Latest news with #JUNE
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is education like bomb disposal or like cooking?
JUNE 16 — I apologise for the weird headline but I think it's an important question. I've been working for more than 25 years in the education sector. I've seen the stress, the pain, the 'obsessions' and not least the pressures that parents place on students and students place on themselves. I've had parents sit with their daughter in front of me during Parent-Teacher Day and basically court-marshal the poor girl for not doing better than a C in Geography. I've heard stories from counsellors (and sometimes even HR) about the depression, the self-harm and the breakdowns. Hence my original question (posed to parents mainly): How do you view education? Is it a life-or-death matter? Is it as critical as disarming a bomb placed in some mall and figuring out which wire to cut, the red or blue one, where one wrong move can lead to disaster? What if we treated schooling the way an open-hearted chef viewed his kitchen i.e. as a place where experimentation reigns, where various recipes and concoctions may be tried and tested, where success need not be narrowly defined and can, in fact, be a matter of 'taste' and individual desire? — Picture from Do we view education as analogous to performing heart surgery where we need to monitor practically every little step our child takes, where we need to ensure that every subject he's taking produces a Distinction, lest the whole world collapses and our families are branded as societal failures? Because if we do so — and I suspect many Asian families do — then it perfectly explains the amount of burdens, stresses and pressures we as parents and educators place on our children and young people. Seeing formal education and examinations as Do-Or-Die or as some Mission Impossible quest through some booby-trapped maze would totally explain why we 'hover' over our children with their studies, why we place such heavy (even impossible) academic demands on them, why they would end up believing that anything less than all-pervasive excellence equates to failure. And why many of them break. Is there a better way? What if our paradigm of education — instead of approximating something like missile-interception or a brain operation — took the form of, say, cooking? What if we saw education as a rich practice where creativity can flourish and multiple outcomes may be accepted? What if we treated schooling the way an open-hearted chef viewed his kitchen i.e. as a place where experimentation reigns, where various recipes and concoctions may be tried and tested, where success need not be narrowly defined and can, in fact, be a matter of 'taste' and individual desire? What if we treated learning like travel? Where the journey is at least as important as the destination? Where difference and variety are concepts and practices to be celebrated and enjoyed, where 'competitiveness' is rejected as false and unhealthy? If we can be courageous enough to try, then maybe fewer students will hate schooling. Maybe fewer will feel like they're being shoved into prison every day. Maybe fewer will feel like losers because we'd all realise that not achieving a high score in Biology is about as normal as not being able to play top-class tennis (that is to say, not at all a matter of failure, disgrace or about being a social outcast). And schooling and learning can finally be a matter of enjoyment and fun. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
Malay Mail
16-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Is education like bomb disposal or like cooking?
JUNE 16 — I apologise for the weird headline but I think it's an important question. I've been working for more than 25 years in the education sector. I've seen the stress, the pain, the 'obsessions' and not least the pressures that parents place on students and students place on themselves. I've had parents sit with their daughter in front of me during Parent-Teacher Day and basically court-marshal the poor girl for not doing better than a C in Geography. I've heard stories from counsellors (and sometimes even HR) about the depression, the self-harm and the breakdowns. Hence my original question (posed to parents mainly): How do you view education? Is it a life-or-death matter? Is it as critical as disarming a bomb placed in some mall and figuring out which wire to cut, the red or blue one, where one wrong move can lead to disaster? What if we treated schooling the way an open-hearted chef viewed his kitchen i.e. as a place where experimentation reigns, where various recipes and concoctions may be tried and tested, where success need not be narrowly defined and can, in fact, be a matter of 'taste' and individual desire? — Picture from Do we view education as analogous to performing heart surgery where we need to monitor practically every little step our child takes, where we need to ensure that every subject he's taking produces a Distinction, lest the whole world collapses and our families are branded as societal failures? Because if we do so — and I suspect many Asian families do — then it perfectly explains the amount of burdens, stresses and pressures we as parents and educators place on our children and young people. Seeing formal education and examinations as Do-Or-Die or as some Mission Impossible quest through some booby-trapped maze would totally explain why we 'hover' over our children with their studies, why we place such heavy (even impossible) academic demands on them, why they would end up believing that anything less than all-pervasive excellence equates to failure. And why many of them break. Is there a better way? What if our paradigm of education — instead of approximating something like missile-interception or a brain operation — took the form of, say, cooking? What if we saw education as a rich practice where creativity can flourish and multiple outcomes may be accepted? What if we treated schooling the way an open-hearted chef viewed his kitchen i.e. as a place where experimentation reigns, where various recipes and concoctions may be tried and tested, where success need not be narrowly defined and can, in fact, be a matter of 'taste' and individual desire? What if we treated learning like travel? Where the journey is at least as important as the destination? Where difference and variety are concepts and practices to be celebrated and enjoyed, where 'competitiveness' is rejected as false and unhealthy? If we can be courageous enough to try, then maybe fewer students will hate schooling. Maybe fewer will feel like they're being shoved into prison every day. Maybe fewer will feel like losers because we'd all realise that not achieving a high score in Biology is about as normal as not being able to play top-class tennis (that is to say, not at all a matter of failure, disgrace or about being a social outcast). And schooling and learning can finally be a matter of enjoyment and fun. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
