500 terumbu karang tanduk rusa dibiak semula di Pulau Jemuruk

ALOR SETAR: Sebanyak 500 terumbu karang jenis tanduk rusa atau nama saintifiknya Acropora berjaya dibiak semula ke habitat semula jadi di sekitar perairan Pulau Jemuruk, di Langkawi.

Pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) Kedah, Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab berkata, usaha pembiakan terumbu karang tersebut dijayakan menerusi program Coral Rack Planting (1 RAS 1 Terumbu Karang) dengan kerjasama rakan strategik Masterjaya Greentech Sdn Bhd.

"Objektif program itu bagi menyokong usaha pembiakan terumbu karang di sekitar perairan Teluk Yu hingga ke Kubang Badak.

"Terumbu karang di seluruh dunia terancam akibat kesan pencemaran dan aktiviti harian manusia serta terdedah kepada perubahan iklim sedangkan ia sepatutnya menjadi nurseri atau tempat pembiakan ikan dan hidupan laut lain," katanya dalam kenyataan pada Rabu.

Sehubung itu, beliau berkata, program itu sebagai satu daripada usaha untuk meningkatkan kesedaran awam mengenai kepentingan penjagaan alam sekitar selain memupuk kesedaran pentingnya penjagaan ekosistem marin sebagai warisan untuk generasi akan datang.

Sharifah Zakiah berkata, kira-kira 100 Rakan Alam Sekitar (RAS) terlibat dalam menjayakan program tersebut termasuk wakil industri, agensi kerajaan, badan bukan kerajaan serta pegawai JAS. - BERNAMA

Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Costing The Silent Threat of Obesity

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Malaysia are a growing burden on the health system, with a number of associated health issues and economic costs.

The annual cost of healthcare for NCDs is estimated to be over RM 9.65 billion. Meanwhile, the cost of disability and loss of healthy life years is estimated to be around RM 100.79 billion. Absenteeism due to NCDs is estimated to cost the Malaysian economy RM 2.6 billion annually.

From the common NCDs, obesity is one of THE most significant health threats, with nearly 20% of the Malaysian population currently classified as obese.

Additionally, more than half of all adults (54%) are overweight or obese. According to the World Obesity Atlas, this figure could rise to 41% in Malaysia by 2035, if preventive action is not taken.

Niaga Spotlight focuses on immediate strategies to address this growing silent threat of Obesity, which also burdens the national healthcare system as well as national productivity levels with significant impacts and costs.