Day: May 14, 2022

KUALA NERANG, May 14 (Bernama) — Residents in rural areas in the state are advised not to rush into planting ketum (mitragyna speciosa or kratom) on their land even though there are suggestions to allow ketum leaves to be exported for medicinal purposes.

Rural Development Minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the people should wait for the official decision of the federal government on the matter.

“We can be a positive and progressive person on issues linked to ketum, but let us wait for the decision of the government.

“So, if the decision of the government later is in favour of exporting ketum leaves, only then we act according to the stipulated law,” he said.

He told reporters when met at the Padang Terap Parliamentary Constituency Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration here today.

He was asked to comment on news reports that ketum planting activities were allegedly widespread besides the opening of farms or ketum plantation in the state specifically in Padang Terap district.

Mahdzir, who is also Padang Terap MP, said the planting of ketum trees by rural residents specifically in this district had been long carried out but he refuted claims there were new ketum farms or plantations opened.

He said when there was a proposal to allow the export of ketum leaves, rural residents or ketum planters looked at it as an opportunity to work on the crop.

“So, it is not an addition, but when there is good news, despite it not being confirmed or approved, they regarded it as positive, so they took care of their farms again which have been neglected prior to this,” he said.

In another development, Mahdzir said Yayasan Pelajaran MARA (YPM) had channelled schooling aid to 53,741 students nationwide involving an allocation of RM4.1 million last year.

Among others, the aid involved a one-off financial assistance and schooling items contributed to the needy students to start the schooling session.

“We expect the same amount of YPM aid allocation to be channelled to needy students this year,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, May 14 (Bernama) — Young Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel are reminded to avoid getting involved in any unhealthy and illegal activities that would tarnish the reputation of the force.

Air Force chief Gen Datuk Seri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan said the RMAF management will never compromise with any member who is found to be doing anything that is against the service and civil law.

He said this in his speech at the passing-out parade of young RMAF personnel series 64/2021 here today.

At the ceremony, a total of 365 young personnel successfully completed 24 weeks of basic military training.

Mohd Asghar Khan also said that young personnel should always strive to improve their knowledge and expertise so that the RMAF continues to be respected by other countries.

“All the experience gained here is very valuable. The basic training that you have gone through is only a starting point in overcoming future challenges,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, May 14 (Bernama) — The younger brother of one of the five Sultan Azlan Shah University (USAS) students who died in an accident on the North-South Expressway heading north at midnight on Wednesday says he wants to fulfil his brother’s wish of becoming a teacher.

Iqbal Hamdi Halimi, 19, said he said he intends to serve as a teacher in Johor as aspired by his late brother Iqbal Hasnun, 23.

“My big brother was the backbone of the family. He was not only loving but was also a role model to his brothers.

“In fact, before this, my late brother would always express his intention of teaching at his alma mater and would always remind us to be responsible sons and take care of our parents, including making it a habit to always check on the family,” he said when met by Bernama today.

He said he accepted his brother’s death as fate but still could not help but feel devastated by his brother’s passing because they were close as siblings.

He described his late brother as someone who was well-mannered and liked by many.

Another sibling, Aisya Humaira, 4, believed that her late brother was now in heaven.

The late Iqbal Hasnun was laid to rest at the Kampung Melayu Seelong Muslim Cemetery at 7.30 am today.

In the incident at about 12.50 midnight on Wednesday, five USAS students who were travelling in a Honda City car met with an accident with two trailers at kilometer 245.2 of the North-South Expressway northbound near Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

The car was driven by Muhammad Nasrun Aidol. Ahmad Naim Najmi sat in the front passenger seat and Muhammad Nabil Haikal, Iqbal Hasnun and Ahmad Akmal were seated at the back.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JASIN, May 14 (Bernama) — Durian fans, especially those who love premium varieties like Musang King and Black Thorn, will have to deal with an expected 100 per cent price increase during this year’s durian season.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said the price hike was due to a 50 per cent drop in durian production due to weather conditions.

“We believe that the rainy season at the end of March to April has impacted the polination of durian, which impacts the number of fruits.

“We expect this factor will result in a drop of 50 percent in total production in some states,” he told reporters at the Aidilfitri Open House at Pengkalan Umbai here today.

Besides weather, increased fertiliser and labour costs have also affected the production of the King of Fruits.

“So far, Penang and Perak have acknowledged the estimated 50 per cent drop in production and even a durian planters association has issued a report that not only prices for Black Thorn and Musang King durians will rise, but also kampung durians as well,” he added.

Prices for the Black Thorn variety are expected to exceed RM100 a kilogramme (kg) while Musang King will be priced around RM60 to RM80 a kg depending on grade, compared to RM30 to RM40 a kg previously.

Ahmad also explained that the ministry did not impose a limit to control the price of durians as it was beyond control, and depended on production and supply.

He noted that the ministry had also obtained feedback from the Federal Agricultural Marketing Agency (FAMA) in Penang and Perak about the estimated price hike in those states.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BACHOK, May 14 (Bernama) — Teacher Rohaidee Mustafa credits the ‘Petak Ajaib’ formula, which he first introduced for the Science subject in 2002, as a major factor to becoming one of the 25 recipients of the 2022 McDonald’s Inspiring Teachers Award, held in partnership with the Education Ministry.

The 55-year-old Melakan did not expect his life’s principle of educating other people’s children like his own to have such a profound impact that led to such great numbers of students achieving excellent results in the Science subject.

“When I started teaching in Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Beruang in 2001, I was assigned to teach the Science subject to the last Year 6 class and I found that pupils had a hard time answering the Science (Part B) exam paper, which contained subjective questions.

“Based on observation and monitoring, I found a solution to overcome the issue and created a formula to solve the questions easily based on a technique named the ‘Petak Ajaib’ formula that led to several students scoring Grade A after they mastered the technique,” he told reporters at the 2022 McDonald’s Inspiring Teacher Award ceremony at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) here today.

Rohaidee, who is currently the Senior Assistant (Student Affairs) at SK Tun Syed Ahmad Shahabudin in Melaka, said 45 of his pupils of the same school (SK Bukit Beruang) scored Grade A in Science in their Primary School Assessment Test (UPSR) in 2007, thanks to his formula.

“After applying the Petak Ajaib forumla, UPSR results for Science were good and I will continue collaborating and sharing by giving tuition and guidance to parents and teachers from other schools interested in using the formula,” he said.

Meanwhile, fellow recipient, Mohammad Noor Azlan Idris, who is more fondly referred to as Ustaz Abah, a teacher from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Syed Abu Bakar in Baling, Kedah, said his success today was thanks to the continuous effort and knowledge he poured into his students.

“Although I teach Islamic religious studies, I would always create a very fun learning environment to attract students’ attention towards the teaching and learning session.

“I have also developed the first-ever tahfiz learning centre in a school’s resource centre in Malaysia through the Hafizul Quran Academy (ALHAQ) programme in this school (SMK Syed Abu Bakar), which received several other accolades,” he said.

The award ceremony was officiated by Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.

Radzi said in his speech that based on the efforts of the 25 teachers being honoured, all had tried to ensure that schools were fun spaces.

“That is among the main elements of Sekolahku Sejahtera. This approach is needed because we want to see our children get up in the morning and go to school without being forced because they feel that schools are fun places.

“Today, we compete on a science and technology base that requires children’s interest. But our greatest challenge is to create students with deep interest in science and technology,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency