Latest news with #Zulkifli
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Kota MADANI development meets modern needs with sustainable facilities
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kota MADANI development project has been justified as a necessary initiative to address current housing and infrastructure demands, particularly for civil servants. Designed with sustainability and advanced safety features, the project aims to provide comprehensive facilities, eliminating the need for residents to fund basic amenities later. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan emphasised that the project integrates digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) while prioritising essential services. These include schools, mosques, a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution, and a government health clinic. 'This is not a new Putrajaya or a mega mall project, but one focused on delivering basic facilities to meet the increasing needs of residents,' he said in a Facebook post. Zulkifli noted that past developments often excluded critical amenities in initial planning, forcing communities to raise funds for construction. 'With these planned facilities, residents will no longer need to travel long distances to send their children to school or go to mosque, which is a common challenge today.' The project aligns with the MADANI philosophy, promoting balanced development in education, spirituality, recreation, and economic activities. Zulkifli urged nationwide adoption of this model, stating it would benefit residents and stakeholders. Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 26, the RM4 billion Kota MADANI project in Precinct 19, Putrajaya, operates under a public-private partnership via a build, lease, maintain, and transfer (BLMT) framework, requiring no initial government funding.
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
Customs Dept foils attempt to smuggle over 50kg of drugs via air courier
SEPANG: The Customs Department at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) foiled an attempt to smuggle over 56.81kg of cannabis, estimated to be worth RM5.56mil. This followed the seizure of the cannabis in operations conducted at several air cargo terminal operators in the KLIA Free Trade Zone last April and May. KLIA Customs Department director Zulkifli Muhammad said a total of 19 parcels, which were later found to contain substances suspected of being cannabis flowers, were seized during the operations. "The drugs were believed to be smuggled into the country and then out to various countries using air courier services," he said in a statement on Thursday (June 26). He said the case was being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death, upon conviction. In another development, Zulkifli said his team also foiled an attempt to smuggle 1.54 million white cigarettes of various brands, estimated to be worth RM154,000, with unpaid duties and taxes amounting to RM1.03mil, in a raid in Klang, Selangor, last May 9. He said the contraband was seized from two lorries following information and intelligence gathering by his team. "The syndicate's modus operandi is to use bonded lorries to distribute the smuggled cigarettes, and the cigarette deliveries are carried out at night to avoid detection by the authorities," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, which iprovides a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both, upon conviction. - Bernama
New Straits Times
22-06-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
A soldier's story: He lost his leg fighting a war few Malaysians remember
THE line of the trees had turned red, and Second Lieutenant Zulkifli Datuk Haji Tahir didn't like it one bit. Then just 26 and serving in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (9 RMR), Zulkifli uttered a curse under his breath, eyes sweeping the thick jungle. Among soldiers stationed in Gubir, there was an old superstition: when the leaves turned crimson, something bad was coming. Some dismissed it as a tale meant to spook new recruits. But those who spent enough time in this accursed place knew better. In the 1980s, Gubir was one of the most volatile flashpoints along Malaysia's northern border. It was a dense, dangerous strip of the Ulu Muda forest in Sik, Kedah, where Malayan Communist Party insurgents could roam and strike with deadly precision. The army had a forward base in the area, but it was a perilous frontier, laced with booby traps, ambushes and landmines. According to many accounts, whenever the leaves changed colour, tragedy would soon follow. Some never made it out. Others returned maimed or scarred. Explosions erupted without warning. And the jungle, vast and indifferent, kept its silence. Few today remember that Malaysia endured three distinct conflicts: the Emergency, which began in 1948 under British colonial rule; the Indonesian Confrontation from 1963 to 1966 and the Second Communist Insurgency, which lasted from 1968 to 1989. Zulkifli's story, along with those of other veterans, is preserved in Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo At War, a memoir by the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva). In 1986, during one of his most dangerous deployments, Zulkifli and his unit were sent into a jungle already marked by tragedy. In the 1970s, a Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopter was shot down there by communist insurgents, killing everyone onboard. Intelligence warned the area was riddled with booby traps. The enemy, known as the "Black Jackets", were brutal and highly familiar with the terrain. Their name alone struck fear into young recruits. Zulkifli knew this mission wouldn't be easy. The red leaves were just the beginning. "No one's ever truly prepared for death," he says quietly, thinking back on those days. "As soldiers, our duty was simple — to do and die. For king and country, no questions asked." His mission was to lead a small section of 10 men. Their task was to scout and clear any booby traps before the rest of the battalion moved in. "It was extremely dangerous," he remembers, adding: "If anything went wrong, no one was coming to help." A series of explosions rang out across the area. The first casualty the battalion suffered came less than 20 minutes after arriving at the landing zone. A corporal from the Unit Combat Intelligence Section had the soles of his feet blown off. Each explosion forced the team to pause and listen. Tension filled the air. Eventually, the radio crackled to life with a clear order: all movement must stop. By then, Zulkifli and his team had climbed hills and crossed rivers to reach their position. They were deep in hostile territory, with the Thai border just 300 to 400 metres ahead. As night fell, but Zulkifli and his men couldn't sleep. They were too close to the border and the risk of enemy harassment made rest impossible. At first light, Zulkifli set out to scout the route ahead, taking two of his men with him — Corporal Ismail and Sapper Arif. They moved cautiously. When Zulkifli saw silhouettes, he signalled his men and rushed forward to investigate. A deafening explosion then tore through the air. SEEING THE LIGHT The 65-year-old man in front of me absentmindedly touches his right leg, his eyes drifting to a past nearly four decades ago. His hair, like his beard, is streaked with salt and pepper. Today, he's Colonel Zulkifli, but the memory he's about to share marks the moment that changed the course of his life — a deafening explosion that tore through everything in an instant. "Do you know what it's like to be caught in a booby trap explosion?" he murmurs, voice barely audible. Just then, the blender roars to life behind the cafe counter, and the sudden noise makes me flinch. In that blinding flash, Zulkifli saw something he couldn't explain — fleeting images of his parents and wife. He saw her serving tea to his mother. Later, when he asked them about it, they told him that's exactly what they'd been doing at that moment. That moment was surreal. There was no fear, no pain — only the quiet realisation that life, in all its beauty and terror, keeps moving. The wheel turns, even as death draws near. He thought he was dreaming. But as his senses returned and the sharp smell of carbide filled the air, he heard someone moaning in pain. It was Sapper Arif. Zulkifli, his own body still smoking from the blast, crawled to where Arif lay and quickly bandaged the bleeding on his face. The rest of his men arrived moments later, drawn by the sound of the explosion. They had only one morphine shot, and thinking Arif was the most seriously injured, Zulkifli instructed them to administer it to him. "I tried to get to my feet, but every time I stood up, I fell back to the ground," he recalls. Then he heard his platoon sergeant named Busra saying: "Sir, please stay put. Be patient… trust us," as he tried to take away Zulkifli's rifle. Zulkifli was confused and upset. Why would a senior non-commissioned officer be giving orders to an officer and trying to disarm him? "You know, back then — especially during the Vietnam War — the moment a soldier got hit by a booby trap, without realising it, he would pull the trigger," he says, his voice steady as he recalls the moment. Sergeant Busra, thinking ahead, had gently relieved Zulkifli of his weapon. He wasn't being disrespectful. He was just being careful. "Sir, you're hit," Busra said firmly. Zulkifli looked down at his arms and left leg. They seemed fine, apart from bits of shrapnel and a few superficial cuts. Then Busra said: "Look to your left, sir. Whose boot is that?" Zulkifli turned his head and saw it — his own boot, several metres away, unmistakable with its familiar lacing and knots. "That's mine," he said quietly. "Now look at your foot, sir. Look at your foot!" Zulkifli pauses in the telling, then looks at me. Without waiting for a response, he begins rolling up his right pant leg. "Mind if I show you this?" he asks. He's wearing a prosthetic leg, which he promptly removes, revealing a stump just below his right knee. There's no trace of bitterness on his face; instead, he smiles widely. "Okay… imagine this is what was left of my leg," he says blithely. The young Zulkifli had looked on in horror. The lower part of his right leg was gone, blown apart by the blast. Twisted bluish veins dangled like loose wires from the remains. It was a sight he'd carry with him for the rest of his life. HE AIN'T HEAVY The elderly man closes his eyes for a moment. From his stance to his dry humour and unflinching recollection, he's army through and through. The kind of man who has lived a hard life and survived more challenges than most can imagine. "Forty years," he says dryly. "And 10 days. That's how long I served." There's a brief pause before he adds: "I'm colour blind. Being in the service teaches you that." He's not referring to eyesight, but to the way a soldier learns to see beyond race, religion or background. Years in uniform had stripped away the differences, leaving only trust, loyalty and the bond of shared survival. "You never understand comradeship," he says, "until you've had brothers like Ahmad, Ah Weng or Pillai covering your back. All of us moved as one". The camaraderie among "brothers" runs deep. That's how it is in the army — you trust the man beside you to have your back when things get tough. That same bond kept him going. With only one stretcher available and insisting it be used for Arif, Zulkifli's comrade-in-arms Second Lieutenant Azmi Abdul Aziz had to carry him on his back. Azmi carried him through two kilometres of danger. The helicopter couldn't land anywhere nearby, so they had to walk 45 minutes through booby-trapped terrain. Zulkifli's smile fades, and his eyes brim with tears as he remembers the long journey back. "My men were in tears that day," he says softly, voice thick with emotion. "You carry me, and I'll sing," he'd told Azmi. When Azmi asked why, Zulkifli simply pointed to his men. " Tengok anak-anak buah aku… menangis kerana aku (Look at my boys… they're crying because of me!)" he said. To lift their spirits, even as pain coursed through his body, he sang loudly. Perched on Azmi's back, Zulkifli filled the jungle air with P. Ramlee tunes, the battalion song and whatever else he could remember — anything to bring a smile, anything to keep them moving. At the landing point, the medivac helicopter arrived 20 minutes later. Both men were evacuated to Penang General Hospital. Arif, it turned out, had only minor injuries. "It was such an irony," he says with a laugh. "I was the one missing a leg, but Arif got the stretcher and the only morphine shot we had!" ONE STEP FORWARD The indefatigable father-of-six speaks candidly about his amputation and the life he had to navigate in its aftermath. There were bouts of depression, moments when the weight of it all felt too much. But one verse from the Quran anchored him: "Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease (Surah Ash-Sharh, 94: 5–6)." Those words stayed with him, offering clarity in the midst of pain. Says Zulkifli: "It made me realise that if I hadn't been injured, we would have walked straight into a communist camp just 70 metres ahead. We would have been outnumbered. Maybe none of us would've made it." Losing his leg was hard. But Zulkifli eventually returned on his own to the jungle in Kolam Air Panas, Ulu Legong, Baling, in the later part of the year to overcome his trauma. He deliberately walked a path that was possibly filled with booby traps to rebuild his confidence. Despite the risk and danger, he managed to cover 30 to 40 metres on his prosthetic leg. He explains: "I just needed to get my confidence back. And that walk did that." Life didn't stop for Zulkifli — it simply moved forward in a new direction. Although Azmi, who carried him to safety, had left the army as a lieutenant, Zulkifli continued to stay in uniform, driven by discipline. Later, he joined Malaysia's Paralympic shooting team, competing in pistol events with the same focus that defined his service. In 1995, at the age of 30, he completed a Master's degree in Business Administration — driven by his desire to keep learning and serving more effectively in his evolving role. But there are some things he'll never forget. Zulkifli still remembers the red leaves in Gubir, the silence before the explosion and the belief that when the trees turned colour, something bad was coming. That superstition proved true — but it didn't end his story. Instead, the jungle that nearly took his life became the very place he reclaimed it. Colonel Zulkifli remains a reminder of the men who walked into danger, and those who returned — changed, but never defeated. There are no regrets whatsoever. He had to do what he had to do, for king and country. "If we don't defend our own country, who will?" he asks quietly. He pauses, then adds: "There's a quote — 'You won't realise how important your country is until you lose it'. I've never forgotten that. You only understand what you're defending when it's almost taken from you." For Zulkifli, that understanding was forged in the heart of the jungle, through fear, loss and the quiet resilience that carried him forward. His story is a reminder that even in the darkest parts of the forest, duty, loyalty and love for country can still light the way. 562 pages
The Star
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Green light hoped for gene-edited rice
Since 2021, several scientists have been developing new genetically edited rice varieties with targeted traits, such as resistance to disease and tolerance to climate challenges like extreme heat and drought. Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) principal research officer Dr Zulkifli Ahmad Seman said they now had a potential gene-edited (GE) padi line currently undergoing the screening phase. He said their research so far had shown that blight would only affect 11% of the leaves of GE padi. Laid side by side in a research glasshouse at Mardi in Serdang, Selangor, the two padi leaves look alike at first glance. But one leaf is almost all yellow, a sign of bacterial blight – a disease that has afflicted Malaysian rice fields for decades and caused losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit. The other is almost entirely green, save for a faint yellowing at the tip. It comes from a rice line Zulkifli and his team edited using CRISPR-CS9 technology. Zulkifli showing a photo of the padi leaves that are disease-resistant. 'So with the host, the protein (blight) can't attach because of where we have mutated it. 'When it cannot attach, that is where it will stop,' he told Bernama at Mardi headquarters. The line is not just a scientific breakthrough; it is the first GE plant for Mardi and Malaysia. But as Zulkifli's team approaches the fifth generation of the disease-resistant seed, they are coming closer to another challenge: Malaysia's regulatory grey zone. Grey zone Malaysia is one of Asia's highest per capita consumers of rice, but it does not grow enough padi. In 2023, per capita consumption was 76.7kg per year, according to Agriculture and Food Security Ministry. The rice production numbers have decreased from 2022, showing a 4.7% decrease from 2.28 million tonnes in 2022 to 2.18 million tonnes in 2023. According to the same statistics, local rice production can only meet 56.2% of local demand, leaving the country vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions. For padi farmers like 57-year-old Puteh Hassan in Kedah, the worsening weather patterns and recurring disease outbreaks have made harvests increasingly uncertain. 'There was one season we were badly hit (by bacterial blight). We lost 60% of our padi,' she said over the phone. Zulkifli's research could save Puteh's field from another disastrous attack. But the issue putting the research in limbo is whether current regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should apply to GE crops. Unlike GMOs, GE crops do not contain foreign DNA. Instead, they involve precise deletions or tweaks to existing genes – a process some researchers argue is closer to accelerated natural selection. As such, scientists and biotechnologists argue they cannot be judged according to the same standards. So far, the regulatory framework has not caught up. Malaysia's Biosafety Act 2007 governs GMOs but when the law was passed, there was no effective way to edit the genome. The scientists are in a quandary – they are doing ground- breaking work with the potential to help the nation feed its people, but will their GE rice see the light of day? Yellow fields Puteh remembers the season her padi fields turned yellow. Managing her own padi field for the past 15 years, she has seen plenty of bad years. She still remembers when the blight wiped out almost all of her income in 2019. 'I lost one tonne of padi that season,' said Puteh. She had hoped the ensuing seasons would be better but her yields either improved only marginally or got worse. In recent years, extreme temperatures and sudden floods have become more common. On top of that, blight is still there. Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae, spreads quickly in flooded padi fields and thrives in warm, humid environments like Malaysia's. It browns padi leaves and cuts grain production, leaving farmers with rotten fields. At the same time, farmers are growing less rice. According to National Association of Smallholders Malaysia president Adzmi Hassan, many smallholders have shifted to more lucrative crops like oil palm. He said Malaysia should not just look at technology, it should also look at encouraging padi farmers to grow the staple crop. One way would be to ensure there is a consistent and predictable yield year by year. For two years in a row, beginning in the 2023/24 season, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had predicted Malaysia's rice production would be below average. The GE padi stands as a potential solution. Until they get more information, these researchers are operating under the assumption that their GE rice will not be subject to the same approval process that stymied past biotech efforts involving GMO products. But still, the fear is there. The scientists remember efforts to conduct open field trials of a pesticide-resistant strain of GMO padi in Perlis in 2019. Nearby communities and environmentalists protested against holding the trials. In the end, the project was shelved. Mardi senior research officer Dr Mohd Waznu Adlyl said Malaysia should follow Japan's and a few other countries' lead, which exempts certain gene- edited crops from GMO regulation if no foreign DNA is present. These countries treat GE crops as normal crops as the gene- editing process works just like natural mutations, only faster. Mohd Waznul says the benefits of growing the new GE variety outweighs any potential risks. He also said the benefits outweighed any potential risks. 