News@9: Today's top headlines - April 24, 2025 [WATCH]
Here are today's top stories:
'Best in history'
The 2024 SPM examination recorded the best National Average Grade since 2021, as the Education Minister said this reflects the rising quality of education in Malaysia.
Former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib has been appointed the ninth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang, effective May 1, 2025.
The state government has approved a one-year feasibility study for the proposed Pahang International Spaceport project, on land owned by the Pahang State Development Corporation in Nenasi, Pekan.
All-out war
The Pahang government will crack down on land encroachment across the state, declaring it a criminal offence and warning that offenders will face legal action.
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The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
High achievers deserve an answer
PETALING JAYA: As the deadline for matriculation intake appeals approaches on June 21, concerns are rising over the future of 260 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) high-achievers who have not secured a place in the programme. The Education Ministry plans to announce appeal results by June 30, but MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong cautioned this may be too late for many students who fear they will be unable to catch up after missing the first two weeks of classes. 'The new intake for matriculation begins next week. I sincerely hope the 260 students who appealed through the MCA Youth Education Bureau will have their appeals approved by the end of this month,' Dr Wee wrote in a Facebook post. 'Otherwise, if they only get in after two weeks of classes, it may be too late – many past appellants have had to give up their spot out of fear they couldn't catch up.' Dr Wee questioned how long DAP ministers would remain silent, urging them to act immediately to resolve the issue. 'Please speak up. This is about fairness and opportunity for our best students,' he said. In April, the Education Ministry said that an A- was not considered an A in the eligibility criteria for pre-university matriculation courses, a move that has been widely criticised by students and parents. By June 16, the MCA Youth Education Consultation Committee had received 260 appeals from students with 10As or more, 255 of whom had at least one A-, Dr Wee said. 'These students should have been automatically admitted into matriculation, but due to the policy change – announced on April 30 after the SPM results – their applications were rejected,' he said. Many of these students who came to the MCA also received an A- in the Chinese language, raising concerns about the new grading policy's disproportionate impact on those taking Chinese, he added. Among the 255 affected students, 173 received an A- in Chinese, and 60 had otherwise achieved straight A+ or A grades, except for a single A- in Chinese. He stressed that denying these students access to pre-university programmes could deter future candidates from taking Chinese in the SPM, negatively impacting Chinese education development. 'Students with an A- in Chinese are being unfairly treated under this sudden policy change. This affects over two-thirds (68%) of students with 10A grades. Is this fair?' he added. Two students who scored straight A+ in all nine subjects also did not get a place, he said. Dr Wee highlighted that on June 30 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that SPM candidates with 10As would automatically be admitted to the matriculation programme, including those with A- grades, as they were traditionally considered part of the 'A' grade category. Dr Wee cautioned that if the Cabinet does not review the exclusion of A- grades from the 'A' category before the end of June, it could have lasting consequences for these students' futures. 'We must act now. Once July begins and classes have started, it's too late,' he said.
The Sun
19 hours ago
- The Sun
Review cases of top SPM students denied IPT places
BAGAN DATUK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Ministry of Higher Education to review applications from outstanding Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students who were unsuccessful in securing a place at institutions of higher learning. He said that compassion and fairness must be shown to these students regardless of race, as they not only excelled in their examinations but are also the hope of their parents. 'For any student who did not gain admission into matriculation colleges, foundation programmes, or first-year degree courses, I hope they will be assisted in securing a place. Although I understand places are limited, they should be treated fairly, and efforts must be made to ensure they are given a place,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, told reporters this after launching the 'Kembara Kesedaran Pendidikan Anak Desa (KeDESA) Didik MADANI 2025' programme at Politeknik Bagan Datuk today. Yesterday, it was announced that 150,557 SPM 2024 holders had received offers to continue their studies at public institutions of higher education, with 86,589 placed in public universities, 42,058 in polytechnics, 20,427 in community colleges and 1,483 in institutions under MARA's Higher Education Division. Ahmad Zahid also said he had requested the TVET Council Secretariat and the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to consider admitting outstanding students with Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Level 3 to 5 into MTUN institutions. 'For MTUN, in my view, each institution provides around 2,500 places. With six universities, that gives us 15,000 places. I hope SKM graduates who did not gain admission into public universities can submit an appeal to enter MTUN,' he said. Meanwhile, KeDESA Didik MADANI 2025 Main Committee chairman and adviser to the Bumiputera Education Movement of Malaysia, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, said the programme aims to raise awareness and provide access to higher education for students from rural and remote areas. In her speech, she said the GPBM-organised programme applies the 4M concept – identifying qualified and needy students, understanding their socio-economic background and potential, raising awareness of the importance of education, and guiding students to the right channels to further their studies. She said that in 2024, a total of 10 programmes were held across three states – Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu – with a total attendance of nearly 10,000 participants. At the same event, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, presented awards and aid to outstanding SPM 2024 students from the Bagan Datuk constituency.
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Pahang dreams of orbit; aims to harness the sun with spaceport, solar farm
KUANTAN: The fate of the proposed Pahang International Spaceport in Nenasi, Pekan now lies in the hands of the Federal Government. State Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee Chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib said the Pahang government has submitted its proposal to develop the facility, which would be the first international rocket launch site in Southeast Asia. "The Pahang government fully supports the proposal, but the matter is still under review, and the final decision will be made by the Federal Government. "The project requires approval from Mosti(Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), the National Physical Planning Council, and the National Security Council. Establishing the facility involves environmental, security, and geopolitical considerations, so it must be thoroughly screened by the Federal government before it can proceed," he told reporters at the Pahang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) here today. Earlier, Nizar launched and closed the AI for Productivity Transformation and Speed Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) programmes respectively at PSDC in Semambu. He was commenting on the status of the Pahang International Spaceport project, which he had announced during the Pahang State Assembly sitting in April this year. If approved, the facility is expected to be completed within the next three to five years. Meanwhile, Nizar said the Chereh dam in Sungai Lembing is among the sites identified for floating solar farms as part of Pahang's renewable energy initiatives. "We are identifying suitable locations such as dams, lakes, and former mining ponds. The Chereh dam shows potential, and we hope to begin the floating solar farm project within the next two years. "Floating solar farms are crucial for land conservation, as they do not require the use of land that could otherwise be used for agriculture or industry," he said. Nizar said that the Pahang government has introduced various initiatives as part of its commitment to sustainability and achieving the Net Zero 2030 target. "Pahang is working closely with a United Arab Emirates-based company to develop the country's first wind farm, with sites identified in Pekan, Rompin, Kuantan, and Lipis. The total cost is projected at RM800 million. "The Pahang State Development Corporation is currently overseeing five solar energy projects, each involving an investment of RM200 million," he said. On the GCPV programme at PSDC, Nizar said the initiative, sponsored by Yayasan Peneraju, is a valuable effort to enhance specialised skills and increase employability in the green technology sector.
