logo
Activist gives RM15,000 to help needy students via education foundation

Activist gives RM15,000 to help needy students via education foundation

The Star4 days ago
Lee (second from right) presenting the donation to Abdul Razak. Beside Lee is Shazlini.
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye presented a RM15,000 contribution to Yayasan Canselor Universiti Tenaga Nasional (YCU).
Lee, a member of the board of trustees of YCU, presented the donation to the foundation in support of its mission to provide educational assistance to underprivileged students.
The cheque was received by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid, who also serves as YCU board of trustees chairman.
Also present at the event was YCU director Shazlini Osman.
Derived from the sales of his biography Call Lee Lam Thye: Recalling a Lifetime of Service, the donation is intended to help underprivileged students, in line with YCU's objective to promote education through financial aid and academic support for the deserving poor.
Lee, in a statement, also called on other organisations, corporations and individuals to support YCU's cause in making higher education more accessible and meaningful for deserving students.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Harsh vaping penalties for teachers: A balanced approach needed
Harsh vaping penalties for teachers: A balanced approach needed

Focus Malaysia

time7 hours ago

  • Focus Malaysia

Harsh vaping penalties for teachers: A balanced approach needed

EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently announced a proposal to impose fines of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years for teachers caught vaping or smoking on school grounds, which is in line with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024. While MCA fully supports the principle that teachers must serve as role models for Malaysian children and youth, such measures must not overlook the broader context of teacher welfare and the many other pressing issues within our education system that demand urgent attention. Maintaining discipline in schools is important. However, imposing heavy fines and imprisonment as the implied first and only option for vaping offences among already overburdened and under-rewarded teachers appears disproportionate. In some cases, vaping may be an unhealthy coping mechanism for stress rather than a deliberate act of defiance against professional standards. According to April 2024 data from the Khazanah Research Institute, Malaysian graduates in education are earning significantly less than they did a decade ago. Nearly three-quarters of education graduates earn below RM2,000, with only a small fraction exceeding RM3,000. With the rising cost of living, economic hardship, and the daily demands of teaching, teachers are under immense strain and may seek other ways to cope with stress. In the Dewan Rakyat in 2023, deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh reported that 6,394 teachers went on early retirement—an increase from the previous year where 5,306 left the profession. Moreover, according to the Education Ministry in a Parliamentary written reply on June 26 last year, the majority of teachers left early because they were uninterested in their roles. Other factors were family, health, job duties and personal reasons. These exoduses indicate that more must be done to improve the welfare of teachers to propel them to remain in the teaching profession. Making criminals out of teachers simply for vaping are counter-productive to boosting teacher morale. At the same time, schools face far more serious challenges—such as teacher shortage, bullying, sexual predation, molestation, and many others—that present a far greater threat to student wellbeing than a teacher vaping on school grounds. These critical issues require urgent, sustained attention and resources from the Education Ministry, yet they often remain under-addressed. A more balanced approach is needed. MCA advocates for disciplinary measures that include counselling, mandatory training, or suspension before considering custodial sentences. Equally, the government should invest more in supporting teachers' mental health, raising remuneration, and improving working conditions to reduce the underlying pressures that may contribute to such behaviour. To truly uphold the no-vaping policy in schools, enforcement must be fair, proportionate, and part of a broader strategy that safeguards both student welfare and the wellbeing of our educators. ‒ Aug 14, 2025 Felicia Wong Yin Ting is the MCA education consultative committee deputy chairperson. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: 2Firsts

Almost 190,000 freed from bankruptcy under govt's second chance policy
Almost 190,000 freed from bankruptcy under govt's second chance policy

The Star

time10 hours ago

  • The Star

Almost 190,000 freed from bankruptcy under govt's second chance policy

KUALA LUMPUR: At least 187,652 individuals with debts not exceeding RM200,000 have been discharged from bankruptcy from March 2023 until June 2025 as part of the government's Second Chance Policy, says M. Kulasegaran. The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said this included young adults under the age of 40, which shows the government's commitment to implement key reforms.

187,652 Malaysians cleared of bankruptcy since 2023
187,652 Malaysians cleared of bankruptcy since 2023

New Straits Times

time11 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

187,652 Malaysians cleared of bankruptcy since 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 187,652 individuals with debts not exceeding RM200,000 were cleared of bankruptcy between March 2023 and June this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said this figure included those aged 40 and below. "This achievement is clear proof of the Madani government's commitment to implementing reforms that have a direct impact on the people," he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat. Kulasegaran was responding to Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang), who had asked for the total number of young people aged below 40 who had been freed from bankruptcy, with debts not exceeding RM200,000, He said, through a strategic and inclusive approach under the Madani agenda, people were not cleared of the burden of debt, but also had their dignity restored and were given fresh hope to rebuild their lives. "The government has high hopes that this second chance will provide them with a renewed lease of life and enable them to carry on with their daily lives, in line with the Malaysia Madani agenda, which emphasises the concept of compassion (ihsan) for all through acts of human empowerment," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store