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“Take these punishments as a lesson. What has been done by these convicts should not be taken as an example,” said Banda Aceh Deputy Mayor Zainal Arifin, according to the Antara news agency.
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Singapore: Consumer survey shows banks and supermarkets have the best corporate reputation
Survey shows that Singaporean consumers believe that the banking and supermarket sectors have better corporate reputation than companies in the telecommunications and insurance sectors.
The Corporate Reputation Survey, a biennial poll of 500 Singaporeans, permanent residents and long term pass holders, was commissioned by Reputation Management Associates and conducted by AntzWorkz Consultants.
In the banking sector, DBS Bank continued to lead the banking sector, with OCBC and UOB coming in second and third respectively.
The survey found that across all sectors, trust and customer service were shown to be important factors in enhancing the reputation of businesses.
Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像
Malaysia: Malacca to ban plastic bags and styrofoam made by petroleum by-products next year
Malaysia’s Malacca State Government announced that from January 1, 2016, consumers will have to bring along their own shopping bags since a total ban on plastic bags made from petroleum by-products at all supermarkets and shopping malls will be introduced.
If consumers do not have their own shopping bags, the cash counter will provide biodegradable plastic bags made of plant-based materials. Authorities said the move was an initiative by the state government to reduce wastage and is in line with Malacca’s status as a green technology state.
State Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Green Technology and Innovation chairman Datuk Md Yunos Husin said, “Our landfills and drains are filled with paper bags and this doesn’t serve our ambitious plan to be a fully green state.”
He said the ruling also would affect hawkers and eateries in the state as they would not be allowed to use polystyrene packaging.
However, a local bio-technology corporation said biodegradable plastic bags and food containers would be supplied to shopping premises and eateries.
The corporation had also suggested the state government to look into a mechanism where the fee for yearly business licenses could be reduced for hawkers adopting green packaging.
Photo Credit: AP/達志影像
Indonesia: 20-year-old college girl in Aceh was publicly caned for premarital sex
On December 28, a 20-year-old college girl, Nur Elita, was publicly caned in Aceh, Indonesia for having premarital sex with her boyfriend. Nur was sent to the hospital after receiving five strokes.
“Take these punishments as a lesson. What has been done by these convicts should not be taken as an example,” said Banda Aceh Deputy Mayor Zainal Arifin, according to the Antara news agency.
“And to the public, I ask that you do not isolate those who have been convicted here today. And also, those who have been convicted are reminded not to repeat the same mistakes,” he added.
Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population, and Aceh province received special autonomy status in 2003, becoming the only provincial area in Indonesia to implement Sharia-based law in the judicial system.
Photo Credit: AP/達志影像
Translated and compiled by Vic Chiang and Eric Wong
Edited by Olivia Yang
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