Latest news with #Teo
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Malaysia proposes 3 ASEAN creative industry initiatives for 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has unveiled three major initiatives to enhance ASEAN's creative industry under its 2025 chairmanship, focusing on co-productions, sustainability, and youth engagement. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching announced the plans at the ASEAN Film and TV Summit 2025, held alongside the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest). The proposals include the ASEAN Co-Production Roundtable, a Green Filming and Sustainability Framework, and Youth Story Labs. Teo emphasised these efforts aim to foster inclusive storytelling and regional collaboration. 'We hope to initiate three key areas of collaboration to make ASEAN's creative sector more dynamic and people-centred,' she said. Malaysia's Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) was highlighted as a success, attracting RM2.71 billion in direct investments since 2013 through 128 projects. Notable productions include Sony Pictures' Lord of the Flies series and local hits like Ejen Ali: The Movie 2, which earned RM59 million globally. Organised by FINAS, MIFFest, and AFAN, the summit serves as a platform for policymakers and creators to discuss co-production opportunities. 'Shared stories will connect and inspire ASEAN,' Teo added. The event concludes on July 26 with the Malaysia Golden Global Awards, honouring regional and international filmmakers. – Bernama
New Paper
13 hours ago
- Business
- New Paper
Young and rooted: Meet S'pore's first-gen farmers who are changing the agri game
Mr Leonard Teo developed a love for greens as a boy, but often found locally bought vegetables harsh on his palate. "They had a bitter taste, and my mother ended up buying expensive organic vegetables for me," said the owner of Straits Agriculture, a five-year-old aeroponics and hydroponics farm in Jurong that produces xiao bai cai, nai bai, curly kale and mizuna, among others. "I thought, why not try to grow fresh and sweet-tasting vegetables so that I can eat them and Singaporeans can also purchase them at an affordable price?" The Nanyang Technological University graduate's dream took off in 2020, when he rented a 35 sq m plot of land for about $20,000 in Henderson to start his venture. After stabilising his operations, he later invested in a rooftop farm in Jurong that cost him $250,000 to set up in January 2022. While the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) does not track the number of first-time farmers in the country, Mr Teo, 25, is one of the three young farmers who ventured into the agricultural sector during Covid-19. Mr Teo, who entered university the same year, struggled to balance school and work. "There was no juggling. I woke up at 8am, went to class till 6pm and headed to my farm to work till about 3am. It was either do or die," said Mr Teo, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in aerospace engineering. Mr Leonard Teo, 25, runs an aeroponics and hydroponics farm in Jurong. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Mr Teo's mother, Ms Eileen Tan, who helps deliver the vegetables to his customers, said she feels bad that he has to work so hard, but is glad that this venture has built his character. "I'm pretty proud of what he has accomplished so far," she said. A desire to contribute Two other first-time farmers also ventured into the trade after witnessing the impact of Covid-19 on food security in Singapore, which imports more than 90 per cent of its food. While the country's key strategy is to diversify its sources, then Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said in a written parliamentary reply in April 2020 that the pandemic had "severely diminished global production capacities and disrupted global supply chains". This prompted Mr John Ong, founder of Spore Gardens, a farm that produces mushrooms in a 130 sq m office space in Whampoa, to make the switch from aerospace engineering to farming. "Many people were panic buying during the pandemic, and while doing my own shopping, I noticed that there was a shortage of fresh produce at the supermarkets, and later realised that Singapore may have a supply chain issue in this area," he said. Mr Ong grows a variety of mushrooms in his farm, including the Lion's Mane, Royal Trumpet, Golden Oak Shitake, Sakura Pink Oyster, Golden Yellow Oyster and Yanagi Matsutake. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG After some research, the 40-year-old, who described himself as an "accidental" farmer, opted to focus on producing mushrooms, which he felt was overlooked. He started to grow Lion's Mane mushrooms at home before investing $100,000 to kick-start the business officially. Five years on, the father of two young children, aged three and six, said he was grateful that his wife, a dermatologist, supported him making the switch then. Mr Ong, who grows six or seven types of mushrooms at his farm, supplies about 1,000kg of mushrooms to restaurants and caterers each month. He is in the midst of moving to a new 380 sq m farm in Changi, which is about three times larger than his original space. The entrepreneur, who now runs the farm with his partner, Mr Fred Soh, said sales have been doing well and the company broke even early in 2025. Mr John Ong met his business partner, Mr Fred Soh, about eight months after he founded Spore Gardens. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Another farmer whose business appears to have taken off is Mr Webster Tham, 34, from Tomato Town, a business that grows tomatoes, kale and basil. Mr Tham, who runs the farms with two other partners, said the trio started by managing a 75 sq m plot. This has grown to a 6,000 sq m plot in the last five years. Their produce can be found in 70 FairPrice outlets, where they are priced between $4 and $4.50 per packet. One of Mr Tham's farms is located at a rooftop carpark in Jurong West. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY A spokesperson for FairPrice said it has observed a significant increase in demand for Tomato Town's products across its stores over the last six months, compared with the same period in 2024. Mr Tham hopes his experience can encourage young people not to shy away from the industry. "Farming is still hard work, but technology is there to reduce some of the laborious tasks traditional farmers have to take on. We hope young people give it a chance," he said. Fresh perspectives Despite the efforts of new entrants, local production remains at less than 10 per cent of the country's total food consumption. While these farms remain small in scale, their true contribution lies in the innovations they bring to the agri-food sector, said research scientist Teo Shaun Hao. "By developing and testing new farming methods, technologies, and crop varieties suited for urban environments, they help push the boundaries of what is possible in land-scarce Singapore," said Mr Teo, who works at the Agriculture Research and Innovation Centre at Republic Polytechnic. Young farmers' savviness in leveraging social media platforms also helps them to connect directly with consumers, allowing them to build trust and promote their products more effectively, he added. However, Professor Veera Sekaran from the National University of Singapore's Department of Biological Sciences remained cautious about the value of those skills. "No amount of social media is going to help the farmers if they do not understand the industry and the reality of the business of growing crops and bringing them to the marketplace to make profits," said the director of Regenerative Agritech Centre. Challenges remain Since 2019, Singapore has aspired to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030, but it was revealed in Parliament in March that the target is being reviewed. In 2024, 3 per cent of vegetables consumed were grown locally, down from 3.2 per cent in 2023, according to the Singapore Food Statistics report. In the same year, there were 153 farms on land - most of which grew vegetables - down from 156 the year before. In an interview with The Straits Times in May, SFA chief executive Damian Chan said the drop in local production of vegetables is due to factors like higher operating costs, especially energy costs, a weaker investment climate in high-tech farming and farms facing challenges in securing sales. He added that local produce typically costs more than imported ones, and shoppers tend to opt for more affordable leafy greens and fish, affecting demand. Besides the challenges highlighted by SFA, the farmers hope the authorities can also look into reducing the administrative barriers that impede others' entry into the industry. Mr Teo from Straits Agriculture proposed a one-stop service portal to be set up for farmers to submit their applications for various licences, a sentiment echoed by Mr Ong. "This will allow us to focus on the operations of the farm," he said. Mr Teo proposed a one-stop service portal to be set up for farmers to submit their applications for various licences. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG While SFA did not say if it is considering setting up a one-stop service portal, it has put in place other measures, including customising solutions via its Technical Advisory Programme and developing industry guides to help farmers understand how to set up land-based and sea-based farms. Farmers can also tap the GoBusiness portal to apply for grants and additional licences to sell or process their produce, such as by turning them into salads or fish fillets, added SFA. What keeps them going Despite the challenges, the farmers said they are buoyed by the support they receive from their families and customers. "When chefs tell me that the items we provide are some of the best mushrooms they've used, that really puts a smile on my face," said Mr Ong. Sakura Pink Oyster mushrooms, which have a subtly woody taste with a hint of seafood and a peppery finish, are one type of mushrooms Mr Ong supplies to restaurants. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Mr Teo, who is funded by a European investor and earns a mid four-figure sum for the farm each month, shared similar views. One of his long-time customers, who has been buying his vegetables since her family discovered his farm in 2022, even sent her teenage daughter to his farm to experience what it is like to run a farm, a gesture that he appreciated. For Mr Tham, it was his father Ray Tham's gesture of love that kept him thriving. "He touched me by deciding to take up a diploma in agriculture at RP to help me out at the farm," he said. Mr Tham's father, Mr Ray Tham, helps his son maintain his farms. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY The older Mr Tham, who initially doubted his son's venture, later decided to support him by assisting with maintenance work at the farms. An engineer by training, the 67-year-old manager of the farms is happy to see his son's business take off. "It is not very successful yet, but I'm proud to see some success," he said. Next steps Having solved his initial hurdles, Mr Tham hopes to increase his production by maximising the growth of his plants. "We're looking into ways to develop a suitable temperature that will 'trick' our plants into thinking that they are in a cooler climate in order to boost growth," he said, adding that his farms currently produce 3 tonnes of leafy greens monthly. Mr Tham grows kale, basil and tomatoes at his farms. The Straits Times Similarly, Mr Ong looks to expand the variety of mushrooms in his new farm and eventually supply them to wet markets and supermarkets. Mr Ong (left) and Ms Audrey Chong, head of marketing of Spore Gardens, travel to different farmers' markets around Singapore to sell their produce. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG For Mr Teo, he is considering moving his farm out of Singapore to places that are more cost- and infrastructure-friendly to continue with his business once his lease is up in 2028. "But before that, I hope to be able to work with the authorities to reduce the amount of admin work that our farmers need to do and focus on increasing our yield to be effective in contributing to our country's food security situation."
