By understanding garlic’s chemistry we can amp up its pungency in a fiery garlic sauce or tame it through gentle cooking to make mellow garlic confit, says Sam Wong
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KUALA LUMPUR: The situation was quieter than usual in the capital and other major cities in the country on the third day of the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
A Bernama survey of major roads in the capital, among them Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tun Razak, found them to be less congested while checks on housing estates nearby also showed that residents were adhering to the MCO and staying put at home.
Although most shops were closed, a self-service laundrette continued to operate despite not being allowed to do so.
Police and other enforcement officers were also seen doing their rounds in the Wangsa Maju and Ampang Jaya areas in Selangor, with crowd movement reported to be very minimal.
Sundry shopkeeper Abdul Halim Zakaria, 60, said he only conducted delivery services while restaurant owner Idris Abdul Malek, 51, said he was only selling packed food for takeaways as allowed under the MCO.
The situation was similar elsewhere in the country, with Johor Police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay saying “most people are obeying the MCO, though there are a few who still gather at eateries”.
In Malacca, State Security and Crime Prevention Department chief ACP Beh Eng Lai said police set up 24-hour road blocks at three main roads in central Malacca as well as three more in Jasin and one in Alor Gajah.
“The road blocks have had an impact although there are still some who are stubborn and continue to give excuses for being on the road,” he said.
Kota Star District Police chief ACP Mohd Rozi Jidin, meanwhile, said police decided to close certain roads here as many still did not heed the MCO.
“We had no choice but to close 15 roads in the district. We first closed the roads from 9am to 1pm. The roads were then reopened for a while before being closed again and we will keep changing the road closure times,” he said. — Bernama
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PUTRAJAYA: Activities in the production, processing and distribution of food including imports and exports will continue as normal during the movement control order, which came into effect from March 18 to 31 to ensure continuity in the food supply chain ecosystem, said the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry.
“Therefore the supply process from wholesalers to retailers will continue to operate as usual and the people are advised not to panic buy or hold excessive stockpile of food,” said the ministry.
The ministry in a statement today said the Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (pix) had conducted two visits to MyFarm outlet in Putrajaya and rice miller, YHL Trading Sdn Bhd in Semenyih today to ensure sufficient food supply in the market.
According to the ministry, main food items such rice, meat, fish, vegetables and fruits are at stable level and adequate.
“The supply is supported by domestic production, import and stocks. The stock of rice in the market now is 500,000 tonnes,” he said.
The ministry said its delivery service to target groups would go on as normal such as food development services, biosecurity, inspection and quarantine.
“The ministry will continue to monitor and cooperate with producers and distributors to ensure adequate food supply during the movement control order,” it said. – Bernama
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PETALING JAYA: Faced with the deadly Covid-19 virus, the government implemented the movement control order (MCO) as a lesser measure to contain the pandemic.
The MCO was favoured to a full lockdown as the latter might cause deep inconvenience to the people.
While the move, as a preliminary measure to counter the spread of the disease, was welcomed by the majority, it is not the case with a segment of obstinate Malaysians who are not adhering to the MCO and are going about their daily lives as usual, totally unperturbed by the pandemic.
Members of the police force are at their wits end.
Since the MCO came into force on Wednesday, it has been a gruelling task for personnel nationwide who are “chasing” those who continue to treat the order lightly. These selfish and stubborn individuals are taking to the outdoors without any concern for their own safety, that of their families and others who come in contact with them.
Should they become infected with the feared virus from their careless behaviour, these irresponsible individuals are a threat to the health of other Malaysians including those who abide by the MCO.
Law-abiding Malaysians viewed with utter disgust several videos which went viral since yesterday, showing a number of people who are turning the MCO into an outdoor leisure-seeking break.
One video taken in Johor Baru showed more than 50 adults and children passing their time at a playground in a residential area, playing basketball or idling away.
A police car arrives at the scene with its sirens blaring and beacons switched on but the crowd does not budge.
When a personnel makes an announcement with a hailer urging the people to return indoors in accordance with the MCO, it falls on deaf ears.
It was not until an exasperated policeman steps out of the patrol car and walks towards the people does the crowd decide to disperse.
Another video showed a group of men who were playing checkers in the open at an unnamed location in Selangor being advised to head indoors by police.
In Alor Star, police cars arrived at a house to advise its dwellers to call off a large kenduri they were holding.
Dozens of other videos of people enjoying meals, gathering, loitering and setting up food stalls, all outdoors, are making the rounds.
With the reckless behaviour of such Malaysians, perhaps it is time they face the full brunt of the law.
