Author: malaysiang

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Alam Flora intends to set up a large-scale one-stop recycling and composting centre in the capital, in an effort to reduce the amount of solid waste at landfills and increase the recycling rate.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zain Hassan said the centre would serve as a support system for the operation of the solid waste collection centre and transfer station in Taman Beringin, Kepong.

“At this transfer station, domestic waste undergoes a compression process using a compactor machine via the horizontal compaction system.

“We need to ‘screen’ the waste where those that can be recycled will be sent to the recycling centre, while food and garden waste will be turned into compost,” he said when met at the waste transfer station.

Mohd Zain said so far, such facilities can also be found at the Putrajaya innovative recycling facility operated by Alam Flora Environmental Solutions Sdn Bhd (AFES) and 13 buy-back centres located around the capital.

He said the company had also held discussions with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall on finding a suitable location to set up the centre that would be able to not only preserve the environment but also reduce the waste management and maintenance cost.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

NIBONG TEBAL, Oct 27 — A fucuk (thin dried tofu sheets) processing factory near here has been ordered to close for two weeks due to its filthy environment in the food processing area.

Penang Health Department’s Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM) environmental health officer, Mohd Wazir Khalid, said that the condition of the factory was deemed unfit to operate and it was necessary to stop all food processing work immediately.

“The condition of the fucuk factory is very filthy and worrying … unfit to operate as the cleanliness level of the premises does not meet the hygiene and food safety standards set,” he told reporters in a press conference after ‘Ops Bersih’ conducted at the factory today.

He said that the factory was also found not to have a valid business licence and was believed to have been operating for more than 10 years. Compounds were issued amounting to RM5,500.

“The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a compound based on offenses including not labelling food, not registered under the MOH and operating without permission, while a notice of compound of RM500 was also issued by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), which participated in this operation, for operating without a licence.

“The closure notice was issued according to Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, effective today,” he said, adding that the fucuk processing plant had previously been ordered to close operations for a similar offense about three years ago.

He said that among other offenses committed were that a factory worker, a Myanmar national, who did not receive typhoid injections, not wearing suitable equipment when handling food, and pets such as dogs roaming on the premises.

“The main reason for this closure is due to flies and cockroaches related to food poisoning, which can cause both bacterial and physical contamination. Hence, it is necessary to close it before food poisoning cases occur,” he said, adding that the fucuk product is believed to be marketed to states in the southern region.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 27 — The Sabah government today appointed national badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei as state tourism ambassador.

Chong Wei will play the role of Sabah Tourism Ambassador until December next year.

The appointment was announced by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin during a briefing and luncheon with Chong Wei, here.

Speaking to reporters, Chong Wei thanked the Sabah government over the appointment and hoped that he would be able to help revive the state’s tourism industry which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am very happy. I know Sabah is very famous. I always go to competitions in China, Taiwan and everybody knows Sabah. Sabah is a very big state.

“I hope I will bring my family and kids to Sabah and go to a lot of places here (and with that) I can share more details as well as help promote tourism in Sabah and bring in more tourists,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jafry said Chong Wei was chosen for the role because of his global reputation through his remarkable performances in the international arena, winning trophies as well as fans around the world, especially in the ASEAN region, Asia-Pacific, China, Japan, South Korea, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

“These countries make up part of Sabah’s traditional market and major contributor to tourism arrivals to Sabah pre-COVID-19. This is certainly great news to all and a promising outlook for the tourism industry,” he said.

With Chong Wei’s outstanding accomplishments, Jafry said the ministry is confident that his role as tourism ambassador will help propel the state’s tourism industry to greater heights in the next two years.

In related development, Jafry said that there was a proposal to set up a Lee Chong Wei badminton academy in Sabah and the matter was raised during a courtesy call by his ministry and Chong Wei on Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, yesterday.

“It is good for Sabahans who love badminton and may also be used as a training centre for tourists and players from abroad. If this becomes a reality, it will help the Sabah tourism industry as well,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — National laureate Datuk Dr Ahmad Kamal Abdullah, or known by his pseudonym Kemala, died about noon today at the age of 80 at his son’s house in Damansara here.

National Writers Association (PENA) president Dr Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad said the remains were taken to the Surau As Shahabah, Section 7 Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and buried at the Section 9 Muslim Cemetery in Kota Damanasara after the Asar prayer.

He said Ahmad Kamal had been sick with several chronic illnesses including kidney problem.

“His contributions were not only in the form of literary writing, literature development and producing new writers, but through the Persatuan Sasterawan Nusantara Melayu Raya (NUMERA) which he founded, he had brought literature to the international level and brought together writers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Ahmad Kamal, who received the National Laureate award in 2012, was with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka from 1968 until he retired in 1996.

He was active in literary works and started writing poetry since primary school. His works had been translated into various languages including Chinese, Urdu, French, German, Dutch, Slovenian, Spanish and Serbo-Croatian.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency