Latest news with #UniversitiKebangsaanMalaysia
The Star
2 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Kenyans dominate jungle race
Winners and participants at the close of the 2025 Kemuyang Nature Challenge. TWO Kenyan athletes claimed top honours at the 2025 Kemuyang Nature Challenge in Sibu, Sarawak where 300 runners participated. Samson Kamal, 29, dominated the 9km Men's Open category, finishing in 47:40. His compatriot Kabui Teresial, 22, won the 9km Women's Open category, completing the race in 51:50. They each received RM2,000 in prize money for their achievements. A delighted Samson shared that the prize money was timely. 'We'll be using it to purchase our flight tickets home from Kuala Lumpur. 'A one-way ticket costs around RM2,000 each,' said Samson, who recently graduated with a degree in Business Economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Kabui, who pursued the same course, also graduated from UKM. (Below) Kabui (left) and Samson showing their prizes in Sibu. Reflecting on the race, Kabui described it as 'tough', adding she had to give her all. Samson said he enjoyed the event and praised the trail. 'This is our first time winning a jungle trekking event in Malaysia. 'We learnt about the competition from a Malaysian friend in Sandakan,' he said. Samson added that both he and Kabui are marathon runners and will undergo intensive training at home before entering their next race. Meanwhile, local runners Lim Siet Fah and Teo Lian Geok expressed disappointment over their performance, citing changes in the format. 'In the previous competition in December 2023, it was primarily jungle trekking. 'This time, it was 50% road running and 50% jungle trekking. 'My strength lies in jungle trekking, so it put me at a disadvantage,' said Lim, a vocational school teacher from Kuching. Teo echoed Lim's sentiments. Lim, the 2023 Women's Open category champion, finished third this time. Teo secured second place in the 7km Women's Veteran category. In the Men's Open category, second place went to Belfon Mosolan (RM1,500) and third to Saidi Suni (RM1,000). For the Women's Open, second place was claimed by Luk Teck Bing (RM1,500) with Lim Siet Fah in third (RM1,000). Winners of the 7km Men's Veteran category were Hardy Suntol (RM1,000), Chu Chat Shan (RM700) and Lee Kok Eng (RM500), while in the 7km Women's Veteran category, the top three were Lim Set Hiang (RM1,000), Teo Lian Geok (RM700) and Lee Leh Ha (RM500). Sarawal Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Ministry representative Zulkanain Ismail presented the prizes.
The Star
2 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Surge in Covid-19 cases recorded
Virus making a comeback in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and US PETALING JAYA: As society becomes more relaxed about the perceived threat of Covid-19, the coronavirus has started to resurge in many countries, leading to an increase in reported cases. Between May 25 and 30, Thailand reported 65,880 new Covid-19 cases with three fatalities. Indonesia's Health Ministry issued a public health advisory following a resurgence of cases in several Asian countries. It urged citizens to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures. Both Hong Kong and the United States have reported an uptick in Covid-19 cases linked to the NB.1.8.1 variant. Singapore reported over 14,000 cases between Apr 27 and May 3. In Malaysia, the Health Ministry said an average of 600 cases were reported each week between Apr 14 and May 10. Malaysia reported over 11,000 cases between Jan 1 and May 10. These are the last available numbers released by the ministry. Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's professor of Public Health Medicine, said people have become lax as Covid-19 is no longer seen as a major threat now. People should be aware of the mutation of the virus and the new variants that would appear, she added. 'The most recent designated variant under monitoring (VUM) is NB.1.8.1, and it is considered highly transmissible but does not indicate higher virulence, or risk of hospitalisation or deaths. It has been stated that the current vaccine's coverage also covers the current strain and those at high risk such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with high comorbidity need to be vigilant,' she added. She said high-risk groups should wear a mask when they are outdoors or if they develop symptoms. Those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) should not miss their medication schedule. 'If you have Covid-19-like symptoms, it could also be adenovirus (usually mild), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and/or influenza,' she said. This can be determined by testing for Covid-19, or by visiting your healthcare provider for treatment and admission if necessary. 'The symptoms may mimic each other, or you can catch two diseases at the same time which is rare, but can occur,' she added. She said this new variant seems to cause symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache and gastrointestinal distress. 'Besides antigen testing, you may need to get a chest X-ray and blood test for confirmation to rule out pneumonia. Covid generally presents as non threatening symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and no need to follow up with MySejahtera app (like before),' she said. Former Health Ministry official and public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the rise in cases could be due to decreasing immunity either from natural infection or immunisation and people no longer observing precautionary measures like before. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on May 28 that since February, global SARS-CoV-2 activity has been on the rise, with the test positivity rate reaching 11% - levels that have not been observed since July 2024. 'This rise is primarily observed in countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions. Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a VUM, is increasing, reaching 10.7% of global sequences reported as of mid-May.' Recent increases in SARS-CoV-2 activity are broadly consistent with levels observed during the same period last year. However, there still lacks a clear seasonality in SARS-CoV-2 circulation, and surveillance is limited, it said. WHO also advised all member states to continue monitoring and applying a risk-based and integrated approach to managing Covid-19.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
B40 communities at risk without climate action
KUALA LUMPUR: Climate change is hitting Malaysia's rural and coastal communities hard, especially among the bottom 40 per cent (B40) income group, experts said. Erratic rainfall and frequent flooding are disrupting agriculture and fisheries, which are key income sources for households earning below RM5,249 a month. They warned that without a long-term adaptation plan, climate shocks could worsen existing vulnerabilities and deepen inequality in already underserved areas. "Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak are among the most affected states," said Universiti Malaya's Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies director Datin Seri Prof Dr Suhaiza Hanim Mohamad Zailani. She said these regions are particularly exposed to unpredictable monsoon patterns that compromise food security, fish catches and rice yields. "This starts a vicious cycle in which environmental instability feeds economic suffering," she said in a statement. Suhaiza cited Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Dr Nur Adilah, who noted that families often migrate to overcrowded cities lacking proper infrastructure. To counter this, Suhaiza said Malaysia could learn from Bangladesh and the Netherlands, which prioritise sustainable infrastructure and community involvement. She also cited Dr Shahrul Hisham, who said Malaysia has relied too much on short-term relief rather than long-term, community-based approaches. Suhaiza called for investment in flood control, renewable energy and decentralised systems such as solar or mini-hydro to support rural livelihoods. "Solar power or mini-hydro solutions help with water pumping, storage and other crucial agricultural equipment," she said. She added that diversifying into ecotourism or aquaculture could reduce dependence on fishing and farming. Financial protection is also essential, including emergency aid, crop insurance and targeted support for flood-prone communities. Suhaiza proposed a Climate Adaptation Fund and improved data systems to guide resources to where they're needed most. "Bridging the gap between policy and practice is crucial, and actively involving communities in resilience-building can have a noticeable impact," she added.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Vietnam aims to boost education, tech ties with Malaysia
BANGI: Vietnam is ready to work more closely with Malaysia in the fields of education, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in an effort to drive sustainable development and shared prosperity across the ASEAN region. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in a public lecture at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here today, said both countries share a vision of leading Southeast Asia's transition toward a knowledge-based, innovation-led future. 'We are two dynamically developing economies in Southeast Asia, sharing a vision of sustainable development based on knowledge, technology, and innovation. 'Vietnam is ready to work more closely with Malaysia for our common goal of sustainable development and the shared prosperity of both nations and the ASEAN community,' he said. Chinh delivered the public lecture as part of his visit to Malaysia for the 46th ASEAN Summit, which concluded yesterday. UKM's Royal Fellow Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UKM Board of Directors chairman Prof Datuk Mohamad Abd Razak were also in attendance. Chinh emphasised that the people are strategic assets and that breakthroughs in science, technology and digital transformation are 'key drivers and decisive factors' for national development, especially among developing countries in ASEAN. In light of globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Chinh stressed the urgent need for quality human capital development and the pivotal role of educational institutions. 'Now is the time for educational institutions to play a central role in preparing the workforce of the future, not just for one country, but for the entire region and the world,' he said. Chinh outlined five pillars for advancing university-level cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam, including high-tech human resource training; joint scientific research; academic exchanges; regional accreditation standards ; and startup innovation ecosystems. 