
Liek Hou grateful for award from King
KUALA LUMPUR: National para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou is thankful for the Bintang Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) awarded to him in conjunction with the official birthday celebration of, King of Malaysia, at Istana Negara on Monday.
Liek Hou described the award from Sultan Ibrahim as an extraordinary recognition of his badminton career.
'I am proud of this achievement. To me, it's like I have reached a different level because I have brought glory to the country on the international stage,' he said.
Liek Hou was among 14 individuals who received the KMN award at the presentation of the 2025 federal awards, medals and honours in conjunction with His Majesty's official birthday.
Currently, Liek Hou is focusing on his recovery process from a leg injury before returning to competitive action next year.
The 37-year-old is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist, having emerged victorious in the men's SU5 category at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions.
He has also won the world title 14 times in two categories - men's singles (eight times) and men's doubles (six times). — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
60pct of house fires caused by electrical issues
PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia has attributed about 60 percent of house fires in the country to electrical issues. Director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the main causes include unsafe wiring, non-compliant electrical modifications and excessive use of electrical appliances. "Many people take electrical safety at home lightly. Old wiring, frequent tripping of switches and the use of high-powered appliances like air conditioners, water heaters and chest freezers often lead to electrical overload," he told Bernama. He added that common mistakes, such as directly reconnecting a blown fuse or bypassing electrical safety systems, can spark major fires, especially if the system fails to cut off the power during a short circuit or overheating. Nor Hisham advised homeowners to have their wiring inspected by a licensed electrician every 10 to 15 years to detect possible electrical leaks, particularly in older houses or newly completed homes. "Don't take early signs of electrical faults lightly. If a socket in your home keeps tripping, don't just ignore it, call a qualified electrician to fix the problem," he advised. Nor Hisham said cooking is also among the main contributors to house fires, especially when the kitchen is left unattended or gas leaks occur. He added that property losses from fires in 2023 were estimated at RM1.6 billion, down from RM2.66 billion the previous year, despite an increase in the number of structural fires. "Factors such as the fire department's swift response and greater public awareness, including the use of fire extinguishers at an early stage, have helped reduce losses from house fires," he said. Nor Hisham recommended that every building and home be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher to enable immediate action should a fire break out. "Our core value is the principle that prevention is better than cure. According to the Sendai Framework study, every ringgit invested in preventive measures can yield a return of RM8 in reduced losses," he said. "In other words, investing RM1 is expected to cut potential disaster-related losses by RM8," he explained. The Sendai Framework is an international agreement that sets out measures to reduce disaster risks, to lower death tolls, reduce the number of people affected and minimise economic losses and infrastructure damage caused by disasters. From 2015 to 2030, the framework also stresses the importance of understanding disaster risks, strengthening governance, investing in risk reduction and boosting preparedness.


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
About 60% of house fires caused by electrical issues, says Bomba
PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department has attributed about 60% of house fires in the country to electrical issues. Director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the main causes include unsafe wiring, non-compliant electrical modifications and excessive use of electrical appliances. "Many people take electrical safety at home lightly. Old wiring, frequent tripping of switches and the use of high-powered appliances like air conditioners, water heaters and chest freezers often lead to electrical overload," he told Bernama. He added that common mistakes, such as directly reconnecting a blown fuse or bypassing electrical safety systems, can spark major fires, especially if the system fails to cut off the power during a short circuit or overheating. Nor Hisham advised homeowners to have their wiring inspected by a licensed electrician every 10 to 15 years to detect possible electrical leaks, particularly in older houses or newly completed homes. "Don't take early signs of electrical faults lightly. If a socket in your home keeps tripping, don't just ignore it, call a qualified electrician to fix the problem," he advised. Nor Hisham said cooking is also among the main contributors to house fires, especially when the kitchen is left unattended or gas leaks occur. He added that property losses from fires in 2023 were estimated at RM1.6bil, down from RM2.66bil the previous year, despite an increase in the number of structural fires. "Factors such as the fire department's swift response and greater public awareness, including the use of fire extinguishers at an early stage, have helped reduce losses from house fires," he said. Nor Hisham recommended that