Contact The Ministry Of Finance
If you cannot resolve the problem through the eWallet service providers, you can try contacting the Ministry of Finance through these dedicated channels of eMADANI:
Email : emadani@treasury.gov.my
Telephone : 03-8882-4565
Toll-free : 1 800 88 2747
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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.
Colombian Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo just walked back his “anti-vaccine” comments!
Take a look at what he said, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Colombian Health Minister Slams COVID Vaccines!
People are sharing a video, which shows the Colombian Health Minister, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, calling the COVID-19 vaccines “experimental”
aussie17 : 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨💥💥Wow!! Health Minister of Colombia, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo slams experimental vaccine in an astonishing outburst!
———————————— We are playing with the lives of Colombians, we cannot be a factor of experimentation. All of us who are vaccinated today, today, with the exception of those who took Sinovac,
I have three from Sinovac, all the new technology is a technology and all the vaccines entered here without permission, we went and became an experiment.
All Colombians who are vaccinated served for the largest experiment that has been carried out in the entire history of humanity.
We cannot continue experimenting with the Colombian community, much less with the indigenous people, with the blacks and with the poorest of this country, with the peasants.
Health Minister of Colombia, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo strongly criticizes the experimental covid-19 vaccine, stating that risking the lives of Colombians by being a part of an experiment is totally unacceptable…..
Michaelia 8:32 : Experimental Vaccine Under Fire: Colombia’s Health Minister Denounces Experimental Vaccine in Astonishing Outburst!
“Every vaccinated Colombian has contributed to the largest experiment ever conducted in human history”
Colombian Health Minister Walks Back Antivax Comments!
What you may not realise is that the Colombian Health Minister quickly walked back his “anti-vaccine” comments. Here is what you need to know…
Fact #1 : Viral Video Appears Legitimate
The video appears to be legitimate, and recorded during a political control debate in the First Commission of the Colombian Senate on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.
In that video, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo – the Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia – claimed that Colombians were vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of the “largest experiment in history”, referring to the approval and use of mRNA vaccines before their full approval by regulatory agencies like the FDA and EMA.
Fact #2 : Guillermo Jaramillo Walked Back His Antivax Comments
After the Minister’s video went viral, organisations like the Association of Epidemiology of Colombia expressed their disagreement with his claims. They pointed out that his comments contradict scientific evidence, and will jeopardise trust in COVID-19 vaccines.
Guillermo Jaramillo then officially responded to the criticism, clarifying that he was only referring to the “experimental phase” that mRNA vaccines went through. He also affirmed his “consistent support for vaccination“, and emphasised the importance of “timely vaccination” and the “completion of vaccination schemes“.
Colombian President Gustavo Pedro also defended the Health Minister, labelling accusations that Jaramillo is “anti-vaccine” as “slander”.
Fact #3 : mRNA Vaccines Are No Longer Experimental
mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna underwent and passed large clinical trials, and received their Emergency Use Authorisations (EUA) in December 2020.
Regardless of what people claim – the mRNA vaccines were no longer experimental, once they received their EUA.
There are some differences between an EUA and a full FDA approval, but the EUA means the vaccines have officially been approved for use by the health regulator.
While Guillermo Jaramillo suggested that the Sinovac vaccine is not “new technology”, it is still a new vaccine that underwent the same clinical trials as the mRNA vaccines. I should point out that the Sinovac vaccine never received EUA or full authorisation from Western health regulators like the US FDA or EMA.
Fact #4 : mRNA Vaccines Received Their Full FDA Approval
In any case, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna received their full FDA approval on 23 August 2021, and 31 January 2022 respectively.
So there is really no reason for anyone to claim that these mRNA vaccines are still experimental. Even if you “believe” that the mRNA vaccines were “experimental” until they received full regulatory approval, we crossed that bridge a long time ago.
To be clear – the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have long ceased to be experimental.
Fact #5 : mRNA Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective
No vaccine or drug is perfectly safe, or perfectly effective. But the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have proven to be safe and effective for the vast majority of people.
Not only did they pass their large clinical trials with flying colours, post-marketing monitoring showed that they remained safe and effective for the vast majority of people after tens of billions of doses have been administered worldwide.
Yes, post-marketing monitoring have shown that the mRNA vaccines can cause rare side effects like myocarditis. But what anti-vaccine activists don’t tell you is that – the risk of developing myocarditis is much higher with COVID-19 infections!
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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 is offering IT infrastructure with a new level of security and reliability to fuel Malaysia’s AI digital transformation!
AI Digital Transformation In Malaysia Needs Better IT Infra!
Malaysia is at a pivotal point in its digital journey, with businesses future-proofing their organisations by leveraging AI and automation.
The digital economy is now a cornerstone of Malaysia’s economy, contributing 23.2% of the nation’s gross domestic product in 2021. The Malaysia Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil, anticipates that this will increase to 25.5% by 2025, with a value of RM382 billion. The National Tech Association of Malaysia is even more optimistic, and believes that the digital economy will hit that economic contribution much earlier.
The increased urgency in adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI is driving demand for better IT infrastructure. Better not just in terms of performance and availability, but also security and reliability.
An IDC report forecasted that AI spending in the Asia Pacific region alone will skyrocket to US$78 billion by 2027. And these AI investments are predominantly being funnelled into infrastructure provisioning. That’s because ultimately, digital transformation in any nation is reliant on its IT infrastructure.
IBM To Fuel AI Digital Transformation In Malaysia!
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI infrastructure. Organisations must provision the right infrastructure for the AI task at hand.
They have to not only look at the size and scale of the AI models and tasks, they also have to consider security and privacy issues, as well as regulatory compliance. A resilient infrastructure by design is also critical, with AI workloads becoming essential backbones to mission critical applications and workloads.
To that end, IBM Power Systems offer a secure and reliable platform for enterprises to perform inference, and run AI algorithms on their most sensitive data and transactions.
IBM Power Systems run on the Power10 core, which is designed for AI acceleration. Each Power10 core on the IBM Power S1022 can process up to 42% more batch queries per second than a comparable x86 server with a peak load of 40 concurrent users, while running large language AI models.
IBM Power10 systems also offers enterprise out-0f-the-box low-latency transactional capabilities and throughput, resiliency, continuous availability (99.999%) and concurrent replace and repair.
The IBM Power10 is also designed for greater efficiency. The Power E1080, for example, offers 3X the capacity with 52% lower power consumption for the same workload, compared to the Power E880C. It also offers 33% lower power consumption than the Power E980 for the same workload.
IBM claims that, in general, Power10 systems offer 6X more throughput per container cluster, and 40% to 50% lower cost than comparable x86 solutions.
On top of that, the IBM Power Systems are built to be secure by design, with a fully-integrated secured stack from processor chip to operating system, offering quantum-safe encryption and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE).
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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.
Did Transport Minister Anthony Loke just announce a 50% discount for senior citizens renewing their driving license?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Senior Citizens Get 50% Discount On Driving License!
