KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government should focus on the affordability of fragrant rice and not just control the price of locally-produced rice, says state Warisan women’s leader Juriah Uda. She said that other types of rice like fragrant rice were commonly consumed by the elderly and also children. “The main type of rice purchased and consumed is fragrant rice,” she said. For many, she said, fragrant rice is not a luxury but a necessity and mixed families from the B40 or lower-income group will not be purchasing a packet of 10kg fragrant rice a month but usually between 20kg and 30kg. “Mixing fragrant rice with local white rice will quickly become a trend, thus we urge the state government to not only prioritise our local white rice but also the supply and affordability of fragrant rice,” Juriah said.
Source:The Star
September 09, 2023 11:34 UTC
She said there was an acute need for more organ donors. According to Dr Zaliha, there are 10,747 patients on the transplant waiting list compared to 845 deceased organ donors. She said the first organ transplant operation took place in 1975 involving a kidney transplant between siblings. Dr Zaliha also announced that the Organ Donation Awareness Week would become an annual event and this year’s theme was ‘Organ Donation: The Meaning of a Life’. “Organ donation can give the meaning of life to end-organ failure patients who need transplantation and it also brings meaning to the donors and their families that they gave hope to those in need,” she said.
Source:The Star
September 08, 2023 11:01 UTC
PETALING JAYA: The results of applications to study in public universities for the 2023/2024 academic session are out on Thursday (Sept 7). The Higher Education Ministry said this is for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or equivalent leavers. “Offer letters will be issued by the public university to successful applicants from Sept 8 after the applicant has confirmed acceptance within the given timeframe,” it said in a statement today (Sept 7). “Based on the principle of meritocracy, all qualified applicants with the highest merit scores regardless of race, religion, state, standard of living and place of residence are given the opportunity to study at public universities,” it added. Only applicants who failed to receive an offer letter can submit their appeal through UPUOnline via upu.mohe.gov.my within 10 days, starting from Sept 7 until Sept 16.
Source:The Star
September 07, 2023 15:55 UTC
PETALING JAYA: The clear details and goals revealed under the second phase of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) has further affirmed that Malaysia’s power sector is on the right track of sustainability and growth. Citing emerging opportunities from the blueprint, analysts are optimistic that utility companies in the country will be able to expand and enhance their appeal to investors. It also outlined key investments of some RM1.3 trillion required for the energy transition, along with financing and policy initiatives. “Apart from the widely mentioned key targets of 70% RE installed capacity, coal free by 2050, we saw targets involving CCUS, hydrogen and bioenergy. It added that Reservoir Link Energy Bhd , a sub-contractor and mounting structure provider, would also benefit from higher job flows given the aggressive expansion in domestic RE capacity.
Source:The Star
September 01, 2023 11:53 UTC
However, is it true that the song was originally the Perak state anthem? VERDICT:TRUEEach state had their own anthem at the time Malaya gained independence but there was no national anthem. In the end, Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested using the Perak state anthem as a basis for the new national anthem. The tune of the Perak state anthem is very similar to Terang Bulan, a popular love song at the time, though it is said that the melody existed even before Terang Bulan. As such, Tunku Abdul Rahman and the selection committee felt the tune had the unique "traditional flavour" they were looking for in a national anthem.
Source:The Star
August 31, 2023 11:57 UTC
HLIB Research expects YTL Power to benefit from the recent full commissioning of the Attarat Power facility in Jordan through maintenance income, shareholder interest income and share associate earnings. RHB Research, meanwhile, stated YTL Power’s full-year contributions from its 45%-owned shale oil plant in Jordan will lead its joint venture and associate profit to be stronger for the consequent year. YTL Power is also exploring more land for the development of large-scale solar as well as waste-to-energy facilities. HLIB Research said YTL Power’s telecommunications services, Yes, will continue to improve with 5G offerings and from ongoing project contributions. YTL Power declared a second interim dividend of 3.5 sen per share, bringing the total dividend for FY23 to six sen per share.
