BORNEO WILD JUNGLE MANGO- MANGIFERA PAJANG KOSTERMAN

 

Wild jungle mango-mangifera pajang kostermans- a new hybrid clone with the tree from the Borneo forest produces a fruit the size of a canon ball. This one weighs more than 900 g.

The old fruit from the jungle cultivated by villagers in Asajaya.  These fruits are cultivated by seed.

This one weighs more than 300 g.

Cutting the fruit vertically.

Peeling off the thick skin to reveal the bright yellow fibrous sweet sour mango

To the Malays of Sarawak (a state of Malaysia in the island of Borneo), this brown wild fruit the size of a canon ball, is called ‘asam embang’.The Ibans of Sarawak call it ‘buah mawang’. In Sabah, it is known as ‘bambangan’. This fruit is botanically known as mangifera pajang.  It is a wild fruit from the jungle and its availability today is due to their cultivation by the people  in Asajaya.

This fruit smells like the kuini (Mangifera adorato Griff), a popular Malaysian garden fruit.  The difference is the skin is brown and thick.  The fruit has to be cut on top across and vertically before it is peeled off.  The flesh is yellow and tasted sweet if the fruits falls to the ground but taste sour when it has a bit of green hue meaning it is not ripe yet.

Buah Mawang is eaten raw as a salad or eaten as an ulam (eating raw with sambal belacan or shrimp paste sauce). It is also cooked with fish. The flesh is fibrous and is cooked with chillies to give it the pineapple taste. As much as this fruit is the size of a canon ball, there are other varieties the size of a tomato.

Buah Mawang can be kept for a week because of its thick skin. It can be preserved in a jar. Even the leaves of this fruit can be eaten as an ‘ulam’. A member of the anacardiaceae family, this seasonal fruit starts fruiting twice a year during the months of Jan-Feb and July to August. – matahariborneo.blog

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April 30 decision on prosecution case against Ebit Lew

 The decision will be delivered at 8.30am.

Preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew is accused of sending obscene images and messages via WhatsApp to a woman in her 40s between March and June 2021. (Bernama pic)

KOTA KINABALU:

 The magistrates’ court in Tenom has fixed April 30 for its decision on the prosecution case against preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, who faces 11 charges of sexual harassment.

Defence counsel Ram Singh, in a brief text message to Bernama, confirmed the date, saying the decision would be delivered at 8.30am.

The trial, before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani, began in September 2022 and has heard testimony from 18 prosecution witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Analia Kamaruddin, and Muhammad Hidayat Wahab acted for the prosecution, while Ebit was represented by Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, and Prabjit Singh Gill.

Ebit, 38, is accused of sending obscene images and messages via WhatsApp to a woman in her 40s between March and June 2021, conduct said to have outraged her modesty.

He was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction. - FMT

Kadir Jasin: I don’t have to deny or feel ashamed about my long acquaintance with TunM

 

“GO ahead to condemn and insult Atok (twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) with any kind of condemnation or insult but remember that Atok has never been charged in a court of law or imprisoned.”

Such is the challenge posed by veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin to Madani keyboard warriors in light of his perceived “close association” with the centenarian statesman-turned-adviser to the four opposition-controlled states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu a.k.a. SG4 (State Government 4).

“On the other hand, Atok repeatedly challenged that if there’s a case, he’s ready to be charged and imprisoned,” penned the national journalism laureate in a Facebook post.

As it is, Anwar (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and (Malaysia’s top graft buster Tan Sri) Azam Baki are still investigating him till abroad. It has been more than two years yet there has been no prosecution.

“However, when Atok sued Anwar in civil court for defamation, the trial was delayed with the respondent (Anwar) making various excuses to delay the trial.

Earlier, the former group editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times said he was well-aware of many Madani backes, cybertroopers and ceplos (loose cannon keyboard warriors) who are verbally attacking him at the slightest opportunity because of his close acquaintance with Dr Mahathir.

“There’re those who truly believe in the promise of reform, hate past and present leaders as well as those who’re active because they are getting paid,” snubbed Kadir.

I don’t have to deny or feel ashamed about my long acquaintance with Dr Mahathir. In the days of mainstream media, I was once called his apologist. In today’s age of social media, I’m called “Penjilat Atok” (Dr Mahathir’s bootlicker).

By the will of fate, I ‘ve known Atok since 1964. Alhamdulillah, during those 61 years, I (too) have never been charged with a crime or issued a civil suit for bootlicking him.

On the same note, Kadir revealed that he, too, has known PMX “for a long time (from 1982) and the late Tun Daim Zainuddin (from 1983)” while acknowledging that “indeed I’m old compared to the mainstream media journalists who are there now” in response to the “old journo” label levelled by Madani backers on him.

“Indeed, I’m old. I’m 78 years old now and have been a journalist for 56 years,” jibed Kadir whose last official association with Dr Mahathir being his appointment as the media and communications advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office in August 2018 (during Dr Mahathir’s second premiership stint of 22 months).

