KLIA systems disruption: 20 flights delayed
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PETALING JAYA: As at 10.30am Thursday (Aug 22), 20 flights departing KL International Airport (KLIA) have been delayed, says Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB).
MAHB said its technical team is in the midst of stabilising critical passenger-facing systems at the airport.
It added that it had briefed relevant stakeholders such as the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM), representatives of airlines operating in KLIA, and the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) chairman on the latest updates and mitigation plans.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this disruption.
It also said that all critical passenger-facing systems at KLIA including the Flight Information Display System (FIDS) are fully functional.
MAHB had earlier said that several airport systems were affected by the disruption, including WiFi connections, the FIDS, and the Check-In-Counters and Baggage Handling Systems (BHS).
It said that passengers could get more information from MAHB's social media feeds and advised them to reach the airport at least four hours before their flight departure time.
MAHB also encouraged passengers to check-in via the respective airlines’ mobile apps or websites.
It also urged passengers to reach out to their Airport CARE Ambassadors or contact 03-8776 2000 for further information on flight details.
Listening and reading evoke almost identical brain activity
Published Today By Catharine Paddock PhD Fact checked by Jasmin Collier
Whether the words of a story come from listening or reading, it appears that the brain activates the same areas to represent their semantics, or meaning, according to new research.
woman reading and listening to music
Reading books and 'listening' to them activate the same brain areas.
Using detailed brain scans, scientists at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, have created interactive 3D semantic maps that can accurately predict which parts of the brain will respond to particular categories of words.
When they compared the semantic brain maps for listening and reading, the researchers found that they were almost identical.
It appears that the brain's representation of meaning does not depend on which sense acquires the words that convey it.
A recent Journal of Neuroscience paper describes how the team came to this conclusion.
The findings yield fresh insights into the complex brain activity of comprehension. They should also improve the understanding of language processing difficulties such as dyslexia.
"At a time when more people are absorbing information via audiobooks, podcasts, and even audio texts," says lead study author Fatma Deniz, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UC, Berkeley, "our study shows that, whether they're listening to or reading the same materials, they are processing semantic information similarly."
Flights cancelled as Taiwan braces for typhoon
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan braced for Typhoon Bailu on Friday, prompting cancellations of domestic flights amid warnings of floods and high seas on the island.
Typhoon Bailu, categorised at the weakest typhoon level by Taiwan's weather bureau, was expected to approach off the island's southeastern coast early on Saturday. It was moving across the ocean in a northwesterly direction at 24 km per hour (15 mph), weather officials said.
Bailu was carrying maximum winds of 126 km per hour (78 mph) as it approaches Taiwan, the weather bureau said, adding that the storm could gain in strength and become the first typhoon to make landfall on the island in more than two years.
Thousands of people were moved to safety, most of them tourists on islands off the east coast, while dozens of domestic flights and ferry services were cancelled. Some 34,000 soldiers were deployed in the south amid fears of floods.
After passing over Taiwan, the typhoon is expected to cross the Taiwan Strait and hit the Chinese province of Fujian, forecasters said.
Typhoons regularly hit Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Japan in the second half of the year, gathering strength from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean or South China Sea.
Typhoon Morakot devastated the island in 2009, killing nearly 700 people, most of them in landslides.
(Reporting By Yimou Lee)
PBB sifatkan peratusan kemiskinan Malaysia tidak realistik
Rahimah Abdullah, Astro Awani | Diterbitkan pada Ogos 23, 2019 18:15 MYT
Alston menyifatkan kadar kemiskinan negara 0.4 peratus pada 2016 adalah tidak realistik kerana meletakkan penanda aras yang rendah. - Astro AWANI
KUALA LUMPUR: Pertubuhan Bangsa- Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) mendakwa situasi kemiskinan di Malaysia jauh lebih buruk daripada yang digambarkan oleh kerajaan.
Dalam satu laporan yang didedahkan pada Jumaat, Pelapor Khas Kemiskinan dan Hak Asasi Manusia PBB, Philip Alston menyifatkan kadar kemiskinan negara 0.4 peratus pada 2016 adalah tidak realistik kerana meletakkan penanda aras yang rendah.
Sebaliknya, kata beliau, kadar kemiskinan yang sebenar di Malaysia adalah kira-kira 15 peratus.
"Realitinya, Malaysia dilihat mempunyai kadar kemiskinan hampir dengan negara lain iaitu 15 peratus. Masalah utamanya ialah kewujudan 0.4 peratus yang melibatkan 25 ribu isi rumah di Malaysia dikategorikan miskin. Pada akhirnya, ia dilihat pada proses membuat polisi.
"Pegawai kerajaan ada yang mengatakan tiada kemiskinan jadi tidak perlu program basmi kemiskinan yang terlalu mendalam kerana kononnya kamu hanya perlukan polisi kerajaan. Namun realitinya, kemiskinan tidak mampu memadamkan dapatan daripada polisi sosial dan ekonomi," katanya dalam satu sidang media mengenai Laporan PBB terhadap Kemiskinan dan Hak Asasi di ibu negara pada Jumaat.
Laporan berkenaan diterbitkan susulan lawatan 11 hari Alston yang melawat pangsapuri kos rendah, pusat orang kurang upaya, komuniti orang asli dan sekolah di Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sarawak, Sabah, dan Kelantan.
Beliau turut bertemu pegawai kerajaan negeri dan persekutuan, agensi antarabangsa, ahli akademik, dan rakyat bagi mendapatkan gambaran kehidupan di negara ini.
Menurut Alston, kadar kemiskinan terendah iaitu 0.4 peratus yang dicapai pada 2016 adalah kerana Malaysia meletakkan penanda aras kemiskinan sebanyak RM980 sebulan bagi setiap isi rumah.
Bagaimanapun, beliau tidak mencadangkan penanda aras yang sesuai diguna pakai oleh kerajaan.
Sementara itu, Alston turut melihat polisi untuk membangunkan golongan Bumiputera perlu diseimbangkan dengan kepentingan orang Asli di negara ini.
"Polisi Bumiputera perlu selari dengan matlamat memastikan kesejahteraan orang Melayu sama seperti kesejahteraan orang Asli kerana prinsipnya sama. Saya harap kerajaan akan terus mempromosikan polisi yang positif, dan jabatan yang berkaitan. Namun saya berharap menteri berkaitan terus mempertahankan hak orang asal serta tidak bersikap pasif," tambahnya.
Alston bagaimanapun mengiktiraf pelbagai inisiatif yang diambil kerajaan selama ini untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat, serta menambah baik akses kepada perkhidmatan kesihatan dan pendidikan.
Beliau turut mengesyorkan agar kerajaan tidak cuba menyembunyikan fakta sebenar dalam realiti tahap kemiskinan negara.
"Masalah besar adalah realiti politiknya. Tiada kerajaan yang semalamnya berkata bahawa tiada kemiskinan, tapi hari ini ia diubah dan memberitahu bahawa seorang daripada enam orang Malaysia miskin.
"Kerajaan tidak mahu melakukan perkara itu. Kerajaan biasanya mengatakan Malaysia sebuah negara kaya, bakal mencapai status negara berpendapatan tinggi dan rakyat layak mendapat kehidupan yang lebih baik, kita tidak lagi akan menggunakan RM980 sebagai penanda aras lagi, kita akan meningkatkannya. Itu adalah indikasi kehidupan miskin yang tinggi," ujarnya.
Laporan penuh Alston akan dibentang kepada Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia di Geneva pada Jun 2020.
Situation in KLIA under control despite non-functional FIDS at Departure Hall
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SEPANG (Bernama): The situation at the KL International Airport (KLIA) was under control on Monday (Aug 26) morning even though the Flight Information Display System (FIDS) at the Departure Hall was not functioning.
Volunteers made up of Malaysia Airports staff from various departments were seen pro-actively approaching passengers to assist them with their flight details.
Announcements of the system disruption, advising passengers to do their immigration clearance after checking in, as well as on flight departure time and gate, could be heard repeatedly.
The situation, which was the result of a network failure on Wednesday (Aug 21) night, has seen improvement since Saturday after Malaysia Airports replaced the network equipment.
Checks by Bernama at noon Monday showed that the FIDS had partially recovered.
Malaysian Chan Keat Wah, 29, from Kuala Lumpur, who was travelling to Brunei on flight MH0730 at 12.30pm, said she did not face any difficulty finding her flight details without the FIDS.
"The volunteers were very helpful in providing information on my check-in counter and gate number, ” she said.
A 39-year-old Italian working in Kuala Lumpur who only wanted to be known as Luca was travelling to Jakarta on Garuda Airlines and said he obtained all the details of his flight from the person-in-charge at the information counter.
"I did not face any problem in getting my flight details, ” he added. - Bernama
More of any physical activity tied to longer life
Published Fri 23 Aug 2019 By Catharine Paddock PhD
Research clearly shows that increasing physical activity, regardless of intensity, relates to a significantly lower risk of dying. Even light exercise, such as walking, can make a difference.
man walking on bridge
Even taking a simple walk can make a difference to a person's longevity.
Researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing data from published research that had involved the use of wearable trackers to measure the physical activity in adults who were middle-aged and older.
A recent BMJ paper gives a full account of the systematic review and meta-analysis.
The analysis also reveals that sitting for more than 9.5 hours per day is linked to a significantly higher risk of early death.
The findings largely confirm those of previous studies on links between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and longevity.
According to the researchers, most health guidelines about minimum levels of exercise have relied mainly on studies that used self-reported levels of activity.
The researchers note that their new investigation is significant because they only included those studies that measured physical activity using accelerometers. These wearable movement sensors can track the amount and intensity of activity during waking hours.
Double standards: Actress calls out hypocrisy in treatment of convicted child sex offender Nur Fitri
Tan Mei Zi
PETALING JAYA, Aug 26 — Actress Tiz Zaqyah has criticised society’s double standards after news circulated that convicted child sex offender Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin was pursuing his PhD at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
The Cinta Jangan Pergi star said it was “disgusting” to see how men like Nur Fitri can get off lightly for their crimes while women who choose to remove their hijab suffer at the hands of keyboard warriors online.
The tweet has since gone viral with more than 3,100 retweets and 2,600 likes.
Tiz was most likely referring to Malaysian actresses Emma Maembong and Fathia Latiff who became cyberbullying targets after choosing to stop wearing the hijab earlier this year.
Meanwhile, UKM in a statement described Nur Fitri as having “extraordinary capabilities and excellence” in his work, hence their decision to accept his application to study there.
“UKM has also never received any complaints against (Nur Fitri) throughout his studies in UKM.
“UKM believes that education can help to transform individuals by giving them a chance to improve themselves to achieve their highest success in life,” said the university.
The reported maths genius was studying at Imperial College London in 2014 when he was arrested for possessing more than 30,000 videos and images of child pornography, including 601 belonging to “Category A” which depicts abuse involving penetrative sexual acts with children.
He served a reduced sentence of nine months in the UK before being extradited to Malaysia.
Related ArticlesNur Fitri wajar diberi peluang kedua, kata pakar kriminologiTPM: Jaga anak, tidak mungkin hukum pesalah pedofilia seumur hidupUKM says accepted child porn ex-convict due to excellent studies, extraordinary capabilities.
Tahfiz school under fire over ‘absurd’ punishments
Larissa Lumandan
KUCHING: The Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) is seeking an explanation from the headmaster of a Tahfiz school in Kuching concerning a purported parental consent form listing “absurb” punishment of pupils enrolled there.
The consent form, believed to have been sent by Pondok Hidayatul Mubtadi’ien in Kuching had listed punishments which were criticised on social media for being “absurd”.
State assistant minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who is in charge of Islamic affairs in Sarawak, told FMT that “JAIS had called the headmaster for an explanation and police are investigating the matter.”
He said the religious school is registered under JAIS.
The agreement came to light after it was posted by a Twitter user who urged Education Minister Maszlee Malik to investigate.
The consent form asked parents to agree to the Tahfiz school taking disciplinary action which included 60 strokes of the cane, shaving the students’ heads bald, pouring excrement over the students, and standing under the searing sun after Zohor (12.42pm) up till Asar (3.56pm).
Those who refused to continue their religious studies would not be given school leaving certificates, the form said. Parents were also required to send their children to the school even if the children refused to continue their religious studies, according to the purported form.
Carcosa Seri Negara to be redeveloped into iconic tourist site
Nuradzimmah Daim
KUALA LUMPUR: The historical site of Carcosa Seri Negara will be redeveloped by the government to turn it into an iconic tourism spot.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak said the building, along with the land, would undergo a facelift as part of the government's plan to transform it.
He said an evaluation on the colonial mansion located on a 13.3ha prime land in the heart of the city was being carried out.
"We are working with the Public Works Ministry which will conduct a forensic study to determine the structural safety of the colonial buildings, as well as the infrastructures including its piping and wiring. The study will also cover the road network surrounding the buildings. The access roads leading to the site are narrow and we have to look into that.
"In the meantime, we have to secure the area for safety reasons, with security guards (being assigned) there.
“By early next year, we hope to look at proposals on how the building can be preserved and give a facelift through renovations, and turn it into an iconic tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur,” he said on the sidelines of the World Tourism Conference here today.
He said the proposals might also include possible collaboration with the private sector.
On rumours that the land was up for sale, Isham said it was not true as it would be preserved under the National Heritage Act 2005.
It was reported that the two separate buildings were handed over to a company to manage but the government, through the Land and Mines director-general, had ordered it to be vacated as the company had not paid any rent for the building since 2017.
The Carcosa mansion was built in 1896 as the official residence for Sir Frank Swettenham, the first British High Commissioner of the then Resident-General of the Federated Malay States.
Then known as the Governor's Residence. it was opened in 1913 as the official guest house of Governor of the Straits Settlement.
Since Independence in 1957, it has been used as residence for visiting dignitaries between 1957 and 1989, and as a luxury hotel from 1989 to 2015.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Rupanya mayat anak sendiri
Sinar Harian |Diterbitkan pada Ogos 27, 2019 10:37 MYT
Pasangan suami isteri yang dalam perjalanan pulang ke rumah tidak menyangka sekujur tubuh pelajar lelaki terbaring di jalan raya adalah anaknya sendiri. -Foto Sinar Harian
KUALA SELANGOR: Pasangan suami isteri yang dalam perjalanan pulang ke rumah tidak menyangka sekujur tubuh pelajar lelaki terbaring di jalan raya adalah anaknya sendiri.
Ahmadrunizam Awang, 44, berkata kejadian kira-kira jam 12 tengah hari itu berlaku ketika dia dan isteri pulang sebaik selesai urusan kerja di Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmadrunizam yang menetap di Kampung Pasir Tuntong berkata dia yang melalui jalan terbabit tidak mengesyaki sesuatu meskipun ternampak mayat kaku di atas jalan.
"Saya meneruskan pemanduan kerana ingatkan anak orang lain, tapi bila sampai ke tempat menunggu bas berhampiran rumah kelibat anak tak kelihatan.
"Saya mula rasa tidak sedap hati dan kebetulan menerima panggilan telefon daripada adik ipar memaklumkan anak saya dilanggar kenderaan ketika melintas jalan," katanya.
Menurutnya, dia kemudiannya berpatah semula ke tempat kejadian dan terkejut apabila anaknya, Ahmad Rafiq Darwisy, 13, tidak lagi bernyawa.
"Saya berlari ke arahnya dan sempat membuka baju yang dipakai bagi menutupi jenazah anak sebelum dibawa ke hospital," katanya.
Katanya, Ahmad Rafiq yang dalam perjalanan ke sekolah sempat meninggalkan pesanan kira-kira 10 minit sebelum kejadian.
"Sebelum kejadian, arwah ada hubungi isteri beritahu supaya jaga diri baik-baik dan berhati-hati," katanya.
Ahmadrunizam berkata anak keempat daripada enam beradik itu disifatkan sebagai anak yang baik dan suka bergurau.
"Arwah seorang yang ceria dan ringan tulang. Bila disuruh melakukan sesuatu dia cepat membantu.
"Ini semua takdir ALLAH, sebagai bapa saya hanya mampu berdoa supaya arwah diberikan kebaikan dunia dan akhirat," katanya.
Jenazah Allahyarham Ahmad Rafiq selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Api-Api kira-kira jam 5. 30 petang, semalam.
Sinar Harian semalam melaporkan seorang pelajar tingkatan 1 yang dalam perjalanan ke sekolah menemui ajal apabila tercampak kira-kira 20 meter selepas dilanggar sebuah kenderaan pacuan empat roda di Kilometer 38 Jalan Teluk Intan-Klang, berhampiran Assam Jawa, di sini.
Dalam kejadian 12 tengah hari itu, Ahmad Rafiq mengalami kecederaan parah di kepala dan disahkan meninggal dunia di lokasi kejadian.
MAHB advises passengers to arrive at KLIA four hours before departure
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PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has advised all passengers travelling through both Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) terminals to check-in online earlier and to be at the airport four hours prior to departure.
It said with two long weekends coming up for most Malaysians, they are expecting higher than usual passenger traffic movements at all airports.
MAHB expects to see an average of 160,000 daily passenger traffic movements in Kuala Lumpur during this period.
“We remain committed to ensuring that the passenger journey is seamless. Our 1,000-strong volunteer staff that have been put in place since the start of the network failure will remain in force throughout this super peak travel period.
“Around 85 flights are expected to be affected due to the airspace closure and passengers should check on the latest flight schedules from their respective airlines,” MAHB said in a travel advisory Thursday (Aug 29).
It said that the teams manning the facilities at both terminals including KLIA2, have been put on high alert to ensure traffic management, car park availability, washroom cleanliness and Aerotrain operations are well managed during this period.
It added that drivers heading to the airport are reminded to adhere strictly to the two-minute pick up and drop off time at the kerbside to avoid traffic congestion.
It said that they will be monitoring the flow of vehicles and prevent unauthorised parking together with the police.
“Passengers, upon entering the terminal, may look for the roving Airport CARE Ambassadors and any other airport staff for further assistance. These personnel are easily recognisable through the ‘Ask Me' sash or their neon yellow vests,” it said.
MAHB said that 30-minute free parking at the 5,000-bay Long Term Car Park (LTCP) will be provided to those who need to wait and pick up passengers.
There is also the free shuttle bus service from the LTCP to the terminals that operate at 15-minute intervals.
Malaysia #QuranHour berlangsung hari ini
Sinar Harian |Diterbitkan pada Ogos 30, 2019 10:5
Peserta sudah mula memasuki perkarangan Masjid Putra untuk menjayakan Malaysia #QuranHour pagi ini. - Foto Sinar Harian
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia #QuranHour yang memasuki edisi kelima penganjurannya akan berlangsung hari ini dengan membawa tema 'Bangsa Berbudi dan Penyayang'.
Tahun ini, surah Al-Kahfi dipilih sebagai surah tema seiring dengan panduan untuk menghadapi cabaran akhir zaman.
Menariknya juga, Malaysia #QuranHour yang berlangsung di Masjid Putra di sini turut diadakan bersempena dengan sambutan Hari Kebangsaan ke- 62 yang akan disambut esok.
Family of five kicked out of rented room, forced to live in car for 10 days
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KLANG: A family of five lived in their car for almost 10 days, after they were thrown out of their rented room by their housemates.
Ahmad Zaini Mohd Zainuddin, 39, said trouble ensued between him and a few other tenants after they were caught trying to misbehave with his 14-year-old daughter.
He added the other tenants, mostly foreigners, started giving his family trouble until they bundled some clothes into a box and fled the place located in Sungai Udang near here.
"I had no choice as my daughters, aged 18,14 and 11, and I were frightened that they may be harmed," he said.
Ahmad Zaini's wife Noresah Mohammad, 38, is also six months pregnant.
Their eldest daughter is now living with friends, whilst the rest of the family lived in their car parked at the Pandamaran Sports Complex carpark.
To make matters worse, said Ahmad Zaini, he also lost his job at a junkyard after his employer, a Rohingya refugee, had a run in with the authorities for conducting the business without a valid permit.
Luckily for them, the Selangor Zakat Centre provided them a flat to stay in Port Klang on Thursday (Aug 29).
However, said Ahmad Zaini, the family has no money to buy food and have been starving for over a day.
His youngest son was also running a temperature.
"I cannot leave them starving and ill like this and go off to look for a job," said Ahmad Zaini, adding that he knows welding and repair work.
His school-going children have also been missing school since the family was rendered homeless.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, Community Development and Integration Initiative (CDII), has come forward to help Ahmad Zaini.
Its director, Firoza Burhan, said the family's immediate needs will be taken care of by CDII.
"But they need groceries as well as funds to see them through for at least a few months, until Ahmad Zaini is able to settle into a job to make ends meet," said Firoza.
She said the family also needed basic furniture, as they were currently living in an empty house.
"They don't even have a mattress or pillows," she said.
She urged Malaysians to come forward to help the family guided by the spirit of national unity.
"He needs us and we have to be there for him," said Firoza.
Those who want to help the family can write to cdii.community@gmail.com
Kotak elak pelajar meniru
MEXICO CITY: Seorang guru di sebuah sekolah tinggi di Mexico dikritik selepas memaksa pelajarnya memakai kotak di kepala ketika peperiksaan bagi mengelak mereka daripada meniru.
Luis Juarez Texis yang mengajar di Kolej Bachelors di Tlaxcala dituduh memalukan dan melanggar hak asasi pelajarnya selepas gambarnya mengawasi kumpulan pelajar yang memakai kotak di kepala menjadi tular.
Ibu bapa pelajar memuat naik gambar itu di media sosial dan menggesa jabatan pelajaran untuk memecat Texis.
Gambar pelajar memakai kotak itu dengan lubang yang membolehkan mereka melihat di depan dikongsi beribu-ribu kali di media sosial pada minggu lalu dan turut dilaporkan di media perdana.
Bagaimanapun, kebanyakan pengguna media sosial tidak mengecam guru berkenaan sebaliknya mereka mengucapkan tahniah kerana dia menemui cara efektif untuk mengelak pelajar menipu.
“Tugas yang baik cikgu. Ini tidak menjejaskan pelajar, malah ibu bapa patut bimbang mengenai pengajian anak mereka daripada kotak yang memberi pengajaran yang baik,” kata seorang pengguna media sosial.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Dah tiga hari meninggal dunia, rupanya...
Hidayatul Akmal Ahmad
hidayatulakmal@nstp.com.my
MISTERI kehilangan lelaki warga emas sejak empat hari lalu terjawab apabila mayatnya ditemui dalam semak tepi jalan di kilometer 50 Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh, dekat Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor, hari ini.
Ketua Polis Daerah Hulu Selangor Deputi Superintendan Azman Ab Rahman berkata, sepasukan anggotanya bergegas ke lokasi sebaik menerima panggilan awam.
Katanya, mayat lelaki warga emas itu ditemui hampir reput dan mangsa dipercayai meninggal dunia sejak dia hilang pada 31 Ogos lalu.
“Siasatan mendapati, kemalangan berlaku 6.30 pagi, 31 Ogos lalu ketika mangsa, Lim Eng Aun, 81, sedang dalam perjalanan menuju ke Rawang dari arah Tanjung Malim dengan menunggang sebuah motosikal Yamaha,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan.
Menurut Azman, motosikal ditunggang mangsa dipercayai terbabas dan masuk ke dalam kawasan semak sekali gus mengakibatkan warga emas yang berasal dari Tanjung Malim itu meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian.
“Hasil semakan mendapati satu laporan polis berhubung kehilangan mangsa yang dibuat oleh anak saudara mendiang di Tanjung Malim, empat hari yang lalu.
“Mayat mangsa dibawa ke Hospital Kuala Kubu Bharu untuk dibedah siasat dan kes disiasat di bawah Seksyen 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987,” katanya.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Bimbang mampu seru roh jahat, sekolah Katolik di AS haramkan buku Harry Potter
Agensi | Diterbitkan pada September 03, 2019 23:28 MYT
Novel Harry Potter, yang ditulis oleh penulis British JK Rowling, adalah antara penerbitan yang popular di seluruh dunia. - Gambar fail
WASHINGTON: Pengamal ilmu pengusiran roh jahat di Nashville, Amerika Syarikat (AS) telah menasihatkan sebuah sekolah di Nashville supaya mengharamkan novel Harry Potter, kerana ditakuti pembacaannya boleh ‘memanggil’ kuasa jahat.
Agensi berita AFP melaporkan, paderi senior Dan Reehil telah menghubungi pihak berkepentingan di Rom dan AS, menggesa buku bertema fantasi itu segera diharamkan di perpustakaan Sekolah Katolik St Edward di Tennessee.
Dilancarkan pada tahun 1997, siri novel Harry Potter mengisahkan tentang pertembungan dunia baik dan jahat dengan tumpuan cerita pada perjalanan kehidupan seorang ahli sihir kanak-kanak yangberdepan dengan ancaman watak jahat, iaitu Lord Voldemort.
"Sumpahan dan mentera yang digunakan dalam novel-novel itu adalah sumpahan dan mentera sebenar, dan jika dibaca oleh manusia dikhuatiri mampu menyeru kehadiran roh jahat," ujar paderi itu dalam e-mel yang dihantar kepada media tenmpatan.
Pemantau sekolah Katolik di Nashville, Rebecca Hammel, memberitahu akhbar tempatan, The Tennessean, bahawa Reehil mempunyai ‘kuasa penuh untuk membuat keputusan itu’.
Walaupun sekolah itu menyimpan siri novel berkenaan, ia tidak akan diberikan sebagai bahan bacaan untuk pelajar-pelajar di perpustakaannya yang baru dibuka, ujar Hammel.
Novel Harry Potter, yang ditulis oleh penulis British JK Rowling, adalah antara penerbitan yang popular di seluruh dunia.
Sebelum ini, seruan pengharaman novelnya itu sudah dilaporkan di serata AS dan Britain, kebanyakannya ada kaitan dengan dakwaan ia mengetengahkan nilai-nilai dunia syaitan dan ilmu hitam.
Gigih turun padang
Rudy Imran Shamsudin
imran@hmetro.com.my
SEJAK muncul dengan lagu Sebentar tahun ini, Dayang Nurfaizah tidak berehat panjang.
Sebaik konsert Dayang Dua Dekad di Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur Julai lalu, dia terus giat mempromosikan lagu ciptaan Faizal Tahir dan Mike Chan itu.
Hampir setiap hari, stesen radio mana yang tidak dijejaki penyanyi kelahiran Kuching, Sarawak ini dan program TV mana tak dikunjungi bagi memastikan lagu itu berkumandang.
Namun ada yang bertanya, mengapa dalam kedudukan yang begitu selesa, penyanyi yang bakal mengadakan konsert solonya di Singapura, Disember ini masih perlu bersusah payah?
Dalam industri muzik tempatan, Dayang nama besar dan kredibilitinya diiktiraf sebagai antara yang terbaik.
Menilai dari sudut itu, rasanya pemenang anugerah Vokal Terbaik sebanyak tiga kali pada Anugerah Juara Lagu ini tidak perlu terlalu gigih turun padang dan muncul di semua stesen radio dan TV.
Berbicara mengenai perkara ini, Dayang berkata, dia tidak pernah meletakkan dirinya setinggi seperti anggapan umum sebaliknya menegaskan kejayaan hanya akan tercapai apabila seseorang itu berusaha.
“Bayangkan jika saya memilih stesen radio atau program TV tertentu untuk mempromosikan lagu Sebentar. Bukankah ia akan merugikan saya?
“Apabila membuat kemunculan di stesen radio itu sekurang-kurangnya saya sudah dapat memperdengarkan lagu terbaharu kepada pendengar mereka,” katanya.
Menurut Dayang, dia tetap turun padang ke stesen radio dan program TV yang dikatakan tidak ramai pendengar atau penonton bukan kerana mahu mempromosikan lagu, sebaliknya dia melihat situasi itu sebagai serampang dua mata.
“Mungkin benar apa yang dikatakan, stesen radio itu atau program TV terbabit tidak popular, kurang pendengar atau penonton, tetapi orang tidak tahu apabila saya muncul saja dengan lagu terbaharu, mereka orang pertama memainkan dan mempromosikan lagu saya.
“Mereka memain dan mempromosikan lagu saya tanpa ada birokrasi. Tidak perlu menunggu undian atau melihat lagu saya tular atau tidak baru hendak dimainkan. Sebaik saja mereka mendapat lagu saya, ia terus dimainkan,” katanya.
Dayang berkata, situasi itu membuatkan hatinya tersentuh dan menunjukkan betapa mereka begitu menghargai apa yang dia lakukan demi kelangsungan kerjaya.
Bukan itu saja, ada juga dalam kalangan kakitangan stesen radio dan program TV menjadi sahabatnya.
“Bayangkan saya sibuk dengan kerjaya begitu juga mereka. Jarang sekali saya dapat bertemu mereka.
“Selalunya peluang untuk bertemu dengan mereka yang menjadi penyampai radio atau pengacara program TV itu apabila saya berke-sempatan mempromosikan lagu terbaharu yang saya dendangkan,” katanya.
Menurut Dayang, dia tidak pernah mengamalkan sikap pilih bulu dalam mempromosikan lagunya. Bagi Dayang, semua stesen radio dan TV mempunyai fungsi yang sama.
“Lagipun, industri muzik kita kecil dan saling memerlukan. Hari ini mereka tolong saya, esok lusa saya pula membantu mereka,” katanya.
Lega tiket laris
Dayang bersyukur apabila tiket Konsert Dayang Dua Dekad yang akan berlangsung di The Theatre, MediaCorp, Singapura pada 28 Disember ini sudah 50 peratus dijual secara dalam talian.
Dayang berkata, dia lega segala perancangan mereka berjalan lancar setakat ini.
“Saya difahamkan, setakat ini tiket paling mahal sudah habis dijual dan kini tinggal tiket paling murah saja,” katanya.
Bercerita mengenai per-sembahannya dalam konsert itu nanti, Dayang berkata, buat masa ini dia tidak bercadang mengubah keseluruhan konsep persembahan dan pemilihan lagu.
“Seperti yang saya jelaskan sebelum ini, untuk menukar keseluruhan lagu ia akan memberikan masalah kerana saya tidak mempu-nyai masa yang cukup untuk melakukannya.
“Bagaimanapun, ada beberapa perubahan kecil akan saya lakukan. Ini bagi memastikan apa yang dipersembahkan di Singapura nanti akan ada tarikannya.
“Saya faham perkara ini perlu dilakukan kerana ada juga peminat yang sudah menonton konsert saya di Kuala Lumpur turut membeli tiket untuk menonton konsert di Singapura nanti. Perkara ini juga akan turut saya bincangkan dengan pengarah muzik iaitu Genervie Kam,” katanya.
Artikel ini disiarkan pada : Khamis, 12 September 2019 @ 5:50 AM
Sultan Ismail Petra gering namun stabil' - Tengku Temenggong Kelantan
Bernama | Diterbitkan pada September 12, 2019
Tengku Temenggong Kelantan: "Saya rasa seperti yang diketahui umum tuanku (Sultan Ismail Petra) sedang berada di hospital. Setakat ini Alhamdulillah keadaan kesihatan tuanku stabil." -
KOTA BHARU: Ayahanda Sultan Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V, Sultan Ismail Petra sedang gering namun berada dalam keadaan stabil, kata Tengku Temenggong Kelantan Tan Sri Tengku Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz.
"Saya rasa seperti yang diketahui umum tuanku (Sultan Ismail Petra) sedang berada di hospital. Setakat ini Alhamdulillah keadaan kesihatan tuanku stabil.
"Saya berharap rakyat semua dapat berdoa semoga kesihatan tuanku akan bertambah baik di masa hadapan. Kita pun di pihak MAIK (Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan) sentiasa buat solat hajat dan doa selamat bagi mendoakan kesihatan tuanku," katanya yang juga Yang Di-Pertua MAIK.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Pembangunan Jati Diri 'Sayangi Diri, Tanah Air dan Raja' anjuran MAIK di Dewan Utama, Kompleks Islam Jubli Perak di Panji di sini, hari ini.
Sementara itu, ketika berucap merasmikan program berkenaan, Tengku Mohamad Rizam berkata MAIK melalui Unit Adat Istiadat sedang merangka satu Modul Ketatanegaraan Negeri Kelantan bagi disebarluaskan kepada masyarakat di seluruh pelusuk negeri ini.
"Saya juga berharap, usaha menyediakan Modul Ketatanegaraan Negeri Kelantan ini akan berjaya memberikan satu mekanisme baharu dalam memperkasakan rakyat Kelantan yang berjati diri 'Sayangi Diri, Tanah Air dan Raja".
"Modul Ketatanegaraan Negeri Kelantan ini dijangka akan diap sepenuhnya pada 2020, Insya-Allah," katanya.
-- BERNAMA
Operasi pembenihan awan di Semenanjung minggu depan
Oleh Fazrik Kamarudin
bhnews@bh.com.my
KONGSI ARTIKEL
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KUALA LUMPUR: Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (METMalaysia) akan melakukan operasi pembenihan awan (OPA) di Semenanjung, minggu depan, bagi mengurangkan kesan jerebu yang semakin teruk.
Ketua Pengarahnya, Jailan Simon, berkata operasi itu akan dilaksanakan pada 16 dan 17 September ini berdasarkan penganalisisan model cuaca yang dijalankan.
Pemandangan udara di sekitar Kuala Lumpur kelihatan berjerebu. - NSTP/Hafiz Sohaimi
“Kualiti udara di Semenanjung, terutama di bahagian Pantai Barat merosot kepada tahap tidak sihat. MetMalaysia akan melaksanakan OPA bagi mengurangkan kesan jerebu yang semakin teruk.
“Berdasarkan penganalisisan model cuaca dari 13 hingga 19 September ini, didapati keadaan yang sesuai untuk melaksanakan OPA di Semenanjung ialah pada 16 dan 17 September,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan, hari ini.
Keadaan jerebu dirakam sekitar di Lebuhraya Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, Pulau Pinang. Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) mencatatkan tahap tidak sihat di kawasan Balik Pulau (110), Minden (116) dan Seberang Jaya (109) manakala Seberang Perai (98) pada tahap sederhana. - NSTP/Shahnaz Fazlie Shahrizal
Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Jailan berkata, OPA di Sarawak akan ditangguhkan buat sementara waktu berikutan kualiti udara di seluruh negeri itu bertambah baik.
Pemandangan sekitar Pantai Lido tidak jelas berikutan jerebu yang melanda negeri ini dengan bacaan IPU di laman sesawang Sistem Pengurusan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (APIMS) mencatatkan bacaan tidak sihat sebanyak 100. - NSTP/Mohd Azren Jamaludin
Beliau berkata, bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di Sarawak secara keseluruhannya menurun daripada tahap tidak sihat kepada sederhana.
Pada 12 September lalu, OPA dilakukan di lima kawasan negeri itu membabitkan Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman dan Betong selepas kualiti udara terjejas teruk akibat jerebu.
Kerajaan Selangor pula semalam menetapkan operasi pembenihan awan akan dilaksanakan di kawasan berjerebu yang mencatat bacaan sangat tidak sihat dengan IPU melebihi 200.
Edited by seribulan at 15-9-2019 06:48 AM
image: https://www.channelnewsasia.com
Tides of change: From fighting against the seas to living with it - How the Netherlands kept itself dry
As Singapore looks to develop initiatives to deal with rising sea levels brought on by climate change, CNA visited the Netherlands, which is a global leader in designing systems to keep rising waters at bay.
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Windmills at Zaanse Schans, the Netherlands (1)
Windmills seen at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
By Tang See Kit
15 Sep 2019 06:01AM
(Updated: 15 Sep 2019 07:23AM)
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: More than 66 years on, it is still remembered and referred to as the “national disaster”.
In the wee hours of Jan 31, 1953, a ferocious storm from the North Sea broke through the dykes protecting the south of the Netherlands, overwhelming the low-lying coastal cities and catching many unprepared. A second storm inundated the area again the next day. The ensuing floods killed nearly 2,000 people.
