Latest news with #Fatimah
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
40-year crunch with a cult following
Recipe for success: A worker preparing an order of muruku in Guar Perahu, Bukit Mertajam — Bernama BUKIT MERTAJAM: A proudly Malaysian-made snack has stood the test of time since 1984, gaining loyal customers locally and abroad thanks to its unique recipe passed down through the generations. The homegrown brand, run by a husband and wife team from Guar Perahu, here, continues to thrive with its authentic flavours and commitment to natural ingredients. Idris Alias, 67, and Fatimah Ishak, 63, started their muruku business from home after Fatimah inherited the recipe from her mother-in-law. Fatimah said the uniqueness of their product lies in its use of natural ingredients without any colouring and it contains no eggs, anchovies or other animal-based products. 'Because of that, our muruku is suitable for those on a vegetarian diet,' she told Bernama. She said that when they first started the business, she was seven months pregnant. 'As a result, we only made small batches. We had little capital, but I still gave it a try by taking orders from friends. 'We started at home and gradually expanded our business. Nine years ago, we opened a shop in Kubang Semang. 'We reinvested our profits and the business gradually grew,' she said. Fatimah said over 85% of their customers are from the Chinese community, with Chinese New Year being the peak season every year. 'We once received an order from Taiwan but had to turn it down due to high shipping costs. However, the customer came here personally and bought a large quantity to bring back,' she said. Fatimah said they currently use two frying machines, although only one operates on normal days with a production capacity of 150kg per day. During festive seasons, output can reach up to 200kg daily. Meanwhile, Idris shared that their family business is now supported by their son and daughter-in-law. Speaking about the challenges faced as entrepreneurs, he said limited operating space remains the main issue in meeting high demand, which has even led them to decline offers to place their product in a convenience store chain. Nevertheless, the couple is determined to expand the business in the future, with hopes of passing it on to their only child. 'My advice to young entrepreneurs is to first identify your product and your target customers. Patience is essential in the business world. 'Most importantly, as Muslims, we must always give charity and pay zakat. That is the key to sustained blessings, not just in terms of income, but also health,' Idris said.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Targeted initiatives to reduce poverty, youth unemployment in Dalat, says minister
Fatimah (seated centre) in a photocall with community leaders after the press conference. DALAT (July 17): The Sarawak Ministry of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development is intensifying efforts to tackle poverty and youth unemployment in Dalat through targeted initiatives and inter-agency collaboration, said minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. Speaking at a press conference at Kompleks Kebajikan Dalat today, Fatimah said two key meetings involving community leaders and government agencies were held to address these issues. In the first meeting, she said they reviewed poverty data and discussed strategies to uplift affected households. 'According to data provided by the Sarawak Development Office (SDO), there are 161 households identified as poor in the Dalat area. 'All names were verified on the ground with input from community leaders and agencies present. Some were found to have exited poverty as they now own assets. 'However, before their names are officially removed from the poverty database, SDO will conduct further verification visits,' she said. Fatimah added that assistance is being provided to eligible households through the Welfare Department and empowerment programmes. 'Some receive monthly financial aid, while others are supported under the low-income empowerment scheme through provision of equipment tailored to their specific needs, with the aim of improving their household income,' she said. She also mentioned that households with unverifiable or outdated information will be removed from the list. 'Our KPI (key performance index) is to revisit these 161 households by year-end to assess the outcomes of our interventions,' she added. On youth unemployment, she revealed that based on 2023 data, Dalat has 105 unemployed graduates, with 29 actively seeking employment. 'For those currently working, we are analysing the nature of their jobs and qualifications. Some are under temporary contracts,' said the Dalat rep. To address this, she said the ministry will roll out follow-up programmes including skills training, career development workshops, and sharing sessions. Agencies like Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) will be invited to provide job market guidance, while advisory counters and exhibition booths will be set up to support young jobseekers. Separately, Fatimah announced that the Dalat District Office has received approval for the appointment of new community leaders and extension of terms for existing ones. 'This is part of an ongoing exercise to ensure committed and resilient leadership at the grassroots level,' she said. She also disclosed an allocation of RM491,000 under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government's housing repair grant, benefitting 38 homes in local villages. 'Each village must have at least one home selected for repair, ensuring fair and equitable distribution. 'If a village has no homes in need of repair, the quota will be reallocated to another in greater need,' she said. Fatimah praised the quality of work under the programme, likening some repairs to newly built homes. 'From 2018 to 2025, a total of 470 recipients have benefited from the Home Improvement Programme, amounting to RM6.47 million in funding,' she said. Dalat fatimah abdullah poverty targeted initiatives youth unemployment
Borneo Post
17-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Hand and Sign Day 2025 to boost sign language awareness among S'wakians, says Fatimah
