KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement today, his office said that Saifuddin, who received his results yesterday, will observe mandatory home quarantine while being monitored by the Ministry of Health (MoH) before being transferred to hospital.

“Datuk Saifuddin is undergoing quarantine as recommended and closely monitored by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH). 

“At present, he is in home quarantine while awaiting admission to a hospital ward,” the statement read.

It also said that Saifuddin will continue to keep track of all ministry affairs and ensure they continue to run smoothly.

When contacted by Malay Mail, Saifuddin’s aide confirmed that he did not attend yesterday’s Cabinet meeting or breaking of fast gathering for the Cabinet as hosted by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Putrajaya.

On April 18, Saifuddin announced that he had voluntarily deferred his Covid-19 vaccine jab as he wished to be inoculated with members of the media.

He said that his ministry had requested that all media personnel receive their vaccine jabs as early as possible in phase two of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme because they are also frontliners.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Eighteen youth groups in Malaysia have called for a public inquiry following the death of A. Ganapathy while in police custody earlier this week.

In a statement, the group, which includes The Noeo Project, Challenger Malaysia and Undi18, expressed its concern at the apparent pattern of institutional abuse by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The group also said it was dismayed that neither the government nor PDRM had addressed this particular case, or alleged institutional abuse in general, despite mounting public pressure.

“We assert our solidarity with the family of A. Ganapathy and with the victims of police abuse, who have suffered in silence for too long.

“Therefore, we demand that the government launch an immediate public inquiry into the death of A. Ganapathy and into the institutionalisation of police abuse and strengthen our rights and protections afforded by the law in this respect,” they said in a joint statement today.

The group, which said it represents the youth of Malaysia, said it is time that the government introduced the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as the numerous allegations that surfaced have eroded public trust.

“It is counterintuitive for police misconduct and abuse, which could be construed as institutionalised according to the seemingly widespread and underreported incidents, to be investigated by the same bodies that are alleged to be perpetuating them.

“The government’s reluctance to tackle this issue in a holistic and effective manner has resulted only in the infringement of our civil rights, and as such is unacceptable conduct by a government that now wields expansive legislative power in this state of Emergency,” they said.

Ganapathy was said to have spent 12 days in police custody from February 24 to March 8 before being admitted to hospital.

He succumbed to his injuries last week after spending more than a month in Selayang Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Ganapathy’s family claimed that his health deteriorated while in police custody and that his leg was swollen and bruised, suggesting that he had been beaten.

Yesterday, MIC, through its vice-president A. Sivaraajh, called on the Home Ministry to conduct an inquiry into the death.

Gombak district police chief Arifai Tarawe said the police are waiting for the autopsy report before commencing investigations.

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will not withdraw navy and coast guard boats patrolling the disputed South China Sea, insisting the country’s sovereignty over the waters is not negotiable.

Tensions over the sea – which China claims almost entirely – have spiked as Beijing refuses to pull out vessels from the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone and Manila steps up maritime patrols.

Duterte is under growing domestic pressure to take a harder line, but has been reluctant to confront China over the issue as he fosters closer ties with the economic giant.

He said late yesterday that while the Philippines is indebted to its “good friend” China for many things, including free Covid-19 vaccines, his country’s claims to the waterway “cannot be bargainable”.

“I’ll tell China, we do not want trouble, we do not want war. But if you tell us to leave – no,” Duterte said.

“There are things which are not really subject to a compromise, such as us pulling back. It’s difficult. I hope they understand, but I have the interest of my country also to protect.”

Duterte’s remarks came after the country’s defence department said “China has no business telling the Philippines what we can and cannot do with our own waters”.

The Philippine coast guard is conducting drills near Thitu Island and Scarborough Shoal, as well as the Batanes islands in the north and the southern and eastern parts of the country.

Scarborough – one of the region’s richest fishing grounds – has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing.

In response to the exercises, China’s foreign ministry said Monday the Philippines should “stop actions complicating the situation and escalating disputes”.

In recent weeks, Manila has boosted “sovereignty patrols” involving the navy, coast guard and fisheries in the Spratly Islands – an archipelago contested by several countries.

Beijing has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its historical claim over most of the South China Sea to be without basis.

Once-frosty ties between Manila and Beijing have warmed under Duterte, who set aside the ruling in exchange for promises of trade and investment – which critics say have not materialised.

Delays in Covid-19 vaccine deliveries has left the Philippines heavily reliant on the CoronaVac jab developed by China’s Sinovac.

Around 3.5 million doses of CoronaVac have been sent to the Southeast Asian country so far, including one million donated doses.

HONG KONG: The US said today it was “deeply concerned” by a new Hong Kong immigration law which includes powers to stop people leaving the city, raising fears Chinese mainland-style exit bans could be deployed there.

The law was passed yesterday by a city legislature now devoid of opposition, as Beijing seeks to quash dissent and make the semi-autonomous city more like the authoritarian mainland following huge and often violent democracy protests.

It grants the immigration chief powers to bar people from boarding planes to and from the city.

“We are aware of this legislation and share widespread concerns in Hong Kong about its content, potential uses, and lack of oversight or accountability,” a State Department spokesman said in a statement today.

“We have long standing concerns about the PRC’s arbitrary use of exit bans without due process of law, including against American citizens. We are deeply concerned by the prospect of Hong Kong authorities adopting similar arbitrary measures,” the spokesman added.

Hong Kong’s government says the law will not be applied to people leaving the city and is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants travelling to the business hub.

But the wording of the bill does not limit the power to arriving flights or immigrants and legal experts say it could also be deployed against anyone leaving Hong Kong.

In a potential recognition of those concerns, Hong Kong’s government late yesterday said it would draft subsidiary legislation specifying that the law would only be applied to inbound flights.

The US statement urged the Hong Kong government to honour this “public commitment” to not use the law “as a pretext to deny boarding for outbound passengers”.

Britain’s Foreign Office also issued a brief statement.

“The right of people to leave Hong Kong is guaranteed under the Basic Law and should be upheld,” a spokesman said, referring to the city’s post-handover mini-constitution.

So-called “exit bans” are often used by mainland China against activists who challenge authorities.

They have also ensnared business figures involved in commercial disputes.

Local activists and lawyers from Hong Kong’s influential Bar Association warn the bill gives “apparently unfettered power” to the immigration director to do the same, should they wish to.

Under Beijing’s direction, Hong Kong’s government has swung authoritarian since 2019’s huge protests, and faith in official assurances that the city is not becoming like the mainland has been rattled by recent events.

Beijing imposed a sweeping new national security on Hong Kong last year.

Authorities said it would not impact people’s freedoms and only affect “a tiny minority”.

But its broad wording and application has since criminalised much dissent and radically transformed the once politically pluralistic city.

Many of Hong Kong’s prominent pro-democracy figures have since been arrested, detained or fled overseas.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — All police officers and personnel nationwide will have their leave frozen as part of preparations for the Aidilfitri celebration next month, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.

He said it was to ensure smooth celebration during the festive season.

“We will monitor movement similar to the one implemented during the movement control order (MCO) last year even though there is no directive on MCO has been issued.

“Similar to last year, a total of 46,000 police personnel have been assigned and another 12,000 are on standby,” he said at a press conference after the presentation of the PDRM Reject Corruption campaign’s letters of appreciation in Bukit Aman today.

Abdul Hamid said the police would also tighten roadblocks at every toll plaza during Aidilfitri to prevent interstate incidents. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced today that the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) for Standard Six students will be abolished in 2022.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said there will be no replacement examinations.

“Assessment for Year Six students will be carried out exactly like what was done last year (2020),” the minister said during a ‘live’ press conference today.

MORE TO COME

PETALING JAYA: An MP has questioned the home ministry’s involvement in investigations into allegations that Malaysiakini and China Press had wrongly carried articles claiming that deputy inspector-general of police Acryl Sani Abdullah had described reports of teen rape as “a joke”.

DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said it was unclear why the home ministry would be involved in this controversy as it should be investigated by the police.

“No doubt, the police come under the jurisdiction of the home ministry but questions arise as to why such investigations are carried out when, to my knowledge, no police report has been lodged claiming that the reports by Malaysiakini and China Press were false,” he said.

Bukit Aman said yesterday that the police were taking the reported rape threat seriously and did not view it as a joke.

Ramkarpal pointed out that Bukit Aman did not deny that Acryl Sani ever made such remarks.

“The police might claim that the context of Acryl Sani’s speech suggests that this so-called joke was an aspect of its investigations.

“However, this certainly does not, in any way, indicate any wrongdoing on the part of Malaysiakini or China Press if they simply reported what he said, since Acryl Sani did not clarify the purported context in which he said it,” he said.

Ramkarpal urged the home affairs minister to confirm if Acryl Sani would also be summoned.

“In the event that the IGP deputy is not called, it would be hard to dismiss the possibility that Malaysiakini and China Press are being victimised for reporting the truth.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has demanded that police and the home ministry stop targeting the media for quoting the statements made by Acryl Sani.

CIJ said the press should not be subjected to being summoned by the government or threatened with action simply because the authorities were dissatisfied with the manner in which a report was presented.

“It is precisely these kinds of actions from the authorities that contributed to Malaysia’s precipitous fall of 18 spots on the 2020 World Press Freedom Index,” it said.

CIJ reiterated that an Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) needs to be immediately established to ensure police accountability and professionalism is upheld at all times.

Yesterday, the home minister summoned Malaysiakini and China Press to explain their allegedly inaccurate reports.

Bukit Aman has denied these reports and alleged that the headlines of the two media outlets on the issue were confusing. It also released transcripts of the interview to show what the deputy IGP had said.

The reports followed a claim by a 17-year-old secondary school student that a physical education teacher had made jokes about rape during a class on sexual harassment on April 23. The video clip went viral on social media.

PETALING JAYA: After the public outcry over a burger seller being fined RM50,000 for a Covid-19 SOP violation, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has urged enforcement agencies to use more discretion when issuing compounds.

In a speech at an event today, Muhyiddin said he understood that Malaysians were finding it difficult to earn money and secure their livelihoods amid the pandemic.

He noted that many have resorted to selling burgers, snacks and drinks or planting their own produce in these hard times, adding that they were not owners of companies or corporations, but only small-time traders.

“Being strict is important to ensure that the law is complied with, but at the same time, discretion and humanity are needed when enforcing the law so that our efforts to educate the community will be well-received.

“This is very important especially during the pandemic, which has massively impacted people’s lives,” he said.

Wan Mohd Faisal Wan Kadir, a 38-year-old burger stall operator in Kelantan, had been fined RM50,000 for allegedly operating past the permitted hours in front of his house under the movement control order.

Two other food stall operators in Kelantan were also fined RM50,000 for allegedly operating past the permitted hours on the same night that Faisal was penalised.

Kelantan state police chief Shafien Mamat yesterday said the fines issued to the three traders will be reviewed, with a view to reducing the fine.