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Inspired by the #BenderaPutih movement, three local students built an app for people to find food banks and locations of white flags they can provide aid to. We speak to one of the developers about the Sambal SOS app.

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On the 26th of July, a group of contract medical officers are planning a nationwide strike in response to lack of job security and opportunities for career progression that junior contract doctors have been facing for the past 5 years. In this episode of our Public Health series, we discuss the ethics of a strike during a pandemic, what has led to this moment, and the solutions that can be taken to protect and help the frontliners in our continued battle against COVID-19. Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy is joined by Dr Vijay Ganasan, Chairperson of the Malaysian Medical Association’s Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers, and Specialists, and Dr Lianne Hendriks the President of Malaysian Medics International Doctors.

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From a Facebook group to a full-fledged movement and organisation, the folks behind Zero Waste Malaysia are keeping up the good fight to get more Malaysians on-board with the zero-waste way of life. Always exploring new ways to reach people, last year they launched a Lesson Plan and virtual classroom, and now, they are going to launch the MY Zero Waste Life - Summarized handbook, a free-to-access guide available in four languages. In their own words, it is a  "treasure trove of information compiled from experts and practitioners on sustainable living that will appeal to all Malaysians, from the uninitiated to the avid environmentalist." We find out more about their work and this new exciting compilation from Sue Yee Khor, the co-founder and director of Zero Waste Malaysia, and Jasreel Lim, the head of finance & funding and external relations, at Zero Waste Malaysia.

Image source: Zero Waste Malaysia, Jasreel Lim LinkedIn

Phases 2 and 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme are now underway. In this ongoing series, older adults who have gotten their jabs share their stories, to allay fears and concerns about getting the vaccination. This episode features Dominic Joseph, from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

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Tan Chee Yong is a graduate from the University of Cambridge who managed to secure scholarships from three prestigious funding bodies -- 

Cambridge Trust Scholarship, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship, and the Cambridge Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre (MCSC) -- to study a PhD in Development Studies. His dissertation will focus on Malaysia's Development Policy and the future of this nation. Chee Yong joins us today to talk about his passion, what it takes to achieve academic excellence and how he struggled and persevered after the passing of both his parents.

Image source: Tan Chee Yong Facebook 

The six-month moratorium for all individuals, micro-enterprises and affected small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) begins today, according to Bank Negara.

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Many of the women entrepreneurs from the B40 household income group who pivoted to selling their products online during the first lockdown last year have grown disheartened as business flagged this time round.

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The Malaysian Association of Advertising Filmmakers (MAAF) has urged Putrajaya to allow them to work, stating that by not allowing the advertising film industry to operate, it is "letting us die". In an open letter to Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the minister of communications and multimedia, the association said its members are “running out of money to support our employees if we have no shoots, they have no food.”

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Essential oils are commonly used for scent. However, Penny Choong incorporates it in her chocolates, with flavours ranging from peppermint to jade lemon. Through her business Penny Essentials, she aspires to strive for holistic health and wellness. She discusses her journey into the business, her hopes and plans for Penny Essentials.

Image Credit: Penny Essentials | https://pennyessentials.com/

Sometimes, staying healthy seems very daunting. Especially in the pandemic, with gyms closed and outdoor exercise limited, people are looking for easy and accessible forms of maintaining their health. Andrew Poh, founder of HiBlendr, resolved this exact issue for himself by starting a portable blender business from his university bedroom, and discusses his surprise venture into entrepreneurship as well as his passion for health and nutrition.

Image Credit: hiblendr | https://hiblendr.com/