People are sharing a WhatsApp message which claims that Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony just announced a 50% discount for senior citizens who renew their driving license.
Anthony Loke announced ½ price for Driving license for seniors. Pay for 5 years, get 10 years.
Only if license expiring less than 12 months. Moreover, seniors no need to queue
Truth : Senior Citizens Do Not Get 50% Discount On Driving License!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Recent Announcement On Driving License
When I first received this viral message, I checked online to see if Transport Minister Anthony Loke, or the Road Transport Department (JPJ), announced anything new on driving licenses in Malaysia, or its renewal.
However, there has been no recent announcement on the Malaysian driving license, or its renewal. The viral message also did not provide any evidence to back up its claim.
As far as I can tell – there is no such thing as a 50% discount for senior citizens renewing their driving licenses, or a renew for 5 years and get 10 years promotion on driving license renewal for senior citizens.
Fact #2 : JPJ Charging Same Prices For Senior Citizens
A check of the JPJ page on driving license fees in Malaysia showed that their prices applied across the board, with no special discount for senior citizens :
LICENSE TYPE
CHARGES (RM)
DURATION
LEARNER DRIVING LICENSE (LDL)
A Class
2.00
3/6 months
B2 Class (sole)
2.00/4.00
3/6 months
B/C Class
20.00/40.00
3/6 months
D Class and others
30.00/60.00
3/6 months
PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENSE (PDL)
A/A1 Class
2.00
2 years
B2 (sole) Class
2.00
2 years
B/C Class
40.00
2 years
D/E/F/G/H/I Class
60.00
2 years
LESEN MEMANDU KOMPETEN (CDL)
A/A1 Class
2.00
1 year
B2 (sole) /B/C Class
20.00
1 year
D/E/F/G/H/I Class
30.00
1 year
VOCATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE
Goods Driving License (GDL) / Public Vehicle License (PSV) or CON
Fact #3 : 10% Discount Applies To 10 Year Renewal For All
On 3 May 2023, the Transport Minister announced an extension of the license validity period. Starting from 8 May 2023 onwards, all drivers in Malaysia will be allowed to renew their driving licences for a maximum period of 10 years.
On top of that, those who renew their driving licenses for 10 years would receive a 10% discount!
They will be charged the same fee of RM30 per year, but if they renew for 10 years at one go, the fee is RM270. This means they will only be paying for nine years.
On 8 May 2023, Anthony Loke confirmed the 10% discount for people renewing for the full 10 years.
You’ll only pay RM270 instead of RM300. That’s a new policy we’re introducing to make it easier for people.
At that time, he also said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will still take action, including revoking or suspending the driving licence, against people who commit traffic offences.
Fact #4 : One Year Limit For Expired Driving License
The viral message is correct about one thing though – there is a one year limit for people with expired licenses.
As Anthony Loke pointed out in May 2023, those who want to renew their driving license in Malaysia, must ensure that it has not expired for more than a year:
Those who want to renew must ensure that their licence has not expired for more than a year.
But here’s some good news – there is an amnesty for motorists whose driving licenses have expired for more than a year – you have until 31 December 2023 to renew your expired driving licenses without penalty.
This initiative only applies to Malaysian citizens, and not to foreigners holding special passes like the MyKAS card. In addition, only those who have not been blacklisted by the police, or have any existing restrictions imposed by JPJ, and are free from any suspension due to a conviction or court order may renew their expired driving license.
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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 free highway tolls for two days for Deepavali 2023! Here is what you need to know!
Malaysia : Free Highway Tolls For Deepavali 2023!
On Friday, 10 November 2023, Malaysia Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced free highway tolls for two days:
Saturday, 11 November 2023
Sunday, 12 November 2023
The toll-free travel will apply to all types of vehicles travelling on all highways in Malaysia, except the toll plazas at the national borders in Johor:
the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Toll Plaza
the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza
The toll-free period will begin at 12:01 AM on Saturday, 11 November 2023, and end at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 12 November, 2023.
About 11.8 million vehicles are expected to use the highways in Malaysia during this two-day toll-free period.
The Works Ministry, through a meeting together with concession companies, has agreed on the implementation of this free toll which starts on Nov 11 (Saturday) at 12.01 am until Nov 12 (Sunday) at 11.59 pm.
This initiative is to celebrate all Malaysians, especially the Indian Hindu community who celebrate Deepavali. This is also in line with the desire of the unity government to help ease the burden of the people regardless of diversity of religions, races and beliefs.
With the implementation of this free toll, it is hoped that highway users will be able to plan their journey well. Highway users are also advised to comply with the recommended travel time schedule or travel time advisory (TTA).
Safety aspects and safe driving must be observed so that all highway users can arrive at their destinations safely.
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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.
Finland’s WithSecure Corporation just signed a partnership agreement with LGMS Berhad to develop cybersecurity solutions for the SME market in Malaysia!
WithSecure Signs Partnership Agreement With LGMS
On Wednesday, 1 November 2023, Finland’s WithSecure Corporation (formerly known as F-Secure Business) signed a partnership agreement with LGMS Berhad (LGMS) to develop cybersecurity solutions for the SME market in Malaysia!
The partnership agreement was signed by LGMS Executive Chairman Fong Choong Fook and WithSecure Corporation CEO Juhani Hintikka, who flew in from Finland to emphasise its importance while demonstrating support for the progress of Malaysia’s Digital Economy.
The signing was witnessed by Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching, together with His Excellency Sami Leino, Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia and Brunei.
The Deputy Minister said that the partnership was ‘timely’, and represents a ‘significant leap’ towards a secured Digital Economy, and more so ahead of the National Cybersecurity Bill the Unity Government is set to unveil in early-2024.
This partnership is also aligned with the government’s ‘Ekonomi Madani’ vision of attracting significant foreign direct investments and generating avenues for technological advancements and innovations.
It serves to demonstrate how collaborative efforts can facilitate a robust, secure and prosperous digital ecosystem, thereby solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for global tech investments.
The partnership agreement today between LGMS and WithSecure embodies a philosophy of attracting significant foreign direct investments and generating avenues for technological advancements and innovations.
It serves to demonstrate how collaborative efforts can facilitate a robust, secure and prosperous digital ecosystem, thereby solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for global tech investments.
– Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching
WithSecure CEO Juhani Hintikka expressed his ‘deepest appreciation’ to the Deputy Minister for endorsing this partnership, stating, “Your presence significantly amplifies the resonance of this initiative, showcasing a unified front in our endeavour to foster a secure and prosperous Digital Economy for Malaysia and also the region.”
WithSecure is today a leading international cybersecurity group which had also invested significantly in Malaysia and in nurturing local talent. Besides its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, WithSecure houses its intelligence, customer support, business operations and shared services in Kuala Lumpur for its Asia-Pacific operations.
LGMS Berhad, meanwhile, has been recognised as Cybersecurity Malaysia’s ‘Company of the Year’ with Fong himself being acknowledged as ‘Cybersecurity Professional of the Year’.
