Latest news with #FederalTerritoriesDepartment
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Queen graces Borneo Flora Festival
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah (front, left) visiting the Borneo Flora Festival on Saturday.-Bernama photo LABUAN (July 26): The inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 drew a massive crowd of thousands eager to experience the vibrant showcase of tropical flora on Saturday. Held at the International Sea Sports Complex, the event, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', runs from 8 am to midnight for five days, until July 30. Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced and officiated at the event. Present were the wife of the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa; Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim; Kuala Lumpur City Hall Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib. A total of 31 exhibitors are participating in the festival, including those from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan, showcasing 12,000 ornamental plants with hundreds of tropical flower species from across the country. Exhibitors include the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), and local communities such as the Labuan Women Farmers Association and higher learning institutions. Free transport is provided at five pick-up points, while on-site facilities include a surau, information centre and food truck stalls. Over 1,000 volunteers wearing 'Ask Me' badges are available to assist visitors attending the event. The Queen arrived here on Saturday for a two-day official visit, her second to Malaysia's international business and financial centre. She was welcomed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abd Rahman and Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim, upon her arrival at the Labuan Airport at 11.27 am. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib and Labuan Police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim. Her Majesty is accompanied by the Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim. On Sunday, Her Majesty will open the Labuan Handicraft Gallery. Dr Zaliha said the inaugural event is more than just a vibrant showcase of tropical blooms and landscape artistry. It is part of a broader strategy under the MADANI Government's reform agenda to realign Labuan's development priorities and steer the island towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic future. Dr Zaliha said that the festival was designed not merely to add to Labuan's event calendar, but to serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation. 'Labuan recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of RM87,000 in 2024, the second highest in Malaysia…however, as I've often reiterated, this economic figure does not reflect the lived experiences of the people. 'The island's economic reliance on the oil and gas sector has waned compared to 10 to 15 years ago,' she said. Dr Zaliha said as part of the government's reformist approach, Labuan's development focus has been recalibrated and the outcome is already evident; Labuan's GDP per capita grew by 5.4 per cent in 2024, outpacing the national average. The island also recorded over one million visitors last year, a 15.7 per cent increase from the previous year, signalling the growing potential of its tourism industry. 'To capitalise on this momentum, we have, over the past year, intensified our focus on developing the tourism sector, which is more sustainable and closer to the people. The BFF is one of the key drivers of this strategic shift,' she said. The minister said the festival's impact is expected to go beyond tourism, generating local socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for the hotel, food, and small business sectors. 'We are targeting 50,000 visitors with an anticipated RM20 million in direct economic impact, while aiming to attract returning visitors in the long run,' she said. Dr Zaliha said beyond its local economic goals, BFF 2025 also champions regional collaboration under the theme of 'Strengthening Borneo Regional Cooperation.' The festival features 31 landscape exhibitors, including participants from the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, as well as neighbouring states Sabah and Sarawak, and international partners from Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan, Indonesia. 'This cross-border participation reflects our collective commitment to positioning Borneo as a new reference point for the development of the tropical landscape and horticulture industries in the region,' she said. She noted the festival conveys a message far beyond flowers and landscaping; it represents a collective readiness to enhance economic, cultural, and community networks across borders, fostering a complementary and resilient regional ecosystem. 'The diversity of this region is our strength. BFF 2025 will open new avenues for knowledge exchange, investment promotion, and regional trade integration in tourism, landscape, and horticulture sectors. It will also reinforce Malaysia's commitment to ASEAN goals and the BIMP-EAGA cooperation framework,' she added.-Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Thousands Attend Opening Of Borneo Flora Festival In Labuan
The inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 is more than just a vibrant showcase of tropical blooms and landscape artistry. Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa in her keynote speech at the official launching of the Borneo Flora Festival 2025 (BFF) today, emphasized the BFF was designed not merely to add to Labuans event calendar, but to serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation. LABUAN, July 26 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF), officially launched today, drew a massive crowd of thousands eager to experience the vibrant showcase of tropical flora. Held at the International Sea Sports Complex, the event, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', runs from 8 am to midnight for five days, until July 30. Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced and officiated at the event. Present were the wife of the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa; Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim; Kuala Lumpur City Hall Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib. A total of 31 exhibitors are participating in the festival, including those from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan, showcasing 12,000 ornamental plants with hundreds of tropical flower species from across the country. Exhibitors include the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), and local communities such as the Labuan Women Farmers Association and higher learning institutions. Free transport is provided at five pick-up points, while on-site facilities include a surau, information centre and food truck stalls. Over 1,000 volunteers wearing 'Ask Me' badges are available to assist visitors attending the event. --BERNAMA
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Queen begins two-day visit to Labuan
LABUAN: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, arrived here today for a two-day official visit, her second to Malaysia's international business and financial centre. Her Majesty was welcomed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abd Rahman and Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim, upon her arrival at the Labuan Airport at 11.27am. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib and Labuan Police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim. Her Majesty is accompanied by the Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim. The Queen is scheduled to grace the inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex today, followed by a royal dinner. Tomorrow, Her Majesty will open the Labuan Handicraft Gallery.
Barnama
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Urban Youths Should Be Agents Of Change In Tackling Climate Change
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Urban youths should lead the way in tackling climate change through proactive action rather than just understanding its impact, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. She said young people played an important role as agents of change who could bring about a significant impact on future sustainability. 'Every action you take, no matter how small, can have a greater impact than we expect. Don't waste this opportunity,' she said at the launch of the Federal Territories-level 2025 Climate Change and Green Energy Leadership Project (IKLIM) here today. Also present were Federal Territories Department deputy director-general (Management and Socio-Economics) Datuk Parang Abai @ Thomas and Federal Territories Department of Environment director Zuraini Ahmad Tajuddin. Dr Zaliha said programmes like IKLIM were not just about raising awareness but also demonstrated that youths could lead change. She also cited a study published in the Earth System Science Data journal last month, which projected that if global carbon dioxide emissions remained at 46 gigatonnes per year, the remaining global carbon budget would be just 143 gigatonnes. 'If this trend continues, the carbon budget (for limiting global warming) is expected to be exhausted as early as 2028. When that happens, it will be almost impossible to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius,' she said. According to her, Kuala Lumpur, as the federal capital, faced its own set of challenges due to its population of over two million and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly RM270 billion recorded last year. 'Every year, Kuala Lumpur produces up to 9.3 tonnes of carbon per capita. This indicates that the faster the economic activity and urban development, the greater the pressure on the climate and environmental balance,' she said.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Desa Pandan traders relocation talks to resume soon says Dr Zaliha
KUALA LUMPUR: A follow-up engagement session with traders affected by infrastructure upgrades in Desa Pandan will be held soon, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. The session will involve discussions on relocation options for nine traders impacted by the ongoing upgrade works. 'Insya-Allah, we will meet them again this month to discuss suitable relocation options, as this is part of the 'Lestari Niaga' initiative currently being implemented in Kuala Lumpur,' she said. Dr Zaliha noted that while some traders have agreed to relocate, others remain hesitant. The upcoming meeting aims to finalise agreements and expedite the road-widening project, which is crucial for public convenience. She spoke after officiating the Federal Territories-level 2025 Climate Change and Green Energy Leadership Project (IKLIM) launch. Previous engagement sessions were held in November 2024 and January this year, including vacancy notices for the affected area. The minister has directed the Federal Territories Department (JWP) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to meet traders promptly and provide relocation assistance. 'We will ensure they have the necessary facilities to continue their businesses,' she added. DBKL had earlier postponed demolition works at Jalan 2/76, Desa Pandan, following a commotion on July 15. The upgrades aim to improve infrastructure and traffic flow for residents' safety and comfort. - Bernama
