Latest news with #Bumiputra
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
‘Langadon Zone' plots still available and affordable
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Leon (left) with winners of the Little Precious 2025 children's pageant competition and event organising chairperson Mimi Chan (right), as well as Nirvana's staff and judges. PENAMPANG: The Asia's largest integrated bereavement care provider, Nirvana Memorial Park Sabah in Tuaran which launched its first product 'Langadon Zone' in 2023–burial plots for non-Muslim Bumiputra communities, is still available and affordable. Its Sales and Marketing Manager Leon Pui Shan Khen said the company allocated 112 burial plots for the Langadon Zone and 49 burial plots have been taken up, so far, which left with 63 plots. He said the company has chosen a beautiful area of burial plots for the non-Muslim Bumiputra under Langadon Zone, in the Nirvana Memorial Park. 'Nirvana has introduced a dedicated burial zone called Langadon, a Kadazan Dusun word meaning 'I Miss You' (La nga don oku dika) and more meaningful to remember beautiful memories of the ancestors and beloved family members. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Maintenance culture lacking in Sabah
Published on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 21, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: At the podcast session: (From left) Adi, Rizal, Amarjit and Haffisz. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's only remaining pre-war structures, namely the Tourism Sabah Office and Atkinson Clock Tower bear evidence to the importance of meritocracy and maintenance culture. Nowadays, it is considered good if a modern concrete building can last 50 years. Architect Rizal Ahmad Banjar shared this opinion at a recent NGO Sabar – Kopitiam Council 'Sabah Voices to Action' Episode 6 podcast hosted by talk show stars Adi and Haffisz on 'Infrastructure & Housing: From the Eyes of the Professionals. Rizal said as a professional, this has concerned him very much. Other than adhering to good building standards, a good culture of maintenance is vital for Sabah to ensure that the lifespan of a building can last long. He cited the many great cathedrals of Europe that have lasted for a few centuries as what good and proper maintenance could ensure. 'That's the irony of constructing a building. In Europe, there are cathedrals that can last hundreds of years. Now with all our technology, with all our skills, with all our knowhow, if the building can last for 50 years, it can be considered good. Advertisement 'Planning must involve long-term implementation up to 100 years if possible, to last up to our grandchildren's generation with good and proper maintenance. So that they, our future generations, don't have to spend millions for repairs. 'We should not waste or take up the future of our next generations,' Ar Rizal said. Water industry expert Datuk Ir Ts Dr Amarjit Singh cited the Taj Mahal that lasted hundreds of years in India. He attributed it to master craftsmen who were specialists in their fields of building expertise compared to the situation now that any privileged person who can be a jack of all trades can also pass off as a building contractor, with no qualms to cut corners. Podcast host Haffisz brought up the issue of the 'Alibaba' system with the main contractor getting the bulk of the contract sum, while appointing subcontractors to do the actual work getting the least payment and how to end such dishonest practices. Ar Rizal and Dr Amarjit said it is vital to practise meritocracy in getting the right people in a merit-approach system to do the works responsibly. 'I am a Bumiputra myself. This policy has been manipulated and abused to the extent it has become a commission thing. 'From my experience we know who is doing the work. They are the last ones to get the money. They receive the least money. Sometimes they don't receive at all. That's the worst.' Datuk Ir Ts Dr Amarjit Singh: 'The big companies get the jobs, and still they will get subcontractors to do the work. Why don't the Government instead give it directly to the subcontractor level. 'When the Bumiputra ideology came it slowly diminished the opportunities for others, non-Bumiputras. We call ourselves Malaysians, but are we actually equally treated? That's another question.' Dr Amarjit said the contractors doing water treatment plants and other projects were largely the non-Bumiputras and some Westerners. Ar Rizal said most main contractors have not been helpful in preventing delays and the need for extension of time after marking up the subcontractors' contract sum, sometimes by 30 per cent. The subcontractors don't mark up their prices if awarded directly. He said if the system is reversed, 'You are in a win-win situation, you get good works and completion in time. 'What the subcontractors don't have is the so called Bumiputra status, the so-called connections and so-called licensing. 'What we want is their specialist skills with a priority to complete the project. Ar Rizal said having supervised thousands of big and small projects, all faced delays. He is a local Bumiputra and believes Bumiputras should be helped. However, there should be merit in ensuring that the right and qualified people get to do the work. Ar Rizal suggested that project works be awarded to the people who actually do the job whereby the subcontractors be given the job with the appropriate contract sum. 'I am sure you have noticed that students after they have finished SPM or STPM. The Nons don't have many opportunities to get either scholarship or go for matriculations to further their studies.' He hoped that in Malaysia, things are changing for the better with the younger generations. 'Infrastructure development involves maintenance. You can build the best infrastructure, but if you do not maintain it, the infrastructure will deteriorate over time.' Sabah has to produce more professionals in the fields that the State plans to excel in, Dr Amarjit said. Planning is one matter and implementation is another vital factor. 'We need to have the right people doing the right things as in meritocracy,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabak Bernam company's songkok recycling programme helps with sustainability, preserving heritage
Driven by a passion for environmental sustainability and cultural preservation, a Sabak Bernam entrepreneur has introduced the concept of recycling old and damaged songkok (traditional Malay headwear). Mohd Hafzan Sardi, 37, founder of the Songkok Malaya brand that specialises in traditional songkok making, first introduced the concept with a two-month campaign last October. To his surpise, it received overwhelming support from the public. 'I was inspired to start this recycling campaign through my work in water resource management, particularly in river conservation and preservation campaigns in Selangor. 'That indirectly taught me about optimising resources,' said the former engineer. 'For example, cardboard and newspapers used as base materials in songkok making are not simply discarded. 'We can sort and turn them into compost or collect them with other materials before sending them to recycling centres,' he told Bernama. The initiative, promoted by the brand on social media, led to the collection of nearly 200 old and damaged songkok. Customers who exchanged their used headwear then received discounts on new ones. 'The market price for our premium traditional songkok, which is made entirely from fabric, ranges between RM50 and RM90, depending on the size. 'For children, the price is RM35,' said Mohd Hafzan. A Songkok Malaya worker attaches velvet fabric to the top section of a songkok as part of the production process. 'However, when customers exchange their old, worn-out or damaged songkok of any brand with ours, we offer our songkok from as low as RM25, while children's songkok are priced at RM12.90. 'The price also varies based on the type and design chosen.' Encouraged by the strong public response, Mohd Hafzan has planned to run a second round of the campaign this November, although manpower constraints would be a challenge. The company currently has five staff, including two tailors. Reflecting on his journey in business as the chief executive officer for Malaya Revolution Sdn Bhd, Mohd Hafzan said his participation in innovation competitions while working at a Selangor water-related agency inspired him to develop a durable and washable songkok. 'Traditionally, a songkok is made from cardboard or newspaper, which can be easily damaged when washed. 'However, through continuous research from 2018 to 2020, we replaced these materials with a more flexible fabric, that makes our songkok machine-washable without losing the shape. 'After that, I began selling on a small scale. 'In 2021, I joined the Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Startup Scheme under the Bumiputra Agenda Steering Unit, where I was fortunate to receive a RM500,000 grant, which became a turning point in expanding my business.' Today, Songkok Malaya produces several products, including traditional ones inspired by designs from Johor and Brunei, as well as custom-made ones. The brand has branches in Shah Alam, Selangor, as well as Marang, Terengganu, and distributes songkok all over the country. It also supplies products like traditional Malay attire accessories such as brooches, tanjak (traditional Malay headdress) and samping (waistcloth) for cultural events and festive occasions. The brand received several accolades including the Malaysia Design Award 2023, the Selangor Innovation Award 2022 and a gold medal at the International Innovation and Invention Competition through Exhibition 2022. Songkok Malaya was also selected for the Graduate Entrepreneur Advanced Programme under the Selangor State Development Corporation, a nine-month mentorship initiative that began last month. Mohd Hafzan expressed hoped more youths would step up to preserve heritage through innovation and keep traditional crafts alive.
