24/08/2025

NATIONAL 2 theSun on Sunday AUG 24, 2025

King pilots electric train from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang

Do not neglect Malay petty traders, state govts told KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on state governments not to neglect the interests of small traders, particularly Malay hawkers. He urged local authorities to emulate the approach taken by the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in revitalising business centres for Malay small traders and hawkers. “I hope state leaderships and local authorities would heed this call. We want the greatness of Kuantan, Temerloh, Kota Bharu or Alor Setar not only to be measured by new malls but also how the state governments and local councils enhance basic facilities, cleanliness, stalls, kiosks, hawker centres and trading spaces.” Anwar was speaking at the Golden Jubilee Dinner of the Coalition of Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Associations of Malaysia on Friday. He added that although often seen as small, the contributions of Malay traders to society, including urban communities, are significant as 80% of the people prefer to eat at small stalls. He also announced an allocation of RM500,000 for the coalition. – Bernama His Majesty also drove a train during the Kembara Mahkota Johor programme the same year. – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Every birth is officially recorded with a document, the birth certificate, a vital record that serves as legal proof of identity and the beginning of an individual’s journey as a member of society and as a citizen. Similarly, the birth of Malaysia as an independent nation is recorded in the Proclamation of Independence on Aug 31, 1957, symbolising the end of British colonial rule over the Federation of Malaya and the establishment of a sovereign nation. National Archives director (Development) Siti Hawiyah Manan said the document is not merely a historical artefact but also the country’s official “birth certificate”. “This proclamation is meticulously KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim officiated at the launch of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd Electric Train Service 3 for the southern route at the Kuala Lumpur station yesterday. His Majesty arrived at the station at 7.45am and was welcomed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and his deputy Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. Following the launch ceremony, Sultan Ibrahim personally took the controls of the train, which is capable of reaching operating speeds of up to 140kph, for a journey to the Kluang station in Johor. At the Kluang station, Sultan Ibrahim officiated at the opening of the Mahkota Rail Park, a landmark 2.8km public park built beneath the viaduct alignment of the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electric Double Track Project. In 2010, Sultan Ibrahim made history and was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Sultan in the country to hold a Class 26 high-powered locomotive driving licence.

The King at the controls of the train yesterday. – PIC COURTESY OF SULTAN

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PM: Growth must suit national values, culture

NILAI: Malaysia’s aspiration to become a leading developing nation, including in digital transformation, must go hand in hand with the strengthening of values, identity, morality, religious conviction and culture, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said technological advancements in areas such as rich and poor, those with knowledge of AI and those without’ ‘Technological advancements should not widen gap between handwritten on goatskin using traditional Malay manuscript with intricate filigree carvings. “It is the work of several individuals, including the nation’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.” Siti Hawiyah said the proclamation was produced in two complementary versions, one in Malay written in Jawi script and another in English using Roman script. According to historical records, the original text was drafted by independence fighter Ibrahim Mahmood with the assistance of several Malay nationalist figures, including Senu Abdul Rahman, while the handwriting of the proclamation was done by a scribe from Kelantan. She said the proclamation, measuring 750mm by 500mm, is decorated in the

conventional signature, serving as the legal mark of authentication. She said the document, now more than six decades old, has undergone two conservation and encapsulation processes, in line with international preservation standards. “The document was treated once to control its pH level, then bound and lined with special protective materials before being encapsulated.” She said to ensure its longevity, it is stored in a secure vault equipped with temperature and humidity controls, including hygrometers and dehumidifiers, which maintain humidity at about 55%. “To safeguard the nation’s archival treasures, this room cannot be accessed arbitrarily.” – Bernama Rakyat 2025 programme yesterday, Bernama reported. The event was also attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. Anwar said digital transformation is also expected to enhance productivity and service delivery to the people in order to avoid the “productivity paradox”. “Let us not spend heavily on AI and digital technology only to see no increase in productivity and no improvement in services to the people.” He praised the proactive steps taken by several universities, including Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Multimedia University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in establishing AI faculties or introducing related courses.

style of traditional Malay manuscripts. “It uses polychromatic colour elements, with blue derived from laswardi gem powder, red from natural materials and golden yellow using pure 24-carat gold.” She said, as is common in Malay manuscripts, red was also used to highlight important points in the document. Siti Hawiyah said among the key contents of the proclamation is the appointment of Tunku Abdul Rahman as prime minister of the Federation of Malaya and the affirmation that all Malay states, including Malacca and Penang, would remain sovereign, independent and adhere to the principles of democracy. She added that the document was signed in Jawi with the name “Abdul Rahman Putra,” without a artificial intelligence (AI) must also be balanced, and should not widen the gap between the rich and the poor or between those with knowledge of AI and those without. “AI, for example, is not easy, not cheap and it carries risks. “If we simply copy or adopt what is produced by foreign countries such as the United States and China or European nations, we will not be able to safeguard our faith, morals and cultural values. “So, we must train our children to understand what digital and AI are, and then be able to develop initiatives that suit our way of thinking. “We can take from every country, but we must defend our values and culture. This is what is meant by training and mastery of new technology.” He was speaking at the launch of the Negeri Sembilan edition of the Madani

‘Proclamation of Independence document Malaysia’s official birth cert’