Fong said that, within today’s Digital Economy, cyberthreats and ransomware attacks have become more sophisticated and rampant and potential damages to SMEs, who often lack the necessary IT expertise and resources, can be catastrophic.
Most SMEs today are just one cyber attack away from a devastating setback or even closure. Recognising that most SMEs might not possess advanced IT know-how, our collaboration with WithSecure aims to deliver cybersecurity solutions that are not only robust but also intuitive and user-friendly.
The purpose is to empower our SME community to navigate the digital landscape confidently and securely.
– LGMS Executive Chairman Fong Choong Fook
This localised cybersecurity approach underscores WithSecure’s understanding of the region’s unique digital ecosystem and our commitment to crafting solutions that align with local business needs. It embodies WithSecure’s ethos of merging global cybersecurity expertise with local insights to foster a safer digital realm.
– WithSecure Corporation CEO Juhani Hintikka
One product of this partnership is the ‘Made in Malaysia’ StarSentry solution – a plug-and-play model that is more than just a ‘shield’ for SMEs but offers a proactive approach to threat prevention.
This solution is also aligned with broader sustainability goal and embraces the ESG framework of safeguarding critical infrastructures, nurturing a secure digital community and reinforcing stringent governance standards, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to responsible, transparent business operations.
Pre-orders for the solution can already be made.
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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.
Did Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages!
People are sharing articles which claim that Israel Foreign Minister recently confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages, after capturing them in their October 2023 raid!
Jewish News Syndicate : Israeli foreign minister: Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza
(October 9, 2023 / JNS) Kidnapped Israeli toddlers are being held in cages in Gaza, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.
Akron Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real
Cleveland Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real
Photos and videos of kidnapped Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza are authentic, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.
“They’re monsters, inhuman terrorists,” Cohen said. Adults are heard laughing in the video footage, as a camera pans across five crying children clinging to the bars of rows of cages.
Truth : Eli Cohen Said Hamas Put Children In Cages, But…
We looked into the claims that Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed in a press conference that Hamas were putting Israeli children it captured in cages, and here was what we found…
Fact #1 : Eli Cohen Did Actually Say That
None of those articles actually shared any video evidence of Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages.
However, I located an ANI News recording of a livestreamed press conference (YouTube link), in which Eli Cohen can be seen saying this at around 1:55:
Even [in] the war between Russia and Ukraine, we did not saw murdering entire families, taking captives… small children, and putting them in cages. It’s vicious and evilness that I think the world did not saw before. I think that the only times we saw before was with the Nazis, and maybe with the ISIS.
Fact #2 : JNS Quietly Revamped Its Article
Despite video evidence that Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen did mention that Hamas was putting small children in cages, there appears to be some “walking back” of that claim.
The Jewish News Syndicate, on its part, appear to have quietly replaced its short article on Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages, to a more generic article called “Eli Cohen: ‘An evil that’s not created even by the devil’“.
However, JNS left its original URL as “https://www.jns.org/israeli-foreign-minister-toddlers-cages/” and we have an archive of its original post. If you compare it with the current post, you will see that they are completely different.
Both the Akron and Cleveland Jewish News websites appear to have obtained their articles as syndicated content from the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). They have not updated their articles.
On the other hand, I found an article by VINnews that appears to have also quietly removed references to Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up small children in cages.
Unfortunately, I could not locate an archive of its original post, but the URL suggests that the original title was possibly “Horrific: Israeli Foreign Minister Confirms Footage Of Israeli Toddlers In Cages In Gaza Is Real“.
Fact #3 : Children In Cages Video Not Related To Hamas Attack
We had earlier looked into the viral video showing small children in cages, and confirmed that it was unrelated to the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
For one thing – the viral video was posted on TikTok on 4 October 2023 – three days BEFORE the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.
A much older example of this viral video was posted on YouTube (archive link) on 27 January 2020. Palestine News claimed that the video showed Palestinian children locked in cages by the Israeli army, and was filmed in Hebron (not Gaza)
Israeli Army Kidnapping Palestinian Children and throwing them in Cages , in Occupied Hebron , VIA B’TSELEM
Several commentators (example) however, claimed that this video was originally recorded in Syria, around 2015. They (example) claimed that the video was recorded by a father who found his children playing in the chicken coop, and locked them up for a laugh. The man, who appeared to be the person recording the video, can be heard laughing heartily in the background.
Unfortunately, I cannot confirm (at the moment) whether this video shows Palestinian children being held captive by Israeli soldiers, or Syrian children locked in a cage by their father. The B’Tselem website, for example, has way too many references to children in cages, and I cannot locate the original video allegedly posted by the Syrian father.
What is certain is that – this video is at least several years old, and is therefore not related to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.
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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.
Is Hamas keeping Jewish children it kidnapped from Israel in cages in Gaza?!
Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-10-11 : Added details of Israeli Foreign Minister’s confirmation Originally posted @ 2023-10-10
Claim : Jewish Children Held Hostage In Cages By Hamas!
Many people are sharing pictures and/or a video showing five children inside cages, claiming that they were being held hostage by Hamas after being kidnapped in its October 2023 attack on Israel.
Orthodox Canonist :Alleged footage of Hamas keeping children in cages. Why?
What purpose does this serve? Are they Israeli hostages? 🤔💭🇵🇸🇮🇱
Alon Tk : Jewish babies captive in birdcages in Gaza. These are crimes against Humanity. The whole world needs to see this. #Israel #Gaza
Ariel Dickmann : Jewish babies kidnapped and tortured in Gaza😡
Truth : Hamas Did Not Keep Those Children In Cages!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : The Video Was Recorded Many Years Ago
First, I should point out that one example of this viral video can be found on YouTube (archive link) since 27 January 2020. It received little attention when it was released more than 3 years ago, garnering less than 60 views. Oddly enough, YouTube appears to have taken it down recently “for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines”.
Several commentators (example) have also claimed that this video was originally recorded in 2015. What is certain is that – this video is at least several years old, and is therefore not related to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.
The video was then posted by @user690306825181 (account now removed) on TikTok, where it went viral and was reposted to WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.
Fact #2 : TikTok Video Was Posted Before Hamas Attack
The TikTok video itself was actually posted on 4 October 2023 – three days BEFORE the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel. Here’s the evidence that Fake Reporter on X found.
The TikTok video was not only posted three days earlier – on 4 October, it was being promoted on TikTok. The video therefore has absolutely nothing to do with the Hamas attack on Israel.
Fact #3 : The Video Does Not Show Jewish / Israeli Children
According to the YouTube channel – Palestine News, the video was recorded by B’Tselem – an Israeli NGO that documents human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestine News claimed that the video showed Palestinian children locked in cages by the Israeli army, and was filmed in Hebron. Hebron, incidentally, is located in the West Bank, and not in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Israeli Army Kidnapping Palestinian Children and throwing them in Cages , in Occupied Hebron , VIA B’TSELEM
On the other hand, other commentators (example) claimed that the video was recorded by a father who found his children playing in the chicken coop, and locked them up for a laugh. The man, who appeared to be the person recording the video, can be heard laughing heartily in the background.
