Halal Logo

Armizan: Existing legal penalties for misuse of Halal logo already severe

THE fines that were stipulated under existing laws for any party guilty of misusing the halal logo are already high, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011 stipulates that companies could face a fine of up to RM5 mil and individuals up to RM1 mil or a maximum prison sentence of three years if found guilty.

“Any party that makes representations that could mislead Muslims in halal matters could be fined accordingly.

“…if we look at the law, the penalties are already high, and we hope this will be a deterrent for those who misuse the halal logo,” Bernama reported him as telling reporters after officiating the National Young Entrepreneurs Programme at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) today.

Armizan, who is also the Papar MP, noted that under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) 2011, companies guilty of misusing the halal label could be fined up to RM200,000 for the first offence and up to RM500,000 for subsequent violations.

He also said individuals could be slapped with a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, adding that for subsequent offences they could face a fine of up to RM250,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both.

Meanwhile, Armizan said KPDN will consider proposals that could contribute to the community’s higher compliance regarding the halal logo issues, adding that the ministry must take an open approach in accepting any suggestions and discussing them in detail as various parties and stakeholders are involved.

He was referring to the Federal Territories deputy mufti Jamali Mohd Adnan’s suggestion for KPDN to work with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to review increasing fines imposed on those found violating the halal logo laws.

It was reported that KPDN opened an investigation paper into a sandwich bread factory in Sunway Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, for suspected misuse of the halal logo.

In a statement on Jan 13, KPDN enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said that the factory was being investigated for suspected violations of Paragraph 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, which is an offence under Paragraph 8(a) of the Trade Descriptions Order (Certification and Marking of Halal) 2011. – Focus M, Jan 16, 2025

Yoon

S Korea's Yoon becomes first sitting president to be arrested

South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol has become the country's first sitting president to be arrested, ending a weeks-long standoff between investigators and his personal security.

Yoon, whose failed attempt to impose martial law plunged the country into turmoil and saw him impeached by parliament, is being investigated on charges of insurrection.

He is, however, still technically the president as a constitutional court has to decide whether his impeachment is valid.

Investigators used ladders and wirecutters in the freezing cold to get to Yoon, whose Presidential Security Service (PSS) personnel had erected barricades in a bid to thwart his arrest.

The 64-year-old leader said he agreed to appear before the Corruption Investigation Office for high ranking officials (CIO) to avoid bloodshed.

In a three-minute video message, Yoon said he would comply with the investigation against him even though he was against it.

He has consistently maintained that the warrant for his arrest is not legally valid.

Yoon said he witnessed how authorities "invaded" his home's security perimeter with fire equipment.

"I decided to appear before the CIO, even though it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent any unsavoury bloodshed," he said.

More than 1,000 officers were part of Wednesday's dawn operation, which marked the second time officers had tried to arrest him.

The CIO which is investigating Yoon, previously attempted to arrest him on 3 January.

They had obtained the warrant after he ignored multiple summonses to appear for questioning.

Yoon's People Power Party decried his arrest as "illegal", with floor leader Kweon Seong-dong describing Wednesday's events as "regretful".

On the other hand, the floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Park Chan-dae, said Yoon's arrest showed that "justice in South Korea is alive".

This arrest "is the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law," he said during a party meeting.

The country is currently being led by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as acting president. He was thrust into power after the first acting president, Han Duck-soo, was also impeached by opposition majority parliament.

After undergoing questioning on Wednesday, Yoon is expected to be detained at the Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, approximately 5km (3 miles) from the CIO's office.

If a court doesn't issue a detention warrant within 48 hours of Yoon's arrest, however, he will be released, and free to return to the presidential residence.

While the arrest of a sitting president is remarkable for South Korean politics, the country's political crisis is far from over. It is just another phase in an unfolding political drama.

The crowds outside Yoon's house on Wednesday morning underscored the deep divisions in the country.

The anti-Yoon crowd cheered, clapped and blasted out a "congratulations and celebrations" song at the announcement of his arrest.

The atmosphere is completely different on the other side.

"We are very upset and angry - the rule of law has broken down," a Yoon supporter told the BBC.

The standoff also pitted two branches of executive power against each other: law enforcement officers, armed with a legal arrest warrant and presidential security staff, who said they were duty bound to protect the suspended president.

Even before his martial law declaration, Yoon had been reduced to a lame duck leader as the opposition party held the majority in parliament.

He has also faced controversy over his wife for receiving a Dior bag as a gift. - BBC News (1 Hour Ago)

Animals

Differentiating wild, domesticated, stray, and feral animals

WARM-BLOODED animals such as mammals and birds thrive in natural environments undisturbed by man. They can be herbivores that eat only plants, carnivores that eat only meat, or omnivores that eat both plants and meat.

Wild animals have never been domesticated, while feral animals are descended from domesticated animals that have escaped or were released into the wild. Feral animals, being born in the wild, have never lived with humans and have minimal or no interaction with people.

Strays are mammals that have been lost or abandoned and living outdoors, often seeking human contact for food as they have lost their hunting skills and aggression. With sufficient food, they continue to reproduce, resulting in large numbers of stray dogs and cats in many areas.

But when feeding stops or food is scarce, they become emaciated and may eventually die of starvation. This is especially problematic for pregnant females as they require more nutrition and nursing mothers to produce enough milk for a litter of newborn puppies and kittens to survive.

Dogs often bite humans when feeling threatened, scared, or trying to protect their territory, possessions, or loved ones, or experiencing discomfort, pain, or hunger. As such, most people give a wide berth to dogs and do not look them in the eyes, which may trigger aggression.

On the other hand, people pet stray cats oblivious to hidden danger. Their furs may look clean but they are not, as they were licked clean by the cat and their tongues could not reach the head and neck. Like dogs, cats also host a range of parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mites.

We often see dogs and cats scratching themselves frantically with their paws trying to get rid of intense itch, which can be more irritating than pain. Like humans, they will lie down comfortably after a full meal and may even doze off. At other times, they can be irritable and aggressive.

Last December, dead cats were found over several days at the sprawling campus ground of University Malaya, which covers 367 hectares, including 140 hectares under secondary forest cover that wild, feral, and stray animals could easily seek refuge and hide.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post published on Jan 2, investigations by the police and Department of Veterinary Services suspected the cats were killed by wild dogs but many Malaysians have doubts about the authorities’ assessment.

The killings stopped after animal rights activists and members of the public descended upon the campus on Dec 22 and rescued 22 cats. Their intervention came after images of the dead cats, many severely mutilated and with missing limbs, were shared over social media.

It is alarming to think that the serial cat killer might target humans in the absence of stray cats. In any case, I do not think the cats were killed by ‘wild’ dogs as reported. The only type of wild dog in Asia, known as dhole, is on the verge of extinction in the entire continent.

Although unlikely, the cats could have been killed by stray dogs infected with rabies, making them highly excitable and aggressive, and could display evidence of depraved appetites such as eating and chewing stones, earth, and rubbish, an eating disorder called pica.

As there is no cure for rabies, all rabid dogs must be euthanised, regardless of whether they are ferals, strays, or household pets. In 2015-2024, there were 50 confirmed rabies cases in the country from dog bites, with 49 incidents in Sarawak resulting in 44 deaths. – YS Chan FocusM, Jan 13, 2025

PMX

Malaysia PM Anwar denies hiding document on Najib's home detention

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government did not conceal any document relating to jailed former premier Najib Razak's home detention, news agency Bernama reported.

Najib, imprisoned for his role in the country's biggest scandal, has been pursuing a legal bid to compel the government to confirm the existence of and execute an "addendum order" that he said was issued by the former king alongside a pardon he received last year, entitling him to serve the remainder of his jail term at home.

The former prime minister had his 12-year sentence halved in a pardon by then-King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, who was chair of a special Pardons Board. His five-year reign under Malaysia's unique system of rotating monarchy ended in January 2024.

Najib and the ex-king's palace say the document exists, with Najib's legal team saying it has been ignored by authorities.

Anwar said the document was sent to the attorney-general and not to him nor any other member of the Pardons Board, Bernama reported on Saturday (Jan 11).

"The attorney-general then forwarded the document to the palace when there was a change of king, as it is the king who chairs the Pardons Board. We did not hide anything," Anwar said.

On Friday, Malaysia's law ministry said it had no record of any documents authorising house arrest for Najib nor had it received any official notification or instructions from the royal palace on the matter. The home and communications ministers have also said they were not aware of the existence of such a document.

Najib was found guilty in 2020 of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving funds misappropriated from a unit of state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He is on trial for corruption in several other 1MDB-linked cases and denies wrongdoing.

The Court of Appeal on Jan 6 overturned the dismissal of Najib's legal attempt to access the document that he says should allow him to serve the rest of his term at home. The case will go back to court to be heard by another judge. - BBC

META

Meta’s content moderation U-turn: Company to phase out active fact-checking

Social media giant Meta has announced the termination of its fact-checking program in the United States. Previously overseen by specialised research organizations, the initiative will be replaced by a community-based system, akin to the one implemented by X (formerly Twitter).

