Tree-climbing grandma is still aiming high

Compiled by TAN SIN CHOW, TEH ATHIRA YUSOF and R. ARAVINTHAN

AT 71, grandmother Minah Omar is still climbing trees to pluck fruits, Harian Metro reported.

The resident of Kampung Sekayu, Kuala Berang in Terengganu said that she would do it during the duku fruit season.

“When I was young, I was paid to harvest fruits from the trees, but now, I only climb my own trees.

“Every harvest season, the urge to climb trees arises within me. With a batik cloth placed over my shoulder, I would climb the duku trees to collect the fruits,” said Minah, who has 14 grandchildren.

She said plucking the fruit off the trees would enable them to last longer.

Even though her children did not want her to climb trees as they were concerned about her safety, she said that she was still capable as it was a job she picked up when she was young.

“Alhamdulillah, I am still able to do it, but I will be careful although the trees are only about 5m to 6m tall,” she said.

Minah also walks some 10km to the nearby forest for buah perah when that fruit is in season, apart from working on her farm.

> The daily also reported that the Instagram account of actress Rozita Che Wan was suspended.

The star, popularly known as Che Ta, said her account with over 5.2 million followers was suspended on Sept 15 due to alleged “aggressive activities” that were in violation of the platform’s community guidelines.

“I have lodged several appeals with the platform. I am given until March 13 next year to appeal if I don’t want to lose the account,” she said, adding that she had also contacted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for help.

> Utusan Malaysia reported that Perlis United Football Club has turned to the state government for help over players’ salaries. The club’s assistant manager Muhamad Khairulnizam Haris said that the team did not get their August salary.

“A sum of RM100,000 is needed to settle the arrears and the matter has affected the management and players.

“It is very detrimental to the team that is on track in the Malaysia M3 League this season.

“If Perlis United withdraws, we face a three-year suspension,” he added.

A memorandum on the issue was handed over to state youth and sports committee chairman Muhammad Azmir Azizan.

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.