Latest news with #HariRayaOpenHouse
Barnama
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysians Bond In Unity At Eid Celebration In Phnom Penh
Malaysians gather at the Hari Raya Open House hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh. -- Bernama photo By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysians celebrated unity in diversity during Syawal, once again showcasing the colourful fabric of the nation's multi-ethnic society, even while living abroad. And that was exactly what they expressed - unity and bonding - during the Eid celebration hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh on Sunday. bootstrap slideshow Many braved the tropical heat to feast, mingle with their fellow brethren, and enjoy the generous hospitality of the Malaysian diplomats who toiled to organise a memorable evening. 'I believe that these programmes and activities are important to us as they provide opportunities for the Malaysian community here, including the embassy to meet up and engage with one another. 'Some activities are also designed specifically to positively impact the government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people relations, to foster closer relations between Malaysia and Cambodia or to further promote Malaysia to Cambodians,' Malaysian Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn said in his welcoming speech at the event, which was held at the embassy's premises. The embassy arranged a lavish spread of traditional Malaysian cuisine, featuring about 20 different stalls serving authentic dishes. The gathering, which saw over 300 people attend the celebration, ended with fireworks. 'With Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship this year, we will be organising several events together with the other ASEAN embassies here (Phnom Penh). 'We are adopting numerous approaches to achieve this — through conventional or traditional bilateral diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, food diplomacy and sports diplomacy,' said Shaharuddin.
Daily Express
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Masiung defends RM1.2 billion Tongod cement plant venture
Published on: Monday, April 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Apr 28, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Speaking at his Hari Raya Open House on Sunday, Masiung was also questioned about supposed illegal logging, investor pullout and environmental risks associated with the plant. Kota Kinabalu: Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah has dismissed opposition allegations surrounding the RM1.2 billion Tongod Cement Plant project, including that it is merely a cover to clear the forest for its valuable timber. Speaking at his Hari Raya Open House on Sunday, Masiung was also questioned about supposed illegal logging, investor pullout and environmental risks associated with the plant. On accusations that the project involves illegal timber harvesting, the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Vice President said the limestone extraction site is not a forested area. 'There is no logging taking place. The quarry spans 200 acres, not thousands as claimed. The project has undergone thorough environmental assessments, including an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), to ensure compliance with regulations. 'There are no investors pulling out. The project is proceeding as planned site clearing has already begun following the approval of the EIA,' he said. The plant in Kampung Kayawoi is expected to address the shortage faced by developers in Sabah once it is operational, said the Borneo Cement Sabah Chairman. He said there have been situations where developers and contractors had to queue and place orders up to two weeks in advance to secure supplies. He said the Sabah Energy Commission has agreed to supply the plant 40 percent of the electricity needed from Nabawan, while the investor has agreed to build a 26-kilometre access road to the site. He said Tongod deserves its own industrial boom after Sandakan and Keningau. He said the plant could source water from a nearby stream and a 26-km road is being constructed to support transportation needs. 'The plant is expected to produce 5,000 tons of cement per day, addressing Sabah's ongoing cement supply shortage an initiative the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'Local sourcing of raw materials would allow the plant to reduce cement prices by up to RM2 per pack. 'The project is subject to strict monitoring by federal agencies, including the use of green technology. 'We are committed to following all environmental protocols to minimise any potential harm,' he said. The opposition had criticised the project, saying nobody would build a billion-ringgit plus project deep in the forest which would require spending several hundred million ringgit more on road and other infrastructure and yet sell at the current market cement price of RM23 per bag. Masiung said the project, which is being developed in one of the poorest areas in Sabah, is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs. He said the plant would contribute to long-term economic growth by improving local infrastructure and reducing dependency on imports. 'The plant will not only provide jobs but also improve roads, electricity, and water supply in the region. Addressing concerns about the lack of infrastructure in rural areas, he pointed out that previous resource extraction in the region or even agricultural efforts to elevate the people from poverty had not led to sustainable development. 'This project aims to address that gap. This is an opportunity to create meaningful development and we are committed to ensuring the benefits are shared with the local communities,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
Focus Malaysia
27-04-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Could ‘sugar ba*ying', low co*dom awareness cause spike in HIV rate among young Malaysians?
