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Free Malaysia Today
27 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Merdeka-themed cakes a sweet way to promote patriotism
Cakes featuring the national flag and other symbols are a sweet and creative way to share the spirit of Merdeka Day. (Bernama pic) MELAKA : As Merdeka Day approaches, Malaysians – especially those with a flair for the culinary arts – are showing their patriotism in sweet and creative ways. Patriotic cakes have emerged not merely as desserts but as edible expressions of national pride: beneath layers of fondant and cream lie hope and love for the country. For baker and entrepreneur Hilaliyah Mohamed Hanif, 50, creating patriotic cakes is about more than just fulfilling customer requests. 'The patriotic spirit naturally seeps in,' she told Bernama. 'Over the past 16 years, I have made more than 10 patriotic-themed cakes for Merdeka Day, including a savoury one made of pulut kuning (turmeric-infused glutinous rice).' Her designs are often inspired by cultural elements such as songket patterns, wau, hibiscus, traditional 'tanjak' headgear, and iconic landmarks in Malaysia. 'These symbols may be familiar, but on cakes, they evoke a deep sense of pride – both in the maker and the person enjoying it,' she said. Among her most memorable works was a cake shaped like a book, created for Teacher's Day in 2015 and inspired by the poem 'Guru Oh Guru' by national laureate Usman Awang. 'Although it wasn't for Merdeka, it carried strong patriotic value by honouring educators. It shows national pride can be expressed in many forms,' Hilaliyah added. Hotel pastry chef Muzaffar Shah Yusoff showing off Jalur Gemilang-themed cupcakes. (Bernama pics) The trend is also gaining traction in the hospitality sector, with one hotel here offering Jalur Gemilang-themed cupcakes to boost the Merdeka spirit among guests. According to head pastry chef Muzaffar Shah Yusoff, 51, cake-making has become a creative medium that connects people with national identity and values. 'Our cupcakes are visually appealing and carry a message that patriotism can be expressed in light-hearted and creative ways,' he shared. Muzaffar, who has created large-scale patriotic cakes including a 3m-by-1.5m version featuring national elements, said such projects require meticulous preparation. 'It is challenging, but the reward comes when guests are moved. It motivates us to keep creating cakes that embody the patriotic spirit and tell stories of our history, culture and the Malaysian spirit,' he concluded.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
M'sian calls out RM1k rent listing for bare single-storey house
RENTING a home is becoming increasingly difficult for many Malaysians, particularly in high-demand states like Johor. A recent Threads post by a concerned woman has sparked heated discussions online after she highlighted a steep rental rate for a basic housing unit in the state. 'Living in Johor is getting harder with rental rates that do not make any sense,' she wrote in her post. A screenshot of a Facebook post attached to her post showed a bare, unfurnished single-storey unit allegedly being rented out for a staggering RM1,000. She claimed that the unit was located in the city centre, hence the exorbitant rental rate. In the comments section of the screenshot, one user suggested that the landlord could be targeting Malaysians working in Singapore — perhaps those not earning high salaries — but pointed out that even for that demographic, the rent was not considered affordable. The situation has ignited broader concerns over affordability, especially for locals earning in Malaysian Ringgit, as rental prices appear to be inflated by demand from Singaporean workers and landlords aiming at tenants with stronger currencies. 'I don't think people who work in Singapore would choose such run-down houses, right? If they're already paying a high price, they might as well get a bigger, nicer house. Even if it's a bit further from Johor Bahru, it's fine — many of them are used to commuting anyway,' one commenter pointed out. Another user noted that the cost of living in the state is even higher than in Kuala Lumpur, with the most expensive water tariffs in Malaysia — largely due to Singaporeans and Malaysians earning in Singapore dollars (SGD), who are willing to pay as long as it is still cheaper than prices on the island. 'There are landlords dreaming of renting out flats — yes, flats with no lift and not even on the ground floor — asking for RM1,000 or even RM1,100 in rent. I don't know... it just feels like a scam, because other similar units aren't even close to RM1,000,' one user shared. 'I saw on Facebook — the house looks like it's about to collapse, yet they're asking RM1,300 for it. A flat on the fourth floor. Then I read the location — it's in Stulang,' another user claimed.


Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
US demand for RVs driving deforestation in Indonesia's Borneo, say NGOs
JAKARTA, Aug 21 — Tropical wood demand from some of America's top RV brands is fuelling deforestation on the Indonesian island of Borneo, home to Asia's last great rainforest, according to a new investigation by environmental NGOs. The recreational vehicle industry is now the biggest consumer of tropical wood in the United States, UK-based NGO Earthsight and Indonesian NGO Auriga Nusantara said in a report published late Tuesday. They said evidence showed sheets of tropical 'lauan' plywood found in Indonesia were likely being used in the floors, walls and ceilings of RVs produced by major brands like Jayco, Winnebago and Forest River. 'Nature-loving RV owners will be horrified to learn that their hobby risks destroying rainforests,' said Earthsight director Sam Lawson in a press release. 'America's RV giants need to get out of the 1980s and implement the kinds of minimum sustainability standards other US corporates have had in place for decades.' Indonesia has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation linked to mining, farming and logging, and is accused of allowing firms to operate in Borneo with little oversight. Borneo island has one of the world's largest tracts of rainforest and hosts orangutans, long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet. Large tracts of orangutan habitat in Borneo were found to be 'cleared to make way for a plantation of fast-growing timber', the NGOs said. An Indonesian plywood company, PT Kayu Lapis Asli Murni, sourced timber mostly from rainforest in areas the NGOs visited, half of which was then exported to US firms MJB Wood and Tumac Lumber in 2024, they said. MJB Wood is the main lauan plywood supplier to Jayco, while Tumac Lumber supplies companies such as RV parts maker Patrick Industries, 'whose customers include Thor Industries, Forest River and Winnebago', the report said. The NGOs said it meant it was 'almost certain' Indonesian tropical wood was being used in the RV supply chain in the United States. None of the companies mentioned replied to the report's authors when asked for comment, it said. Neither the companies nor the Indonesian environment ministry immediately responded to an AFP request for comment. — AFP