Malaysian telcos have started banning SMS links, as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams! Here is what you need to know!
Malaysian Telcos Ban SMS Links To Prevent Scams!
On Tuesday, 2 May 2023, four Malaysian telcos – Maxis, Celcom, Digital and U Mobile started banning SMS links, as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams.
From this day onwards, users will be blocked from sending or receiving SMS with a link. MCMC had earlier issued the directive to all telcos on February 14, 2023, but the ban on SMS links is only now being implemented.
The ban on SMS links is currently not mandatory for all telcos, and is being implemented in phases. Currently, the ban is limited to SMS between individuals.
Businesses using short codes like 6XXXX, 2XXXX and 1XXXX will eventually be banned from including a URL link in their SMS messages. They will be given time to switch to other methods to send promotional messages with links to their customers.
The MCMC has issued a directive to all telcos to block sending and receiving of SMS with URL link. The objective is to prevent users from becoming victims of online scams
MCMC issued the directive to all service providers on Feb 14 and is currently assessing the progress. For now, the block is still not mandatory.
The blocking of person-to-person SMS with URL links will take effect from 2 May 2023. For SMS sent by business via short codes such as 6XXXX, 2XXXX and 1XXXX, this will be done later and specific notification to business users will be sent.
Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching said in February 2023 that blocking such SMS links will ensure that people won’t click on them and possibly end up as a scam victim.
Only SMS Links Banned, Links Via Other Platforms Still A Risk
While this measure is really helpful in reducing scams, the ban is limited to SMS links. Scammers can still send links through instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, etc.
That does not mean that links are inherently bad. Links in messages, even SMS messages, are mostly safe.
Perfectly Fine
Clicking on a link to read an article / terms and conditions of a promotion
Clicking on a link to enrol in a promotion which does not require you to log into any website
Clicking on a link to check in for a flight, or get a travel update
However, they can be used to send you to a phishing website which is designed to look like a genuine bank / payment website. Hence, it is critical that you should NEVER log into any website through a link.
NEVER DO THIS
Clicking on a link to log into a bank website
Clicking on a link to make a purchase or payment
Clicking on a link to log into any account / email
Phishing attacks work by tricking you into going into a fake website that looks like the real website. But you still have to log into the fake website to give the scammers your login details.
If you click on a link, and you are asked to login – this is likely a phishing attack. But don’t worry – as long as you refuse to log into any website after clicking on a link, the phishing attack fails.
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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.
The Malaysia Ministry of Education just updated the 2023 / 2024 school term + holiday calendar! Here is what you need to know!
Updated @ 2023-04-11 : Added extra school holiday for Hari Raya 2023.
Updated @ 2023-04-06 : Added extra school holidays for 2023 / 2024 school term. Originally posted @ 2022-12-11
2023 / 2024 Malaysia School Term To Begin In March!
On 29 August 2022, the former Malaysia Minister of Education, Dr. Radzi Jidin, announced that the 2023 school term will begin in March as scheduled.
He said that the decision was made after taking into account factors like the possibility of Northeast monsoon floods in the East Coast states at the end of the year, and the long interval before students could resume their studies after finishing their Sijil Pelajaran (SPM) examination.
By maintaining the start of the 2023 school term in March, students will not have to wait too long to continue their studies, allowing for better learning momentum.
However, the 2023 / 2024 school calendar for Malaysia was only confirmed on 10 December 2022, with an additional delay of one week.
2023 / 2024 Malaysia School Term + Holiday Calendar!
The Malaysia Ministry of Education (KPM) only confirmed the 2023 / 2024 school term and holiday calendar on 10 December 2022.
Group A states (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) will begin the 2023 school term on 19 March 2023, and end on 9 March 2024.
Group B states (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya) should begin the 2023 school term on 20 March 2023, and end on 10 March 2024.
The opening of the 2023 / 2024 school year in Malaysia was delayed by one week, to ensure the smooth running of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.
Group A
Group A states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Group A : 2023 / 2024 academic year will last from 19 March 2023 until 9 March 2024
Group A
School Starts
School Ends
Days
Term 1 Part 1
19 March 2023
20 April 2023
24
Mid-Term 1 Holiday
21 April 2023
29 April 2023
9
Term 1 Part 2
30 April 2023
25 May 2023
18
End-Term 1 Holiday
26 May 2023
3 June 2023
9
Term 2
4 June 2023
24 August 2023
56
Term 2 Holiday
25 August 2023
2 September 2023
9
Term 3 Part 1
3 September 2023
14 December 2023
72
Term 3 Holiday
15 December 2023
1 January 2024
18
Term 3 Part 2
2 January 2024
8 February 2024
28
Year End Holiday
9 February 2024
9 March 2024
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 20 March 2023 until 10 March 2024
Group B
School Starts
School Ends
Days
Term 1 Part 1
20 March 2023
21 April 2023
23
Mid-Term 1 Holiday
22 April 2023
30 April 2023
9
Term 1 Part 2
1 May2023
26 May 2023
18
End-Term 1 Holiday
27 May 2023
4 June 2023
9
Term 2
5 June 2023
25 August 2023
55
Term 2 Holiday
26 August 2023
3 September 2023
9
Term 3 Part 1
4 September 2023
15 December 2023
72
Term 3 Holiday
16 December 2023
1 January 2024
17
Term 3 Part 2
2 January 2024
9 February 2024
28
Year End Holiday
10 February 2024
10 March 2024
30
Extra Holidays For 2023 / 2024 Malaysia School Term!
Here is the list of additional holidays for schools in Malaysia for the academic year of 2023 / 2024 :
Group A
Group A states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Festival Holidays
Group A
Notes
Chinese New Year
Sunday to Tuesday,
22 to 24 January 2023
1 extra day
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Thursday, 20 April 2023
2 extra days
Hari Raya Qurban
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
1 extra day
Hari Deepavali
Sunday, 12 November 2023
Monday, 13 November 2023
Public Holiday
1 extra day
Christmas
Monday, 25 December 2023
Public Holiday
Chinese New Year
Saturday, 10 February 2024
Sunday, 11 February 2024
Public holiday
Public holiday
Group B
Group B states are Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Festival Holidays
Group B
Notes
Chinese New Year
Friday to Tuesday,
20 to 24 January 2023
1 extra day
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Thursday, 20 April 2023
Friday, 21 April 2023
3 extra days
Pesta Kaamatan
Only for Sabah + Labuan Tuesday, 30 May 2023
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
2 extra days
Hari Gawai Dayak
Only for Sarawak Thursday, 1 June 2023
Friday, 2 June 2023
2 extra days
Hari Raya Qurban
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Thursday, 29 June 2023
2 extra days
Hari Deepavali
Except Sarawak
Monday, 13 November 2023
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Replacement
1 extra day
Only for Sarawak
Monday, 13 November 2023
1 extra day
Christmas
Monday, 25 December 2023
Public Holiday
Chinese New Year
Friday, 9 February 2024
Saturday, 10 February 2024
Sunday, 11 February 2024
Monday, 12 February 2024
1 extra day
Public holiday
Public holiday
Replacement
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The Malaysia Ministry of Education just declared an extra school holiday for Hari Raya 2023!
KPM : April 19 is Special School Holiday for Hari Raya!
On 11 April 2023, the Ministry of Education declared that April 19 would be a special school holiday, in addition to the mid-term holiday which starts on April 20!
This announcement was made by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, in anticipation that Hari Raya Aidilfitri will fall on April 21.
We considered everyone’s views, and (this is) for the sake of everyone, especially teachers and education ministry staff, making plans to go back to their hometowns (for Aidilfitri),” she told reporters at an event today.
This year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri may fall on either April 21 or April 22, depending on the observation of the new moon of Syawal to occur after sunset on April 20.
However, the International Astronomy Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) predicted that the first day of Aidilfitri will fall on April 21.
Updated School Holiday Schedule for Hari Raya 2023
With the announcement, here are the updated holiday schedule for Hari Raya 2023.
Group A
Group A states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Festival Holidays
Group A
Notes
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Thursday, 20 April 2023
2 extra days
Group B
Group B states are Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Festival Holidays
Group B
Notes
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Thursday, 20 April 2023
Friday, 21 April 2023
3 extra days
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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 German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach just admit that the COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous, and cause many serious injuries?!
Take a look at the viral photo, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Karl Lauterbach Just Admitted That Vaccines Are Dangerous!
People are sharing a video of German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach apparently admitting that the COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous, and cause serious injuries in one in every 10,000 doses!
Steve Kirsch : This is the German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach admitting that the COVID vaccine causes serious injury in 1 in 10,000 doses. But the actual rate for serious injury is ~100X more than that; closer to 1 in 100 doses. For death, it is ~1 in 1,000 doses. But this is progress!
Aussie17 : SHIT HITS THE FAN IN GERMANY😱
Health Minister admits vaccines injuries! 1 in 10000 doses (not people) Says: “ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING” “Why did you claim it was safe and effective?” – “It was a failed tweet!” “First of all, I didn’t sign the contracts!” “BioNTech-EXORBITANT PROFITS!”
Jay Bhattacharya : Beleaguered German health minister, Karl Lauterbach, admits “what he had long denied, namely ugly vaccination side effects. With this change in tune, he gets both his boss and himself in trouble.”
Truth : Karl Lauterbach Did Not Admit Vaccines Are Dangerous!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Viral Video Was Edited
First, let me just point out that the viral video that was being shared by the likes of Steve Kirsch, etc. was edited to convey a different perception from the original video.
The viral video was edited from a segment of the heute journal (Today’s Journal) show by the German television network, ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), that was posted on 13 March 2023.
The segment featuring German Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach starts at around 8:07 and ends at 15:03, lasting just under 7 minutes.
But for full context, you should start at 3:54 for the full segment on vaccine injuries, which lasts for over 11 minutes.
The viral video lasts only 45 seconds, naturally taking out all context of what Karl Lauterbach said in that long segment.
Fact #2 : Karl Lauterbach’s Words Were Taken Out Of Context
If you watch the full segment, you will see that the viral video was edited to frame Karl Lauterbach’s words out of context. In this part, he pointed out that severe vaccine injuries are very rare.
To avoid any false impressions, I would point out here that, according to the latest research data, severe vaccine injuries are very rare. The incidence is less than one in 10,000 vaccinations. So it’s not like injury is common.
But because our understanding of adverse events is now getting clearer and clearer, it should be possible to more quickly identify those who are affected, so we can help them more quickly.
When the ZDF moderator, Christian Sievers, asked him why he continued to say in the summer of 2021 that the vaccines had no side effects, this was what Karl Lauterbach said:
That was an exaggeration that I once made in an ill-considered tweet, but it did not represent my true position.
On numerous occasions, even before then, I spoke about the side effects of immunisation.
Karl Lauterbach also pointed out that the severe adverse effects seen after vaccination are similar with the symptoms of long COVID.
I’ve always been aware of the numbers. They have remained relatively stable. These vaccines have been used worldwide. One in 10,000: some may say that’s a lot, and some may say it’s not that much.
But the fact is, it’s a vaccination that protects against very serious illness. And, by the way, it very often also reduces the risk of long COVID, which has similarities with what we have been seeing here with post-vax syndrome.
So benefits of vaccination outweighs the risks. But yes, one in 10,000, that’s the incidence of severe adverse effects.
Fact #3 : Reported Adverse Effects Not Necessarily Vaccine Injuries
Karl Lauterbach said that severe vaccine injuries were reported at a rate of about 1 in 10,000 vaccinations. That’s the REPORTED rate, not the actual number of confirmed vaccine injuries.
Back in July 2022, the German Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit) posted a reported side effect rate of 1 in 5,000 vaccinations, which was pounced on by anti-vaccination activist groups like Children’s Health Defense (CHD).
Then, as now, the German authorities were referring to the “reporting rate” for “suspected reports”. These reports have to be verified, as they may not be caused by the COVID-19 vaccines at all.
While the German system isn’t as open to abuse like VAERS, or the UK Yellow Card system, they include reports that have nothing to do with the vaccine. All pharmacovigilance databases that collect such reports warn that their data and reports cannot be considered evidence of any kind, because :
they may contain duplicated information and/or reports
the reported event may be caused by an illness, like a COVID-19 infection for example,
the reported event may be caused by a different drug taken by the patient at the same time
they have not been assessed by health authorities to ascertain if it’s even “biologically plausible”
German health officials clarified that those reports have not been verified, and no causal connection with the vaccination has been established.
Die Melderate bezieht sich auf alle Verdachtsmeldungen, d. h. ein ursächlicher Zusammenhang mit der Impfung ist mit der Verdachtsmeldung noch nicht bestätigt, es wird erstmal ein zeitlicher Zusammenhang festgestellt.
The report rate refers to all suspicious reports, i.e. a causal connection with the vaccination has not yet been confirmed with the report of suspicion, a time connection is first established.
Fact #4 : COVID-19 Vaccines Greatly Reduce Hospitalisation + Death
What anti-vaccination activists don’t want you to know is that – the vaccines have been proven to greatly reduce hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.
In Germany, RKI stats show that even as COVID-19 infections rates surged, vaccinated people were far less likely to be hospitalised from COVID-19, compared to the unvaccinated.
The crux of the ZDF segment is about how long it takes people to get their vaccine injuries verified, highlighting two cases in which the victims had to wait a year or so to get the vaccine injuries certified, only to qualify for a pittance in state assistance. Hence, these two victims brought on civil suits against BioNTech and AstraZeneca for their vaccine injuries.
In that segment, Karl Lauterbach basically promised to speed up the process of verifying vaccine injuries, and to improve treatment options for those who are truly injured by the vaccines.
You will note that Lauterbach does not say that Germans should stop getting the vaccines. That’s because, as he pointed out in the video – the benefits of vaccination far outweighs the risks.
Fact #6 : Karl Lauterbach Said It’s Better For State To Assume Liability
While Karl Lauterbach did explain that he didn’t sign the contract approving the “exclusion of liability”, his words were twisted out of context in the edited video.
Here is the full transcript of his reply, after he was asked about the exclusion of liability in the contracts signed with vaccine companies.
Firstly, I wasn’t party to the agreements at that time, but they’ve become my responsibility by virtue of my office.
And I think that’s due to the situation at that time. Back then, they wanted to use the vaccines as soon as possible, and so the state assume liability.
Perhaps that was the right thing to do, because it’s better for the state to bear liability, than to face protracted settlement negotiations or lawsuits with the manufacturers.
It should be noted that, even though the pharmaceutical companies have received liability waivers for the COVID-19 vaccines, governments have set up compensation funds to cover those liabilities.
As Lauterbach pointed out – this is probably better for everyone, as it avoids long, costly lawsuits.
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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.
Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh just launched SEEKscapes – a youth and career development initiative by JobStreet!
Hannah Yeoh Launches SEEKscapes by JobStreet!
On Saturday, 4 May 2023, the Malaysia Minister of Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh launched SEEKscapes – a youth and career development initiative by JobStreet.
Taking place over two full days – 4 and 5 March 2023 – at the Kuala Lumpur Sentul Depot, SEEKscapes is organised by JobStreet by SEEK – Malaysia’s leading employment platform, with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
JobStreet Managing Director Vic Sithasanan described the event as a “shining example of a public-private partnership” aimed at providing a platform for youths to discover and unlock their potential whilst providing jobs and career opportunities, while elevating Malaysia’s competitiveness as a nation.
SEEKscapes is not your typical job fair but a nation-building initiative for youths to further “discover themselves” and get insights into their personal development, while exploring career opportunities suited to their individual passions and strengths.
We are extremely grateful to YB Hannah Yeoh and her team at the Ministry of Youth and Sports for all the guidance and support they have given us to ensure a highly successful and productive event for attendees.
JobStreet understands that youths who are stepping into the workforce for the first time may find this journey of discovery to be daunting and at times, confusing. So the SEEKscapes event was developed to engage with the youths, as well as provide them with a platform to learn and understand their personalities in a fun and refreshing way.
On arriving at SEEKscapes, attendees will start with a personality quiz that will help generate a digital infographic about themselves, and some suitable career suggestions.
They will also be able to engage with Malaysian companies on the lookout for talent, like Teleport, Sports Direct, Genting Malaysia, Big Bad Wolf Books, and Sunway Berhad.
To keep things fun, there will be live performances, dance groups, live music, fashion shows, as well as free drinks provided by JobStreet.
Head over to SEEKscapes by JobStreet from 4-5 March 2023 at:
Kuala Lumpur Sentul Depot @ Workshop1 Jalan Strachan, Sentul West, 51100 Kuala Lumpur
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke addresses the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the new digital road tax and driving licence initiatives!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the adoption of both a digital road tax (motor vehicle licence), as well as a digital driving licence!
The first phase of this digital transformation initiative will involve private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens, and certain groups of motorists.
Instead of physical road tax stickers, or physical driving licences, Malaysian citizens can now make use of digital versions using the new MyJPJ mobile app, or through the JPJ online portal.
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
Malaysia Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence FAQ!
Almost immediately after the announcement, Malaysian netizens had a ton of questions and criticisms about the new digital transformation of the road tax and driving licence.
So Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke addressed the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the new digital road tax and driving licence initiatives!
For the convenience of those who prefer to read the questions and answers in English, here is my translation of his original FAQ in Bahasa Malaysia.
Is it mandatory to download “MyJPJ” apps?
No. This is just one of the options to obtain the digital copy of the road tax, and driving licence.
Is it mandatory to download the “MyJPJ” app?
No. This is just one of the options to obtain the digital copy of the road tax, and driving licence.
If I cannot download the MyJPJ app and cannot show my digital road tax, will I be fined?
No. The enforcement agencies can confirm the status of your road tax and driving licence through the system in the enforcement gadget.
Do we still have to pay for the road tax and driving licence after their validity period ends?
