GEORGE TOWN: Come Jan 1, about 370,000 land title owners in Penang will face an increase in their quit rent rate of between 29% and 200%, a move that has raised eyebrows.
This means they will be paying an additional 16sen per square metre following the state’s decision to revise the quit rent rate which has not been reviewed for 31 years.
Weather watch: MetMalaysia staff monitoring a weather forecast display. — AZMAN GHANI /The Star
PETALING JAYA: The heavy rains and deadly Sabah floods and landslides have already claimed 13 lives.
But meteorologists warn that this could only mark the start of a more dangerous monsoon season.
There is likely to be worse weather ahead as Malaysia transitions from the southwest to the northeast monsoon.
“Thunderstorms and heavy rains are on the horizon in October.
“From mid-November, the northeast monsoon will bring continuous rainfall, affecting the east coast of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak,” Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip says.
He noted that these weather patterns will particularly affect the western and inland regions of the peninsula, as well as western and central Sarawak and western Sabah, with the most intense activity occurring in the afternoons and early evenings.
Hisham warned that low-lying and riverbank areas could see flash floods.
“Climate change is causing more frequent and extreme weather events, including heavier rainfall and severe thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms and tornadoes.
“It’s essential to understand our climate patterns and plan travel to avoid high-risk areas during adverse weather,” he said.
Climatologists anticipate wetter and more extreme weather in the coming months due to climate change and the La Nina phenomenon.
Dr Fredolin Tangang of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia highlighted a report from the US Climate Prediction Centre, which predicts a more than 70% chance of Pacific Ocean cooling between October and December.
“This will lead to high atmospheric moisture during the northeast monsoon starting mid-November, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather,” he said.
Tangang noted that global warming exacerbates these conditions by increasing the atmosphere’s moisture capacity, causing more and heavier rain.
He warned that the La Nina effect, combined with global warming, is likely to persist, heightening the risk of extreme rainfall, floods and landslides in Malaysia, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Proper maintenance of drainage systems is crucial to manage the increased rainfall,” he added
Meteorologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah also predicted heavier rainfall due to La Nina.
“Although currently in an ENSO-neutral state, forecasts indicate a weak La Nina this winter, suggesting above-average rain during the northeast monsoon,” he said.
The inter-monsoon transition is expected around October to November as the southwest monsoon weakens.
Azizan said the recent heavy rainfall in Sabah was due to a westerly southwest wind and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) interacting with a cyclonic low pressure north of the Philippines.
“The wet phase of the MJO should end by this weekend, providing relief to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) reported the end of the southwest monsoon, which began on May 10, has caused some areas to see daily rainfall of over 80mm.
Eastern Sabah is likely to see more thunderstorms and heavy rain, at least until Sept 22.
Squall lines capable of producing severe weather are also expected in western Peninsular Malaysia, western Sabah, and northern Sarawak during early mornings, with thunderstorms likely in other regions during afternoons and evenings.
Nadma director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said that the agency was fully prepared, especially after the minor earthquake in Segamat, Johor, and the heavy rains in Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: What began as an “accidental” purchase at a local market has blossomed into one of Sabah’s most inspiring agricultural success stories.
Jason Lee Nyuk Soon, a trained accountant, never planned to become a breeder. He stumbled into livestock farming purely by chance.
More than a decade later, he is being celebrated across the nation after clinching the prestigious Anugerah Perdana and Anugerah Penternak Jaya, winning RM60,000 and RM20,000, respectively.
He received both awards from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day 2025 celebrations here on Sunday.
Sharing his journey, Lee said he was visiting a weekly tamu (traditional marketplace) in Kota Belud in 2014, merely to see what was available.
He came across an elderly couple trying to sell a pair of goats.
“They said they needed money urgently, so I bought the animals. The next day, the couple called and sold me another pair,” said the 49-year-old.
At the time, Lee kept the goats as a hobby behind his parents’ house in Kg Tombovo, Putatan, using simple fencing and infrastructure.
But as the herd grew, so did his interest and commitment.
He built more shelters and began learning breeding techniques from scratch.
His hard work paid off by the third year, when he recovered his initial RM500,000 investment.
Encouraged by the results, he expanded operations to nearby Kg Duvanson, where he now runs a larger facility complete with staff quarters, a feed processing plant and training rooms.
One of Lee’s most innovative moves was introducing vermicomposting by using earthworms to convert goat waste into organic fertiliser.
“We used to sell raw manure at RM10 for a 20kg bag. Now, we sell the vermicompost at RM5 per kg,” he said, adding that he can produce up to five tonnes of the organic compost each month.
The fertiliser is now used by durian and avocado farmers throughout Sabah.
Remarkably, worm farming now contributes nearly 50% of his Borneo Integrated Farm’s total income.
Today, Lee’s farms boast a range of activities – goat, deer and fruit farming as well as vermicomposting, fish breeding and cold storage facilities.
He has also set up cold storage outlets in Putatan and Keningau, selling fresh goat’s milk, meat and other locally produced goods.
Controlling the entire chain from farm to table, he said, ensures quality, freshness and better returns for the hard work.
Lee’s farms also employ odour-control techniques such as fermented silage feeding to minimise smells, which is important as the facilities are located near residential areas.
Despite his success, the journey has not been without setbacks.
Lee said his farms had been hit by floods multiple times, with the most recent incident occurring in February.
Yet, he remains undeterred.
“Farming is about resilience. Yes, we had losses, but with some government assistance and a lot of hard work, we bounced back,” he said.
For Lee, the key to success lies in what he calls the three Ps – patience, passion and perseverance.
Although he did not pursue a career in his field of study, Lee said his accounting background has been invaluable in managing finances and growing the business sustainably.
“Cash flow is king. You need to reinvest wisely, track your spending and avoid leaking money,” he added.
Lee said he hopes his story can shift mindsets and encourage more young people to explore careers in agriculture.
He also attributed his success to his wife, family and God for their support and guidance
- By SANDRA SOKIAL,
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