UMNO delegates table motion to leave top 2 posts unchallenged at next party elections - CNA

Whether UMNO's top two posts will be contested at its next leadership polls has been a hot topic at this year's convention.

A loss for current president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - also Malaysia's deputy prime minister - could have implications for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.

But Ahmad Zahid has maintained his confidence in defending his position, saying in a policy speech on Friday that he would leave it to party delegates to decide if the roles should be contested.

Party delegates from each state will announce on Saturday if they support the motion, which will be passed if a simple majority is obtained, Mr Isham said.

Even then, the motion is not constitutionally binding and the president and deputy president could still be challenged, he said.

Earlier this week former UMNO youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin announced at a forum in Singapore that he was "thinking of" running for the presidency.

He also said he wanted to stop any "undemocratic" motions blocking contestation of the party’s top two posts.

Some prominent UMNO members, however, prefer that the roles remain uncontested. These include UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan and women’s wing chief Noraini Ahmad.

Mr Mohamad said the polls could cause divisions within UMNO. Dr Noraini said a no-contest would give leaders space to strengthen the formerly dominant party, now seeking a reset following poor performances at recent national polls.

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2023-01-13 13:19:37Z
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Woman dies after avalanche near ski resort in Japan's Hokkaido: Report - CNA

TOKYO: A foreign woman died in an avalanche at Mount Yotei near a popular ski resort on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, local media reported on Friday (Jan 13).

The woman, who was at the site with about 10 other people, did not show any vital signs, broadcaster NHK reported, citing a person who made an emergency call.

Japan's TV Asahi News quoted the fire department as saying the avalanche occurred between the mountain's fifth and sixth stations at about 2.30pm.

According to the report, her companions pulled the woman from the snow and she was conveyed to the hospital by helicopter. Her death was subsequently confirmed, TV Asahi said.

The party of 10 is believed to comprise European nationals from the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, it added.

TV Asahi also said an avalanche warning had been issued in the Shiribeshi area, where the mountain is located, since Thursday.

Mount Yotei is one of Hokkaido's most famous mountains and is a popular outdoor activity spot.

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2023-01-13 09:16:53Z
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China's Exports Slump Further as Global Demand Drops Off - Bloomberg

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1. China's Exports Slump Further as Global Demand Drops Off  Bloomberg
2. China Dec rare earth exports at 4307 tonnes -customs  CNA
3. China exports, imports tumble sharply in December, cloud 2023 growth outlook  The Straits Times
4. China’s exports, imports tumbled in December, but trade with Russia steady  South China Morning Post
5. China's Dec soybean imports jump 19%, coal shipments slip  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-01-13 05:40:00Z
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Forgiven but not forgotten, Zahid says of 10 MPs who signed SDs backing Muhyiddin - The Star Online

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Forgiven but not forgotten, Zahid says of 10 MPs who signed SDs backing Muhyiddin  The Star OnlineView Full coverage on Google News
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2023-01-12 09:03:00Z
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China Stops Reporting Covid Tally as Data Criticism Grows - Bloomberg

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1. China Stops Reporting Covid Tally as Data Criticism Grows  Bloomberg
2. 'Not necessary' to dwell on COVID-19 death tally, Chinese experts say  CNA
3. China stops reporting daily Covid-19 tally as data criticism intensifies  The Straits Times
4. China's economy is living its darkest hours before the dawn  South China Morning Post
5. China's Covid Surge Could Make Xi More Dangerous  Bloomberg
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-01-12 08:18:58Z
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Sabah Cabinet reshuffle not the unity government PM Anwar wants, says UMNO state chief - CNA

KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin has claimed the state’s reshuffled Cabinet is not the idea of a unity government as previously mooted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

According to local media, Mr Bung Moktar said on Wednesday (Jan 11) the two United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) assemblymen included in Mr Hajiji’s Noor new Cabinet did not represent the party. 

The two are Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Shahelmey Yahya as well as Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister James Ratib. 

They were among five assemblymen from UMNO who had previously broken ranks and publicly announced their support for Mr Hajiji.

Mr Bung Mokhtar, the Sabah UMNO chief, was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today that the two assemblymen were not recognised by the party. 

“Hajiji cannot say (that they are representing UMNO) or recognise them as representing the party in his Cabinet line-up,” Mr Bung Mokhtar reportedly said.

The news portal added that Mr Bung Mokhtar will raise the inclusion of the two assemblymen in the state’s Cabinet with UMNO’s disciplinary board as well as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Separately, Mr Shahelmey - who replaced Mr Bung Mokhtar as deputy chief minister and works minister in the reshuffle - said that the new Cabinet under Mr Hajiji aligns with Mr Anwar’s idea of a unity state government. 

He said: “This is part of the formula for a unity government, because with the three new faces in the Cabinet - we have Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the line-up.”

Mr Shahelmy also affirmed his position as an UMNO member, saying that he has yet to hear from the party’s leadership over his decision to support Mr Hajiji.

“I am still an UMNO member,” he told Free Malaysia Today. 

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2023-01-11 08:23:54Z
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Singapore clinics prepare for potential surge in COVID-19 cases, as more travellers from China arrive - CNA

SINGAPORE: Clinics in Singapore are gearing up to handle a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, as infected travellers from China may potentially arrive amid rising cases there.

One clinic, Unihealth, said it has seen nearly 10 per cent more cases compared to last week.

The chain’s busiest branch at Jurong West has been handling about 20 COVID-19 cases a week. In recent days, some of the patients have been travellers from China or their close contacts.

“We've seen some patients who have family members returned from China, and they have contracted COVID-19 as well,” said Dr Xie Huizhuang, the clinic’s medical director.

“But in the grand scheme of things, the numbers, it's not too significant at least at this stage,” she said.

On Jan 8, China lifted quarantine requirements and travel curbs, ending three years of a strict zero-COVID policy.  It also started processing travel documents such as passports and visas for citizens, after discouraging non-essential outbound travel since the pandemic began.

China’s abrupt relaxation of tough restrictions under its zero-COVID policy has led to the coronavirus sweeping across the country, with some estimates suggesting millions are being infected daily.

Despite the COVID-19 situation in China, several travel platforms in the country have reported a rise in the number of bookings. Some of the top overseas destinations booked include Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM

Dr Xie said that COVID-19 cases may rise if travel loads pick up. 

However, Singapore is in a strong position to handle such a situation due to its high vaccination rate and immunity from past infections, she said.

Phoenix Medical is also expecting more cases, but its medical director Dr Chua Hshan Cher noted that there is no cause for alarm. 

“If we use the previous experiences as a gauge of what the likelihood is going to be, I expect there would be a surge in the number of cases,” he said.

“Because this is really, literally a big market of potentially, tourists or travellers coming from a country that has only now started to experience a surge in the number of COVID cases.”

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2023-01-11 07:07:01Z
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