Local 48 dispatchers report

IPOH: DAP Youth vice-chief Jenny Choy ( pic ) has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) urging an investigation into Datuk Seri Rina Harun’s source of wealth in settling her debts. Choy said MACC needs to investigate if the Women, Family and Community Development Minister had received an additional source of income. “Referring to MACC’s asset declaration data in November 2019, Rina declared that her assets stood at RM72,000 with a monthly income of RM34,004.48. “If her source of income did not change, she will need approximately 40 months to collect enough funds to pay off her debts without spending a cent of her income, ” Choy told reporters after lodging the report at MACC office here on Thursday (Feb 18). “MACC needs to investigate how Rina managed to pay her debts of RM1,340,642 in 15 months," she added. On Wednesday (Feb 17), Choy questioned Rina’s source of wealth in settling the lawsuit to avoid bankruptcy. ... » Learn More about DAP Youth lodges report with MACC over Rina’s source of wealth

The following is our weekly feature in which we highlight the top five local stories in our area, Pattaya and Chonburi, for the past week. These are chosen by our editorial team and are designed for our readers to get a quick “catch-up” of important stories they may have missed as we publish many stories daily and it is easy to lose track of important events or changes in our area. We do national recaps in a separate article. They are in no particular order of importance. These are from Sunday, January 31st, to Saturday, February 6th, 2021. 1. “Goodbye Pattaya” goes viral on Thai language social media groups After a recent second period of Covid-19 related closures and restrictions closed most business in the area for a month, many Thai residents have decided to leave Pattaya, resigning to the fact that foreign tourists won’t be coming back anytime soon due to Covid-19 related border controls.  The trend went viral on prominent social media groups with people posting ... » Learn More about The last week in Pattaya- top five local news stories from January 31st to February 6th

Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand- Several different groups of local residents, both ex-pats and Thai nationals, came together over this past weekend to support a great cause-keeping Jomtien Beach beautiful and encouraging people, especially during the Songkran holiday when domestic tourists will be visiting the area, to keep the Beach clean and properly dispose of their trash. The kickoff for the event, which will be running throughout Songkran week with several walks by volunteers and participants from the Sand Sea group both in the morning and afternoon, took place at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 10th, at the police station at the Dongtan police booth. The event was attended by Pattaya City officials, Chonburi Province officials, staff from the Sawangboriboon Thammasatthana Foundation, Pattaya Sawangboribun Rescue staff workers, Association of Reporters and Technicians staff, multiple companies, individuals, and groups such as Guevaron, Archieha, Nanmee Co., Ltd, Horse brand ... » Learn More about Local groups come together to support a clean Jomtien Beach with SAND SEA: ART

789 new Covid-19 infections and 1 death were reported today by the CCSA. The death, a 68 year old Thai man from Nakhon Pathom, had died April 4 but was yesterday confirmed as dying from complications from Coronavirus. Only 8 infections were international arrivals, with 522 local infections and 259 diagnosed today through contact tracing. The international infections were Thai and foreigners and included 3 arriving from Russia and 1 each from the US, UK, Oman, India, and Canada. 33 former patients are now fully recovered from the virus and discharged in the past 24 hours. Earlier today 17 new infections were identified in Phuket and will go into tomorrow’s official national count. This brings the island’s total new infections this week to 43, almost all of them a result of an influx of Bangkok party-goers to events last weekend . This new jump in Covid-19 brings the total infections in Thailand to 31,658 – c28,463 local cases and 3,195 internationally imported cases, 17,000+ of ... » Learn More about Big Covid-19 numbers today: 789 new infections, 1 death

SIBU: A total of 443 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Sarawak on Sunday (April 11) and the total number of recorded cases stands at 20,001, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Bintulu district tops the list with 89 cases followed by Sibu (83), Miri (61), Julau (43), Kapit (32), Mukah (31), Kuching (26), Sarikei (22), seven each for Matu, Samarahan and Meradong, six each for Subis and Serian, Kabong (five), three each for Beluru, Belaga, Betong and Bukit Mabong, Kanowit (two), and one each for Saratok, Tanjung Manis, Tatau and Sebauh. The state disaster management committee (SDMC) chairman also said that three new clusters have been detected; the Abak Bon Subis and Jalan Badarudin clusters in Kuching and the Nanga Kelangas cluster in Julau. "Of the 49 existing clusters, 10 clusters have new cases today while another 39 clusters reported no new cases," he added. Douglas said at a press conference on Sunday (April 11) that Sarawak has managed to control the spread of Covid-19 ... » Learn More about Covid-19: 443 new cases in Sarawak on Sunday (April 11), Bintulu highest with 89

6 illegal Cambodian migrants were caught at a checkpoint in the western border province of Sa Kaeo this weekend. Such checkpoints are proliferating, designed to stop illegal border crossings and the potential risk imported Covid-19 cases. Sa Kaeo Sa Kaeo has been a particular hotspot , with many illegal migrants attempting to cross the border to work in Thailand. ThaiBorder Control, the Royal Thai Police and regional forces have recently stepped up border control at the government’s direction. With concern of the potential spread of Covid-19 at an all time high , checkpoints are in effect on many roads in Sa Kaeo and the surrounding area. Villages on the border have been instructed to report any “strangers”. 48 year old Kajornsak Sonsom, a Sa Kaeo native, was arrested for transporting the 6 Cambodian nationals. He reportedly admitted he was paid 3,500 baht per person to smuggle them over the border in the Ta Prayha district and drive them north to Phetchabun province. ... » Learn More about Sa Kaeo police nab 6 illegal migrants, Thai driver

PETALING JAYA: An opposition lawmaker has questioned Datuk Seri Rina Harun’s source of wealth in settling an RM1.9mil lawsuit to avoid bankruptcy action. DAP Youth vice-chief Jenny Choy (pic) said the Women, Family and Community Development Minister’s wealth was dubious based on the asset declaration made to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that was published for public view. “It was reported that the minister has settled her debts to a Paris-based film company. She was earlier served with a bankruptcy notice for debts amounting to RM1,340,642.02. “She should explain how she managed to accumulate sufficient wealth and funds to pay off the huge debt in a short period of 15 months as the (MACC’s) asset declaration data shows that her assets stood at RM72,000 when the same was made public on Nov 20,2019, with an income of RM34,004.48 a month, ” she said on Wednesday (Feb 17). If Rina’s income remained unchanged since 2019, Choy said it would take 40 months for ... » Learn More about Opposition lawmaker questions Rina Harun’s source of wealth after million-plus-ringgit debt settled

Debate is raging on social media following a claim from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, that Thailand’s plan to orbit the Moon is going ahead. Anek Laothamatas adds that it will be “mission accomplished” within the next 7 years, costing, “only 3 billion baht”. A report in the Bangkok Post says that, according to Anek, Thailand will be producing satellites weighing 50–100 kilograms within 5 years, and in the following 3 years, will start building spaceships capable of going beyond the Earth’s orbit. He says we can all look forward to an official announcement on January 13. “The new economy of space travel will be a way for Thailand to overcome the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and then to escape the middle-income trap, and the ministry will embrace creativity and innovation.” Anek’s announcement has sparked debate on social media, with some saying the poverty and other social issues facing their fellow countrymen should take ... » Learn More about Minister’s insistence Thailand’s moon mission will go ahead sparks social media debate

JOHANNESBURG: Opener Mohammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten half-century to lead Pakistan to a nail-biting four-wicket victory over inexperienced South Africa in the first Twenty20 International at The Wanderers on Saturday. South Africa, who were without seven of their leading players, either injured or released to compete in the Indian Premier League, won the toss and elected to bat, posting 188 for six in their 20 overs on an excellent wicket. Rizwan scored 74 from 50 balls in Pakistan’s reply as the visitors profited from the depleted home bowling attack and reached their target with one ball remaining. It is their highest successful run chase in T20 cricket, beating the 187 they managed in a win over Australia in 2018. The industrious Rizwan was helped over the line by Faheem Ashraf (30 from 14 balls) as the pair added 48 in 24 balls for the sixth wicket, turning the match firmly in the visitors’ favour. South Africa’s total was boosted by half-centuries for opener ... » Learn More about Red-hot Rizwan leads Pakistan to T20 victory over South Africa

MALANG, Indonesia: A strong earthquake on Indonesia’s main island of Java killed eight people, including a woman whose motorcycle was hit by falling rocks, and damaged more than 1,300 buildings, officials said on Sunday. It didn’t trigger a tsunami. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.0 quake struck off the island’s southern coast at 2 p.m. on Saturday. It was centered 45 kilometers south of Sumberpucung town of Malang District in East Java province, at a depth of 82 kilometers. Rahmat Triyono, the head of Indonesia’s earthquake and tsunami center, said the undersea tremblor did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. Still, he urged people to stay away from slopes of soil or rocks that have the potential for landslides. This was the second deadly disaster to hit Indonesia this week, after Tropical Cyclone Seroja caused a severe downpour on Sunday that killed at least 174 people and left 48 still missing in East Nusa Tenggara province. Some victims were buried in ... » Learn More about 8 dead, dozens hurt in Indonesia quake