Latest news with #UniversitiTeknologiMalaysia
The Star
a day ago
- General
- The Star
Touching lives with quiet generosity
UPLIFTING underprivileged communities and ensuring education opportunities for the people are causes that have always been close to the heart of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. In line with this, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty mooted the Bangsa Johor Bahagia (BJB) initiative in 2019 to better the lives of urban poor communities by engaging people of various ages in activities such as modern farming and reading. Through this project, the previously run-down Kenari and Jentayu flats in Kangkar Pulai in Johor Baru have undergone a massive transformation over the years. The flats are now equipped with facilities such as community spaces, a disposal facility for used items, a library, as well as herb and vegetable gardens cultivated by the residents. In March 2024, the Queen also inaugurated the BJB container library in Kangkar Pulai. During the event, Her Majesty expressed hope that the container library initiative would be extended to low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia to cultivate a more widespread reading culture. According to a recent posting on Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page, BJB is under the patronage of Their Majesties' charity foundations Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor and Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her Majesty handing out personal contributions and food baskets to the underprivileged community in the Federal Territories in conjunction with the National Day celebration in August 2024. — Photo from Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page 'The BJB programme at the flats has been successful since its implementation in 2019. Now, Her Majesty wishes to expand the programme to the Taman Plentong Utama flats (in Johor Baru) to improve the lives of the community there,' said the post. On May 5 this year, the Queen granted an audience to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and other state leaders at Istana Bukit Serene to discuss the expansion of the BJB initiative in Taman Plentong Utama, which would include the integration of artificial intelligence. Raja Zarith Sofiah, who is also the Permaisuri of Johor, has a keen interest in academia. She often emphasises the importance of education and creating opportunities for youth to master English, enabling them to take their place on the global stage. She once said that as a developing nation, it is important for Malaysian children to be trained in reading, writing and speaking English to help them become confident writers and speakers. The Queen herself is fluent in multiple languages, including Mandarin, French and Italian. Born at Batu Gajah Hospital in Perak on Aug 14, 1959, Raja Zarith Sofiah is the second daughter and third child of the late Sultan of Perak, Almarhum Paduka Seri Sultan Idris Shah II, and his consort Almarhumah Raja Perempuan Muzwin Almarhum Raja Ariff Shah. The Queen received her primary education at SK Datin Khadijah and her secondary education at SMK Raja Perempuan Kalsom in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Her Majesty continued her secondary education at Cheltenham Ladies' College, a top-ranked all-girls boarding school in England, and is an alumna of the University of Oxford. There, Raja Zarith Sofiah earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies from Somerville College and graduated in 1983. Her Majesty in conversation with artistes (starting third from right) Sherry Alhadad, Zizan Razak and Datuk M. Nasir during an afternoon tea session with the local creative industry in April this year. — Photo from Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil's Facebook page Her Majesty married Sultan Ibrahim on Sept 22, 1982, during his tenure as the Johor Crown Prince. They are blessed with six children – five princes and a princess. The royal couple's dedication to their responsibilities has been their hallmark, and they have never wavered in carrying out their duties with sincerity. Weekly engagements with the people and community leaders, along with visits to various Johor districts, have been the norm since the start of their marriage. When floods struck parts of Johor in March this year, Raja Zarith Sofiah visited victims at two temporary relief centres in Kampung Maju Jaya and offered her personal contributions. The Queen also took time out of her busy schedule to visit the family of Squadron 503 Air Tactical Officer Lt Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohd Marzukhi, who tragically lost his life when two helicopters collided and crashed at the navy base in Lumut, Perak, on April 23 last year. During her visit to his home in Negri Sembilan, the Queen offered words of comfort to his young sons and extended a personal donation to his widow. The Queen also graced a breaking-of-fast event with 60 single mothers and 240 orphans at Istana Negara in the capital city during Ramadan this year. Aside from her official duties, Her Majesty has a passion for painting – a talent she inherited from her late father. Her Majesty is also a strong supporter of the arts and attended an afternoon tea with notable members of the local creative industry in April this year, including National Film Development Corporation chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, singer Datuk M. Nasir and actor Zizan Razak. Attended by about 400 guests, including school students, the event was the brainchild of the Queen herself, designed to showcase talent and foster positive interactions between local artistes and students. When gracing official functions, Raja Zarith Sofiah frequently showcases Johor's identity through her fashion choices. Her Majesty exuded regal beauty and royal authority in a baju kurung Johor adorned with golden hibiscus embroidery at Sultan Ibrahim's installation ceremony as the 17th King of Malaysia at Istana Negara on July 20 last year. During last year's National Day celebration in Putrajaya, Her Majesty donned a sweet pink baju kurung kain benang Johor alongside Sultan Ibrahim. Her Majesty also wore an elegantly regal blue baju kurung made of kain benang Johor during the royal couple's three-day state visit to Brunei last October, marking their first official trip to the kingdom since ascending the throne. Her traditional attire showcased the Queen's motif intricately woven into the songket Johor Maharani pattern, a design crafted exclusively for Raja Zarith Sofiah, with the blue hue symbolising one of the colours of the Malaysian flag. A post on Sultan Ibrahim's official Facebook page highlighted that kain benang Johor is a plaid-patterned, handwoven fabric similar to songket, embodying a cherished part of Johor's cultural heritage. 'The production of kain benang Johor takes place entirely at Galeri Tenun, located within the Sultan Abu Bakar Heritage Complex in Johor Baru,' the post shared. As Malaysians celebrate the official birthday of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah's steadfast presence beside His Majesty continues to inspire with her quiet dedication, compassion and tireless service to the people.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
UTM's student-led cat neutering drive tackles stray surge
JOHOR BARU: Nineteen stray cats were neutered under a student-driven initiative at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), which was aimed at controlling the surging feline population on campus. The Catch-Neuter-Return (CNR) campaign was organised by UTM's Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. The academy's student Lokman Hafiz Asary, who is also the programme director said the campaign dubbed Snip to Save Paw-sitive, was launched in response to a spike in abandoned and pregnant cats spotted across UTM grounds. The CNR campaign, backed by Language Academy chair Professor Madya Dr Hadina Habil, is part of a larger corporate social responsibility programme to educate the UTM community about responsible animal welfare. Commenting on recent cases of animal abuse on campus grounds nationwide, Lokman said neutering alone may not stop such cruelty, but it is a crucial first step in tackling stray overpopulation, - a key trigger in many abuse incidents. "At UTM, our programme goes beyond population control. It raises awareness, educates communities, and fosters a culture of empathy and responsibility," he said. UTM's holistic approach, he added, creates safer spaces for animals, while it reflects UTM's broader mission to humanise individuals through compassion, ethical conduct, and social responsibility. "Feeding and neutering alone will not fix this. It's our duty to educate the students that overpopulation of stray cats on campus grounds could lead to culling and abuse," Lokman said. He also founded the LA Pawrents, a WhatsApp group that sparked the project. The group of student volunteers began by mapping out unneutered cats, with a focus on females. They were trained to identify signs of prior sterilisation before trapping the animals. The cats were then transported to Noah's Ark Animal Clinic for the procedure, in collaboration with Noah's Ark Natural Animal Shelter. Beyond the neutering exercise, awareness sessions and poster campaigns were held to sensitise the campus to the needs and rights of stray animals. A workshop titled "Young Creators: Using AI & Canva to create children's Books" was also organised to introduce creative ways to embed animal welfare messages into children's media. "This is not a one-man show. We need the community to step up," Lokman said.
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
22-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Aiming sky high with self-built rocket project
JOHOR BARU: Some 40 engineering students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) have been working together for the past nine months, designing and building their own prototype rocket, which is expected to fly about 3,000m in the air. Their aim now is to make the nation proud as the rocket, named Rimau 1, is slated to be part of the International Rocket Engineering Competition 2025 (IREC 2025), which will be held in Texas, the United States, next month. Final year mechanical engineering student T. Arykummara, who is also the project director, said their 2.8m-long rocket, weighing 28kg, was made from scratch using locally sourced materials.'Only the propulsion for the rocket has been sourced from overseas. We have allocated a budget of about RM150,000 for the project. 'We hope to launch the rocket, which is expected to travel about 10,000ft or roughly a distance of 3km before two parachutes are deployed for it to safely land,' he said in an interview. Arykummara said this was a major feat for the students, mostly third and final year students from various engineering background, who are all members of the UTM Rocketry Team. 'We are the only Malaysian team selected for the competition. 'We went through four levels of judging since November last year with the final green light given earlier this month,' he said. Initially, about 400 teams from around the world submitted their designs but in the first round, that number was narrowed down to about 170 teams. 'Now, about 160 teams will be vying in the final round of the competition,' Arykummara said, adding that they divided themselves into seven teams to manage the project including structural, electronics, aerodynamics, propulsion, safety, recovery and payload. 'We also have a management team which is tasked mainly with sourcing for funding for the project,' he said. He also thanked the team's five UTM lecturers who are their advisers for the project, as well as the sponsors who helped with funding and materials for the rocket. In 2022 and 2023, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) took part in the competition. 'This year, we were supposed to collaborate with USM but they withdrew in the early stages, so we went in all the way,' Arykummara said. He added that their rocket is now 95% ready and only needs some minor finishing touches, including a coat of paint. Asked if they have tested the rocket, he said everything is good in theory as they do not have the propulsion system to test it yet. 'We cannot simply test the rocket because a propulsion system is something that is strictly controlled in Malaysia. 'So, we can only try it out once we are in the United States,' he said, adding that their rocket will be transported in four different components which can be assembled together. He also said their biggest challenge is lack of funding as they can only take 10 people, including a lecturer, for the competition. 'We started crowdfunding a few days ago as we hope to raise about RM86,000 to bring along six other students,' he said, hoping that individuals or companies will donate via the UTM Rocketry Team's social media accounts. Arykummara said if given a chance, they would like to bring everyone who played a role in the project as it would be a good place for them to meet and exchange ideas with other international teams and companies. Lecturers Dr Ahmad Humaizi Rozaini and Dr Muhammad Faruq Foong Mohamad Faiz Foong, who are among their advisers, said they were proud of their students' achievements. 'We were initially sceptical about the idea but once we saw their determination and passion, we encouraged them. 'Even the university assisted with some funding,' they said, hoping that the project would be a success and achieve the right altitude after lift-off. They also hoped that more engineering students would be inspired to come up with designs and join competitions to showcase their talent and creativity.
Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
6 UTM students escape blazing bus in Johor Bahru
The bus which caught fire at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia campus in Johor Bahru this morning. (X pic) PETALING JAYA : Six Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students escaped unharmed when a bus they were in caught fire on the public university's campus grounds in Johor Bahru today. Kosmo quoted UTM as saying the incident occurred at the bus stop on Jalan Lingkaran Ilmu, near the electrical engineering faculty. It is understood that the bus driver stopped the vehicle after hearing an explosion at the back of the bus. Discovering that the right rear tyre had caught fire, he attempted to extinguish the fire it but failed. 'The students and staff involved reported no injuries. An internal investigation is ongoing to identify the cause of the fire,' said the university. Meanwhile, Sinar Harian reported fire and rescue department operations commander Kamarulzaman Salleh as saying they dispatched a fire engine with six personnel after receiving an emergency call at 9.58am. 'When we reached the location at 10.04am, we found the fire had burnt nearly half of the bus. There were no victims,' he said. He said the fire was fully extinguished at 11.06am.
