Compiled by ALLISON LAI, FATIMAH ZAINAL and R. ARAVINTHAN

       EDUCATIONIST groups Dong Zong and Jiao Zong have called for a review on the reopening of schools on Sept 1, saying the Education Ministry lacked proper planning and preparation amid the high positive Covid-19 cases.

       They said the ministry had yet to come up with any clear explanations or guidelines for the people to understand how it would assist the education frontliners as daily positive cases continue to reach new heights, reported Sin Chew Daily and China Press.

       “The ministry has not proactively engaged in any follow-up action plan, nor engaged with any relevant parties to draw up a set of resumption plans for the teachers’ and students’ safety, as well as teaching progress,” they said in a statement.

       Both Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers’ Association) and Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association) are collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong.

       > Oriental Daily reported that a possible scam involving “sugar mummy” has been gaining traction in Singapore, targeting young and attractive men.

       Quoting the republic’s Shin Min Daily News, it reported that these young men only needed to express their interest by purchasing S$500 (RM1,500) worth of iTunes cards.

       “Work” would then begin immediately.

       Based on information from an anonymous WhatsApp message, the message read that the “golden opportunity” was open to young men in Singapore and Malaysia. It promised a lucrative sum of up to S$9,500 (RM28,500) in payment from “sugar mummy”.

       The message also included the contact details of Linda, the person in charge.

       When contacted by the reporter, Linda said she is an agent from an Asian dating website.

       She sent over pictures of women varying in age and appearance, saying that young men are able to choose their clients, all of whom are rich.

       Assignments are guaranteed the night after registration and payments are made, informed Linda, adding that the dating website also has an agency in Malaysia.

       The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.