25/03/2026

WEDNESDAY | MAR 25, 2026

FOLLOW

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

4

@thesundaily

Govt rolls out AI tool for padi farmers nationwide

Former state mufti dies aged 76 MALACCA: Former state mufti Datuk Rashid Redza Md Salleh passed away at around 4am yesterday at his residence in Kampung Solok Gaung due to old age. Former Malacca mufti Datuk Halim Tawil confirmed the news, describing the passing of the 76-year-old religious scholar as a significant loss for the state. The late cleric’s second son Ahmad Fathi Rashid Redza, 39, said his father’s death was a profound loss not only for the family, but also for the Muslim community in Malacca. “He was a man of strong principles, yet deeply compassionate, always emphasising the importance of religion in our lives.” The funeral prayers are expected to be held at Masjid Al-Khairiyah, Ayer Molek, and he will be laid to rest at the Raudhatul Sakinah Muslim cemetery in Ayer Molek before the Zohor prayers. The late Rashid Redza is survived by his wife Datin Zoriah Mohamad, 68, and five children, Bernama reported. Born on Sept 22, 1950 in Kampung Chinchin, Jasin, he was a highly respected religious scholar who served as Malacca’s mufti for 15 years, from Dec 6, 1996 to 2011. During his tenure, he played a key role in boosting Islamic institutions and providing authoritative guidance on syariah matters across the state.

o Rakan Tani continuously updates guidance based on weather patterns,

show the people how innovation solves everyday problems. “By democratising access to high-level expertise, we are ensuring the benefits of digital transformation are felt as much by the rural padi farmer as they are by the urban tech developer, to uplift the lives and livelihoods of all Malaysians.” Mohamad Fazeli Abdullah, a farmer from Sungai Manik, reported that his yield rose from four to nine metric tonnes in a single planting cycle after adopting the platform’s recommendations, Bernama reported. “Rakan Tani has become an essential tool in my daily farming. It gives clear guidance on fertilisation, pest control and water management. “With accurate weather insights and timely alerts, I no longer rely on guesswork and my harvest has improved beyond what I thought possible,” he said. The initiative is also expected to support agricultural modernisation and encourage youth participation amid an ageing farming population.

10-week 42 farmers under Padiberas Nasional’s Large-Scale Padi Field Programme in Sungai Manik, Perak. Around 200 farmers are expected to be onboarded by the end of this month, with the initiative set to scale to about 110,000 registered padi farmers nationwide. The enhanced version includes improved soil moisture analytics, pest monitoring capabilities and expanded crop guidance tailored to local rice varieties. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring AI delivers tangible benefits to the people. “AI must deliver real value to the people. Through Rakan Tani, we are placing practical AI tools directly in the hands of farmers, helping them make better decisions, improve productivity and strengthen Malaysia’s food security. “Our goal is to ensure no Malaysian is left behind in the digital age. To build an AI nation, we must pilot involving

via email at care@iwk.com.my, through the customer service line at 03-2083 2828, available from 8am to 11pm, and via WhatsApp round the clock. Indah Water Konsortium continues to offer a special rebate programme for customers registered under eKasih as part of its ongoing support for the community. As of Dec 2025, more than RM1.1 million had been spent to subsidise sewerage bills for eligible customers, reflecting continued assistance for those in need. In line with the Malaysia Madani concept, it is also strengthening its corporate social responsibility efforts through initiatives such as Sahabat Sekolah IWK and Sahabat Istimewa IWK. “The Sahabat Sekolah IWK programme engages students to raise awareness of the importance of sewerage systems for environmental sustainability, benefiting about 21,000 students last year.” Meanwhile, the Sahabat Istimewa IWK programme focuses on empowering persons with disabilities through an inclusive approach that builds confidence, enhances capabilities and encourages active participation in society. “The ministry believes that quality utility services must be complemented by continuous social commitment as these initiatives help strengthen community development and improve the wellbeing of the people.” challenges while accelerating AI adoption in line with the AI Nation 2030 vision. The platform delivers tailored recommendations based on weather conditions, pest risks and field data, enabling farmers to make more informed decisions on fertilisation, irrigation and overall crop management. “Malaysia’s rice self-sufficiency stands at just over 50%, against a national target of 80% by 2030. The gap is not a lack of knowledge but the challenge of turning it into consistent action on the ground. “While Malaysia has strong agronomic expertise, scaling personalised, day-to-day guidance for every farmer has remained a challenge,” the ministry said. It added that Rakan Tani functions as an AI-powered support tool, continuously updating its guidance based on weather patterns, pest threats and field conditions to help farmers make timely decisions. The nationwide rollout follows a

pest threats and field conditions

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has begun the nationwide rollout of Rakan Tani, a homegrown AI co-pilot that delivers real-time, personalised farming advice to padi farmers via WhatsApp. The initiative is a collaboration between the Digital Ministry, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, National AI Office (NAIO), Padiberas Nasional Bhd and Global AI Village. The Digital Ministry said Rakan Tani, developed through the NAIO Lab, is a locally built solution designed to address agricultural

Ministry ensures smooth sewerage services

PUTRAJAYA: The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, through Indah Water Konsortium, remains on round-the-clock standby, including during festive periods, to ensure public sewerage systems operate efficiently. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation minister, said Indah Water Konsortium conducts continuous monitoring, scheduled maintenance, site inspections and immediate repairs when needed to keep its systems operating at optimal levels. Indah Water Konsortium manages about 7,767 public sewage treatment plants, 1,564 sewage pumping stations and 23,550km of underground sewerage pipelines, serving the equivalent of 32 million people in Peninsular Malaysia. “The operations team is always ready to respond to complaints and is equipped with specialised tools, including early warning systems. “Additional manpower has been deployed to handle incidents such as pipe blockages, pump failures, overflows and odour issues.” He said these proactive measures reflect the federal government’s commitment to maintaining reliable sewerage services while minimising disruptions to public comfort, especially during festive seasons, in line with efforts to safeguard community wellbeing and environmental sustainability, Bernama reported. Individuals can channel complaints

ACTIVE AGILITY ... Child racers under the KL Rocket Team club riding bicycles without pedals, better known as pushbikes, outside the KPJ Ampang Hospital parking area in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Guardrail repair completed after child injury JOHOR BAHRU: Repair works involving the reinstallation of a detached guardrail on the second floor of the Desa Mutiara People’s Housing Project here, which led to a nine-year-old girl being injured from a fall, have been completed. State Housing and Local guardrails required urgent repairs, and the works have been carried out for safety reasons while a full report on the matter is also being prepared. “Corporation officers have visited the victim’s father and extended assistance to the family.”

was about 14 years old. “In the long term, we will reassess the strength of the guardrails, taking into account the age of the building.” The girl, who was reported to have suffered head injuries, is receiving treatment at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital. Her father Mohamad Khairul Nizam, 48, said she was in the paediatric ICU after undergoing surgery, Bernama reported. “I am not sure yet if the guardrail has been installed as I am at the hospital, but I am grateful if it has been done,” said the father of five.

He said his office will conduct a comprehensive inspection of all grille structures in the area to ensure residents’ safety. He did not rule out the possibility that the guardrail had been damaged prior to the incident, given that the People’s Housing Project

Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the installation was carried out immediately by the contractor following discussions with the Johor Housing Development Corporation engineering division. “It was found that several