
#SHOWBIZ: Siti's Yayasan Nurjiwa to award RM500 for SPM 2024 straight-A students
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, Yayasan Nurjiwa is introducing a RM500 incentive for straight-A students of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 examination.
Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, founder of Yayasan Nurjiwa, announced this initiative as a form of recognition for academic excellence.
Speaking yesterday at the PTTI Inspirational Awards 2025, held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Siti revealed that the foundation is also collaborating with tuition centre PTTI to award a total of RM200,500 to 401 students nationwide.
Siti said: "This initiative aims to motivate students to continue achieving academic success. We all hope that this will encourage future SPM candidates to work harder to achieve excellent results."
Furthermore, Siti announced that Yayasan Nurjiwa would continue its long-standing initiative of assisting underprivileged students by providing daily meals for 100 individuals, particularly those from the B40 income group and orphans.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sinar Daily
4 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
How rising transport costs affect Malaysian fertility trends
Transportation may not be the first topic couples consider when planning for children. Still, the rising costs of car ownership, from monthly repayments to upgrading to a family-sized vehicle, were becoming an essential factor. Transportation may not be the first topic couples consider when planning for children. Still, the rising costs of car ownership, from monthly repayments to upgrading to a family-sized vehicle, were becoming an essential factor. SHAH ALAM – Rising car prices and transport expenses are significantly influencing family planning decisions for young Malaysian couples, moving beyond mere lifestyle choices to become a critical factor in how they envision their future. According to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Lecturer and Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Siti Hajar Abd Azman, transportation was one of many interlinked socio-economic factors influencing family size in Malaysia. While often overlooked, rising car ownership costs are becoming a key factor for couples planning to have children. 'Determining family size in Malaysia is influenced by a complex web of socio-economic factors, including career aspirations, housing conditions, childcare support, healthcare access and significantly, transportation. "While car ownership may not be the primary determinant of family planning, it often plays a crucial supporting role, especially when considering the cost of living,' she told Sinar Daily. She clarified that while career goals and housing were typically more visible influences, the affordability of a vehicle from purchasing it to maintaining it, insuring it and fueling it, could have real implications on a couple's decision to expand their family. 'For instance, larger families may require bigger vehicles for safety and space, but the financial ability to acquire such vehicles can be limiting. Couples who cannot afford a larger car or feel burdened by transportation costs may choose to delay or reduce the number of children they plan to have,' she said. Dr Siti's insights were drawn from her experience in medical practice, where she had observed a recurring theme in patient consultations. While career goals and housing were typically more visible influences, the affordability of a vehicle from purchasing it to maintaining it, insuring it and fueling it, could have real implications on a couple's decision to expand their family. - Photo generated by Sinar Daily Many patients had brought up the financial strain of car ownership, particularly loan repayments and escalating maintenance costs, as a contributing reason for postponing or reconsidering plans to have children. While transportation expenses were seldom the sole reason behind such decisions, Dr Siti believes they frequently played a role within a larger web of financial considerations. 'These concerns, while not always the main reason, are part of a broader financial picture that includes housing affordability, educational expenses and childcare logistics. "Patients often cite difficulties fitting more children into smaller cars or struggling with the practicality of managing a growing family without a reliable vehicle. These everyday considerations make transportation a very real factor in family planning discussions,' she said. Dr Siti stated that the rising cost of living in Malaysia significantly influenced how families planned for the future. Expenses such as car loans, fuel, maintenance, housing and childcare all played a role in shaping decisions about family size. As a result, she observed that more couples were choosing to have fewer children to preserve their quality of life and ensure financial stability. 'In many cases, families opt for smaller households to maintain a better quality of life and financial stability. Especially in urban centres, the limited living space in apartments and smaller homes also adds to the perception that larger families may not be practical,' she said. Although Malaysia lacks data specifically linking car size or vehicle affordability to national fertility rates, Dr Siti said the trend fits into a regional context. 'Although there may not be specific studies directly linking car size or transportation limitations to fertility rates in Malaysia, regional research supports the idea that socioeconomic growth often leads to declining fertility. "The fertility rate in Southeast Asia has dropped from 5.5 per cent in 1970 to 2.4 per cent in 2015 and continues to decline. These shifts reflect broader economic and social changes, where financial concerns, including transportation, influence reproductive choices. "Studies consistently point to factors like income, housing and healthcare access as significant influences on family size, and material constraints such as the affordability and practicality of car ownership fit into this larger context,' she said. Ultimately, decisions about having children are deeply personal, but they are also increasingly practical. 'While transportation alone may not be the decisive factor in determining family size, it is undeniably part of the broader equation. "As the economic landscape continues to evolve and the cost of living rises, Malaysian couples are increasingly making practical, financially informed decisions about how many children to have and whether their car, or lack thereof, fits into that plan,' she added.


The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Cautious response to scholarship offers
On alert: Maya showing a promotional message from a college on her mobile phone. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Maya Devi, who achieved 8As in her SPM and hopes to pursue International Business Law, says that she received numerous promotional messages from colleges shortly after the results were announced. 'Most of the time I ignore them unless they're from a verified business account. 'It also doesn't hurt to cross-check the number with what's listed on the institution's website. 'Better to be safe than sorry – even if the offer seems harmless at first,' she said when met yesterday. Inspired by her father who works in the corporate sector, Maya said her passion for business was shaped by a teacher who helped her connect with a subject she once disliked. 'If it weren't for my business tuition teacher, I probably would've hated the subject. But now, thanks to him, I've developed a genuine interest and that's what I want to pursue. 'My parents have also been a big help, especially in researching scholarships and making sure I applied for them on time,' she said. Meanwhile, Lhekha Raviendran, 18, who earned 9As and plans to study Mechanical Engineering, stressed the importance of accreditation and reputation when choosing a university. 'The ranking and accreditation of a university really matter. 'A recognised degree adds value and boosts employability. Employers often prioritise graduates from reputable institutions,' she said. Lhekha added that interest in a subject should be a core deciding factor, alongside market demand and long-term career prospects. 'You need to consider the future demand for the job,' she added. For Rozilah Abd Aziz, 50, ensuring that her children make informed decisions is a shared responsibility. 'My daughter has received messages from training centres and colleges both for academic as well as technical and vocational education and training fields. 'I prioritise her interests besides considering career opportunities, tuition fees and location,' she said. Rozilah emphasised the importance of verifying the legitimacy of institutions. 'There are so many options so we do our research and make sure the institution is MQA-recognised and accredited,' she added. In George Town, it was reported that parents have expressed concerns about their children receiving unsolicited text messages and emails from institutions offering scholarships and study programmes. A secondary school teacher, who only wished to be known as Chua, said her daughter, who obtained 7As and 2Bs started receiving SMS messages and e-mails from various institutions a few weeks after the SPM results were announced. 'The messages were from three private colleges and the courses offered were engineering and foundation programmes. The offers came with scholarships and twinning programmes with foreign universities. 'We felt that the offers seemed to be too good to be true. 'I decided to check on the validity of the programmes but my daughter wanted to wait for offers from public universities or programmes recognised by the government,' said the single mother. Siti Fatimah Az-Zahra Arqam Baginda Omar, 18, said she received offers to enrol in private colleges via her email. 'I was offered places in accountancy and nursing programmes by three private colleges but I declined them as I have other plans. Moreover, the offers didn't seem convincing, so I just ignored them,' she said. Siti Fatimah said she was puzzled as to how the institutions had obtained her e-mail and phone number, especially as she had not attended education fairs or registered for any educational programmes. 'The fact that these institutions have obtained my contact information without my knowledge or consent is troubling and raises serious questions about data protection practices,' she said.


New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sime Darby Property sets new wage benchmark
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Property Bhd's move to raise the minimum living wage for its B40 employees by 80 per cent, from RM1,500 to RM2,700 per month in 2024, could set a new benchmark for the private sector, economists say. Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams described the initiative as a positive step, even if it falls short of the RM3,100 monthly living wage recommended by Bank Negara Malaysia and government-linked investment companies (GLICs). On May 1, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP), Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera and Lembaga Tabung Haji announced the full implementation of a living wage policy for all their permanent Malaysian employees. The policy is part of the Finance Ministry's GEAR-uP initiative, which aims to align GLIC efforts to boost growth in key sectors. "The six GLICs have committed to the RM3,100 living wage in line with the Belanjawanku and Bank Negara estimates. So the RM2,700 is a little below that but still a good threshold," Williams told Business Times. Williams added that the decision reflects the ability of large companies, particularly government-linked companies and GLICs, to increase base pay for lower-income workers. "This is a good move that will clearly help their lower-paid staff. However, they should disclose how many people will benefit," he said. As of February 1, 2025, the national minimum wage in Malaysia stands at RM1,700 for all employees in businesses with five or more staff, as well as those under the MASCO (Malaysia SME and Small to Medium Enterprises) sector. Employers with fewer than five workers have until August 1, 2025, to comply. Putra Business School economic analyst Prof Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff praised the move by Sime Darby Property, noting that the RM2,700 wage is close to the national median income level. Razman said this has wider implications than just simply providing better financial support, as higher wages mean the workers will have a higher contribution to their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account, which subsequently will help them to have a higher quality of life after retirement. "This decision should be emulated by other large corporations, especially for those hiring many workers who live in urban areas. "It will also reduce the salary inequality between top bosses and their workers, where the gap is currently increasing," he told the Business Times. Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the decision could set a new benchmark and attract talent in a competitive labour market. Citing the trend in the labour markets, Afzanizam said the own-account workers (OAW) have been growing quite persistently at 2.9 per cent per annum between 2019 and 2024 to 3.1 million. "With youth increasingly turning to gig work and self-employment, substantial wage increases can help address labour shortages, though benefits like flexible hours and career development are also key," he said. Afzanizam added that while RM2,700 is a good start, the adequacy of income depends on location and family size. Citing EPF's Belanjawanku guide, he noted that a single person in the Klang Valley typically needs RM2,800 monthly, while a family with one child may need over RM6,400. "Hence, we need to understand that salaries should reflect the skillset and qualification but at the same time, real income, which will consider the cost of living, also matters. This may require different policies and approaches in order to ensure that the cost of living will remain manageable," he said. Meanwhile, Sime Darby Property chairman Datuk Rizal Rickman Ramli said the wage adjustment took into account the increased cost of living and aimed to provide better financial support for lower-income employees. "This initiative highlights our commitment to financial stability and the well-being of our workforce, particularly those most impacted by rising living costs," he said in the group's integrated annual report 2024. As of March 28, Sime Darby Property's major shareholders included PNB's unit Amanah Saham Bumiputera with a 36.73 per cent stake, EPF with 11.08 per cent, KWAP with 6.25 per cent and PNB with 5.23 per cent.