Latest news with #LocalAgenda21
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Batu Gajah's new attraction sees mural depicting life of Correctional Centre inmates
BATU GAJAH: An 80-metre mural depicting the daily life of inmates (prospects) at the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre has become a new attraction here. The painting on the walls of the centre, along Jalan Hospital, tells of the prospects' journey and daily activities such as farming, woodwork, Quran recital, and several other activities during their stay at the facility. Batu Gajah District Council (MDBG) president Mohamad Razif Ramli said the mural was an initiative of the council aimed at beautifying the town and has been gazetted as a product development plan within the administrative area. 'The 80-metre-long painting was created by a group of lecturers, students, and mural expert alumni from the Fine Arts Programme of the Kolej Pengajian Seni Kreatif (KPSK) at Perak Branch of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Seri Iskandar. 'For the first time, we have a collaboration with a government agency, namely the Malaysian Prisons Department, as with UiTM Seri Iskandar, this is the third time a collaboration has been carried out, similar to what was done in Local Agenda 21 (LA21),' he said. He said this at the launching ceremony of the mural, a collaboration between MDBG, UiTM, and the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre, officiated by the Kinta district officer Zulhisham Ahmad Shukori. Also present were Perak Prisons director Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, C Charin Promwichit; Batu Gajah Correctional Centre director Assistant Prisons Commissioner S. Tanabal; and the deputy project head and senior lecturer of the Fine Arts Programme at KPSK UiTM Perak branch, Dr. Syed Alwi Syed Abu Bakar. Mohamad Razif said that MDBG took the initiative to beautify the walls with murals featuring several elements at the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre Meanwhile, Syed Alwi said he, along with nine lecturers, four alumni experts, and 12 students, started painting on Feb 15 and completed it in seven days. To create this mural, we used waterproof and weather-resistant paints to ensure it lasts for five years. 'All these paintings are not just the artists' depiction, but we actually went into the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre so that we could illustrate what the prospects did before collectively agreeing to do so,' he also said. He added that his side hopes the mural would be able to educate everyone on what happens inside the centre while also beautifying old buildings in Batu Gajah.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Batu Gajah's new attraction sees mural
BATU GAJAH: An 80-metre mural depicting the daily life of inmates (prospects) at the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre has become a new attraction here. The painting on the walls of the centre, along Jalan Hospital, tells of the prospects' journey and daily activities such as farming, woodwork, Quran recital, and several other activities during their stay at the facility. Batu Gajah District Council (MDBG) president Mohamad Razif Ramli said the mural was an initiative of the council aimed at beautifying the town and has been gazetted as a product development plan within the administrative area. 'The 80-metre-long painting was created by a group of lecturers, students, and mural expert alumni from the Fine Arts Programme of the Kolej Pengajian Seni Kreatif (KPSK) at Perak Branch of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Seri Iskandar. 'For the first time, we have a collaboration with a government agency, namely the Malaysian Prisons Department, as with UiTM Seri Iskandar, this is the third time a collaboration has been carried out, similar to what was done in Local Agenda 21 (LA21),' he said. He said this at the launching ceremony of the mural, a collaboration between MDBG, UiTM, and the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre, officiated by the Kinta district officer Zulhisham Ahmad Shukori. Also present were Perak Prisons director Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, C Charin Promwichit; Batu Gajah Correctional Centre director Assistant Prisons Commissioner S. Tanabal; and the deputy project head and senior lecturer of the Fine Arts Programme at KPSK UiTM Perak branch, Dr. Syed Alwi Syed Abu Bakar. Mohamad Razif said that MDBG took the initiative to beautify the walls with murals featuring several elements at the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre Meanwhile, Syed Alwi said he, along with nine lecturers, four alumni experts, and 12 students, started painting on Feb 15 and completed it in seven days. To create this mural, we used waterproof and weather-resistant paints to ensure it lasts for five years. 'All these paintings are not just the artists' depiction, but we actually went into the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre so that we could illustrate what the prospects did before collectively agreeing to do so,' he also said. He added that his side hopes the mural would be able to educate everyone on what happens inside the centre while also beautifying old buildings in Batu Gajah.
