Latest news with #Haziq
The Star
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Midfielder Haziq fitting in nicely with Harimau Muda's playstyle
PETALING JAYA: Ahmad Haziq Kutty Abba ( pic ) was given a new position, but the national midfielder proved he has the heart and hunger to adapt to the style of the team. He was brought in during the second half as a centreback in the match against the Philippines and although Malaysia lost 0-2 in their opening Group A match of the AFF Under-23 Championship in Jakarta on Tuesday, the 20-year-old Haziq stood out. Haziq, who is the younger brother of national team enforcer Syamer Kutty Abba, looked composed and confident, helping to stabilise a backline that had struggled in the first half. 'It felt unfamiliar at first, but the coaches prepared me before I came on,' said the Penang player. 'They told me to stay calm, be focused, and help stop the counterattacks.' Haziq's mature display was a bright spark for Harimau Muda, who now face a do-or-die path in the tournament. With only the group winners progressing to the semi-finals, Malaysia must win both remaining matches against Brunei today and tournament hosts Indonesia on Monday to stay alive. Haziq insists the squad have moved on from the loss and are focused on what lies ahead. 'Yes, we were frustrated after the game, but now our mindset is clear. We have to bounce back. 'We're not underestimating Brunei. We know every match is tough at this level. We need to learn from our mistakes and improve in every aspect. 'Our coach (Nafuzi Zain) told us to convert our chances, control the tempo, and improve communication on the pitch. We're focusing on recovery and sharpening our game for Brunei. We take it one match at a time.' Malaysia's next opponents, Brunei, were hammered 8-0 by Indonesia in their opening game but that result has not lulled the team into a false sense of security. Captain Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, who partners with Haziq in central defence, echoed the importance of staying grounded. 'We're not underestimating anyone, just like we didn't underestimate the Philippines,' said the Terengganu defender. 'We lost because of our own mistakes. We need to put a better effort against Brunei.'
The Star
12-07-2025
- General
- The Star
NGO faces upstream battle to remove invasive fish species in local rivers
IPOH: Drastic action is needed to curb the release of foreign fish species into local rivers, says the founder of Skuad Pemburu Ikan Asing, a Selangor-based NGO. Mohd Haziq A. Rahman said that invasive fish species were commonly found in areas such as the Klang Valley, Selangor and Perak. 'The effort taken by our team is that we go out almost daily to rivers across the Peninsula. "We also work closely with related agencies and state governments to carry out foreign fish removal activities," he said in a press conference on Saturday (July 12). As of July, the group has removed approximately 52 tonnes of foreign fish from local waterways, mostly ikan bandaraya, which is their area of focus. 'Of this total, 30 tonnes were caught in the Klang Valley, while the rest were from states like Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Melaka and Penang,' he said. Haziq said their presence in Perak aims to raise public awareness over the critical situation, similar to Selangor and the Klang River, where foreign fish populations are high. 'We hope our presence here will encourage the Perak government to take proactive measures, as other states have done. 'In Selangor, for instance, the state government provides an incentive of RM1 for every 1kg of foreign fish caught. This has had a positive impact and we hope to see similar support in Perak, " he added. Meanwhile, Perak environment committee chairman Teh Kok Lim urged the public to increase their awareness of the importance of protecting rivers from pollution and the uncontrolled release of foreign fish species. He said any fish-releasing activities into public waters must be referred to the Perak State Fisheries Department. 'The state government takes the issue of river pollution and ecosystem disruption very seriously, especially when it comes from the irresponsible release of foreign fish species into rivers, lakes, ponds and former mining pools. 'Foreign species such as Redtail Catfish, Peacock Bass and ikan bandaraya can cause significant ecological damage. These species often alter the structure of riverbeds and pond banks and disrupt the natural habitat, " he said. Teh added that these foreign fish also pose a threat to native species, which plays a role in maintaining local biodiversity. 'The presence of invasive species not only damages these sensitive ecosystems but also risks spreading diseases and could lead to the extinction of local fish populations. 'In the long term, this situation could negatively impact local economies, particularly those reliant on fisheries and eco-tourism,' he said. He also reminded that the release of foreign or invasive fish species can lead to legal action under the Fisheries Act 1985 and its related regulations. 'Preserving our rivers requires the cooperation of all parties, from government agencies and NGOs to local communities and individuals. "Every action we take today will determine the environmental legacy we leave for future generations,' he said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 'fish hunters' fight back against invaders wreaking havoc on local rivers: 'It's better to take action than to just leave it alone'
A group of Malaysian fishers, over 1,000 members strong, have become "fish hunters," scouring their local rivers for suckermouth catfish and other invasive species, Al Jazeera reported. The group was started by Mohamad Haziq A Rahman in 2022. He and other anglers started meeting almost every week to cast their nets into the local rivers and pull up pound after pound of invasive, unwanted fish. Invasive species are not native to an area. They're usually bought in by humans — in this case, likely by aquarium owners, since suckermouths are popular aquarium cleaners — and from there, they start to take over. Without natural predators and competitors, they multiply rapidly. They can prey on other species — for example, suckermouths eat the eggs and destroy the nesting areas of other fish — and can also damage the habitat, such as when suckermouths burrow into riverbanks and cause erosion. All of that damage is bad for the environment, but it's also bad for people. The communities living along Malaysia's rivers no longer have access to the traditional native fish and other aquatic species from the region, as catfish are crowding them out, and the riverbank erosion affects the geography of the whole area. That's why Haziq and his companions catch as many catfish as they can, hauling up nets full of the unwanted fish and returning repeatedly to any area where they're especially plentiful. "Yes, this fish won't be completely gone from our rivers," Haziq told Al Jazeera. "But if we don't act now, it would be worse. It's better to take action than to just leave it alone. At least we can reduce the population, than allow it to completely take over our local fish." The catfish they catch from many of the local rivers isn't safe to eat due to pollution — and it's not a first-choice food even when it's safe. While the fish hunters do occasionally eat their catch, they mainly bury it away from the river. Lately, they've been getting more creative, handing the fish over to entrepreneurs who want to turn it into products like charcoal, leather, collagen, or fertilizer. Around the world, other communities are also working to cull invasive fish from their waters. Some locations have competitions, and others are playing up the promise of free food. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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.
New Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A touch of Liverpool in Man Utd's downfall at Bukit Jalil
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian, who is an avowed Liverpool fan, was given the task of stopping the Reds' arch rivals, Manchester United, at Bukit Jalil on Wednesday. Reserve goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli played in the last 10 minutes and tasked with protecting the Asean X1's 1-0 lead over the Red Devils. This he did, and Haziq found himself part of the Asean side that achieved a famous win over the 20-time English champions in the Maybank Challenge Cup. After the match, when interviewed by the host broadcaster, Haziq said: "I don't idolise any United players, because I'm Liverpool." And he cheekily said he had a hand in Man Utd finishing the season without a trophy, not even the Maybank Challenge Cup, which was supposedly easier to win than any of the trophies in England. "It was a short time together with the team, I managed to adapt quickly. But honestly, as a goalkeeper, it's stressful. If United had scored, I'd be remembered for all the wrong reasons. "So I just focused fully, for that 10 minutes of madness," he said. After his Man Utd experience, Haziq could be called into action against Vietnam in a crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10 at the very venue where he denied the Red Devils.