'We hope this rice that we produce can somehow help our (scientists) to produce new varieties because there are many issues, like climate change and new emerging pests,' he said. But many see GE foods and GMOs as the same. Third World Network biosafety programme coordinator Lim Li Ching was prepared to start a protest should GE crops be allowed to stage open field trials without any oversight. 'Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should,' she said in an online interview from her home in the UK. While CRISPR technology might work within a plant's own genome, she warned that it could bypass the slow, regulated nature of evolutionary change – introducing traits or gene interactions that might not have natural precedents. She added that even seemingly minor edits could cause unintended effects at molecular level. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to an organism's DNA. In plants, the process involves several steps, including causing a break or deletion of a DNA strand, and allowing the plant's natural repair mechanisms to fix the break. This method enables the development of crops with improved traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and increased yield. Global GE or GMO While Malaysia grapples with regulatory uncertainties, other countries are moving forward with GE crops. India has released two genome-edited rice varieties aimed at enhancing yield and resilience against environmental stresses. These varieties were developed using genome-editing techniques that allow for precise modifications in the plant's DNA. In contrast, Mexico has taken a more cautious approach. In March, the Mexican government amended its constitution to prohibit the use of genetically modified corn seeds, citing concerns over biosafety and the protection of native corn varieties. The ban just applies to GMOs, however, not GE foods. For Malaysia, the adoption of GE crops like Mardi's blight- resistant rice could play a crucial role in enhancing food security. However, without clear regulatory guidelines, these innovations may remain confined to research facilities. Malaysia has set the target of a rice self-sufficiency rate of 80% by 2030, but without intervention, be it via technology or other methods, the nation will likely not meet its goal anytime soon.
Sinar Daily
19-06-2025
- Sinar Daily
KLIA Customs officers foil RM2.65 million drug smuggling attempts
A man was arrested for trying to smuggle out 14.65 kg of cannabis buds worth almost RM1.44 million in his checked baggage on a flight to a European country. 19 Jun 2025 08:26pm KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad (middle) showing the items seized during a press conference, today. - Photo by Bernama KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad (middle) showing the items seized during a press conference, today. - Photo by Bernama SEPANG - Customs officers have foiled multiple attempts to smuggle 30.14 kilogrammes (kg) of drugs estimated to be worth RM2.65 million through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said that on April 17, a man was arrested for trying to smuggle out 14.65 kg of cannabis buds worth almost RM1.44 million in his checked baggage on a flight to a European country. He said the man was subjected to a baggage inspection after his travel was blocked by the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) due to a blacklist record. "During the baggage scan, the man attempted to flee but was apprehended by Customs personnel. "The inspection found that the cannabis buds were packed in vacuum-sealed plastic to avoid detection," he told a press conference today. Zulkifli said on May 16, Customs found 5.31 kg of ecstasy worth almost RM900,000 that was being smuggled in through a consignment at a cargo terminal operator in the KLIA Free Trade Zone. He said the drugs, believed to have originated from a European country, were packaged and declared as laptop components. Then, on May 24, he said that 10.18 kg of syabu, worth nearly RM300,000, concealed in a consignment along with clothing, was also intercepted. He said investigations into both drug shipments are underway, but face obstacles as the smugglers were likely using fake company names and addresses. "We have gone to the (premises) as declared in the consignment information, but the company either does not exist or is using someone else's address," he said. - BERNAMA
