Tag: kuantan

No Retirement From Service: Former Teachers Turn Stringers

KUANTAN, May 23 -- Retirement has not stopped two former teachers in Pahang from continuing to serve the community, with both turning to part-time journalism to pursue their passion for the media industry. Speaking to Bernama, Salehudin Mat Rasad, said his interest in writing began during his school days when his news articles, poems and short stories were published in Utusan Pelajar, a student publication by Utusan Melayu at the time. Salehudin, 68, said he began working as a stringer for Utusan Malaysia Pahang on Dec 1, 1985 while still serving as a teacher, handling reporting and writing assignments during evenings, nights and weekends. “After retirement, journalism became my main focus because it allows me to remain active, contribute to society and spend my time productively. “The job also helps me stay mentally and physically active as it requires me to travel to various locations across Pahang,” said Salehudin, who served for 38 years as a teacher specialising in Bahasa Malaysia and also taught Geography and History. The Kampung Serambi, Pekan native said his teaching background had greatly helped in journalism as it exposed him to people from different walks of life, including students, parents and local communities. “As a teacher, I was used to listening, observing and understanding people’s emotions. Those skills are very useful in producing balanced reports that are close to the realities of society,” he said. Salehudin added that advances in technology had transformed journalism compared with the 1980s, when reports had to be dictated over the telephone or sent via fax. “At that time, public telephones were limited and only available in major towns. Today, technology allows news to be delivered almost instantly,” he said. Another retired teacher, Amir Hamzah Nordin, 66, said his interest in media began during secondary school before growing further throughout his teaching career. He said he used to publish a monthly school bulletin using A4 paper featuring school activities and students’ work, besides serving on the school magazine committee and as chief editor of “Suara Guru”, published by the Kesatuan Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat (KGMMB). Amir Hamzah said he began working as a stringer for Harian Watan in 1995 before joining Berita Harian from 1997 until October 2018, and later returned to active reporting with New Straits Times Press (NSTP) in April 2023. “Although I was active as a stringer while teaching, I never neglected my responsibilities as a teacher and received the Excellent Service Award three times,” he said. Among his most memorable assignments was covering a light aircraft crash in Sungai Tembeling in 1990, when he had to rely on another newspaper photographer to capture images at the scene. “The photographer threw the camera film from the crash site in the river to me on the riverbank. I then sought help from another reporter who was returning to Kuantan to send the film for processing,” he recalled. Amir Hamzah said working as a stringer after retirement has been fulfilling as it allows him to remain active while helping people through news reports. “There was one case involving a Malaysian who fell into a coma while travelling in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and needed financial aid. The news report indirectly helped raise public funds for him,” he said. -- BERNAMA

KUANTAN, May 23 — Retirement has not stopped two former teachers in Pahang from continuing to serve the community, with both turning to part-time journalism to pursue their passion for the media industry. Speaking to Bernama, Salehudin Mat Rasad, said his interest in writing began during his school days when his news articles, poems and […]

PM Anwar Ibrahim Launches PMX Pendekar MADANI Silat Championship 2026 in Kuantan

KUALA LUMPUR — Anwar Ibrahim officiated the PMX Pendekar MADANI Silat Championship 2026 in Kuantan yesterday, describing the event as a meaningful platform to revive the nation’s warrior spirit and cultural heritage. In his speech, the Prime Minister expressed excitement at witnessing the passion and commitment of young participants, who not only uphold silat as an ancestral legacy but also demonstrate resilience and identity amid modern challenges. Anwar highlighted that silat should not merely be seen as a form of self-defense, but as a symbol of national identity that instills discipline, courage, responsibility, and respect. He further stressed that within the MADANI framework, the ideal “pendekar” is one who is not only physically skilled but also morally grounded, principled in rejecting injustice and corruption, and capable of promoting positive values in society. The Prime Minister voiced confidence that with continued dedication from practitioners and instructors, the silat tradition will continue to thrive and evolve. He added that such platforms would nurture a new generation of resilient youth who are devoted to religion, nation, and country, while strengthening unity and elevating Malaysia’s dignity on the global stage. Anwar concluded by calling on all Malaysians to ensure that silat remains a living heritage, flourishing as a symbol of the nation’s enduring strength and identity. --Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris --Photo: FB Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR — Anwar Ibrahim officiated the PMX Pendekar MADANI Silat Championship 2026 in Kuantan yesterday, describing the event as a meaningful platform to revive the nation’s warrior spirit and cultural heritage. In his speech, the Prime Minister expressed excitement at witnessing the passion and commitment of young participants, who not only uphold silat as […]

Anwar Ibrahim Urges Swift Action on Cost of Living, Development Projects in Kuantan

KUALA LUMPUR — Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized the need for caution in adjusting national policy implementation, particularly in addressing the economic impact of ongoing conflicts in the Gulf and West Asia. Speaking at the District Development Meeting in Kuantan — the sixth district he has visited — Anwar stressed that national defense and security measures have been strengthened to ensure the stability and well-being of both the government and the people. On the rising cost of living, the Prime Minister said the government is taking immediate and comprehensive steps to protect citizens from economic pressures in both the short and long term. He added that developments are being closely monitored from the outset to minimize direct impacts on the national economy. Anwar also called for stronger coordination between the Federal Government and the Pahang State Government, particularly in ensuring that small-scale projects under the Rolling Plan approved in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) are implemented without delay so that their benefits can be quickly felt by the public. Addressing land-related issues in project implementation, he assured that the Federal Government would provide effective solutions to assist the state in expediting approved projects and avoiding prolonged delays. During the meeting, Anwar was briefed on the progress of federal and state initiatives in Kuantan, including challenges such as rising construction material costs affecting schools, as well as drainage maintenance in flood mitigation areas and regions previously unaffected by floods. He also reviewed updates on public well-being indicators, including hardcore poverty, crime index trends, MADANI Village and School initiatives, the development of business stalls, and proposed community-focused (Cakna MADANI) projects. Highlighting the importance of grassroots economic support, Anwar stressed that priority should be given to upgrading and expanding facilities for small traders in Kuantan. He urged local authorities and the Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT) to closely monitor the needs of stall operators to ensure they can conduct business more comfortably and increase their income, rather than focusing solely on large-scale or mega projects. In addition, he reiterated a Cabinet decision directing the Ministry of Education to expedite the preparation of additional classrooms for Year 1 students aged six and seven, ahead of the 2027 school intake, including in Kuantan. Concluding his remarks, Anwar called on the people of Pahang and Malaysians nationwide to pray for the country’s continued stability and resilience in facing ongoing economic challenges. --Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris --Photo: FB Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR — PM Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized the need for caution in adjusting national policy implementation, particularly in addressing the economic impact of ongoing conflicts in the Gulf and West Asia. Speaking at the District Development Meeting in Kuantan — the sixth district he has visited — PM Anwar stressed that national defense and […]