12/12/2025

FRIDAY | DEC 12, 2025

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Celebrating diverse heritage of indigenous communities

KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has dismissed claims that the Road Transport Department (RTD) pays any form of commission to its collection agents. He said companies applying to be agents are mainly technology-based platforms seeking to offer RTD services as a value-added feature and are required to return 100% of the amount collected to the government. He explained that, for example, online vehicle trading platforms help their customers settle summonses before selling their cars and subsequently handle ownership transfer as well as road tax renewal. “These companies want to become agents to streamline transactions, rather than deal with RTD (repeatedly). “Not only do they not get commission, but for certain transactions, such as ownership transfer, they are required to make payment to RTD. “If it is a one-off transaction, the MyJPJ app is easier (for the public). “With the development of digitalisation, more online platforms would apply to become agents and the ministry would facilitate the process.” Loke said 10 agents have been appointed since 2016, but RTD has never paid any commission. “The opposition is claiming that agents would now receive a commission from every transaction. According to their narrative, it sounds profitable, but that is not the real story. “The PN government also appointed agents on April 29, 2022. However, it was not framed as profit making because they knew the claims were false.” Ramssol Group Bhd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Rider Gate Sdn Bhd, said on Monday the ministry had officially appointed it as an authorised RTD collection agent. – Bernama No commission for RTD collection agents the (process) is interconnected and interoperable. “Wherever the clinic is, when patients come in (for treatment), they should not be asked what illness they have, what allergies they have, what procedures they have had or what medication they are taking. “Patients should only be asked these questions once.” Dzulkefly said the ultimate goal of the transformation is to enable complete integration between the public and private sectors to create a holistic national healthcare ecosystem. – Bernama

Persatuan Asli Semenanjung Malaysia chairman Senator Datuk Ajis Sitin, Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad former CEO Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah and senior representatives from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry. Their presence underscores the national significance of the festival in advancing indigenous cultural preservation and community empowerment. Programme highlights and real time updates are available at the Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli & Asal Facebook page and Instagram at @ykoa.malaysia. Orang

10pm daily, with free admission. In line with its mission to promote unity and cultural harmony, foundation chairman Dr Andre Ratos highlighted the deeper meaning behind the event. “Our indigenous peoples are living symbols of Malaysia’s unity in diversity. Their cultures are threads that bind us as one nation. By celebrating them, we are appeciating the true spirit of Malaysia.” The event will also be attended by several distinguished national figures, including Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye as guest of honour,

o Festival offers platform for Orang Asli and Orang Asal cultural expression

Ű BY ANDREW SAGAYAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

programmes, traditional arts, music, education and community driven initiatives. Visitors at the festival would experience batik painting, necklace beading, headgear weaving, traditional food wrapping techniques and a variety of cultural showcases from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. The festival runs from 10am to

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the empowerment of the digitalisation agenda via the ‘One Citizen, One Record’ electronic medical record (EMR) approach is the primary focus in transforming the country’s healthcare system. He said its implementation would enable the healthcare sector to be strengthened to ensure patient information could be accessed accurately and quickly, reducing duplication of records, minimising the risk of wrong information and supporting the delivery of higher KUALA LUMPUR: The Indigenous Rhythms Festival 2025 makes its return to dazzle audiences with the rich and diverse heritage of Malaysian indigenous communities from today to Dec 14 at Berjaya Times Square. The festival brings together the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia and the Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak, offering a platform for cultural expression through traditional performances, live music, craft exhibitions, workshops and a curated ethnic artisan bazaar. The three-day event, supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, aims to raise awareness, foster appreciation and promote the preservation of indigenous knowledge, customs and creative expressions among Malaysians and international visitors. It is the brainchild of Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli & Asal founder, the late Datuk Antony Ratos. For decades, he organised exhibitions, cultural showcases and rural health camps to preserve and uplift Malaysia’s indigenous heritage. Antony established the foundation in 2002 with a vision to elevate the livelihoods of Malaysia’s indigenous community through the preservation and celebration of their culture. The foundation protects, promotes and revitalises indigenous identity via cultural

Members of the Kelabit ethnic group pose for a photograph dressed in their traditional attire. – PIC COURTESY OF YAYASAN KESENIAN ORANG ASLI & ASAL

Electronic medical record key to transforming healthcare: Minister

would be digitalised by 2027, while the EMR system would be implemented in 136 hospitals by 2029. He also said the implementation of the digital system would help in reducing patient waiting time, including simpler appointment processes, follow-up treatments and dispensing of medicines. “Previously, patients might have to bring along X-ray films, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) (results) and so on. “Now, with the national EMR, wherever the patient goes,

topic of “Madani Health Reform: Facing Structural Challenges”. Dzulkefly said the digitalisation effort is being driven comprehensively from the primary care stage, including the use of the cloud-based Clinic Management System in health clinics nationwide. He said as of Oct 17, 160 health clinics have been digitalised and the ministry is targeting 2,489 primary healthcare facilities, including health clinics, maternal and child clinics, community clinics and rural clinics, to undergo the same process by 2028. He added that 956 dental clinics

quality clinical services. “This must eventually lead to what is known as ‘One Citizen, One Record’, which is a national EMR that is interoperable, and subsequently more effective in patient and population care. “We need a (system) in which public and private hospital-to hospital and clinic-to-clinic (interactions) are interoperable. “So, you have horizontal and vertical integration.” He was speaking during the Bernama TV Ruang Bicara programme on Wednesday, which discussed the digitalisation

‘Claims of tiger presence in Chemor due to development untrue’

IPOH: Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said claims that tigers have appeared around Bukit Bangkong, Tanah Hitam in Chemor since last week due to development in the area are untrue. He said the presence of the wild animals is believed to be due to their

the state government is committed to strengthening policies, accelerating the use of green technology and ensuring that every development moves in line with environmental conservation and public wellbeing. “Sustainability is no longer an option. It is a necessity.” – Bernama

believed to be a tiger, which resulted in the death of two cows and the disappearance of five others in Bukit Bangkong last Friday. He said the incident was reported by a man who found two of his cows dead with bite marks, while several other livestock were missing. In other developments, Teh said

after officiating at the closing of the Green Tech Perak 2025 programme, themed ESG for Industrial Advantage on Wednesday. Previously, state police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin was reported to have said his department confirmed receiving a report of a wild animal attack,

increasing population, requiring a wider area to roam. “I don’t think the housing projects being carried out in the area are encroaching on tiger habitat. “Earlier this year, there were also reports of complaints of tiger tracks in the same area.” He was speaking to reporters