Yes, you still need to pay. Only the [road tax] sticker does not need to be attached.
What happens if senior citizens do not smartphones, or in areas with no Internet access?
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.
You can also use the Print Screen feature on your smartphone to get a copy of your digital road tax, or digital driving licence. Finally, you can also print your digital road tax, or digital driving licence.
How do we show the digital road tax if the car does not belong to the driver?
That’s easy. The digital road tax can be printed and stored in the car. The owner can also share a print screen of the digital road tax with the driver.
In any case, it is not an offence if you cannot show the road tax. The enforcement agencies can check the details in their gadgets.
Why can’t I log into MyJPJ since this morning?
As with any new system, many people are naturally trying to register at the same time. There is very high traffic.
Can we still use the road tax sticker and driving licence card?
Yes, 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.
JPJ and police enforcement officers will be given a smartphone gadget with access to the SmED system. They will use the SmED system to check details of the driver and/or vehicle, using:
car plate number
MyKad number
How long will this interim digitalisation time frame last?
The Transport Ministry will give motorists until the end of 2023 at the very minimum, to register and try out the new digital road tax and digital driving licence.
During this interim period, the digital road tax and digital driving licence are still optional.
How long will this digitalisation process save government money and benefit the people?
The government will save on printing the road tax stickers and physical driving licences. This initiative is expected to save JPJ about RM 96 million a year, and the money saved will be used internally to further develop and upgrade the MyJPJ mobile app.
The public will save money, avoid queuing at JPJ branches, avoid paying third party service providers (like MyEG) or payment gateways, or paying for the delivery of their road tax stickers.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia has officially adopted the digital driving licence (e-LLM) for private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Driving Licence In MyJPJ App!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective immediately, Malaysian citizens no longer need to use a physical driving licence (Lesen Memandu Malaysia, or LLM for short).
Effective 10 February 2023, Malaysian citizens can sign up for their e-LLM digital driving licence through the MyJPJ mobile app, which is available in:
Here are two screenshots of the MyJPJ mobile app, showing the digital driving licence and whether it is still valid, or has expired.
In addition to a digital example of the typical physical card, it has a QR code for enforcement officers to verify. So claims by some netizens that this can be easily photoshopped is nonsensical.
Please note that the e-LLM digital driving licences are optional. You can continue to use your physical driving licence. This is merely a new way that gives you access to a digital copy of your driving licence, and your road tax.
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
I welcome all drivers and vehicle owners to transition to the digital platform. With this, the congestion and long lines at JPJ counters will be reduced.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Alternatively, motorists can use the JPJ mySIKAP portal to obtain their e-LLM digital driving licence, which can be printed. A screenshot can also be taken of the e-LLM driving licence to be shown to enforcement officers.
However, it is not an offence if you cannot show enforcement officers your digital driving licence. Police and JPJ enforcers can use their own devices to check your driving licence.
Finally, JPJ will continue to offer the physical driving licence to motorists who still prefer it, or need one to drive overseas. These physical cards will be available at JPJ branches.
The alternative methods of using a screenshot and/or printed certificate are useful for drivers who are not tech-savvy. They can get their family members to help them register and print their digital driving licence.
And of course, physical driving licences are still available for those who prefer the “old school” ways, or need them to drive overseas.
Physical Driving Licence Still Required For Some Motorists
Please note that the move to a digital driving licence is currently limited to selected Malaysian citizens. Holders of these driving licences must continue to bring their physical cards.
Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL)
Vocational Driving Licence (PSV / GDL / KON)
Malaysia Driving Licence for Foreigners
Foreign Driving Licence (IDP)
Loke said that enforcement action will continue, and the police and JPJ enforcers will use their own devices to check on the driver’s road tax status.
I want to stress that enforcement action will continue to be taken against anyone found driving a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle or driving licence, in line with the Road Transport Act.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
e-LLM Digital Driving Licence Initiative : Good Or Bad?
While some people are already complaining about the hassle of opening a mobile app, or printing a physical copy, the move to digitising the driving licence is inevitable.
Digitising the driving licence would mean you can now renew it online, or through the MyJPJ app, saving you time and the hassle of going to a JPJ branch or post office. You can now renew your driving licence from the comfort of your own home / office, at any time of the day!
Moving to a digital driving licence also means you no longer have to worry about losing your physical licence, or paying for a replacement! All that is not only history with the digital driving licence, you can actually print multiple copies!
As for claims that anyone with Photoshop can create their own digital driving licence, any police or JPJ enforcement officer can easily verify if your driving licence is legitimate by checking the JPJ database. That’s why there is now a QR code.
In fact, the digitisation of driving licences will make it easier for enforcement officers. They don’t even need to check your MyJPJ app. They can simply use their own devices to quickly determine if you have a valid driving licence, even if you forgot to bring yours!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia has officially adopted the digital motor vehicle licence (e-LKM), removing the need for physical road tax stickers on vehicle windshields!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Road Tax : Windshield Sticker Not Required!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective immediately, private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens no longer need to display their motor vehicle licence (Lesen Kenderaan Motor, or LKM for short), which is colloquially known as the “road tax”.
Effective 10 February 2023, the Malaysia Transport Ministry will no longer enforce Section 20 of the Road Transport Act, which states that motor vehicle licences must be fixed to, and exhibited, on all vehicles.
Any summons issued for not displaying the road tax sticker will be classified as “No Further Action”.
In line with this initiative, the provision under Section 20 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) where “each vehicle registration licence must be affixed and displayed on the relevant vehicle will no longer be enforced for the category of owners under the first phase.
This exemption will be gazetted under the authority given to the Minister of Transport under Section 127(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
This initiative will be implemented in stages, with the first phase involving individual private vehicles, including motorcycles, owned by Malaysians.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
During this first phase, other vehicles must still display their road tax / motor vehicle licences, including:
private vehicles owned by private companies
private vehicles owned by foreigners
commercial vehicles
public service vehicles
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
I welcome all drivers and vehicle owners to transition to the digital platform. With this, the congestion and long lines at JPJ counters will be reduced.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Please note that the e-LKM digital road tax is optional. You can continue to use your physical road tax sticker. This is merely a new way that gives you access to a digital copy of your driving licence, and your road tax.
Private Vehicle Road Tax Now Available Through MyJPJ App!
Please note that this does not mean the road tax has been abolished. You still need to pay for the road tax. It is merely the physical motor vehicle licence that has been abolished.
But do not think you don’t have to pay for your Road Tax anymore. You still have to pay for it
I want to stress that enforcement action will continue to be taken against anyone found driving a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle or driving licence, in line with the Road Transport Act.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Instead of physical road tax stickers, motorists will now obtain their digital road tax certificates (e-LKM) through the MyJPJ mobile app, which is available in:
Motorists can also use the app to show enforcement officers their e-LKM digital road tax certificates. However, this is not necessary.
Loke said that it is not an offence if you cannot show enforcement officers your digital road tax certificate. On top of that, the police and JPJ enforcers can use their own devices to check on the vehicle’s road tax status.
Alternatively, motorists can use the JPJ mySIKAP portal to obtain their e-LKM digital road tax certificates, which can be printed. A screenshot can also be taken of the e-LKM to be shown to enforcement officers.
Finally, JPJ will continue to offer the printed sticker to motorists who still prefer to install it on their cars. These printed stickers will be available at JPJ branches.
The alternative methods of using a screenshot and/or printed certificate are useful if the driver is not the actual owner of the car. And of course, the physical road tax stickers are still available for those who prefer the “old school” ways.
e-LKM Digital Road Tax Initiative : Good Or Bad?
While some people are already complaining about the hassle of opening a mobile app, or printing a physical copy, the move to digitising the motor vehicle licence / road tax is inevitable.
Digitising the motor vehicle licence would mean you can now renew it online, or through the MyJPJ app, saving you time and the hassle of going to a JPJ branch and queuing up.
Even if you have to print a physical copy, it is still cheaper than paying for MYEG delivery of the road tax, or actually spending your time and money to get the sticker.
And did you forget what a chore it was to install the road tax sticker every year? We all had to very carefully peel the sticker the right way, or risk tearing it!
All that will be history now that we are moving to digital certificates that we can retrieve online, from the MyJPJ app, or print anytime we want, from the comfort of our own home / office!
As for the claim that the digital motor vehicle certificate will make it easier for people to steal cars – that’s just absurd. People have been stealing vehicles even with a physical road tax sticker. Moving to a digital certificate won’t make it easier for thieves to steal your vehicle!
In fact, now that the road taxes / motor vehicle licences are digitised, it will be easier for enforcement officers as they can now check your vehicle’s validity using their own devices. They no longer need to peek at your road tax sticker.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke just announced a lorry ban, and that seven major offences will be non-compoundable this Chinese New Year!
CNY 2023 : Traffic Offenders Will Be Sent To Court!
On Wednesday, 17 January 2023, the Transport Minister of Malaysia, Anthony Loke, announced that seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable throughout the Chinese New Year festive season.
