Malaysia
Wang Lei’s fundraiser raises RM750,000 to aid Johor flood victims
Singaporean singer and actor Wang Lei hosted a live stream to raise funds for the victims, setting an initial goal of RM300,000. In just 50 minutes, they managed to raise double the goal amount, RM600,000. The fundraiser continued until Tuesday midnight and ultimately raised RM750,000 for the displaced Johorians. Relief goods worth 800 ringgit will be given to each household affected by the flood by a designated charity organisation, and the first batch of 100 sets of relief items will be delivered to flood victims this Friday.
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JOHOR, MALAYSIA— Over 40,000 residents were displaced from their homes, and five people died when floods hit the state of Johor over the week.
As an act to call for donations to support the victims, Singaporean getai (歌台, live stage performances) singer and actor Wang Lei hosted a live stream on Monday (6 Mar).
In just 50 minutes, the live stream raised RM600,000 (S$180,000) for the flood victims in Malaysia — double the initial fundraising goal of RM300,000.
In a Facebook post the following day, the 61-year-old wrote: “We did it! We raised RM600,000 (S$180,000) for the Malaysian flood victims in just 50 minutes!”
He expressed his gratitude to netizens “from all over” who contributed to the fundraiser.
“Originally, we set a target to raise RM300,000 for the flood victims in Malaysia. But, in just 50 minutes of live broadcast, we successfully collected RM600,000, far exceeding the original goal of RM300,000.”
Wang who is commonly known as “fish-selling brother”, also explained how the money would be distributed to prevent a repeat of 2021 when he was questioned about his donation recipients.
“Two years ago, I raised RM750,000 for the Malaysian flood victims. Unfortunately, I was attacked by some trolls who accused me of not listing out how the RM750,000 was used. ”
This is despite having listed each donation and even shot videos to prove that the money was spent appropriately.
And because of this, Wang wrote that while he initially did not wish to intervene in the affairs, since he is a Singaporean and a livestreamer, and wanted to avoid being attacked online, many netizens asked him to run another fundraiser. However, in light of how the natural disaster caused many to be displaced from their homes, he decided to go ahead with it.
With the experience that he had previously, Wang wrote, “This time, I won’t use the donations to buy things on my own, but instead, I’ll hand them over to the Malaysian volunteer team to handle. ”
He also thanked the retired professional badminton player Dato Lee Chong Wei’s support in the effort to help the victims.
In another post yesterday (8 Mar), Wang Lei updated that the fundraiser had successfully raised RM750,000 for the flood victims.
He thanked everyone generously donated and announced that the fundraising would continue till midnight.
According to Oriental Daily News, Andrew Cheah(谢华光), chairman of “Sunflower Charity Association”, expressed his gratitude to Wang Lei for trusting their charity organization.
He confirmed that they would purchase relief goods according to Wang’s instructions and distribute them to the flood victims.
The charity NGO will distribute relief items worth 800 ringgit to each household affected by the flood, including kitchenware, chairs and furniture, cleaning supplies, electrical appliances, and other items.
The first batch of 100 sets of relief items will be personally delivered to flood victims in Johor this Friday (10 March).
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Comments
Netizens see Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen’s move to JB as response to Singapore’s high living costs
In a recent interview, Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen, a Singapore PR, announced that he and his family have relocated to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Netizens view his move as a practical response to Singapore’s rising cost of living and note a growing trend of ‘dual-country living’ among Singaporeans. Many are considering retirement in Malaysia or managing child-rearing expenses while maintaining ties to Singapore, reflecting broader concerns about healthcare and living costs.
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SINGAPORE: Following Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen (陈泓宇)’s recent announcement that he and his family have moved back to Malaysia, many netizens have praised his decision as both smart and practical, given Singapore’s rising cost of living.
Additionally, some users observed a growing trend of ‘dual-country living’ among Singaporeans, noting that many are considering retirement in Malaysia or managing the costs of raising children while maintaining connections to Singapore, highlighting broader concerns about healthcare and living expenses.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Chen, 45, revealed that he and his family moved to the Eco Botanic township estate in Johor Bahru on 1 August.
They are currently renting a place while searching for a home to buy.
Houses in Eco Botanic, a sought-after residential area about a 10-minute drive from Legoland Malaysia, are priced from RM1,000,000 (S$300,000).
His two daughters, who hold Malaysian and Singaporean PR status, are enrolled in an international school in Johor Bahru.
Chen, originally from Negeri Sembilan, explained that the move was largely influenced by his age and his plan to retire in Malaysia eventually.
“I’m not young anymore. I was going to return to Malaysia to retire anyway, so I decided to enroll my daughters into the international school in JB while they are still young,” said the actor.
Chen noted that their new home is just a half-hour drive from the Malaysia-Singapore second link bridge and that their living expenses have decreased by 30 percent since the move.
The cost of international schooling in JB is comparable to the school fees and student-care fees for PRs in Singapore, according to Chen.
Chen mentioned that his daughters, who have been at the new school for less than a month, are enjoying their experience.
They find the environment welcoming, with a manageable workload and opportunities to interact with students from around the world.
Regarding his previous residence, Chen shared that he had owned a house in Tiong Bahru, Singapore, but sold it during the pandemic due to lack of occupancy.
He has also sold his apartment in Singapore.
As for his career, Chen reassured that the move would not impact it.
He said he will continue traveling between Singapore and Malaysia for work, with smooth traffic conditions except during public holidays.
Netizens View Shaun Chen’s Move to Malaysia as a Practical Response to Singapore’s Rising Cost of Living
Commenting on posts by Singapore’s state media Lianhe Zaobao and CNA on Facebook, some users reacted positively to Chen’s decision and suggested that, given the rising cost of living, more Singaporeans might consider relocating to Malaysia for retirement, particularly if their health permits, as it could significantly help manage expenses.
Some commented that it makes sense for Shaun Chen to move to JB since he is Malaysian, noting that the cost of living there could be significantly lower, and that he can afford a larger, freehold property compared to smaller flats.
A comment suggested that it is common for Malaysians to work in Singapore and spend their earnings in Malaysia, which enhances their quality of life. The netizen also pointed out that the high cost of living in Singapore makes this arrangement particularly advantageous.
Concern over raising child in Singapore
Another netizen analysed Chen’s decision in the context of raising children, noting that as children grow, expenses increase.
He noted that, unlike Chen, who can relocate to Malaysia to manage costs, Singaporean citizens like himself have to stay in Singapore and cope with the financial pressures.
A comment questioned why the Singaporean government may not fully consider the reasons many Singaporeans are buying property in Johor Bahru or moving their elderly parents to elder care facilities there, driven by high living and medical costs in Singapore.
The comment also noted that some Singaporeans are migrating or retiring overseas for similar reasons.
Diplomacy
Philippine media mocks Malaysia over facing Beijing’s South China Sea ‘bullying’
A Philippine media outlet has disclosed a Chinese diplomatic note accusing Malaysia of “infringing” on China’s sovereignty in areas within its nine-dash line. In response, Malaysia is investigating the leak of the February document. On 5 September, PM Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that Malaysia would continue its oil and gas exploration despite China’s claims.
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MALAYSIA: A Philippine media outlet has revealed a diplomatic note from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accusing Malaysia of “infringing” on China’s sovereignty in areas covered by its nine-dash line.
Following the publication, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday (4 September) that it is investigating the leak of a classified document that China had sent to its embassy in Beijing in February.
In an article published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 29 August, the media outlet shared the two-page diplomatic note from Beijing, which was obtained from a Malaysian journalist who wished to remain anonymous.
In the note, China reiterated its stance that Nankang Ansha and Beikang Ansha (both referred to as Beting Raja Jarum and Luconia Shoals in Malaysia) are part of the Spratly Islands, over which China claims sovereignty.
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Source: Daily Inquirer
China argued that its position is supported by historical and legal evidence, including international laws such as the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China objected to Malaysia’s unilateral oil and gas exploration activities in areas such as Timi, Kasawari, Jerun, Kayu Manis SE, F13, E11, Bokor, and Gumusut Kakap.
Beijing claims these activities infringe on its sovereignty and violate international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea.
China expressed “serious concern” and “strong dissatisfaction” over these actions, urging Malaysia to respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and demanding an immediate halt to the oil and gas exploration activities.
Luconia Shoals, also known as Beting Patinggi Ali, is located around 160 kilometres off the coast of the state of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, and nearly 2,000km away from China’s Hainan Island.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory based on historical maps, which overlap with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, complicating energy exploration efforts by several of these economies.
In response to the leaked document, Malaysia’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Wednesday expressing grave concern over the leak, which it described as an official communication channel between the two countries.
Malaysia stated it would continue to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the South China Sea, handle disputes peacefully, and engage with all concerned parties, including China, with which it shares close and active bilateral ties.
“Regarding the South China Sea, both countries have expressed commitment and determination to resolve any issues peacefully through consultations and dialogue using existing platforms and diplomatic channels, without recourse to disputes or violence.”
“Malaysia’s stance on the South China Sea remains unchanged,” the statement wrote.
“Malaysia will continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights and interests in its maritime areas based on the 1979 Malaysia Map. ”
“This approach aligns with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.”
Malaysia also reiterated its commitment to negotiations between ASEAN member states and China to finalize a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), in line with UNCLOS 1982.
As of August 2024, Malaysia and China are co-chairs of the ASEAN-China meetings on the implementation of the DOC and negotiations to finalize the COC, for a three-year term.
On 5 September, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asserted that the country would continue its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, despite Beijing’s territorial claims.
As reported by Reuters, Anwar, who is on an official visit in Russia, said Malaysia’s exploration activities are conducted within its own territory and are not intended as a provocation or hostile act toward China, with whom it maintains friendly relations.
“Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory,” Anwar stated during a televised press conference in Vladivostok.
“We have never denied the possibility of discussion (with China). But it doesn’t mean we have to stop the operation in our area.”
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