Latest news with #Mekar
Daily Express
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Clean water for over 200 Kota Belud villagers
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 Text Size: Shariah Nelly (ninth from left) with invited guests as well as representatives from Taylor's University and Hopes Malaysia during the project's handing-over recently. Kota Kinabalu: More than 200 residents of Kampung Tinata Ulu in Kota Belud can now enjoy access to clean water following the completion of a gravity-fed water supply and rainwater harvesting system supported by Yayasan Petronas and implemented by Taylor's University. The village, located about 80km from here, had been dependent on an outdated water system since 2010, which struggled to meet both domestic and agricultural needs. Advertisement The new system, featuring a 4km pipeline and central storage tanks with a 3,600 gallon capacity, is expected to significantly improve the villager's quality of life. Yayasan Petronas Chief Executive Officer Shariah Nelly Francis said the access to clean water has long been a critical need for the community and hopes the project will makes a lasting impact. Kampung Tinata's Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Chairperson Hadlee Panchai said the improved system has eased their burden. 'We used to do gotong-royong every week just to repair the old pipes. Now we can focus on our livelihoods,' he said. The 18-month initiative also introduced sustainable farming and maintenance skills through a partnership with local NGO Hopes Malaysia, enabling residents to independently manage the system. The project falls under Yayasan Petronas' 'Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat' (Mekar) programme, which focuses on empowering rural communities by meeting basic needs and promoting self-reliance. This marks the second clean water initiative in the State under Mekar, following a similar effort in Pitas in 2022. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Child sex abuse leaves scars that do not fade'
PETALING JAYA: Child abuse and neglect remain deeply troubling issues in Malaysia, casting a long shadow over the lives of countless children. In 2024 alone, one state recorded over 1,500 reported cases – a grim indicator of a crisis that shows no signs of slowing. In the face of such harrowing figures, theSun spoke to two experts who have studied the matter extensively. Both agreed that the psychological scars left by child sexual abuse run so deep that for many survivors, full recovery remains heartbreakingly out of reach. Trauma from sexual abuse runs far deeper than physical harm and can severely disrupt a child's mental and emotional wellbeing, said Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior psychology officer Dr Zulfikar Ahmad. 'I've handled cases where the trauma is so entrenched, recovery feels almost out of reach. We're talking about nightmares, flashbacks – long-term scars that just won't fade,' he said. Zulfikar stressed that rebuilding trust is essential – and sidelining victims only sets back recovery. To aid healing, he urged caregivers to create a safe, non-judgemental space and to involve children in decisions about their own lives, rather than making assumptions for them. He criticised well-meaning decisions made without consulting the victim – like pulling a child out of school. 'Even with the best intentions, it strips away their support systems. It makes them feel even more vulnerable.' On prevention, Zulfikar called for early sex education to help children recognise inappropriate behaviour. In 2022, he was part of a team that developed Mekar, a child and adolescent sexual crime prevention module with the police in Johor. The programme teaches schoolchildren to identify signs of sexual abuse and understand risks like grooming and sexually transmitted diseases. He said children as young as three should learn about safe touch and body autonomy in age-appropriate ways, with the content growing more comprehensive as they mature. Universiti Teknologi Mara social policy expert Prof Yarina Ahmad echoed Zulfikar's sentiments. She also raised alarm over incest cases involving victims as young as six. 'Abusers often target very young children. In some of the most heartbreaking cases, even mothers knew but felt helpless.' Not all incest cases registered with the Social Welfare Department are reported to police. Yarina and other researchers found that many survivors never come forward. The public is urged to report suspected abuse to the 24-hour Talian Kasih helpline operated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry at 15999 or via WhatsApp at 019-261 5999.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Shamsul Anuar: Malaysian citizenship not granted arbitrarily
Umno's Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah arriving for Umno meeting at Menara Dato Onn on Wednesday night. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star LAHAD DATU: Malaysian citizenship will not be granted arbitrarily, assures Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (pic). He said citizenship is one of the highest honour the government can bestow and will only be granted to individuals who are truly eligible and meet the conditions set out in the Federal Constitution. 'The granting of citizenship requires thorough investigation and careful consideration before the appropriate documentation can be issued to qualified individuals,' he told reporters at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event yesterday. The deputy minister was responding to a question about Malaysian citizens who have missed the opportunity to register their personal documentation, which can complicate the verification of their citizenship status. Shamsul Anuar said the National Registration Department (NRD) is carrying out the Mekar programme, a government initiative aimed at reaching out to communities in remote and rural areas by providing essential services such as birth registration and identity card issuance. He said the programme is intended to ease the process of obtaining personal identification documents without requiring residents to travel long distances to NRD offices. 'NRD officers will be deployed to remote areas with the necessary equipment to help communities by offering advisory services and resolving documentation-related issues,' he said, Bernama reported. On another matter, Shamsul Anuar said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has been effective in maintaining security along the east coast of Sabah, with no kidnapping incidents reported since Jan 15, 2020. However, he advised all parties to remain vigilant and support joint operations among security agencies, such as Ops Sanggah and Ops Gasak to continue to be held to track down criminal elements, informants, and cross-border threats.
