INSIDE page TELLING IT AS IT IS First batch of Covid vaccine may not be enough: Expert 4 page Lab-grown meat not suitable for vegans, vegetarians 5 ON MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2020 No. 7685 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my GENTLE LIFT ... Policemen helping in operations to evacuate residents yesterday after floods hit Kampung Pulau Tempurung in Kemaman, Terengganu. – BERNAMAPIX Covid casualties █ BY ALISHA NUR MOHD NOOR launched various initiatives to help those [email protected] o most badly affected by the economic fallout While the coronavirus has killed many, of Covid-19, but many still fall through the ETALING JAYA: If there is one cracks. person who has witnessed the worst it has also made numerous others broke While the Welfare Department does not of the economic impact of Covid-19, have any data on such cases, the growing it is Pandan Indah state and homeless lines at soup kitchens is a telling sign. Passemblyman Izham Hashim. Volunteers at Kembara Kitchen, a social “I used to get one or two persons coming enterprise that focuses on feeding the to our community service centre every six have seen their income dwindle to almost Last week, The Borneo Post reported that a homeless, have reported an increasing months to ask for help because they faced nothing, leaving them unable to even pay family from Bintulu was found sleeping on a number of families being evicted for failure financial difficulties,” he told theSun recently. utility bills, much less the rent. five-foot-way at a row of shops in Miri Times to pay the rent. “But since the Covid-19 pandemic began Unfortunately, the problem is not Square. Its co-founder William Cheah said job in March, we have had more than three confined to Pandan Indah. There have been The husband and wife had failed to land offers for many have fallen through and persons coming in to beg for help every many reports of families being evicted from jobs as labourers, and after the bus fare savings have dried up. month,” he said. their homes because they were no longer home, they did not have any money left for Pertiwi Soup Kitchen founder Datuk Constituents in Pandan Indah account for able to pay the rent. food. Munirah Abdul Hamid said her a large proportion of the urban poor. A family of five was found “living” at the The situation is dire. Almost 100,000 organisation has begun to “Most are petty traders and hawkers and Awan Besar highway rest stop along the Shah people have already lost their jobs this year. distribute food twice a day in Turn to for every day that they don’t work, they don’t Alam Expressway after being evicted from The unemployment rate hit a high of 5.3% in the hope that her regular “street — get paid.” their rented property, according to a recent April, up from 3.9% in March. clients” will be motivated page 3 Izham said a significant number of them report by news portal Malaysiakini. In response, the government has enough to look for jobs. 2 theSUN ON MONDAY | DECEMBER 21, 2020 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Govt pledges justice for deceased firefighter’s family BALING: The government has given to be in the final stage. as the perpetrator of the crime been none.” Jaya Fire and Rescue station, died on an assurance that it will take “An inquest was held in court, the needed to be identified. Since the Takiyuddin said this while Dec 17, 2018 from serious injuries he appropriate action to provide justice coroner or judge hearing it made a verdict says unknown persons, hence commenting on the disappointment sustained during a riot at the Sri to the family of a firefighter, the late verdict that the cause of death was the prosecution could not take any of Muhammad Adib’s family with the Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, said due to criminal action by two or more action. proposal to hold another inquest into Subang Jaya on Nov 27 the same year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s unknown persons,” he told reporters “I understand that the the death of the firefighter, because Bernama reported. Department (Parliament and Law) after a meeting with the mayor and Attorney-General’s Chambers has they have already been patient for too On Sept 27 last year, the Shah Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan. heads of local authorities in Kedah asked the police to conduct further long to get justice. Alam Coroner’s Court ruled that the He said the Attorney-General’s yesterday. investigations, and I understand Muhammad Adib, 24, who was a firefighter’s death was the result of a Chambers is waiting for the results of “Due to the coroner’s verdict, the that the police have proposed member of the Emergency Medical crime committed by more than two a police investigation, that is believed prosecutor could not charge anyone a new inquest. But so far, there has Rescue Services unit from the Subang unknown persons. ‘Seat distribution statement misinterpreted’ KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s statement that seat distribution talks are no longer based on discussions between Umno and PAS but between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) has been misinterpreted, said BN secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa. “What Asyraf Wajdi means is the final consultation, because we respect PAS’ position as a member of PN, and this is what it means,” he told reporters at a food and face mask aid distribution programme for Taman Segar Flats residents in Cheras yesterday. “So, maybe in the negotiations, PAS will be involved but on a PN platform. Similarly, on Umno’s side, it will be BN, so that once negotiations among Umno, MCA, MIC, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) are done, then we will already have a framework. “We can then sit together on behalf of BN and also PN, that is at the level of the steering committee and the consultative committee chaired by Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.” According to Annuar, Umno is still in negotiations with PAS and BN component parties, before it is taken to the next stage for discussions between BN and PN. “Negotiations are ongoing and would next be at the coalition level where we will have discussions individually. Umno-PAS, Umno- MCA, Umno-MIC and Umno-PBRS, and the same applies to PN, and they have four parties as well.” – Bernama Illi Najwa and Manpreet Singh tied the knot in Mithapur near Jalandhar, Punjab, on Wedesday. – PICTURE COURTESY OF TRIBUNE ‘FOLLOW SOP FOR CIRCUMCISION EVENTS’ BANGI: Those intending to hold circumcision events are reminded to adhere to the prescribed standard BRIEFSoperating procedures (SOP) to curb the Govt asks woman to spread of Covid-19. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said organisers are required to make compulsory the wearing of face masks by all those present and to ensure explain religious status they exercise physical distancing throughout the event.. Referring to the Marzuk Shaary said the government is very distribution ceremony for fishermen and “Khatan Is’aadul Usrah 2020”, a circumcision oM’sian to be questioned sensitive about the matter and the woman farmers at Panchor yesterday. programme organised by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia yesterday, he on return from Punjab after will be called as soon as she returns. “Currently, we are thinking positively that said the programme was held in He said the ministry is still waiting for an the woman is still a Muslim but the customs compliance with the SOP set by the marriage to Indian hockey official decision by the Johor Islamic Religious she went through there contradict our National Security Council and the Health Department on the woman’s religious status. religion. If she is still a Muslim, then she must Ministry. – Bernama “We understand that she is from Johor and repent.” team skipper according to preliminary information we Earlier, the media reported that Manpreet obtained, she is still a Muslim and so far, the wedded Illi Najwa in Mithapur near CHERAS BRANCH OF IRB government has not received an application Jalandhar, Punjab. PARTIALLY CLOSED KOTA BARU: The government has asked a from her to marry abroad. Manpreet, 28, wore a Punjabi wedding suit KUALA LUMPUR: The sixth and ninth floors Malaysian woman, Illi Najwa Saddique, who “In fact, from what I have read on social complete with turban, while Illi Najwa looked of the Cheras Inland Revenue Board (IRB) is married to Indian hockey team captain media sites, it is said that the woman is still a charming in a Punjabi wedding dress, when branch will be temporarily closed for Manpreet Singh Pawar, to explain their Muslim and the man is said to have converted they exchanged vows. sanitisation from today until further notice. religious status. to Islam at the end of last year, but we will wait This raised questions among “This temporary closure involves all local Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s for confirmation when she returns.” netizens about the woman’s religious status. counters handling tax counselling Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad He said this after a monsoon season aid – Bernama services and special government aid counters dealing with Bantuan Sara Hidup, Bantuan Prihatin Nasional and Geran Khas Prihatin,” it said in a statement yesterday. However, the stamp duty and property Unlimited Klang Valley travel package unveiled gains tax counters on the seventh floor are not affected and will operate as normal KUALA LUMPUR: In an effort to encourage Users can purchase the My30 at all Wing of KL Sentral station and Central according to working hours during the domestic tourism, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd customer service counters at Light Rail Market,” it said yesterday.