Latest news with #BENJAMINLEE
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Orang Asli villagers bridge gap to kids' studies
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, and ORANG Asli villagers from Pos Balar in Gua Musang, Kelantan, have taken it upon themselves to build a temporary bridge to cross the torrential Sungai Balar as school holidays draw to an end, reported Berita Harian. The new bridge, made out of wood, was built with a team of 57 villagers with the primary goal of enabling their kids and teachers from the nearby villages to attend the nearby SK Balar across the river with the first term holidays ending on June 9. Orang Asli Village Development and Safety Committee chairman Hanan Anjang said the temporary bridge took nearly eight hours to complete and was the third one built at the exact crossing location. He said the bridge was a temporary measure as plans for a new permanent bridge have finally been announced to be in the works. 'We were informed that the construction of a new bridge will begin this month but while waiting for the new bridge to be completed, residents still need to cross the river to get to school. 'So, we rebuilt the temporary bridge for the third time to ease access for parents and teachers,' he said. Previously in March, a permanent steel suspension bridge crossing for the river was destroyed after heavy rains resulted in extremely strong currents that left Pos Balar villagers isolated. On June 1, the Orang Asli Development Department announced the construction of a new RM400,000 bridge for Pos Balar. > Actress Amira Othman has denied talks of her potential marriage to fellow actor Fattah Amin, Kosmo! reported. The 31-year-old singer said there were currently no wedding plans, despite appearing to have grown closer to Fattah in the eyes of their fans. 'There has been all kinds of speculation with some even saying I'd be getting married in May, but I was performing in Johor. So, it was all just playful teasing from my fans. 'There's nothing like that (getting married). 'If anything is really happening, I'll definitely share it,' she told the daily. Speculation began shortly following Fattah's divorce from Nur Fazura Sharifuddin in October last of the pair's close relationship only intensified after they were featured together in several high-profile brand campaigns, with social media photos of them together also going viral.
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Two teenagers apologise for torturing hamster
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, and TWO teenagers in Johor, who were seen in a video torturing a hamster, have apologised for their behaviour, China Press reported. The gave their word that they would not repeat such a misdeed. The boys, who are from a a lion and dragon dance troupe, said that they regretted their action. It was reported that the teenagers had filmed themselves dropping a hamster repeatedly on the ground and throwing it up in the air using a ping pong paddle. They also put the hamster in a PVC pipe before blowing it out like a blowdart. Throughout the video, the teenagers could be seen laughing at their own antics. The video sparked an uproar on social media. Many netizens called for the boys to be removed from the lion and dragon dance troupe. > Sin Chew Daily ran a report quoting the United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) as saying that the perennial shortage of teachers in vernacular schools was due to the Chinese being uninterested in joining the teaching profession. Its chairman Cheah Lek Aee acknowledged that being a teacher was not easy, adding that many Chinese youth were put off by the sacrifices required. For example, he pointed out that teachers might have to accept postings to remote locations. As such, he said the educationist group would work closely with the government to address the issue which has persisted for decades. He noted that the Education Ministry had increased the placings for the Bachelor of Education programme specifically for Chinese vernacular schools from 784 in 2024 to 1,679 this year. With Jiao Zong's help in promoting the programme, the number of applicants rose from 4,311 last year to 6,296 this year. Cheah also urged the government to reinstate a holiday programme on teacher training. The programme was designed to allow temporary teachers to receive training during school holidays and become fully qualified teachers within a year. (The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Brothers killed over stolen livestock
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, and TWO brothers ended up dead after they were beaten up by a group of people who accused them of stealing goats and chickens, Malaysia Nanban reported. The attack happened when several men went looking for their lost cow at a village in Sivaganga district, located in India's Tamil Nadu state. Soon, they spotted two men inside one of the goat sheds in the village. The group confronted the two men who were later identified as Manikandan, 30, and his brother Vignesh, 24. It caused a commotion which brought several more villagers to the scene. Both brothers were brutally attacked. The unconscious brothers were sent to the hospital but they died from their injuries. Eventually, 13 people between the ages of 19 and 45 were arrested. Police said they are investigating whether the attack was motivated by prior animosity between the brothers and the villagers. The brothers were previously booked by the police in 2015 for involvement in a theft case. (The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
The Star
26-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Interfaith harmony shines at wedding hall
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN A TALE of religious unity has emerged from Pune, India, showcasing how different faiths can not only co-exist but truly thrive. A recent report by Malaysia Nanban detailed a remarkable event where a Muslim wedding generously made space for a Hindu ceremony, creating an unforgettable moment of shared joy. The incident unfolded in a hall in Pune in the state of Maharashtra. A Muslim couple were in the midst of their wedding ceremony inside the hall while a Hindu couple were celebrating their nuptials at the adjacent outdoor venue. Suddenly, the clear skies gave way to a relentless downpour. As the rain showed no signs of stopping, the Hindu couple's family approached the Muslim family, seeking permission to use a portion of the indoor hall. Without hesitation, they readily agreed, inviting the Hindu couple to share the very same stage. This touching episode quickly went viral across Pune. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Brace your wallet for pricier dumpling this year
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN GLUTINOUS rice dumplings (bak chang) for the Dragon Boat Festival are expected to cost more as pork prices have skyrocketed after the African swine fever outbreak at local farms, Sin Chew Daily reported. The meat is a key ingredient in the traditional Chinese delicacy, which is enjoyed during the festival taking place this Saturday. Su Shu Ling, a vendor of bihun at a wet market in Alor Star, has announced an increase in the price of dumpling from RM7 to RM7.50 this year. 'I'm selling bak chang on behalf of a friend. The cost of her ingredients has risen. So she has no choice but to increase the prices as well,' she said. Another seller, Liu Jin Mei, has chosen to absorb the rising costs, explaining that she is able to do so because she makes the dumplings herself. 'My customers tell me that they have seen black glutinous rice dumplings being sold at RM10. I am keeping my price at RM9, just as I did last year,' she said. > A seven-year-old boy nearly died during his birthday party after an uninflated balloon became lodged in his airway, China Press reported. He had choked on the balloon, according to his mother, Nurul Huda Zulkhairi, who recounted the ordeal on social media. She said that an aunt had noticed that the boy was having breathing difficulties just before he lost consciousness. When CPR failed to revive him, he was rushed to Hospital Kulim, where doctors discovered the balloon. 'The doctor removed the obstruction and performed CPR,' she said, adding that her son is now in stable condition. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
