Compiled by C. ARUNO, FAZLEENA AZIZ and R. ARAVINTHAN
FOR a group of rubber tappers in Baling, Kedah, work has to go on although they earn little from it.
“This is my main source of income to support my wife and three family members amid the rising cost of sugar, flour, oil, fish, eggs and chicken,” rubber tapper Mohd Hafif Abu Hassan told Utusan Malay-sia.
He said tappers will continue to face difficulties as long as the price of rubber remained low.
For instance, he said that after one week of tapping 100kg of rubber, he would only receive RM170 after splitting it with the plantation owner.
The wet season made it worse, he said, as he could not tap rubber on days when it poured.
Mohd Hafif, 36, said he tried to sell coconut water as a side business, where he could earn about RM50 per day, but even with this side gig, rainy days would affect sales.
His wife Maisarah Hashim, 34, helps out by selling packs of nasi tomato (tomato rice), which she places in other shops.
“Even that cannot cover our family’s daily expenses,” he said.
> Actor Redza Rosli, 31, is not short of acting offers despite not hogging the headline with any controversies, Berita Harian reported.
Redza said that actors who are sincere in their work would always remain relevant.
“I am grateful that I always get to star in dramas. Perhaps it is because I am true to myself, so I keep getting more work.
“I don’t take anything for granted, especially acting offers. I try to give it my best,” he said.
He also spoke about doing his homework to prepare for his role.
For example, if a drama is adapted from a novel, he would read the novel several times even though it may differ from the script.
Redza also said he takes on different roles so that the audience can see him in a different light each time.
“I try to choose the best. If I can help it, I avoid the same storyline. I always hope for something out of my comfort zone,” he said.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.