Posted by WellingtonSky > 2020-06-11 09:58 | Report Abuse

For Covid19 there no margin for complacency and false bravado! The US will likely to be turned into a high quarantine country at the rate events are unfolding. No amount of blaming will save them by politicizing the virus and placing economics over pandemic control. covid19 virus is no respecter of country, race, ethnicity, religions or political beliefs. God Saves America!

Posted by SweetMemoryLane > 2020-06-11 10:00 | Report Abuse

6/4 is a myth of thousands being killed in the square. yet it persisted till today and people just choose what they want to hear and believe. “Trump lies and People dies” to a tune of 107.000 lives and still counting. Should they hold a vigil next year for this complacency by the American leadership?

Posted by SweetiePie > 2020-06-11 10:00 | Report Abuse

yeah....

Posted by Zillionaire > 2020-06-11 10:01 | Report Abuse

Quarantine them all! The place is obviously infested with virus.

Posted by LOVE IS IN THE AIR..... > 2020-06-11 10:01 | Report Abuse

SweetMemoryLane ,The CCP is China’s biggest myth! It has never existed in flesh and blood but there is ample evidence that proves that not believing the CCP’s many fairies is deadly!

Posted by FOOK YOU FOOK ME > 2020-06-11 10:03 | Report Abuse

So when open for visitors again?
Its been more than 2 months the rules not changes, and i hear extend until Mid September.
Too bad can't visit there for foodie adventure! fook!

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:05 | Report Abuse

Hong Kong warned WTO challenge to potential US trade sanctions could be ‘counterproductive’
The US has raised the possibility of revoking Hong Kong’s special status due to the proposal for a national security law being approved by China’s National People’s Congress
Hong Kong could then be subjected to the same trade war tariffs imposed on Chinese exports to the US

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:05 | Report Abuse

Hong Kong has hinted at a potential legal challenge to sanction threats from the United States, stating that it would be “a violation of international law”, as the fallout from China’s decision to implement a national security law in the city continued.
In a statement released late on Thursday, hours after China’s National People’s Congress approved the proposal for the controversial legislation, the Hong Kong government said that as a full member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), “we expect to be fairly treated by our trading partners”.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:06 | Report Abuse

Should the US revoke Hong Kong’s special trading status, the special administrative region could be subjected to the same trade war tariffs imposed on Chinese exports to the US, or even unilateral tariffs against Hong Kong specifically, as well as export controls and potentially greater scrutiny of its financial and payments landscapes, experts said.
In the case of tariffs, analysts said it is “factually possible and legally correct” that Hong Kong could bring a WTO case against the US, given that it retains its own WTO membership and should be treated on a “most-favoured nation” basis, which punitive tariffs would violate.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:06 | Report Abuse

But analysts believe any such future action would be “counterproductive”, since even if Hong Kong was to win a case, it could be permitted to introduce retaliatory tariffs on the US, which would harm Hong Kong’s economy and image as a beacon of free trade.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:07 | Report Abuse

Furthermore, it is unlikely that a WTO case, which would take years to process, would resonate in a White House which is openly scornful of the Geneva-based trade body.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:07 | Report Abuse

“Hong Kong is really limited in what it can do. Taking a WTO case would be symbolic, and even if Hong Kong prevails, the damages would be very low. So if Hong Kong decides to put tariffs on the US – which would be a first – what does it target? Consumer products or food? What kind of message does that send about Hong Kong? Who is that really hurting?” said Bryan Mercurio, a professor covering the WTO at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:07 | Report Abuse

Hong Kong is a free port, with zero tariffs on goods shipped in and out, however, it has very little direct trade of its own. As a entrepot for trade with China, the vast majority of goods passing through are re-exported to and from the mainland.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:08 | Report Abuse

While Hong Kong was the world’s sixth largest exporter in 2018, according to WTO statistics, just US$13 billion of its US$556 billion in shipments were domestic exports. For imports, just US$155 billion of US$628 billion were consumed domestically.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:08 | Report Abuse

“Removing from US law the commitment to Hong Kong’s non-discriminatory trade treatment would make it easier for the US Trade Representative to defend unilaterally slapping tariffs on the city’s exports. This would most likely violate WTO rules, but this has not deterred the US from placing tariffs on imports from the mainland,” read a Capital Economics research note.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:08 | Report Abuse

“If this happened, shipments to the US would suffer. Gross exports from Hong Kong to the US are worth 13 per cent of [gross domestic product]. But the vast majority of products are being reshipped through the city. US-bound goods exports, generate under 3 per cent of [gross domestic product], mainly in logistics and postal services rather than manufacturing.”

