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Sunday, 31 August 2025

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit

 


Multiple international organisations and one country are guest attendances to SCO summits. Association of Southeast Asian Nations · Commonwealth of ...

3 hours ago — Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of eight other nations are set to meet in northern China ...

In unity we rise

 

Kita semua anak Malaysia: Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities in building Malaya and now Malaysia. There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese, and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

Kita semua anak Malaysia: Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities in building Malaya and now Malaysia. There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese, and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

LET us all hold our heads high today. It is our National Day and this country belongs to all of us – not just to politicians who tell us what to do, and worse, try to divide the people of Malaysia,

Without us, the ordinary people, these bad actors wouldn’t even be elected.

So on this special day, let us take pride in our nation’s journey.

Let’s ignore the rising use of race and religion as political tools that threaten to undermine the harmony that ordinary Malaysians have worked so hard to build over decades.

Because amid the noise and negativity, one truth shines through: the Malaysian spirit remains strong – resilient, generous, patient, and full of heart.

While a minority may seek to divide us, millions of Malaysians continue to live in unity every single day.

The doctors and nurses in our hospitals do their best to heal us without caring in the least about the colour of their patients’ skins.

Let’s not forget the soldiers, the policemen, and firemen who ensure our safety every day.

Malaysians in uniforms have sacrificed their lives for the country. Many did not hold high ranks when fighting the insurgents in the jungles. Who are these divisive politicians and cybertroopers to insinuate that they were not loyal to Malaysia?

These were the “Type C” (as the Chinese are often referred to online now) who had courage, compassion, and charisma, and were committed to fighting for our country.

Then there are the teachers who work hard to ensure our children get the best education. The majority are Malay and they even teach in vernacular schools, and they deserve our appreciation. They are not the best paid of civil servants and certainly they deserve better.

When we achieved independence in 1957, it was the Malays, with their magnanimity, who accepted the immigrant races to be citizens as our forefathers worked out the social contract. The Malays joined the civil service to administer the country, especially in education and security, and the Chinese played a huge part in the economy to build up the coffers of a young country, which many said at the time did not have a chance of making it.

The early Indians built infrastructure, established rubber estates, built roads, and managed railways and ports.

These are the real heroes of Malaya and now Malaysia; not dim-witted politicians who whip up emotions and anger.

Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities by building a nation that is inclusive, just, and united.

Malaysians work together, study together, pray alongside one another, and celebrate each other’s festivals with genuine joy.

The real Malaysia lives not in the speeches of politicians, but in the small, daily acts of mutual respect and shared humanity that take place in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities across the nation.

This is the real Malaysia that we must celebrate and protect. Let us all remind ourselves of these simple acts that we often take for granted.

Do not let selfish politicians who use race and religion to divide rob us of today’s special Merdeka celebrations.

This year, as we commemorate 68 years of independence, it is unfortunate that some political bullies have stolen our joy. Some of us have lost the enthusiasm to put up the national flag.

But National Day must be about more than just waving flags and singing patriotic songs. We need to reflect deeply on the values that have held us together – and the values we must now reaffirm if we want to move forward as a mature and united nation.

Tolerance, forgiveness, and moderation must be at the heart of our national conversation. Kita semua anak Malaysia.

Let us not allow the actions of a few to define the spirit of the many. Let us champion stories of kindness, courage, and togetherness.

This is our country, and as my journalist friend Leslie Lau put it: “There’s more to life than arguing over who’s right or whether the government is unfair or who’s racist or not.

“But really, I love this country, warts and all, and appreciate the diversity, sights, sounds, and all. So maybe in this independence month, could we just stop arguing for one second and just enjoy our lives lah.’’

That means teaching our children that being Malaysian is a blessing – and with that blessing comes a responsibility to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better people.

Let’s accept what Malaysia is about, and that includes its imperfections, and the many differences.

It means embracing the differences, even when we don’t fully understand them, and accepting the facts, even when we whine and grumble.

In a country as diverse as ours, tolerance is the glue that binds us – it is what allows us to live together, worship freely, and celebrate our differences without fear or prejudice.

We have always forgiven and that, too, is vital. Over the years, our nation has faced moments of tension and missteps.

Forgiveness means choosing healing over hatred. It allows us to move forward as a united people willing to learn, grow, and reconcile.

Perhaps most importantly, we must reject voices that seek to provoke and divide, and instead elevate those who advocate for reason, balance, and unity.

There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. Never forget this.

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan, Malaysia.

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Saturday, 30 August 2025

Unhealthy sleep patterns

 

Here are six signs that your sleeping pattern is out of whack, and how to improve it.

T0ssing and turning throughout the night, even if you're not really conscious ot it, it is a sign of poor sleep

WE all experience the occasional late night or restless sleep, but when these nights become frequent, it can begin to take a toll on your health and overall well-being.

Britain’s The London General Practice sleep and circadian rhythm specialist Dr Katharina Lederle has outlined six key signs that indicate that your sleep pattern may be offbalance.

She has also shared some helpful tips and tricks on how to reset your routine to help you wake up feeling refreshed.

1. Waking up in the night

Frequently waking up too early or having regular interruptions during the night is a clear sign that your sleep has been disrupted.

“Waking up and going to the toilet once and then falling back asleep within a couple of minutes is fine, but if you are having a lot of toilet trips or just think ‘why have I been awake for such a long period of time’, and then struggle to get back to sleep, that suggests there might be a problem,” she says.

2. Restlessness

“If it takes you longer than 30 minutes to get to sleep on a regular basis, there could be an issue.

“One sign of poor sleep is restlessness – tossing and turning at night,” she says.

“You might not necessarily wake up fully and think I have been tossing and turning a lot, but the next day there may be an awareness of restlessness.

“Or if you have a sleeping partner, they might comment on your restlessness during the night.”

3. Busy mind

A busy mind can be a symptom of a poor sleep schedule, and vice versa.

“Stress can psychologically lead to busy thoughts – worrying about the future and replaying scenes from your day – which can make it harder to get to sleep,” says Dr Lederle.

“Stress can also physiologically lead to raised cortisol levels and a raised heart rate.

“However, what we actually want/need for sleep is the exact opposite. We need relaxation to allow ourselves to let go of everything.”

4. Low mood

Feeling low or down during the day can be another indication that your sleep pattern has been disrupted.

“The resources in the brain are all finite and need to be rebuilt.

“So, if your prefrontal cortex [which plays a crucial role in executive functions and higherorder cognitive processes] is sleep deprived, it can’t fulfil its regulatory role,” explains Dr Lederle.

“This often results in low mood, anxiety and irritability, which can then quite quickly lead to conflict or disagreements.”

5. Struggling to focus

“A lack of motivation and struggling to concentrate are some more signs of disrupted sleep that you may notice during the day,” she says.

“When the prefrontal cortex

nd hasn’t had the chance to rebuild all its resources, concentration can become hard.

“Seeing the bigger picture, attention to detail and switching attention intentionally can also become harder.”

6. Excessive tiredness

Feeling excessively tired throughout the day is likely to be a sign of disrupted sleep or accumulated sleep debt.

“Waking up and still feeling tired and groggy is sleep inertia, which we all experience to some extent.

“But if you repeatedly feel excessively tired without an

explanation, that could indicate a bigger problem,” says Dr Lederle.

Reset your routine

Here are some strategies to help your sleeping pattern get back on track:

>Expose yourself to light in the mornings

“When you wake up in the morning, let the light in and go outside,” she recommends

> Make your bedroom room dark and cool in the evenings

“Try to keep your sleeping environment quiet, dark and cool,” she advises.

Go to bed and wake up at regular times

“It’s okay to have some late nights when we go to the theatre or to a party, but on the whole, it’s important to keep your sleep and wake times as regular as possible,” says Dr Lederle.

Expose yourself to light in the mornings

“When you wake up in the morning, let the light in and go outside,” she recommends. > Make your bedroom room dark and cool in the evenings

“Try to keep your sleeping environment quiet, dark and cool,” she advises.

Think about what might be causing your stress

“Identify where your stress is coming from and think about what you can control,” suggests Dr Lederle.

“Think about: how can I recover? How can I let go of my work? How can I relax? How can I get a sense of autonomy or control?”

Engaging in an activity you enjoy before bed can provide a sense of autonomy and control, which may help lower your stress levels and help you drift off to sleep.

“It could be that your goal is to meditate and you start with doing five minutes every evening,” she says.

>Adjust eating times Stay active Seek help

“Eating late or eating sugary foods before bed can impact people’s ability to fall asleep,” she says.

“The general rule of thumb is to try and eat dinner at least three or four hours before you go to sleep.

“Having caffeine in the evening, or drinking too much during the day, can also make it harder to fall asleep.”

>Stay active

“Make sure you are moving throughout the day and try to avoid sitting on a chair for hours on end,” says Dr Lederle.

“Try to do some exercise to help release tension and stress from the body.”

“If we have a stressful event, it’s quite normal to have poor sleep.

> Seek help

“But if you are struggling to sleep for more than two weeks, start to think about what might be impacting your sleep,” she says.

“Then if your sleep hasn’t resolved after that, I would suggest speaking to a specialist.” – PA Media/dpa

By CAMILLA FOSTER