Source:The Star
August 28, 2023 12:10 UTC
“The people are tired, I am tired of hearing of it. Watch your manners, more so when you are visiting someone else’s state or home,” said Sultan Sharafuddin. We have to move forward and bring change to the way we think and practise politics,” the Ruler added. Since the polls was over, Sultan Sharafuddin called on everyone to re-establish ties regardless of religion, race or political affiliation. “Use social media platforms for positive things that can contribute to unity instead of spreading slander and hate which can create division,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
Source:The Star
August 22, 2023 14:24 UTC
PETALING JAYA: IJM Corp Bhd expects a positive outlook ahead for its core business segments, especially in light of encouraging order-book replenishment prospects for its construction and industry divisions. Separately, Tan said the group’s property division achieved its highest-ever sales of RM2.7bil in FY23, surpassing the previous record of RM2.5bil set in FY22. “Supported by a strong balance order book of approximately one million tonnes, the division is well-positioned to sustain its strong performance in the near term.”Tan said the group’s Kuantan Port recorded 22.7 million tonnes of cargo throughput in FY23, compared with FY22. “Notably, there was a resurgence in cargo handled during the final quarter of the financial year, largely driven by the reopening of economic activities in China. “The group also expects the financial performance of its toll operations to markedly improve in the coming year following the non-recurrence of sizeable one-off items that affected its performance in FY23.
Source:The Star
August 21, 2023 15:26 UTC
Fried ubi kayu, masak lemak pucuk ubi and kuih bingka ubi kayu are but a few dishes that we as a nation, love to 'chow' down on. Many also claim that growing tapioca helped stave off famine during World War 2 as well as during the Emergency. Is it true that tapioca, aka ubi kayu, is actually poisonous? Verdict:TRUEYes, raw ubi kayu is a poisonous plant and depending on which type you are talking about, the scale goes from rather poisonous to extremely "call your undertaker" poisonous. Broadly speaking, there are two types of tapioca, sweet and bitter, with the bitter one being roughly eight times more toxic.
Source:The Star
August 17, 2023 21:29 UTC
KUALA LUMPUR: The Supplementary Electoral Roll for May 2023 is now open for review for 30 days until Sept 14. Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak said it also contained 41,289 names of Malaysian citizens, aged 18 between May 1 and May 3, 2023, who are automatically registered as new voters. “The electoral roll also contains the names of 12,183 registered voters who changed their electoral constituencies and 3,005 voters who changed their status or voter category,” he said in a statement. The EC is providing five review methods, namely through the EC portal at https://www.spr.gov.my or https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my; the official portal of the state Election Offices at the link http://ppn.spr.gov.my; and online application at the link https://myspr.spr.gov.my. Checks can also be done through the MySPR Semak mobile app or the EC hotline at 03-8892 7218.
Source:The Star
August 17, 2023 08:22 UTC
KUALA NERUS: A man was found dead in a taxi near the Seberang Takir Health Clinic here, on Thursday (Aug 10) night. Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Md Din said the police were alerted at 10.56pm, adding that the 51-year-old man, a local, is also believed to be the taxi owner. He said the victim was found unconscious in the back seat with several bodily injuries. He added that the police have arrested a 29-year-old man to assist in the investigation. "The victim’s body has been sent to the Forensic Unit of the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) for further action,” he said adding that the case was being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Source:The Star
August 11, 2023 07:30 UTC
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Malaysia has received RM76bil worth of investments involving data centres from 2021 until March this year. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said this considerable growth was supported by several factors and was in line with the government's desire to make the country a regional data centre hub. "Now there are many data centres operating here but when we look at the growth, it is really big. Tengku Zafrul added that factors driving the growth of data centres here included government policies and incentives on renewable energy, land and the exisiting digital economy ecosystem. He said this was proven by the commitment of industry players through the electricity supply agreement between Tenaga Nasional Berhad and four data centre players involving supply with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
Source:The Star
August 10, 2023 13:21 UTC
Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.
Source:The Star
August 09, 2023 15:50 UTC
QUOTE Sanusi: I don't know anything about two Chinese nationals MBI employed [NSTTV]https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/...ls-mbi-employed QUOTE Saifuddin produces pic of Sanusi with Chinese national wanted for REE theft in Sikhttps://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/0...d-ree-theft-sik QUOTE After Saifuddin’s photo, caretaker Kedah MB admits knowing rare earths theft suspect.......“I can’t remember how many times we met. The ones I remember were once at my office and once at a Hari Raya open house,” he was quoted as saying. “When he (So) met me, he told me that he had already paid MBI and had an agreement (to extract REE) before I became menteri besar. So I told him to just carry on but abide by the law,” he told reporters in Kubang Rotan. So I told him to just carry on but abide by the law,” he told reporters in Kubang Rotan.
Source:New Strait Times
August 02, 2023 07:29 UTC