Latest news with #FederalTerritoriesDepartment
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Education gap widening due to economic pressures
PUTRAJAYA: The gap between students with access to education and those left behind is expanding amid economic pressures, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. She pointed to socio-economic challenges, particularly among low-income (B40) families, that have forced many students to sacrifice study time to support their families financially. 'In today's rapidly changing world, the education gap is widening. We must implement and sustain targeted interventions that address the root causes,' she told reporters after launching the 2025 Putrajaya Tuition Mission programme here today. Dr Zaliha raised concerns over the more than 10,000 students absent from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2023, many due to financial strain at home. 'Some students have been forced to work as food delivery riders after school to cover their families' daily expenses, which impacts their ability to prepare for exams,' she said. Dr Zaliha emphasised that the issue is not a lack of desire to learn, but that students with potential are hindered by life's hardships. 'These realities cannot be ignored and a clear link between poverty and school dropout rates is evident,' she added. Earlier, the minister launched the initiative under the Usaha Jaya Insan Programme (PUJI), which aims to reduce student dropouts with a RM120,000 fund for learning materials, seminars, motivational sessions and tuition for 100 selected Putrajaya students. Describing the programme as a long-term investment, Dr Zaliha said it would help break the cycle of social and economic hardship and believes it should be expanded to reach more needy children. As a result, Dr Zaliha has instructed the Federal Territories Department to work with the Education Ministry to explore extending the initiative to Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Dr Zaliha: Education gap widens amid economic hardship
PUTRAJAYA: The gap between students with access to education and those left behind is expanding amid economic pressures, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. She pointed to socio-economic challenges, particularly among low-income (B40) families, that have forced many students to sacrifice study time to support their families financially. 'In today's rapidly changing world, the education gap is widening. We must implement and sustain targeted interventions that address the root causes,' she told reporters after launching the 2025 Putrajaya Tuition Mission programme here today. Dr Zaliha raised concerns over the more than 10,000 students absent from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2023, many due to financial strain at home. 'Some students have been forced to work as food delivery riders after school to cover their families' daily expenses, which impacts their ability to prepare for exams,' she said. Dr Zaliha emphasised that the issue is not a lack of desire to learn, but that students with potential are hindered by life's hardships. 'These realities cannot be ignored and a clear link between poverty and school dropout rates is evident,' she added. Earlier, the minister launched the initiative under the Usaha Jaya Insan Programme (PUJI), which aims to reduce student dropouts with a RM120,000 fund for learning materials, seminars, motivational sessions and tuition for 100 selected Putrajaya students. Describing the programme as a long-term investment, Dr Zaliha said it would help break the cycle of social and economic hardship and believes it should be expanded to reach more needy children. As a result, Dr Zaliha has instructed the Federal Territories Department to work with the Education Ministry to explore extending the initiative to Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Affordable home launch positive step to uplift lives
KUALA LUMPUR: The long-delayed Residensi Kecapi project yesterday launched 250 low-cost units priced at RM42,000 each, marking a significant step in providing affordable housing for the urban poor. The launch was officiated by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa through an initiative led by Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (SRSB), a subsidiary of YTL Land and Development, in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur City Hall. The completed project forms part of the larger Sentul Urban Renewal Master Plan aimed at reversing urban decay and uplifting the standard of living for low-income communities. 'The launch of Residensi Kecapi in Sentul West marks the completion of a project that had remained stalled for nearly 10 years. This is not just about building homes or launching a programme, it is about restoring dignity, creating opportunity and delivering hope. 'What we see here today is a powerful example of what can be achieved when the government and private sector come together to uplift lives. This is the true spirit of Malaysia Madani,' Zaliha added. She said ensuring access to quality housing, especially for lower-income families, is a key part of the national agenda, and lays the foundation for stronger and stable communities. 'I've personally viewed one of the units, which is about 650sq ft and is equipped with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which I believe offers a comfortable living space with public facilities to support residents' daily needs. 'Of the 250 units built, 135 have been offered to local residents, and so far, 27 agreements have been signed by prospective occupants.' Zaliha said the initiative ensures that low-income families have access to safe, quality housing in the rejuvenated Sentul area. She also highlighted that the project supports the government's National Housing Policy by providing affordable homes for deserving families in Sentul. 