ESG reporting is a slow climb — Jeya Santhini Appannan, Suhaily Shahimi
JUNE 9 — Public-listed companies are now required to include sustainability statements in their annual reports. This means they must share how they're handling risks and opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. While these reports are mandatory, there's no one-size-fits-all template for how companies should report their ESG efforts. A company doing well on environmental goals might not be performing as strongly in social areas, and that's fine. Each company needs to set its own priorities based on its business. Non-financial reporting namely CSR, ESG, Integrated, Biodiversity reports etc. has grown significantly and contributes to the nation's economic development. Though not profit-driven, these reports can indirectly enhance returns on investment. As a result, more companies are now publishing standalone sustainability reports to showcase their initiatives. Still, many businesses are holding back. Due to limited understanding of ESG payoff over the time, many business players remain hesitant. Yet globally, ESG reporting is gaining ground. Investors expect companies to be open and honest about how they handle environmental and social challenges. But in practice, most ESG reports still lean heavily on environmental issues especially in high impact industries like oil, gas, steel etc, where the environmental scrutiny is more intense. Sustainability reporting is on the rise, driven partly by mandatory requirements in some regions. However, many companies limit their reports to legally required material issues, often providing a narrow view of their overall performance in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) areas. This leaves stakeholders with an incomplete picture of how well a company is managing its broader sustainability commitments, said Shaogi Chuah, a sustainability consultant. Disclosures on the social side are advancing at a slower pace. Issues around human resources, employment practices, and workplace culture have come under the spotlight. The 'S' pillar is becoming a key way to measure a company's values and internal culture, though there's still room for growth. The recent allegations of forced labour practices involving Malaysian glove manufacturers have intensified scrutiny on the 'S' in ESG, highlighting the urgency for stronger social disclosures and ethical labour practices within corporate sustainability frameworks. In March 2025, the Malaysian glove manufacturer YTY Group announced an investigation into its supplier, Mediceram, following claims of chronic forced labour practices affecting nearly 200 Bangladeshi migrant workers, including wage fraud, passport retention, and terrible housing circumstances. Shaogi added that this situation highlights the complexity of social sustainability. While child labour is universally discouraged, understanding its root causes such as poverty and limited access to education is essential to craft solutions that balances economic necessity with ethical standards. Such nuanced challenges require companies and policymakers to adopt a more inclusive approach to social reporting, considering both the immediate and systemic factors at play. Despite these hurdles, advancements in social sustainability reporting are fostering better practices. Transparency in workplace standards and community engagement efforts is increasingly seen as a competitive advantage, influencing consumer choices and investor confidence. Research shows that companies do better in ESG efforts and overall performance when their board of directors have more independent members. More independent voices mean more oversight, accountability, and pressure on management to do the right thing, not just in the short term, but for long-term growth. This aligns perfectly with the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG 2021), which encourages a more inclusive composition of board members. One of the notable updates is the use of a two-tier voting process when reappointing independent directors who have served for more than nine years. This approach helps ensure that long-serving directors continue to bring independent and unbiased judgment to the board. The MCCG 2021 also discourages the appointment of active politicians as board members, supporting a more neutral and professional governance structure in line with global best practices. According to the SC Corporate Governance Monitor 2024, as of October 1, 2024, 67 per cent of public listed companies (PLCs) have at least 50 per cent independent non-executive directors. This represents 673 companies, an increase from 659 companies in 2022. Having independent directors means the board can make decisions without external interference. This independence helps ensure the company remains fair, transparent, and focused on its long-term goals. However, it's important to note that board independence alone is not a panacea; businesses also need strong internal governance and risk management to effectively execute ESG strategies and boost financial returns. * Dr Jeya Santhini Appannan and Dr Suhaily Shahimi are Senior Lecturers at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya. They may be reached at [email protected] and [email protected] * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
08-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Is a trustless society the future? — Noor Ismawati Jaafar
