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Pos Malaysia delivers on book initiative

paper, turning waste into valuable resources for students who need them most. “With Pos Malaysia managing the end-to-end logistics of the programme, the initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to empowering communities and integrating sustainable practices into daily operations. “Together, Pos Malaysia and Kota Buku are helping to strengthen access to education while promoting a more sustainable and equitable future for Malaysian students.”

Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu. “The states were chosen for the programme because students from B40 families make up (the majority) in schools.” Lao said each participating school receiving two cartons, totalling 400 notebooks, with deliveries starting and finishing last January. The initiative by Kota Buku, under the Education Ministry, helps address the education gap faced by B40 families by producing exercise books made entirely from recycled

dedicated team, we will keep on driving positive change that matters.” She added that the second phase of the programme not only eases financial burden for families, amounting to an estimated RM2.4 million in savings, but also prevents the loss of approximately 2,832 trees through the use of recycled materials. She also said through Pos Malaysia’s Pos Care service, it would ensure direct delivery to schools with high B40 student populations. The current phase of the programme prioritises states such as

students in 4,120 schools across the country. Its group chief marketing officer Fiona Lao said the “Two Million Recycled Exercise Books: Driving Sustainable Education” programme provides better access to basic learning materials and encourages sustainable practices, Bernama reported. “Our purpose is simple but powerful: we are passionate about building trust to connect lives and businesses for a better tomorrow. With our nationwide reach and

KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia Berhad continues to strengthen its commitment towards education and environmental sustainability by delivering two million recycled exercise books to over 200,000 B40 o ‘Programmeprovides betteraccesstobasic learningmaterialsand encouragessustainability’

Postgraduate student cultivates side hustle from melon crop research MARANG: Every morning, while most postgraduate students are preparing for lectures, Fatin Nur Atillia Abdul Razak is often out among rows of ripening sweet melons, checking leaves and testing fruit for firmness. The 28-year-old Master’s candidate in Agrotechnology (Crop Science) at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has found an unlikely balance between academic research and hands-on farming, turning her field of study into a modest but growing business. to mature before they can be harvested and marketed, during which close monitoring is essential.” She added that all her produce has been marketed to schools and clinics in Hulu Terengganu, where there are relatively few melon growers. “At present, supply does not meet demand. So, I am just focusing on the Hulu Terengganu market, particularly direct sales to schools and clinics.”

The venture remains a side income while she completes her studies, but Fatin admitted that it has given her more than financial support. She said it has sharpened her technical knowledge, strengthened her confidence and allowed her to build a name of her own. She also said customer feedback has been encouraging, with buyers praising the fruit’s quality. “Customers say the melons are crisp and sweet, and that signature crunch and juiciness are the main attractions.” A Hulu Terengganu native, Fatin hopes her participation in the project would help expand her own production and grow her business gradually. “Through this programme, I could increase my own output, reduce reliance on external suppliers and expand sales through the melons I cultivate.” – Bernama

Her introduction to sweet melon cultivation came in 2020 during her internship at an agricultural company in Kuala Ibai. What began as practical training soon evolved into something more enduring. After enrolling in her Master’s programme under associate professor Dr Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok, Fatin was offered the opportunity to join a cultivation project linked to her research, taking theories from the lecture hall straight into the field. “I joined the programme in the middle of last year as my research focuses on melon crops. It gave me the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a real-world setting and gain practical experience,” she said after attending the Teraju-UMT Community Project Impact

Fatin inspects two melons during the Teraju-UMT Community Project Impact Recognition Ceremony at UMT Bukit Kor. – BERNAMAPIC

plant, and harvested between 300kg and 500kg of fruit, as the cycle began near the tail end of the planting period. “Sweet melons take about 65 days

Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera and the university. She said her first season was a cautious experiment. She planted 1,000 polybags, each holding a single

Recognition Ceremony at UMT Bukit Kor recently. Fatin is one of the 28 participants of the Terengganu Sweet Melon Project, a collaboration between Unit