The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Sales of flowers drop due to holidays
- Smallholders are set to increase income with the use of stimulant latex
- Jail for snatch thief
| Sales of flowers drop due to holidays Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:51 PM PST JOHOR BARU: The long Chinese New Year holidays has put a bit of damper on the sales of bouquet for this years' Valentines Day today). Xin Florist and Gift Centre project planner Kenneth Ng said sales have dropped as much as 40% this year compared with last year. He added that maybe many people were still busy and in the Chinese New Year holiday mood and probably have opted to celebrate a more simpler Valentine's Day this year. "We have also noticed a growing number of customers approaching us via online to make their purchases. "Young adults prefer to browse through the selections and purchase the bouquets online and skip the hassle of driving over to place their orders," he said adding that promoting online also helped to boost their sales. On the trend for Valentines Day this year, he said many couples here were opting for only simple flower bouquets minus all the cute bears and chocolates. He said despite the hundreds of different designs available, many customers were simply opting for simple designs with no added frills. "Many customers wanted their bouquets to be filled with fresh red roses while some preferred tulips. "One customer even requested that we fill up his car boot with fresh red roses to surprise his girlfriend," he said adding that the traditional arrangement of bouquets was a growing trend this year. He added that the customers these days wished to surprise and shower their loved ones with more than one gift, hence they prefer to present chocolates and teddy bears separately. Those interested can place their bookings by contacting them at 07-3533188 or logon to www.xinflorist.com. |
| Smallholders are set to increase income with the use of stimulant latex Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:49 PM PST MARAN: About 1.5 million rubber smallholders will enjoy an increase in income by a few percent with the increase production by using the stimulant latex. The use of the stimulant latex could increase the volume of latex by between 5% and 30% and this should be the culture of the current method of rubber tapping. Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the rubber industry which contributed about RM30bil to the country's economy should be supported with added value in its methods of producing. "It is proven that by using the stimulant latex, the production of latex is increased by between 15% and 30% which would also benefit the rubber smallholders by way of increase in income. "Currently, each rubber tapper could earn between RM1,500 and RM2,000 per month. However, based on our studies they could earn a few more handreds of ringgit with the use of stimulant latex as proposed by the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda)," said Mohd Shafie officiating the launch of the national-level of the using of the stimulant latex in Kampung Bukit Lada here recently. Also present were Risda chairman Tan Sri Dr Rahim Tamby Chik, Maran MP Datuk Ismail Abdul Muttalib and state Rural Development and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Mohd Shafie said Risda has played its progressive moves to provide the latex for the smallholders and some RM5mil has been allocated in this programme. He said claims by some rubber smallholders that the latex would shorten the life of the rubber trees were not true as the studies and research conducted has proven otherwise. "More latex will be produced by the rubber tree and its life span of about 30 years will not be affected. "Moreover, there are the replanting programmes, subsidies of proper and recommended fertilisers provided to the rubber smallholder which would support the efforts to increase the latex," he said. Mohd Shafie said Malaysia remained as the main rubber producer in the world which needed further efforts and initiatives to be conducted to ensure the continuous production of rubber. He said the Government is targeting that the rubber industry to contribute RM52.9bil to the country's economy by 2020. "Some RM30bil or 56.7% of the production is contributed by the production of rubber gloves," he said. Mohd Shafie said despite the competition from synthetic rubber, pure rubber was still needed in tyres manufacturing industries. He said the smallholders have to adapt to the proper and good agriculture practices for higher yeilds. "Previously, the rubber tappers were categorised in the poor income group but now they are enjoying a better living with an increase in income," he said. Mohd Shafie said that the Government also provided insurance scheme for the rubber smallholders aged from 18 to 70 as they are also exposed to all kinds of risk while on duty. "It is estimated that some 85,326 of the smallholders will benefit from this scheme and the total premium for a year will be at RM1.6mil." he said. |
| Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:52 PM PST JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has sentenced a labourer to four years in jail for snatching a wallet belonging to a Singaporean national. Mohd Zain Abdullah, 34, pleaded guilty to robbing Lee Tai Wah by snatching his wallet at a shopping mall along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak here on Jan 26 at around 4.30pm. At the time of the incident, there was $150 Singapore dollars(RM376), RM100, identification documents and driving licence inside Lee's wallet. The accused had committed an offence under Section 392 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of not more than 14 years and is also liable for a fine and whipping upon conviction. During mitigation, Mohd Zain pleaded leniency from Sessions judge Mohamad Haidar Abdul Aziz. The accused said that this was his first offence and he had a wife and a small child to look after. Mohamad Haidar then said that the offence made by the accused is quite serious and sentenced him to four years imprisonment from the date of the arrest. Meanwhile in an unrelated case at the same court, a former plantation supervisor was sentenced to a day imprisonment for bribing an auxiliary police personnel of RM200. Mohd Ali Hamsan, 33, admitted guilty to bribing Kons Mohd Fariq Azwan Mohd Zainal at a seafood restaurant at Hentian Penawar in Kota Tinggi on Jun 21, 2011, at around 9.30pm. The accused had given the amount to Kons Mohd Fariq as an inducement not to record a lorry transporting oil palm out from Felda Kledang 2. He had committed an offence under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and could be sentence under Section 24 of the same Act. Mohamad Haidar then sentenced Mohd Ali to a day in jail and fined him RM10,000 in default or six months imprisonment. DPP Norashikin Ibrahim and MACC prosecution officer Mohd Sajori Martubi prosecuted the cases while both accused was not represented. |
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