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Proposed blurb: Awareness is rising on the need to cut food waste, including during festivals as well as Ramadan. We sort through the latest numbers to see if the tide is turning on efforts to reduce the mountainous amount of food that ends up in landfills.   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Efforts to reduce food waste during Ramadan is getting a boost from consumers who have become more prudent and price conscious when buying food.   This is among the reasons for a 6.5% drop in the amount of food waste in the first two weeks of the fasting month this year compared to the same period last year, said Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp).   The company said 40,723 tonnes of food waste was generated in the first half of Ramadan this year compared to 43,566 tonnes last year – a reduction of 2,843 tonnes.   “Individuals are choosing to shop in a more prudent and modest manner, carefully selecti...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI     PETALING JAYA: Physical banknotes are the preferred choice for many Muslims in Malaysia when it comes to giving duit raya, but online cash transfers are gaining ground as an alternative. The custom of handing out packets containing money as gifts to family and other loved ones especially children during Aidilfitri is seen a way to strengthen ties and ease the burden of the needy. Rafiqha Mustaffa, 32, is among those who still prefer the traditional method of giving out duit raya in the form of physical banknotes. "I give my children duit raya in cash for sentimental reasons. “I remember feeling happy when I received the cash in my hand, so I want my children and other children to experience the same,” said the mother of two. Others, such as Ashikin Azhar, prefers cashless transactions for its convenience. "Digital money transfer is very appealing to me as it is easier and immediate, and nowa...

  Proposed blurb: Will technology reinvent Malaysia’s Aidilfitri duit raya tradition? We find out.   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: Physical banknotes are the preferred choice for many Muslims in Malaysia when it comes to giving duit raya, but online cash transfers are gaining ground as an alternative.       The custom of handing out packets containing money as gifts to family and other loved ones especially children during Aidilfitri is seen a way to strengthen ties and ease the burden of the needy.       Rafiqha Mustaffa, 32, is among those who still prefer the traditional method of giving out duit raya in the form of physical banknotes.       "I give my children duit raya in cash for sentimental reasons.       “I remember feeling happy when I received the cash in my hand, so I want my ...

Persistent underemployment an indication of serious structural issues within the economy, say experts   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI and REBECCA RAJAENDRAM   PETALING JAYA : Aza*, 33, is barely making minimum wage as an administrative assistant in Raub, Pahang. "I'd probably make between RM2,300 to RM2,500 working in Kuala Lumpur, but in a small town, I earn about RM1,500 per month. "I have a business administration degree, but getting a higher position that matches my skill level is hard. So I take what I can get,” she said. Aza is among the country's many underemployed talents – skilled workers who are settling for semi-skilled jobs because they are overqualified for the positions available. Skilled workers, according to the Malaysia Standard Classification of Occupation (Masco) 2013, are those possessing high skills, such as managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals. Semi-skilled workers are the clerical suppor...

Teaser: Malaysians who fall into bankruptcy mostly get into trouble for the same reason. The majority are also from one particular age group. We look at what the numbers say.   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI     PETALING JAYA: The number of Malaysians declared bankrupt last year fell 15.5% to 4,810 compared with 5,695 in 2022.   Figures from the Malaysian Department of Insolvency (MDI) also show a steady drop in bankruptcies annually since 2019.   In total, 37,461 individuals were declared bankrupt from 2019-2023.   ALSO READ>  Budget 2024: Second chance policy on bankruptcy expanded, says PM   The majority got into trouble for the same reason, and the biggest group among them belong to one particular age group. Here’s what the numbers show:         Top cause of bankruptcy   Failure to pay personal loans are the number one reason why people fall into bankruptcy in the c...

 By Shyafiq Dzulkifli PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's hot and dry season started earlier this year compared to the past two years, due to the ongoing El Nino weather phenomenon.   High temperature notices have been issued for 15  locations across  6  states so far this year.   In comparison, such advisories were only issued starting in March for both 2023 and 2022, according to an analysis of the notices which are issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).   ALSO READ> MULTIMEDIA: Fighting On Two Fronts        All of the 63  alerts issued so far this year have been Level 1 advisories. According to MetMalaysia, the highest-ever temperature reading in the country was 40.1C in Chuping, Perlis on April 9, 1998, which incidentally was an El Niño year.   El Nino and La Nina are weathe...