Year: 2021

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MARDI wins big at ITEX 2021, bags nine gold medals, two silver

SERDANG, Dec 20 — All 11 entries submitted by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) bagged nine gold medals and two silver at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2021 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Dec 13 and 14.

MARDI also won a silver medal and a bronze for food innovation for healthy ageing and mobile technology application for the monitoring of the harvesting machines respectively at the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) which was held in a hybrid manner between Dec 1 and 4.

MARDI director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani at a press conference here today said the technologies that MARDI showcased at these innovation competitions had high commercial value especially food products.

“Based on MARDI’s participation record between 2016 and 2020, our entries at ITEX this time brought glory to MARDI because we managed to win big with 100 per cent of our entries winning a medal,” he said.

Mohamad Zabawi said following its success, MARDI received offers from more than 10 local entrepreneurs who expressed interest to market the innovations especially food products.

He said among the innovations that attracted the attention of entrepreneurs were anthocyanin-rich cereals from purple sweet potatoes of the Anggun variety, the nutritious soup containing pegaga (also known as Gotu Kola and Mandukaparni) extract and ingredients from agricultural and seaweed sources, plus frozen soft keropok lekor (fish sausage).

“We expect to market the products within six months,” he said.

Mohamad Zabawi said MARDI has 65 innovations encompassing food, machine, crop and cosmetics which are ready to be commercialised by local entrepreneurs.

Senior MARDI scientist, Ten Seng Teik invented a smart camera vision system with a collaborative robot to clean swiftlet nests, which took him three years to complete.

“The idea came to me when I realised getting manpower was a problem and the task of cleaning the nests need sharp vision. And this innovation is to increase the yield of swiftlet nests,” he said.

He said cleaning the bird’s nest manually would take about an hour to complete but with the machine, it takes only 20 minutes.

MARDI researcher Nor Zalina Mat Saad won silver for food innovation for healthy ageing in her first participation at the SIIF said she introduced three products namely, a protein bar, pudding and vegetable-based lactose-free ice confection and purple sweet potatoes.

She said the products were specially tailored for senior citizens because to date, no specific food product has been produced to cater to the elderly.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Nonstop effort to help flood victims in Taman Sri Muda – PM Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Efforts to evacuate residents who are still trapped in their flooded houses in Taman Sri Muda area in Shah Alam are being intensified with the use of 41 boats, 16 lorries and other assets today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

In his Facebook posting, Ismail Sabri said the evacuation of over 500 victims which began last Friday was being mounted by the rescue teams from the Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Puchong fire and rescue stations.

“I completely understand the public’s concern about the safety of those stranded by floods and as I have stressed before, rescue efforts are being intensified and rescue operations are being carried out nonstop,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the Social Welfare Department is also preparing cooked meals to be sent to victims at home and relief centres.

He said he would continue monitoring the development and pray for the flood situation to improve soon.

Ismail Sabri also thanked the security forces, relevant agencies, as well as volunteers, non-governmental organisations and every member of Keluarga Malaysia who had been working tirelessly in helping the victims.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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No plan to change maximum retail price of COVID-19 self-test kit – Nanta

KUCHING, Dec 20 — The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (MDTCA) does not intend to change the maximum retail price of COVID-19 self-test kits for the time being, said its minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said although the maximum price of the kit had been set at RM19.90 per unit, some retailers were already selling them at a cheaper price.

“We don’t need to change (the maximum price), now the price has reduced a lot, some (retailers) are selling for slightly more than RM4 per unit, some for RM4.60 per unit and there also retailers selling at RM4.90 per unit,” he told a press conference after checking the price of goods at a mall here, today.

He said the price dropped automatically due to competition after the ministry approved more brands of the test kit to enter the market in the market.

Nanta said the test kit had been declared as a controlled item effective last Dec 1 and it would be an offence to hoard the product.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Dr Nisha hopes fellow doctors will engage in volunteerism

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Miss Earth Malaysia 2021 Dr Nisha Thayananthan who received the Inspiring Doctor of The Year 2021 award on Sunday for the social services she rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic, called on fellow doctors to engage more in volunteerism.

Despite all that she had contributed and achieved, she drew inspiration from others as well including Dr Shathiskumar Govindaraju, a cardiologist who last Saturday cycled through dangerous floodwaters in Klang, passing snakes and monitor lizards, on his way to the hospital and his patients .

“Hopefully Dr Shathiskumar’s deed would inspire and motivate other doctors to serve better, especially at a time where there is an increased risk of infection of water-borne diseases,” said Dr Nisha, who clinched the top 20 position in the Miss Earth beauty pageant held virtually in November. .

She said while doctors have the responsibility to save lives of flood victims, they also can engage in reaching out to the victims by donating basic necessities like vitamin supplements, face masks and hand sanitizer as personal hygiene is important during and after a flood.

“Personal hygiene for women during menstruation is important during and after flood and I am planning to donate some of my biodegradable organic sanitary pad known as ‘Ecopad’ to the affected flood victims,” she told Bernama after receiving the award.

The doctor attached to Putrajaya Hospital was presented with the award by National Film Development Corporation (Finas) chief executive officer Professor Dr Md Nasir Ibrahim at the Top 100 Talent Awards and Malaysia Fashion, Modelling and Pageant Awards 2021 held at Bukit Jalil Golf And Country Resort here.

The award ceremony also saw popular actress Diana Danielle who was honoured with the People’s Choice Award – Top Celebrity Of The Year.

The awards was organised by Miss Malaysia Kebaya (MMK) and Selangor Fashion, and proceeds from the two-hour event aided the Rotary Club of Pantai Valley which is assisting talented artists by purchasing their artworks.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Traders in Hulu Langat hoping for aid to restore business

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Their business was just about to thrive from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic where many of them suffered huge losses, with some forced to close down, following implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), when disaster struck two days.

Now traders in the Batu 14 area, in Hulu Langat are dumbstruck to having had to bear another huge loss, and this time, due to flood.

A survey by Bernama in the area found a trail of destruction left by the floods and the shop premises covered in mud.

Owner of a traditional Chinese medicine shop, Chin Lun Shin, 79, who has been doing business in the area for more than 40 years, said the floods this time was worse than the one in 1971.

In 1971, the damage was not this bad. This time, it damaged everything, the cupboards, refrigerators, items in the shop, even the shop roof. The losses I suffered from this flood is huge,” he said when met by Bernama.

Due to the huge losses he suffered in the floods, Chin said it would affect preparations for the coming Chinese New Year celebration, which falls on Feb 1 next year.

Another trader, Liew Kwee Lan, 65, a grocery store owner, who has been in business for more than 20 years, expressed the hope for the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide assistance to flood victims who suffered huge losses because of the floods.

A flood victim, Wong Cheng Kuan, 37, also hoped the relevant authorities would also help in cleaning the houses and other premises of the mud left by the flood water, and also financial assistance to help with the cost of repair of houses that were damaged.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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JKM tasks with providing and maintaining PPS for disaster victims – KPWKM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has clarified that the roles and responsibilities of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) in managing disasters are to provide and maintain temporary relief centres (PPS) for disaster victims.

In a statement, it said JKM is an agency under the ministry and plays the role and responsibility of providing and distributing food aid, clothing and basic necessities to disaster victims relocated to the PPS.

“The other role and responsibility JKM in the management of disaster, is to compile a list of victims for the purpose of rehabilitation, guidance and advice/counselling,” said the statement.

According to KPWKM, the roles and responsibilities are based on Directive No. 20 of the National Security Council (MKN 20).

The statement was issued following allegations that JKM did not send food to flood victims stranded in their homes.

The statement also said JKM had developed the Sistem InfoBencana JKM 2.0 which provided statistical data of disaster victims relocated to PPS all over the country.

The information is updated every four hours and can be accessed through the web and mobile applications. Among the modules available in the system are victim registration, store management and rehabilitation assistance, it said.

KPWKM also said the public can download the application, InfoBencana JKM 2.0 through App Store and Google Play Store for the latest information on PPS.

Apart from that, the public can also call Talian Kasih 15999 which operates 24 hours and the JKM operation room which can be browsed at www.jkm.gov.my

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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MAPIM channels aid to flood victims in Klang

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisation (MAPIM) has mobilised its machinery to deliver aid to victims affected by the floods that hit Klang since last Saturday.

Yesterday, in collaboration with its main wing, MAPIM Rangers, they were at the Tanah Klang District Office to distribute 200 boxes of food aid and 100 bottles of five-litre drinking water to flood victims at flood relief centres (PPS) in the area.

In a statement today, MAPIM said they would continue to provide assistance to those affected by the floods and welcome contributions from the public.

Those wishing to contribute can do so through MAPIM Humanitarian Fund, at Maybank account number 5622-6354-0066.

For any inquiries, the public can contact MAPIM hotline at 1300-888-038/012-8002016 or official MAPIM Telegram, at https://t.me/MapimMalaysia for latest information.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency