Compiled by C. ARUNO, RAZAK AHMAD and R. ARAVINTHAN

       THE construction of a sabo dam at Gunung Jerai, Kedah, is scheduled to be completed in December and will help prevent a repeat of the Aug 18 water surge incident, reported Sinar Harian.

       The government had approved an allocation to build the dam following the incident and the project was being expedited, said Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang.

       He said sabo dam technology was the best solution to resolve the problem of flash floods during monsoon season in such areas.

       A sabo dam is constructed upstream of a devastating torrent at a site where sediment production and discharge is especially large.

       It stores the sediment which runs down from the upstream in order to reduce the discharge downstream and also prevents the outflow of unstable sediment deposited at the bed of a torrent.

       > A type of taro (keladi) plant known as Colocasia Pharaoh’s Mask has become the latest must-have for many gardening enthusiasts, reported Mingguan Malaysia.

       Plant nursery owner Rogayah Mat Deris said the plant can fetch high prices of up to RM800 for a seedling and RM2,000 for a fully-grown plant.

       “Its leaves are purple, veined and last a long time, making it very popular as a decorative plant,” said Siti Rogayah whose nursery is located at Felda Teratai Jengka 21 in Kuala Krau, Pahang.

       Other types of popular taro plants, she said, include the mojito, white lava, yellow splash and tropical storm.

       > TV host and singer Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim (pic) will release her latest single Harapan (Hope) which she describes as a special project, reported BH Ahad.

       The song aims to provide motivation to people facing emotional problems and would be launched on Sept 10 in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day.

       “I have been giving much support to activities relating to mental health problems for the past two years.

       “I thought of how to reach out to the public on this issue, and in the end got the idea to create a song to convey information and touch people’s hearts on the topic,” she 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.