03/09/2024

TUESDAY | SEP 3, 2024

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Reading corners at selected Sabah railway stations soon

Sabah Agriculture Park to introduce durian orchard within 3 years TENOM: The Sabah Agriculture Park is set to introduce a durian orchard as part of its agrotourism initiative within the next two to three years. The park’s agriculture officer Nur Edna Hasreena Ahlun said visitors would have the opportunity to sample premium durian varieties grown at the orchard when it opens. “They include Musang King, Black Thorn, Musang Queen 168, Asfa50, Mdur88 and udang merah ,” she said. Nur Edna Hasreena said the orchard, covering approximately 32ha, currently houses young trees aged between five and six years, which have not yet produced a significant harvest. Elaborating on the park, she said it spans 194ha and attracts around 10% of international visitors annually, primarily from China and Europe. “These visitors include fruit lovers who enjoy easy access to a variety of fruits without the need to explore the forest,” she said, adding that the park boasts a collection of over 1,500 types of fruits and plants. She added that in addition to fruits, the park is a popular destination for orchid lovers, housing one of Malaysia’s largest collections of lowland orchids, with about 350 varieties. Nur Edna Hasreena said the park surpassed its visitor target last year, with 17,000 visitors compared with the 15,000 initially targeted. She said to meet this year’s target, the park organised the Flora and Indigenous Fruits Festival 2024, attracting over 4,000 visitors who participated in various activities such as e-sport competitions, agro talks as well as agrotours on fruit propagation, compost production and stingless bee farming. – Bernama RM8.4m sales at Fama Fest 2024 KENINGAU: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) Fest 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur and in six states recorded sales of RM8.4 million, said Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. The fest which was held in Perak, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur benefited 808 entrepreneurs by allowing them to promote various agricultural products and services, including unique and popular traditional food to over 459,000 visitors. “Fama Fest allows local communities to promote and support local products and create their own identity in their respective areas,” he said at the close of Fama Fest 2024 @ Sabah on Sunday. He said Sabah was the eighth location for the fest, with 443 entrepreneurs and a targeted sales value of RM250,000 during a four-day period. He added that the fest had recorded 2.2 million visitors and participation of 2,180 entrepreneurs, and generated RM24 million in sales from 2017 to 2023. – Bernama

o Move in line with Unity Ministry’s focus on fostering lifelong learning with goal of making Malaysia a ‘Nation of Readers’ by 2030, says minister

KOTA KINABALU: The National Unity Ministry will set up a reading corner at selected railway stations in Sabah so that commuters can enjoy a spot of leisurely reading, said its minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang. He said in the digital era people are more focused on browsing on social media with their mobile phones and have forgotten the habit of reading. “Therefore, I hope that this initiative receives support from all members of the community who can improve the culture of reading and become an inspiration to others to preserve and promote Malaysia’s cultural heritage.” He was speaking at the launch of the “Treasure a Journey of Knowledge” programme at the Tanjung Aru railway station RM1.1m for Sarawak missionary schools SIBU: Sarawak has allocated over RM1.1 million for the maintenance of six missionary schools in Sibu and Sarikei. The funds were presented by Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom on Sunday. It was channelled through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the Sarawak Premier’s Department SJK Methodist (M) Sibu received the highest amount (RM300,000), followed by SMK Tong Hua, Meradong (RM200,000), SK Methodist Anglo Chinese, Sarikei (RM176,361), SJK(C) Su Kwong, Sarikei (RM150,000), SJK(C) Tong Hua, Meradong (RM150,000), and SMK Methodist, Sibu (RM125,999). Rundi said Unifor also provides support for the physical development of non-Islamic religious institutions, including churches and cemetery land applications. “For instance, in Bintulu, I am working on establishing a new, larger cemetery for the Christian community. We need about 60ha of land, which has been requested by the Sarawak Unifor Charitable Trust from the Land and Survey Department.” “Since there is no longer land available within Bintulu for a new Christian cemetery, the proposed larger cemetery will be built in Sebauh. “The new cemetery is necessary due to the increasing population, as many people migrate to Bintulu for work and eventually settle there.”– Bernama

on a train that would be recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) with the title “First Digital Library Exhibition Aboard A Train”. He said the exhibition would include Malay manuscripts, u Pustaka , materials published by the Sabah State Library related to Independence, history and cultural heritage in Sabah and e-sports activities to attract the interest of young people, Bernama reported. “This digital exhibition is on from Saturday until Thursday with free admission for an expected crowd of 10,000 visitors. The MBOR recognition underscores the significance of the event. “The National Library has diversified into a new approach to promote reading not only in the library but also wherever you are.”

reading programmes.” He said this is in line with the ministry’s focus to foster an interest in reading and support lifelong learning with the goal of making Malaysia a Nation of Readers by 2030. He added that in addition to creating a reading corner at selected train stations in Sabah, the programme would, among other things, include a digital exhibition

on Saturday. Aaron Ago said the programme is organised by the ministry through the National Library in collaboration with the Sabah State Library, Sabah State Railway Department, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka , Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Sutera Harbour Resort. “The programme is held to encourage interest in reading in the local community as well as promote

DEFT HANDS ... Artist Shamsuri Atan drawing the portrait of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia at Pasar Seni in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Over 700,000 fish fry released in Terengganu DUNGUN: A total of 749,800 fish fry of various species were released into 16 locations, including rivers and lakes throughout Terengganu, between January and August this year. State Fisheries Department and boosting fishermen’s economy, this fish fry release also aims to stimulate Terengganu’s eco-tourism sector. Ruzaidi said the fish fry release programme, conducted every year by the Fisheries Department, has resulted in an increase in total fish landings to 192.21 tonnes in 2023, up from 167.58 tonnes in 2022. “In addition, the state government, through the Terengganu State Fisheries

“This year, we released more fish fry into public waters compared with last year, with 374,215 fry at a cost of RM147,000,” he said after the fish fry release programme and handover of land fishing equipment aid in Sungai Paka yesterday. A total of 28,000 udang galah , along with lampam , sebarau , and baung fish fry were released into Sungai Paka. This initiative is expected to benefit 183 fishermen in the surrounding areas.

director Ruzaidi Mamat said the initiative involved an allocation of RM236,510, funded by both the federal and state governments. He said among the fish species released were lampam , baung , seabass, sebarau , kelah as well as high-quality udang galah (giant freshwater prawn). “In addition to conserving and enhancing resources for food survival

Department, provided RM40,000 in equipment assistance to 142 fishermen this year. “However, we urge the public not to release foreign fish species, including baung ekor merah , bandaraya and pacu into rivers, as this could threaten the survival of local fish species.” – Bernama