Motorists who commit these seven offences will no longer be allowed to just pay a fine, but will instead be referred to the courts.
Cutting queue
Overtaking on double lines
Running the red light
Driving over the speed limit
Using mobile phones while driving
Not wearing a seat belt or helmet
Driving on the emergency lane
The seven major traffic offenses are cutting queue, overtaking on double lines, disobeying the red light signal, driving over the speed limit, use of mobile phones while driving, not wearing a seat belt or helmet and driving on the emergency lane.
There will be no compound issues for these offences. Offenders will be referred to court.
To ensure stricter enforcement this year, about 2,000 JPJ enforcement officers will be deployed this Chinese New Year to reduce accidents and deaths.
He also announced that lorries and other heavy vehicles will be banned from the roads during the Chinese New Year festive season to reduce traffic congestion. The ban on heavy vehicles will last four days:
two days from January 20 to 21
two days from January 24 to 25
This prohibition is intended to avoid the risk of road accidents due to mixed traffic flow between heavy vehicles and light vehicles on the road, highways, apart from avoiding traffic jams.
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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 photo of Italian minister Maria Elena Boschi exposing her underwear during her swearing-in ceremony has gone viral again!
Take a look at the viral photo, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Maria Elena Boschi Exposed Her Knickers During Swearing-In Ceremony!
A photo of Italian minister Maria Elena Boschi exposing her underwear during her swearing-in ceremony keeps going viral on WhatsApp, and social media like Facebook and Twitter!
It’s often accompanied by comments like these :
This is the Italian Minister Maria Elena Boschi signing up for her new government position.
In my humble opinion, it is the wrong choice of shoe colour to wear with that suit in such an important occasion !
The new Italian minister, Maria Elena Boschi signing up for her new government. In G-string we stand. Lol
Gotta love the Italians. Italian Minister Maria Elena Boschi signing up for her new government position. Some might argue for a different choice of shoe color, but that would be quibbling.
Truth : Maria Elena Boschi Did NOT Expose Her Knickers At All!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and shared by misogynists who cannot stand a woman in power, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Maria Elena Boschi Was Sworn In On 22 February 2014
First, let me just point out that the viral photo isn’t new, even though it just went viral again in 2022.
The photo first went viral in February 2014, after Maria Elena Boschi was sworn into office as the Minister for Constitutional Reform.
Since then, it has repeatedly gone viral again and again over the years, each time with people claiming that she was “just” sworn into office. No, that happened in 2014.
Fact #2 : Maria Elena Boschi Did Not Expose Her Knickers
The viral photo was edited from the original photo taken during Maria Elena Boschi’s 2014 swearing-in ceremony. Here is a comparison I created of the original photo (left), and the edited photo (right).
Fact #3 : Maria Elena Boschi Faced Sexist Remarks
The photoshopped thong photo was not the only misogynist insult Maria Elena Boschi had to put up with. She was mocked for wearing the electric blue trouser suit:
Italian newspaper, Cormier della Sera described the suit as having a colour “unknown in nature”, while La Stampa said that it resembled something that might be worn by “a Marvel superhero like Captain America”.
La Stampa also criticised her trousers, saying that they were so tight that “many were reminded of Pippa Middleton’s silhouette” when she bent over to sign her name.
In 2016, Il Fatto Quotidiano would publish a sexist cartoon of Boschi on its front page, showing her thighs prominently, with headlines that played on the Italian word for “thighs” – cosce.
The Italian media appeared to be focused on how she looked, and not so much on her credentials – she was a lawyer, a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2013, and a minister who pushed through a complicated series of reforms to the Italian Senate.
Fortunately, she has her supporters who call her by her acronym, MEB.
Fact #4 : Viral Photo Also Used To Mock Melania Trump
Oddly enough, the same photo was used to mock Melania Trump, when she was still the US First Lady, with comments like these:
This is YALL’S FIRST LADY!!! AND THEY GOT THE NERVE TO TALK ABOUT FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA wearing sleeveless dresses??? #melaniatrump #pornstar
Needless to say – that was not Melania Trump. Regardless of how we feel about her, it is still misogynistic.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia has ordered the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, which will arrive later this month!
Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Coming To Malaysia!
On 31 October 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the Ministry of Health (KKM) placed orders for the new Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
There is no additional cost, as Malaysia is amending its existing order for the Pfizer vaccine, to the newer bivalent vaccine. The new Pfizer bivalent vaccine is expected to arrive in Malaysia later this month.
The original vaccine is effective against Omicron and the XBB (sub-variant). However, I would like to inform you that Malaysia has placed orders for the bivalent vaccine from Pfizer.
The bivalent vaccine targets both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the newer Omicron subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5.
However, people who are in the high-risk categories are advised to get their booster dose, instead of waiting for the Pfizer bivalent vaccine to arrive.
He also encouraged those travelling overseas for work or holidays, to get their booster dose.
Malaysia is recording a small wave of XBB subvariant infections, which had hit Singapore earlier.
Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine : A Quick Primer!
Pfizer and BioNTech tested both an Omicron-specific monovalent vaccine, as well as a bivalent mix like Moderna. They also tested them in both the standard 30 µg dose, and a higher 60 µg dose.
The Omicron-only booster dose offered the strongest immune response against the Omicron variant – 2X to 3X higher than the original COMIRNATY vaccine.
Their bivalent booster dose candidate, on the other hand, offered 1.5X to 2X higher antibody levels against the Omicro variant than the original COMIRNATY vaccine.
However, most health authorities prefer the bivalent version as it will boost protection against the original virus, as well as the Omicron variant at the same time.
Pfizer Vaccine Type
GMR
(vs. Omicron)
60 µg Monovalent
3.15
30 µg Monovalent
2.23
60 µg Bivalent
1.97
30 µg Bivalent
1.56
30 µg Original Vaccine
Baseline
One month after administration, both monovalent and bivalent Pfizer vaccine candidates offered significantly higher neutralising antibodies against the Omicron BA.1 variant.
Pfizer Vaccine Type
GMT
(vs. Omicron)
60 µg Monovalent
19.6X
30 µg Monovalent
13.5X
60 µg Bivalent
10.9X
30 µg Bivalent
9.1X
Without Booster
Baseline
Pfizer also said that both vaccine candidates demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability profile, similar to the original Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
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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 Russian government was just caught red-handed fabricating evidence that Ukraine was preparing a dirty bomb!
Take a look at their claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Russian Gov : Ukraine Is Creating A Dirty Bomb!
The Russian government has recently been promoting the claim that Ukraine is creating a dirty bomb.
On Sunday, October 23, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his counterparts in the US, Britain, France and Turkey that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb.
He then repeated his claim in a phone call with the Indian defence minister on Wednesday, October 26.
To convince the world of that dastardly plot, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Russia) shared “evidence” on October 24 that Ukraine has “directly ordered” two organisations to create a dirty bomb!
💬 Russian Defence Ministry: According to the information at hand, two organisations of Ukraine have been ❗ directly ordered to create the so-called #dirtybomb.
☢️ The works are at their concluding stage.
Note : We added a Misleading overlay to avoid these photos from being further misused.
The Russian government has done nothing but lie and lie, from before it invaded Ukraine until today, and this is no different.
Here are the reasons why this is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by the Russian government.
Fact #1 : Radioactive Waste Photo Was From Slovenia In 2010
The Slovenian government came out to publicly call out the Russian government in fabricating their evidence of a Ukrainian dirty bomb.
It identified this photo as a Slovenian Radioactive Waste Management Agency (ARAO) photo from 2010, that had been “misused and used without the knowledge of ARAO”.
The objects are simply smoke detectors placed inside plastic bags labelled Radioaktivno, which is radioactive in Slovenian. For context, radioactive in Ukrainian is Радіоактивний (Radioaktyvnyy).
The photo was created by ARAO and used as a “stock image” for their presentations and does not actually contain any radioactive materials.
Since its 2010 release, this ARAO stock image has been used in a 2014 presentation by the Center for Eco-Toxicological Research in Montenegro, and a 2016 story about Mexican authorities finding a stolen truck with radioactive materials.
Fact #2 : Dirty Bomb Design Was From 2016
The schematic of what Russian military intelligence claimed was a Ukrainian dirty bomb was actually expropriated from a Radiology Key article that posted it on 1 June 2016.
This is simply a stock diagram to explain how a dirty bomb – also known as a radioactive dispersal device (RDD), works.
It also skews more towards the terrorism aspect, hence the use of fertiliser, a metal drum and a time fuse. Military forces would not resort to such ad hoc designs.
Honestly, it looks less like actual “military intelligence” and more like whoever came up with this just did an image search for “radioactive dispersal device” and voila!
Fact #3 : Scientific Research Reactors Are In Russia
The scientific research reactors that the Russian government identified as sources for the Ukrainian dirty bomb are both located in Russia.
As Benjamin Strick, Director of Investigations for the Centre for Information Resilience pointed out:
the photo on the left is from the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Station in the Sverdlovsk Oblast in Russia
the photo on the right is a flipped screenshot of the Novosibirsk Scientific and Industrial Complex, also in Russia.
If Russia wants to create a dirty bomb, it would possibly need help from both facilities, but certainly not the Ukrainians.
Fact #4 : Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Is Under Russian Control
The top left photo shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which was captured by Russia on 4 March 2022.
On 12 March 2022, it was placed under control of the Russian state nuclear power company, Rosatom. While the Zaporizhzhia NPP continues to be operated by Ukrainian staff, it has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Therefore, it would be absurd to claim that the Ukrainians would use nuclear material from this power plant to create a dirty bomb.
Fact #5 : Detonating A Dirty Bomb Would Contaminate Ukraine For Years
Russian claims that the Ukrainians would detonate a dirty bomb on their own land are ludicrous, because:
a) The Ukrainians are winning
Ukrainian counteroffensives in the south and east are working – they are winning back land previously occupied by Russian forces.
It would not make sense to detonate a dirty bomb, which would contaminate the land and stymie their counteroffensives.
b) The lands would be contaminated for years, if not longer
Dirty bombs are nothing more than conventional bombs paired with radioactive materials. When they explode, they disperse and contaminate the surrounding area with the radioactive material.
Detonating one in Ukraine would contaminate their own lands for many years, even decades. Why on Earth would they do that?
Ukraine is keenly aware of the dangers of radioactivity, having bore the brunt of Soviet incompetence during the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident that resulted in 2,600 km2 of Ukrainian land uninhabitable for the next 300 years or more.
Fact #6 : This Is Just Russian Propaganda
This is just another example of Russian propaganda, which is shoddy as usual.
Here is a selection of Russian and Ukraine War propaganda that have been proven false:
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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.
Passengers are no longer required to wear a face mask onboard planes flying to and from Malaysia! Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia : Face Mask No Longer Mandatory On Planes!
On 28 September 2022, the Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced that passengers are no longer required to wear a face mask on planes flying to and from Malaysia, except when they are compulsory in destination countries.
With immediate effect (28 September 2022), passengers onboard commercial flights are no longer required to wear a face mask.
This move follows the Ministry’s earlier move to relax face mask requirements in public indoor spaces on 7 September 2022.
Based on the current assessment of the Covid-19 situation and taking into account the latest requirements, the ministry has decided that face masks are no longer mandatory when on board aircraft.
– Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysia Minister of Health
However, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) still strongly encourages the use of face masks for these groups of passengers :
individuals with symptoms like fever, cough and flu
high-risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women
those travelling with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children
In addition, passengers may still be required by the destination country to wear a face mask. So bring along a face mask just in case, even if you prefer not to wear one during your flight.
The requirement to wear a face mask on an aeroplane is still subject to conditions set by the country being visited.
Face Mask No Longer Mandatory On Malaysia Airlines + AirAsia Planes!
Following the Malaysian government’s announcement, both Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia announced the next day that their passengers will no longer be required to wear a face mask, with immediate effect.
Malaysia Airlines
Effective immediately, passengers of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings, and AMAL are no longer required to wear face masks onboard, except where compulsory in destination countries.
The relaxation of the face mask mandate follows the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s guideline on 28 September 2022 to remove the mask requirement onboard commercial aircraft.
The use of face masks is however strongly recommended for the following group of passengers:
Passengers with symptoms such as fever, cough and cold.
High-risk passengers such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases.
Passengers with low immunity and pregnant mothers; and
Passengers who travel with high-risk people such as elderly and children.
All MAG airlines are committed to providing a safe and smooth end-to-end travel experience in accordance with its MHFlySafe commitment, allowing customers to fly confidently.
Airline protective measures include:
The cabin air circulation system, where cabin air is refreshed 20-30 times an hour
The use of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that can filter 99.9% of airborne contaminants, including viruses and bacteria.
Frequent aircraft cleaning disinfection following guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the World Health Organization
Aircrafts are operated by fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew.
AirAsia
Following the announcement by the Malaysian government that face masks are no longer mandatory on flights, AirAsia Malaysia (AK) has exempted the use of face masks on its flights effective immediately.
The use of face masks on board flights is optional for AirAsia Malaysia (AK) guests, unless they are travelling to or from destinations that require a face mask. Guests who wish to wear a face mask on board may continue to do so.
As safety is our highest priority, AirAsia will continue to operate with the strictest safety standards. All our aircraft are equipped with powerful HEPA filters that remove 99.99% of dust particles and airborne contaminants including viruses and bacteria. The cabin air is completely refreshed every three minutes to ensure the highest possible quality of air throughout your flight.
We will continue to update the guidelines on the use of face masks on board for all other markets that we operate in as we return to the skies.
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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 wearing of face mask indoors will now be optional, but strongly encouraged for:
public places that are crowded like night markets, stadiums, shopping malls and places of worship.
individuals with symptoms like fever, cough and flu
high-risk individuals like senior citizens, people suffering from chronic illness, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant mothers
individuals conducting any kind of activity with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children
However, premise owners will be allowed to decide whether customers will be required to wear a face mask to enter their premises.
When Wearing Face Mask Indoor Is Mandatory
There are a few instances in which wearing a face mask is still mandatory indoors:
individuals who test positive for COVID-19
individuals using public transportation like bus, train, taxi (including e-hailing rides), airplane, as well as bus and vans transporting school children or workers.
when in health facilities like hospitals, clinics, care centre, haemodialysis centre, and so on.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) also reminds the public that while the face mask mandate for outdoors was abolished on 1 May 2022, it still encourages people to wear a face mask when:
in public places that are crowded
when you have symptoms like fever, cough and flu
if you are a high-risk individual
if you are planning to undertake activities with high-risk individuals like senior citizens and children
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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.
Japan is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century – its government has FINALLY decided to kill off floppy disks!
Japan Is Still Using Floppy Disks + CD-ROM!
Most of the world began transitioning from floppy disks to USB flash drives and rewritable CDs (yes, they exist!) in the late 1990s.
By the 2000s, floppy disk sales tanked globally … except in Japan, where they continued to thrive.
That’s partly because government agencies in Japan continue to require data to be submitted using floppy disks or CD-ROM.
So while the world moved to USB flash drives capable of storing gigabytes of data, Japan remained loyal to floppy disk with its storage capacity of 1.44 MB or 2.88 MB.
Today, Japan is arguably the only country in the world where kids do not stare blankly if you mention “floppy disk”.
Japan To FINALLY Kill Off Floppy Disks + CD-ROM!
On 31 August 2022, Taro Kono – the Minister of Digital Transformation of Japan, announced that the government will rewrite rules requiring the use of floppy disks or CD-ROM.
This is part of the Japanese government’s plan to introduce a national identification number for its citizens, called MyNumber.
MyNumber will be the lynchpin for many of the Japanese government’s future digital services, and will require significant amounts of data to be uploaded to its online databases.
That was when Kono’s department found more than 1,900 regulations regulating how data should be shared with the government, and many of them required the use of floppy disks or CD-ROMs. Even worse – uploading data over the Internet was forbidden for security reasons.
So the Ministry of Digital Transformation will have to fix these regulations before both the Japanese government and its citizens can rid themselves of 1970s-era technology once and for all.
Digital Minister declares a war on floppy discs. There are about 1900 government procedures that requires business community to use discs, i. e. floppy disc, CD, MD, etc to submit applications and other forms. Digital Agency is to change those regulations so you can use online.
But updating those old regulations is only part of the solution. Kono still has to deal with poor digital literacy, as well as the bureaucratic and conservative culture in Japan which are obstacles to its digital transformation.
Some Japanese government officials continue to insist that floppy disks offer a degree of security and authenticity that an email just cannot. Yoichi Ono – a Tokyo official – claimed in 2021 that floppy disks “almost never broke or lost data”.
That is not true, as many tech old-timers who had to put up with a corrupt disk or two in a multi-disk installation can attest to. But it speaks to the great reluctance in many Japanese organisations to do away with old tech.
Unbelievably, many Japanese companies and government agencies continue to rely significantly on an even older technology from the past – the fax machine.
“I’m looking to get rid of the fax machine, and I still plan to do that,” Kano told a news conference this week.
He will be fighting against hundreds of government officials who claim that “banishing fax machines would be impossible” because of “security of sensitive information” and “anxiety over the communication environment (email)”.
I wish Minister Kono all the best in his attempt to drag Japan into the 21st century.
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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 Kelantan palace ban Malaysia Chief Justice Tengku Maimun and her husband after she ruled to uphold the guilty verdict on former Prime Minister Najib Razak?
Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!
Claim : Kelantan Palace Banned Malaysia Chief Justice + Her Husband!
An online portal went viral after claiming that Malaysia Chief Justice Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat and her husband are both banned from the Kelantan Palace, after she (and four other justices) ruled to uphold the guilty verdict on former Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The online portal also said that even though Chief Justice Tengku Maimun hailed from Kelantan, the Sultan of Kelantan Muhammad V refuses to meet with her or her husband, insinuating that he is displeased with her verdict.
That online portal also claimed that two other persons were similarly blacklisted from the Kelantan Palace, including a politician who is now a government minister.
Truth : Kelantan Palace Did Not Ban Malaysia Chief Justice + Her Husband!
This appears to be FAKE NEWS created by that online portal to increase page views by generating controversy, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : There Is No Such Ban, Officially
We do not know how the Sultan of Kelantan feels about former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s guilty verdict being upheld (again).
However, the Kelantan Palace has never announced such a ban, so officially, there is no such ban.
Fact #2 : Kelantan Palace Refuted The Claim As False
On 26 August 2022, the Kelantan Royal Household Comptroller, Datuk Nik Mohd Shafriman Nik Hassan issued an official statement refuting the claim as false.
Here is their official statement in Bahasa Melayu, and our translation in English :
26 Ogos 2022 – Istana Kelantan dengan tegas menyangkal dakwaan sebuah portal yang mengatakan bahawa Ketua Hakim Negara, Yang Amat Arif Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat dan suami dilarang ke Istana Kelantan. Kenyataan ini adalah sama sekali tidak benar dan tidak berasas. Tidak pernah ada larangan seperti yangdidakwa dikeluarkan oleh Istana Kelantan.
Istana Kelantan memandang serius tohmahan berupa fitnah seperti ini dan menyarankan agar pengamal media merujuk kepada Istana terlebih dahulu mengenai kesahihan apa-apa berita sebelum disiarkan bag mengelak dari mengelirukan masyarakat.
Pihak Istana aka mempertimbangkan untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap portal berkenaan sekiranya fitnah tidak berasas ini berlarutan.
26 August 2022 – The Kelantan Palace firmly refutes the claim of a portal that claimed that the Chief Justice, The Most Learned Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat and her husband are banned from the Kelantan Palace. This statement is completely untrue and baseless. No such ban as allegedly has been issued by the Kelantan Palace.
The Kelantan Palace takes this kind of slanderous accusation seriously and urges media practitioners to refer to the Palace beforehand on the veracity of any news before publishing to avoid causing public confusion.
The Palace will consider taking legal action against the portal if this baseless slander continues.
Fact #3 : Entry To Kelantan Palace By Invitation Only
The Kelantan Palace is both a royal institution and a private residence, not a public venue. Therefore, there is really no need to institute a ban.
Technically, everyone is “banned” from entering the Kelantan Palace, except for those who are invited in, or allowed to enter on official business.
Even though Chief Justice Tengku Maimun is from Kelantan, she has no reason to go to the Kelantan Palace unless she receives an invitation by the Sultan of Kelantan.
Just like how you only invite people you want to your own home, the Kelantan Palace does not need to ban anyone. It only needs to invite people it wants.
Fact #4 : This Is Just Fake News To Drive Traffic
This is yet another example of fake news created by online blogs and portals to drive traffic and increase page views for ad money.
Here are examples of other “viral” fake news that we debunked earlier:
Please be wary when you read viral celebrity news like this. Be sure to check if they are real before sharing!
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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.
Truth : Taiwan Gov Officials Are NOT Japanese Spies!
None of the Taiwan government officials mentioned in the viral post are Japanese citizens or have Japanese heritage. They are also not Japanese spies or secret agents.
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and shared by pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Lee Teng-hui Was First Taiwan-Born President
Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was born in 1923, during Japanese colonial rule. Like other Taiwanese under Japanese rule, he was given a Japanese name. However, it was Iwasato Masao (岩里 政男／いわさと まさお), not Noboru Iwasato.
Lee Teng-hui was also not of Japanese descent. He was of Tingzhou Hakka decent, from the Yonding district of the Fujian Province in mainland China, not Mizawa in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.
Lee Teng-hui eventually became the first Taiwan-born President of the Republic of China.
Ironically, Lee joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) not once, but twice – in 1946 and 1947, and his New Democracy Association that he formed was absorbed by the CCP.
Fact #2 : Tsai Ing-wen Is First Female President Of Taiwan
Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was born on 31 August 1956, in Taipei – the capital of Taiwan. She eventually became the first female President of Taiwan, so it is ridiculous to accuse her of being a Japanese spy or secret agent.
Taiwan was already free from Japanese occupation when she was born, so she did not have the Japanese name, Uemhara English as alleged by the fake post.
Tsai Ing-wen is also not of Japanese origin. Her family originated in the Fangshan town of Pingtung County, in southern Taiwan, not Nihe in the Iwate Prefecture of Japan.
Fact #3 : Chen Chi-chung Grew Up On A Taiwanese Farm
Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) has been the Taiwan Minister of Council of Agriculture since January 2019.
He is of Chinese ancestry, and does not have any Japanese name, and certainly not Tozuka Jizuka.
Chen Chi-chung grew up on a farm in Wandan, Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, not Abashiri City in Hokkaido, Japan.
Fact #4 : Lai Ching-te Grew Up In Taipei
Willam Lai Ching-te (賴淸德) was born in a free Taiwan, so he does not have any Japanese name, and certainly not Kiyotoku Teraoka.
Lai was also born in Wanli on October 6, 1959, in what is now New Taipei City. He certainly did not originate from Tamura in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan.
He is currently the Vice-President of Taiwan, after serving as the running mate of President Tsai Ing-wen. So it is also ridiculous to accuse him of being a Japanese spy or secret agent.
Fact #5 : Chen Chu Grew Up In Taipei
Joyce Chen Chu (陳菊) was born on June 10, 1950. This was after Japanese occupation ended, so she did not have the Japanese name, Kikuto Tsukasa, as alleged by the fake post.
Her family originated from Sanxing in the Yilan County of Taiwan, not Kuroishi in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.
She currently serves as the President of the Control Yuan, and the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission in Taiwan.
Fact #6 : Chen Shui-bianGrew Up In Tainan
Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was born on October 12, 1950. This was after Japanese occupation ended, so he did not have the Japanese name, Shimabukuro Mizuhira, as alleged by the fake post.
He grew up on a farm in the Guantian Township of Tainan County in Taiwan, not Hachimantai in the Iwate Province of Japan.
His family are Hokkien people from the Zhao’an county of the southern Fujian province of mainland China.
He was the first politician from the Democratic Progressive Party to become President of Taiwan, breaking the 55 years of Kuomintang’s rule.
Needless to say – it is absurd to accuse a former President of Taiwan of being a Japanese spy or secret agent.
Fact #7 : Hsieh Chang-tingWas Born In Taipei
Frank Hsieh Chang-ting (謝長廷) was born in Dadaocheng in Taipei in 1946. Again, this was after Japanese occupation ended, so he did not have a Japanese name.
Even if Hsieh had a Japanese name, it wouldn’t be something as ridiculous as Oka Minister Ting.
He is a 7th generation native Taiwanese of part-Hokkien, part-aboriginal descent, whose ancestor Hsieh Kuang-yu (謝光玉) migrated from Tongshan in the Fujian Province of mainland China.
He certainly did not originate from Ono, in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan.
Hsieh is currently the head of the Association of Taiwan-Japan Relations.
Fact #8 : Su Tseng-changWas Born In Pingtung
Su Tseng-chang was born on 28 July 1947. As this was after Japanese occupation of Taiwan ended, he did not have a Japanese name, and certainly not Honda Sadamasa.
He was born in Pingtung in southern Taiwan, not Minami Soma City in the Fukushima City of Japan.
He is currently the Premier of Taiwan, serving since 2019, so it would be absurd to label him as a Japanese spy or secret agent.
Fact #9 : Lin Yi-hsiungWas Born In Pingtung
Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄) was born in 1941, during Japanese colonial rule. However, he does not appear to have any Japanese name. Nor is he associated with the name, Yoshio Kojima.
Lin Yi-hsiung is also not of Japanese descent. He was born in Wujie Township of the Yilan County in Taiwan, not Abashiri City in Hokkaido, Japan.
Lin ceased being active in politics since campaigning for two Democratic Progressive Party candidates in 2006. Since then, he has been focused on halting construction of nuclear plants in Taiwan, even starting a hunger strike in 2014 which ended after the government pledged to halt construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City.
Fact #10 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda
This is just another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).
All of the wumao articles and videos that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.
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All travellers to Malaysia will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass in MySejahtera!
Here is what you need to know…
Currently : Foreign Travellers Need Traveller’s Pass To Enter Malaysia!
Since 1 May 2022, the Malaysian government has liberalised air travel into Malaysia, waiving both quarantine and insurance requirements.
However, they still require foreign travellers to fill in their details in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass, prior to departure.
Download the MySejahtera app, and register for your MySejahtera account.
Click on the Traveller icon in MySejahtera, and complete the pre-departure form
a) fully-vaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Traveller’s Card
b) partially vaccinated / unvaccinated travellers will receive a Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
Now : Traveller’s Pass No Longer Required To Travel To Malaysia!
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on 31 July 2022 that all travellers will no longer be required to obtain the Traveller’s Pass.
Starting Monday, 1 August 2022, all travellers to Malaysia – citizens and foreigners alike – will no longer be required to fill in their details using the Traveller option in MySejahtera, to obtain a Traveller’s Pass or Digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
With this relaxation, travelling to Malaysia will essentially return to pre-pandemic norms. All you need to enter Malaysia is a valid passport, and a visa (if required).
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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.
Now : Malaysia Gives 2nd Booster To 50+ Years + Travellers!
On 19 July 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, announced that the government will now offer the 2nd booster dose to :
individuals those who are 50 years and older, even if they do not have co-morbidities, and
individuals who are planning to travel overseas
The group in the 50-59 age bracket without any chronic diseases and anyone 50 and below who wants to travel overseas can receive second vaccine boosters.
As announced earlier, the second booster dose will continue to be offered to high-risk individuals living in long-term care facilities, adults 18 years and older with co-morbidities, and COVID-19 frontliners.
at least 4-6 months after the first booster dose for senior citizens,
at least 3 months after recovery for senior citizens who had a COVID-19 infection,
and at least 1 month after the first booster dose for Sinovac / SInopharm recipients.
This second booster dose is optional, and is not compulsory. Your vaccination status will not change, whether you take the second booster dose or not.
You can either book your booster dose appointment on MySejahtera, or look for a nearby private healthcare facility offering a booster dose.
These booster doses are offered for FREE by the Malaysian government, as part of the PICK vaccination programme.
Why 2nd Booster Dose For Travellers Leaving Malaysia?
Even though many countries have opened up their economies, and even to travellers; the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over.
Many countries are now facing spikes in COVID-19 cases, thanks to new Omicron subvariants that are highly contagious, and evade protection from both previous infections and vaccinations.
Thus, a second booster dose before travelling overseas will offer a short but useful boost in antibodies that could protect travellers as they fly out of Malaysia into other countries.
This is particularly important for those who received the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. Both Chinese vaccines offer markedly lower protection, which quickly wane over a matter of weeks.
A Yale University study, for example, showed that Sinovac vaccine recipients will require TWO Pfizer booster doses, to adequately protect against the Omicron variant.
Therefore, if you received Sinovac / Sinopharm vaccine earlier, I highly recommend that you get the booster doses, even if you are not planning to travel overseas.
There is also a more practical consideration for people travelling overseas – some countries in Europe do not recognise the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, both as a primary series vaccine or a booster dose.
Therefore, they will be allowed to obtain a second booster dose, at least one month after receiving their first booster dose.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health, KKM, just announced extra COVID-19 vaccine doses for selected groups!
Here is what you need to know!
KKM Announces Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses!
On 29 June 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) announced a slew of changes, including extra COVID-19 vaccine doses for selected groups.
Booster Dose For Immunocompromised Individuals Considered 3rd Dose
For individuals who are 5 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, the primary series vaccine is now considered to consist of 3 doses.
Those who received a booster dose earlier, will be considered as fully-vaccinated with 3 doses
Those who did not receive a booster dose yet, will need a third dose to be considered fully-vaccinated.
3rd Primary Dose For Immunocompromised 5-11 Years Old
Individuals who are 5 to 11 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a third dose to complete their primary series vaccination.
The third dose is to be given at least eight (8) weeks after receiving the second dose.
3rd Primary Dose For Immunocompromised 12-17 Years Old
Individuals who are 12 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a third dose to complete their primary series vaccination.
The third dose is to be given at least 28 days after receiving the second dose.
1st Booster Dose For Immunocompromised 12-17 Years Old
Individuals who are 12 to 17 years old, with moderate or severe immunocompromise, are recommended to receive a first booster dose after completing their 3-dose primary series vaccination.
The first booster dose is to be given at least three (3) months after receiving the third primary dose.
2nd Booster Dose For High-Risk Adults
KKM is also recommending a 2nd booster dose for high-risk adults, currently defined as :
18 to 59 year old individuals who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19
Frontline medical professionals, like medical officers, nurses, etc.
The second booster dose is to be given at least six (6) months after receiving the first booster dose, and after discussing with a registered medical professional
CanSino Booster Dose For All Adults
KKM is also offering the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics as a heterologous booster dose for all adults 18 years and older, who have received all doses of a primary series COVID-19 vaccine, other than Convidecia or Sinovac.
This CanSino booster dose is to be given at least three (3) months after receiving the second dose of the primary series vaccine.
KKM To Announce How To Get Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses!
KKM has not finalised the mechanism or the procedure to obtain these extra COVID-19 vaccine doses, and will announce the details later.
But they are calling on Malaysian citizens and residents to step forward to get the extra COVID-19 vaccine doses, once the details are announced.
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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 9 June 2022, Thailand removed marijuana (ganja) from its banned narcotics list, effectively becoming the first country in Asia to decriminalise it.
People in Thailand are now allowed to grow cannabis plants and sell them. In fact, the government is even giving away one million cannabis seedlings to encourage its cultivation!
This is part of the government’s plan to promote medical marijuana, as part of its medical tourism industry. Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said recently :
We should know how to use cannabis. If we have the right awareness, cannabis is like gold, something valuable, and should be promoted.
Recreational Marijuana Use Is Still Banned In Thailand
Officially, recreational use is still banned, with cannabis approved only for medical use (since 2018), but the government is unlikely to prosecute anyone smoking marijuana privately.
After all, every household that registers with the government is allowed to cultivate up to six cannabis plants at home!
People smoking marijuana in public though could be arrested, and potentially invite a 3-month jail sentence and a 25,000 baht ($725 / RM3.2K) fine under the Public Health Act.
Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said :
We still have regulations under the law that control the consumption, smoking or use of cannabis products in non-productive ways.
We [have always] emphasized using cannabis extractions and raw materials for medical purposes and for health.
There has never once been a moment that we would think about advocating people to use cannabis in terms of recreation — or use it in a way that it could irritate others.
On the other hand, the Thai government will also release about 4,000 people who were convicted of cannabis-related offences and imprisoned.
That suggests that the Thai government is working to relax rules on recreational use, with a wider law on cannabis trade and control being considered.
The current rules also allow people to smoke marijuana in private, as long as they declare it is for medical purposes.
It is also allowed to be used in food and drinks, or other products, as long as they contain less than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the chemical compound that gives people the “high” feeling.
That said, it is quite impossible for the authorities to monitor and regulate how much THC goes into food and drinks… so the line they drew in the sand is already blurred.
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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 Education just abolished the PT3 examinations for Form 3 students!
Here is what you need to know…
Malaysia Abolishes PT3 Exams For Form 3 Students!
On 2 June 2022, the Malaysia Minister of Education Dr. Radzi Jidin announced that the PT3 (Form Three Assessment) examinations will be abolished for good.
The PT3 examinations were introduced in 2014 to replace the Lower Secondary Evaluation (PMR) exams, which were implemented between 1993 and 2013.
The PT3 exams had already been cancelled for two years – 2020 and 2021 – during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this decision, the PT3 exams will no longer be conducted from this year onwards.
The PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) was introduced in 1993, and PT3 in 2014. The PT3 exams were not carried out in 2020 and last year.
Many wondered what will happen with PT3 exams this year. We have decided to abolish it starting this year.
What Will Form 3 Students Undergo Without PT3 Exams?
Instead of a standardised test for Form 3 students, the Ministry of Education (MoE) will implement a summative assessment, and work on improving school- and class-based assessments.
The ministry will work on strengthening other forms of assessment.
These checkups are not meant to be high-stake examinations as we want to build our students without pressuring them.
These assessments will be used to help determine the best streams for these students in Form 4, by revealing their strengths and weaknesses.
Compared to PT3, which was held when students are already set to move on to the next academic stage, our new approach will allow us to immediately identify problems faced by students and how they can be guided.
The Ministry of Education will provide teachers with a question bank with assessment questions for all subjects for Form 1, 2 and 3 students, as well as basic subjects of Bahasa Malaysia, English, mathematics, science and history for Form 4, 5 and 6 students.
Schools will be allowed to set their own time frames for assessments, based on a time frame provided by the ministry.
Please note that while the PT3 examinations have been abolished, the Specific Schools Admission Assessment will continue to be implemented for students who are interested in further their education at boarding schools.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, these groups of travellers will NO LONGER be required to undergo pre-departure testing and on-arrival testing for COVID-19!
Fully-vaccinated individuals who are 13 years or older
Individuals who recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6-60 days
Individuals who are 12 years or younger, regardless of vaccination status
This ruling applies to both Malaysian citizens, as well as foreigners, including those performing the Hat and even foreign workers.
Please note that ALL travellers must still submit information through the Travellers option in MySejahtera, and obtain the Travellers digital card.
Travellers who are 13 years or older, and are not yet fully vaccinated, must continue with the existing testing and quarantine protocol :
Not vaccinated with medical exemption : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
Partially-vaccinated / unvaccinated (13-17 yo) : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, no quarantine.
Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated : pre-departure PCR test within 2 days, professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.
