27/01/2025

MONDAY | JAN 27, 2025

FOLLOW

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

4

@thesundaily

Circus treat for residents of 2 children’s shelter homes

cost of RM107.81 million. “This includes the construction of 631 basic infrastructure projects, repairs for 282 houses under the New Village House Repair Assistance Programme and the construction of 21 new houses under the Madani New Village People’s Housing Programme.” Additionally, 1,233 solar-powered LED streetlights were installed in 195 new villages last year, involving an allocation of RM9.97 million. – Bernama RM102m allocated to boost Sabah tourism industry PAPAR: The Sabah government will intensify efforts to improve environmental management and the preservation of cultural heritage to drive and empower the tourism industry in the state. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said RM102.87 million has been allocated to the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to operate and implement various programmes and development projects this year. He said the effort to attract tourists to Sabah by improving tourism products is in line with the federal government commitment to ensure the success of the 2026 Visit Malaysia Year campaign, which targets more than 35 million tourists. “Sabah is targeting 3.7 million tourists (this year), and for 2026 Visit Malaysia Year, we must be ready to receive more tourists. “The state’s tourism industry needs more new products that can attract tourists from within and outside the country, considering that Sabah has various tourism resources, whether based on flora and fauna or the state’s cultural treasures and ethnic heritage,” he said in a statement after officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sabah Cultural Complex in Kinarut on Saturday. Hajiji called on industry players to explore new ideas to produce attractive tourism products to ensure that Sabah remains a preferred destination for tourists. The Sabah Cultural Complex involves the construction of two main components, namely the Cultural Village and the Cultural Centre. He said the complex would complement the existing cultural centres in the state, including the Hongkod Koisaan Cultural Centre, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association, Rumpun Bajau Sama Sabah Cultural Centre and the Murut Tenom Cultural Centre. – Bernama ‘Cockles washed ashore on Terengganu beaches safe to eat’ KUALA TERENGGANU: The phenomenon of cockles washed ashore on Terengganu beaches, which was widely circulated on social media recently, is not an indication of a disaster and is safe for consumption. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science lecturer Dr Roslizawati Ab Lah said cockles get stranded along the shoreline during the northeast monsoon season due to strong winds, large waves and certain beach structures. “Strong winds and large wave movements carry the cockles to the shoreline. Typically, these cockles remain in good condition and are safe to eat,” she said in a statement. “Cockles collected on the beach may have been exposed to bacteria or water contamination, so it is essential to clean them thoroughly before cooking.” – Bernama

o Organisations also receive RM2,500 cheque each from owners of travelling show during special musical performance

“The children enjoyed the circus so much that they were laughing and cheering so loudly. This really made their school holiday outing a memorable one,” said Shan Children’s Home honorary secretary Shamala Vis Supramaniam. Meanwhile, senior assistant Noor Azila Farida of the other home said the circus was a new experience for the children, especially those with autism. “We brought 18 autistic and seven Down syndrome children to watch the show. Unfortunately, some were unwell and had to miss it,” she said. The show, which includes dances and sing along music performed by artistes from the United Kingdom and Canada, is suitable for audiences of all ages. Its storyline tells a tale of ambition, love, betrayal and triumph, with circus and clown acts woven into the story seamlessly. The production also features a newly designed tent with upgraded seating and state of-the-art light and sound systems, according to a circus spokesman. Tickets for the London Musical Show, costing between RM40 and RM180, are available online at www.greatbritishcircus.com or the on-site ticket office. Performances run daily from Jan 11 to Feb 16 at Auto-City.

Biliana Kirilova. Lim said such initiatives exemplify the spirit of corporate social responsibility, which is vital to the development of a more inclusive and compassionate society. “As we strive to uplift our underprivileged communities, collaborations between the government, businesses and community organisations become more critical. “By giving back, we collectively strengthen our communities and ensure that no one is left behind. I hope more organisations and businesses will follow in (GBC’s) footsteps.” The London Musical Show has been specially crafted for two exclusive venues, Desa ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur and Auto-City in Juru. Penang is the final destination for the limited-run production. Lim said the state is honoured to have Penang as one of only two venues selected for the production. “This event will indeed help to further enhance Penang’s position as a premier hub for cultural and artistic excellence and reflects our state’s growing reputation as a cultural destination.” She added that the Great British Circus has been an iconic name in Malaysia for the past decade for bringing world-class performances to communities.

Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

SEBERANG PERAI: The Great British Circus (GBC) treated children from two organisations to its premiere held at Auto-City in Juru recently. The thirty-seven children who attended GBC’s latest production called the “London Musical Show” were from Shan Children’s Home Seberang Perai and the Central Seberang Perai Association for Mentally Challenged Children. State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim officiated at the event on Thursday and presented two cheques to the organisations, each for RM2,500, from GBC’s owners Kiril Kirilov and

Children from the two homes and their chaperons with performers at the event. – T.C. KHOR /THESUN

Apply for loan scheme, new village residents told SUNGAI SIPUT: Eligible Chinese New Village residents are encouraged to apply for financing under a special loan scheme for Chinese New Village residents, which has a balance of RM144.6 million, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. the Chinese New Village Residents loan scheme have collectively assisted 267 applicants with loans totalling RM13.5 million. traders with an annual income not exceeding RM250,000 but also offers interest rates as low as 4% based on the monthly balance, equivalent to a fixed annual rate of 2.25%. Malacca coffee shops caught hiking prices indiscriminately MALACCA: Coffee shops in Malacca, particularly at tourist hotspots, were among business premises found raising prices by up to 60% last year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry state director Norena Jaafar. She said most franchised kopitiams in residential areas had increased prices incrementally, with three to four hikes recorded over the year, each averaging a 10% increase. “This tactic appears intended to avoid detection by consumers, but it has not gone unnoticed. Regular patrons have reported the issue, and enforcement officers have also identified indiscriminate price hikes during monitoring,” she said. She added that more frequent inspections and monitoring would be conducted on business premises. – Bernama

“However, I am dissatisfied because we are offering over RM158.1 million, but only RM13.5 million has been approved. So, I urge all eligible Chinese New Village residents to apply for this scheme,” he said after officiating at a new construction project at the Rimba Panjang New Village on Saturday. Nga said the scheme not only benefits

In a related development, he said the ministry has allocated RM121.38 million for the development of Chinese New Villages across Peninsular Malaysia last year, a 13.4% increase compared with the previous year. “From last year’s allocation, a total of 934 development projects were implemented at a

He said currently, only RM13.5 million has been approved under the scheme, which had a total allocation of RM158.1 million. He added that a micro business loan scheme and a micro plus business loan scheme, under