Suicides spike during MCO
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Tuesday, 11 Aug 2020
JOHOR BARU: Since the movement control order (MCO) started five months ago, firemen have been busy handling cases of people threatening to take their own lives.
In most cases, the firemen have been able to talk them out of it before rushing them to hospital.
National Fire and Rescue Department Operations director Nor Hisham Mohammad said that June was their busiest month with 21 cases around the country.
“All the victims (in June) were rescued with only three injured. There were no deaths,” he said.
He said between March and July, the department had attended to 88 such cases, with 78 people rescued, seven injured and three fatalities.
Nor Hisham noted that these were only cases handled by the department and the figures could be much higher.
He said some of those who wanted to commit suicide were depressed, bipolar, had failed relationships or were in financial distress.
'Despite ceiling price, masks still too costly'
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August 12, 2020 @ 10:59am
KUALA LUMPUR: A consumer group said the proposed RM1 per unit retail price for three-ply face masks is still too high.
Members of the public, however, were of the opinion that a lower price could affect the quality of the essential item.
Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the price should be between 10 sen and 50 sen per piece.
"We have to consider the large families and bottom 40 per cent income group (B40) communities.
"Imagine a family of nine, with a daily household income of about RM150 per day. They can't afford to buy face masks in bulk. They will struggle to buy face masks.
"And you can't reuse the masks. The government should consider the financial situation of this group."
He urged the government to reconsider the ceiling price of RM1 as even at that price, some groups could not afford it.
Barang keperluan masih mencukupi
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Selasa, 11 Ogos 2020 | 3:28pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Bekalan barang keperluan secara keseluruhannya mencukupi dan mampu menampung permintaan pengguna dalam negara yang berterusan, selain mudah diperoleh di pasaran.
Menteri Kanan (Keselamatan), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, memaklumkan ia adalah hasil pemantauan harian dilaksanakan Penguatkuasa Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) ke atas 12 jenis bekalan barangan di 757 premis perniagaan termasuk peruncit (562), pemborong (166) dan pengilang (29).
"Pegawai Penguatkuasa KPDNHEP juga melakukan 1,731 pemeriksaan khas pematuhan Prosedur Operasi Standard (SOP) Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Pemulihan (PKPP).
"Hasil pemeriksaan mendapati 1,684 premis mematuhi SOP yang ditetapkan, manakala 44 premis diberi nasihat kerana tidak patuh SOP. Tiga premis pula diberi amaran kerana tidak patuh SOP," katanya dalam satu kenyataan, hari ini.
Sumber: https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/08/720083/barang-keperluan-masih-mencukupi
Klang MP wants govt to include rental relief fund in Covid-19 Bill
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August 11, 2020 @ 1:52pm
KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition Member of Parliament has called on the government to include a rental relief fund in the Temporary Measures for Government Financing [Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)] Bill 2020.
Charles Santiago (PH - Klang) said the spread of Covid-19 which led to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) has affected many Malaysians to the point that some are now left homeless as they could no longer afford to pay house rentals.
Citing his own recent experience meeting those affected, Santiago said a husband, a pregnant wife along with their two children had been living in their car parked at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for about 10 days.
Another example given was a single mother, who used to work in a catering service, was also made homeless along with her two children due to her inability to pay RM550 monthly house rental.
"It doesn't matter to her landlord that she received zero income during the lockdown. These cases, I believe, are just the tip of the iceberg.
"Yes, the government did intervene but much more needs to be done. Many families are unable to make rent due to loss of income and retrenchment.
Read more: Klang MP wants govt to include rental relief fund in Covid-19 Bill
Harga pelitup muka diturunkan kepada RM1 sekeping
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Selasa, 11 Ogos 2020 | 11:23am
KUALA LUMPUR: Harga pelitup muka akan dijual pada kadar lebih rendah, iaitu RM1 sekeping di peringkat runcit manakala 95 sen di peringkat pemborong.
Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, ketika mengumumkan perkara itu berkata ia adalah sebahagian daripada pendekatan untuk membantu rakyat, khususnya golongan ibu bapa yang perlu membekalkan pelitup muka untuk kanak-kanak ke sekolah.
Selari perkembangan semasa, katanya, harga semasa pelitup muka akan terus diturunkan di bawah paras 95 sen sekeping di peringkat pemborong dan RM1 sekeping di peringkat runcit.
"Kita bersedia untuk turunkan lagi kepada paras harga yang lebih rendah pada masa akan datang," katanya pada sesi jawab lisan di Dewan Rakyat, hari ini.
Beliau menjawab soalan Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Stampin) mengenai rasional peningkatan harga maksimum pelitup muka daripada RM0.80 sen sekeping ke RM1.50 sekeping.
Read more: Harga pelitup muka diturunkan kepada RM1 sekeping
What’s Next for Malaysia’s Electricity Bill?
