Carry out regular maintenance on electrical devices
Safety checks on electrical devices should be conducted frequently and faulty devices replaced promptly to avoid electrocution, say electrical experts. `
This following a recent tragedy on March 10, where a couple were found electrocuted upon using an instant water heater in the bathroom of their flat at Taman Puncak Tringkap, Brinchang, Pahang. `
The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) advised people at home to use safety-certified electrical equipment and conduct frequent testing of the unit’s residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) to avoid such incidents. `
“RCCB is a device that senses electricity and disconnects any high voltage or unbalanced current circuit whenever a fault occurs.
“This protects humans from shocks and prevents death caused by shocks,” said TEEAM’s president Siew Choon Thye. `
He said it is best for people to conduct these safety checks using rubber slippers or boots for safety. `
Siew said that faulty or defective RCCBs in the distribution board have been identified as among the causes of electrocution involving water heaters in homes in Malaysia. `
“The sensitivity of the RCCB used for electric water heaters should be rated 10mA to prevent electrocution,” he said, adding that electrical products should be certified by SIRIM and approved by the Energy Commission for safety and household use. `
He said electrical works and replacements of RCCBs must only be carried out by competent electricians, wiremen, and chargemen who are registered with the Energy Commission of Malaysia. `
“Should a person face an incident where a family member is electrocuted, the safest way is to immediately switch off the main power supply at their home and call the emergency number 999,” he said. `
Siew added that people purchasing electrical products online should also be cautious as there are a number of fake products sold, as well as those without SIRIM certification. `
“Verification of certified products and competent electricians can be done via our website www.teeam.org.my or through the Energy Commission’s portal at www.st.gov.my,” he said. `
Following repeated cases of water heater electrocutions in the country, Siew said TEEAM planned to restart its RCCB self-test campaign in the near future to give people more awareness on the issue. `
Electrician Mohamad Arif Mohamed Kasim, 28, recently noted on his Twitter account (@arepkasim) that people should check their water heaters by pressing the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) test button. `
“Electrocution happens when the ELCB has malfunctioned and does not cut the electricity when there is a leak,” he said. `
The PW4 Wireman noted the warm water which comes out directly from the shower is heated in a copper tube within the water heater.“Water and copper are both electrical conductors so when a current leakage occurs, electrocution can happen,” he said. `
He said people should check the ELCB on the main fuse of their home every month or fortnightly to ensure the safety device is working. `
He added such checks can identify any malfunction. Faulty devices, too, should be immediately replaced to avoid electrical cables from overheating or catching fire. `
Twitter user Bovver (@bluehippo__), advised people against using water outlets or external connections on water heaters that are made of metal as there is a risk of electrocution or death when a current leak occurs. `
Others like @KaffeeUndMilch_ warned that people should also be cautious of electrical current from home aquariums as it can also be a cause of electrocution with faulty electrical devices.
Fines worth over RM20mil to telecommunication service providers
(telcos) for not verifying the identity of new prepaid card new subscribers
Those who registered more than the limit given may be using the numbers for activities -Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued compounds worth over RM20mil to telecommunication service providers (telcos) for not verifying the identity of new prepaid card subscribers. The failure also saw over one million lines terminated by the telcos. `
MCMC chief regulatory officer Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin told The Star that the commission discovered cases of telco agents or dealers who misused consumers’ personal information to register fake prepaid accounts for sale to other customers. ` Victims, he said, would only realise the abuse via notification from telcos or law enforcement agencies who notified them of their “wrongdoings”. `
“The issue is worsened by the fact that we have foreigners whose identifications were also being used for bogus registrations. `
“It is easier for us to verify Malaysians because we can call and check with them if they have registered the numbers but with foreigners, it is very challenging. `
“As of last year, 430 compounds were issued by MCMC amounting to RM20.53mil for non-compliance with the guidelines based on the monitoring and audit conducts by MCMC through mystery shopper activities as well as public reports,” he said, adding that action was taken under Section 242 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. ` Zulkarnain said the commission had also reduced the limit on the number of prepaid cards a user could register under their names – previously from 10 numbers to only five. ` “We have not ruled out the possibility that those who registered more than the limit given may be using the numbers for activities that are against the law,” he added. ` The commission, Zulkarnain said, was currently working hand in hand with the National Registration Department (NRD) to step up efforts to curb false prepaid registration that could lead to unlawful activities such as scams. `
A data verification exercise will be conducted twice a year to allow the commission to verify the validity of prepaid subscribers’ database and rectify unmatched data from the service providers. `
“Information received from service providers on its active prepaid cellular subscribers registered using MyKad will be shared with NRD for further verification. `
“This exercise is part of the commission’s efforts in ensuring compliance with the Guidelines on Registration of End-Users of Prepaid Public Cellular Service to strengthen the registration process to address false registration issues, security and data integrity issues, thus ensuring that the interest and rights of consumers are being protected,” he said.” he said. `
Zulkarnain said to date, the verification exercise, which began in 2017, had identified over 1.5 million numbers that had been registered with inaccurate information as per MyKad details. `
A total of 1,008,765 or 66% of the lines were terminated, 496,212 were updated with valid information and 12,058 are in the midst of being updating. `
“MCMC will share the verification results with the respective service providers and they will be given three months to take the necessary action to notify the users. `
“Service providers will issue a notice of three working days to the user to re-register their details, failing which, the number will be suspended. `
“Suspension shall be in effect for a period of 14 working days and if the user fails to co-operate, the service will be terminated,” he said. `
He said that upon termination, the remaining balance for the prepaid services would be forfeited and the service providers were not required to reissue the same numbers to the users for any new registrations in the future. `
He advised users who were involved in such activities to lodge a report at the telecommunication company, police and the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP). `
This included postpaid users, Zulkarnain added. `
“So far, the guideline is for prepaid users. Normally for postpaid users, we will act and check based on complaints we receive.” `
The Malaysian government has made it mandatory for service providers to register prepaid mobile service users since 2006. `
The directive then was to curb the misuse of prepaid public cellular services and to address national security concerns related to terrorism and criminal behaviours. `
During the registration process, a user has to provide personal information such as his full name, permanent address and IC number. `
A foreigner, on the other hand, was required to submit details such as his full name, passport number, passport issuing country, as well as any other information deemed necessary by the commission. `
Separately, a telco executive said: “Prepaid registration is mandated. Dealers can have lapses and some occurrences can happen as there are millions of customers.” `
He said even though dealers might be registering the prepaid numbers, the telcos were held liable as dealers were not licensed. `
He added that lapses in registration could happen due to dealers who had high staff turnovers.
Yang Jiechi (1st L), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (1st R) in Rome, Italy, March 14, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)
The Point：Xi & Biden to talk Ukraine
Just hours before the phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Friday, China, in a rare move, sent tough signals, stating it will never accept US threats and coercion over the Ukraine issue and vowing to make a strong response if the US takes measures harming China's legitimate interests. `
In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, an anonymous Chinese official said China accepted the US' proposal for the phone call between the heads of the two countries on China-US relations and the Ukraine situation out of considerations of bilateral relations, promoting peace talks and urging the US to take right stance. `
China will never accept US threats and coercion, and if the US takes measures that harm China's legitimate interests and the interests of Chinese enterprises and individuals, China will not sit idly by and will make a strong response, the official stressed, noting the US should not have any illusions or miscalculations about this. `
China's strong signals were sent as the Biden administration has intensified its disinformation campaign over China's "military support" to Russia and attempted to threaten China with "dire consequences." `
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that Biden will make clear during Friday's call that China will "bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," he told a media briefing. `
Chinese analysts said China's clear statement on its stand is very necessary and timely, when the US seeks to manipulate Friday's talk to coerce China to change its diplomatic position, provoke China-Russia relations and smear China's image, which is sinister and vicious. `
China is sending a stern warning to the Biden administration not to harbor any illusions of changing China in Friday night's talk, and is urging Biden to calm down on the practical issues of the two countries, analysts said. `
Just days after the Rome meeting between senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the US reached out to China again for a higher-level meeting, which in some Chinese analysts' view reflected the US' growing anxiety over the uncontrollable consequences of the worsening Ukraine crisis, especially after its attempt to change China's position failed in Rome and the US is in dire need of China's help to deal with the chaos it created but failed to handle. `
Friday's scheduled phone call is being made as the US is caught in double plight: worrying about possible nuclear conflict with Russia with its extreme pressure against it and the risk of a rapid escalation of conflicts with China over the Taiwan question, Chinese analysts said, noting the Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue will be high on the agenda of the exchange. `
Behind the Biden administration's designed pressuring on China was its deep anxiety and pressing need for help from China on the Ukraine crisis, Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. `