The laugh seems jovial, and the children do not seem particularly upset. One boy even appears to be smiling. Another commentator said that the guy was saying, “You guys gave me a hard time“, and “Don’t bite me“. That would give some credence to the claim that this was a fun video recorded by a father.
Unfortunately, I cannot confirm (at the moment) whether this video shows Palestinian children being held captive by Israeli soldiers, or Syrian children locked in a cage by their father. The B’Tselem website, for example, has way too many references to children in cages, and I cannot locate the original video allegedly posted by the Syrian father.
However, what seems certain is that these are not Jewish or Israeli children held captive by Hamas, as a result of their 7 October 2023 raid of Israel. After all – this video was recorded and posted before the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.
Fact #4 : Israel Foreign Minister Appeared To Confirm This
What arguably made this video go viral is the fact that some Jewish news media published reports that Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed that the video of Israeli children being held in cages in Gaza was genuine.
Cohen appeared to have made those comments during a live-streamed press conference. But it appears that it was a mistake, and some of those articles have removed references to the video, or Cohen’s claim.
Ultimately, this is just another example of misinformation circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), using misappropriated videos.
Here are some other examples that we fact checked recently:
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Did unelected WEF official Tharman Shanmugaratnam just announce an urgent plan to vaccinate 60% of every country in the world?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Tharman Shanmugaratnam Just Announced Global Vaccine Plan!
People are sharing an article which claims that unelected WEF official Tharman Shanmugaratnam just announced an urgent plan to vaccinate 60% of every country in the world!
Circulating on WhatsApp :
BREAKING: Unelected WEF Official Announces URGENT Plan to VACCINATE 60% of EVERY COUNTRY in the World by 2024
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Tharman stressed the importance of vaccinating the world’s population.
Here is an excerpt from that article, which was published on 25 August 2023. Note the date – this will be important.
Unelected WEF official announces URGENT plan to VACCINATE 60% of EVERY COUNTRY in the world
A startling announcement has been issued by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a recently retired Singaporean Minister and a Board of Trustee member at the World Economic Forum. He is advocating for immediate action to prioritize the implementation of WHO, IMF, and their multinational partners’ efforts to vaccinate a minimum of 60% of every country’s population within the next year.
Mr. Tharman is a recently retired Singapore Minister who holds several key positions in WEF, G20 and UN. Here are his current appointments.
WEF Trustee (2019–present): Tharman joined the World Economic Forum’s Board of Trustees in May 2019 and continues his service.
G20 HLIP Co-Chair (2021–present): Tharman co-chairs the G20 High Level Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response since January 2021, alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Lawrence Summers.
UN High-Level Advisor (2022–present): Starting in March 2022, Tharman contributes as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Tharman stressed the importance of vaccinating the world’s population.
“The first and most urgent priority is to implement the action plan set out by the WHO, IMF and their multilateral partners to vaccinate at least 60 per cent of every country’s population over the next year,” he said. [SOURCE]
Truth : Tharman Shanmugaratnam Did Not Just Announce Global Vaccine Plan!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : There Are No Elections In WEF
I think it is best that I start by pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and think tank.
What this means is that there is no requirement for its officials to be elected. So highlighting that an “unelected WEF official” said or did something is a red herring. It is completely irrelevant to the issue at hand.
Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam was appointed to the WEF Board of Trustees in May 2019. Just because he was appointed, not elected, to the Board of Trustees does not make it nefarious. This is just how things are done at the WEF.
This is no different from how private, or even public-listed companies operate. They do not elect their CEO or officials or staff.
Fact #2 : Tharman Quote Was Two Years Old
It is unknown why the article claims that this is BREAKING news. The quote by Tharman Shanmugaratnam is 2 years old!
The source the article quoted was a 26 August 2021 article by CNA Lifestyle, titled Preparing for the next pandemic requires ‘new way of thinking about international cooperation’: Tharman.
Did the writer misread the date? That seems unlikely since the CNA article was dated 26 August 2021, while the viral article was posted on 25 August 2023.
Just to be clear – Tharman Shanmugaratnam was still a minister in the Singaporean government when he called for 60% of the world population to get the COVID-19 vaccine. That was stated clearly in the CNA article:
Global health security is “dangerously underfunded” and the World Health Organization (WHO) needs more support to deal with the next pandemic, which could come at any time, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (Aug 25).
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam also did not retire as a Singaporean Minister. He resigned from all positions in the Singaporean government, as well as his membership in the People’s Action Party (PAP) on 7 July 2023, to run for the 2023 Singapore presidential election.
Fact #4 : Tharman Urged 60% Global Vaccination By 2022
Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam did not call for the vaccination of 60% of the world population by 2024. He actually called for that to happen by 2022.
Fact #5 : 60% Vaccination Plan Was Not By WEF
I should also point out that the WEF did not come up the plan to vaccinate 60% of the world’s population by 2022. As quoted in the CNA article, Mr. Tharman said that it was the action plan set out by the WHO, IMF and their multilateral partners:
The first and most urgent priority is to implement the action plan set out by the WHO, IMF and their multilateral partners to vaccinate at least 60 per cent of every country’s population over the next year [2022].
It is also absurd to panic over the (false) claim that Mr. Tharman wanted to vaccinated 60% of the world’s population by 2024, because that target was already achieved!
As of March 13, 2023, more than 5.55 billion people across the world received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In other words, 72.3% of the world’s population had already received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.
That’s why when I was first asked to fact check this article, I was puzzled. That 60% target was already surpassed!
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Please be warned – you still need a physical driving licence when you are driving overseas! Your digital driving licence is most likely not valid or legal overseas!
Fined Overseas For Not Having Physical Driving Licence!
In May 2023, two Malaysian men were fined for failing to produce their physical driving licences in Thailand.
Both men were stopped by police while riding motorcycles on car lanes in Phuket. When the Thai police officer asked for their driving licence, they showed their digital driving licences using the MyJPJ app.
However, the Thai police officer said that their digital driving licences were not valid, even though the men explained Malaysia adopted the digital driving licence in February 2023.
In the end, both men had to pay a compound at the police station for not having a valid driving licence.
Even though the incident occurred several months ago, the issue only went viral after the men posted their video in Twitter on 3 August 2023.
PSA : You Still Need Physical Driving Licence Overseas!
Please be warned that even though Malaysia has adopted the digital driving licence (e-LLM) since 10 February 2023, it is only valid in Malaysia, and not overseas!
In the future, other countries will likely accept digital driving licences, but until that happens, you still need to bring and use a physical driving licence while driving overseas.
On 5 August 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke commented on the two Malaysian men who were fined in Thailand for failing to produce a physical driving licence. He said that the digital licence is only valid in Malaysia.
He pointed out that the matter (of accepting digital licences) was subject to laws in that country, and the ministry has no authority to determine how laws in other countries are enforced.
He also said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will continue to issue physical driving licences, so those who wish to drive overseas should apply for one at JPJ branches when renewing their driving licence.
We have no stopped the issuance of physical copies of driving licences, so if they want to drive in a country that requires a physical licence then they can apply for it at RTD counters when renewing their licence.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Physical Driving Licence Only Available In JPJ Branches
Truth be told – this was already mentioned when the digital driving licence was adopted in February 2023. This was what I pointed out back then:
JPJ will continue to offer the physical driving licence to motorists who still prefer it, or need one to drive overseas.
But understandably, many of us probably missed that part. Or forgot that foreign governments may not readily accept the new digital driving licence.
While I’m here, I should also point out that the physical driving licence is now available only at JPJ branches. This may be a bit of a hassle, since it used to be available in Pos Malaysia branches too.
But the good news is – you can now renew your driving licence for 10 years, with a 10% discount to boot! So this should be a once-in-a-decade hassle.
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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.
On 1 August 2023, people started sharing warnings claiming that the Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) stopped issuing physical road tax stickers, except for selected groups of people like senior citizens, foreigners, and companies.
DIGITAL ROAD TAX 1) Via MyJPJ Apps 2) Via JPJ website https://public.jpj.gov.my/
Starting Tuesdsy, August 1, 2023 on Tuesday. JPJ will no longer issue physical roadtax except for Senior Citizen, Non-Citizen & Company.
The JPJ will use up the existing roadtax disk & then run the digital roadtax as a whole. Download myJPJ apps
Things you need to register MyJPJ Apps : 1) Car Owner’s Driving Licence 2) Car Owner’s Mobile Phone # 3) Car Owner’s Email Address (for verification purpose) 4) To answer a few security questions. It is advisable for the car owner to register the MyJPJ Apps themselves.
Others shared a photo taken of an actual notice posted at a JPJ branch, showing that the JPJ headquarters had indeed issued the order to stop issuing physical road tax stickers to most drivers.
JPJ Ordered To Remove ‘No Physical Road Tax’ Notice!
After the photo and warnings went viral, I checked the official Facebook pages for JPJ and Anthony Loke, but found no announcement that JPJ would stop issuing physical road tax stickers.
I also checked the JPJ website, and its own FAQ on road tax renewal – there was no mention that JPJ has already stopped issuing physical road tax stickers.
As I pointed out in my earlier article, when Transport Minister hen Anthony Loke introduced the digital road tax or motor vehicle licence (e-LKM) on 10 February 2023, he said that it was optional, and motorists would have at least until the end of 2023 to register and try out it out.
The minister also said that JPJ will continue to offer physical road tax stickers for motorists who still prefer to use it on their cars or motorcycles.
Just to be sure, I called up the JPJ contact centre. The JPJ officer on the line consulted her supervisor and then informed me that it was true that JPJ has already stopped issuing the physical road tax. She claimed that the notice was posted in the MyJPJ app.
When I checked the MyJPJ app, I could find no such notice. So I called the JPJ contact centre again. This time, a different lady told me that they were just operators, and have no idea about such matters. Seriously…
But later that day on 2 August 2023, Anthony Loke held a press conference to address this viral claim. He confirmed that the ‘No Physical Road Tax’ notice was issued by JPJ Director-General Rospiagos Taha, but said that it was only because those branches ran out of stock.
He confirmed that this was no an actual policy decision, and said that JPJ had been ordered to take down the ‘No Physical Road Tax’ notice that has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms.
The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice on the non-availability of physical road tax, but it is not a policy decision. We took quick action on finding out that branches have run out of stock and will continue to order new stock.
Anthony Loke also said that the Transport Ministry had not decided on a cut-off date for the full transition to the digital road tax, and that it would take at least six months to a year before they can go fully digital. In the meantime, vehicle owners still can choose to request for, and use, the physical sticker.
But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet; it would take six months to one year before going fully digital.
By going digital, the Transport Ministry can reduce congestion at JPJ offices and counters by up to 80%, and save RM96 million a year in cost.
According to JPJ, only about 30% of vehicle owners have so far opted for the digital road tax. On average, about 1.5 million vehicles need to renew their road taxes every month.
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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.
Did JPJ stop issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : JPJ Stopped Issuing Physical Road Tax For Most Drivers!
This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that JPJ stopped issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies!
DIGITAL ROAD TAX 1) Via MyJPJ Apps 2) Via JPJ website https://public.jpj.gov.my/
Starting Tuesdsy, August 1, 2023 on Tuesday. JPJ will no longer issue physical roadtax except for Senior Citizen, Non-Citizen & Company.
The JPJ will use up the existing roadtax disk & then run the digital roadtax as a whole. Download myJPJ apps
Things you need to register MyJPJ Apps : 1) Car Owner’s Driving Licence 2) Car Owner’s Mobile Phone # 3) Car Owner’s Email Address (for verification purpose) 4) To answer a few security questions. It is advisable for the car owner to register the MyJPJ Apps themselves.
Truth : JPJ Did Not Stop Issuing Physical Road Tax Stickers!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Physical Road Tax Sticker No Longer Required For Most Drivers
First, let me just point out that since 10 February 2023, the physical road tax stickers for vehicles in Malaysia are no longer required, except for these vehicles:
private vehicles owned by private companies
private vehicles owned by foreigners
commercial vehicles
public service vehicles
Fact #2 : Digital Road Tax Is Optional
When Anthony Loke announced the introduction of a digital road tax or motor vehicle licence (e-LKM) on 10 February 2023, he said that it was optional, and part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ to provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
Don’t worry, the digital format is not mandatory. You can still obtain the road tax sticker and physical driving licence from JPJ, if required.
As mentioned in our 10 February 2023 article, the e-LKM digital road tax is OPTIONAL. You can continue request for, and use a physical sticker.
As Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified, JPJ will continue to offer physical road tax stickers for motorists who still prefer to use it on their cars or motorcycles.
These printed stickers will be available to all motorists who request for it, at all JPJ branches.
You can still the physical road tax sticker and driving licence. Motorists are offered the option to go digital, or use the physical road tax stickers and driving licence cards.
Fact #4 : JPJ Ordered To Remove Notice!
On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Transport Minister Anthony Loke ordered JPJ to remove the notice posted at several branches, stating that the Road Transport Department was no longer issuing physical stickers for private vehicles.
Anthony Loke said that the directive, which was issued by JPJ Director-General Rospiagos Taha, was due to the non-availability of physical stickers are several branches, and NOT a policy decision.
The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice on the non-availability of physical road tax, but it is not a policy decision. We took quick action on finding out that branches have run out of stock and will continue to order new stock.
The Malaysia Transport Ministry is giving motorists until the end of 2023 at the very minimum, to register and try out the new digital road tax and digital driving licence.
On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Road Transport Minister Anthony Loke also said that a cut-off date for the full transition to digital road tax has yet to be set. Therefore, the claim that JPJ has stopped issuing physical road tax stickers is categorically false.
But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet; it would take six months to one year before going fully digital.
According to JPJ, only about 30% of vehicle owners have so far opted for the digital road tax.
Fact #5 : MyJPJ App Not Mandatory Either
Just to be clear – it is NOT mandatory for any motorist to download and use the MyJPJ app either. It is merely “one of the options” to obtain the digital copy of your road tax and driving licence.
It does not matter if you have no physical road tax sticker or driving licence, and are unable to show the digital versions using the MyJPJ app. The enforcement agencies can confirm the status of your road tax and driving licence through their own gadget.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Will JPJ require senior drivers to get an eye test and medical examination to renew their driving licence in 2024?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-07-21 : Added JPJ’s official statement on the viral claim Originally posted @ 2023-07-20
Claim : JPJ To Require Eye + Medical Tests For Senior Drivers!
This message has gone viral on WhatApp, claiming that the Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) will require senior drivers who are 65 years and older to get an eye test and medical report before they can renew their driving licence in 2024!
Post as received!👇🏻
Notice Hi seniors, those above 65 yrs will need to get eye tests & medical from 2024 to get your driving licence re-newed. Go to jpj now to get your licence extended at the warga Emas counter. We just did it. Very fast. Less than 15 mins. Mine expires 2027 so they extended till 2034. Rm30/yr. pay with credit card. Very easy. 1. At jpj pj, go to the right door -enquiry to get your number. 2. Then go to pintu B to warga Mas counter & give your driving licence & pay. 3. Then go a counter on the left to give the guy your ic. Wait for him to give u your new driving licence.
Truth : JPJ Does NOT Require Eye + Medical Tests For Senior Drivers!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Eye Test + Medical Report Not Required To Renew Driving Licence
First, let me just point out that the renewal of your driving licence has very few requirements:
The driver must not be blacklisted
You can only renew your driving licence for up to 10 years.
You must provide the following documents:
– Original MyKad / passport (or copies, if renewed by a representative)
– Original MyKad / passport of representative (if renewed by a representative)
– Original driving licence
– 1 colour photo (25 mm x 32 mm, with a white background)
– Fee of RM2 per year for Class A/A1)
– Fee of RM20 per year for Class B, B2 and C
– Fee of RM30 per year for Class D and above
There is no requirement to undertake any eye test, or provide a medical report, in order to renew your driving licence.
Fact #2 : JPJ Labelled The Claim As Fake News!
A check of the JPJ website and official Facebook page confirmed that the Malaysia Road Transport Department has not announced any additional requirements to renew your driving licence.
There was also no such announcement on the official Facebook page of Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
At around 5:45 PM on July 20, 2023, JPJ finally issued a statement, calling the claim it will require senior drivers to undertake an eye test and provide a medical report to renew their driving licence as “fake news“. Here is the statement in English:
VIRAL MESSAGE DISCLAIMER NOTICE
The Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) would like to inform everyone that the claim that went viral on WhatsApp about Senior Citizens aged 65 and above being required to undergo eye examination and health examination starting in 2024 IS NOT TRUE.
Accordingly, the driving license renewal for senior citizens remains as usual.
In this regard, JPJ advises the public not to be so gullible and to contact the nearest JPJ office to get more accurate information so as not to be deceived.
Fact #3 : PDRM Asked For Fit To Drive Test In 2021
This fake news is likely based on 2021 news reports about a possible Fit To Drive test for senior drivers in Malaysia.
In September 2021, Malaysian police asked the government to consider introducing a “Fit To Drive” assessment system to evaluate senior drivers who are 60 years and older, before they are allowed to renew their driving / riding licences.
At that time, federal traffic police chief Azisman Alias explained that the suggestion to the Malaysian Transport Ministry and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) was based on the number of cases involving senior citizens who were caught driving against the flow of traffic, and committing other offences at traffic lights and road junctions.
We need to assess the capability of senior citizens on the road because of the risk posed to other road users as well as themselves.
There have been several cases involving drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol. We also see a rising number of cases of driving against the flow involving the elderly aged 60 to 70 years and above.
When the police detained them, it was apparent some of them aged 70 and above had some sort of dementia or senility. Some of them were also found to be not alert to certain traffic conditions.
He suggested, at that time, that the medical fraternity alongside the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) should conduct a study on the possibility of introducing aptitude or cognitive tests for senior drivers.
They (senior drivers) should only be allowed to renew their licences provided they undergo a medical check-up and receive confirmation from a doctor that they are fit to drive, mentally and physically.
He cited developed countries such as the UK, Canada, Singapore and Australia, which have introduced similar tests. For example, senior drivers in Singapore who are over 65 years old must undergo an annual medical examination by a medical practitioner.
That suggestion was met with public uproar. The Transport Minister at that time, Wee Ka Siong, also spoke out against it, calling it discriminatory:
Many drivers far above the age of 70 display greater competence in driving compared to those who are younger.
Simply refusing an elderly the means to drive or ride on the basis of their age or based on isolated or anecdotal evidence is discriminatory
As of July 2023, the Malaysia Transport Ministry and the Road Transport Department have not implemented, or even announced, any such Fit To Drive test for senior drivers.
Fact #4 : Senior Drivers To Voluntarily Surrender Driving Licence
Ultimately, as long as senior drivers have not been blacklisted for committing traffic offences, they can continue to renew driving licences.
This fake news is similar to the 2021 viral claim that senior drivers who are 70 years and above must surrender their driving licences to JPJ.
As Wee Ka Siong, the Transport Minister at that time explained, the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 leaves the responsibility to the driver to voluntarily surrender their driving licence if their health is unsatisfactory and may endanger other road users.
Actually, Section 30 of the Road Transport Act 1987 leaves the responsibility to the driver to voluntarily surrender their driving license when they have unsatisfactory health conditions and may endanger other road users.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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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.
Are travellers queuing up for hours at KLIA after immigration officers started a Work to Rule protest?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Long Queues At KLIA Due To Immigration Work To Rule Protest!
People are sharing a video, claiming that it shows long queues at KLIA after immigration officers started a Work to Rule protest, over recent accusations of corruption!
Work to rule being enforced by immigration officers in KLIA as protest over the recent issue. Terrible if true! 🫢🧐🤨🤨🤨
Here’s a You Tuber telling us his story at the KLIA today. 😰😥😱
In the 1 minute and 22 seconds long video, a foreign tourist is seen complaining that he had to spend 2 hours getting through immigration at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
After waiting in line for an hour, he was sent to an immigration office where he had to wait for another hour before he was questioned. Only after an extensive questioning was the tourist released with a 90-day pass.
No Evidence Long Queues At KLIA Are Due To Immigration Protest!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : Fake News Is Based On Immigration Corruption Claims
First, I should point out that this fake news is based on the recent accusations of corruption involving immigration officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Here is a quick recap.
On Thursday, 29 June 2023, two ladies arrived at KLIA from Shenzhen, China – a senior official of a Chinese government-owned TV station, and her personal assistant.
The senior official was duly cleared and allowed entry by the Immigration Department, but her personal assistant was denied entry, and allegedly told that there were discrepancies in her travel documents. The lady was allegedly told that she would need to pay several thousand ringgit to be allowed to enter Malaysia.
The Chinese TV official called up the consulate general of Malaysia in Guangzhou to seek help. The consulate general’s staff then contacted Malaysia Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing, who went to KLIA to investigate the matter. The personal assistant was later allowed to enter Malaysia, after the Minister intervened.
A day later, Tiong claimed that there was a “culture of corruption” within the Immigration Department’s handling of foreign visitors at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
I feel it is high time that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) enter KLIA in full force to probe what is actually happening in this major entry point.
I’m grateful that my presence there managed to uncover an embarrassing situation for the country, in which there is a culture of corruption among a number of officers as well as chronic abuse of power at the country’s major gateway.
Tiong also said that he learnt that some immigration officers would demand up to RM3,000 to free tourists from detention, and he would be sending the information to the MACC.
They would demand RM3,000 to enable the tourists to go through a ‘special lane’ and RM12,000 for visa processing costs.
I should also point out that the term, work to rule, refers to a situation where employees strictly follow their working hours, and do no more than the minimum required by their contract or job.
By that definition, it is unknown if any Immigration officer in KLIA is currently “protesting” through work to rule measures. They could simply be seen as doing their jobs, but nothing beyond that.
Fact #3 : Video Was Taken In May 2022
While it is impossible to know whether immigration officers are protesting through work to rule action, I can tell you that the viral video has absolutely nothing to do with the current controversy involving Malaysian Immigration officers at KLIA.
That’s because the video was originally taken in May 2022. The YouTuber in the video is called Ken Abroad, and he posted the video on 22 May 2023, with the title, “I Almost Got Denied Entry To Malaysia 🇲🇾“.
In the video, he detailed his journey from his home in Germany to Malaysia, via Turkey. When he landed in KLIA over a year ago, he spent more than 2 hours getting through immigration.
But notably – Ken Abroad was released without paying a single cent to immigration officers. Neither did he accuse them of corruption.
Fact #4 : Video Was Edited
The viral video originally had a long runtime of 15 minutes and 51 seconds, but was cropped to just 1 minute and 22 seconds.
Whoever cut this video to share on WhatsApp and social media platforms would obviously be aware that this was originally posted more than a year ago on YouTube.
Fact #5 : Complaints About KLIA Queues Are Perennial
Complaints about long queues at KLIA immigration are perennial. If you check social media, you can see people complaining about this months and years ago, even before the COVID-19 pandemic!
Such queues are also not limited to KLIA immigration counters. They have been documented in airports all over the world, especially in very busy airports (like Heathrow and LAX), and during busy times (when multiple flights land at around the same time).
Just because there is a queue at the immigration counters does not mean there is any industrial work to rule action going on. Often, it just means that there is a large number of people queuing up to get processed.
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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.
Were KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga just sued by COVID-19 vaccine victims in Malaysia?!
Let’s take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : KJ + Noor Hisham Just Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims!
People are sharing an AgendaDaily article (in Malay) on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin) and Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah just sued by victims of the COVID-19 vaccine in Malaysia!
The viral post also claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine victims also sued the three COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in Malaysia – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga.
KJ, Dr Noor Hisham sued over Covid-19 vaccine issue
🚻ı|ı🔥NO☆🔥ı|ı ﷽ Three Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers were also sued, Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga
15 O6 2O23 ABE YES NO
KOTA KINABALU: A group of vaccine recipients filed a lawsuit against the government and the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM), especially the former minister in charge of the national vaccination program, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar after claiming to be a victim of the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Citing a Sinar Harian report, a total of 44 victims represented by the law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co also filed a lawsuit against the former Director of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and three manufacturers of the Covid-19 vaccine – Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga.
Lawyer, Muhammad Shahrin Satheer said, the group claimed that the Ministry of Health gave an invalid declaration and it was an agreement forced by the defendant to prevent them from being taken action from the severe side effects of the vaccine injection.
He also informed that his client demanded that the defendant be held responsible for the effect of the Covid-19 vaccine injection on the plaintiff which had caused severe side effects resulting in losses.
“Our client is demanding general damages and special damages that the defendant must pay to the plaintiff as a result of the severe side effects of the Covid-19 injection which has caused death, permanent disability and other complications resulting in loss and loss of life suffered by the plaintiff- plaintiff,” he said.
He said, the lack of proof of the vaccine having been clinically tested before being used on consumers is also one of the basis of the lawsuit.
“The plaintiff is also demanding an interim injunction to prevent the defendant from widely providing the Covid-19 vaccine to other Malaysians until a clinical study is conducted and a complete report is prepared,” he said. 1⃣ı|ı🔥NO☆ACO🔥ı|ı ﷽
Truth : KJ + Noor Hisham Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims In 2022!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccines, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Agenda Daily Article Copied From Sinar Harian
I should start by pointing out that the Agenda Daily article is an almost exact copy of its source, a Sinar Harian article.
Fact #2 : Likely Source For False Claims About Sabah Lawsuit
I should also point out this piece of fake news is possibly the source for the earlier false claims that people in Sabah just filed a lawsuit against the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) for forced vaccination.
As mentioned in my fact check article, I can find no evidence of such a lawsuit by people in Sabah. This viral message is the only one that suggests that a COVID-19 vaccination lawsuit was filed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Fact #3 : No Evidence Lawsuit Was Filed In Kota Kinabalu
The viral message mentioned Kota Kinabalu as the location, which appears to be completely false. The Agenda Daily article it listed as its source did not mention any location.
But the original article by Sinar Harian mentioned Shah Alam, Selangor, as its location. The law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. is also based in Rawang, Selangor.
Therefore, the lawsuit was likely filed in Shah Alam, and not Kota Kinabalu as alleged by the viral message.
Fact #4 : Original News Was Published November 2022
The original news was originally published on 16 November 2022, and not on 15 June 2023 as suggested by the viral message.
Noor Hisham Abdullah retired on 21 April 2023, while Khairy Jamaluddin ceased being the Malaysia Minister of Health on 24 November 2022. Whoever created that viral message took care to change their status to match the new date.
Fact #5 : Lawsuit Was Allegedly Filed In November 2022
The Sinar Harian article mentioned that on 16 November 2022, 44 people represented by Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. filed a lawsuit against:
Malaysia Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin
Malaysia Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga
However, a day later – on 17 November 2022, Khairy Jamaluddin said at a press conference that he has yet to receive any lawsuit notice:
I have not received the notice of the summons. When I receive it, I will ask the lawyer I will appoint to answer it.
