02/06/2025

MONDAY | JUNE 2, 2025

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Culture, unity shine at Gawai Dayak open house KUCHING: The sounds of the sape and traditional dances from various ethnic groups were among the highlights of the Gawai Dayak open house hosted by the Sarawak government yesterday. Held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, the event was organised by Orang Ulu leaders and drew about 3,000 visitors from diverse backgrounds. Sarawak governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife were the guests of honour, joined by

Fama fest targets RM6m sales nationwide GOPENG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is targeting RM6 million in total sales through the Fama Fest programme, organised by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) in six states. Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the event will be held in Sarawak, Johor, Perak, Selangor and Sabah, and will conclude in Negeri Sembilan in September. “The Perak government remains one of the key contributors to the Fama Fest series, which is now in its seventh year. “Last year, the sales target for Perak was RM2 million but due to overwhelming response, we surpassed that with RM2.6 million in total sales,” he said after officiating at the closing ceremony of Fama Fest @Perak 2025 at RTC Perak yesterday. He added that this year’s sales target for Fama Fest @Perak had been raised to RM3 million, with 210 booths operating over five days from May 29. “Fama Fest @Perak is usually the top contributor, accounting for 30% of total nationwide sales at last year’s event.” Arthur said the programme is one of the government’s initiatives to attract more youths into the agriculture sector, which is currently dominated by individuals aged 60 and above. “Events such as this create more marketing avenues for local producers and show that agriculture and agri-food are lucrative industries with strong income potential,” he said. He also emphasised the need to move away from conventional farming methods and embrace more modern approaches that integrate technology and innovation, noting that this creates a long value chain, from production to operations and maintenance. Arthur said the ministry strongly encourages participation in agriculture related Technical and Vocational Education and Training courses offered under the ministry. “We will cover all expenses for these programmes, including courses, accommodation and daily allowances. This is part of our effort to attract young people into agriculture.”– Bernama Perak to expand onion cultivation to more districts GOPENG: Perak will expand the cultivation of the BAW-1 red onion variety, also known as Bawang Perak , to several districts identified as suitable for the crop. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the districts include Kuala Kangsar, Muallim and Perak Tengah, in addition to Kampung Ladang Bikam in Sungkai, Batang Padang, which began planting the variety last year. “We will open new areas that meet the criteria for onion cultivation, as it must be grown on fertile soil to produce high-quality yields. Bawang Perak is known for its sweet and flavourful taste, which adds to its market appeal. “So far, four districts have been identified as suitable, and we will expand to several more,” he said after launching the Fama Fest 2025 @ Perak at the Rural Transformation Centre yesterday. Saarani said a total of 12.4 metric tonnes of Bawang Perak was produced last year from a nine-hectare cultivation area. – Bernama

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg, federal ministers and state leaders. Guests were welcomed with a parade and a Ngentau Lan’e and Belian Suket performance presented by the Sarawak Kenyah

National Association. Organising chairman Datuk Gerawat Gala, an Orang Ulu of Kelabit heritage, said the event created an opportunity for communities, including the Bidayuh and Iban , to share their culture. – Bernama

‘Extended hours sidestep real crisis facing nurses’

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Frontliners say focus on work hours ignores chronic understaffing, burnout and unsafe conditions

investments for the health of future generations,” he said in a statement yesterday. Dzulkefly also noted that 212 thalassaemia patients have been successfully cured through bone marrow transplants to date. “Besides transplants, continuous prevention efforts have significantly reduced new thalassaemia births by 49% over the past 12 years (2009 to 2021),” he added. – Bernama but stretching the ones already in place won’t fix anything.” She said work tolerance varies by individual and longer shifts should never be mandatory. “You can’t force exhausted people to give their best. It’s unsafe for patients and it’s unfair to nurses.” A 19-year-old nursing student who has completed placements at a private hospital in the capital city said the workload is overwhelming even for trainees. “As a student, I’m already burnt out. I work alongside full-time nurses and the pace is relentless. I genuinely worry about how the staff cope,” said the student, who only wanted to be known as Tash. He shared his experience at a government hospital, where overcrowding and staff shortages are common. “Sometimes, there aren’t enough beds. One nurse might be caring for 10 patients. Some wards hold up to 60. It’s exhausting and unsafe.” Tash said while the government’s intention to address shortages is understandable, the approach risks causing more harm than good. “Longer hours might help with task completion in the short term, but they lead to fatigue and that leads to mistakes. In healthcare, mistakes cost lives.” He pointed out that countries such as Singapore and the Philippines follow the International Labour Organisation recommendation of a 40-hour work week, which offers nurses better balance and stronger mental health support. “A 40-hour week helps prevent burnout, keeps staff in the profession longer and makes nursing more appealing to new recruits. What’s the point of getting more done in a day if we lose people in the long run?” His message was clear: “Stop treating nurses like machines. We’re overworked, underpaid and undervalued. “At the end of the day, we’re human and we deserve to be treated that way.”

PETALING JAYA: While the Public Service Department (PSD) decision to delay the 45-hour work week offers nurses a temporary reprieve, many on the frontlines warn that it skirts the real crisis, namely chronic understaffing, burnout and the long term viability of the profession. In a letter dated May 28, PSD approved the Health Ministry request to defer implementation of the extended hours until Aug 1. The current 42-hour schedule will remain in place until July 31. For many nurses, the move does little to ease the mounting pressure in wards and clinics across the country. An ICU nurse in the private sector, who gave his name only as Ng, said the focus on working hours misses the point entirely.

“Even 42 hours feels like too much when you’re constantly on your feet, managing critical cases. This isn’t a desk job. We don’t have the luxury of zoning out. We’re dealing with lives,” he told theSun . He said the public healthcare system is still reeling from the after effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and staffing remains dangerously thin. “Understaffing is the root of the problem. I know government nurses earning RM4,000 after 10 years on the job. Eight of my friends have already left for better

opportunities overseas.” Ng added that management often focuses on performance targets while ignoring the actual workload nurses face on the ground. “I’ve worked 14-hour shifts looking after 16 critically ill patients. What looks manageable on paper rarely reflects the chaos in real life. Nurses and patients aren’t statistics.” Kanchana Murthy, 25, echoed the sentiment after more than three years in the field. “Extending hours is not a solution. Most of us are already running on empty. Yes, we need more manpower

Ng said management often focuses on performance targets while ignoring the actual workload nurses face on the ground. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Health Ministry unveils thalassaemia blueprint PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has launched five key documents to serve as comprehensive references on thalassaemia, covering diagnosis, treatment, prevention and the importance of genetic counselling. These include the National Thalassaemia Control and Prevention Programme Strategic Plan and Action Plan 2024 to 2030, Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Thalassaemia (Second Edition), Malaysia Thalassaemia Registry Annual Report 2022 to 2023, National Thalassaemia Screening Programme Guidelines for Primary Healthcare, and the Thalassaemia Carrier Mapping and Report from the Screening Programme for Form 4 Students (2017 to 2021). Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the launch reflects the ministry’s strong commitment to strengthening efforts in thalassaemia prevention and treatment. “Thalassaemia is a hereditary condition with a long and complex treatment process that can cost up to RM2.74 million. “More importantly, it is a preventable disease. Early screening, genetic health education and counselling not only meet policy objectives but also serve as cost saving measures and social