Latest news with #Siti
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Siti's Yayasan Nurjiwa to award RM500 for SPM 2024 straight-A students
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, Yayasan Nurjiwa is introducing a RM500 incentive for straight-A students of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 examination. Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, founder of Yayasan Nurjiwa, announced this initiative as a form of recognition for academic excellence. Speaking yesterday at the PTTI Inspirational Awards 2025, held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Siti revealed that the foundation is also collaborating with tuition centre PTTI to award a total of RM200,500 to 401 students nationwide. Siti said: "This initiative aims to motivate students to continue achieving academic success. We all hope that this will encourage future SPM candidates to work harder to achieve excellent results." Furthermore, Siti announced that Yayasan Nurjiwa would continue its long-standing initiative of assisting underprivileged students by providing daily meals for 100 individuals, particularly those from the B40 income group and orphans.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Straits Times
Small but mighty: Study shows S'pore's seagrasses rank among top global carbon stores per hectare
Seagrass meadows in the Central Indo-Pacific region, which includes Singapore and Malaysia, can lock up an average of 86 metric tonnes of carbon per hectare – equivalent to the annual emissions from 22 cars. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD SINGAPORE – Singapore's seagrass meadows may be small, but the remaining patches of the ocean's only flowering plant here are punching above their weight when it comes to their ability to store carbon, a new study has found. Seagrass meadows in the Central Indo-Pacific region, which includes Singapore and Malaysia, can lock up an average of 86 metric tonnes of carbon per hectare – equivalent to the annual emissions from 22 cars. This is more than twice the global average of 38 metric tonnes per hectare, the study found. The research, which quantified carbon stocks in seagrass ecosystems globally, was done by researchers from academic institutions and organisations across the globe, including the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore-based International Blue Carbon Institute. Published in research journal Nature in May, the study identified the lagoons and small deltas of the Indo-Pacific as being among the top five regions globally with the highest organic carbon storage potential, alongside the Mediterranean, Colombia, Florida and South Africa. Organic carbon refers to carbon that comes from living things. While seagrass meadows are known to be natural carbon sponges that can soak up planet-warming carbon dioxide, there is still much uncertainty and knowledge gaps about these ecosystems, making their conservation challenging. The aim of the study, said the researchers, was to provide policymakers with greater understanding about the factors that affect the carbon storage potential of seagrass meadows. This could help guide the 'development, integrity and reliability of climate change policy, and financing to support seagrass conservation and restoration', they said. What are seagrasses? Seagrasses are aquatic plants that take in carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. This carbon is locked up in the plants' roots and underground stems, and the soil they grow in. Being anchored to the seafloor by their roots, these habitats can also 'trap' carbon-containing particles, such as bits of dead plants or animal faeces, carried by the currents, said Dr Siti Yaakub, senior director of the International Blue Carbon Institute and a co-author of the paper. As more of these particles eventually settle on the seabed, they get trapped in structures of the seagrass. As these layers accumulate, the carbon gets buried by new layers of sediment and moves deeper into the earth, said Dr Siti. Burrowing animals in the seafloor, such as clams and worms, also help bring the carbon to deeper layers of the sediment, she added. These characteristics make seagrass meadows a promising ally in humanity's fight against climate change. A separate study, also published in Nature in 2021, estimated that seagrasses are 40 times more efficient at capturing organic carbon than land forest soils. However, different environmental conditions and types of seagrass could affect how much carbon is stored at a particular site , resulting in a large variation globally . For example, Dr Siti said seagrass meadows near big rivers tend to contain a higher carbon content in the seabed due to the discharge of river sediment and carbon-rich organic matter. Heavy rain can also affect seagrass growth, as the rainfall could stir up sediment and prevent sunlight from reaching the plant. Similarly, high levels of nutrients in waters can cause algae blooms that reduce water clarity. Nutrient levels can go up when fish feed and waste materials are released from fish farms into the sea. The study is one of the first to map out the potential of seagrass meadows around the world to act as natural sponges that can soak up planet-warming carbon dioxide, Dr Siti said. S'pore's underwater carbon banks Through an analysis of 2,171 soil cores retrieved from seagrass beds around the world, the researchers found that the region's seagrass meadows had one of the world's highest carbon stocks on a per-hectare basis. 