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The Star
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Embroidery project changes the lives of women in a Moroccan fishing village
In a small village on the coast of southern Morocco, women gather in a house to create collaborative works of textile art, and also earn a living. Several hunch over large canvasses, embroidering their latest piece at the women-only workshop, in the village of 400 people. Some of their works have been shown internationally. 'This project has changed my life,' said Hanane Ichbikili, a 28-year-old former nursing student turned project creative director. 'And yet I had never held an embroidery needle before,' she said. Just 19% of Moroccan women hold steady jobs, according to official figures, and in rural areas they are particularly affected by poverty, unpaid labour and a lack of opportunity. An artist with roots in both Morocco and France has tried to make a difference. Margaux Derhy founded the workshop in 2022 in her father's native village of Sidi R'bat, around 70km south of Agadir, to fulfil her 'dream to make art with purpose'. The project uses textiles and old photographs to explore her family heritage before they left the country in the 1960s, turning sepia-toned portraits and scenes into large silk-and-linen canvases. The North African country was a protectorate of France before gaining its independence in 1956. Being able to embroider and earn an income means a lot to the women. Creative process The project is more than just personal for Derhy – it also provides local women in the small fishing village employment. 'I wanted to be engaged on the ground,' said Derhy, adding that she hired 10 local women to work full-time for a monthly salary exceeding Morocco's private-sector minimum wage of 3,045 dirhams (RM1,410). The women's hands glide over frames that were once used by Paris' prestigious Maison Lesage, the world- famous embroidery house that has worked with some of the greatest names in fashion. The creative process is collaborative, with Derhy drawing an outline and the team then gathering to choose the threads and colour palette for each section. A canvas can take up to five months to complete. The finished works, priced at up to US$5,620 (RM23,823), have been shown in exhibitions in Marrakesh, Paris and Brussels. Future exhibits are planned for Casablanca's L'Atelier 21 and Tabari Artspace Gallery in Dubai. The workshop has also helped to challenge perceived ideas about women in the village. 'At first, some of the women had to hide to come because it was frowned upon,' said Khadija Ahuilat, 26, who oversees operations. Just 19% of Moroccan women hold steady jobs, and in rural areas, they are particularly affected by poverty, unpaid labour and a lack of opportunity. A blessing She said some people thought the project 'was nonsense, and a woman should stay at home'. 'But we managed to change that. I'm very proud to have contributed to this change, even if on a small scale.' Her mother, Aicha Jout, 50, a widow who once gathered mussels and raised livestock to support her family, is now one of the embroiderers. 'It changes a lot for me to be here,' she said. 'I love the idea of embroidering on pictures, but also of passing on the craft to other women.' Jout learned to embroider at the age of 12, and has trained the rest of her mostly single or widowed colleagues. 'There aren't really a lot of job opportunities here, so when the chance came, I didn't hesitate for a second,' said Haddia Nachit, 59, one of the workshop's most efficient embroiders. Her nickname among the women is 'TGV' – after France's high-speed train. Seated next to Nachit, Fadma Lachgar, also 59, said the work allowed her to help her family. 'Resuming embroidery at my age, after 20 years of stopping, is a blessing,' she said. – AFP
New Straits Times
20-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Illegal gold mining equipment seized in Jeli raid
JELI: Police and the Land and Mines Office have seized illegal gold mining equipment worth RM23,000 during a raid at Felcra Air Degong, in Jeli Tepi Sungai sub-district, Ayer Lanas. The operation led to the seizure of seven water pumps and two sluicing machines believed to have been used for unlicensed mining activities. District police chief Superintendent Kamarulzaman Harun said no arrests were made, as the suspects had fled before the raiding party arrived. "All the seized equipment has been handed over to PTG (Land and Mines Office) for further action," he said today. Kamarulzaman warned the public not to get involved in illegal mining, adding that police remain committed to curbing trespassing, smuggling and unlawful activities along the nation's borders.
New Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Heartbreak for bowler Gillian at US Open
GILLIAN Lim came agonisingly close to a stepladder finals berth at the US Women's Open, but the debutant ultimately fell short by just 127 pins after completing 56 gruelling games in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 26-year-old finished seventh overall with 11,784 pinfalls, including 14 wins from 24 match play games across three rounds of match play. She contested eight games on Sunday, followed by two additional rounds totaling 16 games on Monday. It marked her strongest performance yet at a PWBA major, reinforcing her emergence on the prestigious professional circuit. Compatriot Natasha Roslan, the IBF World Cup winner in January, also held her own in a tough field, placing 14th with 11,628 pinfalls and a 12-12 win-loss record in match play. For their efforts, Gillian pocketed US$8,600 (RM36,500) while Natasha took home US$5,600 (RM23,800). The final five advancing to Tuesday's stepladder finals at Sun Valley Lanes are Americans Jordan Snodgrass (11,988), Lauren Russo (11,957), Crystal Elliot (11,948), Maryssa Carey (11,931), and Singapore's New Hui Fen (11,911). The US Women's Open marked Gillian's seventh and final appearance of the season. It was commendable nevertheless, as she recorded four top-15 finishes. Her seventh-place finish at the US Open followed a strong run of results, including a joint-fifth placing at the Rock 'n Roll Open and ninth at the Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open. Her other standout performance came at the PWBA Topeka Open, the season opener, where she finished 15th. "For sure, there are lots of positives to take away and improve on. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there. I've learned a lot this week too," said Gillian. "I definitely want to return next year. The experience has been really valuable, and I feel there's still so much room to grow. The PWBA format is quite different from the Open events in Asia — everything from the lane conditions to the structure and intensity is on another level." Gillian, who achieved a rare Malaysia Open–National Championships double last year, will resume competition at the Thailand Open next month.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang retirees lose over RM1m in investment scams
GEORGE TOWN: Two retirees lost over RM1 million after falling victim to online investment scams recently, according to Penang police. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in a statement that in the first case, the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters received a report from a 55-year-old man on June 12, alleging that he had been scammed by an online investment company for RM827,120. 'In early April, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising high returns and subsequently got in touch with a WhatsApp. 'The victim was promised a seven per cent return on each investment made,' he said, adding that the man was told to download the company's app to register as a member and invest through the platform. Hamzah said the victim made 22 fund transfers into six different company accounts between April 19 and May 26. 'He realised he had been scammed after being unable to withdraw profits totalling RM23,241,952 as shown on the investment app and subsequently lodged a police report,' he said. In a separate case, he stated that a 56-year-old retired factory technician lost RM321,250 after falling victim to another online investment scam, adding that the victim lodged a police report on June 12 at the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters. Hamzah stated that around December of last year, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Instagram that promised high returns. He then contacted a female suspect via WhatsApp, who promised a 30 per cent return within three months. He said that on March 21, the victim made the first fund transfer of RM20,000 through the company's app, and within less than three months, he received RM14,150 in profits. 'He made 11 additional fund transfers between March 27 and June 3 into four different company accounts linked to the scheme, but realised he had been scammed after he could not withdraw RM280,000 in purported profits and was instead asked by the suspect to pay an RM120,000 withdrawal fee,' he added. He said investigations are ongoing, and both cases are classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Two retirees lose over RM1m to online investment scams
GEORGE TOWN: Two retirees lost over RM1 million after falling victim to online investment scams recently, according to Penang police. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in a statement that in the first case, the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters received a report from a 55-year-old man on June 12, alleging that he had been scammed by an online investment company for RM827,120. 'In early April, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising high returns and subsequently got in touch with a WhatsApp. 'The victim was promised a seven per cent return on each investment made,' he said, adding that the man was told to download the company's app to register as a member and invest through the platform. Hamzah said the victim made 22 fund transfers into six different company accounts between April 19 and May 26. 'He realised he had been scammed after being unable to withdraw profits totalling RM23,241,952 as shown on the investment app and subsequently lodged a police report,' he said. In a separate case, he stated that a 56-year-old retired factory technician lost RM321,250 after falling victim to another online investment scam, adding that the victim lodged a police report on June 12 at the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters. Hamzah stated that around December of last year, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Instagram that promised high returns. He then contacted a female suspect via WhatsApp, who promised a 30 per cent return within three months. He said that on March 21, the victim made the first fund transfer of RM20,000 through the company's app, and within less than three months, he received RM14,150 in profits. 'He made 11 additional fund transfers between March 27 and June 3 into four different company accounts linked to the scheme, but realised he had been scammed after he could not withdraw RM280,000 in purported profits and was instead asked by the suspect to pay an RM120,000 withdrawal fee,' he added. He said investigations are ongoing, and both cases are classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