Borneo Post
03-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Over 800 join Miri's 20th Anniversary Car-Free Day 2025
Yii breaks a wooden board during the Taekwando martial arts demonstration at the event. MIRI (May 3) : More than 800 individuals came together to take part in the Miri 20th Anniversary Car-Free Day 2025 this morning, making the event a resounding success. Miri Mayor Adam Yii, who officiated the event at Miri City Hall, expressed gratitude for the strong turnout from members of the public, government agencies, NGOs, schools, and educational institutions. 'Today, we witnessed an overwhelming turnout. This event is not just a milestone in Miri's history, but also reflects our ongoing commitment to Sarawak's long-term development goals, particularly in environmental sustainability, health, and community cohesion,' said Yii. This year's edition featured a new 4.4-kilometre route that began at City Hall and continued through Jalan Bandaraya to Jalan Marina Utama. The expanded, scenic route was designed to encourage more engagement and underscore the importance of reducing carbon emissions. Yii highlighted that the initiative aligns with the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS), contributing to Sarawak's transition to a low-carbon economy and improved quality of life for residents. In his address, he also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak as well as the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Malaysia for providing funding as well as endorsing and facilitating the initiative under the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) 2025. 'Your guidance and support have been integral in helping us design programmes that are aligned with both local and national sustainability goals,' said Yii. He added that the programme not only encourage physical fitness but also create an environment where everyone can come together as a community to support the shared vision of Sarawak – 'Building a Sustainable, Inclusive, and High-Income Society'. 'Together, we are moving closer to realising Sarawak's ambitious goals under PCDS, ensuring a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for all of us,' he pointed out. Meanwhile, among activities held during the Miri 20th Anniversary Car-Free Day 2025 were a Fun Run, Zumba workout, walking, bicycle riding, sports demonstrations and community games. Also present at the function were Deputy Miri Mayor Ariffin Mohamad and local councillors. adam yii community lead Miri Car Free Day
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Communities key to flood prevention
EMERITUS Professor Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah, a Universiti Malaya meteorology expert, said floods in Kuala Lumpur are unpredictable because the city is situated on a floodplain. Climate change has rewritten the rules, too, with floods often striking without warning. Flash floods now surge through cities and villages at any time, catching communities off guard and leaving destruction in their wake. We need urgent flood mitigation strategies. We can't afford to wait for the next rainy season. The recent flash floods in the Klang Valley hit Sungai Buloh, Puchong, Klang and Gombak. They have once again exposed the urgent need for a more resilient and community-driven approach to flood mitigation. Highways were paralysed, routines disrupted and critical infrastructure strained, highlighting the limitations of relying on conventional drainage systems and government-led responses. While structural solutions like the expansion of retention ponds, reinforcement of riverbanks, and the construction of embankments along rivers are commendable, they must be accompanied by a robust and inclusive governance framework. This is where the principles of Local Agenda 21 (LA21) become essential. LA21 emphasises sustainable development at the local level through participation of stakeholders, especially local authorities and the community. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 to 2030), endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, advocates for the active involvement of communities in disaster preparedness and mitigation. Communities possess local knowledge, which includes understanding the behaviour of rivers, historical flood events and areas most at risk. Flood-prone areas, including those in the Klang Valley, and more recently in Batu Pahat, require more than top-down engineering solutions. They need grassroots engagement in the planning and maintenance of flood mitigation systems. For example, in Batu Pahat, waterways like the main river in Parit Karjo, which drains into the sea in Pekan Senggarang, are filled with overgrown vegetation such as thick grass. This might seem a minor issue but it drastically reduces water flow, exacerbating the risk of flooding. If communities were more involved in maintenance and monitoring, such problems could be mitigated before they escalate into disasters. Although examples of community participation in flood mitigation exist in Malaysia, these efforts need to be significantly strengthened. One major challenge in community-based flood mitigation is limited public awareness of practical steps to reduce flood risks. Furthermore, financial constraints pose a significant barrier. These challenges highlight the need for increased investment in education, resources and capacity-building. Participatory budgeting would allow residents to prioritise flood mitigation projects based on local needs, enhancing transparency and engagement. Thus, strengthening disaster mitigation and prevention is not solely the job of government agencies or engineers. It is a shared responsibility that must be rooted in community participation, inter-agency collaboration and long-term sustainability planning as promoted by Local Agenda 21. Only through such an inclusive and integrated approach can we hope to protect lives, infrastructure and livelihoods from the devastating impacts of floods.
