Latest news with #AbdulHalim
Yomiuri Shimbun
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Indians Battle Respiratory Issues in World's Most Polluted Town
Reuters Garbage is burnt at a dump alongside a road. Photos were taken in the town of Byrnihat, India, on March 28 and 29. BYRNIHAT, India (Reuters) — Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, a resident of India's Byrnihat town, which is ranked the world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, was battling breathing problems for several days before she was hospitalized in March and given oxygen support. She is among many residents of the industrial town on the border of the northeastern Assam and Meghalaya states — otherwise known for their lush, natural beauty — afflicted by illnesses that doctors say are likely linked to high exposure to pollution. Byrnihat's annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 was 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter, according to IQAir, over 25 times the level recommended by the WHO. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter that can be carried into the lungs, causing deadly diseases and cardiac problems. 'It was very scary, she was breathing like a fish,' said Abdul Halim, Ansari's father, who brought her home from the hospital after two days. According to government data, the number of respiratory infection cases in the region rose to 3,681 in 2024 from 2,082 in 2022. 'Ninety percent of the patients we see daily come either with a cough or other respiratory issues,' said Dr. J Marak of Byrnihat Primary Healthcare Centre. Reuters Smoke is released from a chimney of a factory. Residents say the toxic air also causes skin rashes and eye irritation, damages crops and restricts routine tasks like drying laundry outdoors. 'Everything is covered with dust or soot,' said farmer Dildar Hussain. Critics say Byrnihat's situation reflects a broader trend of pollution plaguing not just India's cities, including the capital Delhi, but also its smaller towns as breakneck industrialization erodes environmental safeguards. Unlike other parts of the country that face pollution every winter, however, Byrnihat's air quality remains poor through the year, government data indicates. Home to about 80 industries — many of them highly polluting — experts say the problem is exacerbated in the town by other factors like emissions from heavy vehicles, and its 'bowl-shaped topography.' Reuters A cabbage leaf destroyed by soot and dust emitted from factories 'Sandwiched between the hilly terrain of Meghalaya and the plains of Assam, there is no room for pollutants to disperse,' said Arup Kumar Misra, chairman of Assam's pollution control board. The town's location has also made a solution tougher, with the states shifting blame to each other, said a Meghalaya government official who did not want to be named. Since the release of IQAir's report in March, however, Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to form a joint committee and work together to combat Byrnihat's pollution.
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Teaching Sign Language Through Music
M any people may assume that sign language is exclusively for the hearing-impaired and those within that community, and therefore see no need to learn it, especially since the hand gestures used in communication can appear somewhat complex. However, efforts by some local singers to include sign language in their music videos have, to a certain extent, succeeded in popularising it. Among the trending music videos featuring sign language were those by local singer Mimifly, whose real name is Shamimi Amalina Norhisham. She featured hand gestures as part of the choreography for her songs 'Serumpun' and 'Angkat' released this year and last year respectively. Both videos gained widespread attention, particularly on TikTok, as many users took on the challenge of dancing to the rhythm and lyrics, sharing their own videos on the social media platform. Mimifly said her decision to feature sign language in her music videos was to connect with the hearing-impaired community. Previously, Nur Nabila Mohd Razali, better known as Nabila Razali, also drew attention when she translated her festive song 'Raya Mana' into sign language. The singer revealed she learned sign language from YouTube. EDUCATING THROUGH SONG Educator Abdul Halim Mohd Nasa is also doing his part to raise awareness about sign language to foster a more inclusive environment for the deaf community. This special education teacher for hearing-impaired students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Ampuan Durah in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, has adopted a creative approach by translating song lyrics into sign language and sharing them on his TikTok account, @Alimzsensei, which quickly captured the attention of his followers. Abdul Halim, who became active on TikTok in 2022, has been featuring popular and trending songs in his content, performing lip-syncs synchronised with hand gestures and facial expressions. Among the songs he has covered are 'Salam Terakhir' (Sudirman), 'Hening Rindu' (Marsha Milan) and 'Angkat' (Mimifly). The videos he uploads regularly garner tens of thousands of views, earning a spot on the platform's For You Page (FYP). 'Most of the songs are requests from TikTok followers and I simply fulfill them to help people learn basic sign language through my video content,' said Abdul Halim, who now has over 27,000 followers on TikTok. 'I originally made TikTok videos about pastries, then one of my students asked me to do a singing video... then came (the idea of) teaching sign language through singing and songs. 'At the time, my only intention was to create awareness so that more people would learn and communicate in sign language. For me, this approach is easier because while entertaining, we are also educating.' Abdul Halim said he is also happy to note that society is now more open and willing to learn sign language. 