LET’S say you love Musang King durian and have the land, money and time, so you plant a seed from one.
Eight years later, the tree finally bears fruit.
What do you get?
There is no guarantee that a Musang King seed you sow will grow into a tree producing pure Musang King fruits.
Based on the laws of nature, you could end up naming your durian Musang Joker, Bad Musang or Musang Nonsense.
In March, the Johor government announced that the state’s 81,000ha of durian orchards recorded an annual production of 214,000 tonnes of the fruit.
With Penang island spanning about 30,000ha, Johor’s durian orchards collectively amount to nearly three times that area.
Johor’s durian tonnage comprises Musang King (40%), IOI (30%), Kampung Premium (20%) and Black Thorn (10%).
Data on Penang’s durian orchard sizes and tonnages is harder to acquire, but when you walk up to any Penang durian stall, you might be stunned by the variety.
You will find Ang Heh, Xiao Hong, Cheh Poay, Lipan, D600, D604, D11, D14, Capri, Tian Song, Black Thorn, Ang Bak Kia, Lin Feng Jiao and more.
A durian connoisseur will be able to tell the differences in taste, smell, texture and pulp thickness.
Some are extra bitter. Some leave a tingling sensation on the tongue.
Many carry hints of fermentation, honey, vanilla or even cinnamon.
I love Capri, D600 and D604, among the oldest varieties found only in Penang.
This season, I have developed a liking for D14, although it will take a few more tastings before it gets a spot on my must-have list.
You must survive many durian seasons and thousands of calories to build your own list.
Why does Penang have such a dizzying variety?
If there is land at your disposal, money and time, you might invest effort in a durian orchard.
You plant anonymous durian seeds and wait patiently.
Because of genetics and cross-pollination, this is essentially a durian gene roulette.
Perhaps only one in every 10 trees will produce truly exceptional fruit.
Let’s call that tree Dragon Reborn.
The fruits from the other nine trees may just be average ones.
So what is the next step?
You turn to what agriculturists call top-working grafting.
The underperforming trees are cut back, leaving only their roots, trunks and main branches.
Then you take scion wood from your Dragon Reborn and graft it onto your “headless” trees.
The scions grow into new branches.
Genetically, the roots and trunks still belong to the old trees while the fruiting branches and fruits carry the Dragon Reborn genes.
In Penang, many durian orchards are generations old, long before clones like D24 and Musang King gained mass-market fame.
Over decades of playing durian gene roulette, neighbouring orchard owners exchanged and bought scions, spreading successful clones throughout the island’s orchards.
Start a durian orchard from scratch today, and business logic dictates sourcing scion wood from the best-selling varieties.
That is why Musang King can become so widely planted in states with vast land areas that its price sometimes falls close to kampung durian levels towards the end of the season.
To durian lovers, here’s a tip _ savour no more than five or six varieties in a sitting.
Beyond that, your taste buds and sense of smell become overwhelmed, and every durian starts tasting the same.
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PETALING JAYA: Frequent Malaysian travellers have largely welcomed the government’s new 10-year passport, describing it as a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to the current five-year passport.
Data processing manager Atikah Razak, 33, who travels overseas three to five times a year, said the new system offers better long-term value.
“I think RM350 for 10 years is reasonable. It works out to RM35 per year, which is affordable considering a passport is an important travel document,” she said.
The change, she added, would minimise the hassle of renewals and help ease congestion at Immigration Department offices.
Tham Jo Yee, 30, also prefers the 10-year passport as it reduces the need for frequent renewals.
“Perhaps a 10-year passport makes more sense because many people tend to forget to renew their passports. Most of the time, they only check the expiry date when they are planning to travel,” she said.
The longer validity period, she said, could reduce last-minute problems caused by expired passports, especially for occasional travellers.
The Fees (Passports and Visas) (Amendment) Order 2026, which came into force on June 3, extends the validity of Malaysian passports to 10 years.
The gazette however did not state when the new 10-year Malaysian passport will be made available to the public.
Malaysians will be charged a fee of RM350 while senior citizens aged 60 and above will be charged RM175 for the 10-year passport.
Meanwhile, registered persons with disabilities aged 18 and above who hold an OKU card are entitled to a passport free of charge.
The gazette also states that Immigration Department officers and staff are entitled to 10-year passports at no charge.
Previously, Malaysian passports were issued with a five-year validity period at RM200 for adults and RM100 for senior citizens, while persons with disabilities were exempted from fees.
Dubai-based aviation engineer Rashidie Noridin, 34, described the RM350 fee as “cheap” when broken down annually.
“This new policy is better as it is in line with passport systems in several developed countries like the US, Singapore and the UK,” he said, adding that the 10-year expiry gives travellers more flexibility in planning their trips.
Banker Mohd Asri Bin Hishamuddin, 36, said the longer validity period improves efficiency for frequent travellers.
“It offers better value compared to renewing a five-year passport twice,” he said.
Mohd Asri added that passport validity often affects travel planning due to the minimum six-month validity requirement imposed by many countries.
Flight attendant Mahani Ishak, 27, said the 10-year option is particularly useful for those in the aviation industry, where valid travel documents are critical to operations.
She added that passport validity plays an important role in her job, as expired passports or insufficient remaining validity can directly affect flight assignments.
“If a passport has expired, it may lead to crew being offloaded from flights due to incomplete documentation.
“It helps reduce the need for frequent renewals, especially for those of us who are constantly travelling for work,” she said.
The amendment also introduces a fee structure for replacing lost or damaged 10-year passports.
For those aged 18 to 59, replacement fees are set at RM550 for the first replacement, RM850 for the second, and RM1,350 for the third and subsequent replacements.
Senior citizens will be charged RM375 for the first replacement, RM675 for the second, and RM1,175 for the third and subsequent replacements.
Eligible OKU cardholders and Immigration Department staff will be required to pay RM200 for a first replacement, RM500 for a second, and RM1,000 for a third and subsequent replacements.
Meanwhile, for the five-year passport, replacement fees range from RM400 to RM1,200 for those aged 13 to 59 years, and RM300 to RM1,100 for senior citizens depending on replacement frequency.
Registered persons with disabilities aged 18 and above who hold an OKU card are charged RM200, RM500 and RM1,000 for the first, second, and third and subsequent replacements, respectively.
USM researchers find that a simple hand exercise could help decrease high blood pressure
This isometric handgrip workout can be done anywhere and at any time, making it a useful adjunct intervention to help manage hypertension. — Pexels
A simple hand-squeezing exercise that takes just 11 minutes may offer Malaysians an easy and affordable way to lower blood pressure without gym memberships, expensive equipment or strenuous workouts.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Cancer Centre researchers have discovered that a short session of isometric handgrip exercise significantly reduced blood pressure among participants with hypertension.
The study, published in the International Journal of Isokinetics and Exercise Science, involved 56 sedentary Malay men aged between 20 and 59 years old, with different resting blood pressure levels: normal, pre-hypertension, and Stage 1 and Stage 2 hypertension.
The researchers first measured each participant’s maximum handgrip strength using a hand dynamometer.
Participants were then instructed to perform four sets of two-minute handgrip contractions at 30% of their maximum strength, alternating hands h one-minute rest intervals tween sets.
One hour after completing the session, the researchers observed significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as mean arterial pressure.
Participants with Stage 1 hypertension experienced the greatest reduction in systolic blood pressure, recording an average decrease of 6.3mmHg after just one session.
Meanwhile, participants with Stage 2 hypertension showed the largest reduction in diastolic blood pressure.
This suggests that individuals with higher blood pressure may benefit the most from the intervention.
The researchers stressed that even modest reductions in blood pressure could produce major long-term health benefits.
Previous evidence shows that lowering blood pressure by just 2mmHg may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke-related deaths.
Unlike jogging or aerobic exercise, isometric handgrip exercise involves sustained muscle contraction without major joint movement.
The researchers believe these repeated contractions may help improve blood vessel function and vascular regulation, although more studies are still needed to fully understand the underlying physiological mechanisms.
Because the exercise requires minimal movement and no equipment, the researchers believe it may be especially useful for busy working adults, elderly individuals and people who struggle to maintain conventional exercise routines.
While the exercise method was originally developed and tested in Western populations, the team successfully demonstrated that the same approach could also benefit Malaysians, particularly within the Malay population.
Lead researcher Associate Prof Dr Hazwani Ahmad Yusof said local validation is important because ethnic, genetic and lifestyle differences may influence how people respond to exercise interventions.
“Most previous studies on isometric handgrip exercise were conducted in Western populations.
“Our findings provide important early evidence that this simple intervention may also benefit the Malaysian population,” she said.
Despite the encouraging findings, the researchers emphasised that this exercise should not replace prescribed medication or professional medical treatment.
Instead, it should be viewed as a complementary lifestyle strategy that may support cardiovascular health alongside proper medical care.
The research team is now calling for larger and longer-term studies involving more diverse Malaysian populations, including women and older adults, to determine whether regular handgrip exercise can produce sustained long-term cardiovascular benefits.
Shen Zhixiong, a senior colonel from the National Defense University and member of China's delegation to the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), raised a pointed question to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday morning.
The fifth plenary session of the SLD was held on Friday morning, during which Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered a speech and mentioned "neo-militarism." In the interactive session, Shen said he was pleased that Koizumi had mentioned "new militarism" in his remarks. Shen pointed out that recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the Australian War Memorial and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. However, victimized countries in Asia have not received any apologies or expressions of remorse from Japanese government.
China believes that genuine legal reconciliation must be based on reflection on history that treats all victim nations equally, Shen said.
"Whether the Japanese government is prepared to respond in an equally serious and unequivocal manner to the concerns of China, South Korea, and victimized nations of Southeast Asia regarding the history of the Second World War, thereby creating the conditions for mutual trust and regional security," Shen asked.
In response to Shen's question, Koizumi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he appeared uneasy, lowering his head to look at the printed materials in his hands for a few seconds. Then he said that responding to the Chinese representative's question was "the difficult part." Then, he did not answer the question head-on.
Koizumi argued that Japan's defense policy and the defense build-up are not based on the idea of identifying any specific country or region as a threat or having a military confrontation. He then shifted the blame, claiming that China continues to increase its defense spending at the higher level and is rapidly expanding its military capabilities across a wide range of areas without sufficient transparency. China's external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community.
Later, he said that "Japan believes it is essential to have persistent, candid dialogue and communication without turning out, turning our eyes away from concrete and difficult issues precisely because challenges exist."
"Japan's refusal to apologize and its lack of profound reflection have angered people in Asian countries that suffered under Japanese militarism, as Japan's Asian neighbors were among those most severely affected," Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Moreover, Japan has been vigorously developing offensive military capabilities, once again causing neighboring countries to feel the threat of a resurgence of Japanese militarism in recent years, Zhang added.
Zhang noted that Japan fundamentally lacks the sincerity to engage in dialogue with China and also lacks the political foundation for holding talks with China's defense minister.
Koizumi's remarks are insincere and amount to nothing more than wishful thinking, he added.
1 –15, 2026 BULETIN MUTIARA
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
L ANDOWNERS in Penang will benefit from the
state government’s newly announced revision to the
2026 Land Tax mechanism.
“Under the revision, First
Grade land without planning approval, as well as land with Nil
category and unspecified land
use conditions (NIL), will be reclassified as 'Building Use' for
tax purposes,” Chief Minister
Chow Kon Yeow said at a press
conference in Komtar recently.
He added that the move is
aimed at reducing the financial
burden on landowners, particularly those with commercial and
industrial land that did not obtain proper planning approval.
Under the new mechanism,
he said urban land will be
taxed at RM0.70 per sq metre,
and rural land at RM0.50 per
sq metre, compared with the
previously proposed RM3.25
per sq metre for commercial
or industry.
“However, landowners in this
category will no longer be eligible for the existing 50 per cent
rebate, as they are already enjoying a significant reduction in
land tax rates,” he said.
Also present were Penang
Land and Mines director Datuk
Dr Faizal Kamarudin and Northeast district officer Isma Suhaimi Shariff.
Chow said the adjustment
was a refinement of the 2026
land tax review, designed to help
landowners while ensuring a fair
and people-centric approach.
He also urged landowners to
proactively develop their land
through proper legal channels
to support Penang’s growth and
development.
“As of 31 March 2026, the
state’s District Land Offices received 4,001 appeals and feedback submissions,” Chow said.
“Of these, 2,885 involved
significant increases in land
taxes, including First Grade
land deeds, rural-to-urban reclassifications, durian agricultural land, hillside properties,
and rate adjustments. The remaining 1,116 cases involved
technical issues like buildings
spanning multiple lots, financial difficulties, abandoned
projects, non-profit organisations, and idle land.”
Currently, 3,043 cases are
being actively processed by District Land Offices and the Penang Land and Mines Office.
At the press conference,
Chow also announced several
tax relief measures and incentives (see accompanying infographic).
Chow noted that these measures have been widely accepted by stakeholders and stressed
the importance of following
proper planning procedures for
future land development.
As of March 31, 2026, over
163,000 landowners, representing more than 54% of active
taxpayers in 2025, had completed their land tax payments.
Chow urged landowners to
submit any remaining appeals
to the District Land Offices before the April 30 deadline, although late submissions will
still be considered on a case-bycase basis.
The revised mechanism,
he said, reflects careful deliberation by the State Executive
Council (Exco), taking into account feedback from landowners, comparisons with other
states, and the need to mitigate the impact of tax rate increases while promoting development in Penang.
On April 3, Chow visited the
Northeast District payment
counter at Komtar to see its
operations.
During his visit, he reiterated
that all schools across the state
need to pay a nominal RM50
rate per lot, and advised respective schools to check their tax
bills via the PgLand portal and
make payment either online or
at counters statewide.
The following day, Chow
handed over the revised land
tax bills to SRJK(C) Sin Ya and
SMJK(C) Jit Sin in Seberang
Perai in a symbolic handover
during his visit.
Chow said the visit was aimed
at delivering the revised bills following the state government’s
earlier decision to grant a nominal land tax rate to 398 schools
statewide, covering about 522
land lots in total
.
He reiterated that the RM50
rate applies regardless of land
ownership, including cases
where school land is held by
companies or trustees, ensuring all schools benefit from the
latest land tax review.
1 May 2026 — He reiterated that the RM50 rate applies regardless of land ownership, including cases where school land is held by companies or trustees, ensur ...Read more
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