'When Vietnam and Malaysia invest in knowledge, when young people today share a common aspiration, we can build a Southeast Asia that is not only a centre of production, but also a centre of ideas; not just a place to apply technology, but also to create knowledge and future technologies,' he said. He also proposed enhancements to deepen science, technology, and digital cooperation between the two countries including joint research, infrastructure development, and digital governance. 'I believe that educational cooperation will not only produce learning hubs and knowledge transfer centres, but also serve as centres of innovation, scientific research, and technology transfer across nations, regions, and globally. 'Knowledge is power. When two countries share and connect knowledge, and invest in future generations, no limit is insurmountable, and new milestones can always be achieved,' he said. In the same lecture, Chinh urged the youth of ASEAN to adopt a mindset of resilience, innovation and accountability in navigating an increasingly complex world. 'Today's youth must not rest on their laurels but should adopt the mindset of turning nothing into something, difficulty into ease, impossibility into possibility, and the unimportant into the essential, that is what truly matters,' he said while underlining the values of discipline and responsibility as critical traits for future leaders. He said the youths are the architects of progress and as such must embody five traits, namely: active learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, institutional and policy engagement, international integration, as well as cultural preservation and peace-building.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Vietnam seeks stronger education, tech ties with Malaysia for ASEAN's future
BANGI: Vietnam is ready to work more closely with Malaysia in the fields of education, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in an effort to drive sustainable development and shared prosperity across the ASEAN region. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in a public lecture at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here today, said both countries share a vision of leading Southeast Asia's transition toward a knowledge-based, innovation-led future. 'We are two dynamically developing economies in Southeast Asia, sharing a vision of sustainable development based on knowledge, technology, and innovation. 'Vietnam is ready to work more closely with Malaysia for our common goal of sustainable development and the shared prosperity of both nations and the ASEAN community,' he said. Chinh delivered the public lecture as part of his visit to Malaysia for the 46th ASEAN Summit, which concluded yesterday. UKM's Royal Fellow Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UKM Board of Directors chairman Prof Datuk Mohamad Abd Razak were also in attendance. Chinh emphasised that the people are strategic assets and that breakthroughs in science, technology and digital transformation are 'key drivers and decisive factors' for national development, especially among developing countries in ASEAN. In light of globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Chinh stressed the urgent need for quality human capital development and the pivotal role of educational institutions. 'Now is the time for educational institutions to play a central role in preparing the workforce of the future, not just for one country, but for the entire region and the world,' he said. Chinh outlined five pillars for advancing university-level cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam, including high-tech human resource training; joint scientific research; academic exchanges; regional accreditation standards ; and startup innovation ecosystems. 'When Vietnam and Malaysia invest in knowledge, when young people today share a common aspiration, we can build a Southeast Asia that is not only a centre of production, but also a centre of ideas; not just a place to apply technology, but also to create knowledge and future technologies,' he said. He also proposed enhancements to deepen science, technology, and digital cooperation between the two countries including joint research, infrastructure development, and digital governance. 'I believe that educational cooperation will not only produce learning hubs and knowledge transfer centres, but also serve as centres of innovation, scientific research, and technology transfer across nations, regions, and globally. 'Knowledge is power. When two countries share and connect knowledge, and invest in future generations, no limit is insurmountable, and new milestones can always be achieved,' he said. In the same lecture, Chinh urged the youth of ASEAN to adopt a mindset of resilience, innovation and accountability in navigating an increasingly complex world. 'Today's youth must not rest on their laurels but should adopt the mindset of turning nothing into something, difficulty into ease, impossibility into possibility, and the unimportant into the essential, that is what truly matters,' he said while underlining the values of discipline and responsibility as critical traits for future leaders. He said the youths are the architects of progress and as such must embody five traits, namely: active learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, institutional and policy engagement, international integration, as well as cultural preservation and peace-building.
