Guidelines on vertical schools finalised, to be brought to Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR : The education ministry has finalised its guidelines for the development of vertical schools, taking into account basic principles for the design, including supervision and student safety.
Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh said the guidelines would be presented to the Cabinet soon.
He said the ministry took into account several factors in determining the concept, including vertical movement safety, accessibility for students with special needs, as well as students' emotional and social well-being.
'We also looked into technical aspects such as acoustics, soundproofing, lighting and natural ventilation, emergency routes, building structure, maintenance and strata management,' he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to Muslimin Yahaya's (PN-Sungai Besar) question about Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) proposal to construct a two-block vertical school of between 10 and 17 storeys.
To refine the design of these schools, Wong said they had engaged the housing and local government ministry, public works department, fire and rescue department, as well as parents and teachers.
He said the housing and local government ministry had proposed three models, namely constructing schools on land specifically earmarked for education purposes; incorporating community facilities such as clinics and libraries; and integrating school buildings with residential and commercial developments.
Wong added that the implementation of vertical schools would be subject to assessments by the education ministry and the relevant technical agencies, particularly in areas with populations exceeding one million.
DBKL previously proposed the construction of more vertical-concept schools to address land constraints and the growing population in the capital city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Mukah forest fire tamed by aerial assault — 6,360 litres dropped before chopper glitch (VIDEO)
SIBU, July 31 — Aerial water bombing using a helicopter has successfully slowed the spread of a forest fire covering approximately 105ha in Mukah. Mukah Fire and Rescue Station chief Nicholas Belulin said the firefighting operation was carried out by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) using an Mi-171 helicopter equipped with an underslung water bombing system. 'A total of four water bombings were carried out at 3.30pm, releasing 6,360 litres of water over the affected area,' he said in a statement early this morning. 'This prompt action managed to slow the fire's movement and helped prevent it from spreading to nearby areas.' However, the operation was halted after 42 minutes due to technical issues with the aircraft's system. 'Inspection found that several components need to be replaced, and the spare parts will be delivered by the maintenance team via road tonight (last night),' he said. Nicholas added that yesterday's operation was conducted in hazy conditions, with visibility at around 8km and winds blowing at speeds of 10 to 15 knots. According to him, the forest fire in Mukah was first detected on July 24 and firefighting efforts have been ongoing in stages since then. 'The Fire and Rescue Department has been conducting aerial monitoring and creating fire breaks to prevent the blaze from spreading further into oil palm plantations and nearby settlements.' He added that water bombing was introduced as an additional measure after the fire proved difficult to control through conventional ground-based methods due to the vast area and limited accessibility. Operations are expected to resume today, pending confirmation that the aircraft is safe and operational. — Bernama
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
The quieter kind of patriot — Nahrizul Adib
JULY 31 — There are patriots you see on TV — flags waving, rifles carrying, speeches thundering, parades marching to the rhythm of history. And then there are others — quieter, less photogenic, sometimes not even sure if they count. I personally used to think patriotism had to be loud. That it had to come with a dramatic gesture: becoming a PGA soldier protecting the country in Sarawak, climbing Gunung Kinabalu with the Jalur Gemilang, shouting Tunku's 'Merdeka!' cry at just the right pitch for a theatre performance, or reminiscing the sacrifices made by our soldiers by organising a trip to Tugu Negara. Maybe with a drone shot thrown in for the group photo. But over time, with different groups of people and many kopi sessions and slow walks across this imperfect, beautiful land, I've grown curious about another kind of patriot. The kind who doesn't post on their socials about Merdeka, but still pays the utility bills on time every month. The kind who returns their tray at non-Ikea food courts, who holds back an eye-roll and speaks kindly even when dealing with difficult customers, who sees one more student after the lecture ended on late Friday afternoons, even when the body says no and the weekend is calling. These are not grand acts. They won't make it into any Petronas Merdeka video. But they carry something important: a quiet, persistent belief that this country is worth showing up for. Take, for example, the man who repairs your broken brake lights without overcharging you, even when he knows you won't check the bill and don't know the actual cost of the parts. Or the civil