‘Tap into creative industry’

‘Tap into creative industry’

‘Tap into creative industry’

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 12:04AM
By SHAHRIZAN SALIAN | news@nst.com.my

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government had taken steps to support and assist the creative industry to expand and make a mark on the international stage.

"Even though Malaysians have a high degree of creativity, they will not be able to shine if (this creativity) is not  channelled into sustainable activities that are based on profitable business models.

"It will also be difficult for creative individuals to stand out."

Najib was speaking before presenting  RM21 million in funding, provided under the MyCreative Venture Capital fund, to 15 creative enterprises here yesterday.

The RM200 million fund, managed by  government investment arm MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd (MyCreative), is aimed at helping creative companies grow.

Najib said the Malaysian creative industry currently contributed 1.3 per cent to the GDP compared with developed countries, such as the United States, South Korea and Japan, which contributed up to seven per cent.

He said this was because many local companies did not possess a proven track record, which would allow them to obtain financing from banks and expand their businesses.

"Without a good record, it will be hard for us to convince  banks that our company has a good idea or project that can bring them high returns.

"This is why we introduced this fund, which will allow us to provide financing without placing too much importance on track records, but instead emphasise  creativity and projected returns on investments."

He stressed that even though the initiative was relatively risky, the government needed to provide opportunities for young Malaysians to grow their talent.

"I believe that what we are doing today will bring great benefit to our local creative industry."

Besides contributing to the GDP, Najib said the creative industry could also introduce the country's national identity to the outside world.

He cited South Korea which succeeded in improving its international image through Korean pop music, or K-pop, by focusing on its high-technology culture and creative sectors.

"The question is, why haven't we been able to do the same? We can.

"I am sure what we are doing today is not a starting point, but a sign giving us the direction for us to move the creative industry to a higher level."

Datuk Seri Najib Razak being briefed by Point of Education president Yoke Chin during the prime minister's tour of exhibitors selected for funding under the MyCreative Venture Capital fund in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Nashairi Mohd Nawi

705 pupils shift to safer location

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 12:09AM
By ILI SHAZWANI | shazwani.ihsan@nst.com.my

The school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) yesterday agreed to move the pupils to SMK Tengku Budriah as it was unsafe to expose them to smoke coming from the Padang Siding landfill fire.

The school had been ordered to  close for two weeks.

State Education Department Communications and Registration Unit head Yusuff Man said the pupils would be allowed to return to SK Pauh, located 700m  from the landfill, once the air quality improved.

In SJK(C) Sin Min, some 190 pupils resumed their classes at the school yesterday in  air-conditioned rooms  to prevent them from being exposed to the polluted air.

Headmaster Tan Keat Eng said  classes would be held in the school hall, library and meeting rooms until the situation improved.

He said 70 parents, who attended a meeting with  state Education Department officers yesterday, decided to turn down a proposal to temporarily relocate their children to SJK(C) Hwa Sik, which was 3km away.

"We will hold  classes in the rooms until the air quality  improves.

"For the time being, we have also suspended outdoor activities."

The department had ordered both schools to  close  last Thursday and Friday following air pollution from the landfill fire.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Fazli Haroon said they expected the smoke to clear within a week.

He said the department had brought in a hyro-sub machine with the capacity to pump up to 6,500 litres of water per minute to put out the  fire.

Pupils of SJK(C) Sin Min in Pauh having their lessons in the school hall yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid

Body of missing land officer found

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 11:50PM
By NURUL HUDA ROSLAN | news@nst.com.my

  His body was found floating in Sungai Kampung Tajin in Kuala Berang at 10.30am by three teenagers who were fishing in  the river.

  The body, clad in an orange T-shirt and dark blue track bottoms, was located 4km  from where his car was found parked last Saturday.

  State Criminal Investigation Department Chief Assistant Commissioner K. Manoharan said police found his car keys in his trouser pocket.

  "The body was taken to Kuala Berang Hospital and later transferred to  Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital  for post-mortem," he said.

  "The body was  bloated. We believe the victim has been dead for more than 24 hours."

  Manoharan said Wan Hariff Rafany's family members had identified the body and police were waiting for the autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

  "For the time being, we have classified it as sudden death."

  Manoharan said the victim's wife, Noorul Shazrina Shafiee, 33, had lodged a missing person's report at 6pm last Saturday after her husband failed to return home.

  "The deceased did not tell his wife where he was going but she believed he had gone to a nearby mosque for Subuh prayers."

  Police later found the Audi A4 parked in front of the Syarikat Air Terengganu treatment plant in Kampung Gaung, Kuala Berang, more than 40km  from Kuala Ibai.

  The car was locked and in good condition when police found it at 9.30pm.

  Manoharan urged the public not to speculate on the case as investigations are ongoing.

Wan Hariff Rafany Wan Muda's colleague Suhailawati Saida (left) comforting his children Wan Nor Sofia Hana (centre) and Wan Iman Nasrid at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, Kuala Terengganu yesterday. Pic by Tg Syamim Tg Ismail

2-year-old girl trapped in blaze dies

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 12:13AM

Siti Salwani Othman, 28, had to be helped by family members when she was overcome by grief after seeing the remains of Nurul Adryana Lateesya Mohammad Asyri, who was trapped in one of the bedrooms in the wooden house.

The toddler was with her grandmother, Siti Zanyah Yaakob, 74, and her brother, Danial Mukhriz Mohammad Asyri, 4, when the fire broke out at 10.45am.

It is learnt that Siti Zanyah had just finished praying in the living room while Nurul Adryana Lateesya was drawing in the bedroom.

Siti Zanyah said she had left the child alone to pray when she felt an intense heat and found that the fire had spread to the house entrance.

"At the same time, I saw Danial Mukhriz trying to save himself but Nurul Adryana Lateesya was nowhere to be seen. Only then, I realised that she was still inside the house and I shouted for help. By then, the fire had spread rapidly."

Siti Zanyah said she was staying in the house with her husband, Othman Md Hassan, 77, together with her daughter, son-in-law, and four of their children.

"There were only three of us at home as my husband, my daughter, my son-in-law and two of my grandchildren were at work and school."

State Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Taman said the victim was found in a bedroom downstairs.

"We received a distress call at 11am and the first fire engine arrived three minutes later. We located the body after the fire was contained about 11.20am," he said, adding that 25 firemen from the Prai, Bukit Mertajam and Perda fire stations, with the help of volunteers, were involved in putting out the blaze.

Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Man, who visited the grieving family, presented cash aid from ZPP.

Firemen consoling Danial Mukhriz Mohammad Asyri after a fire killed his sister at their home in Jalan Rohzan, Cheruk Tok Kun, yesterday. Pic by Danial Saad

Anifah: PM to witness inking of treaty in Manila

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 11:55PM

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said discussions on expanding trade and investment between Malaysia and the Philippines would be intensified once the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed tentatively this year.

Boosting economic ties with the Philippines is one of the issues expected to be raised during President Benigno Aquino's two-day official visit to Malaysia starting Feb 27.

"The peace talk is progressing well. Among other things, an invitation will be issued to Najib to witness the signing (of the peace deal) in Manila some time this year," Anifah said at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, yesterday.

It was reported that the CAB would be signed between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

As the facilitator of the peace process, Malaysia has hosted 43 rounds of talks since 2001.

Anifah said Malaysia was happy with the progress in the southern Philippines and hoped there would be peace there.

Last month, the Philippine government and MILF signed the last annex of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro in Kuala Lumpur, with the hope of bringing peace and prosperity to Mindanao. They also signed the Addendum on Bangsamoro Waters.

Bishop said Australia appreciated Malaysia's role in facilitating the peace process.

"We support the peace negotiations and I will be travelling to the Philippines this week and reiterate our support for the process."

Anifah said other things to be raised during Aquino's visit included illegal immigrants in Sabah.

"I have brought up the matter with my Philippine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario."

He said Malaysia's bilateral ties with the Philippines was strong and as Asean member states, both countries continuously engaged in matters of common interest.

Anifah also said Malaysia would reiterate its invitation to the Philippines to set up the latter's foreign mission in Sabah.

On Malaysia-Australia ties, Anifah said both countries would boost business and investment opportunities following the signing of the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement on Jan 1 last year.

"Among the potential areas are finance, insurance, telecommunications and manufacturing," he said, adding that education continued to be an integral part of Malaysia-Australia relations.

"Malaysia looks forward to encouraging more Australian students and researchers to study and carry out their research in Malaysia."

He said other topics discussed at the meeting included Australia's new foreign policy, which would focus on economic and public diplomacy via its flagship initiative, the New Colombo Plan.

"Malaysia welcomes Australia's interest to invite Malaysia to take part in the New Colombo Plan next year."

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Fariz Iswadi

18 homes get RM5,000 each

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

18 February 2014| last updated at 11:44PM

Each home received RM5,000. The donation was presented at a luncheon organised by the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and YTL Corporation Bhd, here.

The recipients included the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge, Rumah Victory, Shelter Home for Children, Rumah Charis, Ti-Ratana Welfare Society, Ci-Hang Chempaka Welfare Association and Seri Setia Old Folks Home.

Rosmah, who is the president of Bakti, also feted about 500 orphans, senior citizens and physically challenged people to lunch at the event held at a hotel. Bernama

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor giving 'ang pow' to children at a luncheon in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Effendy Rashid


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