07/08/2025

THURSDAY | AUG 7, 2025

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Students to represent M’sia at global robotics event

Open burning prompts landfill relocation GUA MUSANG: A landfill located by the Gua Musang-Lojing road, near Kampung Kundur in Negeri Sembilan will be moved to a new site to solve the ongoing problem of open burning that has caused thick smoke for more than two years. Gua Musang District Council president Mohd Roshdi Ismail said the new location would be in the same area but at a different site that is more suitable and controlled. He said this relocation would allow the council to make improvements at the original site, including closing the access roads that are often trespassed by irresponsible parties. “The work of backfilling the existing pile of waste will be done using land owned by the state government and local residents, with the consent of the owners on a win win basis.” Mohd Roshdi announced that a directive for immediate action has been issued, including carrying out improvement works and installing fences around the site to prevent trespassing. “Residents and road users on the Gua Musang-Lojing route have to inhale thick smoke every day, leading to health risks and poor visibility when driving.” The situation is believed to be caused by open burning by irresponsible individuals, affecting more than 5,000 residents in the nearby areas of Kuala Betis, Felcra Panggong Lalat, Lojing Highlands and Cameron Highlands A survey by Bernama found that smoke was still coming from the waste pile, despite several days of rain. More than 1,000 BATU GAJAH: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized 1,899 14kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders of at an illegal storage facility in the Bemban Industrial Estate on Tuesday. Perak enforcement director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the raid was conducted at 6.30pm following intelligence information and a week-long monitoring of activities at the premises. He said the enforcement team discovered 1,899 LPG cylinders believed to be used in illegal decanting activities, in which gas from subsidised 14kg cylinders is transferred into other tanks. “A total of 1,899 LPG cylinders were found, comprising 871 filled cylinders and 1,028 empty ones. More than 18,000kg of LPG was seized, with an estimated value of RM66,508,“ he told reporters during an inspection at the site. Kamalludin said investigations revealed that the modus operandi of the activities involved purchasing subsidised 14kg LPG cylinders from across Perak and other states, then transferring the gas into other tanks for distribution to industrial users for commercial purposes. – Bernama gas cylinders seized in raid

o Initiative led by Higher Education Ministry to boost national standing in tech, innovation

compete HuroCup,

in

four

categories,

Autonomous Car, A-Drone Autonomous Race and A-Drone Emergency Service, represented by Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Politeknik Port Dickson and Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah. Farhan said robotics strengthens the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in industrial automation. “Many do not realise how robotics ties into TVET. It incorporates AI, Internet of Things (IoT), real-time vision systems and automation, skills that are critical for Industry 4.0 and beyond.” He added that the team is targeting at least 10 medals, with the HuroCup alone offering up to 14 potential wins through two participating teams. Farhan also expressed confidence in the capability of the students to match international competitors. “One of the challenges is the academic level gap. We are sending diploma students, but internationally, most are degree or postgraduate level. “Even so, our students have beaten them before. Two years ago, three of our students brought home six medals.” He added that each medal winner would also receive RM1,000 as a token of appreciation and motivation. He expressed hope that the experience would inspire appreciation for robotics in TVET and encourage students to aim higher. Among the students heading to South Korea is 20-year-old Harith Adly Hilmi from Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, who will compete in the basketball robotics category. He admitted he was not initially interested in robotics until he joined waste management remains under the purview of the respective state governments, local authorities and related agencies. Aiman Athirah said services, including cleaning up illegal dumps, are implemented based on referrals from local authorities regardless of whether the sites are within their jurisdiction. However, she clarified that no special allocations are provided to state governments or other agencies for managing illegal dumping outside of local council areas. Act 672 also empowers the federal government to enforce actions against illegal dumping in all local authority areas. The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) carried out 3,036 operations in 2024 to eliminate illegal dump sites and an additional 2,030

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government deputy minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that through Budget 2025, the ministry has received an allocation of RM1.54 billion to finance solid waste management and public cleansing operations. This includes garbage collection, public cleaning, enforcement and the clearing of illegal dumpsites in seven states governed under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672). The states covered under Act 672 include Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. For other states not under Act 672, KUALA LUMPUR: Sixteen students from four Malaysian polytechnics will carry the Jalur Gemilang to the 30th FIRA RoboWorld Cup and Summit 2025 in Daegu, South Korea, an international robotics event featuring the latest in bipedal robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. At the flag-off ceremony at Seri Pacific Hotel, Higher Education deputy minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud urged students to see themselves not just as competitors but as ambassadors of innovation. “You are not just going to Daegu as students. You are representing Malaysia. “With only 16 participants, you are the country’s unsung heroes. Share your journey and show how Malaysia competes with the world.” Coaching one of the key categories, HuroCup, Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah robotics coach Muhammad Farhan Uzair Faisal said preparations began last year, with students selected through project showcases and national trials. “Our main challenge is not the technical side, but to maintain consistency in performance. “Scoring is based on time and task execution, such as getting bipedal robots to sprint, detect patches and return to the start within three minutes.” The Malaysian contingent will Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

The team will compete in four categories, HuroCup, Autonomous Car, A-Drone Autonomous Race and A-Drone Emergency Service. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Pendidikan Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti under the Higher Education Ministry. Director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Zahari Ismail said the effort supports the ministry’s goal of elevating the standing of Malaysia in tech and innovation through TVET. “FIRA RoboWorld Cup is a global stage for creativity, problem-solving and teamwork. “These students are proof that polytechnic education can produce world-class talent.” Malaysia’s previous achievements include the Best Technical Startup Award by Politeknik Port Dickson in 2024 and multiple medals in the HuroCup category in 2023 by Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah and Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah. The 2025 event runs from Aug 11 to Aug 15 in Daegu, South Korea. surveillance and site raids. Tampin MP Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa raised concerns over waste management in Felda schemes, which are reportedly neglected due to unclear jurisdiction. He said when local authorities are approached, the common response is that Felda areas fall outside their responsibility. In response, Aiman Athirah confirmed that Felda areas are not under the jurisdiction of local councils and responsibility cannot be placed solely on one party. She also said Felda itself should initiate discussions to resolve waste management issues in its schemes. “As of now, no formal discussions have taken place between the Ministry and Felda,” she said, adding that such engagement could move forward in line with the authority provided under Act 672.

the club at his campus. “I did not know anything about robotics, but once I understood how it worked, such as coding, programming, building logic, I was hooked. “It is not something we learn in ‘regular’ classes, so we had to push ourselves.” Harith described the selection process as competitive, with only the top four or five students selected across all polytechnics. “I’m excited. It is an honour to represent Malaysia. My family was proud when they found out. “It is not something small, to be chosen for an international competition such as this. “In five years, I see myself in this field. Whether it is robotics or AI, I want to keep learning and contributing.” The initiative is led by the Jabatan operations up to June 2025, which included prosecution of offenders. “These integrated actions are part of government efforts to ensure a clean environment for all Malaysians. “But the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness should not fall on a single party. All stakeholders must come together to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment.” In response to a question from Merbok MP Tuan Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan on strategies to control illegal dumping by companies, she outlined several key initiatives. These include collaboration with the Malaysian Space Agency to detect illegal dumping using satellite imagery and geospatial data, the installation of CCTV cameras at illegal dumping hotspots and round-the-clock enforcement by SWCorp officers, involving

RM1.54b allocation for waste management