Tag: Education

KUCHING, Jan 16 (Bernama) — The Health Ministry (MOH) will hold talks with the Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) to obtain satellite-based internet service for health clinics in rural areas.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said internet access is crucial for health workers to deliver virtual services or make video calls to provide a medical diagnosis to patients.

“The ministry has received paperwork from the state health department, and we see the need for satellite-based internet service in rural clinics.

“We will hold discussions with the Communications and Digital Ministry to help MOH provide this service in health clinics,” he said after a working visit to the Bako Health Clinic here today.

Lukanisman also said the ministry hoped to get an allocation in Budget 2023 to address the issue of dilapidated health clinics nationwide.

“We hope that Budget 2023, to be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will provide special allocation for these clinics, not only in Sarawak but throughout Malaysia,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) — The Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) continued its efforts to promote educational development among poor urban children by opening the third Selangor Al-Biruni Zakat Innovation and Learning Centre at Enggang Flats, Bandar Kinrara, near here.

LZS chief executive officer (CEO) Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini said LZS, in collaboration with Etiqa Family Takaful Berhad and Etiqa General Takaful Berhad renovated two apartment units owned by LZS according to the concept and requirements, and equipped them with computers, reading rooms, study rooms, and comfortable lounge areas.

“Etiqa Family Takaful Berhad and Etiqa General Takaful Berhad contributed RM640,000, which includes the cost of renovation and purchase of equipment and utensils, including operational management costs for a period of two years,” he said at the opening ceremony of the centre here today.

Also present were Etiqa Family Takaful Berhad CEO Zafri Ab Halim, Etiqa General Takaful Berhad CEPO Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, Selangor Mufti-cum-LZS Committe Member Datuk Dr Anhar Opir, and Terengganu Mufti Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Sabri Haron, who is also the Etiqa Takaful Group syariah committee.

Mohd Sabirin said Al-Biruni Zakat Selangor was developed under the LZS Urban Poor Children Development Programme, which aims to curb the problem of social problems and improve educational facilities by creating a safe and conducive space and environment for the city’s poor children to meet and learn.

He said LZS also collaborates with ADAB Youth Garage (AYG), which is responsible for regulating operations and carrying out activities that have been planned annually.

“AYG study found that children who dropped-out due to lack of interest, falled to master reading, writing and counting (3M) skills. To address this problem, the 3M Intervention Class programme will be implemented in all Al-Biruni Zakat Selangoir, including Desa Menteri, Petaling Jaya, and Tanjong Karang,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zafri said the contribution channeled through LZS was part of Etiqa Takaful’s annual zakat given directly to eligible welfare institutions under the Etiqa Takaful Corporate Zakat Responsibility programme

“It is hoped that this innovation and learning centre can be utilised and maintained as best as possible by the children involved and this contribution will encourage them to learn more diligently for a brighter future,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BANTING, Sept 4 (Bernama) — Collecting antiques and historical artefacts is generally viewed as a hobby but this may change by looking at it as an educational platform to foster a sense of patriotism or love for the country and appreciate the country’s heritage and history, among the younger generation.

This view has prompted Tanjung Sepat assemblyman Borhan Aman Shah, 60, to start his huge collection of antiques and historical artefacts in a special room at his residence in Kampung Batu Laut, Kuala Langat, which has been turned into a gallery, a reflection of his deep interest in the country’s history and culture.

A special gallery has since been built next to his house in 2019 and currently houses about 500 types of antiques that Borhan collected over the years and some of them are hundreds of years old.

“Among the oldest items are a copper tray bought in 1915; a cengal wooden cupboard belonging to my grandfather that is over 100 years old; an old fireman’s bicycle from 1959 that still has its siren working, and many more. The selection of items here is quite random; as long as it has value and a story attached to it, it is already priceless.

“For example, I have kain belacu (calico fabric) that was made from a wheat flour sack in the 1950s, which is beautifully on display in this gallery as it tells the story of how difficult it was for people in the past to make clothes using what they had then compared with now as clothes can be bought anywhere,” he told Bernama.

Borhan, the native of Kampung Batu, said that most of the items in his gallery were collected or bought over the past 30 years with some inherited from his family and most of them still work well.

He also explained that many of the items in his gallery are the result of contributions from certain individuals, and it is only appropriate for items that have a history for an individual or family should be kept and cared for so that they can be shown to their grandchildren in the future.

“Plant the seeds of love to family history even if our family members are not freedom fighters. By loving the history of the family heritage, we will teach our children to love the country’s history,” he said.

Undoubtedly, his gallery is very close to Borhan who is the Selangor Rural Development, Village Traditions, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman – being the person responsible for institutions such as museums and galleries in the state that play an important role in fostering a sense of love of history and culture.

In line with the process of upgrading the Sultan Alam Shah Museum in Persiaran Bandaraya, Shah Alam, which is expected to be open next year, Borhan said a variety of new attractions will also be on display, especially using technology such as 3D to attract young people to understand and appreciate history.

As of now, about 6,382 historical artefacts in the state have been registered at the museum, including weapons, Malay textiles and traditional clothing as well as excavation finds.

He said that in addition to the Sultan Alam Shah Museum, there are six other museums that exhibit a variety of historical artefacts, namely the Kuala Selangor District Historical Museum and the Traditional Folk Games Museum, also in the Kuala Selangor district; Jugra Insitu Museum and Istana Bandar in Kuala Langat; Sabak Bernam Agriculture and Fisheries Museum and the Gedung Raja Abdullah in Klang.

