Bernama news in brief: Aug 18

UTHM RECEIVES RESEARCH GRANTS TOTALLING MORE THAN RM3 MILLION

BATU PAHAT -- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) has received research grants under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) for the year 2022 involving 37 projects worth a total of RM3,817,194.

In a statement today, the university said the 37 research projects cover six areas, namely social sciences, pure and applied sciences, literature and professional literature, technology and engineering, natural and cultural heritage; as well as information and communication technology.

According to the university, the highest recipient of the fund involving research was from the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology (FAST) Dr. Muhammad Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar with his research paper entitled “Ethnozoology and Wildlife Consumption Among Aborigines (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia”. The value of the grant is RM195,000.

NINE MOTORCYCLES DESTROYED IN FIRE 

GEORGE TOWN -- Nine motorcycles that were in the parking area of a flat in Jalan Kurau, Jelutong here were destroyed in a fire early today.

Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station Operations chief Fauzian Izzuan Abdullah said they received a call at 3.26 am and immediately went to the location of the fire.

“Our investigation showed that nine motorcycles left in the parking area were destroyed in the fire while a Toyota Vios vehicle parked in the area also caught fire but suffered only  5 per cent damage," he said when contacted today.

He said there were no injuries or casualties and the cause of the incident is still under investigation.

FIVE TERRACED HOUSES DESTROYED IN KAMPAR FIRE

IPOH -- Five terraced houses were destroyed in a fire at Jalan Wah Long, New Wah Long near Kampar early today.

A Perak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said they received an emergency call at 2.10 am and immediately deployed a team from the Kampar Fire and Rescue (BBP) department, with teams from the Gopeng and Tapah BBP also sent to the location.

"The fire involved five terraced houses which were 90 per cent damaged while one house suffered only four per cent damage, namely at the fenced area," he said in a statement.

The spokesman added that the fire did not involve any loss of life or injury to any victims. The operation ended at about 5 pm.

FOUR FISHERMEN RESCUED AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES IN MERSING

MERSING -- Four fishermen were found safe after the boat they were in capsized due to bad weather near Pulau Tengah here, yesterday evening.

Mersing Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Maritime Zone director Commander Khairul Nizam Misran said the victims were identified as Faizal Dollah, 43; Mohamad Fairuz Daron, 35; Mohd Rizal Hassan, 34; and Mohamad Asyraf Ali, 33; all residents of the district.

He said the maritime zone’s operations centre was alerted to the incident by a resort manager who informed that four fishermen were stranded after the boat capsized at about 5 pm.

"It is understood that the fishermen had put on their life jackets before swimming to save themselves, and were helped by tourists in the nearby area, who also helped to pull their boat ashore," he said in a statement today.  

-- BERNAMA