Maal Hijrah 1447 emphasizes unity, compassion, and progress in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The arrival of Maal Hijrah 1447 marks a pivotal moment for Malaysians to renew their commitment to unity, compassion, and national progress, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a Facebook post today, Ahmad Zahid emphasized that Awal Muharram is an opportunity for self-reflection and reinforcing collective efforts toward personal and societal improvement. He expressed hope that the new year would bring blessings and strength to face future challenges.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof noted that this year's theme, 'Membangun Ummah MADANI,' underscores the importance of Islamic values in fostering an inclusive and progressive society. He stressed the need for resilience and a strong Muslim identity amid global crises.
Both leaders called for a renewed focus on humanitarian values, social justice, and economic growth to build a cohesive and forward-looking nation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Sabah Governor urges Muslims to foster unity and strengthen knowledge
KOTA KINABALU: Tun Musa Aman has called upon Muslims to strengthen their knowledge in Islam and to build unity instead of discord. The Sabah Governor also urged Muslims to continuously upgrade themselves in terms of knowledge, education, technology, thoughts and in every aspect of their lives. He also said religious institutions, education and the media should help increase awareness on the importance of creating a community with the right values. 'The responsibility also lies with each individual to become agents of change and to embrace and practise justice, tolerance and appreciation for one another in life,' he said during the state-level Maal Hijrah celebrations at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Friday (June 27). Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other dignitaries.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
MCA urges transparency, fair access to public varsities
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya should postpone its intake under its Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam (Satu) and suspend the planned fee hike for its Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and other courses, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Raising concerns over affordability and fairness in public medical education, Dr Wee urged the Higher Education Ministry to act to protect students from low- and middle-income families, particularly those unable to secure places through the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) system. (The UPU is a centralised government admission platform used by Malaysia's public universities, while Satu is an alternative pathway for students to apply directly to UM.) 'We are calling for an immediate halt to the Satu intake until all issues are clarified. The proposed RM500,000 fee for the 2025/2026 MBBS intake is alarming and must be postponed,' Dr Wee said. Other steep hikes for critical courses should also be withheld, he told a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday. The MCA also released a paper titled 'Two Channels, One Future: Ensuring Fair Access to Universiti Malaya's Medical Programmes and Other Critical Courses' which is available online. According to student unions, tuition fees for the MBBS programme will go up to RM500,000 for the 2025/2026 intake. This is a 67% increase compared to the 2024/2025 session. Dr Wee said the rising financial burden and the lack of transparency in public university admissions are national issues affecting all Malaysians. The MCA outlined five key recommendations to the government to safeguard access for students from B40 and M40 families. First, it called for a freeze on Satu intakes and fee increases, along with an independent audit of Satu's cost structure to justify the disparities compared to other public and private institutions. The party also sought full disclosure of the rationale behind the fee hike. 'We need a clear explanation. Without transparency, medical education risks becoming a privilege for the wealthy,' Dr Wee said. Second, MCA is urging greater openness in admissions. It wants a breakdown of student intakes by qualification – such as Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation, foundation and diploma – for competitive programmes like medicine. It also called for the UPU's CGPA standardisation algorithm to be published, along with annual reports on Satu and UPU admissions and resource allocation. To address limited seats, the third recommendation called for an expansion of subsidised UPU intakes for medicine and other essential fields, with a reallocation of resources in Budget 2026 and the 13th Malaysia Plan to prioritise healthcare and education. 'Over-reliance on fee-paying students via Satu undermines the role of public universities,' Dr Wee said. Fourth, MCA proposed governance reforms for the dual admission system, including independent oversight of Satu to curb commercialisation and uphold merit-based entry. It also suggested capping fee-paying seats in flagship programmes. Lastly, Dr Wee said the UPU assessment framework must be reviewed to ensure fairness for STPM students, taking into account the academic rigours and duration of the programme. 'These students deserve fair treatment. The system should not penalise them for choosing a more demanding path,' he added.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Apples and oranges exempt from expanded SST in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Apples and oranges will continue to be exempt from the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) as they are widely consumed and cannot be grown locally, according to Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican. He explained that these fruits are dietary staples, especially during festive seasons like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, making their tax exemption necessary to ease public expenses. 'These fruits cannot be produced locally due to our climate, but they are part of daily consumption for many Malaysians,' Johan said during a Finance Ministry TikTok Live session titled 'SST Naik, Semua Harga Pun Naik?' While imported fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, and avocados will be taxed under the expanded SST, Johan stressed that apples and oranges remain tax-free to avoid burdening consumers. 'We want to encourage the consumption of local fruits, but at the same time, we recognise that apples and oranges are important in people's daily lives,' he added. Local fruits, including 'pisang mas', remain untaxed, ensuring stable prices for consumers. Johan noted that 90 per cent of bananas in Malaysia are locally sourced, with only 10 per cent imported. 'Supporting local produce helps the economy and ensures affordability,' he said, adding that snacks like 'pisang goreng' will not see price hikes unless made with imported bananas. Separately, Johan confirmed that gold bars and jewellery will retain a zero tax rate due to their cultural and economic significance. 'Gold is often used within communities for savings, as collateral for loans, and as blessings during weddings and childbirth. Therefore, we have decided to maintain a zero tax rate due to its importance in the community and its role in the economy,' he said. The government expects an additional RM10 billion in revenue from SST collections, opting to retain it over reintroducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for its lighter consumer impact.