In conjunction with the national month celebration, the state government also calls and hopes that the people of the state will also brighten up the atmosphere by flying the Jalur Gemilang and the Selangor flag at all premises and houses in the state.

“The state government also launched the state-level celebration, themed #KitaSelangor, Teguh Bersama, and celebrate the theme at the national level, ‘Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama’,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) — Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) employees enjoyed a unique chance to appreciate history first-hand through an exhibition of war artefacts held at the Bernama Digital Library at Wisma Bernama today.

The one-day exhibition, under the Clientele Cafe Special For August programme in conjunction with National Day, showcased various interesting artefacts including bullet casings, ammunition, military insignias, gas masks and bayonets.

Malayan Historical Group (MHG) chairman Shaharom Ahmad said the collection gathered historical artefacts dating from the beginning of the World War I to World War II and was unique in nature.

“In the past, we could only see such artefacts in books and pictures, but with this exhibition, people in Bernama can see for themselves the tools that were once used in daily life, battlefields and for hunting.

“The special artefacts in this collection are the Malay State Guide badge and the Royal Malay Regiment badge because they are hard to find. After the World War, most of these badges were lost or thrown away. So the process of finding them is quite difficult, and the cost is also high because they are collector’s items,” he said.

Other artefacts highlighted at the exhibition were the British Royal Engineers badge, the WW2 Vickers Machinegun Ammo Belt, the WW2 Fullerphone Mk.IV and the WW2 Portable Kitchen Stove.

A book review sharing session with invited panelists, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia

lecturer, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Jessica Ong Hai Liaw and actor Razali Hussain was also held.

Meanwhile, Bernama Digital Library Information Manager Hasnita Ibrahim said the programme was held to further instil patriotic spirit and interest in reading among Bernama staff during the National Month.

“It is hoped that this kind of programme can foster a sense of self-identity and love for the motherland among Bernama staff and can be continued in the future,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIMUNJAN (Sarawak), Aug 21 (Bernama) — In order to cultivate children’s interest in local arts and crafts, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through the Creative Craft Studio programme has selected two schools in the district for the pilot project of Batik Canting colouring activities.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said for a start, a total of 200 Batik Canting kits have been distributed to Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Chung Hwa Simunjan and Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Man Simunjan.

“This programme will be held continuously and we want to encourage schools to set up a craft association and we will discuss this matter with the Ministry of Education.

“So far, we have just started by distributing the kits for students to get used to it. We can see their creativity in terms of color selection,” she told reporters after handing over the People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) aid, here today.

According to a statement from MOTAC, the kits were distributed to expose primary and secondary school students to the basic knowledge on techniques, materials and processes involved in the production of a local craft product.

At the ceremony, Nancy handed over a financial assistance of RM1,500 to 26 recipients from the total 1,097 entrepreneurs in the state, who were eligible to receive the PEMULIH incentive for the craft industry.

The incentive which has benefited 6,000 nationwide, is one of MOTAC’s initiatives to help craff entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 (Bernama) — Experts have described the government’s efforts to reduce the impact of inflation on consumers by setting the maximum sale price for the five kilogrammes (kg) bottled palm cooking oil at RM34.70 beginning Aug 8 as the right move but it needs to be monitored.

Sunway University’s economic professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the setting of the maximum price will ease the people’s burden, especially the B40 group who are affected by the hike in the prices of goods.

“It is also important for the government to ensure that the wholesalers and retailers are able to sustain their operations, thus selling it (product) at a controlled price will be very helpful for ensuring that the cost of living is manageable for our low-income households,” he told Bernama today.

Yeah said he also hoped that the government will focus on efforts to provide targeted subsidies to the people by giving out coupons and increasing aid amounts to help the low-income group.

Universiti Malaya (UM) economic analyst Dr Roza Hazli Zakaria said the government’s initiative pleases the consumers, however, from the economic point of view, the supply of cooking oil in the market could become limited.

“Our concern is if the supply is insufficient to meet demand because when prices are low, households are more likely to increase purchases. We are also worried that low prices will not give enough incentives for the manufacturers to continue supplying cooking oil as the sale prices cannot cover the total cost incurred.

“This is assuming that there is no inflation, smuggling activities by cartels and so on,” she added.

On the implication of setting new oil prices on a monthly basis, she did not rule out the possibility of certain parties hoarding supplies when the prices are low.

“Palm cooking oil is a durable product. There is a possibility that consumers (who have purchasing power) buy more than they need when prices are low and resell the product at a high price, thus stricter monitoring by the government to prevent hoarding is needed,” she said.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail from UM’s Faculty of Business and Economics expressed his support for the move to set cooking oil prices on a monthly basis if the effort is to prevent certain parties from making excessive profits.

“So the government has to be careful in implementing the measure. It is a good measure if there are monopolies, cartels and so on, which affect consumers’ welfare,” he said.

Yesterday, Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa announced that palm cooking oil in 5kg bottles will be sold at RM34.70 beginning Aug 8, which is applicable in Peninsular Malaysia.

Annuar said the price of the cooking oil will also be set every month through announcements by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

He said with the announcement, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) will be taking steps to gazette the price.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency