‘Missed the boat’?: Malaysia ready to reconsider total vape ban, but ‘lacks political will,’ say experts

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Professionals: Target SHOULD BE ON ENFORCEMENT

According to pulmonologist Helmy Haja Mydin, the current emphasis should be on enforcing the laws as they become law as the policy becomes effective, both in terms of sales and use.

He said that whenever there are attempts to increase cigarette control laws, the lack of protection is often cited as a cause for disappointment, and therefore, an excuse to not create new regulations.

According to Helmy,” It is therefore extremely important for the Ministry of Health and its related partners to show the success of police efforts,” as this will affect support for more comprehensive policy like a complete ban on vaping products. &nbsp,

” With suitable protection, there should be much less selling and one would assume fewer new customers as well”, he added. &nbsp,

Helmy may also help a total ban on vaping, citing its effects on health. &nbsp,

There is growing evidence that it harms both the human body and our mental wellness, as well as that it serves as a gateway to other types of habit.

It is especially concerning to observe children become dependent as a result of vaping, he said. &nbsp,

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh reported about 20 000 cases of individuals vaping in schools last year.

In a parliament question day session on Tuesday ( Feb 4), Wong said&nbsp, 19, 450 were caught, about seven times more than the number of students caught tobacco, &nbsp, citing statistics from the Learners Discipline System.

According to Dzulkefly, the current priority is to tighten controls, including requiring product registration with the authorities, which has led to the ban on 80 % of vape and e-cigarette products.

However, Azrul pointed out that the online store that was intended to be immediately prohibited by Act 852 is still operational and accessible. &nbsp,

” It shows the lack of effectiveness in enforcement, “he said, pointing out one website that continued to sell their products online. &nbsp,

He claimed that before Act 852 was passed, there were an explosion of retail establishments selling high nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes in various stores and even gas stations, and that the sale of these items to minors was also permitted. &nbsp,

He said,” It is very likely that Malaysian teens aged 13 to 17 have a higher prevalence of e-cigarette and vape use than the 14.9 % recorded in 2022.”

Although the Federal Government hasn’t completely outlawed vapes, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the country’s ruler, decreed that Johor would stop issuing sales licenses for the products in 2016.

CNA had previously stated that even then, vape products were still being sold in public, and that enforcement remained difficult, especially given the limited resources available to the state government. &nbsp,

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Why women should pay attention to their pelvic floor muscles: Urine leaks, poor sexual health and other issues

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One of the most prevalent problems affecting women in Singapore is stress urinary incontinence, which occurs unintentionally during activities that cause pressure in the stomach, he told CNA Women.

A weak pelvic floor is also linked to pelvic organ prolapse, according to Dr. Eliane Hong, associate consultant with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology’s ( NUH) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology’s ( NUH) Division of Urognaecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.

This occurs when the vaginal organs, such as the cervix, kidney, scrotum, vagina, fall into a lower place in the vagina, causing a bulge that may even extend out of the body.

These problems don’t just have natural repercussions. People who have either of these situations may have more body-consciousness, which can impair sexual performance. They may even leak blood during physical intercourse, putting them off physical routines”, Dr Hong said. &nbsp,

Some people stop stepping out of their ease areas or homes because they are concerned about wetting or soiling themselves in people, according to Dr. Lim.

WHAT WEAKENS THE Pubic Flooring?

Although pelvic floor muscles inevitably weaken as we age, some elements can exacerbate this method. Pregnancy, childbirth, overeating, having a persistent cough or straining due to diarrhea, standing for prolonged periods or a career that involves heavy lifting perhaps even tension these muscle. &nbsp,

” As with any other muscle in the body, if you don’t use it, you may gain it”, warned Dr Lim. ” The vaginal floor is a widely missed and hard-to-train body. It can get weak over time unless you try to strengthen it.

The health of the vaginal floor is impacted significantly by pregnancy and childbirth.

Dr Lee Wai Yen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and urogynaecologist at Foundation Women’s Centre, explained:” As the child grows, the increasing fat places pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. During pregnancy, the relaxin hormone is released to lighten muscles in preparation for birth, which may also diminish the pelvic floor muscles”.

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Data centres in Singapore exploring clean energy options, including nuclear reactors

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In Singapore, many businesses are looking into using renewable and gas to meet their growing requirements and reduce carbon emissions.

Some are considering the possibility of nuclear reactors, but business experts claim there is still a way to get before realizing the goal. &nbsp,

For a start, they are pushing for a model that develops technical expertise in the field and handles feasibility studies.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Data center technician Equinix, for example, is now implementing a more efficient cooling system to go green with its energy use.

The US-based provider of electronic equipment runs more than 260 data centers worldwide, six of which are in Singapore.

This year, the company will begin using liquid cooling technology in its data centers, which is 3, 000 times more cost-effective for cooling the high-calibride AI Graphics Processing Unit ( GPU) than conventional cooling.

In the future, it is considering the possibility of using small modular nuclear reactors ( SMRs ) to generate power.

” In terms of the Biomarkers, we’ve started to explore planes. I would suggest that it’s budding, and it’s in the study time”, said Yee May Leong, managing director of Equinix Singapore.

” We’re positive that it will be one of the alternative energy options for us in the near future.”

Energy cells, gas, and ammonia are other renewable energy options that the company is looking into.

According to Ms. Leong,” We’ve been working with the Singapore government to find new paths and other green transition energies,” adding that the company is in favor of the Singapore Green Plan, which has goals for sustainability in the country by 2030.

She noted that relationship between the business, power providers, as well as plan makers, is a key success ingredient for efficient energy solutions to be taken on a flexible manner.

WHY SMRs?

Singapore simply lacks the space to make such large amounts of energy, according to observers. Conventional nuclear facilities can do so.

It also takes some 20 years to lay the groundwork for nuclear services, constructing infrastructure and fitting pieces, before it can begin generating electricity.

SMRs, which are constructed at a fraction of the size of a typical nuclear power plant, are another option that can be up and running much quicker.

Business players said the advantages of SMRs include flexibility, lesser cleaning requirements, improved safety features, and the potential for inclusion into Singapore’s small energy system.

” Important, we don’t have the gifts of large land places… where we can put large-scale facilities away from urban areas and protect them from the people”, said Mr Matthew Oostveen, chief technology officer for Asia Pacific and Japan at data storage firm Pure Storage.

Lee Poh Seng, a professor at the National University of Singapore ( NUS), cautioned that the transition to nuclear power is extremely complex. Translation requires overcoming obstacles, including changing community perceptions, which may require education campaigns to foster confidence and address safety and environmental concerns.

Moreover, there will be high initial capital charge, with long lead times for implementation and a need for specialised workplace capabilities.

He claimed that while Singapore has not yet adopted a formal position regarding the use of nuclear energy, it needs to develop an expert framework to evaluate its viability and develop regulatory expertise.

” We will continue to monitor the enhancement for alternatives like SMRs,” said Prof. Lee, who is the program director of NUS’ Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed.

” In parallel, what we can do is continue to address the health issues, the governing problems, as well as the legal problems. But when such options become accessible, we have the required framework to quickly grow the births.

DEMAND FOR GREEN ENERGY

To learn more about the most recent developments in science and technology from British organizations, Singapore and the US have partnered on a nuclear cooperation agreement.

Mr. Oostveen stated that the business anticipates a rise in demand for data backup in Singapore over the upcoming years.

” Big organizations feel very at ease storing both their physical and digital goods in Singapore. It is healthy. It is protected. There is a great deal of skills available to work on these techniques, he told CNA.

The time is running out for the Republic to find a viable renewable energy source that you meet growing computing needs as Singapore looks to increase its data center capacity by more than a third in the near future.

According to Prof. Lee, operators will be forced to adopt green systems and practices because of the government’s emphasis on carbon prices and incentives for ecological practices.

He cited a framework to improve data center sustainability as” The Green Data Center Roadmap amplifies this drive by setting strict goals for energy efficiency and fostering technology across sectors.”

Through these actions, Singapore is laying the groundwork for a resilient energy habitat that reduces dependence on fossil fuels and encourages responsible growth in the data center sector.

He added that continued research into modern energy alternatives, international cooperation, and powerful plan systems may be necessary to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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From vice to virtue: Orchard Towers targets full tenancy with retail outlets and church

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Yet today, the building management frequently receives concerns about alleged availability promoting physical solutions. &nbsp,

” It actually affects the change that we are going through”, said Mr Stevenson Goh, a member of Orchard Towers ‘ building management. &nbsp,

Approaching the authorities is Mr. Goh’s only option because for activities occur in open areas outside of buildings. The policeman told CNA that they are looking into the matter and that they will take appropriate steps to stop any illegal activity.

“STRONGHOLD OF THE ENEMY”

The chapel Cornerstone, which purchased two opposite properties in Orchard Towers, has construed the mall’s transformation as being spiritual.

In a word to his community explaining the religion’s choice, Senior Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong acknowledged the house’s dirty past, directly referencing its famous nickname,” The Four Floors of Whores”.

