Month: May 2022

SEPANG, May 15 (Bernama) — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today departed for Abu Dhabi to pay his last respects to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who died last Friday.

The special aircraft carrying His Majesty departed from the Bunga Raya Complex at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here at about 4.20 pm.

Al-Sultan Abdullah was accompanied by Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Foreign Ministry Chief of Protocol Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah and Chief Protocol Officer of the Malaysian Government Datuk Rozainor Ramli.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar and Prime Minister’s Department senior deputy secretary-general Datuk Sollehuddin Alyubi Zakaria were present to bid farewell to His Majesty.

Prior to his departure, Al-Sultan Abdullah went through the guard-of-honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment consisting of two officers and 26 personnel.

The ceremony for paying last respects to Sheikh Khalifa is being held for three days from yesterday until May 16.

Malaysia and UAE have close and friendly bilateral relations at various levels, including between the leaders of the two countries and their fellow citizens.

On Saturday, Al-Sultan Abdullah gave his consent for the personal flag of Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be flown at half-mast at Istana Negara for five consecutive days to signify His Majesty’s mourning over the passing of Sheikh Khalifa.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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