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Saturday, July 6, 2024

SAVE 4.0 oversubscribed, ‘Do more to encourage usage of energy-efficient appliances; Irate over being too late for rebate

 Lowering our footprint: The SAVE programme was expected to benefit 250,000 households on a first-come, first-served basis.

PETALING JAYA: A RM50mil allocation for a government incentive programme to reward Malaysians who opt for energy-saving air conditioners and refrigerators has been fully snapped up, months ahead of its December deadline.

Due to overwhelming response, the SAVE 4.0 incentive programme may be extended, according to a source familiar with the initiative.

The source told The Star that the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (Seda) is seeking more allocations from the government.

“It is highly likely that the programme will be continued and extended to SAVE 5.0. The announcement will likely be soon,” said the source.

The source also confirmed that the current RM50mil allocated for SAVE 4.0 has been fully redeemed around the country.

“The response had been overwhelming, so there are plans to extend it to benefit more Malaysians.

“We know that the fridge and air conditioning units are necessities in most Malaysian households, and they make up a big chunk of our electricity usage.

“The SAVE programme is here to increase awareness and promote the use of energy-efficient appliances,” the source added.

SAVE 4.0 incentivises the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, offering rebates of RM200 each for four- or five-star rated refrigerators and air conditioners at more than 1,800 registered stores nationwide or selected ecommerce platforms.

The programme was expected to benefit 250,000 households on a first-come, first-served basis.

On claims that some retailers or consumers can manipulate the SAVE rebate, the source denied this, saying every application must be supported with the applicant’s MyKad and an electricity account under the same name.

“I don’t think retailers can limit people’s purchases and keep the quota for their friends or family.

“There are more than 1,800 retailers registered with Seda and the eligibility criteria and application process are very straightforward.

“One electricity account can only apply for one rebate for a fridge and an air conditioner because the rebate is tagged to that account.

“That is the control mechanism in place,” the source said.

According to Seda, the SAVE programme was first introduced in 2011 to encourage people to buy electrical goods with four- and five-star energy-efficiency ratings which, among others, work to save energy and maintain environmental sustainability in the long term.

SAVE 3.0 received overwhelming support with 186,034 redeemed rebates, amounting to savings of up to RM35.778mil.

On July 1, Seda chief executive officer Datuk Hamzah Husin said SAVE 4.0, which is set to run for a year until this December, saw about 240,000 households enjoying the rebates nationwide.

The amount involved RM48mil out of the total RM50mil, he said.

He also called on Malaysians to play a role in realising the nation’s target of becoming a net-zero carbon emission country by 2050 and to increase the capacity of renewable energy in the electricity supply system from 25% to 70%.

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US runs into 'self-imposed obstacles' as Pentagon seeks Huawei exemption

Trump awaking Americans

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSY9AbYG9/

Containing China's tech devt, abusing 'natl security' will backfire: experts

Huawei defies US sanctions. Cartoon: Carlos Latuff
Despite US media revealing that the Pentagon is seeking an exemption from a 2019 Act that prohibits the US Department of Defense from contracting with entities that use Huawei equipment, Chinese analysts believe it's not a sign that the US will slow down its crackdown on China's technological development, but does show that the US' abuse of the "national security" concept has backfired, and that as Huawei continues to grow, the US will increasingly run into more self-imposed obstacles. 

According to a Bloomberg report released on Wednesday local time, the Pentagon is provoking "a fresh showdown" with Congress, as it feels it cannot avoid doing business with Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications provider. Some US defense officials also warned of the risk of "national security being jeopardized" if the issue is not properly handled.  

Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which went into effect on August 2020, prohibits US government agencies from buying or contracting with entities that use Huawei components.

Citing officials, Bloomberg claimed that the Pentagon believes Huawei is "so firmly entrenched" in the systems of countries where it does business that it makes finding alternatives almost a mission impossible, especially given that Huawei accounts for almost one-third of all telecommunications equipment revenue worldwide. 

The Pentagon believes that if all the stipulated restrictions related to Huawei were met, it would also disrupt the Pentagon's ability to purchase the vast quantities of medical supplies, drugs, clothing and other types of logistical support the military relies on, Bloomberg reported. 

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Jurgensen said extending the waiver would allow for purchases if they are deemed to further US national security interests. Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate's intelligence committee, also admitted that a waiver may be necessary, according to the Bloomberg report.  

Sun Chenghao, a fellow and head of the US-EU program at the Center for International Security and Strategy in Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that the Pentagon's reported appeal is more about a technical and business-specific issue, and shows very pragmatic thinking on supply chain and cooperation with other countries.

"It does not mean a shift in the US strategy of containing China," said Sun, "The US' attempt to crack down on Chinese technological development is unlikely to stop." 

So far, the House and Senate committees in charge of the legislation have declined to include a waiver in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, according to Bloomberg. In addition, the Biden administration revoked eight licenses in 2024 that allowed some companies to ship goods to Huawei, Reuters reported on Tuesday. 

"The Pentagon's attitudes show that the previous US bill is backfiring, as the US has encountered and has to deal with Huawei's irreplaceability, including Huawei's own technology, as well as Huawei technology integrated into other countries' products," said Lü Xiang, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

If Washington continues its restrictions and containment, it will run into more self-imposed obstacles, Lü noted. 

According to US media reports, four years after Congress ordered local network operators to remove telephone and internet equipment from Chinese companies, there is still much Huawei and ZTE equipment that has not been replaced, especially in rural areas. Only 12 percent of the companies in the Federal Communications Commission program have completed their work, while 40 percent of local network operators cannot complete the removal of Huawei and ZTE equipment due to a 3 billion funding shortfall.

If the "national security threat" claim holds water, isn't the US simply letting Huawei damage its "national security?" Lü asked, "By abusing the concept of national security, the US government has undermined the normal and just market competition."

"America's assassination attempt on Huawei is backfiring. The company is growing stronger and less vulnerable," The Economist said in a headline on June 13.

Huawei is indeed rebounding from the US' crackdown. According to Huawei's annual report released on March 29, the company's global sales revenue in 2023 was 704.2 billion yuan ($96.8 billion), and its net profit rose 144.4 percent year on year. On April 30, Huawei revealed that its profits had soared 564 percent in Q1 of 2024. 

Huawei's growth despite US attempts to write it out of its own and Western allies' markets and industrial chain also shows that the US may be able to achieve some goals in the short term, but it is almost impossible to stifle the global tech giant in the world, Sun said. 

Huawei's development shows the strong resilience of Chinese technology companies, Lü said, "by cracking down on Huawei and protecting its own companies, the US is actually encouraging local competitors to be lazy in innovation. As Huawei gradually makes real breakthroughs, the US goal of containing China's technological development will become increasingly difficult to achieve."
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Thursday, July 4, 2024

Remember, Covid-19 is still around


 GEORGE TOWN: With the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, Malaysians have been advised to stay vigilant and take all precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said despite the uptrend in cases since the end of last year due to the holidays, the situation was still under control.

“People should wear face masks in crowded areas and wash their hands regularly. These are basic precautionary measures that we should adopt. We must also closely monitor the health of all our family members,” he added.

Gooi said there were no plans to implement extra measures during the long weekend despite the potential increase of domestic tourists arriving in Penang this week. 

There were 47 new cases reported in Penang on June 28 with active cases at 312 as of June 29. Out of this, 305 people were placed under home quarantine with seven being hospitalised.

Penang Hospital infectious disease unit head Datuk Dr Chow Ting Soo shared four important steps to keep Covid-19 at bay.

“In view of the waning immunity post-vaccine, the elderly and high-risk group should continue to wear masks, regularly sanitise their hands and avoid closed-space gatherings as much as possible.

“Secondly, this group should get tested immediately if they show Covid-19 symptoms, and get the antiviral as soon as possible.

“Thirdly, family members of the patients should also take a test and self-isolate if unwell to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Lastly, home isolation is still necessary, as well as wearing face masks for one week. If you need to go out, wear a face mask in public if you have cough or flu symptoms. Consult a doctor if your condition worsens,” she said.Dr Chow said these four steps also applied to food handlers and workers at restaurants.

Meanwhile, hawkers at the Paya Terubong market food court said they have been wearing masks since the early days of the pandemic until now.

“I also regularly use sanitiser and always wear a face mask when preparing food for my customers,” said sar hor fun seller Janice Cheah, 52.

Roti canai seller Karim Bukhari, 45, said he wears a face mask once he starts preparing the food.

“I come in direct contact with the dough, so hygiene is important. I want my customers to feel comfortable eating at my stall,” he added.

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