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Arno Vloet was born 11 years after the catastrophic natural disaster, but he remembered vivid stories from his uncle – a military man involved in the rescue operation back in 1953.
READ: Tides of change - Amid rising sea levels, the Dutch float new initiatives with farms and more homes on water
READ: Fending off the floods – 5 things to know about polders and how they could work in Singapore
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“The army sent in lots of boats, sandbags and tried to rescue as many people – some were waiting for help on the roofs of their houses – but many died,” said the 55-year-old businessman.
“We learnt about this national disaster in school. For a small country like us, this is a part of our history, like the Second World War.”
Surrounded on one end by the North Sea and with three of Europe’s major rivers – the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt – running through the country, about two-thirds of the Netherlands is vulnerable to flooding.
For centuries, the Dutch have built dykes, canals, windmills and pumps to keep the water out. In doing so, they created polders – which are areas of reclaimed land that lie below sea level – out of previously unusable waterlogged areas.
What happened in 1953 was a wake-up call, said Tjitte Nauta, an expert from Dutch water research institute Deltares.
“At that time, it appeared that our water management wasn’t as good as we thought. The levees were not at the right levels and maintenance wasn’t ideal,” he said.
From there, the country ramped up its flood defences, spending billions over the next few decades.
Now, in one of the world’s most flood-prone countries where nearly 70 per cent of economic output is generated below sea level, it almost never floods.
Part of this formidable fortress is the Delta Works – three locks, six dams and four storm surge barriers developed in the country’s southwest between 1954 and 1997. Storm surge barriers are massive, moveable structures which shut, automatically or otherwise, during extreme sea levels.
The last part of the Delta Works to be completed was the Maeslantkering or Maeslant Barrier, which can withstand a storm tide of 5 metres above sea level and serves as the first line of defence for the city of Rotterdam.
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Storm surge barrier in the Netherlands: Maeslantkering or Maeslant Barrier
The Maeslantkering, or Maeslant Barrier, is giant sea gate that serves as the first line of defence for the city of Rotterdam. (Photo: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)
The biggest, however, remains the 9-kilometre long Oosterscheldekering, or Eastern Scheldt Barrier. It closes when water levels are estimated to rise beyond 3 metres.
Constructing these 13 massive flood defence structures cost 7.4 billion euros (about S$11.2 billion), according to Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.
“If you realise that one third of our country is below sea level and another third is at the risk of flooding, then you immediately realise why it’s always on our minds,” she told CNA in a recent interview.
“But in the past, we had some floods and people lost their lives. 1953 was a horrible disaster and that was the reason for us to start the Delta Works.
“We spent a lot of money to prepare ourselves for the future and make sure we are resilient for storms like that,” the minister added.
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Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.
Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen poses for a photo in her office at The Hague. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
TURNING POINT
But while the Netherlands reinforced protection along its coasts, trouble was emerging elsewhere.
Mr Vloet, who lives in a small town in the south that is three metres below sea level, said he has never experienced a flood except for a close encounter in 1993, when the nearby Nijmegen city faced a flood risk from the Rhine.
The powerful river, one of Europe’s longest, carries melted snow water from the Swiss Alps and flows through four other countries before cutting through the Netherlands to get to the North Sea.
“My town had no problems but a relative living in another area had to evacuate. They called us and we went over to help move the furniture to the second floor,” recalled Mr Vloet.
The Rhine threatened to overspill again two years later when heavy rainfall in France and Germany sent a surge of water toward Nijmegen. Amid worries that the city’s dykes could be breached, more than 200,000 people were evacuated.
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Polders in the Netherlands (1)
A polder in the south of the Netherlands. Polders are a uniquely Dutch term referring to reclaimed land that lies below sea level. (Photo: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)
Fortunately, the dykes held up but the close shave was the second “wake-up call” for the Netherlands.
“Another wake-up call and this time related to urban development,” said Mr Nauta from Deltares.
Growing cities like Nijmegen were encroaching into waterways, while climate change is increasing river discharges, he explained. In the case of the Rhine, faster melting glaciers in Switzerland are set to raise water levels in the river.
“Without enough space, water can only go up which means dykes will also have to go up. But there’s an end to that process,” added the expert who oversees Deltares’s research and commercial projects in Asia.
That paved the way for the country’s second national project in 2008, one that reversed centuries of Dutch tradition. Called Room for the River, it involved the removal of polders, relocation of dykes and the lowering of flood plains along rivers at 30 spots across the country.
“What we used to do is to only come up with technical solutions like dykes to keep the water out,” said Minister van Nieuwenhuizen.
“With climate change, (the risk of flooding from the rivers) is getting worse and we didn’t want to fight that by only building higher dykes. We followed the flows and identified more spaces alongside the rivers, so that when the river is high, you can make use of these areas.”
One of the most complex developments was to resolve a “bottleneck” in the Rhine between the city of Nijmegen and the village of Lent.
This referred to a narrow bend in the river, bounded by the expanding city in the south and a dyke up north that shielded the village. It was only 400 metres wide, compared to other parts of the river that ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 metres, according to Dutch firm Royal HaskoningDHV which was involved in the project.
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Room for the River project at Nijmegen (1)
This area was redeveloped to resolve a "bottleneck" in the river Rhine, which threatened to flood the city of Nijmegen in 1993 and 1995. (Photo: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)
“Our goal is to relocate the dyke and give more room to the river,” said project manager Gert-Jan Meulepas.
But this meant that 50 homes in the area had to be relocated. “It was not a fun news to bring to the people and we had a lot of opposition,” recalled Mr Meulepas, who said this was the biggest challenge for him and his team.
Royal HaskoningDHV sought to involve residents affected by the re-development early on in the project. Residents also received compensation from the government.
“We had to find a way to make people enthusiastic so we reached out to them to talk about climate change and had awards for people to submit ideas. We wanted to involve them, get them to think about what they want in the area and incorporate these ideas into the project," said Mr Meulepas.
When the redevelopment was completed in 2016, the dyke had been moved up north by 350 metres. This gave way to a new 3.5-kilometre-long canal, and an artificial island called Veurlent for new recreational areas and residential developments.
On one recent afternoon when CNA visited, a festival was happening on the island. Many locals could also be seen swimming in the river, cycling and taking leisure afternoon walks.
“This is the new way – we learn not just to fight nature and fight the water, but also to make use of it and live with it” said Minister van Nieuwenhuizen.
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Room for the River project at Nijmegen (2)
This is the new dyke, which was moved up north by 350 metres and is now a recreational spot for locals in the city of Nijmegen. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
The Room for the River project came with a price tag of 2.1 billion euros. The shift to “building with nature” also gave birth to other initiatives, such as the building of mangrove swamps as buffers against the sea and a 70 million euros pilot project called the “Sand Engine”.
For the latter, 21.5 million cubic metres of sand was placed along a southern coast in 2011. Unlike typical dredging activities, the aim is to let nature do its work by slowly blowing and washing the sand along the coast, eventually developing 35 hectares of new beach and dune surfaces as a reinforcement for the Dutch shoreline.
MAKING CITIES RESILIENT
The search for new ways to beef up flood resilience has also extended into the cities, according to the Dutch minister.
“We have places that are usually a nice public square for people to walk or sit but in times of high water levels, it becomes a collection pond,” she said.
“If you are in a very low-lying place, you have to make sure there are alternatives to get rid of the water.”
These urban solutions are evident in Rotterdam, one of the major low-lying cities that power the Dutch economy.
Apart from public squares that help to store water during heavy rainstorms, there are also parking garages in the city that double up as emergency reservoirs, green roofs and ongoing experiments with climate-adaptive buildings.
“Every city with a water problem is making its own plans, but Rotterdam is probably the one that experimented the most,” said Mr Nauta, who used to be a member of the city’s water board.
Water boards take charge of regional waters such as canals and polder waterways, while the Rijkswaterstaat, the executive branch of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, manages major waters like the sea and rivers.
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Delft city in the Netherlands
The Dutch city of Delft is home to several renowned water institutes, such as Deltares and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
After decades of being flood-free, the risk of swelling water levels is no longer at the top of peoples’ minds, said Minister van Nieuwenhuizen.
“I think if you ask any Dutch if they live below the sea level, a lot of people wouldn’t even wonder about it,” she said.
“But with climate change, we have to educate people and tell them that more extreme weather and rising sea levels are happening. We really have to be prepared.”
There is an official website for people to check if their neighbourhoods are below sea level and by how much, as well as monitor daily water and weather conditions. The website, however, is hardly used by those that CNA spoke to.
Amsterdam resident Jamal Ben Ali said: “Where I stay is below sea level but no, my friends and I never worry about floods.”
Back in Nijmegen, Mr Vloet echoed that the risk of floods has never crossed his mind.
“There was a movie last year about how if the dykes break, half the country will be flooded, even in Nijmegen. That is what could happen in a worst case scenario but I’m not worried,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of Dutch people are concerned too.”
“We have faith in our dykes and sluices. Even our King (Willem-Alexander) is an expert in water management,” he quipped.
IS IT ENOUGH?
To be sure, there are some who wonder if what the country has done will be enough.
“If sea levels rise slowly, we will have time to adapt but what if it rises faster than expected? There’s so much uncertainty,” said Associate Professor Mick van der Wegen from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.
“The question hence will be how long our strategy is viable and how long, for example, can we maintain our polders? There will come a day when maintaining our dykes will become too expensive,” he added.
The Netherlands is also facing the problem of land subsidence – shrinking and consolidation of land – especially in the country’s peat-rich land areas.
“If you pump out water, the peat oxidises and becomes smaller. That means the land goes down,” explained Mr Nauta. “Peat and polders are unfortunately not the best combination.”
Climate change has also appeared to play a role in accelerating subsidence, with relatively warm summers dehydrating peat soil and speeding up land shrinkage.
“So our ground is going down and the sea level is going up, which means we have to pump more and more water out – how long can you do this? That is the question,” added the Deltares expert.
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Zaanse Schans, tourist hotspot in the Netherlands (2)
Windmills and traditional Dutch houses along a drainage canal seen at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
With scientists having predicted that sea levels will rise by about one metre by the end of this century, Minister van Nieuwenhuizen said the Netherlands is “already protected” against that scenario.
“But we, of course, follow closely new reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and see if we have to take measures for even higher sea level rises beyond 1 metre.”
Work is already under way, with the establishment of a Delta Fund. This sets aside about 1 billion euros a year for necessary works to protect the country against flooding, and ensuring the country adapts to climate change and has adequate freshwater supplies.
The Delta Programme, which the fund supports, updates its plans every year and presents them to parliament, said the minister.
“Every year, the parliament takes a good look at what we plan to do for the next year. They also evaluate ongoing and finished projects.
“But this is a specific fund to make sure there is a steady flow (of money) to build and plan for the long term, and that we don’t have to fight for budget every year,” Minister van Nieuwenhuizen told CNA.
“That is a lot of money but that is also the reason why everyone can live here fearless.”
Dykes across the country are already being monitored, with works being done to the “more vulnerable ones”, said the minister.
Massive storm surge barriers are also being improved. After in operations for more than 30 years, the massive Oosterscheldekering underwent a renovation to add new protective layers to its gates.
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Storm surge barrier in the Netherlands: Oosterscheldekering
Spanning 9 kilometres, the Oosterscheldekering, or Eastern Scheldt Barrier, is the biggest Delta Works project. (Photo: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)
Beyond government-led initiatives, some individuals and private companies have started turning to building on water as a possible solution.
“Sea levels are rising, rainfall is increasing and here we are, trapped in the delta. If we want to continue building and expanding, the best way is to do it on the water,” said Dutch engineer Peter van Wingerden who started the country’s first dairy farm in Rotterdam.
“We are also creating polders with our floating models,” he said. “This is the new polder that is climate-adaptive and little maintenance needed.”
More than six decades may have passed since the 1953 flood disaster, but its legacy remains strong. The Netherlands remains dedicated to ensuring that whatever nature has in store, its people and its infrastructure will be as ready as possible.
As Minister van Nieuwenhuizen said: “For the Dutch people, it’s in their DNA to work and live with water.”
Source: CNA/sk
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/ ... etherlands-11902760