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MCMC drafts online safety rules for social media, ad verification required
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is drafting subsidiary legislation under the Online Safety Act 2024, including an online safety code that will outline mandatory risk reduction measures for social media platforms. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said among the key areas being considered is the requirement for social media platforms to verify the identity of advertisers, in line with practices adopted in countries such as Singapore and Taiwan. "In Singapore, advertisers are now required to verify their identities before placing ads on social media platforms. In Taiwan, platforms must disclose who paid for and created the ad. "We are studying these measures and, if found effective, they will be included in the upcoming online safety code," she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. Teo was responding to a supplementary question from Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) on whether the government plans to amend existing laws to make it mandatory for social media platforms to filter advertisements and be held accountable for victims' losses. She said the urgent need for tighter regulation stems from the growing number of scam advertisements on social media, including those impersonating high-profile Malaysians. To date, MCMC has received 121 reports of scam ads impersonating well-known individuals, including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Sultan of Pahang, the Sultan of Selangor, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, and former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. "MCMC has also submitted 121 requests to Meta regarding advertisements impersonating high-profile individuals," she added. Teo said she herself has been a victim of scam advertisements. "Recently, Facebook ads falsely claimed that I am giving away 2,000 copies of the book Rich Dad Poor Dad for free. "I asked MCMC to report this to Meta, yet the ads continue to appear. Even after MCMC issued notices identifying the advertisements as scams, Meta continued to allow scammers to publish second, third and even sixth versions of the same ad," she said. Meanwhile, she said social media platforms removed 46,817 scam-related content pieces from January to July 15 this year, following requests by MCMC. The takedowns were based on public complaints and each platform's community guidelines, in line with local laws. "The number of scam content removals has seen a sharp year-on-year increase. In 2022, only 242 scam items were taken down. This rose significantly to 6,297 in 2023, and then surged to 63,652 last year."
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
RM100 SARA aid via MyKad ensures transparency, benefits all Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR: The one-off RM100 cash assistance under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme will be disbursed directly through MyKad, ensuring transparency and targeted aid for all Malaysian adults. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching emphasised that this approach guarantees the assistance reaches the intended recipients while preventing misuse on non-essential items. Teo stated, 'I believe SARA has clear benefits as it can be used specifically for purchasing basic necessities, and not for buying cigarettes, alcohol, or other non-essential items.' 'So with the aid channelled through MyKad, this initiative can truly benefit all Malaysians aged 18 and above,' she added. The initiative, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, involves an allocation of RM2 billion and is expected to benefit over 22 million Malaysians. Additionally, Teo welcomed the increased allocation for the Rahmah MADANI Sales programme, which has doubled from RM300 million to RM600 million this year. She highlighted its affordability, citing examples such as instant noodles sold at RM3.70 compared to higher supermarket prices. Teo also praised the government's decision to set RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre through a targeted subsidy mechanism, ensuring only Malaysians benefit. Earlier today, Anwar announced several key initiatives, including the RM100 SARA aid, toll hike postponements, and the new subsidised fuel price. – Bernama
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Malaysia Proposes Three Key ASEAN Initiatives To Boost Regional Creative Industry
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has proposed three new key collaborative initiatives under its ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 to strengthen regional cooperation in the creative sector, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. The initiatives are the ASEAN Co-Production Roundtable, a Green Filming and Sustainability Framework, and Youth Story Labs, aimed at promoting inclusive and forward-thinking narratives among the ASEAN youth generation. 'As part of our ASEAN Chairmanship, we hope to initiate three key areas of collaboration,' she said in her opening address at the ASEAN Film and TV Summit 2025, held in conjunction with the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), here today. Teo said these efforts reflect Malaysia's commitment to making the region's creative industry more dynamic, future-ready and people-centred. She also highlighted the country's achievements in attracting global productions through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), which has supported 128 projects since 2013 with RM 419 million in rebates. The incentive has resulted in RM2.71 billion in direct investments into the local creative industry. Notable international productions include Sony Pictures and BBC's Lord of the Flies series filmed in Langkawi, while local animation Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 grossed RM 59 million across several markets, and Upin & Ipin expanded into gaming with a global release this month. Organised by National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), in collaboration with the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) and the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN), the summit provides a platform for policymakers, creators and investors to explore policy alignment and co-production opportunities. 'As the world faces new challenges, it is our shared stories that will connect us, inspire us, and carry ASEAN forward,' Teo said. Running until July 25, the summit will end with the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) on July 26, recognising excellence in ASEAN and international filmmaking.
