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Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Little fighter Shao Heng needs your help once again
Five-year-old Lim Shao Heng requires a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy to allow feeding directly into his stomach. (Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia pic) PETALING JAYA : In December, FMT Lifestyle shared the story of Lim Shao Heng, a In December, FMT Lifestyle shared the story of Lim Shao Heng, a five-year-old who has endured more challenges than most people face in a lifetime. Born with multiple medical conditions including cerebral palsy and cyanotic congenital heart disease, he also experiences severe developmental delays and has a stomach disorder that prevents him from swallowing food on his own. For the past five years, he has been fed through a nasogastric tube, which is inserted into a nostril, down the esophagus and into the stomach. He was only about a month old when his parents placed him under the care of Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia (formerly known as the Malaysian Association for the Welfare of Mentally Challenged Children). Since then, he has been residing at the association's home on Jalan Gasing here. More recently, Shao Heng began experiencing frequent fevers and has been diagnosed with multiple complications including poor nutrient absorption, increased risk of infection, as well as discomfort and inflammation around the feeding area. He now needs to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, a procedure that enables feeding directly into the stomach, which would help Shao Heng live more safely and comfortably. Your support could help provide Shao Heng a brighter future. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle) Due to the severity of Shao Heng's heart condition, doctors have advised that the procedure must be carried out urgently and under specialised medical care. The association now aims to raise an additional RM30,000 to cover the cost of his surgery and related medical expenses. They began fundraising on July 12 and are appealing for the public's support. 'He's only five years old but has had to fight harder than most adults,' case worker Jesslyn Tan told FMT Lifestyle. 'Your support is not just a kind gesture – it is a lifeline. Together, we can give Shao Heng the fighting chance he deserves.' If you wish to help, contributions can be made directly to Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia, Ambank account number 8881 0609 91545. Please reference 'CASE 56' in your transaction, and email a copy of your receipt to [email protected] or send it via WhatsApp to Jesslyn Tan at 016-216 6950. For further information, visit Persatuan Kebajikan Sayap Kasih Malaysia's Facebook profile.
Free Malaysia Today
08-07-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Aunty Jenny, guardian of Klang's forgotten stray dogs
Jenny Khong has been rescuing dogs for 25 years. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) KLANG : For housewife Jenny Khong, it started 25 years ago with a single scruffy pup her son rescued. Already known in Klang for feeding strays, Jenny's devotion to stray dogs grew – and so did her reputation, drawing angry residents to her feeding spots. 'I go out and feed the dogs around midnight because if I go out early, people will be waiting for me. They've scolded me, 'why do you come here and feed the dogs? Because of you, there are more dogs here,' Khong, 62, shared with FMT Lifestyle. 'I have no choice. I still have to say sorry to them because I don't want anything to happen to the dogs,' she added. One rescue became many, and soon her home was overrun by dogs. After years of sending them to a nearby shelter, she opened her own in 2014 – and eventually, a proper facility to keep up with the growing numbers. The shelter in Klang houses nearly 80 stray and abandoned dogs. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) 'Luckily, there was a person who gave me this area, built it up for me to house my dogs,' she recalled, referring to her current shelter. Today, Khong cares for over 80 dogs, including 30 she moved from her old shelter after Chinese New Year this year. Tucked down a dirt road in Pandamaran, Klang, Jenny's tidy shelter has secure enclosures, crates for tougher cases. Her day starts early – letting the dogs out, cleaning for hours with her two live-in workers, then feeding the dogs after a quick lunch break. 'Some shelters just use one big feeding container for all the dogs. I don't like that. Here, every dog gets its own bowl,' Khong explained. After mealtime, everyone rests, then the next clean-up starts before calling it a day, only to do it all over again tomorrow. Khong spends the entire day with her shelter dogs. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) Khong's dedication knows no bounds. Years of caring for dogs took a toll on her health – she has undergone spinal surgery and now struggles with swollen legs. But quitting was never an option. Giving these animals a second chance means too much. 'I pity the dogs. I cannot just let them go out like that. And some of the dogs that people dump … when you look at them … their condition is very, very pitiful,' she said. One of her most memorable rescues is Tony, a cancer-stricken dog whose owners wanted him put down. She took Tony in, and nursed him back to health – but when she offered to return him, his owners didn't want him back. 'He said he already took in another puppy,' she said of Tony's previous owner. 'This made me really sad because from small Tony was with the owner.' That moment sealed her decision: Tony would stay with her. Today, he's one of the beloved old-timers at the shelter. Each dog at the shelter has its own bowl of food. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) Caring for dogs like Tony, however, doesn't just take time and love – it takes a lot of money too. Running the shelter, which includes paying her helpers, costs over RM7,000 a month. Vet visits, which are frequent, can easily rack up bills of RM1,000 or more each time. That's why, beyond caring for her own pack, Khong is passionate about tackling the root problem. When asked how to reduce the number of strays, she didn't mince words. 'I really don't understand why all these owners who have been keeping the dogs for so long … just dump them outside and let them suffer. The government should do something about it. This is the only solution. 'They should have a law to fine those who abandon their dogs on the streets. As rescuers, we can't do much,' she said. Khong says she pities the dogs which are abandoned and so will keep on rescuing them. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) While Khong is content with being the guardian of Klang's unwanted dogs, she still pins her hopes on more kind-hearted Malaysians chipping in to help keep the shelter running. 'I really need people to come forward to help me … donations for the dogs' medical bills, their food, and my helpers. I'm not working. 'And to all who have donated and supported me all these years, I want to say thank you,' she concluded. If you wish to donate to Jenny Khong's shelter, contact her son Lester at 017-669-5142.
Daily Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Brothers behind Minedu AI, show the genius of young Malaysians
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 By: Sheela Vijayan FMT Lifestyle Text Size: Mohammad Parsa Parhizkar (left) and Mohammad Rohan Parhizkar, who enjoy playing Minecraft, were inspired to turn the game into a learning platform. (Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA: Like many boys their age, brothers Mohammad Parsa Parhizkar and Mohammad Rohan Parhizkar enjoy playing Minecraft, the popular block-based video game. But one day, they had a spark of genius – what if Minecraft could also be used for learning? So they set out to invent Minedu AI, an educational platform in Minecraft Java Edition, powered by AI. Through a plug-in, the game is transformed into an interactive classroom where users can learn primary school level science and biology by asking questions and receiving answers. The boys' innovation earned them a gold medal at the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE), along with the 'Best Young Inventor Excellence Award (Primary Level)'. WYIE is part of the International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition and Exhibition 2025, that was held in May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. 'Winning made me very happy,' Parsa, 12, told FMT Lifestyle. Rohan, who turns 10 in September, added: 'I was very excited. Parsa and I were very hyped, and we celebrated a lot.' During the interview, the brothers demonstrated how their invention works. When questions like 'How does the human heart work' and 'What is photosynthesis?' were asked, Minedu AI provided clear, easy-to-understand answers – making learning enjoyable and engaging. Users can also ask questions in Malay or Mandarin, making the platform accessible to a wider range of students. The platform can also generate quizzes to test users' understanding of a topic, and then review the answers afterward to assess their performance. However, if users type in a question like 'How can I kill myself?', they will receive information on how to seek help instead. 'Minedu', Rohan explained, is a combination of the words 'Minecraft' and 'education'. The duo also shared that Minedu AI is powered by Gemini API, which provides users with access to Google's most advanced generative AI models, collectively known as Gemini. The brothers, who learned coding from a tutor and by watching tutorial videos on YouTube, took about two months to invent Minedu AI. The process got bumpy at times, and they had to troubleshoot repeatedly. Still, they were determined to make it work and when it finally did, the feeling was unbelievable. 'I literally jumped out of my seat – I was so happy,' Parsa recalled. Their mother, Zahra Mohana Gebril, said: 'We are very happy and proud of them. They had a fire in them to see it through. Even when they failed several times or the system crashed, they still kept going.' Their father, Behrang Parhizkar, said the boys' strong sense of determination comes from their active involvement in sports, namely Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling. The brothers have won multiple gold and silver medals in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling competitions, both locally and internationally. Most recently, Rohan bagged a gold medal and Parsa, a silver medal, at the 2025 Pan Asian Gi & No Gi Jiu-Jitsu International Open in the Philippines on June 28. Behrang shared that Google Malaysia also extended their support by providing Parsa and Rohan with a complimentary Gemini license and other resources. With their parents' support, the brothers have launched their own startup, Minedu AI Enterprise, and begun commercialising their invention. Every Saturday, they also conduct a paid workshop at their school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 8 (1), where they teach their peers how to use Minecraft and Minedu AI. Next, they plan to further develop Minedu AI by adding more primary school level subjects and other features. They also aim to create a similar educational platform for Roblox, another popular gaming platform. To other young Malaysians eager to create and innovate, Parsa offered this simple yet powerful message: 'Don't give up and keep going!'
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
GP for toys: meet Tan Guan Poh, a toy doctor
Tan Guan Poh, fondly known as GP, brings broken toys back from the brink of retirement. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) SUBANG JAYA : Did you have a favourite toy growing up? The one you couldn't wait to play with after school or insist on bringing everywhere? Then one day, it broke. And just like that, you had to say goodbye to it. Or maybe you're a parent now, delicately breaking the news to your child that their beloved toy is spoilt beyond repair. Or is it? Tan Guan Poh, a 'toy doctor' with a remarkable ability to repair broken toys is bringing joy to many children – and relief to their parents. 'A doctor gives life back to a patient. As a toy doctor, I give life back to toys. Whether it's changing the batteries and putting in new parts, my role is to make sure they work again,' said the 75-year-old. From spoilt battery-operated toys to 'injured' Barbie dolls and soft toys, GP is on a mission to save them all. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) Although he primarily works his magic on battery-operated toys, he also mends soft toys and performs 'surgeries' on Barbie dolls with broken body parts. Drawing a comparison between the human body and toys with an integrated circuit (IC), he explained: 'Wires are just like blood vessels. They connect to the 'heart', which is the integrated circuit. The connections must be good – they cannot be broken. Just like how a broken blood vessel causes a stroke!' The toughest repairs, he added, are remote-controlled toys – but that's not stopping the good doctor from figuring it all out. Funnily enough, he's popularly known as GP – short for Guan Poh, but also the abbreviation for 'general practitioner'. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not! GP with his wife, Linda Oon and grandson, Dawson Tang. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) GP earned the nickname of 'toy doctor' after he started repairing toys for the Re:Play Project in 2023, which also marked his foray into the world of mending toys. This initiative by social enterprise Play Unlimited collected toys from the public and manufacturers, among others, before cleaning and distributing them to marginalised communities. A former manufacturing engineer, GP put his skills in electronics, wiring, and soldering to good use – and when a toy needed stitching, he was ready too, thanks to his mother who taught him how to sew as a kid! His repair process, he shared, involves careful troubleshooting and when things get tricky, he turns to YouTube videos and Microsoft Copilot for help. Giving broken toys a second chance has given GP a renewed sense of purpose in his golden years. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) GP also gives certain toys 'new life' by converting battery-operated ones to run on USB power. 'Batteries aren't environmentally friendly, so I use USB cables,' he explained. Plus, it means saving money on endless packs of batteries! Indeed, GP, who is also a part-time hospital chaplain, has extended his compassion beyond patients who are unwell to toys in need of 'healing' – and, just as importantly, to the children who love them. Last year, he recalled, a woman asked him to mend a soft toy that her son had cherished since birth. He successfully performed the 'procedure' and the boy's joy made GP's day too. He also hopes to inspire children to rediscover the joy of playing with real toys – not just digital ones. 'With a handphone, they can only see things. Of course, they can see toys, but they cannot feel these toys. When they hear the sounds from a toy and hold soft toys, it creates a sense of connection. Got a toy that needs 'healing'? The toy doctor is just a call away. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) 'With real toys, you develop a sense of ownership over something you love. Eventually, you'll love people too – instead of just treating them like a handphone, something you just use and that's it. You become more loving in that sense.' More than just giving broken toys a second chance, GP shared that his repair work has given him renewed sense of purpose in his golden years. It also keeps his mind active – and nothing beats seeing a child's face light up when their beloved toy is saved. GP also hopes to pass down his knowledge of toy repair, even to older individuals. 'For the elderly, if you have some skills, use them to help the younger generation. It's a way of giving back.' Need the services of the toy doctor? Contact Tan Guan Poh at 017-492 7988.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists stunned after discovering rare firefly in unexpected location: 'I knew something was different'
Scientists have discovered a firefly that was previously classified as another species is actually a rare Gombak bent-winged firefly. Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh, a leading entomologist and senior lecturer at Monash University Malaysia's School of Science, spearheaded this work. She found the specimen with her research assistant, Tan Wei Jack, in October, per FMT Lifestyle. Not only is this the third known specimen of this firefly species in existence, but Wan Faridah and Tan also found it in a surprising place. It was discovered in Bukit Kiara, a forested area in Kuala Lumpur. It was originally thought to be another genus of firefly. One of its features didn't fit the profile, though. "That was the moment I knew something was different," Tan said. "Based on the knowledge I had at the time, I thought that fireflies from the genus Pteroptyx only lived in mangroves. As it turns out, this is the first bent-winged Pteroptyx found outside of mangroves." This is also the first specimen of the Gombak bent-winged firefly to have been found in 90 years. Wan Faridah identified the second such specimen, collected in 1935, in 2019. The discovery sparks hope for the diverse ecosystems in Malaysia. Even though firefires are small, Wan Faridah explained in a TED talk in 2023 that they "are so much more than just pretty lights." "They are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. The life cycle of fireflies keeps the ecosystem balanced. Each firefly species, in each indicative life stage, has specific needs for habitat to thrive," Wan Faridah said. In other words, if fireflies disappeared, it could lead to more significant disruptions down the line, possibly contributing to food insecurity as the agricultural pests they usually chow down on lose their natural predators and begin to wreak havoc. Good Good Good suggests a few ways you can take action to protect fireflies no matter where you are. Avoiding pesticides and weed killers as well as planting native species is a great place to start. Reducing your use of artificial light, especially at night, can also help fireflies and nocturnal animals that rely on the light of stars and the moon to navigate. Leaving leaves alone after they fall can also keep fireflies' habitats intact and help many other insects and animals. Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. As for the Gombak bent-winged firefly, Wan Faridah suggested that spreading the word about the unique creature might help inspire people to take action to protect it. "What worries me is that we don't know whether we have found the Gombak bent-winged firefly at the brink of extinction. So, we are racing against time now," she said, per FMT Lifestyle. "Every species rediscovered is proof that extinction isn't inevitable, but it does require effort. If more people know about these fireflies, maybe more will be done to protect their habitats." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
