Latest news with #Malay-language
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
MADANI debate academy to enhance student skills at SBPs nationwide
PUTRAJAYA: The Madani Debate Academy will be introduced progressively in all fully residential schools (SBP) across the country to strengthen students' language mastery and public speaking abilities. This initiative aims to prepare participants for future editions of the Prime Minister's Cup Debate Competition. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek emphasised that the academy is not just a training facility but also a platform to nurture students in presenting their ideas with confidence, maturity, and respect. 'This academy will focus on training, intellectual empowerment, and refining critical argumentation skills. Continuous practice will ensure students from all 72 SBPs gain equal access and opportunities,' she said. Fadhlina shared these details after attending the 50th Prime Minister's Cup Debate Finals. The event saw Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang retaining their title in the Malay-language category, while Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah, Putrajaya, triumphed over Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar in the English-language category. Winners from both categories received RM5,000 in cash, trophies, certificates, and iPads. - Bernama
AFP
5 days ago
- Business
- AFP
Hoax posts about Malaysian cash aid scheme misuse unrelated visuals
The purported news report by online news site Malaysiakini was shared on Facebook on July 19, 2025. "GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE OF RM50,000 FOR ANYONE WHO APPLIES," reads the Malay-language chyron on the report, which features footage of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at various events and a voiceover that repeats the claim about the subsidy. "Please check your eligibility and the application method," the voiceover says. Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on July 22, 2025, with a red X added by AFP Another version of the claim shared on July 11, 2025 includes a photo of people posing in an office with a mock cheque labelled "Disaster fund Turkey". Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on July 23, 2025, with a red X added by AFP Other posts on Facebook ask users to get in touch for further details about the purported subsidy. AFP reached out to one of the Facebook accounts and was given an order form asking for personal details, including full name and delivery address. Applicants are also told to prepare a copy of their national identity card and bank statement. Scam posts demanding users' personal information regularly circulate on social media in Malaysia. AFP has previously debunked accounts impersonating government schemes that garnered tens of thousands of followers. However, the government has not announced a 50,000 ringgit cash aid scheme. A spokesperson for the finance ministry told AFP the claim is false, and pointed to a list of all genuine government assistance announced under the 2025 budget instead (archived link). Misused visuals A combination of keyword and reverse image searches on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video led to a similar news clip published by Malaysiakini on its Instagram page on July 15, 2025 (archived link). The original report states Anwar would make a "big announcement" as a tribute to Malaysians (archived link). On July 23, he announced a host of measures to help citizens with cost of living issues, such as a 100 ringgit handout and lowered petrol prices (archived link). A Malaysiakini representative told AFP on July 22 that its logo had been misused. "This is definitely not our video. We have never edited any of our videos to promote government aid," the spokesperson said. The clip shared in the false posts has been altered, including font that does not match Malaysiakini's style and a pink chyron covering the original orange one that reads "Anwar to announce extraordinary tribute to citizens". Image Screenshot comparison between the fabricated clip (left) and a genuine Malaysiakini news video report (right) A separate reverse image search on Google found the photo of people posing with a mock cheque was first posted on the verified X account of the Ambassador of Turkey to Kuala Lumpur on March 3, 2023 (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the original post by the Ambassador of Turkey to Kuala Lumpur (right) The ambassador was thanking the Malaysian Aeon Foundation, a charitable organisation under the Aeon Group of Companies, for donating to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023. A similar photo of the event was also published on the Aeon Credit website (archived link).
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
$260k raised for vulnerable children, youth and families at charity golf event
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad during the tee-off at the BH-AMP Charity Golf and Dinner 2025 at Orchid Country Club on July 22. SINGAPORE - Over $260,000 has been raised to support vulnerable children, youth and families through a charity golf event and dinner on July 22 . The proceeds will support programmes by AMP Singapore , a non-profit organisation that serves the Muslim community, and the Singapore Children's Society . A portion of the funds will also be directed to book prizes for students pursuing communication, media or Malay studies in higher education. The charity event, organised by Malay-language daily Berita Harian and AMP Singapore, brought 96 golfers together at Orchid Country Club , where Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad launched the tee-off. Matching grants are expected to take total contributions from corporate and individual sponsors to $400,000 , surpassing the initial target of $300,000 , said SPH Media , which publishes BH, and AMP Singapore in a joint statement. With donations of $60,000 each , supermarket chain Sheng Siong Group and the Salleh Marican Foundation were the biggest donors at the event. Local bakery chain Bengawan Solo donated $20,000 , while construction firm AGSH Builders , travel agency Karva Travel Group and Maybank Singapore contributed $10,000 each. BH editor Nazry Mokhtar said the event reflects the newspaper's commitment to giving back to the community and standing by fellow Singaporeans during challenging times. He added that when the event was being planned, he was unsure if it would meet its fund-raising target, especially given the current tough economic climate. 'I am glad to say I was proven wrong. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and golfers, we have not only met - but surpassed - our goal,' said Mr Nazry. This is the first time BH has organised a charity golf event. It was held in conjunction with Singapore's 60th anniversary celebrations. AMP Singapore executive director Mohksin Rashid said his organisation's partnership with BH, along with the support of the event's donors, sponsors and golfers, is a reminder that collaboration across different segments of society can create lasting and positive change. Holding the event a day after Racial Harmony Day is deeply symbolic, said Singapore's former president Halimah Yacob , who was the guest of honour at the July 22 dinner . Madam Halimah added: 'This observance is a reminder of the strength we draw from our diversity. And tonight, we take it one step further - by turning harmony into action, and goodwill into tangible support for those who need it most.' Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad (middle, in purple), with Berita Harian editor Nazry Mokhtar (left of Mr Zaqy) and AMP Singapore executive director Mohksin Rashid (right of Mr Zaqy) alongside golfers who took part in the BH-AMP Charity Golf and Dinner 2025 at Orchid Country Club on July 22. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN Mr Zaqy said he was heartened to see how the community has come together to support those who are most vulnerable. 'By uplifting vulnerable families, supporting our children, and empowering youth through education, we are not only meeting today's needs - we are also shaping a brighter future for Singapore,' he said.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
‘Offer engaging news to draw youths'
PETALING JAYA: As younger generations scroll past headlines in favour of snappy social media updates, an academic has called on traditional news outlets to rethink how they could connect with youths. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Communication faculty member Dr Chai Ming Hock said youth around the world are increasingly turning to social media for news, often preferring bite-size content over lengthy, in-depth articles. 'Social media platforms, with their rapid speed and interactive features, have proven to be a more attractive option for the youth, who tend to have shorter attention spans,' he said. He pointed to the education system as a contributing factor to the dwindling interest in in-depth news consumption, partly blaming it for the current situation. 'Children are taught to accept information without asking many questions. The result is a generation that doesn't necessarily engage with news on a deeper level,' he noted. To bridge this gap, Chai suggested that traditional news outlets should not attempt to compete with social media on its own terms such as chasing after clickbaits or viral trends. Instead, the former journalist said mainstream media should focus on providing in-depth analyses and investigative journalism that go beyond the surface level of events. 'Why would I pay for information that I can easily get for free on social media? Traditional media should differentiate itself by offering quality commentary and exclusive reports on serious issues, such as the performance of elected representatives.' However, he acknowledged the youth's preference for social media and recommended that traditional media outlets leverage these platforms to engage with younger audiences. 'Use social media to highlight news stories that matter. By reaching young people, traditional media can maintain a connection and attract their attention.' Despite that, news outlets should not be focused on competing with social media's pace or sensationalism, he added. 'Social media is perfect for quick consumption but traditional media has the opportunity to go deeper, offering context and analyses that are simply not possible in short, bite-size content,' he said. Chai also pointed out that traditional media must drop its arrogance and make more effort to engage with its readers. He recounted his own experience with a journalist from an English-language newspaper, whose response to an inquiry was dismissive: 'I have no time to entertain someone like you'. In another instance, a local Malay-language newspaper used the incorrect spelling of 'George Town' and defended it as a matter of 'house style'. Chia said this illustrates a broader issue of arrogance in some parts of the media industry. 'When readers take the time to write in with their concerns or corrections, it's a sign that they care about the publication. Media must be open to feedback and respond constructively.' He added that traditional media should create more reader-engaging initiatives such as talk shows, podcasts and forums for interactive discussions, which could be used to gather insights and feedback from readers while offering solutions to pressing social issues. 'Media outlets also need to invest in their journalists and encourage them to produce exclusive, investigative pieces that offer valuable insights to the public. This is where traditional media can truly excel.' He said while social media may provide the speed and accessibility that younger readers crave, traditional media outlets can continue to attract and engage readers by offering comprehensive analyses, engaging content and, most importantly, a commitment to respecting and engaging with their audience. 'Ultimately, the key to surviving in the digital age is not about competing with social media. It's about offering something that social media can't – which is in-depth, trustworthy journalism.'
AFP
16-07-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Video of panic in Tel Aviv predates Iran-Israel war
"Scenes of Israeli illegal immigrants running to shelters," reads a Malay-language Facebook post on June 14, 2025. The video shows a large group of people gathered in a square rushing to disperse with rows of overturned plastic chairs seen in the middle of the crowd. Text superimposed on the clip reads: "Colonizers running for shelter in Israel." Image Screenshot of the false post taken July 9, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The clip was shared elsewhere on Facebook with similar claims. The video surfaced after Israel fired missiles at Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13, while Iran retaliated with a barrage of missiles (archived link). US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a truce that came into effect on June 24, which remains in place (archived link). Iranian officials said 1,060 people were killed in the country during the war, while Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures (archived link). But the circulating video was filmed in April, before the war. A reverse image search led to an Instagram post by an Israeli news channel on April 30 which said the clip showed people in Tel Aviv panicking over a "mistaken terror attack" (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the Instagram post by ILTV Israel News posted on April 30 "What began as a police arrest at Habima Square was mistaken for a terror attack, sending crowds fleeing in panic. 21 people were treated at Ichilov Hospital for shock and minor injuries. No shots were fired -- the incident was criminal, not terror-related," reads the post. A Google keyword search led to news reports on the incident which took place during Memorial Day event in Tel Aviv (archived link). According to the Times of Israel newspaper, the chaos broke out after a man was arrested on suspicion of trying to attack the police, but those gathered in the square mistook the incident as an unfolding security incident and started fleeing (archived link). AFP has debunked more misinformation related to the Iran-Israel conflict here.