“It doesn’t matter if I’m an ‘old journo’ for on that basis, Anwar, too is an ‘old PM’. In fact, he’s older than me by 13 days – he was born on Aug 10, 1947 while I was born on Aug 23, 1947.” –  Focus Malaysia

Rightists cry foul over sealing of private religious school: “The law is meant for Malay Muslims only”

 

SUCH is the instantaneous reaction by irate netizens without delving into reasons behind the sealing of a private Islamic primary school operating in Taman Awani Bangi by the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) for operating without a license.

Following complaints from local residents, it was found that this premise was operating without a license from the MPKj, the Fire Department and the District Education Office, according to community site Pekan Bangi in a Facebook post.

“This premise was also compounded in 2025 but no follow-up action was taken by the owner,” explained Pekan Bangi

Discussions will be made by the (MPKj) council members with the school operator to get the best solution for all parties, especially to ensure that the education of pupil of the school is not affected.

Hopefully this incident will serve as an example to all operators/owners of private schools, nurseries and tuition centres to register their respective premises according to the laws set by the government.

Fair enough reasoning at least on the surface given sealing of the Islamic school by the authorities somehow smacks double standards with one member of the Sepakat Membela Agama, Bangsa & Tanah Air FB group bluntly implying, “Why not be this strict on kuil haram (illegal temples)?

Interestingly, the group member has picked up Pekan Bangi’s account of MPKj’s action but stopped short of furnishing the entire detail, notably the very fact that the school operator “was operating without a license”.

Obviously, such piecemeal information sharing triggered many Muslims and especially so the rightist fraternity who are still sore with their claim of the authorities having turned a blind eye to the proliferation of illegal temples nationwide.

“If only they were this strict about the kuil haram. More so, illegal temples can get land and compensation,” rued one commenter with reaction on the line of “they’re brave with Malay Muslims only” and “the law is only meant for Malay Muslims” started to trickle in.

One commenter who is oblivious to the fact that “complaints from local residents” has prompted MPKj to act against the said school even expressed surprise that action is taken against a seemingly law-complying institution which is neither trespassing, erected illegal structures nor obstructing traffic.

Even on the Pekan Bangi post which detailed out reasons behind the MPKj action, some netizens are adamant that “the law only applies to Malay Muslim only”.

“Other construction without a permit on land not legally owned is allowed to operate for years. When there’re complaints, a notice to vacate will be issued. Then no action,” lamented a commenter.

If the school can be impounded so easily and swiftly, why can’t a temple or shrine be sealed, too? What distinguishes the two? A structure that is built and operated illegally and doesn’t follow the law?

If we aspire to live in peace and harmony, then law enforcement should be for all races and religions. Only then can we live in harmony.

Interestingly, the school did receive favourably backing from some parent who have current and previous dealings with the school as they feedback that their children “have picked up a lot of religious knowledge while its administration is also organised with dedicated teachers/ustazah”.

“All my children attended the school with my fourth kid having just entered. So far in terms of safety, studies and other related matters, thank God, there’ve been no problems. Moreover, my children have shown excellent personality and academic achievement,” defended one parent. –  Focus Malaysia

Group alleges cancer-linked radiation safety breaches at hospital

 

An activist group has called for a probe into alleged radiation safety breaches at a ministry-run hospital in the Klang Valley, claiming negligence led to staff developing chronic illnesses. - File pic

KUALA LUMPUR: An activist group has called for a probe into alleged radiation safety breaches at a ministry-run hospital in the Klang Valley, claiming negligence led to staff developing chronic illnesses.

The group, #ReformIPT, alleged that improper installation of PET-CT scanners at the hospital's Nuclear Medicine Unit resulted in personnel contracting lung, blood, and breast cancers.

The New Straits Times is withholding the name of the hospital pending comment from its management and the Higher Education Ministry.

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Group secretariat representative Brendon Gan and a former staff member known only as Fauziah said they have documented proof of gross standard operating procedure (SOP) mishandling.

They also claimed the hospital manipulated technical data to conceal the issue, in violation of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act.

Gan said the group has briefed Lembah Pantai MP Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil to seek seek intervention from the authorities. - NST

MORE TO COME

Sabah Parks monitoring ice formation on Mount Kinabalu

 

(FILE): Sabah Parks is monitoring the formation of ice at the Panalaban substation area of Kinabalu Park, located about 3,272.7 metres above sea level, following an occurrence recorded yesterday (April 16). — NSTP FILE PIC

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks is monitoring the formation of ice at the Panalaban substation area of Kinabalu Park, located about 3,272.7 metres above sea level, following an occurrence recorded yesterday (April 16).

In a statement today, Sabah Parks said the phenomenon was due to dry weather conditions and low humidity levels around Mount Kinabalu throughout the week.

"These conditions led to a significant drop in temperatures at higher altitudes, resulting in ice forming on plant surfaces and within the surrounding environment at the Panalaban base camp," it said.

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Sabah Parks explained that such ice formation is a natural and periodic occurrence in high-altitude areas of Mount Kinabalu, particularly during clear and dry weather when temperatures fall sharply between night and early morning.

It advised climbers, mountain guides, porters and staff in the Panalaban area to wear appropriate cold-weather clothing, stay well hydrated and adhere to all safety instructions issued by park management.

"Sabah Parks will continue to monitor weather and temperature developments in highland areas to ensure the safety of visitors and staff," the statement added. — BERNAMA