Day: April 8, 2022

MARANG, April 8 (Bernama) — Childhood nostalgia during Ramadan have inspired a lorry driver to create oil lamps using bamboo sticks to replace more modern decorative lights to adorn his house and enliven the nights throughout the holy month.

However, Mohamad Azmizan Abdul Ghani, 38, said he did not expect that his creation became the talk of the town where many have asked him to make the oil lamps for them as it was difficult to find in the market.

“I began making my bamboo oil lamps during last year’s Ramadan to fill my time following the nationwide enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

“When I uploaded photos and videos of the lamps on Facebook and the Whatsapp application, many commented that the lamps were beautiful and unique. I received orders to make about 500 oil lamps last year and now I am more serious about making these lamps as my second source of income,” he told Bernama when met at his house near Kampung Merchang here today.

Mohamad Azmizan is assisted by his wife Rorida Awi, 38, who is managing the orders and his friend Mohd Zulbaidillah Dzulkifli, 36, who accompanies him to look for bamboo stems around the village twice a day and cut them down.

However, according to Mohamad Azmizan unpredictable weather conditions during this fasting month are quite challenging for them, in addition to the dangers posed by venomous animals such as snakes and centipedes that can often be found in the cavities of bamboo stems.

“Normally we will spend two hours looking for bamboo stems, more orders mean longer hours. Some customers buy the oil lamps in bulk to resell them,” he said, adding that he had received orders from customers as far as Sarawak.

The father of two said the oil lamps were sold at a reasonable price of between RM10 and RM13 per bamboo stick and each stem has three segments which are fitted with six wicks.

As of today (the sixth day of Ramadan), he has received an order of over 300 bamboo oil lamps.

Mohamad Azmizan said he is selling the bamboo lamps at a low price as bamboos (common bamboos) are very easy to find in the village, adding that he wanted his buyers to feel the joy and excitement of celebrating Ramadan and Aidilfitri with his creation.

“Besides that, I intend to reintroduce the tradition of our ancestors to the younger generation,” he said, adding that with care, the oil lamps can be used for up to three years.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, April 8 (Bernama) — Flight frequency to the major destinations in Sarawak has been increased to 615 flights weekly from 576 previously, said state Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.

In a statement here today, he said the decision was made following approval from the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) on April 6.

“We trust that the increase of flight frequencies will increase the availability and choices of flights, reduce flight fares and attract more visitors to Sarawak.

“We anticipate that there will be a huge momentum in people movement in the next couple of months as people are yearning to travel and as other countries start to open their borders, as well as the transition to the endemic phase,” he said.

Lee said despite the opening of the state’s borders, passengers and travellers were reminded to comply strictly with the standard operating procedure (SOP).

“We must not rest on our laurels, especially in this transition phase in our efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state,” he added.

Lee said before the pandemic, the number of visitors to Sarawak had increased from 3,270,655 in 2010 to 4,662,419 in 2019.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors to the state dropped to 1,199,872 in 2020 and went down further to only 235,245 in 2021.

“We believe the figure will be better in 2022 with the opening of borders between countries,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) — There is no requirement for travellers to do the Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Ag) onsite at airports, said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) today in clearing confusion on the matter.

The airport operator said the latest standard operating procedure (SOP) announced by the government for border opening states that international travellers are only required to do the RTK-Ag test within 24 hours upon arrival in Malaysia at any private health facilities including clinics and hospitals of their choice.

“It is not mandatory to perform the tests at the airport upon arrival,” it said in a statement, dismissing claims that travellers are required to do the RTK-Ag onsite at airports.

MAHB said facilities are made available for passengers who wish to have the convenience of doing the tests right away at the airport upon their arrival.

There are four different private health facility operators providing the services at four airports.

They are BP Clinical Lab Sdn Bhd at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd at Penang International Airport, MYEG Services Sdn Bhd at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Gribbles Pathology (M) Sdn Bhd at Kuching International Airport.

Malaysia fully reopened its borders on April 1 as the country began to transition to the COVID-19 endemic phase.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on March 24 that travellers are required to undergo professional RTK-Ag tests either at private health facilities at the country’s border gates or outside the premises within 24 hours, and failure to do so could lead to deportation.

MAHB manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MERSING, April 8 (Bernama) — The family of French teenager Alexia Alexandra Molina, who went missing while scuba diving in Pulau Tokong Sanggol, here, on Wednesday, is seeking the help of private boat owners to join the authorities’ ‘Op Carilamat’ search and rescue operation (SAR).

Alexia’s mother, Esther Molina, 57, said the family had been asking friends in Johor Bahru if they had boats that could be used in the search for her daughter and two other foreign divers.

“We reside in Johor Bahru… we have been inquiring with friends who may have boats or could look for them. The more people, the more pair of eyes (for the SAR),” she told reporters when met at the Carilamat base set up at the Mersing district council public jetty here today.

Esther, who was accompanied by her husband, Alexandre Molina, 55, and youngest child, was optimistic that Alexia,18, was alive, saying that her daughter, just like her other two children, loves the sea, swimming and water activities.

“My daughter is strong, she is smart. So now, we can only wait for developments,” Esther, who is Malaysian, said.

According to Esther, Alexia and her younger brother, aged 17, had gone to Pulau Tokong Sanggol to participate in an advanced-level diving course.

“Her brother is currently still on the island, and she (Alexia) is supposed to attend a fashion college in Kuala Lumpur next month,” she added.

Alexia, 18, and three others were reported missing while scuba diving off Pulau Tokong Sanggol on Wednesday.

However, one of them, Norwegian diving instructor Kristine Grodem, 35, was found safe yesterday while British national Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, and his son Nathen Renze, who is a Dutch national, are still missing.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, April 8 (Bernama) — Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) has forged cooperation with two universities in India, namely the Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP) and Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW).

UniMAP, through a statement today, said the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was witnessed by Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad in conjunction with the official working visit of the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to India yesterday.

The signing of the MoU by UniMAP vice-chancellor Prof Dr Zaliman Sauli, AUUP Registrar Dr B.L. Arya and IGDTUW vice-chancellor Prof Dr Amita Dev was also witnessed by Shri Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi.

Zaliman said that through the MoU, UniMap would collaborate with both the universities in developing quality research, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science.

“UniMAP and Amity have been cooperating since November 2020 through UniMAP AI specialist Assoc Prof Dr. Syed Zulkarnain Syed Idrus, who was appointed a lifetime member of the Amity University Network (AUN) Research Laboratory.

“Therefore, through this MoU, it will not only focus on research publications but also expanded to produce postgraduate students, book publishing, licensing agreements, intellectual property registration and new knowledge that benefits the community,” he said in the statement.

Also present were KPT director-general Prof Datuk Dr Husaini Omar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the Republic of India Datuk Hidayat Abdul Hamid and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran.

Zaliman said the collaboration with IGDTUW also involved academic staff exchange programme, student mobility programme as well as supervision, research and joint conferences.

“Among the collaborations is the Postgraduate Double Degree programmes through the dual-degree method, which will provide an added value to prospective graduates by having two degrees from two different universities and countries,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, April 8 (Bernama) — The 12th Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI) Quran Recital competition, which offers a total cash prize of RM33,800 will be held online on April 12 and 13 at the Al-Azim Mosque Auditorium, here.

Technical Committee chairman of the mosque Datuk Che Sukri Che Mat said 52 participants from eight countries, namely, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mauritius and Australia would take part in the competition.

“Malaysia will be represented by male and female quran reciters from Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Selangor, Kedah and Terengganu. The preliminary round will take place on April 12 while the final stage and prize presentation ceremony will be on April 13.

“The competition will be conducted entirely online and the participants will be evaluated by nine judges,” he told a media conference, here today.

Che Sukri said the event, which was jointly organised by DMDI, the Melaka Islamic Religious Department and the Melaka Islamic Religious Council, offered a cash prize of RM5,000 to the winners of each category, second place (RM3,000), third place (RM2,000) and consolation prize (RM300).

He said the prize presentation ceremony would be broadcast on the DMDI’s Facebook page.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, April 8 (Bernama) — The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has channelled donations contributions to a total of 73 asnaf (poor Muslims eligible for tithes) at Telipot Mosque and several other areas in Kelantan yesterday through its Ramadan Roadshow programme.

Its deputy director-general (Development), Datuk Mohamad Mustahapa Awang said the donations were in line with the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) concept implemented by the government and could highlight the aspirations of the people in the country who are always united and helpful to each other.

“Each recipient will receive a food kit of basic necessities worth RM200. Such activities will be continued throughout the country to help those in need,” he said in a statement today.

He said the programme could also indirectly highlight FAMA’s role in the local community and in helping the needy during the month of Ramadan.

Earlier, Mohamad Mustahapa said the programme was also attended by Bank Rakyat regional director (East Coast of Peninsula) Syed Nasser Hussain Syed Othman Ali.

“The Ramadan Roadshow this time includes the MyRakyat programme at Telipot Mosque Ramadan Bazaar and the distribution of ‘gulai kawah’ (Malay special stew) to visitors.

“Besides this, there will be breaking of fast and Tarawih prayers held with the local community as well as the delivery of services by FAMA and Bank Rakyat to help the local community to understand the roles and tasks performed to meet the needs of stakeholders,” he said.

He also said that Bank Rakyat had contributed to the success of FAMA’s Ramadan Roadshow programme through donations worth RM414,000 to FAMA on March 31 at the Dewan Dato’ Zainal Abidin, FAMA headquarters in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor. The donation is in the form of food kits that will be donated to almost 2,070 people comprising asnaf nationwide

Source: BERNAMA News Agency