Whenever we meet the politician, top goverrnment officers and even the kings, they might ask "what lecturers or researchers are doing. Teaching cannot produce competitive graduates, research just following or copying others, what are the benefit to the country. We still talking talking about kerang and mentarang procduction, banana diseases, rice still import, chicken production and prices, and many more. These are challenge for me. We need a global looked leaders not just ceremonial leaders who can see these small things but high impact. Basic sciences are still important (Genetic, Biodiversity, Ecology, Physiology) to answer all question for long term

In recent majlis berbuka puasa bersama Tuanku Chancellor, we were talking about kerang, mentarang, pisang, kelapa, padi and other things including tourism for Selangor. Staff from Menteri Besar and Palace offices asked a lot of question that they need to know and show to public that UPM is doing something that they can see to help modern society in Selangor not just producing graduates that servicing society but not leading the society. Perhaps we need to have a show cases in Selangor on what UPM is contributing. Eg. my research and extension works on hornbills in Sungai Panjang Sabak Bernam, promoting science among children, conservation of hornbills and their habitat and promoting tourisms. We can see the results. Even though the news came out in the national prime newspaper, supported by tourism Malaysia and perhilitan and producing graduates, UPM still not keen to make is as an important  show case. Same ting as a vice president of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) I promoting science education through nature in Selangor's schools, improving nature and conservation of Sungai Karang Forest Reserve. Somebody have to read newspapers and report to the State Governments and Palace on what UPM staffs are doing in Selangor for the benefit of Selangor people.

For food security programmes we need to look at banana too. Felda and rural areas can support the banana need for the country. If every houses we plant banana than we probably can support the locals demand. BUT where are our research directions for growing, managing fruits quality, marketing, storage, basic sciences (genetics, diseases, uses of banana), etc. We cannot wait when we are at the critical stage.

One of the main challenges to farmers growing bananas today is the large number of diseases running around, threatening to destroy plantations at any time. But researchers in Australia now believe they may have found a solution to all of this, by introducing genetically-enhanced bananas into plantation.
In the new research, scientists sought to deal away with a condition known as Tropical Race Four, which severely affects banana yields in places ranging from Australia to equatorial nations. What the  the study did was create a trial crop of banana plants that are able to survive infections with a soil-borne fungus, famous for having wiped out banana trees across the globe.

It is caused by a fungus in the soil called Fusarium and causes the leaves to wilt and rots the inside of the plant. The disease has swept through much of Asia

Reasons to eat banana. BUT why we do not plant banana to support our food industries. I remember during Japanese time we were forced to plant banana and banana can be our food. We need to repeat this. Every house in Felda must have three types of banana trees for raw eating, cooking and pisang goreng (tempura)

 

1.     Bananas come prepackaged in their own wrapping (the banana skin to be precise) which means they are easily transportable.

2.     High in potassium they help to prevent against high blood pressure and reduce stress.

3.     Constipated? Well, bananas are high in fiber and will help to keep you regular.

4.     Bananas have been known to help reduce heartburn due to the natural antacid properties.

5.     Bananas contain tryptophan a protein the body converts into serotonin. The more serotonin in the your brain the more your mood improves.

6.     Bananas are high in Vitamin B.

7.     They help reduce water retention (always a good then when cutting weight or trying fix in that little black dress).

8.     An average sized banana is less than 100 calories.

Why we need a continuous discussion on pest. Because of we need food, productive agriculture product and food security. Fruit flies are one of them. This old focussed pest still unsolved. Look at your ripe banana, you must eat quickly. If delay you will see maggots under the banana skin. May be you can make (cucoq kodok) eat protien from maggots too.

Fruit flies are amongst the world’s worst pests of fruit. They are present in most countries and attack many types of fruit, as well as fruiting vegetables, ornamentals and some nuts. Feeding by fruit fly larvae (maggots) damages the fruit internally, causing it to ripen prematurely and rot. Up to 100% of fruit may be damaged by fruit fly when infestations are uncontrolled. The presence of fruit fly can also result in the loss of valuable interstate and export markets.

Why its called Great Britain! Education Hub, Economy Hub and practicing a quaity of life: Attracting quality people to live in. Similar to our neighbour Singapore and Tokyo, they put quality of life as a number one priority. By having this will attract high quaity people with high education levels, thinking quality, life style quality and economic status. Malaysian cannot be like Singapore because we catering the lower quality of people (education, thinking and economy) because too much politics at all levels and demanding for votes. Those low quality in education, thinking and economic have more time to play politics and have voting power compared to those are really working, thinking and educated groups. We need to have high order thinking society and looking forward citizens.This what the government of Malaysia is moving to since Tun Mahathir time where the country is preparing for first class facilities and strategies. BUT the society pulling slow or back ward. Come Malaysian go go go forward. At least be like Singapore. If Singapore can be like London, Malaysia can be like America, more spread high quality citizens.

London is a city of  multi-cultural melting pot: steeped in history and revered for its cultural heritage.  London is also the city with the most multi-millionaires in the world, a new list of the global ultra-wealthy reveals. The capital boasts 4,224 multi-millionaires, defined as individuals worth more than $30m (£19m) each.

Tokyo is in second place with 3,525 multi-millionaires, followed by Singapore with 3,154. The US, the world’s biggest economy does not make an appearance until fourth place, with New York City and its 2,929 multi-millionaires.

Researchers said this “surprisingly low” figure was partly due to the fact that many wealthy New Yorkers live away from Manhattan in cities such as Greenwich, which has more than 350 multi-millionaires.

America’s millionaires were more spread across its cities than in the UK. Manhattan was home to just 7pc of the country’s millionaires and Los Angeles to another 2pc, while London is home to 42pc of Britain’s rich.

Overall, the US boasts the most millionaires in the world - 5,231,000 in total - followed by Japan, Germany and China. The UK - with 675,000 - is fifth.

When it comes to billionaires, the pinnacle of the ultra-rich list, New York tops the list of the world’s top cities for billionaires, with 70, eclipsing Moscow with 64. London has 54, including Alisher Usmanov, who has made £13.3bn from mining and investment interests, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, worth £10bn, and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, whose fortune is estimated at £9.3bn.
As for mere millionaires - classed as having net assets of $1m, excluding their main home - London moved into third place, with 281,000, after New York City with 389,000 and Tokyo in prime position with 461,000 millionaires.

Moscow, Mumbai and Istanbul are all significantly higher on the billionaire list than on the millionaire rankings, researchers noted. That could reflect the greater difficulty of building a business in certain countries, which means that enterprises are more likely to stay in the hands of a few, said Oliver Williams, an analyst at Wealth Insight.

 

Malaysia is one of the best public administration department in the world. May be we learned from India and British. BUT may be on paper only or many streets people say NATO (No Action Talk Only). We are top in many thing, Environment, biodiversity, etc... but where are good science students? fund for resrarch? good reserachers (not making publications in blanket without going to laboratory)? A lot more need to do beside talking, promotion and announcement!

Why young students do not like this unique animals. These living fossils need more researchers to work with them!