logo
TUDM chief personally takes to the skies

TUDM chief personally takes to the skies

The Star20-05-2025
Soaring high: Jen Mohd Asghar Khan (left) makes history as the first TUDM chief to fly an aircraft at Lima. — Bernama
LANGKAWI: Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Jen Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan made history by becoming the first chief to fly an aircraft at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) air show in its 37-year history.
Jen Mohd Asghar Khan opened the air show from the cockpit of a Su-30MKM fighter jet enthralling thousands of spectators.
Equally impressive was the aircraft, known as 'Toruk Makto', which means Rider of the Last Shadow from the movie Avatar, that featured the iconic Jalur Gemilang livery.
TUDM said Jen Mohd Asghar Khan, who carried the call sign 'Gunjiz', was in action flying alongside Gong Kedak air base commander Kol Mohd Norazan Othman, who carried the call sign 'Sting'.
'During the 12-minute flight, the aircraft performed various extraordinary manoeuvres, some of which were incapable of being performed by other fighter aircraft, capturing the attention of local and international guests present on the opening day of Lima'25,' the statement said, Bernama reported.
It said that Jen Mohd Asghar Khan's direct participation not only reflected his patriotic spirit but also demonstrated the commitment of TUDM's top leadership to uphold professionalism, courage and organisational excellence.
Jen Mohd Asghar Khan, who began his career as a TUDM pilot in 1985, also has experience flying A4 Skyhawk, F-5E and MiG-29N fighter aircraft.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FBP 2025 Positions Balik Pulau As Cultural Tourism Hub
FBP 2025 Positions Balik Pulau As Cultural Tourism Hub

Barnama

time10 hours ago

  • Barnama

FBP 2025 Positions Balik Pulau As Cultural Tourism Hub

BALIK PULAU, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Balik Pulau Festival 2025 (FBP 2025) is positioning the area as a key cultural tourism destination in Penang, highlighting its rich arts, heritage and traditional cuisine beyond its famed durians. National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) deputy director-general (Policy and Planning) Mohd Radzi Omar said the festival, first introduced in 2019, also boosts Penang's economy by benefiting cultural entrepreneurs and art practitioners. 'This event showcases the diversity of Penang's cultural heritage and is crucial in sustaining the state's cultural tourism industry,' he told reporters at the festival's closing ceremony at Balik Pulau Sports Complex today. The ceremony was officiated by State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hong Wai and attended by Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik. Mohd Radzi said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) approved RM1.38 million in cultural sector grants to 25 Penang cultural associations and companies last year, with RM490,000 approved so far this year to further boost activities. Ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, he said similar cultural festivals have been held in Perlis, Perak and Kelantan, with upcoming events planned in Kedah, Terengganu and other states. Wong said the festivals help promote Penang's cultural identity and provide economic spillovers, particularly for rural and suburban communities. Muhammad Bakhtiar expressed hope the event would be listed as an annual tourism calendar highlight. FBP 2025, themed Kembali Riuh di Lik Lau, was the second edition organised by MOTAC through JKKN in collaboration with the Balik Pulau MP's office and Warmina Penang Association.

Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Attracts Over 37,000 Visitors On Opening Day
Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Attracts Over 37,000 Visitors On Opening Day

Barnama

time15 hours ago

  • Barnama

Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Attracts Over 37,000 Visitors On Opening Day

LABUAN, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 got off to a vibrant start yesterday, drawing a total of 37,130 visitors on its first day alone. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the impressive figure was recorded through the artificial intelligence-based closed circuit television (AI-CCTV) monitoring system operated by the Labuan Corporation that is used to manage crowd flow and ensure visitor safety throughout the five-day event. 'Crowd response is overwhelming and reflects the growing popularity of the BFF as a premier tourism and cultural attraction in Labuan,' she said after visiting the festival grounds today. Dr Zaliha added that the festival not only brings colour and joy to the island, but also serves as an economic catalyst, especially for local businesses, vendors, homestay operators and eateries. 'With more than 37,000 visitors in just one day, we are already seeing the economic spillover. Hoteliers, food stalls, local artisans and even home-based entrepreneurs are benefiting tremendously from this influx,' she said. This year's BFF 2025, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', features floral parades, garden installations, traditional dance and music performances, and exhibitions that showcase Borneo's rich botanical and cultural heritage. The event also includes participation from neighbouring regions such as Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei. The inaugural festival was graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, further elevating the significance and prestige of the event's opening day. Over 50,000 visitors are being targeted to attend the five-day celebration, which runs until July 30.

Irfan Zaini aims to bridge Malaysian, global film industries
Irfan Zaini aims to bridge Malaysian, global film industries

Sinar Daily

time18 hours ago

  • Sinar Daily

Irfan Zaini aims to bridge Malaysian, global film industries

Irfan, whose full name is Muhammad Irfan Mohamed Zaini, 30, achieved an impressive milestone by appearing in three Tamil films alongside renowned star Thalapathy Vijay, 51, who is also actively involved in politics in Tamil Nadu, India. 27 Jul 2025 12:01pm According to Irfan, the opportunity to act in India did not come easily. It required nearly five years of back-and-forth travel, meeting directors and producers, and even being scammed by individuals who made false promises. - Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR - Behind his calm demeanour and modest smile, rising actor Irfan Zaini harbours a big dream-not just to be known on the local screen, but to serve as a bridge connecting the Malaysian film industry to the international stage. Irfan, whose full name is Muhammad Irfan Mohamed Zaini, 30, achieved an impressive milestone by appearing in three Tamil films alongside renowned star Thalapathy Vijay, 51, who is also actively involved in politics in Tamil Nadu, India. Irfan said that in trying to break into the Kollywood industry, there's no set strategy to follow, but his deep passion drove him to work hard and patiently wait for his chance. - Bernama photo The young actor from Kuala Lumpur made his debut in the film Kuruvi (2008) at the age of 12, followed by Greatest of All Time (GOAT) (2024), and is now working on Jana Nayagan, which is currently in production and expected to be released early next year. According to Irfan, the opportunity to act in India did not come easily. It required nearly five years of back-and-forth travel, meeting directors and producers, and even being scammed by individuals who made false promises. "People think I went there and immediately got acting roles, but the truth is, I lost a lot of time, money, and energy. Many are still waiting for their chance, but I consider myself lucky because I was desperate to act in India,' he said in an interview with Bernama recently. He said that in trying to break into the Kollywood industry, there's no set strategy to follow, but his deep passion drove him to work hard and patiently wait for his chance. "Maybe others would have given up halfway,' he added. Irfan, who gained recognition among Malay audiences after starring in Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, said acting in India opened his eyes to the vastly different work culture, with productions managed in a more professional and structured manner. "In Malaysia, a film might have only two to four assistant directors. But in India, they can have over 20. "Each has a specific role-some handle the filming locations, others coordinate hundreds or even thousands of crew members, and some focus solely on planning complex sets like large-scale action scenes. Everything needs to be managed efficiently and quickly,' he explained. He added that most film crew members in India are part of a film workers' union that protects their welfare, including compensation in the event of injury or death during filming. "But in terms of quality-like camera work and storylines-I think Malaysia is already on par with India, even though our films are mostly made with smaller budgets,' he said, expressing his determination not only to make a name abroad but also to open more doors for collaboration between the Malaysian and international film industries. He pointed to the Indian film industry's recent focus on pan-India films, which bring together actors and crew from different regions such as Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam, and are released in multiple languages simultaneously-creating a nationwide phenomenon. "If they can bring together actors from different cultures and languages, I believe we too can start collaborating with neighbouring countries like Korea, Thailand, or Indonesia. "So when foreign actors appear in our films, our market will grow even bigger,' he said, believing that such a model could elevate Malaysian cinema on the global stage. - BERNAMA

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store