Latest from Barnama
Barnama
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Barnama
National Seed Council To Be Launched Soon To Address Monopoly Issues
PASIR SALAK, July 14 (Bernama) -- The National Seed Council, which is currently in the final stages of evaluation, will be launched soon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the body is crucial to ensure proper regulation of the seed industry in the country and prevent monopolisation by any particular company or country. "Let the management of seeds be done in an orderly manner, and we will have a national seed board to regulate all types of plant or livestock seeds in Malaysia," he said. The minister said this in a press conference following the Clearfield padi varieties MR CL3 and MR CL4 declaration at the FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn Bhd Padi Seed Centre in Seberang Perak today. Also present were the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak; Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) board chairman Dr Azman Ismail; State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun; and MARDI director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani. Mohamad also said that one of the council's key functions will be to establish a seed repository system or an official storage centre for all types of local agricultural and livestock seeds. "The padi seed centre will serve as a repository for all types of seeds available in the country, and in the event of any issues, we can use the repository to produce seeds for the future," he added. In June, KPKM, in a meeting, decided to designate MARDI as the lead agency for the National Seed Hub, in addition to establishing an advisory council comprising various experts to develop the coordinating body. Malaysia currently relies almost entirely on imported seeds, including 90 per cent of vegetable and watermelon seeds valued at RM2.7 million.
Barnama
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- Barnama
MOE's Cooperation Crucial For Safe Internet Campaign In Schools
KENINGAU, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Communications Ministry hopes the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to support the Safe Internet Campaign (KIS) so that the programme can be carried out in schools as part of efforts to improve digital literacy among students. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said this was important as KIS educates both primary and secondary school students about internet safety, given its increasing usage today. She said the campaign's content is tailored to suit the students' age levels — Level One for Years One to Three, and Level Two for Years Four to Six, as well as secondary schools. 'We are requesting cooperation from the MOE to allow us into schools so we can involve schools in educating students on how to stay safe online. 'For primary schools, KIS will carry out interactive activities to help them understand. They may not need too much exposure to issues like online gambling and scams, but cyberbullying is one of the key issues they might face,' she told reporters after attending the KIS programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Puteh here today. Teo said the KIS programme, launched on Jan 21, focuses on four areas — cyberbullying, online scams and gambling, child sexual exploitation, and data protection and digital literacy — and aims to reach over 10,000 educational institutions by the end of this year. She said school students are also provided with information on child sexual exploitation, which is seen as one of the issues they may encounter. A total of 344 schools nationwide are targeted to be involved in the KIS rollout from May to August this year, including 64 schools in Sabah. 'As of July 1, the programme has been implemented in 221 schools, involving 31,246 participants, comprising students, teachers and parents,' she said, adding that aside from schools, the campaign also receives support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in developing engaging co-curricular activities.
Barnama
36 minutes ago
- Business
- Barnama
Over RM260 Mln For Seven Energy Projects To Benefit 60,000 In Sabah, Labuan
KOTA KINABALU, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) has allocated over RM260 million for seven energy projects across Sabah and Labuan, aimed at improving electricity supply for 60,434 users, said Deputy Prime Minister and PETRA Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He said the projects, implemented by the Sabah Electricity Supply Special Project Team (PPKBES), involve substation upgrades, expanded grid connectivity and improved safety monitoring systems in Sipitang, Beaufort, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Ranau, Sandakan and Labuan. 'These initiatives have strengthened transmission and distribution infrastructure in Sabah and Labuan, ensuring a more reliable power supply, reflecting the federal government's commitment to energy resilience in line with the Malaysia MADANI agenda,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating the handover of the projects at the Kota Kinabalu Main Intake Substation (PMU KKBU) today. Also present were PETRA Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and PETRA secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli. Fadillah said the PMU KKBU project includes a new gas-insulated switchgear and transformer facility to replace outdated systems, along with new cabling to enhance electricity supply to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. He also highlighted the completion of a seven-kilometre transmission line from the Menggalong PMU to the Sipitang-Lawas border, one of PPKBES' high-impact projects, which was completed on Sept 2 last year. The line will allow the import of 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Sarawak once Sarawak Energy completes its section in September. 'This grid is designed to carry up to 500 MW and is a key component of the ASEAN Power Grid, connecting Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and the Philippines for sustainable cross-border energy sharing,' he noted. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
39 minutes ago
- Science
- Barnama
Bako Research Station Bolsters Sarawak's Biodiversity Stewardship
KUCHING, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government has strengthened its commitment to tropical biodiversity research and conservation with the official launch of the Bako Research Station, located about 30 kilometres from here, today. The State Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, described the Bako Research Station as more than just a physical facility as it is a vital platform for knowledge exchange, scientific innovation and long-term efforts to protect Sarawak's rich biodiversity. 'The station's impact goes beyond Bako National Park. Its research capabilities will benefit SFC (Sarawak Forestry Corporation) and surrounding communities outside the park's boundaries,' he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) statement today. A product of strategic collaboration between Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the SFC, he said the research station aims to serve as a hub for scientific discovery and environmental stewardship. 'Findings by researchers and students here can help SFC better manage national parks throughout Sarawak. We must find ways to manage these parks that balance ecosystem preservation with the needs of nearby communities,' he said. Len Talif hoped that the new research station would serve as a catalyst for broader public understanding and support for conservation, as he acknowledged that awareness among local communities about the value of national parks remains limited. He said the partnership between UNIMAS and SFC is expected to elevate Sarawak's standing in global biodiversity research and strengthen both institutions' international profiles. 'There is a wealth of knowledge here at Bako that we can share with the world. We have achieved notable success in this field, and it's time to build on that,' he said. The Bako Research Station is equipped with research laboratories, field equipment storage, and fully equipped teaching and learning facilities to support both academic and field-based studies.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
AI Generated Labels Will Protect Users, Boost Digital Literacy
By Siti Baaqiah Mamat KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- Using AI Generated labels on all content produced by artificial intelligence (AI) will protect users from digital fraud and online safety threats. Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation Cyber Security Committee deputy chairman Lt Col (R) Mustaffa Ahmad said such labels could serve as an early warning to users in identifying any content, and boost digital literacy among the public as many still find it hard to differentiate between original content and those manipulated or produced completely by AI. 'So this labelling is very important to protect users who are easily exposed to digital fraud, especially senior citizens. 'For instance, there was a viral AI video of a new tourist location with a cable car that deceived an elderly citizen into going there but the place didn't really exist. So it's not just a technology issue, but about user safety and protection,' he told Bernama. He said the labels would serve as an education tool for the public so that users would be careful about information shared or viewed on social media. Meanwhile, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Department of Information Security and Web Technology senior lecturer Dr Noor Zuraidin Mohd Safar stressed on the importance of clear and complete guidelines to ensure the effectiveness of the labels and to avoid confusion among users and industry players. Without a clear definition, labels like 'AI Generated' risked to be misinterpreted and would affect the confidence of users and the creative industry, she cautioned. 'The government has to set a clear definition on what is considered AI content. Is it only content produced completely by AI or includes content that uses AI for an early draft, idea or title,' she said, adding that the guidelines would also help avoid too stringent use that would end up stifling creativity, especially among independent content creators and small companies using AI as support tools.