JUNE 8 — In today's fast-moving world, a strange new term is now making waves: 'trustless society'. At first glance, it sounds like a dystopian nightmare which refers to a world where no one trusts anyone. But the truth is more complicated and, in some ways, already a part of our lives. A trustless society doesn't mean people are more dishonest. In fact, it means we are beginning to depend on systems and technology that don't require trust at all. Instead of trusting each other, we trust machines, apps, and coded rules to keep everything fair and square. Trustless doesn't mean untrustworthy In traditional societies, trust is a key part of peoples' lives. We trust our neighbours, our teachers, and our communities. Trust makes us feel safe, belong and connected. But as the world becomes more digitalised and automated, many of our interactions no longer depend on trust between people. We depend so much on machines and computers. And that's where trustless systems come in. These systems are designed so that transactions and interactions can happen without personal trust. They rely on clear rules, automatic processes, and transparent data. You don't have to worry whether the other person is honest because the system will take care of everything. It sounds great and convincing right? And believe it or not, we're already surrounded by trustless systems. Here are just a few examples: Online shopping: We don't personally know the sellers, but we rely on platforms like Shopee or Lazada, backed by secure payment systems, buyer protection policies, and customer reviews. Ride-hailing apps: You don't know your driver, and they don't know you — but both parties trust the app (like Grab) to handle the process fairly and safely. Cryptocurrency & blockchain: Bitcoin and other digital currencies are based on blockchain technology. This system records every transaction in a public ledger, making it nearly impossible to cheat or change the data. All of these examples remove the need for personal trust and replace it with system reliability. In Malaysia, we're also seeing signs of a shift toward a trustless society, especially with the rise of cashless payments, e-wallets and digital public services. — Picture by Hari Anggara The good and the bad There are some major benefits to this new way of doing things: Less room for corruption: Automated systems follow rules strictly. They don't play favourites or accept bribes. Faster processes: Trustless systems remove delays caused by paperwork, middlemen, or negotiations. Global reach: You can do business with someone across the world without ever meeting them because the system handles everything. This kind of efficiency has huge value in a fast-paced, global economy. But as we rely more on trustless systems, there's a danger of losing something important: human connection. In a fully trustless society, people become more like users than neighbours. Instead of building relationships, we build profiles. Instead of offering a handshake, we scan a QR code. Everything becomes about the transaction not the trust behind it. And while machines and computers may be fair and fast, they can't be understanding or forgiving. A system can't show empathy if you miss a payment. It can't recognise good intentions when a mistake happens. It follows rules, nothing more. In some cases, this can lead to cold and rigid outcomes, especially for people in difficult situations. Malaysia's cashless and digital governance In Malaysia, we're also seeing signs of a shift toward a trustless society, especially with the rise of cashless payments, e-wallets, and digital public services. For example, apps like Touch 'n Go eWallet, GrabPay, and Boost have made it easy for people to buy groceries, pay bills, ride public transport, and even donate to charity, without carrying a single ringgit in their pockets. You don't need to trust the hawker stall uncle or the parking attendant you just scan the QR code, and the system handles the rest. Similarly, the MySejahtera app during the Covid-19 pandemic was a clear example of digital governance. It allowed the government to trace contacts, manage vaccine appointments, and monitor health status through automation, minimising the need for face-to-face checks or personal trust in reporting. Even JPJ's MySikap system and KWSP's i-Akaun now allow Malaysians to manage road tax, EPF contributions, and withdrawals online, reducing human involvement and relying instead on automated rules and systems. These tools increase efficiency and transparency, but they also raise questions about privacy, data security, and whether we are trading away human interaction for convenience. It's a powerful reminder that while technology helps us do more, it shouldn't replace the values that hold our society together. Let's be clear: there's nothing inherently wrong with using systems that help us avoid fraud, speed things up, or simplify life. But we must also ask: At what cost? If we depend too much on systems, we may lose the skills and values that come from personal trust: patience, forgiveness, loyalty, and kindness. These are things that no app or algorithm can replace. For example, a community that helps each other during hard times isn't built by rules, it's built by people who care and trust one another. The way forward for us The key isn't to reject technology or trustless systems but to balance them with the human side of society. We can use trustless systems for what they do best: securing transactions, protecting data, enforcing fairness. But we should also invest in relationships, build strong communities, and teach values like honesty and empathy. A world run by code may be efficient, but a world run by compassion is what truly makes life worth living. As we move toward a more digital future, the idea of a trustless society will continue to grow. But we shouldn't let technology replace the human heart of our communities. After all, no system, no matter how smart can hug a child, help a friend, or offer a second chance. Let's build a future where trustless systems support us but where real trust still brings us together. * Prof. Dr. Noor Ismawati Jaafar is a Professor in Information Systems at the Department of Decision Science, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, and 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.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Junee Limited to rebrand as SuperX AI Technology
Junee Limited (JUNE) has approved proposals to change the company's name to SuperX AI Technology Limited and shift its principal business focus towards becoming a one-stop AI infrastructure solutions provider. The company expects the name change to take effect on June 2. The shift in the company's principal business will take effect on June 2. In conjunction with the change of the company's name, the Company expects to begin trading under the new ticker symbol 'SUPX' on June 2. The new corporate website is now live at The name change and ticker symbol update are subject to regulatory approval and will take effect following the completion of the necessary filings. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on JUNE: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Junee Limited Completes Acquisition of MindEnergy AI Junee Limited Reports Significant Revenue Decline Amid Hong Kong Recession Junee Limited Appoints New Accounting Firm KD & Co. Junee Limited Completes Acquisition of MindEnergy AI Technology Junee Limited Raises Over $22 Million Through Private Placement Sign in to access your portfolio
