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‘Accelerating polar ice melt raising risk of coastline flooding’

undertaken the development of standardised extracts targeting respiratory health and diabetes management applications.” Sagah said the initiative aims to ensure consistency in quality, safety and efficacy while supporting future downstream product development and commercialisation. He added that the research, developed under the traditional medicine category, could position Sarawak’s biodiversity resources as valuable assets for the health supplement industry. Initiative aims to benefit 10,000 Indian entrepreneurs KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian Entrepreneur Capital and Economic Stimulus Package, with a RM220 million financing allocation, is expected to benefit about 10,000 Indian entrepreneurs by the end of this year. Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president Datuk Seri Gobalakrishnan Narayanasamy said about 2,000 entrepreneurs have benefitted, involving RM70 million in approved financing. He said MAICCI is also conducting a nationwide roadshow to expand access to financing for small and medium entrepreneurs. “Through this programme, we aim to assist about 3,000 entrepreneurs in the near term through a series of nine MAICCI workshops and roadshow. “Entrepreneurs can also directly engage with the participating financing agencies.” The stimulus package programme is a strategic initiative of the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry. “This programme will serve as an important platform to reach entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, including Indian MSMEs, youth entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs and cooperatives nationwide.” MAICCI deputy president Datuk Dr A.T. Kumararajah said the roadshow will support Indian MSME entrepreneurs in submitting applications to financing agencies, Bernama reported. He also said participation through chamber-led programmes generally improves approval chances compared with individual applications. Separately, Gobalakrishnan urged the government to address the foreign worker shortage, particularly in the manufacturing and food and beverage sectors, saying it is adding pressure on businesses. He said many firms are struggling to secure foreign worker quotas despite rising labour demand in several sectors. MAICCI said as of May 10, the ministry had approved RM70 million in financing for nearly 2,000 Indian entrepreneurs under the programme. Among the agencies and schemes under the programme are Tekun Nasional, SME Bank, Bank Rakyat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia and the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission.

PETALING Malaysia’s extensive coastline faces escalating risks of flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion in the coming decades as accelerating polar ice melt drives global sea levels higher, a marine geoscientist has said. Rising temperatures linked to human activity have led the world’s oceans to absorb more than 90% of excess heat, triggering powerful currents that are accelerating the disintegration of ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu marine geoscientist Hafeez Jeofry said warm ocean currents transport heat from lower latitudes towards the poles, where they thin ice shelves from below. “These floating ice shelves act as buttresses that slow the flow of land-based ice. “When they weaken or collapse, the grounded ice accelerates into the ocean, contributing to sea-level rise.” He explained that ice sheets are massive bodies of land-based ice while ice shelves are their floating extensions, with icebergs forming when these shelves break apart. “When these floating ice shelves o Sea levels along M’sian shores could rise by between 0.67m and 0.74m by end of century: Marine geoscientist Ű BY THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com JAYA:

A Civil Defence Force coastal rescue unit member showing the roots of a tree that emerged due to sand erosion caused by rough seas and strong winds at Miami Beach in Batu Ferringhi, Penang. – MASRY CHE ANI/ THESUN

forecasting Antarctic ice discharge. “Without accurate mapping of ice thickness and bed topography, especially near grounding zones where ice detaches from bedrock, it is hard to know how quickly ice sheets will respond to warming oceans.” Hafeez called for more extensive airborne radar surveys over Antarctica to improve mapping of bed topography and ice thickness. He said if current emission trends persist, sea-level rise would remain a dominant driver of coastal risk well beyond this century. Malaysia could also face secondary impacts, including saltwater intrusion into aquifers, reduced agricultural productivity in coastal plains, and increased flooding during high tides and storm surges, he noted.

fishing communities.” Hafeez said Southeast Asia faces heightened vulnerability because sea-level rise is not uniform globally. “As polar ice melts, changes in the Earth’s gravity and rotation mean regions far from the poles, including Southeast Asia, could experience higher-than-average sea-level rise.” He highlighted major scientific uncertainties that complicate projections, particularly limited ice thickness data in Antarctica. While satellites such as Sentinel-1, CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 track ice movement and elevation, gaps in ground-penetrating radar coverage leave significant margins of error in estimating total ice loss. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified this data gap as a key limitation in

thin or collapse, the glaciers behind them flow more rapidly into the ocean, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of ice loss and sea-level rise.” Malaysia, with more than 5,000km of coastline, is highly exposed to these long-term changes. He estimated that sea levels along Malaysian shores could rise between 0.67m and 0.74m by the end of the century under current climate trajectories, with worst-case scenarios reaching up to 0.9m. “This magnitude of rise threatens to wipe out critical mangrove forests, inundate vital agricultural lands and displace tens of thousands of people across the region. “About one-third of Malaysia’s coastline is affected by erosion to varying degrees, placing pressure on settlements, tourism zones and

No disruption to Setiawangsa services, says minister PUTRAJAYA: Setiawangsa residents will continue to receive full attention and support, including through the strengthening of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Setiawangsa branch office. The assurance comes following former PKR vice president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s decision to vacate the area’s parliamentary seat. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said services under the Federal Territories Department will continue running as usual. Yeoh added that residents can still visit, call or submit complaints through the Setiawangsa branch office at D’Wangsa, 1, Jalan Wangsa Delima 13, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur. The office operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm. She said residents can also contact the office by phone at 03-4142 2740 or via email at pcsw.dbkl@gmail.com. The media reported that

Nik Nazmi, along with Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, announced their resignations on Sunday, effective yesterday. It was also reported that both MPs submitted documents regarding vacating their parliamentary seats to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday. – Bernama

English medium for computer science, design subjects KUCHING: The Education Ministry has agreed for computer science and design subjects to be fully taught in English for Dual Language Programme (DLP) students in Sarawak beginning in 2029, the state legislative assembly was told. Bernama reported. “My ministry is working closely with the Sarawak Education Department and Education Ministry to ensure full readiness for implementation, including teacher preparedness and supporting delivery mechanisms.” completed under the RM1 billion allocation for the upgrading of dilapidated schools in Sarawak, involving the upgrading and refurbishment of school buildings aimed at improving safety and learning conditions for students across the state. He noted that the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre has continued to intensify its research and development efforts involving the state’s rich biodiversity resources. He said one of the promising initiatives involved Hellenia speciosa, locally known as Sulok Payo, Setawar Hutan or Setawar Putih

Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the move marks an achievement in ensuring continuity for the DLP pathway, while strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning in the state,

“Addressing dilapidated schools remains a top priority. While education is under federal jurisdiction, my ministry, in collaboration with relevant agencies, will proactively monitor implementation and identify critical needs for intervention.”

Sagah said the state government remains committed to enhancing education delivery, particularly in equipping students with skills relevant to future industries and technological advancement. He also said 81 projects have been

It is a medicinal plant traditionally used by local communities in Sarawak for respiratory health and blood sugar control. “Building on traditional knowledge and scientific findings, the centre has