Fatimah (seated centre), officials from SSD and Sedidik, and organising committee members, show the sign language for 'I Love You' during this photo opportunity. KUCHING (July 17): The upcoming Hand and Sign Day 2025 celebration can be a catalyst to popularise the use of sign language among Sarawakians, said State Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. She said bridging this communication gap would help foster better understanding, acceptance and integration of the deaf community into mainstream society, including employment sectors. She noted many people still feel awkward or unsure when communicating with deaf individuals, and attributed this discomfort to language barriers. 'We need to spread word that sign language is not only for those who are deaf, but is applicable to the larger community such as parents of deaf children or parents of ordinary children or any individual,' she said at the launch of Hand and Sign Day 2025 at the Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) Building here. Fatimah also lauded the Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD) and SeDidik Sarawak for jointly organising the event, which will be held on Oct 25 at the Association of Churches Sarawak Hall at Jalan Stampin here. She commended SSD's initiative to hold a graduation ceremony during the event for those who have completed the sign language programme, and said it was a significant milestone towards recognising sign language proficiency as a valuable qualification. Fatimah also welcomed the idea of a long-term collaboration between the society and SeDidik Sarawak to empower the use of sign language in the state, and pledged the Sarawak government's support within its capacity. 'This is the kind of social inclusivity that the Sarawak government has always championed. We are ready to help where we can to make this collaboration a success,' she assured, adding that Sedidik recently produced 98.4 per cent of teachers who received certification certificates for the basic sign language course in Bahasa Malaysia. The ceremony also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SeDidik and SSD to collaborate in efforts to empower the use of sign language from an early age. fatimah abdullah Hand and Sign Day 2025 Sarawak Society for the Deaf
Borneo Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dalat a model for rural education success, says Fatimah
Fatimah (centre) presents a financial study aid to a student in Dalat today. DALAT (July 16): Dalat is fast becoming a model of success in Sarawak's rural education efforts, where strategic, data-driven policies are being used to tackle poverty and widen access to higher learning. State Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the Dalat constituency has shown that well-targeted financial aid and strong community involvement can transform lives and strengthen local development. She revealed that Since 2010, the Dalat Education Committee has disbursed RM952,050 in aid, benefitting over 1,800 students pursuing certificate, diploma, degree and other higher education programmes. 'This is not just financial assistance, this is an investment in our children's future and in Dalat's socio-economic development. 'Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and we must ensure that every child who earns a place at university has the means to go,' she said during the N.56 Dalat Education Committee Assistance Presentation Ceremony at the Dalat Service Centre here today. Fatimah said the aid, drawn from Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocations, aims to reduce the financial burden on families—particularly for upfront costs such as travel, deposits and essential supplies. 'Sometimes students don't even enrol because of financial constraints, even after receiving a university offer. That should never happen,' she said. Looking ahead, Fatimah announced that her ministry will meet this week with the State Development Office (SDO) and local community leaders to verify and update national poverty data under the eKasih system for Dalat. 'This is to ensure that our aid reaches the right people. We don't want outdated or inaccurate data. We'll work with village chiefs and community leaders to clean the list and identify those truly in need,' she said. She noted that this grassroots verification method had been effective in addressing hardcore poverty, and would now be applied to target relative poverty in the district. Fatimah also expressed concern about the rising number of unemployed graduates returning home, saying many had pursued fields that are no longer in demand. To address this mismatch, she said the Sarawak government will begin offering free higher education at state-owned institutions starting in 2026, but only for courses with strong job prospects such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), law, and finance. 'Graduates must not only obtain degrees, they must be employable. This is why we are focused on guiding students toward fields with strong job prospects,' she said. She also revealed that her team is working with the Resident's Office to identify unemployed graduates in Dalat, with plans to organise a job fair or training initiatives in collaboration with agencies such as the Social Security organisation (Perkeso). Among the education assistance available is the Sarawak Special Financial Aid of RM1,200 per year disbursed in two instalments via Yayasan Sarawak. Graduates who return to Sarawak after completing their studies are also eligible for a one-off RM300 grant, claimable twice. Fatimah urged all eligible students to apply, while reminding them of the sacrifices made by their families. 'We eat simply so our children can dream big. We hope our students remember this and stay motivated to succeed, not only for themselves but for their families and community,' she said. She reaffirmed her ministry's commitment to ensuring fair access to education and creating meaningful opportunities for rural youth. 'This is a long-term investment in Dalat's future. We want our children to succeed, come back, contribute, and lift their families and our community to greater heights,' she said. Dalat fatimah abdullah rural education
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Sexually explicit material access made easy by internet, smartphones
PETALING JAYA: Smartphones and around-the-clock internet access are exposing Malaysian youth to pornography earlier than ever, raising alarms over mental health, sexual development, and public safety. 'It's starting younger, spreading faster and it's all on mobile,' said Dr Fatimah Ahmad Fauzi, president of Malaysians Against Pornography (MAP) and public health medicine specialist at Universiti Putra Malaysia. A 2021 study from a college in Penang found nearly three-quarters of students had watched porn at least once, while Unicef's Disrupting Harm–Malaysia report revealed 27% of internet-using children had seen sexual images in the past year, with 17% actively searching for them. 'The earlier the exposure, the higher the risk of compulsive use later,' Fatimah warned. But she believes the trend, although worrying, is 'actionable', if parents, educators and policymakers act together. MAP is calling for evidence-based education and tougher digital safeguards to prevent curiosity from turning into dependency. Fatimah stressed that compulsive porn use isn't just a private matter. 'Frequent viewing is linked to mood disorders, sleep loss and, in boys, changes to hormone levels and lower semen quality,' she said, citing China's MARHCS study, which investigates the influence of environmental and socio-psycho-behavioural factors on male reproductive health. It focuses on young, healthy male college students as participants. Beyond physical health, research shows addiction fuels earlier sexual activity, more permissive attitudes towards casual sex and greater acceptance of sexual violence. 'Compulsive use erodes wellbeing, damages relationships and undermines public health goals.' Local data echo these concerns: Malaysian studies have linked regular porn consumption to higher levels of depression, anxiety and poorer academic performance. In 2017, the country ranked 19th globally for daily porn searches. MAP tracks studies connecting porn exposure to social harms – including higher rates of premarital sex, multiple partners, risky sexual practices and normalisation of sexual aggression.