'As an educator for students with special needs (hearing impairment), I am pleased when individuals, including artistes, help elevate and empower sign language, which indirectly acknowledges the presence of the deaf community in society. 'This is also a positive sign as we are encouraging more people to learn sign language, which I believe is essential when interacting with the hearing-impaired,' he told Bernama. Abdul Halim, who has been teaching students with special needs for the last 15 years, said at first, he only had a basic knowledge of sign language before taking the initiative to learn it himself from students and other teachers, as well as by joining short courses organised by various parties, including the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf. ENHANCE INTERACTION Meanwhile, head of the Special Education Programme at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr Mohd Norazmi Nordin said sign language is a visual language or form of communication that emphasises the use of hands, facial expressions and body movements to convey messages. He said by understanding sign language, members of the public can communicate more effectively with the deaf and mute community, which in turn helps foster empathy and improve social interaction, thus making it easier for the hearing-impaired to carry out their daily tasks. He also explained that the sign language used within the community is not just a set of ordinary 'gestures' but one with its own grammar structure, just like spoken languages. In this country, Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) is recognised as the principal language of the deaf community and it was developed based on the structure of Bahasa Melayu, while also possessing its own unique visual and linguistic features. 'In the school education system, we also use the Bahasa Melayu Hand Code (KTBM), which is more structured in terms of syntax and morphology. Both structures play distinct and important roles in communication and the language learning process of students with hearing disabilities. 'An understanding of the linguistic aspects of sign language should also be emphasised so that society does not underestimate its use,' he said. Mohd Norazmi said sign language should be more widely used across all official communication channels, including print and electronic media. He added that the initiatives by RTM and Bernama TV to feature sign language interpreters in news broadcasts should be emulated by other television stations. 'The deaf community also has the right to access information just like everyone else. We need to move toward truly disability-friendly broadcasting. 'By expanding the use of sign language interpreters in mass media, we are not only granting access to the hearing-impaired community but also educating other viewers on the need for inclusive communication. This will raise general awareness that every citizen, regardless of ability, deserves equal opportunities to receive information and news,' he said. ACCEPTANCE Mohd Norazmi added that the presence of sign language interpreters on television also provides direct exposure to millions of viewers, allowing them to learn sign language as well. This effort, he said, is a strategic step toward mainstreaming sign language, which should not be viewed solely as a communication tool but also as a valuable professional skill. 'There could be even more exciting initiatives in the future, such as having well-known sign language interpreters, possibly from among celebrities, which would not only create new career opportunities but also elevate the status of sign language itself,' he said. Mohd Norazmi said although sign language has gained wider acceptance in society, many still do not truly understand it as appreciation of the language as well as its use as a medium of communication remain limited. 'There needs to be more exposure and training at various levels. Many parties have begun to take the initiative by organising workshops, courses and digital content to introduce sign language to the public. 'However, these efforts need to be supported more comprehensively, including through government policies, educational institutions and the media,' he said. -- BERNAMA
Borneo Post
09-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Immigration Dept raids construction sites in Kuching, nets 25 illegal immigrants
Abdul Halim oversees the enforcement operation in Kuching. – Immigration Department photo KUCHING (May 9): A Sarawak Immigration Department enforcement operation at two construction sites here in the wee hours of this morning saw 25 illegal immigrants detained. The operation starting 1am was carried out based on intelligence gathered by the department's Special Task Force (PTK). Sarawak Immigration director Abdul Halim Abang Naili said the offences detected included the absence of valid travel documents, overstaying, and misuse of social visit passes. 'All those detained have been taken to the Immigration Detention Depot for further action under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963,' he said in a statement. He said preliminary intelligence revealed that the construction sites were hotspots for foreigners suspected of working illegally. 'During the raid, a total of 46 individuals were inspected, comprising 39 men and seven women, all of whom were foreign nationals. 'Of these, 25 individuals, 21 men and four women were arrested. All are Indonesian nationals,' he said. The operation led by the PTK unit in collaboration with the Operations Unit, involved 51 personnel. Abdul Halim also called on the public and employers to continue cooperating with the authorities to ensure immigration laws are upheld and to report any activities involving illegal immigrants to the nearest authorities.
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Firm fined after failing to compensate employee for permanent incapacity within 21 days
ST has reached out to MOM to find out if the firm has given the employee the compensation. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Firm fined after failing to compensate employee for permanent incapacity within 21 days SINGAPORE – A freight forwarding company has been fined after it failed to pay one of its employees, who had suffered permanent incapa city, a compensation of more than $98,000 within a stipulated time of 21 days. On May 8, AIS Global Forwarders was convicted of an offence under the Work Injury Compensation Act and was fined $9,000. Ministry of Manpower (MOM) prosecutor Justin Thia told the court that the company had earlier instructed the employee, Mr Abdul Halim Mokhtar to carry an exercise machine from a flat in Shelford Road, near Dunearn Road, on Jan 6, 2022. Mr Abdul Halim suffered permanent incapacity after the handle of the machine struck his forehead, causing an injury. Details about the injury and his current condition were not disclosed in court documents. Investigations revealed that on Jan 6, 2022, AIS Global Forwarders did not have a valid work injury compensation insurance policy to cover him for the head injury. A notice of assessment of compensation was served on the firm on July 17, 2023, requiring it to pay Mr Abdul Halim the compensation within 21 days of the date of the notice. A certificate of order dated Aug 16, 2023, was later made under the Act and served on AIS Global Forwarders that same day. According to the order, the firm had to pay Mr Abdul Halim the compensation sum of over $98,000 within 21 days of the service date of the order, Aug 16, 2023. However, AIS Global Forwarders failed to pay any part of the amount by Sept 6 that year, and it was later charged in court in 2024. The Straits Times has reached out to MOM to find out if the firm has given Mr Abdul Halim the compensation. Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times' court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Indians battle respiratory issues, skin rashes in world's most polluted town
Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, a resident of India's Byrnihat town, ranked the world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, was battling breathing problems for several days before she was hospitalised in March and given oxygen support. She is among many residents of the industrial town on the border of the northeastern Assam and Meghalaya states - otherwise known for their lush, natural beauty - inflicted by illnesses that doctors say are likely linked to high exposure to pollution. Byrnihat's annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 was 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter, according to IQAir, over 25-times the level recommended by the WHO. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter that can be carried into the lungs, causing deadly diseases and cardiac problems. 'It was very scary, she was breathing like a fish,' said Abdul Halim, Ansari's father, who brought her home from hospital after two days. According to government data, the number of respiratory infection cases in the region rose to 3,681 in 2024 from 2,082 in 2022. 'Ninety percent of the patients we see daily come either with a cough or other respiratory issues,' said Dr. J Marak of Byrnihat Primary Healthcare Centre. Residents say the toxic air also causes skin rashes and eye irritation, damages crops, and restricts routine tasks like drying laundry outdoors. 'Everything is covered with dust or soot,' said farmer Dildar Hussain. ritics say Byrnihat's situation reflects a broader trend of pollution plaguing not just India's cities, including the capital Delhi, but also its smaller towns as breakneck industrialisation erodes environmental safeguards. Unlike other parts of the country that face pollution every winter, however, Byrnihat's air quality remains poor through the year, government data indicates. Home to about 80 industries - many of them highly polluting - experts say the problem is exacerbated in the town by other factors like emissions from heavy vehicles, and its 'bowl-shaped topography'. 'Sandwiched between the hilly terrain of Meghalaya and the plains of Assam, there is no room for pollutants to disperse,' said Arup Kumar Misra, chairman of Assam's pollution control board. The town's location has also made a solution tougher, with the states shifting blame to each other, said a Meghalaya government official who did not want to be named. Since the release of IQAir's report in March, however, Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to form a joint committee and work together to combat Byrnihat's pollution.
