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Malaysiakini
4 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
DAP MP urges Putrajaya to rethink new EPF mechanism plan
PARLIAMENT | A Pakatan Harapan representative has urged Putrajaya to rethink its plan to introduce a new payout system for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Cha Kee Chin (Harapan-Rasah) said the idea being proposed under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has received strong pushback from the rakyat.
Malaysiakini
9 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
DAP MP urges Putrajaya to rethink new EPF mechanism plan
PARLIAMENT | A Pakatan Harapan representative has urged Putrajaya to rethink its plan to introduce a new payout system for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Cha Kee Chin (Harapan-Rasah) said the idea being proposed under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has received strong pushback from the rakyat.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
DVS may allow pork imports from Thailand, says govt
Malaysia banned imports of pork products from six countries in 2019 following the outbreak of African swine fever. (File pic) PETALING JAYA : The department of veterinary services is mulling lifting the ban on pork imports from Thailand to control the price of the meat which has surged since the African swine fever outbreak. Malaysia banned imports of pork products from six countries in 2019 following the outbreak. Apart from Thailand, the other exporting countries were China, Poland, Belgium, Vietnam and Cambodia. Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said the DVS had reassessed the African swine fever risk analysis and was considering allowing pork from Thailand to re-enter the Malaysian market. 'It is, however, contingent on the meat being audited and approved by the DVS and the need for imports,' he said in a written parliamentary reply. He was responding to Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah), who wanted to know the ministry's plans to bring pork prices under control, including allowing for pork to be imported temporarily from neighbouring countries. According to a Straits Times report in May, the price for a 1kg fresh pork belly in the Klang Valley was about RM40, a 33% increase from RM30 five years ago. The Star had also previously reported that a whole local pig is currently priced at about RM1,800 per 100kg, an increase from RM1,300-RM1,400 per 100kg a year ago. Prices surged after the swine fever outbreak impacted livestock numbers, with thousands of pigs culled in Selangor and Melaka, and the number of pig farms dropping by 25% in Penang. Apart from considering lifting the ban on pork imports from Thailand, Mohamad said the DVS had approved the import of pork from 130 abattoirs from nine countries to ensure sufficient supply. He said the department has also made it easier for Selangor to import live pigs from Sarawak to cater to the demand in West Malaysia.
Barnama
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Dewan Rakyat Passes Bill To Make Secondary Education Compulsory
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The national education system has entered a new chapter after the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at making secondary education compulsory, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat tonight. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, when winding up the debate on the bill, described the amendment to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) as a historic and crucial moment in human capital development through the national education system. 'Education is the birthright of every child, meaning every child is born with the right to receive education,' she said. Earlier, during the debate session, both government and opposition Members of Parliament expressed support for the amendment, describing it as an important reform of the national education system. Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) said the initiative represented a meaningful education reform in efforts to elevate the quality of education and human capital development in the country. He also congratulated the MADANI Government for the bold initiative and felt that the move should have been implemented earlier to ensure every child received proper education. 'It will enable human capital development to be elevated to a higher level than before, so that we are on par with other countries. Imagine if we only have six years of compulsory education — how can we become a developed country?' he said. Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) said making secondary education compulsory could break the cycle of poverty and strengthen critical thinking, while enhancing students' employability and communication skills to participate in the economy and society. Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) said the move was timely to build a knowledgeable and competitive generation with the values of human dignity or 'karamah insaniah' as enshrined in the National Education Philosophy.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Amendments to the Education Act passed, secondary school education now compulsory
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which expands the definition of 'compulsory education' under the 1996 Education Act to include secondary schooling. The amendment also introduces a new provision, Section 32A, empowering the Education Minister to designate secondary education as mandatory for all Malaysian children residing in the country. It states that parents are legally required to enrol their children in both primary and secondary institutions, unless officially exempted. Under the new Section 32A(4), parents who fail to do so may face a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both upon conviction. The amendment further outlines penalties for non-compliance and authorises the minister to make additional regulations related to enforcement and exemptions. It also revises provisions related to primary school registration, requiring parents to enrol children who have reached the age of six by Jan 1 of any given academic year. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told the Lower House on Wednesday (July 30) that the legislation aims to strengthen educational responsibility rather than introducing punitive measures. 'The spirit of this amendment is not about punishment, but about education - to ensure that no child falls behind. 'The government's priority is to foster a sense of responsibility among parents and guardians to ensure their children are enrolled in school, in line to uphold every child's right to education,' she said. She added that the ministry is also taking steps to improve awareness among communities and enhance support systems to address issues of dropout and absenteeism. During the debate earlier, Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) welcomed the amendment, calling it 'bold, progressive and long overdue.' However, he urged the government to clarify whether the law would apply to children of mixed-nationality parents, non-citizen children and those in private, Chinese independent or homeschool settings. In response, Fadhlina said homeschooling will be considered for exemption on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of each child. 'I'm open to exploring how we can ensure the justification, space and opportunity for these children without any form of discrimination,' she said. On enforcement, Cha proposed focusing on awareness and outreach rather than punishment. 'If enforced well, this could boost SPM participation rates and reduce dropout gaps between lower and upper secondary levels,' he added. Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) called on the Education Ministry to address the root causes of student dropouts before enforcing amendments to make secondary education compulsory. 'Many students leave school due to poverty, family problems or lack of interest in academics,' she said. Kok warned that penalising low-income parents is unjust and burdensome. She also questioned how the law would apply to homeschooled children, slow learners and those in private institutions. 'Reform should focus on curriculum and school improvements, not just legal punishment,' she said, adding that slow learners should be allowed to repeat a year to catch up. On concerns about poverty, Fadhlina Sidek stressed that the ministry had taken the matter into account and would prioritise support over punishment. 'Punitive measures are not the core of this bill - our focus is on providing assistance, including 18 forms of aid such as scholarships and school-related support like uniforms, to ensure children remain in school,' she said. Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) called for clarity on how the amendment will affect students in unregistered private institutions, including pondok and tahfiz schools. 'Will these students automatically be exempted under Section 32A(3), or must parents apply individually?' he asked, referring to a provision that allows the minister to exempt any pupil or group of pupils from compulsory education, either fully or conditionally, by gazetting an official order. On this, Fadhlina said all registered private institutions, including religious schools, are subject to the provisions of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025. 'We are engaging with unregistered institutions to encourage them to register so we can implement a standard curriculum and address issues like bullying - if they remain unregistered, the legal responsibility will fall on parents, and that's a concern we're working to resolve,' she said.
