Bomb threat against MBJB a hoax, say cops - New Straits Times

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1. Bomb threat against MBJB a hoax, say cops  New Straits Times
2. MBJB terima ancaman bom palsu  Berita Harian
3. Tiga premis kerajaan terima e-mel ancaman bom | Sinar Harian  Sinar Harian
4. Menara MBJB terima panggilan ancaman bom  Harian Metro
5. Ancaman bom di Menara MBJB palsu  Harian Metro

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2024-02-12 08:57:45Z
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Students in Indonesia plan to protest alleged poll interference - CNA

JAKARTA: Hundreds of Indonesian students and activists will stage protests on Monday (Feb 12) over what they see as outgoing President Joko Widodo's abuse of power to sway voters in this week's election in favour of frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, organisers said.

Jokowi, as the incumbent is known, has not explicitly endorsed any of the three candidates vying to replace him as leader of the world's third-largest democracy.

But he has made highly publicised appearances with Prabowo, and Jokowi's eldest son is running on the same ticket as vice president.

Two opinion surveys last week projected Prabowo could secure more than 50 per cent of the votes on Wednesday, allowing him to win in a single round. Rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo were seen at least 20 points behind.

Some voters have taken issue with Jokowi's perceived lack of neutrality, saying it undermines Indonesia's democracy by giving one candidate an unfair advantage.

"The ethical and moral breaches by Jokowi show that he is against a critical public voice," said Aksi Gejayan Memanggil, a protest organiser in Yogyakarta, a city on Java island, said on Instagram.

Another protest was planned in the capital Jakarta by several rights groups.

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2024-02-12 07:16:00Z
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Up to 90% of honey sold in Malaysia is artificial, says expert - The Straits Times

Honey from stingless bees, also known as kelulut in Malay, had a uniquely sweet and sour taste with a flowery or fruity aroma. PHOTO: AFP

The honey industry in Malaysia is facing a challenge to identify the number of fake goods on the market, a number that may constitute up to 90 per cent of products sold in Malaysia, said a local honey expert.

“The biggest challenge of the honey industry now is the presence of artificial honey, which reaches 90 per cent in the market,” said Dr Zulkifli Mustafa, a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

“To identify real honey, laboratory tests are required.”

Dr Zulkifli, a researcher at USM’s Department of Neurosciences in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, was speaking during an interview with a local radio station. The interview was recorded by a university circular published on Jan 29 promoting the use of honey from stingless bees.

He said that his research showed that honey from stingless bees, a species that bites instead of stinging for self-defence, contains a variety of nutrients that could have multiple health benefits.

“Honey is a complete food in terms of energy, protein, vitamins, good bacteria and anti-oxidants,” said Dr Zulkifli. “Stingless bee honey can relieve inflammation due to bacterial infection, stress, obesity and aging as well as chronic diseases.”

He added that honey from stingless bees, also known as kelulut in Malay, had a uniquely sweet and sour taste with a flowery or fruity aroma.

Dr Zulkifli has written and published journal articles on the benefits of stingless bee honey, but also on the adulteration of these honey products with vinegar to mimic its taste.

He said around 4,000 breeders were working with USM’s application and commercial arm Brainey to produce authentic stingless bee honey to the general consumer.

“Strict quality control guarantees the authenticity and consistency of the honey,” he said.

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• Malaysia
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• Nutrition and diet

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2024-02-12 07:50:00Z
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Indonesia Elections 2024: Why cigarette and coffee sales spike as voters assess candidates - CNA

BUSINESSES RAMPING UP PRODUCTION

Mdm Rosalina, the owner of cigarette company Mustika Tembakau Indonesia, said that during previous elections, demand for her products increased by 30 per cent.

However, she stated it is not always easy to meet the demand.

“We may have problems obtaining the material, such as getting enough tobacco, which hampers our production,” she said. 

This time, she has tried to preempt it by securing as much tobacco as possible before campaigning started in November.

Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono said in June last year that the number of Indonesian smokers has been on the rise.

Indonesia has the third highest number of smokers worldwide after China and India, with about 112 million smokers, according to government data. 

"We are in third place, maybe because we are also a tobacco-producing country," said Mr Dante last June. 

The government has tried for years to dissuade people from smoking as it has negative health consequences, such as the risk of contracting tuberculosis or cancer.  

But it has been a double-edged sword as the country gets about 10 per cent of its state revenue from the tobacco products industry.

Mdm Rosalina believes that smokers should know the health consequences as they are stated on the cigarette packs. 

“The consequences are on the package. So that is already a reminder - it all depends on the consumer whether they want to consume (the cigarette) or not.

“Cigarettes greatly contribute to the country’s income,” she added.

East Java province is the main producer of cigarettes in Indonesia.

Mdm Sulami Bahar, the head of East Java’s cigarette entrepreneur (Gapero) association, said that legislative candidates even make special requests to small-scale cigarette factories during elections. 

“They want us to create cigarette packs with their pictures on them to distribute to potential voters.” 

As a cigarette producer herself, she has also received such requests this time. 

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2024-02-11 22:00:00Z
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Desperate Palestinians in Gaza's Rafah fear coming Israeli assault - CNA

In a call, US President Joe Biden told Mr Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with a military operation in Rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of people sheltering there, the White House said.

The call came days after Biden said Israel's response in Gaza was "over the top".

A senior Biden administration official said negotiators working on a deal to release the remaining hostages held by Hamas had made "real progress" over the last few weeks.

There were still some "significant" gaps to close, the official said, but added: "It's pretty much there."

Before previous assaults on Gaza cities, Israel's military has ordered civilians to leave without preparing any specific evacuation plan. Aid agencies say an assault on Rafah would be catastrophic.

The war began on Oct 7 when the militant group Hamas that controls Gaza stormed the border fence with Israel, sending in fighters who killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Four months later, Gaza is in ruins. Under a massive daily bombardment, Israeli ground forces have overrun most of the enclave, smashing houses, public buildings and infrastructure with air raids, artillery fire and controlled detonations.

Palestinian health authorities say more than 28,000 people have been killed in the war, about 70 per cent of them women and children. More than 85 per cent of Gazans are homeless. A UN survey found that nearly one in 10 children under five are acutely malnourished.

Talks for a deal on a ceasefire and the release of hostages have so far failed to bring an agreement. Last week Israel rejected a Hamas proposal, saying it would not stop fighting while the group retained brigades that Israel says are hiding in Rafah.

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2024-02-11 15:28:00Z
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Netanyahu promises 'safe passage' to Palestinians ahead of Rafah operation - CNA

The Israeli premier, who contends "victory" over Hamas cannot be achieved without clearing battalions in Rafah, directed his military on Friday to prepare for the operation. His announcement set off a chorus of concern from world leaders and aid groups.

"The people in Gaza cannot disappear into thin air," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on social media platform X, adding that an Israeli offensive on Rafah would be a "humanitarian catastrophe in the making."

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry warned Saturday of "very serious repercussions of storming and targeting" Rafah and called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting, while UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he is "deeply concerned" about the prospective offensive.

"The priority must be an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid in and hostages out," he wrote.

SHARPENING US REBUKE

The war in Gaza was sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented Oct 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that the territory's health ministry says has killed at least 28,064 people, mostly women and children.

Militants also seized 250 hostages, 132 of whom are still in Gaza, although 29 are presumed dead, Israel has said.

Netanyahu announced the plan for a ground operation in Rafah only days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel seeking a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange.

Netanyahu has rejected the proposed truce after what he called "bizarre demands" from Hamas.

But Israel's plans for Rafah have drawn sharp rebuke from main ally and military backer Washington, with the State Department warning that if not properly planned, such an operation risks "disaster".

In unusually sharp criticism, US President Joe Biden on Thursday called Israel's retaliatory campaign "over the top".

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2024-02-11 08:58:45Z
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Malaysian police searching for driver of Singapore-registered car who swung golf club at 2 men - AsiaOne

Malaysian police are searching for the driver of a Singapore-registered car after the video of what looks like a road rage incident was uploaded onto Facebook yesterday (Feb 10).

The 54-second video, taken from inside another car, shows a stationary red Mitsubishi Lancer and a black Toyota on the left lane of a highway in Johor. 

The Lancer is surrounded by two men and the person inside begins to drive off, appearing to swerve towards one of the men who then slams his hand on the windscreen.

The driver of the red car then emerges with a golf club, swinging it angrily at the two men. The video shows him hitting the back window of the Toyota, which appears to be damaged. 

The man who previously hit the windscreen then grabs the golf club and pushes the Mitsubishi driver away, while the other man holds the former back.

Other passengers emerge from the two cars and they appear to have an argument. This altercation took place on the first day of Chinese New Year (Feb 10).

Some netizens shared their disapproval in the comments, with one claiming that Singaporeans "come to Malaysia thinking they that they are big shots".

Another commented that the road rage may have been caused by the man hitting the Lancer's windscreen. They added that the alleged road rage had nothing to do with the nationality of the drivers.

The Muar District Police released a statement later that evening stating that the incident occurred on Feb 10 at approximately 1.58pm on the North-South Expressway in Pagoh, Johor.

[[nid:670823]]

"A local driver on route to Kuala Lumpur saw a red Mitsubishi Lancer driven by the suspect using the emergency lane and blocked the said vehicle," they wrote. 

"As a result of that action, a verbal argument occurred, and the suspect knocked the windows of the local man's car with a club and left the scene."

They added that they were investigating the case under Section 427 of the Malaysian penal code, pertaining to "whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of 25 ringgit (S$7) or upwards", which is punishable by two years' imprisonment and/or a fine. 

It is also being investigated under Section 233 of Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Act, pertaining to "offences of using network facilities to transmit communication deemed to be offensive or could cause annoyance to another person" and Section 53(1) of the Road Transport Act 1959, which stipulates driving in the emergency lane as an offence.

Muar District Police are also looking for the driver of the Mitsubishi Lancer to assist with the investigation.

They advised the public to avoid speculations "that can affect harmony and disturb public order" and added that that the police will take "strict action" according to the law and "not compromise with any criminal offenses".

[[nid:670822]]

drimac@asiaone.com

No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

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2024-02-11 04:15:25Z
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