This decision marks a significant reversal in Meta’s approach to content moderation, coinciding with Donald Trump’s return to office.  - Al-Jazeera 8 Jan 2025

UMMC

Public riled up as UMMC's patient fees shoot up

One of the Klang Valley's largest government-funded hospitals has announced an increase of up to 70% in patient fees for procedures, treatments and services, a move that will affect the lower and middle-income groups in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), popularly known as Universiti Hospital or UH, cited "changes in the cost of disposables and equipment" as the reason for the increase, which comes into effect on Jan 1.

"Disposables and equipment are among the elements that determine treatment prices at UMMC.

"Any change in the cost of disposables and equipment will result in increased costs to be borne by UMMC," reads a frequently asked question on the website.

UMMC is a teaching hospital that caters to the public, and operates as a statutory body under the higher education ministry.

In the same FAQ, UMMC absolved the government of blame for the increases, saying that while the government remains its main source of funding, the hospital is responsible for generating its own revenue.

It also pointed out that those in the lower income group B40 can avail of the benefits of MySalam, the government's critical illness insurance scheme, adding that eligible patients  can also apply for assistance from its Finance Department and Welfare Services.

At press time, the hospital had not published details of the increase.

However, Chinese-language daily Guanming reported that ward fees are to be raised by 60%, from RM120 to RM300.

Meanwhile, fees for follow-up treatment at specialist clinics are to rise from RM15 to RM50, an increase of 70%.

Screenshots of the new rates have been widely circulated on social media, with a flood of comments taking the government to task for failing to absorb the higher costs.

Many also described the latest hike as another example of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's U-turn on his earlier promises to ensure the welfare of lower income groups, including through the provision of cheaper public health services.

When contacted, a spokesman for the hospital confirmed the new rates to MalaysiaNow, adding that they were based on a notice posted on the hospital's website.

The notice is apparently removed and only a general announcement of the rates increase is made.

MalaysiaNow's attempts to find out more details about the increases were unsuccessful. A spokesman for the hospital's Finance Department said no officer was available to answer queries. - MalaysiaNow 3 Jan 2025

TikTok

Small businesses brace themselves for potentially disruptive TikTok ban

A looming TikTok ban could affect the millions of small businesses that use the short-video social media app to help them grow their business.

Desiree Hill, owner of Crown’s Corner Mechanic in Conyers, Georgia, started her business solo as a mobile mechanic. Sharing videos of her work on TikTok helped spread the word and she became so popular she was able to open a 9,000 square foot brick and mortar shop with five employees 18 months ago.

"Every day I get at least two to three customers that have seen me on TikTok, watched my videos and wanted to become a customer,” she said.

Though TikTok has been around only since 2016, small business owners use the platform in a variety of ways, from growing a customer base to advertising and marketing, as well as selling goods directly from the site.

According to TikTok's own estimates, small businesses on TikTok would lose more than US$1bil in revenue in a single month if the ban goes into effect.

The Justice Department ordered the app's China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok or face a US ban by Jan 19, citing security concerns. The Supreme Court will take up the matter in January. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office Jan 20, has asked the Supreme Court for a delay.

If a ban does occur, small businesses will have to migrate to other platforms to find their customers. Instagram Reels, SnapChat and YouTube Shorts are alternatives. The good news is brands likely already have a presence there. But it may be harder to reach teens that have made TikTok their preferred social media app.

Another alternative is to build a strong database of customers that opt in to providing contact emails or phone numbers. That lets owners reach out directly to customers with promotions and other marketing messages.

But Crown Corner Mechanic's Hill said she is worried that other sites may not have the reach that TikTok does. She has a presence on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, but it's not the same, she said.

"I am worried because there is no preparation for this,” she said. "It holds such a significant place in regards to my customer base and how I reach customers that if I lose TikTok, I will lose a large part of my business or I will lose my ability to grow anymore.”

Crystal Lister is the owner of Mommy and Me: The Listers, in Cypress, Texas, which offers interactive workshops about STEM education. She's working on pivoting to YouTube for videos and Instagram Reels for teasers to direct people to YouTube, but said TikTok is easier.

"It is going to be a challenge if TikTok is banned because we’re losing kind of all the functionality you want – the ability for a video creation, the ability to spread the word via social media,” she said. "So we’ll have to use many other platforms to supplement what TikTok did in one.” – AP