Latest news with #KTGOH
The Star
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Make a ‘Connection' with George Town Festival
Stamp rally: Fun showing the six different stamps, each featuring unique designs, which visitors to selected events can collect for a chance to win a prize. — KT GOH/The Star GEORGE TOWN: The city will be transformed into a vibrant stage when the George Town Festival (GTF) returns for its 16th edition. So do plan your holiday to Penang for next month as from Aug 2 to 10, GTF 2025 – with the theme 'Connection' – will feature 50 programmes exploring the powerful relationships between the arts, the city and the human experience. These range from music to dance, theatre, photography, visual arts and more. About 80% of the programmes will be offered for free in line with the festival's aim of making the arts accessible to all. GTF director Jack Wong said 32 programmes were homegrown and reflected Malaysia's rich artistic diversity. Of this, 22 are Penang-based. The other 18 are international presentations and include bold new works. He said only seven events would be ticketed, priced between RM40 and RM100. 'GTF 2025 will also have a series of workshops and talks which offer deeper insights into the creative process and give visitors opportunities to engage with the artistes and their works. 'Whether you're a newcomer or long-time follower, you will have a week of unforgettable experiences.' Festivities kick-off with the 'After Dusk' opening weekend on Aug 2 and 3 at the Esplanade, which is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors. The iconic Town Hall will come alive with colours and patterns in a projection mapping showcase while live performances by various local and international acts will start from 5pm. Other highlights include a contemporary performance inspired by the state's natural landscapes called 'Waris', and a tribute exhibition to late cartoonist Azmi Hussin titled 'Living the Tanjong Life'. There will be a 'Symbiosis: Crab Chronicle' which offers a crab's view of Penang's shifting coastlines through augmented reality/virtual reality experiences, as well as 'Between Departures' which turns an actual city bus into an intimate musical stage journeying through George Town. Further cultural exchange is promoted through the 'A Night in Spain' classical music concert in partnership with the Spanish Embassy in Malaysia, as well as the 'Totsu-totsu dance – Like Art, Like Care' dance workshop and performance with Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency. Visitors to six selected events can collect six stamps under the 'Stamp Rally' by local artist Elsie Fun and stand a chance of winning a prize. State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said GTF had grown into one of the region's most vibrant platforms for artistic expression since its inception in 2010. 'What began as a local initiative has expanded into a leading space for creativity and ideas in South-East Asia. 'This year's theme reflects our hope to further build bridges between peoples, ideas and stories through diverse artistic experiences.' For tickets/details, visit or follow @georgetownfestival on social media.
The Star
25-06-2025
- General
- The Star
More than 150,000 SPM school leavers offered IPTA spots
A bright future: A file photo of students of Chung Ling High School queuing up to obtain their SPM result slip at the school in Ayer Itam, Penang. — KT GOH/The Star PUTRAJAYA: A total of 150,557 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 school leavers have been offered places at public higher learning institutions (IPTA), according to the Higher Education Ministry. It said the number represents 67.33% of the total 223,624 applications received through the UPUOnline system. 'Of the total, 86,589 applicants were offered places at public universities, 42,058 at polytechnics, 20,427 at community colleges and 1,483 at institutions under the Mara Higher Education Division. 'A total of 17,693 applicants received offers under the special pathway comprising 16,189 from the B40 group, 590 persons with disabilities, 593 athletes and 321 Orang Asli,' the ministry said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported. The ministry also said that 43 applicants from institutions under the Social Welfare Department were offered places at IPTA. 'Student admissions were based on the principle of meritocracy, with all qualified candidates ranked from the highest to the lowest merit score,' it added. A total of 349 academic programmes were offered this year comprising 41 certificate-level, 55 (foundation), 252 (diploma) and one bachelor's degree programme. Applicants who did not receive an offer may submit an appeal via UPUOnline until 5pm on June 25.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Undergrads' outreach provides self-sufficiency skills for the homeless
Lee washes motorcycles at the transit centre to earn an income. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI, KT GOH/The Star (Above) Residents filling moulds with a soap mixture during the training session in soap-making. A GROUP of second-year communication students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has taken community outreach to the next level by equipping transit home residents with practical life skills to support independent living. The half-day programme, held in two parts, at the transit centre in Jalan CY Choy, Penang, focused on hands-on training in basic urban farming techniques and soap-making using recovered cooking oil. (Left) USM students teaching urban farming basics to transit centre residents. Other activities included a traditional game-based race, gotong-royong, oral health talk and a lively community celebration.. The occasion was hosted by radio DJ Fara Fauzana, whose lively and engaging presence elevated the mood of participants. Project adviser Prof Dr Jamilah Ahmad said the project was part of the students' coursework to shape them into socially responsible graduates, while the activities were designed to equip the residents with practical life skills they could use when they leave the centre. Eighty residents also learned to prepare nutritious meals using common household ingredients. They were guided too on basic hygiene and self-care which are crucial elements in supporting their transition back into society. The outreach was implemented under the university's Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (Sulam) platform and supported by National Cancer Society Malaysia (northern region), the School of Biological Sciences USM and the Northeast District Health Office. USM School of Communica-tion undergraduate programme chairman Dr Suriati Saad and the transit centre's general manager Nazatulwanis Mohd Khorish were also present, lending support and encouragement to the students and participants. According to Nazatulwanis, the transit centre has a capacity for 88 residents, with separate dormitories for men, women and the disabled. It also has facilities like laundry, a cafe and a community centre. 'The centre is just a temporary shelter, not a long-term home, and residents can stay for a maximum of two weeks, with the possibility of extensions depending on individual circumstances. 'We also work closely together with more than 400 non- governmental organisations, companies and institutions to help provide the residents with food and other needs,' she said. Penang social development, welfare, and non-Islamic affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the programme highlighted USM's continued efforts to nurture socially responsible graduates and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through direct community involvement. In her address, Lim commended the students' efforts and highlighted the transformative power of collaborative outreach. '(Helping) the residents build their confidence and motivation to rejoin society is a noble achievement. 'This proves that unified efforts between institutions and communities drive meaningful change,' Lim noted.