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Malaysia recently saw a 23% spike in residential electricity usage during the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, resulting in higher than expected electricity bills for consumers staying in. Energy Watch approached Mr. Ravinesh Uthayasuriyan, Executive Officer of Water and Energy Consumers Association of Malaysia (WECAM), to dive deeper into what this means for electricity customers.
Energy Watch: How important is it that consumers are protected in today’s economic conditions?
Mr Ravinesh: It is important that the electricity tariffs remain stable, especially now when a sudden fluctuation in bills can cause a massive cascade in economic conditions.
In March, Malaysia’s Department of Statistics stated almost 600,000 consumers had lost their jobs during the Movement Control Order (MCO). It’s expected that after the MCO there will be almost two million people who could lose their jobs. Many people will be facing a financial crisis, because other than just electricity bills, they have other commitments to pay.
Maintaining stable electricity tariffs at times like these benefits both the economy, and consumers alike.
Pawn shop employee arrested for allegedly swapping real jewellery with fake items
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Monday, 10 Aug 2020 l 4:20 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR: A 31-year-old pawn shop worker was arrested by the police for allegedly trying to swap gold jewellery with fake items.
Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Arifai Tarawe said police received a report from the pawn shop operator last Thursday (Aug 6).
"Based on his report, he claimed one of his staff took out two gold bracelets and a gold necklace and exchanged them with fake gold items. We arrested the woman in the evening on the same day at her home at Taman Sri Gombak," he said.
ACP Arifai added that the gold items were worth around RM5,200, saying that the investigation revealed that the suspect had been working at the shop since June 23, and did not have a prior criminal record.
"The shop operator realised something was amiss after inspecting the three items and realised that they were not real gold. We managed to recover one of the gold bracelets from a pawn shop in Terengganu, while another bracelet was recovered from a pawn shop in Sri Gombak," he said.
Read more: Pawn shop employee arrested for allegedly swapping real jewellery with fake items
Water at Penang’s Teluk Bahang dam can only last 60 days
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August 7, 2020 3:40 PM
GEORGE TOWN: The unusually low water level at the Teluk Bahang dam means that water for its surrounding areas can only last about 60 days given the current dry weather, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBA) said.
With the water level dipping to 19.2%, PBA is channelling treated water through submarine pipes from Butterworth to meet demand.
The dam serves the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt, Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.
However, PBA’s chief operating officer Jaseni Maidinsa said the situation is under control at the Mengkuang dam in Bukit Mertajam and a water treatment plant in Sungai Dua, where there is enough water to cater to the entire state for the time being.
But he warned that if the dry weather continues, the situation might become worse, so the people must use water diligently.
Read more: Water at Penang’s Teluk Bahang dam can only last 60 days
KPKT siasat syarikat pemberi pinjaman wang
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Jumaat, 7 Ogos 2020 | 11:53am
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) kini sedang mengesan syarikat Kredit Komuniti berlesen yang didakwa melakukan penipuan dengan mensasarkan pencarum Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP).
KPKT menjelaskan, jika mana-mana syarikat pemberi pinjaman wang didapati terbabit dengan penipuan itu mereka boleh dikenakan tindakan sepertimana yang diperuntukkan di
dalam Akta Pemberi Pinjaman Wang 1951 .
Namun, katanya sehingga kini, kementerian tidak pernah menerima apa-apa aduan daripada orang awam mahupun peminjam yang terbabit dengan isu yang dilaporkan.
"Sekiranya Kementerian mendapati isu yang dilaporkan itu cenderung kepada kes penipuan (scammer) oleh mana-mana pihak atau syarikat pemberi pinjaman wang yang tidak berlesen, perkara itu akan dirujuk kepada polis untuk tindakan selanjutnya.
Maybank sedia tiga pilihan pakej bantuan
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Jumaat, 7 Ogos 2020 | 12:37pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank menyediakan tiga pilihan mudah untuk pelanggan memohon Pakej Bantuan Pembayaran Balik pinjaman mulai hari ini, dengan berakhirnya tempoh moratorium selama enam bulan pada 30 September ini.
Dalam satu kenyataan, bank itu berkata, pelanggan boleh memohon secara dalam talian melalui Maybank2u (untuk pelanggan individu tidak termasuk sewa beli); melalui emel kepada This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (untuk pelanggan individu) atau This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (untuk pelanggan PKS).
Pelanggan juga boleh mengunjungi atau menghubungi mana-mana cawangan, Pusat PKS atau Pusat Pembiayaan Auto seluruh negara.
Pakej Bantuan Pembayaran Balik akan disesuaikan mengikut keperluan pelanggan dan menangani cabaran yang mereka hadapi sama ada kehilangan pekerjaan, pengurangan gaji atau gangguan dalam operasi perniagaan.
"Ini mungkin termasuk pelanjutan moratorium untuk mereka yang kehilangan pekerjaan pada 2020, penjadualan semula untuk melanjutkan tempoh kemudahan pinjaman/pembiayaan atau menyusun semula pinjaman/pembiayaan kepada struktur yang lebih sesuai dengan kemampuan pembayaran mereka," katanya.
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