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Bagworm infestation in district causing palm oil production to drop
Juita gives Deepavali hampers, cash to 100 Indian families
Bomb scare sends shoppers scurrying

Bagworm infestation in district causing palm oil production to drop

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 01:08 AM PST

YONG PENG: The Government, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) hopes to address the bagworm infestation in the district with a three-pronged strategy as the pest had incurred huge losses to oil palm planters.

The measures include aerial spraying of biological microbes, installation of pheromone traps to the worms from breeding on the oil palm leaves and planting alternative crops to attract the bagworms.

Yong Peng assemblyman Lim Kee Moi said the infestation caused palm oil production in Yong Peng (one of the largest produce in Johor) to drop by 40%.

Bagworms or genus metisa plana are leaf-eating insects that spins a silk nest embedded with pieces of dried leaf. It causes damage to crops by defoliating its leaves.

"This is a huge loss to some 1,000 small holders whose livelihood depends on oil palm here," she said.

The Government and the MPOB, added Lim, are serious about dealing with the infestation.

To make things even worse, hot weather had impacted the bagworm's manifestation and also heavy use of pesticides.

"We experienced this problem since last year. What we have done is to carry out aerial spraying using biological microbes to kill the bagworms early this year.

"However despite spraying about 3,100ha, we found out that the problem still persisted as there were too many plantations which were scattered all over the place."

The microbes used are not harmful to people or livestock.

To address the issue, Lim said the smallholders decided to form a cooperative to group them together.

"This way when MPOB decides to carry out aerial spraying, they will be able to pin point the exact location of each oil palm plantation based on coordinates from the Global Positioning System (GPS)."

At least 11 zones were identified as the infected areas here and efforts were underway to register the small holders by Dec 1.

"To register we only need copies of the land owner name together with the land grants and contact details," she said the launch the cooperative here.

The worst hit areas, said Lim, are Kg Ngamarto, Kg Sawah Padi, Kg Haji Mean, Kg Sungai Lenek, Kg Haji Musa, Desa Temu Jodoh, Sg Purun, Batu 3 Jalan Labis, Bukit Jintan, Batu 5 Jalan Labis (LamLee) and Jalan Paloh.

Besides aerial spraying, the MPOB also gave out special pheromone traps to be put up in the oil palm plantations to trap the moths before they were able to lay their larvae on the leaves.

"We are also encouraging farmers to plant beneficial plants such as Cassia and Turnera near their oil palm trees to attract the bagworms to target and eat them instead of the oil palm leaves," she added.

On other issues affecting oil palm farmers such as abolishing a RM20 levy charged for each tonne of fresh fruits by collectors as storage fees and the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) to implement a downward revision of the CPO export duty immediately instead of January 2013.

Lim said the farmers had argued that the Government would have to act quickly to resolve the issues as the price of palm oil had dropped recently.

She added that Indonesia had also revised its tax rates to make it more attractive.

To address the matters, Lim had urged smallholders in the area to register as members of the cooperative or contact her service centre at 07-4671009 or fax 07-4671039.

Juita gives Deepavali hampers, cash to 100 Indian families

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 01:03 AM PST

KLUANG: It was a pleasant surprise for about 100 underprivileged Indian families who received Deepavali goodies including cash, a hamper during a function organised by the State Respresentative Wives Association (Juita) here recently.

Widow, L.Kamala Saraswathy, 55, said that she was so grateful for the hamper and Deepavali goodies handed out.

"I had taken a bus and travelled for 45 minutes from Kahang just to attend this event and I am just so happy today," she said.

She added that any help or contribution for Deepavali was a blessing because it helped lighten her burden especially during the Festival of Lights.

Former factory worker, M.Saravanan, 33, was all smiles after receiving the goodies and said that he could now look forward to celebrating Deepavali with his family.

"I was injured about a year ago and was forced to use crutches.

"I also lost my job because of my disability and it is wonderful to receive this small gift which is such a blessing to me and my family," he said.

The underprivileged families were handed RM200 each, a hamper from MIC Johor, a saree, a piece of batik cloth and a fruit cake each.

The event was also aided by representatives from MIC Kluang, MIC Sembrong and MIC Simpang Renggam.

Meanwhile, Juita president, Datin Paduka Prof Dr Jamilah Ariffin, who handed out the goodies, urged the community to always visit the houses of their neighbours and friends during festivities to encourage the 1 Malaysia spirit.

"During my school days, I used to go house to house to visit my friends of different races during festivals and this practice needs to be inculcated in our community today," she said.

Pertaining to a separate matter, Dr Jamilah also encourage more single mothers from the Indian community to take up free tailoring, reflexology and gardening classes offered by Juita to help them earn a living and be independent.

"Research shows that a large portion of single mothers in the country are from the Indian community therefore there needs to be more participation from single mother's from this group," she said.

Other than handing out goodies, the underpriviledged families were also entertained with various dances by students from SJKT Haji Manan during the event.

Bomb scare sends shoppers scurrying

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 01:04 AM PST

JOHOR BARU: A bomb hoax had scared thousands of shoppers from Plaza Angsana here leaving traders facing huge financial losses.

The shoppers together with traders had to empty the five-storey complex after the management of the building received a call from an anonymous caller informing that a bomb had been placed inside the building.

Boutique shop owner Mohd Kamaruzaman Ismail, 44, said that the incident is the first time that such a thing had happen in the shopping complex.

"I open my shop at around 10am and some half an hour later the building management told me to close down as there was a bomb," he said adding that he lost thousands of ringgit due to the hoax bomb.

Plaza Angsana, opened some 15 years ago, is one of the most favourite shopping destinations here among locals and Singaporeans alike.

The building, which is currently under renovation works, normally attracts thousands of people either on the weekends or public holidays.

Meanwhile Plaza Angsana technical and operations assistant manager Asfalela Abdul Kadir said that they received the call at around 10.30am and immediately contacted the police.

"With the help of the police and our security personnel we managed to empty the building within 20 minutes.

"The management would leave the investigation to the police and increase our security at the same time to avoid repeated incident," she said adding that there are currently 300 traders in the building.

When contacted, Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said that no bomb was found inside the building.

"A bomb disposal unit together with forensic unit was sent to the scene immediately to find the bomb however after a careful two hour check we did not find anything at each level of the building.

"The action of the caller is irresponsible as the person wants to create chaos," he said adding that the police are investigating the prank call.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 21 November 2012