Since then, there has been no update on this lawsuit, so it is unknown if it was actually filed, or what has occurred since it was filed.
Fact #6 : Malaysia Has A COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Fund
Like most countries around the world, Malaysia has a COVID-19 vaccine injury fund. Established on 21 March 2021, it is called Bantuan Khas Kewangan Kesan Mudarat Vaksin COVID-19 (Special Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Effects), and pays out:
RM 50,000 for serious side effects that requires extended hospitalisation
RM 500,000 for permanent disability or death from the COVID-19 vaccine
If anyone is injured or dies as a result of the COVID-19 vaccines, the victim or the victim’s family can file for compensation with this fund. There is no need to file a lawsuit (and pay any legal fees) to get compensated.
Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Were Proven Safe + Effective
All COVID-19 vaccines underwent large clinical trials and were proven to be safe and effective, before receiving their Emergency Use Authorisation. Hence, it is wrong to claim that COVID-19 vaccines were never tested in a clinical trial.
In addition, approved COVID-19 vaccines continued to be monitored for safety and efficacy, and many eventually received their full FDA approval after many months of post-marketing monitoring.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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The Malaysia Education Minister just announced that schools will begin in January again, from 2026 onwards!
Malaysia Schools To Start In January Again From 2026!
On Tuesday, 23 May 2023, the Malaysia Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, announced that schools will once again start their academic sessions in January, from 2026 onwards.
The Education Minister said that the Malaysia Education Ministry (KPM) has initiated efforts to restore the old academic calendar which begins in January, and ends in December.
The 2024/2025 academic calendar is being brought forward to start in February 2025.
The 2026 academic calendar will then begin in January 2026.
I’m pleased to announce that the start of the school session will return to January in 2026. The ministry hopes that, with the announcement, all financial and economic aspects can be planned earlier by all relevant parties starting now.
The planning of family holidays, festivals and vacation days for teachers, as we announced in 10 initiatives on Teacher’s Day, can be arranged based on the school session that will be gazetted.
Not Possible For Malaysia Schools To Start In January 2025!
The minister said that returning the school session to January next year is not possible as it would conflict with major examinations, school holidays, as well as floods.
The ministry must ensure that the teaching and academic session runs in a period of 26 to 32 weeks to ensure an optimum learning period in a year. Due to the changes (from the COVID-19 pandemic), the schooling session for 2023/2024 academic calendar started in March.
The changes to the academic calendar of the school session allows the school to plan and implement rehabilitation, strengthening and enrichment activities intensively to increase the students’ readiness to follow the next school year.
The minister had earlier pointed out in March that bringing forward the academic calendar to January 2025 was not possible as the ministry had to comply with various requirements under the Education Act 1996. She also said that it needs to avoid disrupting the examination schedule for STPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia), STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia), and STAM (Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia). There is also the need to account for local economic factors, and the year-end floods.
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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.
You can now renew your long-expired Malaysian driving licence without retaking your driving test!
Amnesty For Expired Driving Licence!
On Wednesday, 3 May 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced an amnesty for those with expired driving licences. If you have a driving licence that expired as of January 1, 2018, you will be able to renew it without having to take a driving test.
Motorists with expired driving licences longer than a year will have until December 31, 2023, to renew their expired driving licences. The driving test requirement will apply again, from January 1, 2024 onwards.
The government decided to offer this amnesty because many Malaysian living abroad were unable to return during the COVID-19 pandemic to renew them.
We decided to allow the renewal of expired licences given the fact that many Malaysians living abroad were unable to do so during Covid-19 with the movement control order.
This amnesty will also begin on Monday, May 8, and end on December 31, 2023. Please note that this initiative only applies to Malaysian citizens, and not to foreigners holding special passes like the MyKAS card.
In addition, only those who have not been blacklisted by the police, or have any existing restrictions imposed by JPJ, and are free from any suspension due to a conviction or court order may renew their expired driving licence.
Earlier : Retake Driving Test If Licence Not Renewed On Time!
The Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) had been warning motorists to renew their driving licences on time, or risk getting them revoked.
These are the four categories of expired licences that may be revoked, if they are not renewed in time :
Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL) : Up to 2 years
Probational Driving Licence (PDL) : More than 1 year
Competent Driving Licence (CDL) : More than 3 years
Public Service Vehicle / Goods Driving Licence (PSV / GDL) : More than 3 years
If your licence is revoked, you will need to undergo the full process to re-qualify and obtain a new licence.
The moratorium on revoking expired driving licences actually expired on 31 December 2021, but JPJ extended it to 30 June 2022 after discovering that hundreds of thousands of drivers have yet to renew their expired licences.
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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.
You can now renew your Malaysian driving licence for 10 years, with a 10% discount to boot!
You Can Renew Driving Licence For 10 Years With 10% Off!
On Wednesday, 3 May 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that you will now be able to renew your Malaysian driving licence for 10 years, with a 10% discount to boot!
This new initiative doubles the validity of your driving licence between renewals from 5 years. On top of that, motorists will get to enjoy a 10% discount on their renewal fees.
The only caveat is that your driving licence must not have expired for more than a year.
They will be charged the same fee of RM30 per year, but if they renew for 10 years at one go, the fee is RM270. This means they will only be paying for nine years.
Those who want to renew must ensure that their licence has not expired for more than a year.
You will be able to renew your driving licence for 10 years, and receive the 10% discount from Monday, May 8, 2023 onwards.
The Minister also announced an amnesty for those with expired driving licences. If you have a driving licence that expired from January 1, 2018 onwards, you will be able to renew it without having to take a driving test.
Motorists with expired driving licences longer than a year will have until December 31, 2023, to renew their expired driving licences. The driving test requirement will apply again, from January 1, 2024 onwards.
For those who are not aware, the Road Transport Department can revoke your expired driving licence if you do not renew them on time. You will then have to undergo the full process to re-qualify and obtain a new licence.
These are the four categories of expired licences that may be revoked, if they are not renewed in time :
Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL) : Up to 2 years
Probational Driving Licence (PDL) : More than 1 year
Competent Driving Licence (CDL) : More than 3 years
Public Service Vehicle / Goods Driving Licence (PSV / GDL) : More than 3 years
The moratorium on revoking expired driving licences actually expired on 31 December 2021, but JPJ extended it to 30 June 2022 after discovering that hundreds of thousands of drivers have yet to renew their expired licences.
This time, the government has decided to offer this amnesty because many Malaysian living abroad were unable to return during the COVID-19 pandemic to renew them.
We decided to allow the renewal of expired licences given the fact that many Malaysians living abroad were unable to do so during Covid-19 with the movement control order.
This amnesty will also begin on Monday, May 8, and end on December 31, 2023. Please note that this initiative only applies to Malaysian citizens, and not to foreigners holding special passes like the MyKAS card.
In addition, only those who have not been blacklisted by the police, or have any existing restrictions imposed by JPJ, and are free from any suspension due to a conviction or court order may renew their expired driving licence.
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.
