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Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Bentong ginger to boost Kota Tinggi economy
The move could help generate sustainable income for the people, secure the country's ginger supply, and reduce dependence on imported ginger. 28 Jun 2025 06:00pm The ginger cultivation programme, an initiative involving Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and residents, aims to empower the rural economy through high-value agricultural projects, ultimately positioning Kota Tinggi as a national food valley. - Bernama photo KOTA TINGG - Bentong ginger has the potential to be the country's strategic crop with Kota Tinggi as the primary hub for its production and processing, said Kota Tinggi MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He noted that the move could help generate sustainable income for the people, secure the country's ginger supply, and reduce dependence on imported ginger. The ginger cultivation programme, an initiative involving Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and residents, aims to empower the rural economy through high-value agricultural projects, ultimately positioning Kota Tinggi as a national food valley. - Bernama photo "We import about 80 per cent of ginger for domestic use. We need to secure ginger supplies by cultivating and sourcing the crop locally. "This effort not only provides (economic) opportunities for the people but also helps to curb the outflow of funds from the country,' he told reporters after officiating the ceremony to harvest young Bentong ginger in Kampung Gembut, Tanjung Sedili, near here recently. He said the ginger cultivation programme, an initiative involving Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and residents, aims to empower the rural economy through high-value agricultural projects, ultimately positioning Kota Tinggi as a national food valley. Mohamed Khaled said the Bentong ginger cultivation initiative in the area has shown promising results, delivering high returns in a short period, making it one of the most viable cash crops. "In terms of market price, one kilogramme can fetch up to RM40, and each plant can yield about two kilogrammes. Earlier during the programme, we saw 300 plants, and the harvest cycle is every six months. ...with 300 plants, participants in this programme could earn about RM24,000 over six months. "This means they can potentially earn RM4,000 a month. The cultivation and care process is simple, with guidance provided by the university. Mature ginger can go for up to RM60 per kilogramme,' he said. Elaborating, he said that by setting up cooperatives and participating in the downstream industry, residents can generate extra income by processing ginger-based products. He also announced his long-term plans to transform Kota Tinggi into the country's primary hub for the ginger industry, covering cultivation, value chains, and downstream products. He urged the community not to rely solely on government aid but instead to actively participate in agricultural projects to ensure long-term sustainability and success. Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi Timur Area Farmers Organisation chairman Hashim Muhammad said the project has the potential to create more job opportunities, generate additional income for farmers, and uplift the rural community. He said today's event marked the rural community's commitment to exploring high-value crop cultivation, expressing hope that the initiative can be expanded across the entire Kota Tinggi parliamentary constituency. - BERNAMA


The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Woman loses RM60,000 to ‘clear dad's name' scam
JERTIH: A woman lost RM60,000 after being tricked by a scammer posing as a police officer. Besut district police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said the 19-year-old unemployed woman answered a phone call asking for her father on Thursday from an individual who introduced himself as a representative from the Touch 'n Go headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 'The individual claimed that the victim's father had a RM25,000 summons related to a Touch 'n Go account. The call was then supposedly connected to the Perak police contingent headquarters, where she spoke to a police officer. 'The victim was further shocked when he told her that a bank account opened in her father's name was involved in a money laundering and drug case,' he said yesterday. In a Bernama report, Supt Azamuddin said the suspect asked the victim to pay RM60,000 if she wants to clear her father's name. As she was afraid, she sold her retired mother's jewellery to raise money.


The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Mediation saves RM60 million in workplace disputes, says HR minister
GEORGE TOWN: Mediation has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method for resolving workplace disputes, saving employers and employees millions while fostering industrial harmony. Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong highlighted that 65 per cent of cases referred to the Department of Industrial Relations were successfully resolved through mediation in 2024, preventing unnecessary legal battles. Speaking at the inaugural Industrial Mediation Symposium 2025, Sim noted that mediation handled over 3,000 cases this year, reducing the burden on the Industrial Court. 'If each court case costs RM20,000 for both parties, mediation has saved more than RM60 million in 2024 alone,' he said. Before disputes escalate to court, the Department of Industrial Relations employs alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, primarily conciliation meetings, to settle conflicts amicably. Currently, 122 industrial relations officers (IROs) trained in professional mediation assist workers and employers in reaching swift resolutions. Sim emphasised the ministry's commitment to enhancing mediation expertise through partnerships with international bodies like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and local institutions such as the Kuala Lumpur Mediation Centre and the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Since 2024, collaboration with the US Department of Labour has further strengthened officers' mediation skills. The symposium, organised by the Society of JP Community Mediators Penang (SJPCMP) alongside the JP Mediation Bureau Penang and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), aimed to promote mediation as a key tool for workplace conflict resolution.

Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Mediation Key To Industrial Harmony, Cost Savings In Workplace Disputes
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS GEORGE TOWN, June 27 (Bernama) -- Mediation, as a primary mechanism for resolving workplace disputes, helps save time and costs while preserving industrial harmony. Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong stated that industrial relations officers (IRO) under the ministry successfully resolved 65 per cent of cases referred to the director-general of the Department of Industrial Relations annually via mediation, representing over 3,000 cases in 2024. "In other words, only 35 per cent of disputes proceeded to the Industrial Court. bootstrap slideshow "If each case appearing before the court costs both employers and employees about RM20,000, we are looking at cost savings of more than RM60 million in 2024 alone," he said in his keynote address at the inaugural Industrial Mediation Symposium 2025 held here recently. Sim added that even before cases are referred to the Industrial Court, the Department of Industrial Relations under the ministry employs alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, primarily through conciliation meetings, to settle disputes amicably. Currently, he said, 122 IROs under the ministry serve as conciliators to help workers and employers resolve conflicts swiftly and peacefully. Sim said these officers receive professional mediation training through collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, as well as other institutions such as the Kuala Lumpur Mediation Centre and the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Beginning in 2024, he said, the Human Resource Ministry also partnered with the United States Department of Labour to further strengthen its officers' capacity in industrial mediation. The one-day symposium on June 21 was organised by the Society of JP Community Mediators Penang (SJPCMP), in collaboration with the JP Mediation Bureau Penang and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
19-year-old loses RM62,000 to phone scam
JERTIH: A 19-year-old lost RM62,000 after being duped by a phone scam syndicate on Thursday (June 26). Besut district police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said the unemployed teenager answered a phone call from an individual who introduced himself as a representative from Touch 'n Go headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 'The individual claimed that the victim's father had a RM25,000 summons related to a Touch 'n Go account. The call was then supposedly connected to the Perak police contingent headquarters, where the victim spoke to a (fake) police officer. 'The victim was further shocked when she was told that a bank account opened in her father's name was involved in a money laundering and drug case,' he said in a statement on Friday (June 27). Azamuddin said the suspect asked the victim to pay RM60,000 if she wanted to clear her father's name. Because she was afraid, the victim sold jewellery belonging to her mother, a retired teacher, to get money for the payment. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. – Bernama