servant who wears batik on Thursday because she wants to, not because she's told to. Or the fresh grad who stays in the country, despite all the enticing offers of higher salary in that neighbouring country. The truth is, most people I know are this kind of patriot. They don't wear their love for Malaysia on their sleeves — partly because sleeves are already rolled up doing the actual work. They don't go viral for what they do, and frankly, most of them wouldn't want to. — Oliver Hale/Unsplash pic None of this is glamorous. But then again, neither is nation-building. Most of it is unglamorous. It's late nights, slow systems, second-guessing policies, working with people you didn't vote for. It's fixing what's broken without waiting for permission. It's trusting the process, even when the process feels like a queue at a viral nasi goreng place just opened in Bukit Bintang. I reckon we've been taught to expect patriotism as a spectacle — flags on cars, fireworks in the sky, trending hashtags and recitations. And that's fine. But maybe, just maybe, we can also recognise the ones who don't march, don't shout, but still love this land like it's their only one. They are the ones who check if the elderly neighbour's bin has been brought in. Who still feel pride when hearing the Negaraku, even if only under their breath. They're not waving flags. They're holding the line. The truth is, most people I know are this kind of patriot. They don't wear their love for Malaysia on their sleeves — partly because sleeves are already rolled up doing the actual work. They don't go viral for what they do, and frankly, most of them wouldn't want to. And yet, it's these quiet gestures that give this country its backbone. They're the reason your street gets cleaned, and your parcel eventually arrives (even if two days late and slightly squashed). They're also the reason some of us still believe we can get better — not because we've reached perfection, but because we know people who haven't given up. I sometimes wonder what it would take for us to change the way we talk about patriotism. Maybe we should start counting not just the medals and moments of glory, but also the mundane acts of care. The things done without fanfare. The daily kindnesses. The grit to stay. We're told often enough what's wrong with this country. And truth be told, there's plenty to fix. But maybe in the midst of that fixing, we can take a moment this August to notice the ones who are quietly holding us together. Who are still choosing, every day, to stay. To help. To care. To build something better — even if it's just in their own little corner of Malaysia. Because sometimes, patriotism isn't loud. Sometimes, it's just… Consistent. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Is it fair to bring a child into this?': Experts weigh in on financial, global fears stalling Malaysian youth's family plans
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Malaysia's youths do want to start a family, but many aren't sure if it's the right time as financial realities stand in the way, along with quiet doubts about the future. Researchers say it's a dilemma reflected not only in surveys, but also in new global research showing similar anxieties across both rich and developing countries. 'I think young people are currently struggling with the daily struggles of everyday life that are not very easily captured in statistics,' said Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Vilashini Somiah at a recent forum here in conjunction with World Population Day. The anthropologist said that apart from financial worries — including the cost of living, education loans and high housing prices — young people also face emotional pressures, such as anxiety over global events. She noted that although Malaysia is not in conflict, global wars still weigh on the minds of the youth. 'I always hear from youths — 'I'm willing to marry, I don't know if I want a child',' she said. When asked why, she said they often respond: ''I don't know if I want to have a child when the world now is topsy turvy and I don't know whether that reality actually has stability for my child then.' 'So generally, the question of desire is not a big issue. To me, it is a question of responsibility. So the question asked by youths is, 'is it fair for them to bring a child into such a world that is very uncertain',' she added. Vilashini's remarks match the global reality, as shown by the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) State of World Population 2025 Report titled "The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World". The UNFPA report draws on a YouGov survey of over 14,000 adults across 14 countries, examining barriers to having their desired number of children. Although Malaysia was not included, the survey featured regional neighbours such as Thailand and Indonesia. UNFPA Malaysia's Country Representative, Dr Julitta Onabanjo said more than half of those surveyed cited financial factors: 'In every one of the 14 surveyed countries, the number one barrier hampering people from realising their family formation goals was economic.' In total, 39 per cent of those surveyed said financial constraints had caused or could cause them to have fewer children than they wanted, while 20 per cent cited unemployment or job insecurity. Nineteen per cent cited housing limitations (such as high house prices or rent), while 12 per cent cited lack of sufficient or quality