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:09 | Report Abuse

Hong Kong has been a member of the WTO since January 1995, but it has only brought a single case – a complaint against the Turkish garment trade in 1996 that was “largely a matter of principle” rather than economic wrongdoing, said Julien Chaisse, a trade professor at the City University of Hong Kong.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:09 | Report Abuse

However, Chaisse said that Hong Kong could learn from another historical precedent of a smaller WTO member successfully bringing a case against a more powerful member, but eventually being left dissatisfied with the spoils of victory.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:09 | Report Abuse

In 2003, tiny Antigua and Barbuda accused the US of discrimination after it was frozen out of the world’s largest gambling market after the Caribbean nation had built up a giant online betting market designed to replace its struggling tourism sector.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:09 | Report Abuse

WTO judges eventually ruled in its favour, awarding compensation of US$21 million per year, but the US refused to pay. Antigua and Barbuda therefore had the right to impose tariffs on the US, but declined to do so, thinking that it would be an act of economic self-harm.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:10 | Report Abuse

“Why would a place like Hong Kong or Antigua impose tariffs on the US?” Chaisse added. “Who would hurt from such action, apart from the domestic middle class?”

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:10 | Report Abuse

Chaisse added that should the national security law lead to an erosion in the “one country, two systems” model under which city is supposed to be governed until 2047, Hong Kong could also find itself on the receiving end of investor disputes and trade lawsuits, especially if the goalposts are moved for investors in the city.

Posted by MoneyMaker168 > 2020-06-11 10:10 | Report Abuse

Hong Kong has 20 bilateral investment treaties, more than half of which were signed with developed nations in the run up to the handover from Britain to China in 1997, a means of assuaging fears of changing business conditions.
“I would not exclude the possibility of, in the future, investors from these places using investment protection courts to sue Hong Kong,” Chaisse said.

Posted by RangeRover222 > 2020-06-11 10:11 | Report Abuse

Carrie Lam cannot sleep in Jinping‘s hammock AND do busines with the West as usual!

Posted by QueenElizebeth IV > 2020-06-11 10:11 | Report Abuse

It's good to make the US lose face in the WTO, one of its own creation.

Posted by goodiewilly > 2020-06-11 10:22 |

Post removed.Why?

Posted by traderstrades > 2020-06-11 10:33 | Report Abuse

Malaysian senior minister: Rohingya refugees to be deported back to Bangladesh

The government will no longer accept Rohingya refugees who enter the country illegally, and will instead deport them back to Bangladesh, said Malaysian Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"The government hereby stresses that it no longer accepts these refugees and we are in discussion with the country involved to arrange for their deportation. The government will be more comfortable if the country can accept Rohingya refugees from Malaysia,” he said.

Speaking at the daily press conference today, Ismail said the government would also hold talks with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Bangladeshi government, through the Foreign Ministry, for the refugees to be sent to a third country.

"Many countries are questioning how Malaysia managed the Rohingya issue and some even claimed that we are inhumane.

"So, we ask the Foreign Ministry to discuss with these third countries to take in these Rohingya refugees from Malaysia,” he said.

He said that if the third countries agreed to take in the refugees, then many issues, especially those involving illegal immigrants in the country, could be resolved.

Ismail Sabri said this when asked to comment on the 269 Rohingya refugees who were detained early Monday morning after entering the waters off Langkawi.

Malaysia does not recognise refugee status but has been a favoured destination for ethnic Rohingya, most of them Muslims, who fled a 2017 military-led crackdown in Myanmar, and more recently, squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh.

However, the South-East Asian nation has said it will no longer accept Rohingya refugees as it has tightened border controls to rein in the coronavirus.

Posted by gooddaymate > 2020-06-11 10:34 | Report Abuse

Crikey Good riddance for them.

Posted by FantasticBeast > 2020-06-11 10:35 | Report Abuse

They should be given as a present to the Burmese priests....they seem to have a solution..

Posted by DatoSriLuvGuru > 2020-06-11 10:36 | Report Abuse

So much for muslim countries. Looks bad! BS politicians! Hadi Bawang? What say you?