The Star
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Twilight years of the trade
Quieter days: Liew checking the herbs on display at his shop in Chulia Street, George Town. —KT GOH/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Once a popular place for people to get traditional herbs, a century-old medical hall here now stands mostly quiet with the shelves lined with jars meant more for show than trade. 'We stopped selling Chinese herbs in 2014,' said Liew Kong Choy, who has run the shop in Chulia Street for decades. 'Too expensive. The stuff from China got too costly.' These days, Liew sells balm, oil and a few home remedies to the elderly who still walk in. But not many do these days. 'Young people go to pharmacies now,' he said. 'They don't believe in this like their parents did.' Decades ago, medical halls were common here, and anyone feeling sick would go and get herbs. Now, they are vanishing. It is partly due to the escalating cost. 'Red dates, wolfberries, ginseng and most Chinese herbs have gone up by 10% to 15% over the past six months,' said Teoh Hai Wei, 43, who still runs a hall nearby. 'Some of the prices vary and depend on the season, some just follow China.' He said supply problems and shifting demand made the trade harder to manage. Penang wholesaler Lai Ee Li compared the business to the stock market. 'Prices change every few months,' she said. 'Before Chinese New Year, they go up. After that, they drop. 'Depends on the season, what illnesses are spreading and what people think will work.' She said demand for tiger milk mushroom increases when there's a spike in respiratory illness. That means the price jumps in tandem. Other items that have recently gone up include chrysanthemum, lo han guo, barley and hei ko – all rising by between 5% and 15% in bulk. Even so, Chinese patent medicine still sells, though the numbers have been volatile. In 2022, China exported traditional Chinese medicine worth US$54.2mil (RM230.4mil) to Malaysia – a 138% jump over the previous year. But in 2023, the figure fell to US$32.5mil (RM138.2mil), a 40% drop. '2022 was a surge year because people turned to traditional Chinese medicine during the Covid-19 pandemic,' said Malaysian Chinese Medical Association president Heng Aik Teng. '2023 was more of a correction.' He said rising costs in China also pushed up prices and made it harder for exporters. Demand in the region, especially in price-sensitive countries, has dropped since the pandemic. Back in Chulia Street, Liew doesn't talk about global trade figures. He just sees fewer people walk past his door. 'I'm still here. But it's not like before,' he said.
The Star
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
The pursuit of happiness, not profit
Simple and tasty: Lim has maintained the same recipe over the years – noodles, chicken slices, egg, tofu, bean sprouts and fresh lettuce. — KT GOH/The Star GEORGE TOWN: As someone who has been selling mee jawa for the past 50 years, Lim Lean Hoe has a trick of the trade. 'Cook the mee with a sincere heart,' he said. And that explains why he is still serving mee jawa at just RM2.50 a plate despite the surging cost of ingredients. The portion remains the same and so are the ingredients. 'I don't have the heart to make it pricey,' said Lim, 70. He recalled the early days in the 1970s when he started his trade. 'It was 80sen those days before I increased it to RM1 per plate. And I have kept it at RM2.50 since.' Lim said he wanted his customers to have an affordable meal. 'Even though the cost of ingredients, like noodles and other items have gone up, I can still make a profit. It's just that it is a smaller profit now,' he said. The grandfather of five said the money is enough for him and his wife. However, he conceded that he had stopped putting prawns in the noodle dish for the past 10 years. 'I decided to stop doing it because prawns are just too expensive,' he said. Lim's mee jawa is a simple meal with chicken slices, hard-boiled egg, tofu, bean sprouts and a sprinkle of fresh lettuce. He said he has maintained the same recipe that he learned from his uncle. Lim, who started his business at Penang Road, now operates from a stall located in a restaurant in Air Itam. It is open every day from 7am until 1.30pm. He only closes during the Chinese New Year celebrations. The restaurant is a popular breakfast spot in the high-density working-class area. 'I feel happy every time I see people coming here for a plate of my mee jawa,' he said. And his customers are delighted, too. 'The portion has always been consistent. One of the best in town,' said pensioner Simon Khor, 65. Khor, who is a regular at Lim's stall, said the noodles are not only affordable but also tasty. He said Lim will not even charge extra when customers asked for more noodles. 'He always says it's more important that people leave full and happy than to make extra profit,' he added. Another regular, Lee Hean Seng, 57, said he has been eating Lim's mee jawa once a week for the past 15 years. 'The price is ideal for people like us who do not earn a lot. And the portion is big, too,' said the security guard. 'It's cheap and good,' he added.