Partially vaccinated / unvaccinated post COVID-19 : pre-departure professional RTK-Ag within 2 days (or Fit To Travel letter if hospitalised), professional RTK-Ag within 24 hours of arrival, 5-day quarantine.
Travellers who test positive on arrival in Malaysia will be asked to undergo a professional RTK-Ag test on-the-spot.
To make it easier for you to understand, I created this table to summarise the new rules :
Vaccination Status
Pre-Departure
On Arrival
Additional Test or Quarantine
Child (< 13 Years) *
No Test Required
No Test
No Quarantine
Travellers From
Singapore
Boosted (≥18 Years)
Fully Vaccinated (≥ 13 Years)
Fully Vaccinated +
Post-COVID-19 (6-60 Days)
Partially-Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (13-17 Years)
PCR test
within 2 days
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 24 hours
of arrival
On-Arrival
Professional
RTK-Ag
for travellers
transiting to
Sabah or
Sarawak
Not Vaccinated with
Medical Exemption
Partially Vaccinated or
Unvaccinated (≥18 Years)
5-Day Quarantine
with
Day 4 PCR or
Day 5 RTK
Partially Vaccinated
or Unvaccinated + Post-COVID-19
(6-60 Days)
Professional
RTK-Ag
within 2 days
or FTT letter **
if hospitalised
* By year of birth
** Also professional RTK-Ag if recovered from COVID-19 infection 6-60 days before departure
*** FTT = Fit To Travel
Malaysia : No More COVID-19 Insurance For Foreign Travellers!
Only these groups are earlierexempted from the requirement to purchase COVID-19 and travel insurance :
Fully-vaccinated citizens of Singapore or Malaysia
Fully-vaccinated permanent residents of Singapore or Malaysia
Fully-vaccinated Long-term Pass Holders of Singapore or Malaysia
That changes from Sunday, May 1, 2022 onwards – the US$20K travel insurance requirement is NO LONGER REQUIRED for ALL foreign travellers!
So foreigners can travel to Malaysia without that additional cost. Of course, getting travel insurance is always a good idea.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter all private or public premises, s!
Owners of premises are only required to check the MySejahtera app of people entering, to prevent entry by :
Individuals who are still positive for COVID-19
Individuals who are still undergoing HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine
This includes travellers who are not fully-vaccinated, and just arrived in Malaysia
So please make sure you continue to use MySejahtera, even though it will also not be mandatory to check-in using the MySejahtera QR code.
You are also strongly advised to enable MySJ Trace, to help facilitate accurate contact tracing.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, this will be the new optional Test + Release procedure for COVID-19 positive cases :
Once you test positive for COVID-19, you must undergo a 7-day HSO (Home Surveillance Order) quarantine.
On Day 4 of the quarantine, you can undergo a supervised (physical or virtual) RTK-Ag test for COVID-19.
The test result will be uploaded into your MySejahtera by the medical practitioner :
a) If the test result is negative, you may end your quarantine with immediate effect
b) If the test result is positive, you must complete your 7-day quarantine
No further test is required on Day 7, or thereafter, for those who tested positive on Day 4. You are immediately released from your quarantine.
Please note that the Day 4 test and release procedure is completely optional, and is meant to offer an expedited release from the HSO quarantine.
You can choose NOT to undertake the supervised RTK-Ag test on Day 4 of your quarantine. You just need to complete the full 7-day quarantine, and you will be released automatically.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 15, 2022, all business activities currently in the Negative List will be permitted to resume, pending protocols by the respective authorities.
Currently, the only business activity still on the Negative List of forbidden business activities are night club or pub activities
This will be a relief for night club and pub owners who have had to shut down their main business activities for over two years.
In addition, business premises are allowed to operate at 100% venue capacity, and both MySejahtera check-in and physical distancing will no longer be required.
However, please note that this will only take effect on May 15, and not May 1 like the other COVID-19 liberalisation announced by the government.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to check in at premises using MySejahtera.
However, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you turn on MySJ Trace, to allow for accurate contact tracing.
That does not mean you can uninstall MySejahtera, because premise owners are still required to check your status – COVID-19 positive individuals, and those who have to undergo HSO quarantine are still NOT allowed into public spaces.
In addition, MySejahtera is required to show digital proof of your COVID-19 vaccination for travel purposes, as well for reporting your COVID-19 self-tests.
As all economic activities will now be allowed with 100% venue capacity, physical distancing is NO LONGER required, starting Sunday, May 1, 2022.
However, the Ministry of Health strongly recommends physical distancing in crowded situations, especially if you are not wearing a face mask.
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Starting Sunday, May 1, 2022, all individuals – irrespective of vaccination status – will NO LONGER be required to wear a face mask while outdoors.
That said, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you continue to wear a face mask outdoors, if possible. It will just be optional, and no longer mandatory.
However, please note that you are still required to wear a face mask whenever you enter an indoor premise (including shopping malls, schools and offices) or public transport (including e-hailing rides).
The government will continue to enforce the face mask mandate for indoor premises and public transport, except for these indoor situations :
performing heavy exercises (like in a gym)
alone within a specific space (like in your own office)
while you are eating or drinking
while you are giving a speech or presentation
while you are performing on stage
The Health Minister stressed the importance of wearing the face mask indoors, and on public transport, as ventilation is not as good as outdoors.
Even though it is not mandatory, the Malaysia Ministry of Health strongly recommends that you wear a face mask while in crowded situations outdoors (like at a Ramadan bazaar or a stadium).
They also strongly recommend that you wear a face mask if you are symptomatic, or are about to visit vulnerable individuals like the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised.
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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.
People are sharing this message and a TikTok video, which they claim is proof that a nurse was caught emptying the COVID-19 vaccine syringe, to fake an injection of Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s son.
She tried to hide the syringe between the boy and the table when emptying the syringe but was caught in action by the cameraman!
At 0.38 sec we see a repeated emptying of the syringe.
Within 2 secs of the video, she emptied the syringe by shooting the liquid down towards the floor just before pretending to inject the vaccine.
This is how KJ’s son got “vaccinated”. Bastards are conning the public into forced mass vaccination while they secretly protect themselves and their own kids and make policies on Covid for others. If Covid vaccine is so safe, why this scandal? It shows that the vaccine and booster campaign is simply for the politicians to profit.
This raises the question if politicians and their families were really vaccinated?
Khairy should resign immediately and the vaccination of kids stopped pending a full investigation on the safety of vaccine.
Truth : Nurse Did NOT Empty Vaccine Syringe For YB KJ’s Son!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS being created and circulated by antivaxxers and people who really should know better…
Here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : The Nurse Was Distracting The Boy
When the video went viral, the Malaysia Ministry of Health released a video of the nurse explaining what she did.
As an experienced nurse vaccinating children, she is aware that they may get anxious on seeing the needle, so she explained that she would hide the needle from their view.
She would then distract them by asking them to count one to ten, and wait until they are calm and not moving, before injecting them with the vaccine.
That was why she appeared to be putting the syringe under the table. But if you watch the unedited video below, you will see that it was placed there so her other hand would block the boy from seeing the needle.
Fact #2 : The Syringe Plunger Was Never Pushed
The fake news creator intentionally zoomed in to focus on the needle for two reasons :
the blurry video made the needle look like a stream of liquid
to avoid you noticing that the plunger was never pushed
The nurse also pointed out in her video that the white plunger is clearly visible in the unedited video, and it is impossible for any vaccine to be ejected without pushing the syringe plunger.
Here is the original unedited video. Watch from around the 0:54 mark. You can clearly see that :
what looked like a stream of liquid in the blurry video was just the needle of the syringe
she never pushed the plunger, until after she inserted the needle into the boy’s arm.
The fake news claims that the nurse repeatedly emptied the syringe, suggesting that there was nothing in it. That’s nonsense.
The COVID-19 vaccine is injected intramuscularly. To confirm that the needle is indeed going into the muscle and not a vein, the nurse has to withdraw the plunger to see if any blood goes into the syringe.
Only after she sees that no blood is withdrawn into the syringe, does she push the plunger to inject the vaccine into the deltoid muscle.
Fact #4 : The Cameraman Was Khairy Jamaluddin Himself
The fake news creator removed the original audio in the edited video, so he/she could claim that the nurse was “caught in action by the cameraman“.
The truth is – the cameraman was the Health Minister himself, Khairy Jamaluddin.
If you watch the original video, you can hear his voice saying, “Count to ten, okay? Finish, finish, finish!”
It uses the same mRNA vaccine that has been successfully used in BILLIONS of adults and adolescents, just at 1/3 the dose.
In addition, more than 8 million doses of this paediatric vaccine had already been safely administered in the United States, before it was introduced in Malaysia.
Let me speak plainly – the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids is safe and effective. That is why I vaccinated my two younger children on the very first day the vaccination centre opened!
The only scandal here is how antivaxxers continue to put our children’s lives at risk by creating such fake news and lying about COVID-19 vaccines.
Stop believing in these fake news, and vaccinate your loved ones against COVID-19.
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.
