Miri Mayor hails launch of StudyPal as game-changer for education access in Sarawak
MIRI (May 4): Miri mayor Adam Yii has praised iMedia for creating the 'StudyPal' free platform for students who wish to further their studies and access a wide range of academic programmes.
'Congratulations to the entire StudyPal team. This is the beginning of a new chapter for education in Sarawak, starting right here in Miri,' he said in his address at the launching ceremony of the platform in Pustaka Miri here yesterday.
Also present at the launching ceremony were iMedia director Kelvin Hii.
He said the event was close to his heart, as it revolved around a fundamental issue, namely education.
'In Malaysia, education has always been one of the strongest pillars of development. Since independence, we've built schools in remote areas, invested in digital learning and created countless scholarships to ensure our young generation has access to quality learning.
'But I'm especially proud of what we've achieved here in Sarawak—just recently, the Sarawak government announced that some of the universities in Sarawak will soon experience free education. This is a monumental step. It sends a clear message that no one should be left behind just because they cannot afford it,' he said.
He said the free education initiative would not only ease the burden on families, but also encourage more young Sarawakians to dream big and aim higher.
'When we remove financial barriers, we open up possibilities. But of course, access to education is only part of the journey.
'The next question is how do we guide our students to the right path and how do we help them navigate a system that can often feel overwhelming? I believe that is where StudyPal comes in,' he said.
Yii said today's students live in a fast-changing world where there are large numbers of institutions and fields of study to choose from, and even the application process itself can feel intimidating.
'I know many parents, teachers, and even students, who struggle to make sense of it all. But what StudyPal offers is clarity—it's a one-stop platform that helps students explore their interests, understand who they are, and apply to universities or colleges that suit them best.'
He added that StudyPal is not only limited to students, but also school leavers, young adults, or even working parents looking to pick up a new qualification.
'We always talk about Miri becoming a smart and connected city. But to get there, we need tools like this (StudyPal). Tools that empower every person, regardless of age, background, or experience, to access information, explore opportunities, and make informed decisions,' he said.
One of the platform's features is 'Find your Path', which uses the RIASEC personality tool to help students identify what kind of learner they are, what career paths suit their traits, and which courses align with their strengths and interests.
'That's more than a feature, it's a guide. It's the kind of personalised advice every student deserves, but not all have access to. I can only imagine how helpful this will be in schools, especially in rural areas, where career counselling services may be limited,' he said.
StudyPal can be accessed at https://studypal.my, or Facebook and Instagram. adam yii lead miri StudyPal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak's O&G rights indisputable, says Pujut rep
Yii says Sarawak's rights in this sector are not federal concessions, but legacy entitlements grounded in the state's legal and historical foundations. MIRI (Aug 16): Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii has reaffirmed that Sarawak's control over its oil and gas resources is rooted in historical fact, legal rights and state dignity, stressing that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) cannot override Sarawak's own oil laws. In a statement, Yii has expressed firm support for Senator Ahmad Ibrahim's assertion that the PDA does not supersede the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO), which remains valid and enforceable in Sarawak. According to the Miri Mayor, Sarawak's rights in this sector are not federal concessions, but legacy entitlements grounded in the state's legal and historical foundations. 'Sarawak began oil extractions in Miri in 1910, decades before Malaysia was formed in 1963. 'The OMO, enacted by the British colonial administration, remains in force and is protected under Section 73 of the Malaysia Act 1963.' Yii added that any attempt to disregard or downplay these rights would constitute a serious affront to Sarawak's sovereignty. Yii described as 'highly misleading' a recent statement in Parliament by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Law and Institutional Reform, who claimed that Petronas' powers under the PDA extended to Sarawak 'Such statements risk creating public misunderstanding and falsely suggest that Sarawak has compromised its longstanding position,' he said. Yii highlighted Sarawak's significant progress in asserting its rights through legislative and legal means. In 2016, the Sarawak government passed the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO), officially recognising Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) as the sole gas aggregator in the state. In 2020, the High Court ruled in favour of Sarawak's right to impose a sales tax on petroleum products, forcing Petronas to pay outstanding dues to the state. 'These were not acts of generosity from the federal government. They were rights that Sarawak fought for and won through the courts and legislative reforms,' stressed Yii. He also called upon all political parties and leaders in Sarawak to adopt a united stance in defending the state's rights, and to reject any attempts to undermine it. 'This matter is not merely economic, but one of dignity, legal autonomy, and the spirit enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which forms the basis of Sarawak's participation in the Malaysian federation. 'SUPP will never yield. We will continue to defend Sarawak's rights at the negotiating table, in Parliament, and in the court of public opinion. 'Sarawak's oil and gas resources belong to Sarawakians. That is an indisputable historical fact and a right protected by law.' adam yii lead MA63 oil and gas OMO PDA
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
X-FAB Sarawak to boost wafer output to 40,000
KUCHING: European chipmaker X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE is increasing its production capacity by 10,000 wafers per month with the completion of a major capacity expansion project at its Sarawak wafer fabrication (fab) in Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone here. Monthly production by X-FAB Sarawak Sdn Bhd will increase to 40,000 wafers from 30,000 wafers. The expansion project involved the construction of a new building and clean room, which were completed late last year, and the focus in the first half of 2025 was on equipping the new clean room. 'All the equipment has been delivered and is at different stages of installation and qualification,' X-FAB Silicon Foundries said in a statement on its financial results for the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25). 'A number of tools and machines have successfully completed qualification, allowing for a phased ramp-up of X-FAB's 180nm complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) production from the 3Q25 onwards. 'The expansion provides sufficient capacity to serve current and future customer demand for this popularity technology, which is key to supporting X-FAB's CMOS and microsystems business going forward,' the statement added. For 2Q25, X-FAB posted revenue of US$215.3mil, up 5% year-on-year (y-o-y) and 5% quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q). Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation stood at US$51.6mil, up 7% y-o-y and 4% q-o-q. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the opening of the new building and clean room on Sept 12. X-FAB Sarawak, formerly known as 1st Silicon, opened its plant in 1998 as Malaysia's first semiconductor manufacturing facility. 1st Silicon later merged with X-FAB and was renamed X-FAB Sarawak in 2006. The Sarawak operation currently has about 1,500 employees, 90% of whom are Sarawakians. X-FAB is a global foundry group providing a comprehensive set of specialty technologies and design intellectual property to enable its customers to develop world-leading semiconductor products that are manufacturered at X-FAB's six-wafer fabs located in Sarawak, Germany, France and the United States. With its expertise in analog/mixed-signal technologies, microsystems/MEMS and silicon carbide, X-FAB is the development and manufacturing partner for its customers, primarily serving the automotive, industrial and medical end markets. In 2023, X-FAB Silicon Foundries launched a three-year expansion programme with total investment of more than US$1bil for its wafer fabs in Sarawak, France and the United States. According to Rudi De Winter, the company's chief executive officer, the majority of these investments were made in the expansion of the company's popular 180nm CMOS platform, for which demand has been holding up well. 'The additional capacity is essential to support the needs of our customers and the strong new business pipeline going forward,' he said in the company's 2024 annual report. He said X-FAB France had made good progress in ramping up production with the expansion project. In addition to complementing the 180nm CMOS capacity of X-FAB Sarawak, X-FAB France's expansion will also support the business of X-FAB's new state-of-the-art 110nm VCD-on-SOI technology. X-FAB's three-year programme to expand manufacturing capacity across the group was completed in 2Q25. 'As X-FAB's business is no longer constrained by capacity and factory cycle times have shortened, customers place orders later than usual and more frequently at short notice, resulting in a reduced visibility. 'The backlog for 2Q25 amounted to US$412.9mil, compared to US$386.7mil at the end of the previous quarter,' said the chipmaker.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Borneo Post
Yii: Use AI to learn, not to bypass effort
Yii (front, fifth left) in a group photo with the organisers and participants of the AI literacy programme. MIRI (Aug 11): The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Programme 2025, held at Kompleks Islam Sarawak here yesterday, concluded on a high note with over 60 participants in attendance. The one-day event was jointly organised by the Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) Pujut branch in collaboration with the Saberkas Science, Technology and Innovation Subcommittee. Being the first AI literacy initiative of its kind, the programme featured presentations of five working papers. The event was officially closed by Miri mayor and Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii, who represented Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Saberkas president Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. In his address, Yii emphasised the consequences of irresponsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) use among students, noting the increasing reliance on AI tools such as ChatGPT for completing assignments and examinations without genuine understanding. 'Success gained without effort is short-lived,' said Yii. 'If students simply copy and paste AI-generated answers without verifying them, they risk losing the critical thinking skills needed in the real world,' he cautioned. Yii stressed that AI should be used to enhance learning, not as a shortcut to bypass effort, warning that such habits could result in graduates lacking essential knowledge and skills. He also highlighted Sarawak's ambition to become a regional leader in AI adoption, including the establishment of the Sarawak AI Centre to spearhead initiatives across various sectors. 'Use AI for good, and deepen your knowledge so that we are not swayed by irresponsible use of technology,' he urged, calling on participants to share their knowledge with others in support of Sarawak's goal of embedding AI literacy in everyday life while avoiding misuse. adam yii artificial intelligence education lead students
