INSIDE TELLING IT AS IT IS page page Student talks his 2 Call for prison 3 way to top prize abuse watchdog ON FRIDAY MAY 21, 2021 No. 7785 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my OFF LIMITS ... Army personnel installing barbed wire fencing around the Field Intensive Care Unit (Field ICU) of Kepala Batas Hospital in Seberang Perai, Penang. The Field ICU, set up at the hospital’s parking area, is expected to be operational byMonday. – MASRY CHE Small retreat ANI/THESUN oBusinesses now agree that stricter MCO is necessary █ BY HAKEM HASSAN Abdul Malik pointed out that the government could offer soft loans and [email protected] nation has the capability to rebuild the extend the wage subsidy programme economy, the financial institutions and its until the end of the year, it said. ETALING JAYA: The unrelenting social standing, but it cannot restore lives The group also said that a freeze on advance of the Covid-19 assault that have been lost. recurring costs until next year would has forced businesses to soften FMBA is a coalition that represents 262 help non-essential businesses stay their opposition to tighter business associations and chambers of afloat. These include Employees Pcontrols. commerce comprising 950,000 companies Provident Fund, Social Security In a step back from an earlier resistance across all sectors. Organisation and Employment to more drastic measures, some “We fully support any move to ensure a Insurance System contributions by businesses have now come out in support faster and more efficient vaccination employers as well as discounts on of a stricter movement control order programme that provides wider coverage. expenditure for utilities such as (MCO) to curb the spread of infections. However, this must come with an effective electricity, telecommunications and The Federation of Malaysian Business tool such as a stricter lockdown to break broadband. Associations (FMBA) conceded that the the infection chain,” he added. Abdul Malik said the government crisis has reached a point where measures He said a combination of these could also ensure that banks extend the to save lives should take precedence over strategies will give the country time to moratorium on interest payments until making profits. rebuild its healthcare resources and the end of the year. “It is better to suffer some losses now quicken the pace to achieve herd Small and Medium Enterprises and still have the capability to recoup in immunity. Association Malaysia secretary-general the future, rather than let the situation However, in an open letter to Prime Yeoh Seng Hooi pointed out that having drag on (indefinitely),” FMBA pro-tem Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the one lockdown after another is not chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abdullah coalition said tightened restrictions must the way to address the problem. told theSun. also be accompanied by financial relief “Instead, we should Turn to “In this life-versus-livelihood debate, programmes which the government conduct wider screening and — life must take precedence. Extreme should be responsible for. quicken the pace of page 2 situations call for extreme action,” he said. As a safety net for businesses, the vaccination,” he said. 2 theSUN ON FRIDAY | MAY 21, 2021 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Royal couple extend condolences to Kemayan rep’s family KUANTAN: Yang di-Pertuan Agong couple hoped that his family would Negara’s official social media sites. was discharged on May 3,” he told six grandchildren. Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al- remain calm and resilient during this The deceased’s youngest son Bernama. Mohd Hayan won the Guai state Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja difficult time. Ahmadul Mokhtar, 41, said his father Ahmadul Mokhtar said his father’s seat when he first contested in the Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah “The King and Queen pray for his died from bacterial pneumonia at the remains were laid to rest at the Seri 1995 general election and went on to Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah soul to be blessed by Allah and National Heart Institute (IJN), Kuala Gombak Muslim cemetery, Selangor win the Bera parliamentary seat and expressed their condolences to the placed among the righteous. Lumpur at 5.55pm on Wednesday. yesterday. Kemayan state seat in the following family of former Pahang state “The royal couple greatly He was 79. The late Mohd Hayani, who was a general elections. assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hayani appreciate Allahyarham’s devotion, “He was admitted on May 7 after teacher before he joined politics in He also served former culture, arts Abdul Rahman. services and sacrifices to the he complained of shortness of the 1980s, is survived by his wife and tourism minister Tan Sri In expressing their grief yesterday community and country,” according breath. He was earlier treated at IJN Rojemah Ahmad, 73, five children