” Once a stronghold of the enemy, ( the two properties are ) now being claimed by the people of God”, Mr Yang, who is one of the church members, wrote.

In the meantime, attempts are underway to increase the house’s wall.

Faith tries to recapture Orchard Towers from its former glory, but a fresh coat of paint and fresh cladding aim to accomplish the same, working only one roof at a time.

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Singapore teenagers spend nearly 8.5 hours a day on screens: CNA-IPS survey

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FAR-REACHING Implications

With the increase of techniques, psychologists warned the overwhelming overflow of information may include far-reaching consequences – not just for a child’s well-being, but for their mental development.

Additionally, studies have demonstrated that more screen time, particularly on social media, is closely related to increased isolation and separation.

Dr Natalie Games, a top clinical psychologist at Alliance Professional Counselling, said youth ‘ brains undergo shifts around the age of 12 to 13, where they move from “having a go at all” to becoming” professionals”.

” If a teenager is spending that amount of time on tech, on cultural media, therefore they’re missing out on the other things that their brain and their well-being and their growth- politically, psychologically, emotionally, emotionally- need to be able to go through this stage of life with skills to be able to handle the future”, Dr Games added.

Teenagers who are looking at multiple products at once are unable to concentrate on one item at a time, she noted.

She said:” We’re getting a dopaminergic hit from scrolling … But then what happens is the trip. When we put ( our devices ) away, we are left with a very empty feeling, because there’s nothing we’ve accomplished”.

Audrey has experienced this, and she claims that she can start experiencing negative thoughts after a while while getting a rush of excitement from being plugged in.

” I can bookmark on TikTok for maybe one or two days, and then I just feel a little bad about it afterwards. Not everything you see is really authentic”, she said.

You may feel negative about yourself when you see some people, as you may well know, who have everything they could possibly need but don’t. And I believe that has a significant impact on my mental wellness.

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Malaysia’s ECRL: A closer look at the US.2b railway’s promises of boosting jobs for locals and making money

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When then-prime minister Najib Razak announced the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL ) project in 2016, he estimated it would cost RM55 billion. The following year, it was revealed that the ECRL’s construction had value RM65.5 billion in full.

After that, it was claimed that the project’s costs were exaggerated because Chinese state-owned companies were agreeing to pay the enormous debts of troubled sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad ( 1MDB).

His new administration planned to resign the ECRL in order to save money when the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) coalition came into power in 2018 under Mahathir Mohamad, the next premier.

But in 2019, the PH state, eager to avoid paying a hefty termination charge of RM21.78 billion, later renegotiated the ECRL partnership and road position, bringing the price down to RM44 billion.

Mahathir claimed that the overall cost of the loan would be decreased as well, with lower interest rates and fees being paid on the loan, though no specific figures were provided.

The ECRL’s realignment was also politically motivated because the PH government proposed a southern route through the state of Negeri Sembilan, which is home to Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s Seremban district.

The new Perikatan Nasional government, which included Barisan Nasional ( BN ) from Najib, largely followed its original plan and revised the cost estimate to RM50 billion in 2020. &nbsp,

The political conflict continued, with the new alignment alleged to have spanned at least five parliamentary constituencies that were all heavily contested and lost by BN component parties during the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

After the election of Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister in 2022, he declared in December that year his administration would start using the ECRL at a “reduced” cost of almost RM75 billion, revealing that the cost at the time of approval in 2016 was close to RM86 billion.

The cost of construction, which totals RM50.27 billion, and other costs, including interest fees during construction and land acquisition costs, total RM24.69 billion.

Anwar reaffirmed that his government will not significantly alter the project to prevent putting off its completion and putting incontrovertible steps and negotiations.

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Commentary: Remember when social media used to be fun?

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SINGAPORE: It’s 2012. You place your glass crown upon it, and use your brand-new mobile device to click on a blue app logo, either one with a small white birds on it or one with a white” F” in lower situation.

On your beautiful contact screen, you kind:” Taking a poop. LO L”. And you hit “post”, uploading it for the poor.

Some likes on Facebook, quickly. a few Linkedin companions who retweet something. You recall the most recent article you made on social media: a photo of you and your family making amusing faces over meal, or an uncensored thought that persisted as you waited for the bus.

Social media has now become something of a pit for judgment and criticism rather than helping you stay connected with friends and family.

Post something less than appealing? Strangers you’ve never met who might not even reside on the same continent will likely make some offensive comments about your weight, barely noticeable acne scars, and somewhat broken teeth.

Love to dance? RandomUser123 will comment on your TikTok videos that you were a trifle eccentric, your arm motion was not strong enough – and you misspelt” dance” in your message. &nbsp,

You wouldn’t even need to get posting something somewhere online. You might be out looking after seeing a picture or video of yourself on a strange social media post by a complete stranger with the message” Why would you use this out”…

Everyone has to be excellent online right now, so using social media has become almost intolerable. &nbsp,

The rule includes minor adjustments to your face on an editing program and a color filter to improve aesthetics. Although the pictures were properly planned and had specific sides used, the candid shots and “unglams” are long gone.

But lately, one pattern has breathed fresh air into the social internet activity, encouraging people to be proudly themselves:” We listen and we don’t assess”.

The eponymous remark, which is sung by friends, family, or couples, is used before sharing embarrassing but harmless secrets about themselves, such as stealing their sibling’s expensive glitter gel pen or using each other’s expensive shampoo. &nbsp,

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Rats at Beauty World food centre: Customers complain of dirty conditions, hawkers defend pest control efforts

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The owner of a barn facing one of these stations reacted furiously by saying he had complained repeatedly about bird droppings but that no one had arrived to address the issue. &nbsp,

” People come here to have but it’s so ugly and there is animal crap everywhere”, the landlord, who did not want to be named, told CNA.

He also made note of the holes that animals frequently ran into in the roof. &nbsp,

More buyers complained about mouse occurrences during the monsoon year in November, according to Mr. Ng, who hawks Chinese food stalls. &nbsp,

” We’re largely occupied in the booths, but we don’t see them. But users will tell us about it, he said, adding that he too serves fewer customers immediately. &nbsp,

In a statement released on February 1st, the National Environment Agency ( NEA ) and the Singapore Food Agency announced that they had conducted a joint inspection of the food center. &nbsp,

The roof and the Beauty World Food Centre frequent area both showed evidence of rats, according to preliminary investigations.

The tower control and managing broker of the meal center have been given advice to improve their pest control measures based on the findings, according to SFA and NEA, though it has not been revealed if rodent infestation has been identified. &nbsp,

The statement read,” Stallholders have been reminded to confirm food is kept in rat-proof pots, to properly bag their hesitate before waste, and to keep their booths clean of meal scraps so as to avoid quick access to food by the animals,” the statement said.

“STILL ACCEPTABLE”&nbsp,

Before going into lying, Ms. Elaine Ng was about to break into a dish of pasta when she witnessed a rat repeatedly run across a metal tube. &nbsp,

She only visits the stalls center once every three to four months, and she says it’s also “acceptable” despite the garbage on the ground and the mouse she just witnessed. &nbsp,

” It’s not ugly to a point that it’s off-putting, and I’ll still come back unless I see a group of them”, the 33-year-old said. &nbsp,

“I’ll be more wary if I see rats in the stalls itself, running on the food” .&nbsp,

While other clients who had caffeine or a late dinner agreed that sanitation may be improved, they said they would continue to patronize their go-to stalls. &nbsp,

Similar to Ms. Ng, Mdm Alice continues to travel to the stalls center twice a year despite being unsatisfied with the sanitation problems. &nbsp,

She spotted a mouse crawling from one stall to another just a few months ago. &nbsp,

” I’ve been coming here for more than 30 years, some factors are fresh, but some can be quite ugly and there’s usually litter on the floor”, she said.

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Parliament to discuss unauthorised address changes using ICA online service, recent monsoon surge

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SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament will discuss the recent spate of unauthorised&nbsp, attempts to change residential&nbsp, addresses via an online&nbsp, service provided by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) at the next sitting on Tuesday ( Feb 4), as well as last month’s monsoon surge. &nbsp, Questions were alsoContinue Reading

George Yeo joins Malaysia PM Anwar in meeting with informal ASEAN adviser Thaksin

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Thailand found guilty of fraud and abuse of power in Thaksin.

However, an analyst had previously told CNA that Thaksin’s session may be related to both his connections to Myanmar and his experience with the political landscape there.

CRYPTOCURRENCY POLICY

The Indonesian top revealed that the state is considering drafting a plan on digital funding while Anwar did not give more details about his discussions with the ASEAN consulting team.

Malaysia could become more open to the use of cryptocurrencies and the existence of bitcoin technology as a result of the plan.

Anwar disclosed to Malaysian reporters that he had spoken with the United Arab Emirates state and cryptocurrency tycoon Binance after completing a three-day formal attend to Abu Dhabi in January.

” This innovation, like AI, will shift the financial world. We shouldn’t waited patiently and then be made to work after others have already done it, according to Anwar.

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