SUCH are two 'outside the box' reactions cited by netizens following revelations that HIV infections among university and school students are on the rise – while transmission through drug use is decreasing – with most contracting the virus through sexual activity. This came about after theMalaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) honorary secretary Dr Zaiton Yahaya said those aged between 20 and 29 accounted for 44% of individuals detected with HIV. 'The highest number of cases are among school leavers and university graduates who are largely unaware of the risks of infection,' she said after a Hari Raya Open House in Kuala Lumpur with the community and the launch of the ProtectNow Hub organised by MAC and MAF yesterday (April 27), 'Due to the increasing rate of sexually transmitted HIV infections, we have stepped up awareness initiatives to ensure patients know where to seek help and support.' Judging from the trend of the infection, the sugar ba*y phenomenon where Malaysian women working as 'sugar ba*ies' can earn up to RM12,000/month and enjoy luxury vacations, designer goods and financial stability can no longer be dispelled as a potential cause to a spike in the country's HIV rate. GEJALA SEKSUAL | Kes jangkitan HIV dalam kalangan penuntut universiti dan sekolah menunjukkan peningkatan dengan kebanyakan mereka menerima jangkitan akibat aktiviti seksual. Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Aids Malaysia (MAC) dan Yayasan Aids Malaysia (MAF), Dr Zaiton Yahaya… — Buletin TV3 (@BuletinTV3) April 26, 2025 Editor's Note: According to a study shows that Malaysia ranks third among Asian countries with the highest number of sugar daddies at 32,500 – tied with fourth spot Japan – on the top 10 list. Both came behind India which boasts a staggering 338,000 sugar daddies with Indonesia coming in second with 60,250. Closely linked to this is indulgence in intercourse without co*dom and the perceived rise in gay relationship. One netizen blamed it on 'weak sex education' at school level with the knowledge mostly gained from self-learning (purportedly from online materials) or from lectures/courses at universities which 'is already too late as many started having se*ual relationship at teenager stage'. Another mooted the idea of schools/university/school inviting medical professionals from hospitals 'to open up booths for mandatory HIV/AIDS testing'. One commenter faulted lack of monitoring from parents/guardians who accord too much freedom to their young ones. At the end of the day, one netizen lamented that 'Islam has provided the solution which (our) secular-liberalist leaders refuse to follow'. – April 27, 2025
The Star
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ayer Kuning polls: Muhyiddin urges eligible voters to come out in full force to cast their ballots
MUAR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on all voters to fulfil their responsibility by coming out in full force during the ongoing Ayer Kuning by-election. While the Bersatu president said he had yet to receive the latest voter turnout statistics, Muhyiddin said he hoped the numbers would be encouraging. "I mentioned in a video that went viral recently that voter turnout is crucial. It is the duty of every citizen — Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, everyone — to exercise their right to vote," he said. He said this when met at the Pagoh MP's Hari Raya Open House at the Pagoh Sports Complex, here, on Saturday (April 26) Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairman added that historically, areas with a strong Malay majority saw lower turnout rates, but if the current participation was high, it could bode well for Perikatan. The Ayer Kuning by-election features a three-cornered contest between Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, Perikatan Nasional candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek, and KS Bawani of Parti Sosialis Malaysia. The by-election was called following the death of its incumbent, Ishsam Shahruddin, on Feb 22 due to a heart attack.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Strong coalition vital for Sabah's stability ahead of polls
KOTA KINABALU: With preparations for Sabah's 17th state election now in full swing, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stressed the importance of forming a strong coalition to ensure continued stability of the state. Hajiji, who leads the eight-party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), confirmed that discussions on seat distribution among coalition parties would take place soon, with focus on securing a unified front ahead of the polls. As leader of the current ruling coalition that includes GRS and Pakatan Harapan Plus, Hajiji confirmed that the state's ruling parties would decide on future alliances before the election. 'As the state government, it is our responsibility to determine which parties we wish to collaborate with for the upcoming election,' he said after attending the Sabah Energy Corporation's (SEC) Hari Raya Open House on Tuesday. The 'Plus' bloc, which includes key figures such as Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, is a crucial part of the current coalition. Shahelmey, the Tanjung Keramat assemblyman and Putatan MP, secured his seats under the Barisan Nasional ticket in the 2020 state election and the 2022 general election, respectively. However, he was suspended from Umno in January 2023 after opposing the party's decision to withdraw from GRS. 'We must form a strong coalition to ensure we maintain the stability of the state,' said Hajiji as he reiterated that GRS remains open to any political cooperation that benefits Sabah. Hajiji, however, was coy about the actual election date, telling reporters that the matter has yet to 'appear in his dream'. In earlier reports, Sabah Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya noted that the five-year term of the Sabah State Assembly would expire on Nov 12. The term began with the first sitting following the 16th state election on Sept 29, 2020, and the subsequent opening of the assembly by then Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. 'As such, the five-year term technically ends on Nov 11 this year. 'This should be the cut off date,' Kadzim said. There has been some confusion regarding the automatic dissolution of the current 79-member state assembly, with speculation that Hajiji may opt to go full-term. Pundits are expecting polls to be called in July, following the month-long Kaamatan celebrations in May and the official birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman on June 21.