childcare options. Another 11 per cent pointed to insufficient involvement from their partner in housework and caregiving. UNFPA Malaysia's assistant representative Tengku Aira Tengku Razif said it is important to enable people to have the number of children they actually desire, instead of settling for less children. — Picture courtesy of UNFPA Malaysia UNFPA Malaysia's assistant representative, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, told Malay Mail that the global survey's findings are relevant to Malaysia, as they mirror past data and reflect ongoing local trends. The UNFPA report identified three key barriers to reproductive agency — the ability to make informed decisions about having children. These are: economic constraints; gender inequality, such as women bearing the bulk of domestic responsibilities; and fear about the future, including concerns over war, pandemics and climate change. Tengku Aira pointed out that Malaysia's own Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS) in 2014 had already highlighted financial hardship as a major factor. She said this is likely to remain the most significant issue today, especially given the rising cost of living. She said there are plans to study if the third factor of anxiety about the future is also applicable to Malaysia. When commenting on reproductive agency, Tengku Aira said it is important to have an ecosystem that will enable people to have the number of children that they really want, instead of managing their own expectations by aiming and settling for a lower number. What Malaysia's numbers say According to the National Population and Family Development Board's (LPPKN) 2014 family survey, 86.8 per cent of singles wanted to marry, but many cited financial reasons for remaining single. Among men, financial problems were the top reason at 56 per cent; for women, it was the second-highest at 26 per cent. Screengrab from the Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey in 2014. The same survey found that 40.9 per cent of married women wanted another child. On average, they desired 3.9 children, but adjusted that to 3.5 after considering financial constraints. LPPKN has yet to release data from its latest survey, which began last year. Meanwhile, EPF's Belanjawanku 2024/2025 guide estimates that a married couple with two children needs a minimum of RM5,880 to RM7,440 per month to meet basic living costs in selected cities — reflecting the growing cost of raising a family. UNFPA Malaysia representative Julitta Onabanjo said financial limitations was the number one reason why people in a global survey said they could not have as many children as they actually wanted. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin What are UNFPA's recommendations for Malaysia? Based on the UNFPA report's findings, Dr Julitta outlined four recommendations to help Malaysia build an ecosystem where families can have the number of children they want. 1. Improve access to sexual and reproductive health services. This includes age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, such as LPPKN's Pekerti and SmartStart programmes. It also involves access to infertility treatment, family planning, family-friendly policies like paid parental leave, and affordable, high-quality childcare. 2. Address gender inequality. Dr Julitta called for both parents to share childcare and parenting responsibilities. She also emphasised equal opportunities for women in education and employment. Malaysia, she noted, has made commendable progress by introducing laws such as anti-stalking laws and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. 3. Strengthen economic support and socio-economic policies. This includes creating more jobs for youths and improving the care economy. Dr Julitta also suggested boosting Malaysia's female labour force participation rate — currently at 56.2 per cent — through better health and education outcomes and more supportive workplace policies. 4. Improve data collection. She said more comprehensive and disaggregated data is needed to guide effective, targeted policies. Dr Julitta said there is a need to go beyond national-level data, as there can be different aspirations in certain districts or parts of the country, whether it is urban or rural. 'It is important to segregate that data better and to also ensure that the data tells us in the macro sense, what is the issue,' she said. 'But in the micro sense — how the individual is feeling — that data also needs to be part of the whole data system to be able to inform the policy and the programmes that we have.' She said that Malaysia is already implementing some of these recommendations and can do better in some of these areas. LPPKN chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim told Malay Mail that LPPKN is ready to take on strategic partner UNFPA's recommendations. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin LPPKN chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim told Malay Mail that the board would adopt UNFPA's four recommendations, noting that Malaysia already has some related programmes in place. 'We are taking up all the recommendations, and it's good because they benchmark with 14 countries, meaning to say, we know we are not alone,' she said. She also suggested solutions such as government-supported childcare, flexible working arrangements, and support for online businesses to help parents balance work and family life.
