logo
Dr Zaliha: RM4b Madani City to be fully transferred to government after 25 years, no public funds involved

Dr Zaliha: RM4b Madani City to be fully transferred to government after 25 years, no public funds involved

Malay Mail5 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The government will take full ownership of the proposed Madani City in Putrajaya 25 years after its completion, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said today.
She further said the RM4 billion development will be fully funded and maintained by the developer, Putrajaya Holdings, under a Build-Lease-Maintain-Transfer (BLMT) model.
'This project does not waste public funds, as claimed by some,' she wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.
Dr Zaliha said Madani City would also provide 10,000 new housing units for civil servants, addressing a current backlog of more than 17,000 unfulfilled applications.
She stressed that the development is a necessity, not a luxury, as demand for government quarters far exceeds existing supply.
Madani City, located in Precinct 19 of the federal administrative captial, spans just 102 acres — about 0.8 per cent of Putrajaya's total land area.
'It will not replace Putrajaya,' she said, countering what she described as a common misconception.
She added that the project was designed in line with the government's vision of a clean, healthy, advanced, safe and eco-friendly city.
The name 'Madani' reflects values of humanity, balance, justice and sustainability, and is not a political label, she added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the Madani City project on June 3, and is expected to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

All students with 10As, including A-, in SPM 2024 will get matriculation spots
All students with 10As, including A-, in SPM 2024 will get matriculation spots

The Star

time34 minutes ago

  • The Star

All students with 10As, including A-, in SPM 2024 will get matriculation spots

PETALING JAYA: All students who achieved 10As and above in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination will be granted a place in the matriculation programme, regardless of race and background, says the Education Ministry. In a statement Wednesday (June 25), the ministry said that the Cabinet had agreed that all students with 10As and above, including A-, would be given a place if they apply for the matriculation programme. "This policy aligns with the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, last year. "This decision is made to ensure that all outstanding students with 10As in SPM 2024 have the opportunity to further their education. At the same time, the existing Bumiputera quota system for the matriculation programme remains intact and unaffected," the ministry said. It added that the Madani government will continue to enhance access to education for the benefit of all students, who are the future assets of the nation. Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Malaysia's Startup Asean platform aims to connect 10,000 firms regionwide by year-end, says Chang
Malaysia's Startup Asean platform aims to connect 10,000 firms regionwide by year-end, says Chang

Malay Mail

time2 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

Malaysia's Startup Asean platform aims to connect 10,000 firms regionwide by year-end, says Chang

PUTRAJAYA, June 25 — Malaysia is targeting to onboard at least 10,000 startups by the end of this year under the newly launched Startup Asean platform. The platform serves as a regional digital gateway to connect and empower startups, investors and talents across Southeast Asia. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Chang Lih Kang, said the platform currently hosts about 5,000 startups and is showing encouraging progress since becoming fully operational. 'We are targeting at least 10,000 startups by year-end, and we have already reached around half of that. 'This shows promising development, and we hope the platform will help the entire region to grow together. The benefits are not limited to a single country but extend to all Asean member states,' he told reporters after officiating the launch of the platform here today. Malaysia, as the Asean chair in 2025, is spearheading the initiative through MOSTI, with implementation by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. The platform was developed in collaboration with all 10 Asean member states. In his speech at the launch, Chang said the Startup Asean platform reflects Malaysia's commitment to lead with purpose, adding that it represents the first major deliverable under the Asean Startup Initiative. 'As chair of Asean in 2025, Malaysia has taken on a bold responsibility to shape a future-oriented startup ecosystem. Through this initiative, we are proud to introduce the Asean Technology Startup Ignite 2025,' he said. Chang noted that Southeast Asia is home to more than 680 million people, with over half of the population aged below 35. The region has a combined gross domestic product of more than US$3.9 trillion, while its digital economy is projected to exceed US$1 trillion by 2030 (US$1=RM4.233). The platform's launch today marks the second phase of a longer regional roadmap. The first phase, completed in 2024, focused on developing the platform and engaging stakeholders. The third phase, expected in 2026, will see the establishment of the Asean Centre of Excellence for early-stage startups to further elevate the region's innovation ecosystem. Asked how MOSTI will ensure inclusivity for startups in less developed Asean member states, Chang said the platform was designed to be borderless and accessible to all. 'This regional platform is one of the ways we can assist startups from less developed countries. As long as you have internet access, you can come on board. Your company can be seen by investors and talent from anywhere in the region. This is how we help increase their visibility and chances of success,' he said. Tracking Impact and Regional Collaboration Cradle group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke said the platform comes with clear performance indicators, including startup participation, investment outcomes, and regional collaboration. 'In 2025, we aim to onboard 10,000 startups, 2,000 investors and 500 strategic partners. We are also planning to run five regional programmes through the platform. These efforts will support an ecosystem valued at around US$131.2 billion,' he said. Vanhaecke said the platform is not just a database but a regional tool for inclusive impact. 'We will track the number of investments, the emergence of new startups, and collaborations between founders from different countries. Two regional programmes are already in place through our dialogue partners from Korea and China. These are open to all startups across Asean,' he said. Vanhaecke said three more regional programmes will be introduced this year, with more to follow in the future. 'This is just the beginning. With strong participation from Asean countries, the platform has the potential to become a key enabler for innovation, growth and cross-border cooperation,' he said. — Bernama

Malaysian glove makers to gain as EU targets China
Malaysian glove makers to gain as EU targets China

Free Malaysia Today

time2 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Malaysian glove makers to gain as EU targets China

The European Union accounts for almost 30% of Malaysia's total glove exports. PETALING JAYA : Malaysian glove makers are likely beneficiaries of the European Union's move to exclude Chinese companies from public tenders for medical devices, including gloves, valued at over €5 million (RM24.6 million). CIMB Securities said the exclusion could result in stronger demand from EU buyers seeking alternatives to China-sourced gloves. The EU's move is a response to its finding that EU companies do not have fair access in China as Chinese tenders have been heavily biased towards local suppliers with artificially low bids, the research house said. 'This will limit Chinese companies' access to approximately €150 billion (RM738.9 billion) annually in EU public spending within this segment. 'While tenders exceeding €5 million accounted for only about 4% of total tender count in 2023, they represented around 60% of total tender value,' it said in a note today. The EU is a strategically important market for local glove manufacturers. The bloc was Malaysia's second-largest glove export market by region in 2023, accounting for an estimated 28%–30% of Malaysia's total glove exports, said CIMB. The potential increase in demand would be an added boost for the local glove sector on top of expected expansion in the US rubber-glove market, it added. However, CIMB expects any rise in EU demand for gloves from other countries, including Malaysia, to be short-term – three-to six months at best, as the EU and China have expressed willingness to negotiate. This issue would likely be a topic of discussion during the EU-China Summit scheduled for next month. 'While we anticipate potential near-term share price re-ratings for glove stocks following this announcement, we expect Chinese glove makers to pursue workarounds, such as leveraging EU-based trading partners, or exporting from manufacturing facilities outside China,' it noted. CIMB has maintained its 'neutral' recommendation on the glove sector because of persistent challenges. This includes a 'difficult operating environment' with low sales demand, and higher costs due to the recent rise in the sales and service tax and minimum wage.

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