every building and home be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher to enable immediate action should a fire break out. "Our core value is the principle that prevention is better than cure. According to the Sendai Framework study, every ringgit invested in preventive measures can yield a return of RM8 in reduced losses," he said. "In other words, investing RM1 is expected to cut potential disaster-related losses by RM8," he explained. The Sendai Framework is an international agreement that sets out measures to reduce disaster risks, to lower death tolls, reduce the number of people affected and minimise economic losses and infrastructure damage caused by disasters. From 2015 to 2030, the framework also stresses the importance of understanding disaster risks, strengthening governance, investing in risk reduction and boosting preparedness. - Bernama


Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Thai-Cambodia truce: Malaysia urged to turn focus to Myanmar crisis
Published on: Sunday, August 03, 2025 Published on: Sun, Aug 03, 2025 Text Size: A school was destroyed in northern Cambodia during the five-day border conflict. PHNOM PENH: Following its successful mediation of the Cambodia-Thailand border truce, Malaysia may now seek to apply a similar conflict resolution model to one of Asean's most intractable challenges – the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's assertive diplomacy is redefining Asean's role, transforming the bloc from a passive consensus-based forum into a more active regional player capable of navigating complex crises, according to political observers. In just four months as Asean chair, Anwar has secured two major diplomatic breakthroughs in addressing long-standing regional crises – moves that have drawn praise from the international community. Former Indian Ambassador to Thailand Anil Wadhwa noted that Anwar's proactive approach is challenging Asean's longstanding principle of non-interference - necessary to address the ongoing crises and issues like human trafficking and scams. 'By doing so, Malaysia is restoring Asean relevance in addressing the Myanmar crisis and promoting human security in the region. Malaysia will do well to ride on its success in the Thai-Cambodia conflict and try the Asean mediation between the military regime and the NUG and other disparate groups,' Anil told Bernama from New Delhi. Anil, who served as India's envoy to Thailand from 2011 to 2014, underscored the urgency for Asean to develop a workable political framework to address Myanmar's multi-layered crisis – one that has defied solutions for decades. Anwar, however, broke the bitter diplomatic deadlock in mid-April. He met Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok and also consulted the National Unity Government (NUG) representatives to allow the flow of humanitarian aid into earthquake-hit regions – a rare moment of cooperation between the two rival entities. Most recently, Anwar hosted a high stakes meeting in Putrajaya between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, successfully defusing tensions along the two countries' shared border. The ceasefire, widely seen as a major Asean achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians. The 77-year-old leader's diplomatic masterstrokes brought the much-needed calm to the border communities on both sides and helped save thousands of lives. Otherwise, it could have turned into a costly military confrontation, destabilising the region. Still, Myanmar's situation presents a more complex challenge. The country's civil war involves some 20 ethnic armed groups, many of whom have been fighting for autonomy or independence since 1948. With over 135 recognised ethnic groups and competing visions of governance, the path to peace is steep. 'Asean needs leadership – and Anwar is providing that,' remarked Kavi Chongkittavorn, a senior fellow at Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies in Bangkok. 'He is making Asean more relevant under Malaysia's leadership, Timor-Leste is accepted into Asean, and to solve the Myanmar crisis, Asean needs the leadership too. 'Now Asean can engage superpowers, especially the US and China and others more effectively. Malaysia announced the new Vision 2045 that envisages the bloc as future-ready. Anwar is doing exactly that. It will take time to further rebrand Asean,' he told Bernama. He also highlighted the significance of the Thai-Cambodia ceasefire, calling it a milestone, especially since Thailand had previously rejected Asean mediation during similar border clashes in 2008 and 2011. While the world's focus shifted to the border tussle in recent days, Myanmar continues to grapple with its domestic predicaments from economic hardship, natural calamities, raging civil war in various states and internally displaced people. The military coup on February 1, 2021, has displaced at least three million people, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. 'The only way to solve the crisis in Myanmar is for the military government and the NUG constituents to come together to discuss power sharing, revenue sharing formula and open humanitarian corridors. The people of Myanmar need to be freed of their burden,' said Anil. The military government recently lifted its four-year-old state of emergency and has announced plans to hold national elections in December. Whether Asean, under Malaysia's leadership, can facilitate meaningful dialogue in Myanmar remains to be seen. But as Anwar continues to chart a more assertive course, political analysts agree: Asean may be inching closer to becoming a truly effective regional actor. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia