Latest news with #Aniq
Sinar Daily
15 hours ago
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Govt assures autistic students will get place in public university
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he has instructed an investigation into the case, which will be resolved soon. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the Dewan Rakyat, today. - Photo by Bernama KUALA LUMPUR – The government has assured that a student with disabilities (PwD), who was allegedly denied the right to apply for admission to a public university due to autism, will still be offered a place at a public institution of higher learning (IPTA). Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he has instructed an investigation into the case, which will be resolved soon. "The matter involving the PwD student will be addressed. We will ensure that he can study at one of the IPTAs he requested. "Most recently, I was informed that the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is also looking into this case to see if it would be suitable to place the student there. I believe that it is among his preferred universities," he said during a Dewan Rakyat session here on Tuesday. He was responding to an additional question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH–Kota Melaka), who sought clarification on the case and the ministry's efforts to assist academically outstanding PwD students in enrolling at university. A mental health organisation recently raised concerns over an incident where a student was allegedly barred from applying for placement in a public university because he had autism. According to a Facebook post, the student, known as Aniq, reportedly achieved a matriculation Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.83 and met both the general and specific entry requirements for the programme he applied for. Initially, Aniq was able to select a university programme during the second phase of the University Central Unit (UPU) system, but his choices later 'disappeared' in the following stage. Zambry stressed that the government's policy ensures no individual with the required academic qualifications will be discriminated against when applying to a public university. He explained that universities usually required confirmation of the type of disability a student has before proceeding with the application process, taking into account the facilities the institution can provide. "The issue that arose was that he (the PwD student) applied under the PwD category and some universities wanted to know the specific type of disability so that adjustments could be made according to his condition," he said.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Stop putting price tag on inclusion
EVERY so often, something happens in Malaysia that makes you stop and think: 'Do we actually understand what inclusion means or are we just paying lip service?' Here is one example. In a well-known commercial complex, bays located right next to a centre for children and youths with cerebral palsy are being reclassified as 'preferred zone' parking. The monthly pass? Jumping from RM120 to RM450. No discounts and no exemptions, not even for an NGO helping wheelchair users who depend on those bays for safe and easy access. It is not just outrageous; it is insulting. Accessibility bays aren't 'premium'; they are essential infrastructure. Tripling the price is like putting a toll gate in front of a wheelchair ramp. Then there is Aniq, an autistic student who scored a 3.83 CGPA in matriculation and met the entry requirements for Computer Science and Statistics, only to find that his chosen programmes had vanished from the UPU system. Not due to his grades but because he holds a disabled persons card. An algorithm decided his disability status mattered more than his achievements. That is not inclusion; that is discrimination dressed up as 'process'. Consider the blind pensioner living on RM1,085 a month, whose health insurance premium doubled overnight, from RM250 to RM500. Nearly half of their income now goes just to stay insured. When a policy becomes too expensive to afford, it is no longer insurance; it is exclusion by price. These are not isolated sob stories; they are proof that our Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act 2008 is toothless. It recognises rights but does not make discrimination illegal in a way you can challenge. It does not force schools, insurers or service providers to make 'reasonable adjustments'. And it does not create a clear, powerful body to hold anyone accountable. Here is the kicker: Malaysia already has world-class standards sitting on the shelf. We have MS 1184 (Universal Design and Accessibility in the Built Environment), MS 1331 (Access Outside Buildings) and MS ISO 21542 (Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment). They tell us how to make parking, entrances and routes accessible but they say nothing about keeping those facilities affordable. That is the gap operators are exploiting. Globally, ISO 22458: 2022 on Consumer Vulnerability spells it out: You must design services so that vulnerable groups, including PWDs and low-income communities, can actually use them. That means physical access and financial access. ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility and ISO 37120 on Sustainable Cities both treat inclusion as a key measure of progress. In the UK, Australia and Canada, it is illegal to deny a qualified student a place because of disability or to monetise accessible parking in ways that shut out the very people it is meant for. Insurers must justify disability-related premium increases with hard data and are often subject to affordability caps. There is an urgent need for a coordinated national effort to strengthen Malaysia's accessibility standards, including MS 1184 and MS ISO 21542, so they go beyond the physical design of facilities to also address fair pricing and proper allocation. This should be aligned with global benchmarks, such as ISO 22458, which ensure physical and financial access for vulnerable consumers and supported by clear sector guidelines so that 'universal design' means practical, affordable inclusion rather than just compliance on paper. By embedding affordability into the definition of accessibility, we can close the loopholes that currently allow facilities to exist only in name but remain out of reach in reality. While longer-term improvements to standards and guidelines are vital, immediate action is equally important. Local councils can set licensing requirements to ensure accessible bays closest to entrances remain affordable or free for PWD. The Higher Education Ministry should ensure no student is denied opportunities because of disability status and Bank Negara should safeguard against exclusionary insurance practices by requiring clear justifications for premium loadings and promoting basic plans within the reach of disability pensions. These steps, taken together, will move Malaysia from lip service on inclusion to genuine, measurable change in daily life. Because inclusion is not charity; it is a basic right, like clean water or safe roads. If you triple the cost of a disabled parking bay, erase a high-achieving student from a university system or price health cover out of reach, you are not just making life harder; you are shutting the door. Here is the truth: a nation is not measured only by GDP; it is measured by whether everyone, including those who face the steepest climbs, can still move forward. Standards Users will work with councils, ministries and operators to make sure these standards are not just documents on a shelf but an everyday reality in our parking lots, classrooms and insurance policies. Because inclusion that costs extra is not inclusion at all. Saral James Maniam Secretary-General Malaysian Association of Standards Users Affiliate of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
M'sian autistic student with 3.8 CGPA allegedly unable to apply for dream university courses
A father recently expressed his frustration online after discovering that his son was allegedly denied the opportunity to apply for his chosen university courses due to having autism. Taking to Facebook, the father claimed that his son, only known as Aniq, achieved an impressive CGPA of 3.83 in his matriculation studies and had met both the general and programme-specific requirements. 'He applied confidently. His dream fields were Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Statistics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia — fields that demand critical thinking. Aniq knew exactly where he wanted to go. He was ready. 'But when (the third phase) opened... all the options he had worked so hard for did not appear,' he wrote. Upon seeing this, Aniq and his family contacted the Malaysian University Admissions Unit (UPU) via email — only to receive a 'disappointing' response, which allegedly stated that he was not eligible to apply for the courses due to being an OKU (Persons with Disabilities) cardholder for autism. 'What's the logic behind denying this child a chance — simply because of his disability status, when academically, he is more than qualified? 'Does the current system still see disabled individuals as a burden rather than as people with potential?' Aniq's father questioned. He then urged UPU to review its eligibility policy for students with disabilities. In a follow-up Facebook post, Aniq's father shared several suggestions for how UPU could improve its application process, particularly for OKU students. Among his suggestions was for UPU to conduct early briefings for OKU students at matriculation colleges or foundation centres before the application process begins. He also recommended that UPU provide clear and accessible information about special admission pathways for students with disabilities on its website, noting that he had been unable to find any relevant links or sections. 'Making this information accessible would help OKU applicants understand how to apply through the correct channels,' he added. A quick check on the Ministry of Higher Education's official Facebook page revealed that there are indeed special admission pathways for four target groups, including students with disabilities and graduates from institutions under the Social Welfare Department (JKM). The other three groups include students from B40 households, Orang Asli communities, and athletes.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Aniq eyes gold in India for ticket to Glasgow Commonwealth Games
NATIONAL weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan is aiming to qualify on merit for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year. Mohamad Aniq, an Olympian, said that to realise his dream, he needs to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in India this August. 'If I want to qualify on merit (for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games), I really need to win gold in the qualification round this August (to automatically qualify). 'If I don't get (gold), I have to compete again at another championship next year to get a ticket to the Commonwealth Games,' he told Bernama. Meanwhile, Aniq said that he is targeting a total lift of 285 kg, with 125 kg in the snatch discipline and 160-165 kg (clean and jerk) in the India championship. 'I don't want to target too much in this championship because I have just recovered from a right shoulder (ligament) injury. In fact, the injury is 70-80 per cent healed and what is important to me is to qualify on merit for the Commonwealth Games,' he said. For the record, Aniq was the gold medallist in the 55 kg weightlifting category at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
New Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aniq hopes weightlifters can end two-decade drought at the Sea Games
KUALA LUMPUR: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan is hoping he and his teammates can end Malaysia's long wait for a gold medal in the sport at the Thailand Sea Games in December. Malaysia has not won a gold medal at biennial games since the late Che Mohd Azrol Che Mat won back-to-back golds at Hanoi 2003 and Manila 2005. Aniq assured that Malaysian weightlifters will definitely give it their all in Bangkok. "Of course we will try our best to win gold at the Sea Games," said Aniq when met recently. "We have not won a Sea Games gold in a very long time, in fact the person who last won gold for us has passed away. "The closest we have got recently was through Aznil Bidin who won silver (men's under-61kg) at the Hanoi Sea Games. "If possible, we want to do better than that this time." Aniq set a new national record at the time en route to winning bronze in the men's under-55kg class at Hanoi 2021. He has since moved up to the under-61kg class, which has now been abolished. Aniq, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics last year, will compete in the new under-60kg class from now on and expects the competition to be just as fierce. Aznil and Aniq did not compete at the 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games as they were focusing on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Malaysia won one gold at the Phnom Penh games through Nur Syazwani Radzi (women's under-64kg). "I think the countries which are usually strong at the Sea Games will continue to be just as good," said Aniq, a four-time world championship medallist. "However, with this change in weight class, there could be some new contenders. We just have to wait and see." Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan, who won gold in the Under-61kg division at Phnom Penh 2023 is again expected to be among the favourites. The 37-year-old is a four-time Olympic medallist. Thailand's Theerapong Silachai, who clinched silver at last year's Paris Olympics, is also expected to be among the favourites. Like Aniq, the 21-year-old is also a rising star in his country.
