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(Adds Blinken comment, paragraph 12) RIGA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia would pay a high price for any new military aggression against Ukraine, NATO and the United States warned on Tuesday as the Western military alliance met to discuss Moscow's possible motives for massing troops near the Ukrainian border. President Vladimir Putin countered that Russia would be forced to act if U.S.-led NATO placed missiles in Ukraine that could strike Moscow within minutes. Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that now aspires to join the European Union and NATO, has become the main flashpoint between Russia and the West as relations have soured to their worst level in the three decades since the Cold War ended. "There will be a high price to pay for Russia if they once again use force against the independence of the nation Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Stoltenberg, saying: "Any escalatory actions by Russia would ... » Learn More about Putin hits back as NATO warns Moscow against attacking Ukraine

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has detected 25 Covid-19 cases believed to be from the Delta variant from periodic screenings that were carried out in Parliament on Monday (Nov 29). Its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah ( pic ) said cases that were identified had a RT-PCR value of between 13.70 and 36.11. “For now, there is high probability that samples taken are from the Delta variant, which were detected through PCR genotyping assay screening. “To confirm this variant, the Institute of Medical Research has carried out a genomic study and is waiting for the full result,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 30). Dr Noor Hisham said the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department is carrying out investigation and contact tracing as well as risk evaluation to determine the cause of infection. This is to allow further action to be taken as quickly as possible apart from disinfecting areas around Parliament. Dr Noor Hisham said that 84 Covid-19 cases had ... » Learn More about Dr Noor Hisham: 25 Covid-19 cases detected from periodic screenings in Parliament on Monday (Nov 29)

KUALA LUMPUR: Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilot Maj Mohd Fareez Omar who survived a Hawk 108 crash in Butterworth, Penang on Nov 16 is reported to be stable and is still being treated at Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang. Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said at the moment, Mohd Fareez’s condition is improving but needs close monitoring by a medical team from time to time after sustaining a serious spinal injury. On whether Mohd Fareez would be discharged, he said the MAF is unable to decide as Mohd Fareez is still receiving treatment. "Apart from that, the special committee is still investigating the incident involving the aircraft before taking any followed-up action. All matters require comprehensive study,” he said. He was speaking to reporters after attending the launching ceremony of MyVeteranMall application here on Tuesday (Nov 30). In the 10.07 pm crash, RMAF pilot Cpt Mohamad Affendi Bustamy was killed while Mohd Fareez was injured ... » Learn More about Pilot injured in RMAF Hawk crash still in hospital, says Armed Forces chief

MELAKA: Any decision to ground the use of Hawk 108 air fighter jets following the aircraft crash in Penang will be determined by the Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chiefs, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. The Defence Minister said the decision must also be based on the outcome of the special investigative board. "It is not a decision that should be made by me. It must come from the Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. "I believe that the Armed Forces and Air Force chiefs can update me on the need to use the Hawk 108 jets," he told a press conference here Wednesday (Nov 17). He was accompanied by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. During the incident, an RMAF officer was killed and another injured when their aircraft crashed during a training exercise at Teluk Ayer Tawar base. The officer who was killed in the Tuesday (Nov 16) night crash was identified as Kapt Mohamad Affendi Bustamy. His co-pilot, who was injured, and is now ... » Learn More about Any decision to ground Hawk 108 fighter jets to be determined by Armed Forces, RMAF chiefs, says Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is challenging the admissibility of the statements of a key witness, which the prosecution seeks to use as evidence in his corruption trial in a Sessions court here. On Tuesday (Nov 30), Lim’s counsel Gobind Singh Deo said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer Asst Supt Mohd Nazri Mansor, who recorded statements of prominent developer the late Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng, did not record his statements in full. When questioning the 15th prosecution witness on Monday (Nov 29), Gobind asked why a statement made on Aug 14 by Ewe was partly in handwriting and printed format. ASP Mohd Nazri explained that he did not have a laptop and had to record Ewe's statement on Aug 14 manually. "The problem is on page seven, which was typed and printed. Then there was the witness' signature down there. How do you explain this? Unless the last part of the document is fabricated," Gobind said. ASP Mohd Nazri told ... » Learn More about Guan Eng’s lawyer challenges admissibility of late developer’s statements

KUALA LUMPUR: An MP has been told to resolve his differences with a deputy minister over a teh tarik session on Penang's transportation issues. Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said made the suggestion to RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) after Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong had said that he would provide written replies. "Can the deputy minister invite YB Jelutong (Rayer) over to the ministry, together with Penang Chief Minister (Chow Kon Yeow), who is also a member of this House, so that all of you can resolve the issues over teh tarik?" Azalina said after Rayer's insistence that he be given an immediate answer on the matter in the House. Earlier, Rayer had questioned the RM30mil allocation provided for the iconic Penang ferry services, to which Azalina instructed Sum to provide a written answer within five days. Rayer, who was earlier allowed to ask a third supplementary question, went on a rant over the lack of development in Penang. He cited Penang ... » Learn More about Resolve differences with deputy minister over teh tarik session, Azalina tells MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz was the one who had introduced a businessman, who turned out to be a key figure in Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial, to the former Penang chief minister, the Sessions Court heard. The Padang Rengas MP said a meeting took place between him, Lim and Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkefli at a hotel pub here in January 2011 where the introduction took place. Nazri also conceded that Zarul Ahmad had given him RM500,000 to be donated to religious schools in southern Thailand and not for any project. Testifying as the 14th witness in Lim’s trial, Nazri said he had known Zarul Ahmad as a personal friend since the 1990s and they had no business nor political dealings. “Zarul mentioned that he wanted to know someone influential in Penang to help him get (a) project, but he did not say what project it was. I also can’t remember the date he told me that. “I took the initiative to get in touch ... » Learn More about Nazri introduced Zarul to Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans to reduce the road tax renewal fee for vehicles that run on diesel, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong (GPS-Lawas). "Any proposals to reduce the road tax fee in future will be thoroughly studied by taking into account its effects on government revenue and its impact to the entire motor-vehicle registration ecosystem in Malaysia. "Taking into account initiatives and revisions on road tax fees that were previously implemented, the Transport Ministry has no plans to reduce road tax fees specifically for vehicles that run on diesel," said Henry during Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 30). Henry said the revision on road tax renewal fees was implemented several times, among them in 2007, where fees to register privately-owned cars with engine capacity of 1,000cc and below were set at RM20 annually, while motorcycles with engine capacity below 150cc were set at RM2. He said another road tax fee revision took place in 2008, ... » Learn More about No plans to reduce road tax fee for diesel vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: The festive season maximum price control scheme for Christmas will be announced earlier than usual, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. "We will be announcing the price control scheme earlier before Christmas this year. "Details of the price control list will be announced soon," he said when answering a question raised by Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 30). The scheme covers 19 types of food items such as chicken, eggs, vegetables, goat meat and pork. Nanta also warned traders not to hike prices of the goods before the announcement. "Stern action will be taken against traders who raise prices of their goods in anticipation of the announcement," he said. Earlier, Nanta informed the House that some 1,000 enforcement officers would monitor prices of 450 items sold at 1,500 premises. ... » Learn More about Price controls for Christmas will be announced earlier than usual, says Nanta

PUTRAJAYA: Health authorities reported 50 new clusters during epidemiology week 47, with almost half or 22 clusters involving workplaces. Between Nov 21 and 27, there were 13 clusters reported involving education institutions, six community and high-risk groups respectively, two religious activities and one cluster involving a detention centre. Health director-general Tan Dr Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the number of clusters reported during epidemiology week 47 saw a significant increase from the week before, which recorded 38 new clusters. In epidemiology week 46, the breakdown of the number of clusters reported were 22 (workplace), nine (education institutions), five (community), and two clusters involving high-risk groups. “The increase in cases under all cluster categories except for workplace and imported clusters are worrying," said Dr Noor Hisham. “The numbers show that there is an increase in social activities but level of SOP compliance has begun to be taken ... » Learn More about Health DG: 50 new clusters reported from Nov 21-27, almost half linked to workplaces