29/06/2025

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NATIONAL 4 ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2025

Not so puzzling after all, says puzzle master

Gallery to showcase

government will intensify the “Eat Local Fruits” campaign to reduce dependency on imported fruits and help boost the income of farmers nationwide. Agriculture and Food Safety Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said all federal and state government agencies are encouraged to serve local fruits at every event to show their support. “The government has been encouraging the people to eat 14,000-year-old ancient skeleton GUA MUSANG: A special gallery showcasing Mek Keldung – a prehistoric human skeleton estimated to be 14,000 years old – will be opened in Gua Musang, adding a fresh attraction to Kelantan’s tourism scene. Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani said the gallery would serve as a platform for the public and tourists to see the historical findings from the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Project. “I have personally visited Gua Keldung, one of the caves involved in the construction of the hydroelectric dam, where a 14,000-year-old human skeleton was discovered by a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) team. “This artefact will be placed in a special gallery to be set up in Gua Musang town, as it is one of the nation’s valuable treasures,” he said after visiting Gua Keldung during the “4xplore Teroka Alam: Legasi di Bumi” programme yesterday. The artefact was discovered during archaeological excavations carried out by a team of UKM researchers led by the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation senior fellow Assoc Prof Dr Zuliskandar Ramli. Mohd Azmawi Fikri said the gallery would not only function as a centre for displaying artefacts but also as a new tourism attraction that could boost the socio-economic well-being of the local community. “I believe more artefacts would be discovered as the development of this hydroelectric dam involves 22 small caves, 12 of which will be submerged. Every artefact found will be rescued by UKM and displayed for viewing.” He said the move would make Gua Musang known not only for its picturesque landscapes but also for significant prehistoric discoveries. – Bernama

Engineer turned educator helps students connect academic knowledge with real-world problem-solving through logic-based learning Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

government for developing a new pineapple variety known as Sarawak Gold 1 (SG-1). “I visited a farm in Sungai Tukau, Miri, and the SG-1 variety has proven to be high-yielding and disease-resistant. It can be harvested earlier, around one year, compared with regular varieties, which typically take about 14 months.” He praised the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board for boosting the country’s pineapple production. He said as of last year, the real-world application. His signature initiative, the Puzzler’s Challenge, has become a fixture in Penang’s school calendar since 2012, and his influence has even crossed oceans to the United States. “I have organised Puzzler’s Challenge events for the public, especially at schools, to train students in solving maths and other subject related problems in more challenging and creative ways,” said the 73-year-old, who despite his age, still passionately crafts puzzles. As Penang’s very own “Sherlock Holmes”, Jayaram has an uncanny ability to unravel complex issues and uncover patterns that others overlook. Whether in logic, life or learning, he approaches every problem with a detective’s eye and a teacher’s heart. He said his classes would start with questions, not answers. “You have to challenge their thinking, not just give them content. In my classes, I always ask my students: ‘Why do you think this is the case?’ I want them to think, not just repeat. “We always try to get them to think laterally and creatively. Some students even surprise themselves. Once they realise they can do it, confidence grows.” He said the Puzzler’s Challenge first started as just an idea but evolved into a collaborative and interschool initiative. “The state government took an interest and later, I was invited to share the model in the US.” Jayaram’s ideas caught the attention of Paul Radke of Mensa California, leading to an invitation to the US, where Jayaram ran a workshop with

charter schools. Jayaram said puzzles cut across many disciplines, and he found it fulfilling to integrate logic, maths, science and language to inspire students to approach challenges with a different perspective. Although the Puzzler’s Challenge remains based in Penang, Jayaram hopes to expand it across the northern states, provided funding and logistical support become available. Jayaram said with the backing of a major sponsor, such as a private school, he could organise a public event for students from all schools. He is now looking to the digital world for the future of puzzling. “We should have a virtual competition. It will be Google proof, which means you can’t find the answers. “You have to work out from what is stated in the problem to solve it.” Jayaram said he is focused on “democratising the process” and making puzzles accessible to all students, especially girls, to foster interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. When asked why puzzles matter, Jayaram said it is simply because there is a challenge. “Every problem in the world can be broken up into parts and then addressed one by one. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop. As long as there’s a puzzle to solve, there’s a reason to keep going,” he told theSun . The most recent Puzzler’s Challenge was held

After retiring from Renesas Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, he became the only non-Western participant selected for Mensa International’s pilot Leadership Programme in 2010. Jayaram is redefining how students interact with maths and science using puzzles as a bridge between abstract classroom learning and

GEORGE TOWN: Puzzles have always fascinated Jayaram Menon, an engineer who turned educator more than a decade ago to help students connect academic knowledge with real-world problem-solving through logic-based learning.

on June 14 at Vitrox College in Penang, in which fifty-six teams from 18 schools took part.