Latest news with #Annuar
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
KDM set to name former principal to challenge GRS in Liawan
Peter (left) and Annuar. KENINGAU (Aug 13): Drawing on his experience as a former senior officer of the Sabah Education Department, principal and outstanding officer, the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) is poised to field a winnable candidate, Peter Paun, to contest in Liawan against the incumbent representative Datuk Anuar Ayub Aman from GRS in the upcoming state election (PRN). Backed by Datuk Chin Hon Shu, the KDM Keningau Division chief, Peter is regarded as one of the main challengers in the Liawan state constituency, which also includes the town centre of Keningau. Given the voting trends in Liawan, which now lean towards local parties without ties to national parties, Peter is confident that KDM has a chance to secure the Liawan seat this time. 'I am ready to compete under the KDM banner in the PRN arena, and I have also made preparations and initial plans to realise this mission. 'Likewise, the election machinery committee has been formed and is ready to take on responsibilities at any time,' he stated in his latest social media post. According to surveys, Peter is said to have strong backing from NGOs, the Chinese community, and former students to run for the state assembly (DUN). He has also demonstrated excellent service during his tenure as a teacher and has held the position of principal at several schools and senior officer at the State Education Department before retiring. Meanwhile, Peter mentioned that various issues have been raised by the residents of Liawan that he believes need attention. He noted that these include poorly maintained infrastructure, worsening traffic congestion, flooding issues and drainage maintenance problems. On his future plans, Peter is determined to implement various development programmes and plans to beautify the town of Keningau, particularly in the Liawan constituency, if given the mandate in the upcoming PRN. 'I also see the need to develop Keningau as a more vibrant commercial center in the interior, enhancing its economic activity and business opportunities,' he stated. Additionally, Peter aims to make the Liawan constituency the best in Sabah, setting an example for other constituencies in terms of development management and more efficient governance. He also hopes to establish the Liawan or Keningau constituency as a hub for agro-tourism, further promoting the one village, one product initiative.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Hold more interfaith gatherings to foster harmony — Dr Annuar
(From left) Dr Annuar being briefed by Manogaran on the newly-built Sri Mahariamman Temple. SIBU (Aug 11): Religious organisations should hold more interfaith gatherings to further strengthen harmony among people of different beliefs, said Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. The state Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development suggested that Sri Maha Mariamman Temple president Manogaran Krishnasamy host an interfaith Deevapali celebration involving about 500 people at the new temple at Jalan Orchid here. 'In Sarawak, religious harmony is well exemplified, particularly in Sibu along Jalan Awang Ramli Amit, where a church, a mosque, and Sikh and Hindu temples coexist, fostering mutual respect among people of various faiths,' said the Nangka assemblyman when met after presenting a Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. Adding on, Dr Annuar said such events would encourage people of different religions to visit the temple, enhance mutual understanding, and promote both racial and religious unity. He also noted that other places of worship, such as the Al-Qadim Mosque, had welcomed visitors from various faiths. Prior to the visit, Dr Annuar also presented an MRP grant to Gurdwara Sahib Sibu. Dr Annuar Rapaee inter-racial harmony interfaith gathering
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Sarawak's inaugural UP-DLP test set for 26,000 students
SIBU: Sarawak is set to conduct its first-ever Dual Language Programme Assessment Test (UP-DLP) for Year 6 students, with approximately 26,000 pupils scheduled to participate in the groundbreaking evaluation on October 15 and 16. State Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (pic) announced that the examination will be administered across 1,050 schools throughout the state, excluding Chinese primary schools (SJKC), with stringent measures in place to ensure assessment integrity. The comprehensive test will evaluate students in three fundamental subjects: Mathematics, Science, and English, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak's educational development initiatives. Dr Annuar emphasised the ministry's commitment to maintaining examination standards through professional administration, transparency, and building parental confidence in the assessment system. He made these remarks following a ceremony at SMK Agama Sibu where he distributed Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to 12 schools within his Nangka constituency. To guarantee quality and credibility, the examination papers have been developed locally with validation from Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUPA). This collaboration ensures the assessment meets international educational standards while remaining relevant to local curriculum requirements. Security protocols for the examination are exceptionally rigorous, with Dr Annuar describing the papers as 'highly confidential.' The printing process will occur outside Sarawak's borders, with three complete sets produced – including one backup edition to prevent potential disruptions. The marking system involves academic assessors from three prestigious universities: Swinburne University, University of Technology Sarawak, and Curtin University, which will handle evaluation for the southern, central, and northern regions respectively. Strict examination security measures include prohibiting markers from removing papers from assessment rooms, implementing school-specific paper tagging systems, secure storage in designated school safes, and police escort delivery to prevent information leaks. The grading framework follows the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) model, focusing on comprehensive performance evaluation rather than traditional grade distribution rankings. 'Pupils will not be graded by the number of A, B, or C results achieved. We only want to understand the overall performance of pupils and schools,' Dr Annuar explained, emphasizing the assessment's diagnostic rather than competitive nature. Unlike conventional examinations, the ministry will not publish rankings of top-performing schools. Instead, institutions will receive feedback indicating how many students achieved excellent results versus those requiring additional support, enabling targeted educational interventions. This approach allows the ministry to identify schools needing assistance and implement appropriate support mechanisms to improve educational outcomes across the state. High-achieving students may receive opportunities for placement at the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) based on their UP-DLP performance, providing pathways for academic advancement. Dr Annuar acknowledged potential implementation challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas where logistical difficulties may arise. With examinations commencing at 9am, teachers in interior locations may need to remain overnight at schools to ensure punctual administration. The inaugural UP-DLP assessment represents Sarawak's commitment to enhancing dual language education capabilities while maintaining international standards and supporting comprehensive student development across diverse educational environments.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
26,000 Year 6 pupils to sit for Sarawak's first UP-DLP test this October
Dr Annuar (centre) presents an MRP cheque to a recipient as others look on. SIBU (Aug 11): The inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test (UP-DLP) for Year 6 pupils, scheduled for Oct 15 and 16, will be carried out professionally to ensure integrity, transparency, and strengthen parents' confidence in the system, said Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. According to him, about 26,000 pupils from 1,050 schools statewide, excluding Chinese primary schools (SJKC), will sit for the test, which covers three core subjects: Mathematics, Science, and English. Dr Annuar said the test papers are developed locally and vetted by Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUPA) to ensure quality and credibility. 'We want to safeguard the integrity of the examination, and therefore the papers will be treated as highly confidential,' he said. Dr Annuar, also the Nangka assemblyman, told this to reporters after presenting the Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to 12 schools under the constituency, in a ceremony held at SMK Agama Sibu yesterday. He further highlighted that the examination papers will be printed outside Sarawak – with three sets prepared – one kept as standby. 'Marking will be carried out by assessors from Swinburne University, University of Technology Sarawak, and Curtin University, covering the southern, central, and northern region respectively.' 'Markers will not be allowed to bring the examination papers out of the examination room. 'Papers will be tagged for each school, stored in a secure school safe, and delivered under police escort to prevent leaks,' he said. The grading system will not follow the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) model, he added. 'Pupils will not be graded by the number of A, B, or C results achieved. In other words, we only want to know the overall performance of pupils and schools,' he explained. 'We will not announce the top-performing schools, but we will inform schools of how many pupils scored excellent results and how many performed below average. This, he noted, is to allow the ministry to identify and assist schools that need support. Outstanding pupils may be offered places at the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) based on their UP-DLP performance. Dr Annuar acknowledged there may be challenges during the first implementation, especially in rural areas. 'Examinations start at 9am, so teachers in the interior may need to spend the night at schools to ensure they can start on time.'
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
UTS enhances student safety with two new shuttle mini buses
(From fourth left) Dr Annuar, Khairuddin, Goh, Jimmy and others pose with the new mini bus. – Photo by Peter Boon SIBU (Aug 9): University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) remains committed to ensuring students' safety, as demonstrated by the introduction of two Co-star mini buses, each with 28 seats, for shuttle services. State Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said the vehicles were acquired by the state government to accommodate the university's growing student population of about 4,000. 'As you are all well aware, safety issues affecting students have been widely reported. Relying on Grab daily can also place financial strain on them. 'Many of our students live in residential areas near the campus. While we already have a large bus for student transportation, some roads in these neighbourhoods are too narrow for it to navigate. 'Therefore, the delivery of the two 28-seater Co-star mini buses is timely in ensuring students arrive at UTS promptly and safely for their lectures,' said Dr Annuar, who is also UTS chairman. He expressed hope that the university would arrange frequent shuttle services at scheduled times, allowing students to plan their travel conveniently. He was speaking after witnessing the symbolic handover of the two mini buses to UTS from Huong Seng Motor Trading Sdn Bhd at Jalan Ding Lik Kong here yesterday. He reiterated the state's assurance of providing a safe and conducive study environment for UTS students. 'We want to highlight that UTS is not only offering quality education but also prioritising student safety,' stressed the Nangka assemblyman. He also assured parents that UTS offers adequate facilities and strong academic support, noting that this initiative is part of the university's strategy to enhance its range of facilities and attract more students. Over the next few years, he said he would work closely with the university's management to prioritise infrastructure improvements, particularly the construction of a new hostel and the upgrading of food services through a better cafeteria. 'These aspects are crucial as we aim to prevent students from being burdened by accommodation or meals issues, which could hinder their studies,' he added. Meanwhile, Huong Seng Motor Trading Sdn Bhd managing director Kapitan Goh Kee Seng thanked UTS for its support and trust, adding that the delivery of the Co-star mini buses was the company's way of contributing to education.' Also present were UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abd Hamid and registrar Jimmy De Rozario. Dr Annuar Rapaee lead mini buses UTS