"Friday's meeting for the US is far more urgent than other issues Biden has dealt with since he took office. The exchange will be held as the US, under extreme urgent circumstances, requested to have exchanges with China on Ukraine," Li said. `
Some American media are also aware of the US' dilemma. In covering Friday's exchange, Bloomberg News said in its headline that, "Biden looks to China for help with Putin." An opinion piece for Bloomberg said the worse Russia does, "the greater the risks America and its European allies may face." `
The Ukraine issue is the consequence of accumulated problems between the US and Russia or the US-led NATO's continuous pressuring and challenging of Russia's security, thus the US, deep inside, does not expect China to solve it, but it still wants to draw China into its mess or ask China to help it out since the current situation is beyond its expectations and it will become harder for the US to avoid being directly involved in it, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. `
Lü pointed out that Biden has been naïve for thinking that Russia will not fight back when faced with the US' provocations, and now he is using fuel to put out the fire in Ukraine while being afraid the fire will reach NATO. `
However, the US on one hand is seeking China's help with the worsening Ukraine crisis that it created but failed to handle; on the other hand, it is pressuring and threatening China, which is typical American practice, Li said, noting that it is unwise and counterproductive. `
"If the US harbors an illusion that China will yield to its pressure on the Ukraine crisis and China-Russia relations, it only reflects that the US has a too superficial understanding of current complex international situations and the right and wrong of facts," Li said. `
Many of the US and West's sanctions against Russia were done purely via long-arm jurisdiction without permission from the UN. And such a practice of framing relations with other countries based on its domestic law and forcing third countries to accept it is undoubtedly contrary to the spirit of international law and the principles of the UN Charter,Chinese analysts said. `
While trying to drag China into the mess the US created, Washington is also smearing China-Russia relations with rumors and disinformation to sow discord between the two. `
After Sullivan warned China that it would "absolutely face consequences" if it helped Moscow evade sanctions, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced Sullivan's remarks on Thursday, saying it is another manifestation of Washington's imperialist and hegemonic ambitions. China-Russia relations have strong internal momentum, which are not affected by international changes, she said. `
China and Russia have reiterated there is no military cooperation, and the high-level strategic partnership between the two countries has never targeted any third party, nor will it be affected by any third party. This is a key point that the US and the West never understand, analysts said. `
China has developed bilateral relations with Russia and the US respectively and it does not use bilateral relations to target Russia or the US. Currently, the conflicts between the US and Russia and between China and the US all have roots in the US, and the US is trying to sow discord between Russia and China, Lü said, noting that this is why China has reiterated that the US' actions should fit its remarks. ` Explosive issue on China-US relations `
Lü said that the US should not expect other countries to solve the mess it made in Ukraine while it still ramps up assistance and offers weapons to Ukraine. Therefore, China will still focus the talks between the top leaders on China-US relations and how bilateral relations will develop. `
While driving Russia into a corner on the Ukraine issue, the US has also tried to drive China into a corner with the most "explosive issue" for bilateral ties - the Taiwan question, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. `
The US has been quickly advancing its Indo-Pacific strategy using Taiwan as its pawn, and kept sending wrong signals to Taiwan secessionists by sending former American diplomats to visit the island, which shows its conflict with China over Taiwan question is rapidly escalating, Yang said. `
Some US officials also hyped the relevance of the Ukraine issue with the Taiwan question, but the two are fundamentally different. `
Top US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach connected the situation in Ukraine with the question of Taiwan, claiming that one of the "key lessons" the Chinese are taking from the Ukraine situation is the "solidarity of the global community," and that if China behaves in a similar way against the island or another neighbor, "something more robust will happen." `
The Chinese side will stress that the US has to take seriously China's major concerns regarding its own core interests, and if the US does not take seriously China's concern but just wants to seek China's help for its own purposes, such pattern of interaction would not work out but only inject more uncertainty into China-US relations, analysts warned.
On the same day as a seven-hour meeting between senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome on Monday which was described by some media outlets as "intense," US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach blatantly threatened to teach China a lesson from the Ukraine situation, which could be applied
to the Taiwan question. Such conceit was defied by the first direct high-level engagement between Chinese and US officials over the situation in Ukraine on which Washington had tried to misguide Beijing to serve its own interests, although failing to do so as the Chinese side stressed its consistent stance on the issue and urged the US side to correct its wrong words and deeds.
