14/06/2025

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Good location vital for success of MyKiosk initiative

Banker hits RM10m jackpot with ‘God sent’ numbers combo

Ű BY ANDREW SAGAYAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Boiler seized from belacan factory IPOH: The Perak Environment Department has seized a boiler from a belacan processing factory following the discovery of thousands of dead fish floating in drains in Kampung Sungai Payung and Kampung Sungai Tiang Baroh in Bagan Datuk. Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said the factory is believed to have discharged untreated water into nearby drains. “Further checks inside the factory found traces of reddish stains on the floor beneath the boiler which is used to produce steam for heating and cooking shrimp before it is processed into belacan . “The boiler has been seized for investigation purposes as it is believed to be the source of the reddish, untreated wastewater discharged into the drain, which resulted in the death of the fish.” Teh said the case is being investigated under Section 38(1) of the Environmental Quality Act (Amendment) 2024. Meanwhile, he said the Perak Environment Department did not rule out the possibility that the mass fish deaths could have been due to low oxygen levels, which ranged from 0.13 to 0.78 mg/l, compared with the normal level of around 6.5 mg/l and above. “The Envrionment Department will also obtain information on the cause of the fish deaths based on the analyses of fish samples taken by the Fisheries Department.” – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: A banker from Johor won the RM10.38 million Sports Toto 4D Jackpot 1 of the June 8 draw by combining his identity card number and “God-sent” digits. When collecting his winnings at the STM Lottery head office in the capital, the 49-year-old winner said he went to a temple to make offerings to express gratitude and devotion to Buddha during the Wesak Day celebration last month. “I bought a lucky number incense, which displays some lucky numbers when it is lit. So, I bet on the lucky numbers, combining with the numbers from my personal identity card to form the winning combination – 3866 and 5899. “I then proceeded to bet on the same pair of numbers for six draws and they actually won me the jackpot!” he said, adding that he is a long time Sports Toto punter. He said despite the fact that he had become a mutli-millionaire, he would continue to work. “I have my own plans. I want to travel the world with my wife and make unforgettable memories with my winnings. He bought a System 4 ticket, that won him RM10,382,079.25 and another RM672 as System Play bonus. Meanwhile, the Sports Toto 4D Jackpot 1 (i-System) game on May 31 had a total of 110 winners from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak. The winners shared RM28,069,403.00 from the total of RM34,511,559.64. STM Lottery confirmed the recent big winnings. On May 31, the Sports Toto 4D Jackpot 1 (i-System) was won by several winners from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak who placed bets on the numbers 5720, 6202 and 6408, sharing a jackpot amount of RM28,069,403.00.

PETALING JAYA: The success of the MyKiosk programme may ultimately hinge on two key factors – strategic location and the willingness of traders to seize opportunities. A check by theSun at the Lake Park Hillpark parking lot in Puncak Alam, where several MyKiosk stalls are located, revealed strong interest from operators, encouraged by the steady stream of customers in the area. The site, selected and managed by the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council, has been praised for its strategic placement with scenic surroundings and ample parking, making it an attractive and convenient stop for visitors. While some traders acknowledged that rental fees for the kiosks are higher than for o Stalls at Lake Park Hillpark in Puncak Alam attract steady stream of customers due to strategic placement in scenic surroundings and ample parking space Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

own restaurants. Adi Amri Rizman, 35, said hesitation among some traders to absorb higher costs might help explain why certain kiosks remain unoccupied. Having previously spent two years as a roadside vendor, Adi also rejected suggestions of cronyism linked to the initiative. “There’s no such thing. We applied on our own. There was no red tape or favouritism,” he said, adding that the process with the council had been straightforward. He believes that both location and product selection play a key role in the success of the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s MyKiosk initiative, which aims to support the B40 group and MSMEs by providing standardised, safe and comfortable business spaces. “In most cases, local authorities set up these kiosks in areas where informal trading was already taking place. Where there were once tents, there are now kiosks.” On product strategy, Adi said traders need to be responsive to their surroundings. “For example, a kiosk outside a shopping mall can’t sell the same goods as one by the roadside. Traders need to be adaptable. It is not just about selling what they’re used to, but about meeting local demand.” As of November last year, 7,243 MyKiosk units have been approved across 133 local authorities nationwide.

traditional roadside stalls, many reported encouraging sales. They rejected allegations of cronyism in the selection of kiosk operators, stressing that the process was transparent and merit-based. “Before operating this kiosk, I was trading under a tent nearby. Then, I found out through the council’s Facebook page that applications for the kiosks were open. “I applied and went through the standard process. I filled in a form at the council office and was later called for an interview,” said Shafawati Abdul Aziz, 41. She added that she was interviewed by a panel of 15, underscoring the council’s rigorous selection approach. “They asked about my business experience, how long I’d been trading and my long-term plans. The focus was clearly on selecting committed entrepreneurs, not people who would sublet the kiosks.” The entire process took about two months, and Shafawati has now been operating the kiosk for three months, earning a five-figure monthly income. She expressed appreciation for the council’s location choice. “If the kiosks are set up where there’s no demand, people won’t come, and traders won’t apply. It just won’t work.” Shafawati added that MyKiosk could be the launchpad for small traders like her with dreams of eventually opening their

The MyKiosk initiative aims to support B40 traders and MSMEs by providing standardised, safe and comfortable business space. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

SST expansion boon for local fruit industry PONTIAN: The government initiative to expand the scope of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) by imposing a 5% sales tax on all imported fruits has been described by pineapple growers in Johor as a proactive move to protect the local fruit industry. Haji Osman. With over 30 years’ experience in the pineapple industry, Mohammad Anal, who started growing pineapples on just a 0.4ha plot and now owns 94ha, exports them to other countries, including Singapore.

local products, it could also help farmers and fruit growers to ensure their produce has a place in the local market.” MD2 pineapple grower Firdaus Sapari, 39, agreed that the SST expansion would give local fruit growers “breathing space” if demand for local fruits rises. He said consumers tend to shift away from local options when imported fruits are sold at lower prices. This discourages farmers who face challenges in continuing crop maintenance due to rising operating costs and market instability. Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said once the SST is imposed on imported fruits, consumers would shift to local options due to lower prices. – Bernama

Johor is Malaysia’s largest pineapple producer, with 10,366.6ha and a production volume of 280,878 tonnes. This accounts for 63.7% of Malaysia’s total pineapple output, valued at RM682.53 million. Ariffin Ali, 51, who grows Morris and Josapine pineapples at Kampung Parit Haji Alias in Pontian, said the initiative also positions local produce to be more competitive in terms of pricing, ultimately benefitting farmers. “This is the right time to implement the SST expansion. Apart from encouraging the use of

Pineapple farmer Mohammad Anal Talhah, 53, said with lower prices, the move would encourage a shift in consumer demand for local fruits, including pineapples, especially for the premium MD2 variety, which is widely grown commercially. “I don’t think having more growers would reduce demand. Pineapples have never been in oversupply. There is always demand but that demand is somewhat ‘dampened’ when competing with imported fruits,” he said at his pineapple plantation in Kampung Parit