'As a region, we do have a slightly higher-than-average carbon stock because there is a lot of seagrass in shallow sheltered coastal waters that are also adjacent to river systems, so there's a good source of allochthonous (external) inputs,' said Dr Siti. 'If we lose all this seagrass with high carbon stocks, we will not be able to recover the carbon that is lost. It will take many decades to restore it.' Singapore is home to 12 of the 72 known species of seagrass globally, with some of the country's largest meadows found at Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, Pulau Semakau, Cyrene Reef and Changi Beach, said Dr Siti. Seagrass meadows in the Republic also act as shelters and nursery areas for numerous animals like seahorses, and serve as the primary food source for sea turtles and dugongs. The biggest threats to seagrass meadows in Singapore are coastal development and high sedimentation. Large amounts of sediment in the water can result in low light levels reaching the plant. A healthy ecosystem should have a balance of both sediment input and output to avoid erosion – which may result in the unearthing of buried carbon or burying of seagrass. But changes to coastlines from land reclamation projects may alter the dynamics of water and sediment movement. 'If you change the coastal environment such that it increases the rate of erosion, and block off sediments coming in from rivers, it becomes a double whammy, because sediments are now being washed away with no supply to replenish these systems,' Dr Siti noted. Efforts to protect seagrass meadows have been ramped up since 2007, when the National Parks Board (NParks) began working with Seagrass-Watch – the world's largest scientific seagrass assessment and monitoring programme – to monitor the health of seagrass on Singapore's shores. Singapore in 2024 also launched its first seagrass restoration project, in an effort by NParks and NUS. The project was fully funded by OCBC Bank. Dr Samantha Lai, deputy director of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre Coastal and Marine branch, said the board has also been working with NUS and NParks volunteers on separate projects that aim to study the health and conservation needs of seagrasses. Moving forward, Dr Siti said that a better understanding of the seasonal growth cycles of seagrass can help with better planning during dredging and reclamation activities to minimise stress on the seagrass population. 'For example, if there is dredging involved, there should be measures taken to contain the sediment plumes so that they don't spread to areas with seagrass and stress them out even more,' Dr Siti said. At the global level, the study provided some insight into the carbon storage potential of seagrass meadows in the region, she added. However, the large variation also shows that countries need to more closely study the quantity of carbon being sequestered in their own meadows. This is especially if they intend to tap the carbon storage abilities of these habitats in their plans to tackle climate change, she said. 'The issue with seagrass is that it's not very well mapped. For example, estimates of seagrass cover in Indonesia range between 300,000ha and three million ha, which is a huge range. This results in big uncertainty in calculating the climate mitigation potential of seagrass with respect to their climate commitments. But there are efforts under way to better understand seagrass cover and map them globally ,' Dr Siti said. Singapore can contribute to deepening this understanding, said local experts. Dr Ow Yan Xiang, a seagrass scientist and senior research fellow at the St John's Island National Marine Laboratory who was not involved in the latest research, said: 'This study shows that Singapore has one of the highest data density and sampling efforts for seagrass carbon stocks. Also, our seagrass population is holding steady, despite the region's seagrass declining at an average of 4.7 per cent per year.' The high data density refers to Singapore contributing a high amount of data, in proportion to its small coastline. Dr Siti said: 'This places Singapore at the forefront of carbon mitigation efforts because one, we have influence in climate negotiations, and two, we have the resources and expertise to facilitate or help other countries deploy natural climate solutions.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Siti's 'Like Jennie' dance goes viral for modesty
KUALA LUMPUR: A recent TikTok video shared by national songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin has captured the attention of netizens. In the clip, she is seen dancing to 'Like Jennie', a song originally performed by Jennie of the hugely popular K-pop group BlackPink, in a rehearsal studio. However, Siti gracefully performed the dance moves, accompanied by three young dancers in the 23-second video, which has already garnered over 2.2 million views. Her interpretation was more fitting for her status as a 46-year-old mother of two and a modest Muslim woman, as she toned down the Korean idol's typically sexy style. In the comments section, netizens expressed their delight and admiration for Siti, praising her for acknowledging these considerations while still engaging with a music trend popular among her younger fans. One netizen commented, "While I know she can do exactly like Jennie, kudos to her for opting for more appropriate dance routines." Another chimed in, saying, "This is a more modest version of Jennie."
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Expecting amidst turmoil: Siti Jamumall, Aiman teary over baby daughter
SETIA ALAM: After the incident where her husband Aiman pronounced the talak (divorce) on a live broadcast, influencer Siti Jamumall, 26, recently had her first check-up. It was then, she revealed, that she discovered she was expecting a baby girl. Siti gained considerable attention after her divorce unfolded live on TikTok on May 15. Siti, whose real name is Siti Suriani Wahiddin, became emotional as she shared the gender of her unborn child, the result of her second marriage to Khairul Aiman Abdul Kudus. She explained that she and Aiman had always dreamed of having a daughter, never anticipating their marriage would be embroiled in such controversy. "I'm tearful because we were really hoping for a daughter," Siti said. "Even though I was disappointed, I still communicated with Aiman." She clarified that she didn't personally deliver the news about the baby's gender to Aiman, as she had gone to the clinic in a separate car. "My friend informed me that Aiman cried when he was told that the child I was carrying was a girl," she said. Speaking at a Yasin recitation and doa selamat ceremony at the Setia Alam Mosque last night, Siti added that despite facing significant challenges, her spirits remain strong. "I have two sons from my first marriage, and now God is blessing me with a daughter. "I'm the only daughter out of six siblings. What can I say? This child in my womb is incredibly strong. "From the beginning of the pregnancy, she's been through so many trials," Siti said. She added, "My marriage to Aiman hasn't even been a year. During my first pregnancy, I had a miscarriage. This is my second pregnancy, and thankfully, this time it's very strong." Siti also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support she has received. "As a mother, I've personally experienced various challenges and profound sadness. "I'm also grateful to have such kind-hearted followers. Many have prayed for me and shown concern." "Although this issue has been highly publicised and various assumptions have been made, there are still those among them who are concerned," she said. "They're urging people not to jeopardise my mental health. Thank God, there are still many good people praying for the best for me and my children." Now, a week after the distressing incident, Siti is focusing all her attention on her children, family, and herself. The incident occurred on May 15 when Siti and Aiman were arguing during her live social media broadcast. Aiman then pronounced the talak multiple times, shocking tens of thousands of viewers. Yesterday, Aiman appeared at the Shah Alam Syariah Lower Court to file for divorce, with the court setting July 21 as the first mention date.
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Age of Asean: Building trust in Southeast Asia's digital future
As Asean is positioning to be the heart of digital economy, fostering trust is key in reaping the benefits of growing digitalisation and further empowering the vulnerable segments of the population. In the bustling streets of Jakarta, 50-year-old Siti sits behind her food stall, where the aroma and sizzle of fried rice and grilled satay mingles with the hum of passing motorbikes. With a range of digital food delivery and e-commerce platforms helping her connect with more customers, business has never been better. Siti is just one of 70 million micro entrepreneurs driving economic growth in the Asean region. Over the last two decades, the region has seen its real GDP grow by five per cent annually, reaching US$3.8 trillion. in 2023, making it the fifth-largest economy globally. With digitalisation empowering microenterprises like Siti's, it is no surprise that Asean's digital economy is poised to reach almost US$2 trillion by 2030. A foundational piece of this growing digital economy is the proliferation of instant payment systems (IPS), more recently, the rapid adoption of low-cost national QR payment channels. From Indonesia's QRIS to Cambodia's KHQR and Thailand's PromptPay, Asean has swiftly adopted the digital way to pay, with the share of digital payments to gross transaction volume already surpassing cash with just 48 per cent in 2022 to about 56 per cent in 2024. With payments transmitted directly to the merchant's digital accounts, microenterprises can now easily manage their books, helping them monitor the growth of their business. Asean continues to make strides in building and expanding cross-border QR payment linkages. Through the commitment and hard work of the Asean Working Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (WC-PSS), several Asean countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – are now able to conduct cross-border QR payment or person-to-person funds transfers. This translates into bigger business opportunities for microenterprises. Yet despite the increasing digital savviness, microenterprises still face hurdles in accessing much-needed financing. This is exacerbated by microenterprises' mistrust in the digital ecosystem due to cases of fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, which could potentially undermine their growth. In Indonesia, for example, only 41 per cent of merchants using QRIS completed at least one transaction per month, and 18 per cent remained dormant, largely due to trust erosion from unexpected charges and unresolved disputes. It is therefore imperative to build and ensure MSMEs' continued trust in digital payments and the broader financial ecosystem. The United Nations' Better Than Cash Alliance's Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit, which was developed together with the Asean Working Committee on Financial Inclusion (WC-FINC) and noted by Asean Ministers and Central Bank Governors, reflects the region's collective commitment to this vision. Focusing on fraud, hidden fees, and lack of recourse, the Trust Quotient Policy Toolkit provides policy and regulatory recommendations to promote clear pricing, accessible dispute resolution, and transparent data practices, which will then help ensure micro-merchants confidently adopt digital payments in a safer, more accountable ecosystem. Ensuring quick and seamless recourse mechanisms, particularly for small-value disputes, is critical for fostering trust as delays or unresolved issues can significantly damage confidence. Programmes such as the 'BOB' (BSP Online Buddy) chatbot initiative by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showcase how technology can simplify dispute resolution and build trust. Similarly, the Philippines' Paleng-QR Ph and Indonesia's QRIS SIAP have helped merchants through financial literacy, streamlined tools, and responsive support. Simplified data privacy disclosures can further empower merchants to navigate digital systems confidently. Moreover, integrating support for digital financial services into existing MSME development programmes can be transformative. Indonesia's Jakpreneur program, for instance, onboards merchants to digital platforms but also provides training in financial literacy and business management. For Siti, the success of her business relies not just on the convenience of digital payments but her trust in continued use of digital payments which grants her a formal financial history. By addressing challenges such as hidden fees, lack of recourse, and data privacy concerns, Asean can ensure that entrepreneurs like Siti feel confident in trusting and embracing digital transformation and ensure that no enterprise is left behind.
