10/05/2025

SATURDAY | MAY 10, 2025

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Osaka World Expo tour an eye-opener, says Selangor Sultan

SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has expressed delight over the experience and knowledge gained during his recent visit to the 2025 Osaka World Expo in Kansai, Japan. His Royal Highness, accompanied by the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, visited 36 pavilions throughout the five-day stay in the Land of the Rising Sun from May 3. The Ruler described the visit as a learning process, particularly regarding the sustainability of new technologies, climate change and its effect on natural resources and the environment, as well as the future prospects of global social and economic development. According to a post on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, this is the fourth World Expo

that His Royal Highness has attended, following visits to Seville in Spain in 1992, Shanghai in China in 2010 and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2021. Sultan Sharafuddin was attracted by the concept of the World Expo, which has been held since 1851, as a global platform for countries to showcase their best achievements in various fields such as technology, innovation, culture, architecture, economy and social solutions. The Osaka Expo, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” saw the participation of 158 countries, Bernama reported. “His Royal Highness found that the outcomes and presentations of each country’s pavilion effectively conveyed a broad universal message, encompassing various aspects of life for the sustainability and unity of humanity in the future.”

Sultan Sharafuddin with Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Tengku Amir Shah at the expo. – PIC COURTESY OF OFFICE OF SELANGOR SULTAN

‘Rethink use of pin-style Jalur Gemilang badges’

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s aviation industry will likely record lower revenues as it faces higher air travel costs, supply chain delays and reduced tourism activity owing to prolonged flight disruptions. The closure of Pakistan’s airspace following tensions between Delhi and Islamabad as well as the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict have weighed on business sentiment. With global aviation routes disrupted, rerouting of flights will add to high logistic costs while tourists will be reluctant to travel due to safety concerns. PM congratulates Catholics on election of pope KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday extended a congratulatory message to the Catholic faithful around the world, and especially in Malaysia, on the election of Pope Leo XIV. Noting that this historic occasion marked a new chapter for the global Catholic community, he expressed confidence that it would be a source of renewed purpose and inspiration. “Malaysia values its ties with the Holy See, and we look forward to continued engagement rooted in mutual respect, dialogue and our shared commitment to peace and human dignity,” Anwar said in a post on his Facebook page. Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal from Chicago, was elected on Thursday as the new pope, the first American ever to ascend to the papacy. According to Anadolu Ajansi, he has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, marking the first use of the papal name “Leo” since the 19th century. National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang also extended a congratulatory message to Leo on his election as the 267th Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Aaron described the appointment as a “momentous occasion” not only for the Catholic faithful but also for people of all religions around the world. – Bernama

parents on every decision. “Educators should already have enough knowledge to determine what is appropriate and safe for students. “A better option would be an embroidered Jalur Gemilang badge. It’s safer, looks neat and can be sewn onto uniforms.” Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said while he supports the patriotic initiative, the injury suffered by the student highlights a critical oversight. He emphasised that clear safety guidelines and product standards must be in place for any item distributed in schools, particularly those worn or handled by young children. “While efforts to instil patriotism are important, they should never come at the expense of student safety. “There must be proper consideration of the materials used, the item’s design, the age group it’s meant for and how it’s expected to be used. Without these standards, even well-intentioned programmes can inadvertently cause harm.” best defence lies in expanding its international trade footprint and rethinking its economic priorities. “Having more unilateral trade agreements is becoming more realistic and effective as they offer alternative trading partners and potential for trade expansion, considered necessary amid rising global tension. “Malaysia should focus more on services and digital industries which do not require as much movement of goods or people. These sectors offer resilience and future growth potential.”

To prevent similar incidents, Lee said precautionary steps should include avoiding sharp objects, ensuring age-appropriate materials, and involving both parents and teachers in safety discussions. He also strongly advocated a redesign of school-distributed items that could pose risks. “Items with sharp edges, pointed pins or detachable parts can be hazardous or even pose choking risks for younger students. We must be more thoughtful in designing and selecting these items.” He recommended replacing sharp or hazardous items like pin badges with safer alternatives such as magnets, velcro or fabric patches. Since April 21, all public school students are required to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniforms as part of an initiative to promote patriotism and national resilience. A March 24 circular by Education Director-General Azman Adnan said students must wear the 5cm x 2.5cm national flag design badge. He recommended substantial investments in technology-driven and agile industries to build a more resilient economic structure. “Malaysia should consider investing in more resilient sectors such as technology and digitalisation. “These industries can withstand external shocks more effectively and keep the economy moving even when global logistics are interrupted.” Pakistan’s airspace was closed following escalating tensions with India, sparked by cross-border military strikes and retaliatory actions after a deadly attack in Kashmir. – Bernama

o Push to build national pride positive, but wise to relook at design safety following injury caused to pupil by sharp metal on emblem

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Marziana suggested that schools opt for safer alternatives such as fabric badges that could be ironed on or sewn onto uniforms. “At the very least, schools should ask for parents’ input so we can share our views and concerns.” Another parent, Norazila Masdar, also a mother of two school-going children, echoed similar concerns, saying pin-style badges are unsuitable for students, particularly those in primary school. She said she was aware of the risks even before the recent incident, noting that such badges could harm if not handled properly. “They’re not appropriate for children. The sharp pins can cause injuries and I think there are much safer options available.” Norazila believes it may not be necessary for schools to consult

PETALING JAYA: The safety of using pin-style Jalur Gemilang badges issued by schools has come into question after a young girl was injured. The Education Ministry’s push to build national pride is a positive one, but there are suggestions that it might be wise to rethink the badge design to avoid mishaps. Civil servant Marziana Ab Rashid, a mother of two school going children, said she supports efforts to instil patriotism but believes pin-style badges may not be suitable for young pupils. “They may not understand the risks. They can easily get hurt, lose the badge or the metal pin could damage their uniforms if it rusts.”

Aviation industry affected by flight disruptions, safety concerns

“These prolonged flight reroutings will likely cause higher logistic costs and potential disruptions to the supply chain. In addition, tourist movements will be affected, causing a negative impact on the aviation industry.” He said safety concerns could also influence travel behaviour, leading to softer demand in the outbound travel segment. “Malaysians may consider postponing their travel arrangements, especially long-haul flights, due to fears of incidents similar to MH17.” Ahmed Razman said Malaysia’s

Against such a scenario, the view is that Malaysia needs to focus on bolstering revenue by expanding trade and making its industries more resilient to tide it over what potentially could be difficult times ahead, made worse by higher American tariffs. Putra Business School associate professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff concurred, saying the rerouting of flights over longer and less direct paths would raise operational costs for airlines and impact the flow of goods and people into and out of Malaysia.