Sabbaruddin Chik as his senior over Mohd Hayani’s death, the royal to a statement posted via Istana in the third week of Ramadan, but aged between 41 and 52, and private secretary. dUCk Group, VPM Talking his way to the top raise RM1m for grand final. Many of the participants Speaking, to get some exposure Palestine oPavit Coran beats 35 were from English-speaking and to hone his skills. KUALA LUMPUR: The dUCk Group and Viva countries such as Australia, the In his five-minute presentation Palestina Malaysia (VPM) have raised RM1 participants from 33 United Kingdom and Canada. for the ESU competiton, he spoke million in emergency funds in just two days to If not for dogged determination, about the rising rate of mental support Palestinian victims of Israel’s atrocities. nations to clinch public Pavit’s first victory could also have health problems around the In a statement yesterday, dUCk said the been his last. world, urging the audience and all emergency fund, set up via Kitafund, would be speaking competition There were few opportunities for governments to sympathise with used to provide medical aid and meet other him to hone his public speaking those who have been afflicted. critical needs of affected Palestinians. skills. “During my secondary school “I was ecstatic to win the It said the group, which initially aimed to █ BY ELWIN DAVA days, I would take part in every contest. I was praying and reach the target by the end of May would [email protected] competition that required some practising and my hard work paid continue to raise money, with 100% of the oratory skills, however small, just to off. I have made some very good proceeds to be donated to Palestinians. PETALING JAYA: The gift of the gab gave improve myself,” he told theSun. friends with whom I am still in contact.” dUCk Group co-founder Vivy Yusof said it is Pavit Coran (pix) his maiden opportunity to His persistence paid off when he won the Pavit credited the entire ESU team, led by the group’s most successful fund-raising be in the limelight when he was just 12 years ESU competition last Friday. Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Jaafar, for its campaign so far, adding that donations were old. Pavit, who is now studying at the support, as well as chief judge Jagdish Bhain, pouring in not just from Malaysians but also That was when he won the state-level Multimedia University in Malacca, said that judges Iris Tan, and Chew Seng Choon, who from all over the world. Impromptu Speaking Competition in during a semester break he went online to gave him speaking tips and advice. “People are donating whatever amount they Kelantan. look for public speaking competitions and He spent most of his time not only working can afford, from RM1 to RM1,000.” Seven years later, he was on the world that was when he learnt about it. with the judges, but also reading different VPM, formerly known as Complete, is a stage, doing Malaysia proud by winning the “It piqued my interest, so I signed up,” he materials to improve his knowledge on coalition of 50 Malaysian non-governmental English Speaking Union (ESU) International said. mental health. organisations which strives to provide an Public Speaking Competition. But just before the ESU competition, he Pavit encourages people to join such advocacy group for the Palestinian people and The competition, held virtually in keeping took part in the Malaysian Public Speaking competitions despite their fears of not being support in raising funds to finance various with Covid-19 restrictions, saw Pavit beating Open, a one-day competition conducted by good enough or being novices. medical, educational, micro-financing, 35 other participants from 33 countries in the the Malaysian Institute for Debate and Public housing, and agricultural projects in Palestine. Kitafund is a crowdfunding platform for medical and humanitarian needs and emergencies. Those wishing to donate can visit https://kita.fund/fund4palestine. “As a brand, the dUCk Group will also be launching a special collection, ‘The Palestine dUCk’, in June. One hundred per cent of the profits from the collection will be donated to VPM. “Customers will be able to own a product from dUCk while providing support to the cause.” – Bernama Malaysia to continue pursuing Palestinian cause KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue with its agenda to ensure that Palestine is officially recognised as an independent state through international diplomatic efforts, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar. He said efforts in that direction need to be enhanced as more nations have been voicing their concern over Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. “In Latin America, Europe or even in the United States (US), there have been protests not only by Muslims. Even Democrat party members in the US have openly opposed President Joe Biden’s stand, which is seen as giving in to Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel’s prime minister), and being oblivious of human rights violations.