26/07/2025

SATURDAY | JULY 26, 2025

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Broke family living in bird house

include a bedroom and kitchen, but everything was in poor condition. “But these days, not many people send their cars to be repaired. Sometimes, we do not have enough for food. I cannot afford to finish building the house. We do not have a toilet. We have to rely on the surau or petrol station to use the bathroom,” he told Bernama. Mohd Nazarudin said due to the lack of a door, their home is exposed to wild animals such as boars, snakes and scorpions. He also said he struggles to sleep, thinking about the safety of his pregnant wife and their children, aged between three and 12. “The only aid I have received is for my child with disability from the Social Welfare Department, but I recently applied for assistance from the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council. InsyaAllah , they said I might receive it next year.” Rural and Regional Development Ministry Terengganu director Md Razi Md Lazim, who visited the family, said the ministry would assist in completing the house.

KUALA NERUS: Poverty has forced a family of eight to live in a swiftlet house at Kampung Batin, Seberang Takir in Terengganu for the past year. Mohd Nazarudin Muhamat, 50, said they had no choice but to stay in the building owned by his mother-in law, as they could no longer afford to rent a house. He said his income as a mechanic, ranging between RM500 and RM1,000 a month, is only enough to cover food and school expenses for his six children, including one diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. “Initially, we stayed in the storeroom of the swiftlet house, which was cramped. With the bit of money I had, I expanded the space to o Monthly income only enough to cover food, school expenses for six children

Mohd Nazarudin said he struggles to sleep, thinking about the safety of his pregnant wife and their children, aged between three and 12 – BERNAMAPIC

More efforts needed to prevent drowning in Malaysia, says expert KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Putra Malaysia Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion research group head Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani said Malaysia must intensify drowning prevention efforts, especially among children, as it is a preventable crisis. He said an estimated 700 drowning cases occur annually in Malaysia, with 500 involving children under the age of 18. Prevention Day yesterday. He also said World Health Organisation (WHO) data showed Malaysia recorded 255 drowning deaths in 2022, while the Fire and Rescue Department reported 258 cases in 2024. However, actual numbers may be higher due to underreporting, misclassification and undocumented incidents. Drowning Prevention released in 2024 provides guidance for governments, communities and individuals worldwide. He added that steps such as installing barriers around water bodies, placing lifeguards at public pools and beaches and issuing weather alerts could reduce drowning risks. responses are critical, while public education on lifesaving techniques and emergency preparedness must be strengthened. He called on parents to educate children with swimming skills and never leave them unsupervised near water. sedative use during water activities, stressing that impaired judgement increases drowning risk and that public awareness of weather conditions, beach safety flags and proper use of flotation devices is equally vital. “Drowning prevention is not just the government’s responsibility. Everyone has a role, whether as a policymaker, operator, parent or tourist.”

He praised the Youth and Sports Ministry’s 2022 initiative offering free swimming lessons to B40 children, which not only reduces the risk of drowning but also nurtures talent in aquatic sports. He warned against alcohol or

He urged hotel and apartment operators to ensure swimming facilities are supervised. Kulanthayan also said swift and coordinated search-and-rescue

This year’s theme, “Anyone Can Drown, No One Should”, calls for urgent and shared action. WHO’s inaugural Global Status Report on

“These figures reflect preventable tragedies that impact families and communities,” he stated in conjunction with World Drowning

World Drowning Prevention Day is observed annually on July 25. – Bernama Forest fire raises Sarawak API levels

Police kill two suspected gang leaders in shootout KUALA LUMPUR: Two foreign men suspected of being the masterminds of an armed robbery and

KUCHING: The air quality in southern Sarawak is deteriorating as forest fires rage on in the state. Mukah is experiencing a wildfire that is spreading within a forest in the central Sarawak district. “Our teams are having difficulties reaching the locations as the fires are burning (deep) inside the forest. “There are no roads to access these locations,” said the Fire and Rescue Department. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in the Lundu district yesterday increased to 123, which is beyond the unhealthy mark of 100. Lundu is about 90km from state capital Kuching, which also showed an unhealthy reading of 116. Located at the southernmost tip of Sarawak, it shares a land border with Kalimantan in Indonesia. Yesterday evening, the Sri Aman, Samarahan and Mukah districts recorded API readings of 97, 92 and 91 respectively. The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed satellite images of winds sweeping

programme’s content and module is ongoing, and findings would be submitted to the Selangor Syariah Prosecution Department for further action. On July 16, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed reports of nude scenes involving four women during a segment called “Queen’s Night”. That same day, six individuals including the founders of the programme and their child, were remanded for three days to assist in a separate investigation into indecent behaviour and minor offences. – Bernama in 50 cases of housebreaking and armed robbery, as well as drug-related activities since 2022, causing losses exceeding RM3 million. He added that the gang is believed to have been operating in several states, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Perak. He said the group has about 15 members and police are tracing the rest of the gang. – Bernama

“They were travelling in a white vehicle, believed to be reported stolen in 2023. As police attempted to intercept them, a shootout ensued, resulting in both suspects being killed at the scene.” Fadil said police found various housebreaking tools, a quantity of drugs, a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle. He said investigation showed the two men were part of a gang involved

housebreaking gang were killed in a shootout with police at Jalan Semerah Padi in Cheras yesterday. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acting director Datuk Fadil Marsus said intelligence revealed that the suspects were identifying a new target when police confronted them at 3.45am.

Six held over controversial marriage programme SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department has detained six individuals in connection with the eHati marriage motivation programme held from Sept 27 to Sept 30 last year. Its director Datuk Mohd (Selangor) Enactment 1995. “The investigation was launched following suspicions that a ritual or ceremony contrary to Islamic teachings was held during the programme,” Mohd Shahzihan said in a statement.

To date, the department has recorded statements from 38 witnesses and identified 282 participants whose statements would also be taken. Three books and three VCDs seized from the event have been submitted to the Selangor Mufti Department for review. He said an investigation into the

Shahzihan Ahmad said the suspects, two men and four women aged between 26 and 47, were picked up in Shah Alam on July 18. He said investigations were opened under Sections 7 (false doctrine), 8 (false claims), 10 (insulting Islam) and 16 (unauthorised religious publications) of the Syariah Criminal Offences

into the state from Kalimantan. Earlier this week, Sarawak officially declared a red alert for haze and forest fires. – By Joseph Peter