Latest news with #NationalLandscapeDay2025
The Star
14-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Penang embraces pinang revival to reclaim heritage
Left: Sundarajoo (in white) and Baderul Amin (left) watering 'pinang' sapling at the event, with MBSP councillors. Photos: — LIM BENG TATT/The Star THE pinang tree – once so common it gave Penang its name – is getting a big push for a comeback. Locals are welcoming a state plan to plant 100,000 pinang trees across the mainland and island, calling it a meaningful way to restore Penang's natural identity. Technician Mohd Azri Adzemi, 38, said it was a timely move. 'Penangites should be proud of this initiative because we will again have so many pinang trees all over the state to remind everyone of how our state got its name,' he said. Irsyam: The pinang tree is more than just a tree for Penang. Mohd Azri, who lives in Bertam, said the programme would also help beautify Penang and create a greener, more vibrant landscape. Irsyam Ibrahim, 43, said the pinang tree was more than just a tree for Penang. 'Planting many of them across Penang makes perfect sense,' he said. The two were among visitors at Vision Park in Bertam during the weekend, where the 'Pinang Tree Planting' programme was launched in conjunction with the state-level National Landscape Day 2025. About 100 Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) staff and their family members joined in, planting around 50 pinang trees at the park. State housing and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu said the goal this year was to plant at least 100,000 trees to revive the original identity of Penang. 'With help from both our local councils, we will plant pinang trees in every corner of the state,' he said. He noted the effort was not only about creating visual landmarks at key entry points. 'It's also about filling central medians and roadside verges with pinang trees wherever we can. 'Our hope is to go beyond the 100,000-tree target by the time we celebrate state-level National Landscape Day in October,' he added. Sundarajoo said the tree- planting campaign was meant to reconnect with Penang's roots, not just beautify public spaces. MBSP will meet two-thirds of the planting target, as more land is available on the mainland, while the rest will be handled by Penang Island City Council. Seberang Perai mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the pinang tree was more than just a landscaping choice. 'It is a symbol of Penang's identity and heritage. 'Planting it is a way of honouring and reviving the origins of our state's name, Pulau Pinang,' he said. He noted the project supported Penang2030 vision to be a green, smart state that is family-focused and nationally inspiring, by balancing physical growth with environmental sustainability. The core aim, Baderul Amin said, was to raise awareness about conservation while greening areas increasingly affected by development. 'It highlights Penang's cultural roots. The pinang tree is an emblem of our state. 'This programme helps reduce our carbon footprint and promotes a shared responsibility to care for the environment,' he added. Penang's name comes from the areca nut palm (Areca catechu), a species that once grew abundantly across the island. Historical accounts say that when Captain Francis Light landed here in 1786, he found the island thick with pinang trees – a detail believed to have inspired the name. Although the British colonial government named it Prince of Wales Island, the local name Pulau Pinang became commonly used. Eventually, the English-speaking world adopted the simplified state name Penang, which refers to both the island and mainland Seberang Perai.
The Star
12-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Penang to reconnect with its roots by planting 100,000 Pinang trees by October
KEPALA BATAS: In celebration of National Landscape Day 2025, Penang is targeting the planting of 100,000 Pinang trees by October. State housing and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu said that the state's very name, Pulau Pinang, was derived from the once-abundant Pinang (areca) trees that grew across the island. "This initiative is not just about beautification — it's about reconnecting with our roots and preserving a living symbol of our state identity," he said. To ensure the success of the effort, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has taken full responsibility to realise this aspiration by officially organising the launch event, in close collaboration with the office of the state housing and environment. Sundarajoo said, for a start, 50 Pinang trees were planted during the launch at Vision Park here on Sunday (July 12). He said MBSP will be responsible for planting two-thirds of the 100,000 Pinang trees, as it has more available land compared to Penang Island. The remaining trees will be planted on the island by the Penang Island City Council.
The Star
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Beautification projects worth RM152mil underway across Johor
JOHOR BARU: The state government, in collaboration with all 16 local authorities, is currently undertaking 33 beautification and landscaping projects across the state valued at RM152.44mil. Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (pic) said the projects include upgrades to recreational parks, pedestrian walkways, heritage areas, public art murals, tourism infrastructure, urban lighting and strategic visual markers, all aimed at directly improving the quality of life for the people. He said the allocation includes RM2.92mil for upgrading Taman Bandar Bukit Layang-Layang in conjunction with the National Landscape Day 2025 programme, RM1.48mil for landscape and beautification works at TMIYC Pasir Gudang, and RM30mil for infrastructure and beautification in the Johor Baru City Centre. 'Each of these projects brings direct benefits to the people in the form of more comfortable recreational spaces, a more attractive urban environment, job opportunities in the landscape and tourism sectors, and an enhanced city image that encourages investor interest,' he said at the launch of the National Landscape Day 2025 celebration officiated by Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda, the wife of the Regent of Johor here yesterday. Also present were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. Onn Hafiz said Johor is the only state to have its own Landscape Department, demonstrating its commitment to systematic and integrated landscape development. According to data from the Statistics Department, the landscape industry contributed RM39.4bil to the country's gross domestic product in 2024, with Johor having the highest number of nurseries in Malaysia, accounting for 87% of the national total.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Top students assured of matriculation seats
JOHOR BAHRU: DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming has praised the government's decision to guarantee matriculation placements for all students who achieved 10As and above in the 2024 SPM examination. Nga, who is also Housing and Local Government minister, said the decision reflects the Madani government's commitment towards meritocracy, equal opportunity, appreciating local talents and effort to empower young Malaysians in pursuing quality education. The Education Ministry, in a statement yesterday, said the matter was agreed upon at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and it follows the announcement made last year by the prime minister. It said students who scored 10As or more in last year's SPM and have submitted for places in the matriculation programme will be offered admission, regardless of race or background. This includes students who scored A-. 'This will ensure all top-performing students in the 2024 SPM have the opportunity to further their studies,' it said in a statement. The ministry also verified that the existing Bumiputera quota system for the matriculation programme will not be affected by the decision. Nga said the inclusive policy, which applies regardless of race or background, recognises the outstanding efforts of Malaysia's top-performing students. 'The government is sending a clear message that academic excellence will be rewarded fairly and consistently and every Malaysian is being appreciated,' he said, adding that the decision is in line with the commitment made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year and strengthens public confidence in the national education system. 'DAP remains committed to promoting policies that celebrate academic achievement while also advancing social equity. 'We believe that education is the greatest empowerment and tool towards building a fairer, more progressive and educated nation,' he said at the launch of National Landscape Day 2025 yesterday. A total of 14,179 students who sat for the SPM examination last year obtained straight As – the highest number in 11 years. This is following the government's decision to make Bahasa Malaysia and History subjects mandatory for passing. The 14,179 straight-A students represent an increase from the 11,713 recorded in the 2023 SPM results.
Barnama
26-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Johor Undertaking 33 Beautification, Landscape Projects Worth RM152.44 Mln
JOHOR BAHRU, June 26 (Bernama) – The Johor government, in collaboration with all 16 local authorities (PBTs), is currently undertaking 33 beautification and landscaping projects across the state, valued at RM152.44 million. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the projects include upgrades to recreational parks, pedestrian walkways, heritage areas, public art murals, tourism infrastructure, urban lighting and strategic visual markers, all aimed at directly improving the quality of life for the people. He said the allocation includes RM2.92 million for upgrading Taman Bandar Bukit Layang-Layang in conjunction with the National Landscape Day 2025 programme, RM1.48 million for landscape and beautification works at TMIYC Pasir Gudang, and RM30 million for infrastructure and beautification in the Johor Bahru City Centre. 'Each of these projects brings direct benefits to the people in the form of more comfortable recreational spaces, a more attractive urban environment, job opportunities in the landscape and tourism sectors, and an enhanced city image that encourages investor interest,' he said. He was speaking at the launch of the National Landscape Day 2025 celebration at the national level, officiated by Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda, the wife of the Regent of Johor. Also present were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. Onn Hafiz said Johor is the only state to have its own State Landscape Department, demonstrating its commitment to systematic and integrated landscape development. According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the landscape industry contributed RM39.4 billion to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, with Johor having the highest number of nurseries in Malaysia, accounting for 87 per cent of the national total. 'This development not only reflects the rapid growth of the landscape sector, but also strengthens its position as one of the country's promising new economic drivers,' he said.