Laws of the Penal Code and Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 should be invoked and police be given consent by the higher-ups to arrest and prosecute those who fail to adhere to the MCO.
This will not simply serve as a lesson to those who flout the law but also a deterrent to the rest.
This should be done at the soonest to further counter the pandemic and in honour of the sacrifices our frontliners who put their lives on the line – the hundreds of medical personnel caring for over 900 infected patients battling the disease and the thousands of police personnel upholding the MCO.
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PETALING JAYA: In the spirit of helping people, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (pix) is offering free delivery services to help the aged and those in need.
The free delivery of essential items, food and medicine during the 14-day Movement Control Order runs from 6pm to 10pm.
The service will be available in the Setiawangsa area (Kuala Lumpur), Balik Pulau (Penang) and in her constituency, Permatang Pauh.
“The response has been encouraging and they been receiving numerous calls, especially from those requesting for face masks,” Nurul said.
“The team takes between five and 15 minutes to deliver the items. The teams are stationed at various state assembly constituencies and are manned by our members and volunteers.”
She added that other PKR MPs are also providing such a service in their constituency.
The assistance programme is led by Penang PKR youth chief, Fahmi Zainol and each area has three to five personnel.
“I decided on this initiative to assist the aged, less abled and those dependent on welfare aid as many of them were unable to cope with such a crisis.
“Many are in urgent need of assistance and support. As a time like this, we need to work together at all levels to ensure everyone is taken care of,“ Nurul said.
She added that she was also receiving help from others, including welfare-based non-governmental organisations to make the make the programme a success.
She added that they are also making deliveries to hospitals and police stations.
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Ride-sharing company Lyft says it is exploring government and health care partnerships to create safer earning opportunities for drivers by having them deliver medical supplies, food and other items.
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IPOH: The Perak state government will provide special assistance to about 4,000 hawkers and small traders, in the form of a one-off payment of RM500 each, following the imposition of the nationwide movement control order effective from today until March 31 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (pix) said the assistance would soon be given to all hawkers and traders registered with local authorities in Perak.
“The total cost of this aid is estimated to be almost RM2 million,“ he said in a statement today.
In addition, the state government will bear half of the rental of food stalls under the purview of all local authorities for the months of March and April – this initiative will cost more than RM770,000.
To honour the 1,500 Perak Health Department front liners involved in the fight against Covid-19, the state government will sponsor lunches and dinners over a two-week period, Ahmad Faizal added, explaining that this will cost nearly RM200,000.
He added that a special allocation of RM160,000 made possible by the state government and some state government-linked companies, would be used to purchase additional equipment needed by health department personnel. – Bernama
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KUALA LUMPUR: Mercy Malaysia launched the Covid-19 Pandemic Fund today to support the severely strained healthcare system due to the outbreak of the disease and implementation of the movement control order that took effect today.
The non-profit organisation’s executive director, Amran Mahzan said the fund would also go towards supporting medical services and the essential needs of marginalised groups.
“We have been reinforcing preventive measures such as hand-washing, eating well-cooked food and correct use of face masks at our mobile clinics for refugees and migrants since last month.
“These marginalised communities cannot be left out of the pandemic containment plan as they can potentially be hot spots for the virus to spread rapidly,“ he said in a statement today.
Amran said to support Mercy Malaysia’s initiatives, the donation could be made through www.mercy.org.my or direct to MERCY Humanitarian Fund (5621 7950 4126) or MERCY Malaysia (CIMB 8000-7929-08). All donations are tax-exempted.
The movement control order was declared by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night. So far, Malaysia has recorded 790 Covid-19 positive cases with the first fatalities yesterday involving two local residents. – Bernama
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PETALING JAYA: Selangor police went full force tonight in enforcing the restricted movement order on its first full day, by mounting roadblocks and conducting checks on business outlets that continued to operate as usual.
Dozens of police teams were despatched to various areas in the Klang Valley to detect shop operators who had defied the order and to ensure that their businesses were shut down.
Car repair workshops, car wash centres, vape stores and religious gatherings were among those approached by the police teams.
In Petaling Jaya, district police chief ACP Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said that about four roadblocks are in place round-the-clock for conducting checks on motorists who remain outdoors.
“We are focusing on educating our communities on the importance of staying indoors,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur, similar efforts were taken by state police.
A police four-wheel-drive vehicle was seen moving in the city with loudspeakers playing announcements urging the public to observe the restricted movement order.
Elsewhere, food stall operators who defied the order were advised to close down and return home.
Although police have the powers to detain those who defied orders to remain indoors, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said on Tuesday that a softer approach of advising and issuing warnings will be adopted in the early stages of the order’s implementation.
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