Posted by RangeRover222 > 2020-06-11 10:37 | Report Abuse

There are numerous options.
Middle East?
European Union?
Turkey? Then Erdogan can use them as a bargaining chip against the EU
California? where the democrats love illegal immigrants or asylees as they call them. Or any of the “Sanctuary Cities” of the USA?
UK? The HQ of Amnesty International
New York? The HQ of Human Rights Watch
Maybe the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation can fund a territory, buy an island, for them?

Posted by ChinaDragon > 2020-06-11 10:38 | Report Abuse

A country that exports Rohingyas to Malaysia can be so cocky? Malaysia ought to teach them a lesson.
So what do we do now. Give them citizenship so that they can produce a dozen and vote in future?

Posted by Kenny Chua > 2020-06-11 10:38 | Report Abuse

Good idea!

Posted by QueenElizebeth IV > 2020-06-11 10:39 | Report Abuse

Just let them stay here, nothing wrong as long as they pay taxes. The moment they don't pay, or get involved in any crime, kick them out.

Posted by MoneyMachineMaker发发发 > 2020-06-11 10:39 | Report Abuse

kick them out to where????

Posted by MoneyMachineMaker发发发 > 2020-06-11 10:40 | Report Abuse

I say do not let them entry at the first place, period!

Posted by QueenElizebeth IV > 2020-06-11 10:40 | Report Abuse

Myanmar off course...

Posted by FortunerLiew > 2020-06-11 10:41 | Report Abuse

And produce children like a factory? You are out of your mind

Posted by DoubleProsperity > 2020-06-11 10:41 | Report Abuse

Lmao, if they ever make enuff to pay tax.. Something is wrong, they are either robbing or doing illegal stuff...

Posted by SunnyWong > 2020-06-11 10:42 | Report Abuse

yup

Posted by AndyChin77 > 2020-06-11 10:42 | Report Abuse

One of the Pakistani immigrant I know makes RM9K a month doing a day job and a side income business... They do earn a lot but all not declared..

Posted by AndyChin77 > 2020-06-11 10:43 | Report Abuse

But the problem is they do not register, where to find them? And by what means for taxing them?

Posted by Zoologist > 2020-06-11 10:46 | Report Abuse

Replace 270 Bangladeshi with 270 Rohingya

Then sent back 270 Bangdeshi back

Deal....

Posted by RAMPAGE GODLIKE ! > 2020-06-11 10:53 | Report Abuse

So called Muslim brotherhood. One kick them out(Bangla) and one refuse to accept(Msia) , then send them back to Myanmar to be tortured....

Posted by XmenOrigin > 2020-06-11 10:53 | Report Abuse

The vast super rich land of Saudi will welcome with compassion and Muslim brotherhood?

Posted by FOOK YOU FOOK ME > 2020-06-11 10:54 | Report Abuse

The Rohingas have strange habits which are incompatible with the Malaysian way of life.. In sufficient numbers they can pose a threat to security. We will have to send them back . The Malays in Burma are living a peaceful life , why cant they.

Posted by Kenny Chua > 2020-06-11 10:56 | Report Abuse

wah!

Posted by MoneyMachineMaker发发发 > 2020-06-11 11:01 | Report Abuse

Police to start using preventive detention powers against people smugglers

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Datuk Huzir Mohamed said today that the police will begin invoking the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma against people-smuggling syndicates.


Huzir said this decision to use the law allowing detentions without trial was because previous offenders were found to have resumed their smuggling activities after they served their sentences.

“Looking at how previous punishments were not able to stop these syndicate members from resuming smuggling activities, we have decided to take sterner action by investigating the offenders under Sosma,” said Huzir during a press conference.

He was referring to previous offenders who were charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom) and Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), served their sentences and resumed smuggling activities under a different syndicate name.


“The sentencing in three cases in Perak, Johor and Kedah previously did not seem effective, which saw the syndicate members continue to break the law.

“So now we have decided to enforce laws under Sosma and will investigate these syndicate members under organised crime laws,” he added.

Huzir cited a smuggling incident in Hutan Melintang, Perak in 2015 which took the lives of 60 Indonesians when a boat they were on sank.

The Indonesians were on their way back to their home country, he added.

He said the syndicate members were then part of the “Pak Yus” ring, which saw 17 arrested, two investigated under Section 26a of the Atipsom and nine more under Poca.

“But when they had served their sentences, police intelligence found that the syndicate members were still in operation and continued smuggling activities under a different syndicate name — ‘syndicate Halim’, where we recently managed to arrest 18 of their members and are tracing three more,” said Huzir.

He cited two more smuggling cases: one in Johor in 2016 and more recently on June 9 in Kedah. Both involved syndicates attempting to smuggle out migrants to their home country through boats via non-permitted channels.

“During the recent Covid-19 operations, the police arrested 40 syndicate members in Johor who were still conducting the smuggling activities,” he said.

He added that there were 65 people involved who will all be charged under Sosma for organised crimes. The particular legal section bars bail pending trial.

He said based on these cases, the police are of the opinion that past sentences are not effective deterrents in human smuggling, noting that it is a “very lucrative” trade.

According to Huzir, each of the migrant being smuggled are required to pay between RM1,200 and RM1,400, depending on the pick-up and drop-off points.

Referring to the June 9 landing in Langkawi, Kedah involving over 260 Rohingya, Huzir said police believe their boat to have been deliberately damaged when the smuggling syndicate lost contact with their ground contacts in Malaysia numbering 70.

“We believe they lost contact with 70 of the Rohingya in the country who act as agents were arrested during our recent operations,” he said, adding that 21 will be charged.

Huzir said police have launched three operations since January 1 in a bid to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country, adding that some of them could even be harbouring the dreaded Covid-19 virus.

He said police stepped up their operations during the Hari Raya period, finding that illegal entry of migrant workers were usually heightened this time.

“Usually during Hari Raya, the migrant workers will return to their home country to celebrate Hari Raya.

“Based on information received, the migrants will return after Hari Raya to work in their respective sector previously,” he explained.

He said police acted quickly between June 4 and 7 to arrest the smuggling ring members, their captains and agents who are the ones to receive the illegal immigrants.

He also revealed that from three phases of operations, 135 cases are being investigated under the smuggling of migrant law and four cases under Sosma.

Syndicate members being investigated include Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and Myanmar nationals.

“The police will also look into the possibilities in investigating the syndicates under the AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001) to identify illegal possession of the syndicates.

“Under Section 4 of the Act, the police will confiscate properties owned by the syndicate members,” said Huzir.

Posted by MoneyMachineMaker发发发 > 2020-06-11 11:02 | Report Abuse

Cops detain 371 involved in human trafficking syndicates

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 371 suspected members of several human trafficking syndicates were arrested by police in an operation from June 4 to June 7, according to Bukit Aman.

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed today said police would take tougher measures against them as some of the suspects had previously been involved in human trafficking and had not learned their lesson.

“We find that the law that was used was not effective enough. This is a lucrative business where they tend to get involved again, despite being punished,” he said at a press conference here.

The suspects are being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), which does not allow bail, and will be probed under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code for being members of organised crime groups.

Huzir said the suspects comprised Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and Myanmars, who were involved in syndicates in Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johor.

The individuals detained comprised those involved in the syndicate’s smuggling network, including boat skippers, transporters, smuggling agents and those in charge of preparing temporary housing for smuggled migrants.

Four investigation papers (IPs), involving 138 suspects, have been opened under “organised crime”, while five other IPs have been opened for “smuggling of migrants” (SOM), involving 285 syndicate members.

Bukit Aman is also considering probing the syndicates under the Anti-Money Laundering Act in order to identify the properties and earnings of the members of the group.

Huzir said this was the third phase in the police’s ongoing plan to eradicate human trafficking in Malaysia, with the first stage conducted before the movement control order (MCO) and the second from March 18 to June 3.

The first phase saw 52 suspects detained and the second phase, taking place during the MCO and conditional MCO, saw 124 suspects detained.

He said police were now moving into the fourth phase of the operation —identifying enforcement officers who were part of the human trafficking syndicates.

He said efforts under the third phase were strengthened over worries that some migrant workers who had left the country when the MCO first came into effect would be looking to come back in after Aidilfitri.

“This operation is in line with the directive given by the prime minister, who has instructed police and other enforcement agencies to tighten the country’s border controls to prevent the smuggling of migrants who might bring in the Covid-19 virus.

”We also note the health director-general’s statements that one of the criteria for the MCO to end is for our borders to be tightened to prevent any more imported cases,” he said.

Posted by ChineseKungFuMaster > 2020-06-11 11:03 | Report Abuse

Not surprised...part of the legacy of ....?