'What I truly appreciate is the commitment to ensuring that the selection and verification process is conducted transparently and thoroughly. 'A special audit team from the Federal Territories Department, the City Hall and SRSB went to the ground to verify the rights of the original landowners and their heirs. 'This is a commendable example of fair and humane governance, the kind of approach that should be at the core of any urban redevelopment. Ultimately, development should never come at the expense of the people,' she said. Simultaneously, a community development programme was also held in collaboration with UCSI University, targeting the development of children from the People's Housing Project communities. Zaliha said the programme aligns with the Usaha Jaya Insan initiative under the Federal Territories Department, which aims to eradicate urban poverty. She also announced the Bintang Cemerlang 2.0 education enrichment programme as part of ongoing efforts to support academic growth and holistic development among children in Sentul's B40 communities. 'As a major developer in Sentul, SRSB introduced the Bintang Cemerlang programme to support local communities by providing education enrichment opportunities for schoolchildren in the neighbourhood. 'I understand that this programme has now been expanded to include students who fell behind due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a strong focus on rebuilding foundational literacy and numeracy or 3Ms (reading, writing, and arithmetic).' Zaliha said the initiative will benefit 23 primary schools in the Sentul area and build on the legacy of the original programme, which has reached over 107,500 individuals since 2008 and garnered multiple awards for its impact on student learning and well-being. She said the programme also offers training opportunities for teachers to enhance their capacity to support student development.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Delayed Residensi Kecapi project completed after decade
KUALA LUMPUR: The long-delayed Residensi Kecapi redevelopment project in Sentul, stalled for nearly a decade due to various challenges, has now been fully completed and will benefit its original residents who have long awaited a fair resolution. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said 136 original owners and eligible heirs can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief as they will receive their residential units at RM42,000 each - far below the current market price of RM200,000 per unit. 'This is proof that the government always prioritises the people's interests, especially the low-income group. More importantly, it reflects our commitment to transparency and justice. 'A special audit team involving the Federal Territories Department (JWP), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and the developer conducted on-site verifications to validate the status of original owners and rightful heirs,' she said in a Facebook post today, after officiating the completion of the project this morning. Also at this morning's event, she launched the Bintang Cemerlang 2.0 Programme, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by YTL and UCSI University, aimed at helping pandemic-affected students - particularly in recovering basic literacy and numeracy skills - across 23 primary schools near the People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sentul. Dr Zaliha said the effort aligns with the Ilmu @ PUJI initiative in the Federal Territories, which ensures no community is left behind in accessing quality education, and welcomed greater industry participation to contribute towards high-impact social programmes for a more inclusive society. 'Developing this city is not solely the government's duty but a shared responsibility among all stakeholders. We are not building this city for people to live in, but fostering unity and appreciation for every layer of society. 'We plan the future not for a select few but for all in need. This is the true MADANI spirit we champion,' she added.
Barnama
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
FT Department Selects Kampung Jerantut Feri As Madani Adopted Village
KUANTAN, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territories Department has selected Kampung Jerantut Feri in Jerantut as its MADANI adopted village. In a statement today, the department said the selection builds on the Santuni MADANI programme that was carried out in the village last year, to benefit approximately 4,000 residents in the area. "Last year, we installed solar lights, repainted the mosque fence, provided school supplies for more than 120 children from Tadika Perpaduan and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pedah, as well as distributed fish fry to 13 patin fish farmers," the statement read. It noted that despite several upgrades, the village needs further road maintenance and upgrades, repairs to the community hall, installation of street lights as well as a new multipurpose hall, futsal court and playground. "The Village Development and Security Committee has helped identify locations for upgrading, repairs and maintenance of existing public facilities to allow works to proceed promptly," it said. The department added that the MADANI Adopted Village engagement session held today marked a proactive step by the MADANI Government to drive holistic and continuous rural development. "The MADANI Adopted Village programme aims to strengthen the socio-economic aspects of rural communities, bringing inclusive, holistic, and long-term development," read the statement. -- BERNAMA
