Day: March 17, 2024

TEMERLOH, In nearly five months of dabbling her hand in business, an Orang Asli woman, from the Jahut tribe, will have her dream house this May, which was built as a result of sales through the TikTok application.

Although it is only a small house to shelter the whole family, it gives immense satisfaction to Nur Rafidah Man, 26, from Kampung Penderas, Kuala Krau, here.

Started her business in November last year by producing products based on forest resources such as kacip fatimah (labisia pumila), tongkat ali (eurycoma longifolia jack) and honey, she did not expect that sharing her daily routine, as well as the Orang Asli customs, coupled with her village tranquillity, opened the door for her to generate income.

Using the @Jungle Girl account, the mother of a six-year-old daughter is now making a decent living, with nearly 60,000 followers on TikTok.

Nur Rafidah said that her confidence to do business through TikTok arose after going through a multimedia and digital business workshop, organised by a spec
ial education teacher, at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kuala Krau, in June and August last year.

‘Initially, I doubted if I could do it, but after the first time I did it and saw the results of the commission I got, I felt motivated, and without thinking twice I did it consistently.

‘After that, I started doing business as an affiliate, by involving promotion activities and direct sales of other products, such as food and skincare, to get a side commission,’ she told Bernama recently.

She added that among the things she learned from the workshop were video recording and editing methods, the selection of interesting video content titles, as well as the provision of equipment such as wireless microphones, lights and tripods.

Based on that, Nur Rafidah, who previously worked as a school canteen assistant, tried to produce her own products based on forest resources.

‘I did not expect my attempt to be successful, and I never thought I would be able to generate more income compared with my previous jo
b,’ she said, adding that she has sold 9,000 units of her products, such as herbal oil, herbs and honey.

Meanwhile, SMK Kuala Krau integration special education multimedia teacher, Mohammad Hazeem Azemi, said that Rafidah was among 43 people from the first group of Orang Asli, who benefited from the multimedia studio facilities at the school.

He said that, although the studio was specifically for special education students, the position of SMK Kuala Krau, which is located outside the city, which is about 35 kilometres from Temerloh town, encouraged the school to open the facility to the local population, including Orang Asli.

‘I believe that teachers are not only able to change students’ thinking, but are also able to help improve the socioeconomics of the local community,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Muslims in the country have been asked to stay calm and give the authorities the trust to conduct an investigation into the sale of socks with the word ‘Allah’ printed on them at a KK Mart convenience store chain.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the police, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will conduct an investigtion to identify the cause and party responsible as well as the intention behind the act.

“I am saddened by what has happened (the sale of socks with the word ‘Allah’ written on them). We are in the month of Ramadan, and some say do not be too sensitive about the word “Allah’ on socks, but this cannot be (allowed).

“Allah is a highly esteemed word in the eyes of Muslims. Allah is our creator and the act of putting Allah at our feet is an insult,” he said

Mohd Na’im told this to the media after the King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s Prize Programme lau
nching ceremony here today.

Mohd Na’im said although his side has received an apology letter from KK Mart, JAKIM has been instructed to call a representative from the company’s management to discuss and assist in the investigation to ensure that such a treacherous incident does not recur.

“Apologies are one thing, but we certainly hope that in future KK Mart will not take things like this lightly and that audit departments must first look at the goods brought in.” he also said.

“It is difficult to forgive in such sensitive matters. It is hoped that KK Mart and other wholesalers and sellers should take note of what happened. It is very sensitive, give space to Muslims (to forgive),” he added.

Earlier, socks with the word ‘Allah’ printed on them were sold at KK Mart in Bandar Sunway and the issue went viral on social media since March 13.

Yesterday, KK Mart Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai came forward to apologise.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, A total of 92.3 per cent of eligible fishermen from south of Penang Island have registered for the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) Scheme under the Penang South Islands (PSI) reclamation project.

Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said that the engagement sessions are being conducted with eligible fishermen who have yet to register before the SIMP registration deadline on March 31.

“The registration for SIMP among eligible fishermen has reached 92.3 per cent, including 100 per cent registration from the Permatang Tepi Laut and Gertak Sanggul units, as well as 92.3 per cent from the Teluk Tempoyak unit.

“Meanwhile, other units namely Teluk Kumbar, Batu Maung, Seri Jerjak, Pulau Betong, and Kuala Sungai Burong have generally recorded more than 92 per cent, except for the Sungai Batu unit with only 54.22 per cent.

“The Fisheries Department has also confirmed that 80 per cent, or 215 out of 272 fishermen who have not yet registered for
SIMP, are inactive or no longer eligible,” he said in a statement today.

Farizan said the high registration rate reflected the trust and confidence of the fishing community in the state government’s commitment to fulfill the promised benefits, including ex-gratia payments, provision of new boats and engines, education assistance, new sheds, upskilling training as well as jobs and business opportunities.

To address the long-standing issue of mudflats, he said the project developer was committed to providing a navigation channel 250 metres wide, allowing fishermen to access the sea regardless of the tide.

“Contrary to claims of sediment disposal, dredging activities have not yet commenced and are only expected to begin in 2027 according to the stipulations outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

“As part of the approval conditions, water quality monitoring also includes 24-hour real-time monitoring for total suspended solids (TSS) and the installation of silt curtains to prevent sedime
nt dispersion,” he said.

Farizan said that the project developer also submitted water quality reports to the Department of Environment (DOE) every month since October last year, and up to now, they have not received any inquiries from the DOE regarding the submitted water quality reports, indicating that the reports are satisfactory and comply with the approval conditions.

Farizan said that as a responsible government in addressing claims of declining catches due to reclamation works since last September, officers from the Fishermen’s One-Stop Service Centre (PPSN) have been mobilised to conduct direct engagement sessions with fishermen and carry out comprehensive checks.

‘Feedback collected from active fishermen uniformly denies any identifiable impact on their catches associated with the ongoing project.

‘The state government does not deny the fact that reclamation can have an impact on the ecosystem, and this is why the Penang South Reclamation Ecology Offset Master Plan (PEOM) and SIMP are prepared to
improve the environmental conditions and livelihoods of fishermen,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

DUNGUN, The implementation of the agricultural land rental system, especially for vegetables to local operators, needs to be reviewed to prevent the sector from being dominated by foreigners, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

This is because local operators enjoying benefits rent out the land instead to foreigners to cultivate crops.

“Locals don’t get involved in the 3D – dirty, difficult and dangerous – sector and we know the main areas of vegetable cultivation… are given to locals through rental or leasehold, but they give the opportunity to foreigners.

“I think that in this matter, the (existing) system is good, but its implementation needs to be reviewed and of course the enforcement, the land office and certain authorities need to take action. We should look at a holistic solution,’ he said in response to a local newspaper report claiming that the country’s vegetable supply chain is being dominated by foreigners who have illegally expanded their cultivation areas to nearly
1,000 hectares.

In other developments, Ahmad Zahid urged Muslims in the country to uphold the fatwa issued by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) and the state governments to not be influenced by deviant teachings, adding that true teachings were in accordance to the Al-Quran and Hadith.

This follows allegations that there were parties trying to revive the ‘Ayah Pin’ or ‘Sky Government’ sect that was declared deviant in a fatwa by religious authorities in 1992.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, The reservoirs in the three dams under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) are still at a comfortable level and are sufficient to meet the needs of irrigation water for padi planting and domestic use throughout the El Nino season.

MADA in a statement today said until today the total reservoir capacity of the three MADA dams is 887,920 acre feet equivalent to 72.6 per cent.

He said the reservoir capacity of the Pedu Dam is 625,000 acre feet equivalent to 71.43 per cent; Muda Dam is 58,750 acre feet or 47 per cent and Ahning Dam is 204,170 acre feet at 91.56 per cent.

According to the statement, the amount of rainfall in the Muda area until yesterday, recorded a lower reading of 59 millimetres (mm) compared to the 20-year average rainfall of 164 mm.

“People do not need to worry even though the amount of reservoir water in the dam is slightly reduced but it is still sufficient for the start of padi planting activities for the 1/2024 season which will start in April 2024,” he said.

MADA also said that it is taking precautionary measures by maximizing the use of recycling pumping stations as a measure to save water from the dam to face the El Nino phenomenon which is expected to continue until June.

According to the statement, MADA also carried out irrigation water supply operations in rotation according to the needs of padi planting activities in each region based on the crop phase until the activities of the 2/2023 season are fully completed at the end of March 2024.

“Farmers are advised to manage water at the padi field level prudently to ensure that the water supply can be distributed perfectly and that there is no wastage.

“Farmers are also reminded not to carry out open burning of padi straws which can cause an increase in heat and environmental pollution,” he said.

MADA said currently the progress status of padi crop activities for season 2/2023 is at the harvesting stage with 77.3 per cent in the Muda area been harvested, therefore the use of water for irrigation purposes is
at a minimum level.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the Pokok Sena area is at Level 2 (Heat Wave), which has a maximum daily temperature of 37 to 40 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency