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The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
A landmark celebration of faith and community
Strong foundation: Congregants marking the 130th anniversary of St Mark's Church in Butterworth. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star BUTTERWORTH: For university student Joel Cephasraj Harris, St Mark's Church is more than a place of worship – it is part of his family's story. The 20-year-old said the church has been central to three generations, from his grandfather to his father and now himself. 'Practically my whole family worshipped here, from my grandfather to my generation,' he said during the church's 130th anniversary celebration yesterday. Joel, who has volunteered there for several years, described the church as a melting pot of English, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil speakers. 'It goes beyond religion – it's about shaping people into better individuals and strengthening the community,' he said. Engineer S. Prabakaran brought his wife and two children from Seberang Jaya for the occasion. 'It's a proud day for us. The church has evolved into more than just a religious institution – it's where the community comes together,' said the 44-year-old. Prabakaran said he took advantage of the weekend holiday to bring his family to join the anniversary celebration. 'It's not every day you get to witness a 130-year celebration. I wanted my children to see and appreciate the church's history and the role it plays in our lives,' he said, adding that he also met up with his friends there. His wife, K. Kavitha, 40, said it is heartening to see people of all ages sharing stories and celebrating a place that has stood the test of time. Even non-members joined in the celebration such as Butterworth resident Eduard Lim, 25, who came to support friends and neighbours. 'I've always admired how the church opens its doors to everyone, regardless of background. It's part of what makes this community special,' he said. Lim added that the event is also a chance to appreciate the church's history, noting that such heritage buildings are rare and should be preserved for future generations. Yesterday's celebration drew hundreds of congregants and community members who came together to mark the anniversary with prayers, hymns and cultural performances. The event also offered a variety of community services, including free dental check-ups provided by the Health Ministry, medical screenings by Polyclinic Bagan, blood pressure and glucose tests, eye examinations and a blood donation drive by Hospital Baling. Children were treated to games and activities, adding a festive atmosphere to the occasion. Anglican Churches' Bishop of the Diocese of West Malaysia Rev Canon Dr D. Steven Abbarow led the service. The church also launched a fundraising drive for RM180,000 to buy a new van for its children's ministry, replacing a 20-year-old vehicle. Vicar Rev Anthony Jude said the van is essential for transporting Sunday school students. 'Our existing van is becoming too costly to maintain,' he said. The church also set a target of raising between RM30,000 and RM40,000 yesterday. Present during the anniversary celebration were Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran, Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen and senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam. Founded in 1893 by Rev Hubert C. Henham, the Church of St Mark the Evangelist began as a wooden chapel seating 70 and was completed in 1894 on a government-granted land along Jalan Bagan Luar. It was consecrated in January 1895. In 1929, the church moved to a larger site to serve a growing congregation, and the brick building consecrated that year gave Jalan St Mark its name. Today, the church stands in a Butterworth enclave known as a 'street of harmony', near Hindu and Buddhist temples and a Gurdwara, reflecting the town's interfaith heritage. St Mark's remains under the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia, holding services in English and Tamil.
The Star
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Buckle up even in buses
All seated: While buses are structurally safer than cars because of their size and construction, the lack of seat belt use can turn even a minor collision into in a major incident. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star PETALING JAYA: You're a passenger in a bus moving at a speed of between 40kph and 60kph. Suddenly, the driver hits the brakes. If you're not wearing a seat belt, the impact could be dire. And if the bus was speeding at about 120kph, it could well be fatal. 'At more than 80kph, unrestrained passengers face extreme danger,' says road safety expert Assoc Prof Law Teik Hua. 'A survivable crash for passengers (who fastened their seat belts) can be deadly for those unbuckled. 'The risk rises sharply above 60kph, with high fatality likelihood in rollovers or ejections. 'Even a stop at moderate speeds can generate enough force to throw unbuckled passengers forward, leading to head injuries or collision with seats, windows or other passengers.' Law, who heads the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Engineering Faculty, said low speed collisions could also see unrestrained passengers suffering from whiplash, neck strains and even spinal injuries. Low-speed collisions, he said, are those at speeds of 20kph and 40kph. In major collisions and rollovers, Law said seat belts can prevent the passenger from being thrown around, which is one of the main causes of death in such crashes. 'Seat belts are important in keeping bus passengers safe, just like in private cars. 'Buses are structurally safer because of their size and construction, but the lack of seat belt use can turn even a minor collision into in a major incident. He said a complete strategy – comprising vehicle safety standards, driver training and public awareness – is important when it comes to safety in buses. Buses must meet United Nations Regulations No. 66 and No. 107 standards, which subject them to structural integrity and rollover resistance tests. 'Periodic inspection of brakes, tyres and suspension systems are a must. 'Defensive driving and fatigue management training can minimise human error. 'Speed limiters, Global Positioning Systems monitoring and dashcams are also technologies that can monitor and deter reckless driving,' he said. Law said public address systems, display boards and targeted social media campaigns can enhance knowledge and awareness on seat belt usage. He said enforcement measures by the Road Transport Department are a step in the right direction, adding that pairing fines with public education campaigns like crash simulation demos may enhance compliance. 'Express and school buses that tend to travel at higher speeds must be prioritised in seat belt enforcement. 'Repeat offenders, be it drivers or operators, must be hit with harsher penalties, including license suspension or fleet limitations,' he said. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Dr Nurrul Hafeezah Sahak called for a national reporting database where bus passengers could provide feedback on safety concerns such as driver behaviour. 'The feedback can then be submitted to the authorities to enable timely monitoring, investigation and corrective action,' said Nurrul Hafeezah, who is with the university's Faculty of Science and Technology. She said seatbelt use can reduce the risk of injuries by at least 50% in the event of an road crash. 'Even when passengers wear seatbelts, the effectiveness depends on proper usage,' Nurrul Hafeezah said. She said Malaysians should exercise the same amount of caution and awareness towards road crashes as they did with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Star
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
RM7.2mil work underway to strengthen Air Itam dam
Air Itam dam upgrades expected to be completed by October 2026. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star Air Itam Dam is undergoing a RM7.2mil upgrade to ensure its structure and the surrounding areas are in good condition. Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the upgrading project followed inspections by the High Risk Dam Safety Inspection Task Force under Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry. 'The ministry through the water supply division appointed consultants to carry out repair works at the Air Itam dam. 'The objective is to ensure that the dam structure and surrounding areas are in good and safe condition. 'Using computer software, modelling and on-site tests, the consultants identified the extent of dam safety issues which might not be detected by visual inspection. 'This was done before consultants proposed the current repair works to ensure the dam's structure is stable.' Zairil said the project began on April 29 and was expected to be completed by Oct 28, 2026. 'The RM7.2mil cost was approved under the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan in 2023,' he said. 'The project is being carried out by the Water Supply Department under Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry.' Zairil said the scope of the work included slope and abutment stabilisation (techniques to prevent or mitigate slope failures, landslides and erosion). Contractors also installed gabions and piling works, and undertook soil nailing work, construction of a surface drain and installation of an erosion control mat, he said. 'Repairs will be carried out on the spillway and tunnel structures as well. 'Dam monitoring systems will also be upgraded and repaired.' Inspections, Zairil said, would be carried out on existing instruments such as the standpipe piezometer, seepage measuring weir and surface movement indicator and deflection point. 'New monitoring systems will be installed, including a central base station, monitoring software and inclinometer.' The dam is an important component of Penang's water supply infrastructure, with its storage capacity tapped to sustain continuous supply in the Air Itam township and nearby highland areas. Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said as of noon Monday, the dam's effective capacity stood at 55.2%. He said given the dry spell, the dam could supply water for over 50 days at the current usage of 261 litres per person per day. — By N. TRISHA
The Star
26-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
Keep a safe distance to let langurs thrive, says expert
Vanishing wildlife: The dusky leaf monkey, also known as the spectacled langur or the spectacled leaf monkey, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Although they are now becoming a common sight on rooftops and in gardens, the majestic dusky langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus) are at risk of going extinct if nothing is done to protect their natural habitat. Langur Project Penang (LPP) founder Dr Yap Jo Leen said the primates are now classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. She said although dusky langurs have been spotted in and around the forested and residential fringes of northern Penang Island, this does not indicate a growing population. 'With urbanisation, there are more sightings of dusky langurs and other wildlife in housing areas. 'But this only means they have ventured out of their natural habitats and may no longer be living in the forests. 'We need to raise awareness that they are an endangered species. 'It is important to conserve and protect them before our great-grandchildren lose the chance to see them,' she told The Star. Also known as the spectacled langur, the primates can be found across Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand where they inhabit tropical forests. Yap said the LPP has been working on conservation through science communication to protect dusky langurs and other wildlife. She stressed that it is best not to feed or interact with the primates. 'To safeguard the dusky langurs is to keep a safe distance and respect them. 'If you see them along hiking trails, just use a pair of binoculars or your phone to zoom in and observe them. Avoid any direct contact. 'Unfortunately, some people tend to feed them, which is a big no-no. 'They are not domestic animals. 'The best thing to do is let them find their own food and return to the forest afterwards. 'Urban dusky langurs that live around residential areas rely on plants in neighbourhood gardens or green spaces,' she said. Yap added that leftover food from feeding dusky langurs can draw in other animals, including crows and pigeons. 'It causes waste management issues, which then attract pests. 'This can lead to disease transmission – a negative cycle overall,' she said. LPP, a primate conservation enterprise, is a community science-based outreach and conservation project in Malaysia. The enterprise was behind the installations of two road canopy 'bridges' in Teluk Bahang (Ah Lai's crossing in 2019) and Tanjung Bungah (Numi's crossing in 2024), where treetop animals like the dusky langurs can safely cross busy roads. Yap said the bridges were part of a conservation strategy aimed at reducing human-monkey interaction and preventing monkey roadkill. 'The main purpose is to help them move away from residential areas, as the roads are too risky for them to cross. 'The crossing in Teluk Bahang, for example, is used by many species, including monkeys, reptiles and even birds that perch on it. 'We are installing another bridge in Batu Ferringhi, hopefully by the end of this year or early next year. 'This upcoming bridge will also serve as a tool for ethical and sustainable tourism, environmental education and conservation storytelling,' she said. In 2020, Yap was recognised as one of the 10 winners of the Star Golden Hearts Award, an annual award that celebrates the efforts of Malaysia's unsung heroes. Climate change, hotter weather and temperature fluctuations are other concerns for dusky langurs. 'Based on our research, we have observed changes in their foraging behaviour. 'During hot spells, it becomes harder for them to find water. In urban areas, they have adapted by seeking water from rooftops - such as small pools or drainage points. 'This shows their resilience and ability to adapt to changing environments. 'Dusky langurs work hard every day to meet their dietary and hydration needs. 'Sometimes, they must move beyond their usual range to search for more food, which makes them vulnerable, especially in fragmented habitats like residential areas,' she said.
The Star
24-07-2025
- The Star
Penang cops seize over 112kg of drugs, arrest four
Big haul: Police officials showing off the 112.1kg of cannabis seized during the drug bust. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: The reign of a drug syndicate came to an end after four months when police seized 112.1kg of cannabis and cannabis buds worth RM3.72mil. Four men, aged between 31 and 39, including a Vietnamese national, were arrested in an operation on the Penang mainland. Acting Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said two local men were nabbed in a hotel room and the third, believed to be the transporter, at the hotel lobby in Bukit Mertajam on Tuesday. A canvas bag containing 9.23kg of cannabis and 4.23kg of cannabis buds was seized during the 10am raid. He added that the transporter, who was paid between RM3,000 and RM4,000 for each delivery, had just completed two trips before his arrest. Further interrogation on the men led to the arrest of the Vietnamese national in the Seberang Jaya area at about 3am on Wednesday. 'The foreigner led us to a nearby homestay that had been used as a drug storage facility. Upon inspection, we found six bags containing 111 transparent packages of cannabis buds, weighing a total of 98.6kg. 'The drugs seized could have been used by up to 230,000 people,' he said in a press conference at the Penang contingent police headquarters here yesterday. DCP Mohd Alwi said the drugs were smuggled from a neighbouring country and intended for distribution in Penang and Kuala Lumpur via land routes. Three of the suspects tested positive for drugs and all four have been remanded for seven days for further investigation. 'During the raid, we also seized RM1,300 in cash and three vehicles valued at RM198,000,' he said.
