Latest news with #KepalaBatas
Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
‘Silent guardians' of the fields: What to know about Asian barn owls that are helping Malaysian farms fight rat infestations for less
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Asian barn owls, natives of Malaysia, are known as 'silent guardians' — whose voracious appetite for rats protects valuable crops on local farms. Since 2014, the Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (Borg) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been encouraging the conservation of barn owls and introducing the species to padi farms and oil palm plantations as natural pest control agents. Borg, spearheaded by Associate Professor in Pest Management Hasber Salim, has successfully introduced thousands of artificial nest boxes to attract barn owls to oil palm plantations and farms nationwide since then. Recently, 20 artificial nest boxes were installed in padi farms in Kepala Batas to reduce pesticide costs and increase yield — a collaborative effort by Borg, Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas), Global Giving Grant and Corteva Agriscience. But what do you actually know about this local species? Associate Professor Hasber Salim displays a pellet that a barn owls regurgitated after consuming rats. — Picture by Opalyn Mok Here are some facts about the barn owls:
Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Boy, 11, drowns after falling into river in Kepala Batas
KEPALA BATAS, May 20 — An 11-year-old boy drowned after falling into a river in Kota Aur, Kuala Muda Penaga here this evening. Penang Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Director of Operations John Sagun Francis said they received an emergency call at 7.24 pm about the incident and immediately dispatched a team of eight personnel from the Kuala Muda Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) to the scene. "The incident involved an 11-year-old boy who fell into the river. The victim was brought out by members of the public before the rescue team arrived at the location,' he said in a statement last night. John said the boy was later confirmed dead by medics and his body was handed over to the police for further action. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR may act against division committee members threatening to resign
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the party's election process has been peaceful, with no incidents of violence, property damage, or public disturbance. KEPALA BATAS : PKR may take disciplinary action against division committee (AJK) members who threaten to resign following the recent divisional elections, or who attempt to disrupt the running of the party's upcoming national congress. PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said such individuals might also be blacklisted from contesting if a re-election is required due to their resignation. 'The secretary-general (Fuziah Salleh) mentioned earlier that some divisions have AJK members threatening to step down simply because they disagree with or dislike the elected division chief. 'She said that if such action is taken, she and the party election committee (JPP) have decided that if a re-election becomes necessary, those involved may be blacklisted and barred from contesting again,' he told reporters after attending the Jelajah Kita Keadilan event at Dewan Tok Mat Yahoo here last night. Fahmi was responding to a group of AJK members from Lenggong and Masjid Tanah, who had threatened to resign over dissatisfaction with the results of the party's divisional elections last month. Fahmi, the communications minister, said that after further clarification, the groups decided to reconsider and ultimately withdrew their resignation plans. He said the election process had been peaceful, with no incidents of violence, property damage, or public disturbance, making this round of elections more effective and better managed than previous ones. On preparations for the PKR national congress in Johor Bahru from May 23 to 25, Fahmi said arrangements were progressing smoothly. He said the Jelajah Kita Keadilan roadshow, organised by the secretary-general's office and the JPP, had already visited several locations. 'The programme will continue until next week. It's a positive and neutral initiative. We do not allow bloc or group campaigning. Even on polling day, the use of 'cai' (preferred candidate lists) will not be permitted. 'I've reviewed the election system – candidate photos are uploaded with a uniform light blue background – showing that we are moving away from factional politics. Instead, all candidates are contesting as part of the greater PKR family,' he said. The PKR national congress, including for the youth and women's wings, will take place from May 21 to 24, with polling scheduled for May 23.
Malay Mail
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PKR may act against division members threatening resignation, warns Fahmi Fadzil
KEPALA BATAS, May 16 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) may take disciplinary action against division committee (AJK) members who threaten to resign following the recent divisional elections or disrupt the smooth running of the upcoming PKR National Congress. Its communications director, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, said such individuals could also be blacklisted from contesting in any re-election resulting from their resignation. "The secretary-general (Dr Fuziah Salleh) mentioned earlier that some divisions have AJK members threatening to step down simply because they disagree with or dislike the elected division chief. "She stated that if such action is taken, the Party Election Committee (JPP), together with her, has decided that if a re-election becomes necessary, all those involved may be blacklisted and barred from contesting again,' he told reporters after attending the Jelajah Kita Keadilan event at Dewan Tok Mat Yahoo here last night, which was also attended by Fuziah. Fahmi was responding to the actions of a group of division committee members from Lenggong and Masjid Tanah, who had threatened to resign following dissatisfaction with the results of the party's divisional elections last month. However, Fahmi, who is also the Minister of Communications, said that after further clarification was provided to both division committees, the groups decided to reconsider and ultimately withdrew their resignation plans. He added that the election process had been lively and peaceful, with no incidents of violence, property damage, or public disturbance — making this round of elections more effective and better managed than in the past. On preparations for the PKR National Congress from May 23 to 25 in Johor Bahru, Fahmi said arrangements are progressing smoothly. The Jelajah Kita Keadilan roadshow, organised by the Secretary-General's Office and the JPP, has already visited several locations. "The programme will continue until next week. It's a positive and neutral initiative. We do not allow bloc or group campaigning. Even on polling day, the use of 'cai' (preferred candidate lists) will not be permitted. "I've reviewed the election system — candidate photos are uploaded with a uniform light blue background — showing that we are moving away from factional politics. Instead, all candidates are contesting as part of the greater Keadilan family," he said. The PKR National Congress, including the AMK and Wanita Congress, will take place from May 21 to 24, with polling scheduled for May 23. — Bernama
Malay Mail
13-05-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Bye-bye rat poison: USM-Bernas unleash barn owls to help Penang farmers cut costs, boost yields in pilot project
SEBERANG PERAI, May 13 — Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today launched a pilot project together with Padi Beras Nasional Berhad (Bernas) to introduce barn owls as natural pest control for paddy farms in Kepala Batas, Penang. Banking on the fact that a family of barn owls can kill about 3,000 rats a year, USM's Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG) is pushing for this sustainable pest control method to be introduced nationwide. The pilot project will introduce 20 nest boxes to be placed at the paddy farms of B40 farmers in Paya Keladi, Kepala Batas, said Associate Professor Hasber Salim from BORG. 'Barn owls naturally exist around paddy fields but they don't build their own homes so they are always looking for spots that they can turn into nests such as rooftops of houses or holes in tree trunks,' he said at the launch of the project here with Bernas, in collaboration with Global Giving Grant and Corteva Agriscience. 'We found that they need 'hotels' to stay in any location so we built nest boxes that fit their needs to place at these paddy farms,' he added. He said the nest boxes will attract barn owls and once they set up nests, they will naturally hunt rats in that area. 'One nest of owls can protect an area of up to 500 hectares,' he said. A young barn owl in one of the nest boxes that will be installed in the paddy fields to attract barn owls. — Picture by Opalyn Mok He said BORG will also study the effectiveness of placing the nest boxes in this project especially in how the owls control the rat population. 'This is a way to reduce costs for the farmers as they do not need to invest in chemical pesticides such as rat poison to get rid of rats,' he said. He said rat poison would often cause the death of other animals such as owls and snakes that eat the poisoned rats. 'This is a more sustainable and environmentally safer approach in controlling rats,' he said. Twenty farmers were selected for the barn owl pilot project. — Picture by Opalyn Mok In his speech, Bernas supply management senior manager Haslizan Hashim expressed confidence that the project will reduce the farmers' dependency on chemical pesticides. 'This will not only reduce costs for the farmers but also increase yield as a reduction in pests means higher yields,' he said. He said Bernas is committed to share what it learnt from BORG and to expand this project to all the paddy farms nationwide. 'I believe this project will bring about a significant positive impact to the industry which can protect our food security,' he said.
