05/07/2026

NATIONAL 6 theSun on Sunday JULY 5, 2026

Call to provide Budi Diesel for Sarawak rural homes

understand difficult realities while nurturing resilience and hope. She added that proceeds from the sale of her picture book will be channelled to global humanitarian efforts, including relief programmes and medical initiatives that provide free healthcare for refugees in Malaysia. Priced at RM69 each, the book is available at Restu Shop in Shah Alam and Putrajaya, and Twigs Bookshop. To date, more than 600 copies of “The Olive Tree That Remembered” have been sold. The book has also reached readers in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Canada and Brazil. The event was also attended by Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and Barisan Nasional candidate for Larkin Mohd Hairi Mad Shah. Onn Hafiz said the Johor government has allocated RM3.6 million for the initiative as part of its efforts to strengthen early childhood education under the state human capital development agenda. – Bernama First community kindy to use English medium JOHOR BAHRU: The Bangsa Johor Kemas Kindergarten has become the first community kindergarten in Malaysia to integrate English-medium instruction and digital learning into its early childhood education programme. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the initiative marks a progressive step towards modernising the country’s early childhood education system and making it more competitive. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development minister, said the approach complements the Johor government’s efforts to nurture a future generation equipped with stronger skills, digital literacy and the competencies needed for 21st-century education. “The kindergarten’s uniqueness lies not only in the Bangsa Johor identity, but also in its curriculum, pedagogy and teaching methods, which differ from those of other Community Development Department kindergartens nationwide. “The teaching of the Quran remains a priority without compromise. What sets the kindergarten apart is its strong emphasis on English language proficiency and the use of modern technology. “More importantly, the project is fully funded by the Johor government,” he said at the kindergarten Leadership Parents Engagement Session here on Friday.

Through “The Olive Tree That Remembered”, Norashikin hopes to introduce children to the universal values of kindness, resilience, hope, peace and humanity, without delving into politics. She said every aspect of the book, from its carefully considered dimensions to its colour psychology, was thoughtfully designed to help children stay focused while creating opportunities for parents and children to read it together. Norashikin, who is also an experienced trainer in the field of education, believes stories have the unique power to help children in the federal government on this predicament surrounding Budi Diesel,” said Abun, who is also Sarawak PKR information chief. Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said he had also formally spoken to the relevant ministries in Putrajaya. “The Budi Diesel implementation mechanism in Sarawak needs to be refined as many are still left out. “The use of diesel generators for producing electricity involves a big rural population who have no electricity supply. “This situation is unique to Sarawak,” said Chiew, who is Miri MP and Sarawak PKR Youth chief. Meanwhile religious communities and NGOs involved in running charity and welfare projects in the rural territories of Sarawak are also facing difficulities. Sarawak DAP central committee member Stanley Chiew said these groups are missing out on subsidised diesel. “They have to pay market rate and they are encountering problems in registering their vehicles for Budi Diesel. “It has come to our attention that there are many religious and non-governmental charitable bodies having a big number of pick-up trucks and small lorries that are missing out on the Budi Diesel scheme. “These religious organisations and NGOs are running charity programmes and helping in food delivery and transport for many rural residents, students and travellers daily in remote districts. “They have to spend a lot of money on diesel daily. The federal government must look into their plight immediately,” he said in a press statement.

Thousands in remote areas in dire need of inclusion in subsidy scheme to help reduce cost in generating electricity, says senator Ű BY JOSEPH PETER newsdesk@thesundaily.com Senator Abun Sui Anyit said residents are unable to access government-subsidised Budi Diesel for generator sets for electricity-generation.

“These affected residents have to pay market rate to buy diesel or else their homes and farms will have no electricity. “This is a big problem affecting a large number of residents in the largest state in the country,” he said in a press statement. Abun, who is Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat senator for the Belaga district in central Sarawak, has called for urgent attention by Putrajaya. “I have alerted the officials

KUCHING: A large number of Sarawak residents living in interior areas are in dire need of diesel subsidy from the government to help them to reduce cost in generating electricity. Many remote settlements and longhouses are not connected to the main power grid and residents rely entirely on diesel powered generators (gensets) to operate basic appliances, lights, and water pumps.

Diesel and have to pay almost double the subsidised rate as there is still no mechanism to provide Budi Diesel for gensets. “There are thousands of people throughout remote Sarawak who need diesel to power generator sets to produce electricity in their longhouses and farms. “They are not able to buy diesel at the Budi Diesel rate (of RM2.10 per litre) as there is still no mechanism to provide Budi

Remote residents rely entirely on diesel-powered generators to operate basic appliances, lights and water pumps. – AI GENERATED IMAGE BY MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

Delivering message of peace to children via picture book KUALA LUMPUR: For Norashikin Abdul Latiff, the experience of managing a community kitchen for war-affected families in the remote regions of Afghanistan left a profound emotional impact. war to the process of reunification of the community. preschool years so children grow up valuing peace. with wisdom, empathy and compassion.

She also expressed concern that repeated exposure to news about wars, disasters, bullying and human suffering could gradually dull the emotional responses of children. “What once seemed shocking could eventually become normal in their eyes. “I chose to produce a printed book instead of a digital one to encourage children to put their gadgets away for a while (and read the book). “As parents and as a society, we may not be able to shield children from every harsh reality in the world. But we can help them understand those realities

“Many of the children were so traumatised by the conflict that they would scream and run away whenever strangers approached, although we came to offer humanitarian aid. “The horrors of war had left lasting emotional scars on them. When I returned home, I realised that the importance of peace and empathy is a message we must share with our own children as early as possible,” Norashikin, who is also director of corporate communications at Yayasan Restu, told Bernama. The mother of five believes that awareness of human suffering should be nurtured from the

Having seen how the conflict had left deep psychological scars on the people, including children, who continue to live with trauma, she was moved to take action. The result was “The Olive Tree That Remembered”, a children’s picture book that delivers the message of peace. The story is written from the perspective of an ancient olive tree that has stood through generations. It bears witness to the passage of time, from an era of peace through the devastation of