Latest news with #MalaysianChinese
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Pledge on Chinese education
Published on: Friday, May 30, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 30, 2025 Text Size: Clement and Simon. Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu Foochow Association reaffirmed its dedication to advancing Chinese education while expanding its community service mission. Its President Simon Ting Ching Sing said independent Chinese high schools serve as the cultural backbone of Malaysia's Chinese community and deserve widespread societal support. He said this during a donation ceremony here Thursday where he led a delegation of committee members and senior advisors to present RM35, 000 to Kian Kok Middle School. The funds will establish the school's pioneering Electric Vehicle (EV) Fundamentals course, designed to equip students with cutting-edge automotive technology skills. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Simon said the association's evolving role in supporting education is beyond its traditional community service mandate. 'Independent Chinese high schools are not only the cultural lifeblood of the Malaysian Chinese community but also a source of pride and admiration among overseas Chinese,' he said. Advertisement 'These schools uphold mother tongue education while actively promoting Chinese cultural activities, making them worthy of continued support from all sectors of society,' he added. The new course will introduce students to electric vehicle technology through hands-on learning, including component disassembly and reassembly exercises, preparing them for the rapidly evolving automotive industry. Kian Kok Middle School's Board Chairman, Datuk Clement Yeh Chang, welcomed the donation as validation of the school's educational direction and a significant boost for secondary-level technological education. He described the global shift toward electric vehicles as an irreversible trend, citing Tesla's technological leadership, worldwide bans on fuel-powered vehicles and Southeast Asia's expanding EV infrastructure as evidence of a fundamental transformation in transportation and energy sectors. 'As the world moves toward green sustainability and intelligent transportation, the rise of electric vehicles has become an irreversible trend,' said Clement. 'We are witnessing a profound transformation in transportation and energy industries,' he added. The donation will fund curriculum development, experimental equipment, model kits and teacher training to establish a comprehensive teaching framework for the EV Fundamentals course, which represents a cornerstone of the school's science and technology education expansion. Clement characterised the contribution as more than financial support, describing it as spiritual encouragement that symbolises collaborative partnership between educational institutions and community organizations working toward shared objectives. He pledged that Kian Kok Middle School would maximise the funding's impact to broaden students' technological perspectives and develop future professionals with practical skills and global competitiveness, while expressing gratitude for Simon's strong advocacy. Following the ceremony, Vice Chairman Edvin Koh guided the Foochow Association delegation through the school's culinary arts training facilities, showcasing current programme developments and equipment in what officials described as warm and meaningful exchanges. The school community expressed appreciation for the Kota Kinabalu Foochow Association's generous support and reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing well-rounded students who will contribute meaningfully to society. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New Malaysian billionaire set to emerge from dollar store chain Eco-Shop's IPO
Eco-Shop Marketing is on track to complete its initial public offering in Kuala Lumpur on May 23 – the country's biggest in 2025. PHOTO: KUALA LUMPUR - A discount chain with signature red storefronts has drawn legions of Malaysians looking for good deals – and made its founder a billionaire. Eco-Shop Marketing, which operates more than 350 dollar stores across Malaysia, is on track to complete its initial public offering in Kuala Lumpur on May 23 – the country's biggest in 2025. The listing will value the company at about US$1.5 billion (S$1.9 billion), meaning its founder and controlling shareholder, Lee Kar Whatt, will end up with a US$1.15 billion stake, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Eco-Shop's growth over the last two fiscal years, with revenue increasing more than 50 per cent, reflects the demand for cheap everyday goods at a time of rising inflation, said Ng Zhu Hann, founder and chief executive officer of Tradeview Capital, a fund manager in Kuala Lumpur. 'Fixed-price retailers became a first choice,' Mr Ng, referring to the RM2.60 price tag on all products in Eco-Shop stores in peninsular Malaysia. Mr Lee, who's 51, will remain in charge. He declined to be interviewed. He opened the chain's first store in 2003 with his brother and a pair of other people. He still works out of the company's headquarters in Jementah – a small town that's a three-hour drive south-east of Kuala Lumpur. Even before Eco-Shop grew into a nationwide chain, Mr Lee was well-known in the Malaysian Chinese business community for his charitable engagements, Mr Ng said. In 2023, Mr Lee was captured on a rare photo handing a RM1 million cheque to the Turkish ambassador to Malaysia, meant for the victims of the earthquakes that devastated parts of southern Turkey. Creador Sdn., a private equity firm, took a 10 per cent stake in the company in 2019, at which point it had more than 100 stores. But Eco-Shop faces competition from established rivals, like Mr DIY Group, as well as smaller upstarts run by entrepreneurs from mainland China, Mr Ng said. 'We feel the market in Malaysia is quite saturated' and the company's 'upside is capped,' he said. Tradeview declined to buy Eco-Shop shares as part of the offering. For its part, Eco-Shop says in its prospectus that there's significant room to grow. It plans to open approximately 70 new stores annually for the next five years. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Borneo Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Sarawak dragon boat team win Sabah Head of State Trophy
Phoong (sixth left, back) presenting the Sabah Head of State Trophy to N82 Bukit Sari Lawas of Sarawak. KOTA KINABALU (May 18): N82 Bukit Sari Lawas of Sarawak paddled their way to the Sabah Head of State Trophy in the 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race in Likas Bay here on Sunday. This was the first time N82 Bukit Sari Lawas won the main title in the annual race organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS). Bukit Sari Lawas won in a record time of 3:38.55s to edge seven other finalists in the 800m race. Lautan Biru SLDB Dragon Boat Team Tuaran finished second in 3:41.66s while Jetama Entulon Family DBT third in 3:42.58s. Bahtiar Sajeli, the team manager of N82 Bukit Sari Lawas, was a mirror of happiness when met after the prize presentation by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe. 'We were quite confident going into the final race based on our performance in the heat. 'We finished second (in the heat) but we did well considering the time we achieved. 'So, we went back and conducted a post mortem to identify and rectify our weaknesses as well as to plan our strategy. 'It went well and we are very happy to have won the TYT Trophy,' he said. Bahtiar went on to say that the team, which finished second in the Sabah Chief Minister Trophy last year, underwent a one-month training after the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri to prepare for the FCAS race. 'Our focus next is the inaugural Lawas International Dragon Boat and Cultural Festival from May 22-25,' added Bahtiar. Ten other finals also took place on Sunday which saw Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) emerge winners in three of the categories. KKCCCI teams won in the FCAS Trophy for HZ & Local Kota Kinabalu FCAS Member Mixed Team (minimum eight women) category, FCAS Trophy for Malaysian Chinese Mixed Team (minimum eight women) and FCAS Trophy for Malaysian Chinese Men's Team event. The rest of the winning teams were Jetama Entulon Family Senior in the Sabah Chief Minister Trophy; RMP Paddlers (Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy for International & Malaysian Mixed Team); Sibling Performance Team (Kinabalu Junior Trophy for local junior 15-20 years old teams; PS Dragon Boat Team (Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Men's Team Open); Dragon Boat Club CUHK (Kinabalu Trophy Mixed Team Open); Karapaw (Kinabalu Phoenix Trophy Women's Team); and PNK Master Dragon Boat (Kinabalu Master Trophy International & Malaysian Men's Team). The top three teams also received prize money – in the Sabah Head of State Trophy RM10,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000; Sabah Chief Minister's Trophy and Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy (RM8,000, RM4,000, RM2,000); and the rest of the categories RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000. Meanwhile, FCAS president Tan Sri TC Goh said despite heavy rain midway into the final day on Sunday, the races went well without any untoward incidents. 'The Sabah FCAS dragon boat race took place successfully and well done to all including the participants who have helped made it happened,' he told reporters. The event this year saw new high of 75 registered teams, including from Singapore, Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam. Overall 141 teams comprising 988 paddlers were involved in the 11 categories contested. All the winning teams also set new records in their respective category, said Goh. 'Hopefully next year there will be more teams, including international entries, for the dragon boat race. 'We have set May 15-17 for next year's race and it also coincides with the Harvest Festival month. 'So, hopefully the participants will not only come here to compete but to visit and tour around,' said Goh. Earlier, Phoong who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, led in the symbolic opening of the final day race and presenting the prizes to the top three winning teams. FCAS deputy president-cum-organising chairperson Datuk Susan Wong and invited guests including Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah were also present Full Results Sabah Head of State Trophy N82 Bukit Sari Lawas 3:38.55s Lautan Biru SLDB Tuaran 3:41.66s Jetama Entulon Family DBT 3:42.58s Sabah Chief Minister Trophy Jetama Entulon Family Senior 3:41.09s Landas Kasihnya Warisan 3:41.67s Sri Sundar 3:42.11s Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy RMP Paddlers 3:54.97s DBKL 3:58.43s Sabah River Raptors ITCC 3:59.51s FCAS Trophy (HZ & Local KK FCAS Member Mixed Team) KKCCCI 3:53.61s KK Hakka DBT 3:56.23s MACMA – Mushu 4:13.27s FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Mixed Team) KKCCCI 3:53.83s Kuching Dragon Boat Club 3:57.80s KK Hakka DBT 3:58.47s FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Men's Team) KKCCCI 3:48.14s Kuching Dragon Boat Club 3:57.11s KK Hakka DBT 3:58.79s Kinabalu Junior Trophy Sibling Performance Team 3:45.46s Lentuong Junior SLDB Team 3:46.14s Jetama Entulon Family Junior 3:46.72s Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (Local Junior Boys) PS Dragon Boat Team 61.47s Sri Sundar 61.73s Dragon Boat Labuk Beluran 62.27s Kinabalu Mixed Trophy Dragon Boat Club CUHK 61.05s DBKL 63.21s Sabah River Raptors ITCC 63.35s Kinabalu Phoenix Trophy Karapaw 66.48s KKCCCI 67.14s Kuching Dragon Boat Club 68.14s Kinabalu Master Trophy PNK Master Dragon Boat 59.90s DBKL 60.59s Lela Cheteria 61.59s
Borneo Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
When breakfast becomes a burden
Once a humble RM4 per bowl, now a breakfast luxury. Minced meat noodles with egg – comfort in a bowl, but with each price hike, the warmth gets a little harder to afford. FOR generations of Malaysians, our daily rhythm looks something like this: roti canai in the morning, nasi lemak for lunch, satay for dinner. For others, it's kolo mee or kampua mee or butter kaya toast to start the day, mixed vegetable rice at midday, and something simple for dinner. These aren't indulgences. They're comfort food – warm, familiar, filling, and above all, affordable. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) recently released some figures showing that roti canai had gone up from 90 sen in 2011 to RM1.54 in 2024. Nasi lemak climbed from RM2.03 to RM3.68. Chicken satay, once sold for 51 sen a stick, now costs RM1.09. That's more than doubled in just over a decade. However, we know those numbers are already behind reality. In Kuching, where I did a quick check with a Muslim friend this week, a plain roti canai is now RM1.60 to RM2 per piece. Nasi lemak starts at RM4 and easily hits RM6 with extras. Chicken satay? RM1.20 to RM1.50 a stick. The pain behind these rising prices is not just about statistics. It's about the shrinking space for ordinary Malaysians – people like you and me – to live, eat, and breathe without counting every sen(se). Not long ago, RM5 could get you a full breakfast: roti canai, a hot teh tarik, maybe even an egg. Today, that same RM5 might just get you a drink – and maybe a half slice of kaya toast. Even noodles haven't been spared. For many Malaysian Chinese, breakfast means kampua mee or kolo mee. These used to cost RM3 to RM4, probably just two years back. Today? RM6 to RM7. The change didn't creep in – it stormed in, and it hasn't stopped. We often talk about inflation in broad, detached terms, but the pinch hits hardest first thing in the morning. Breakfast is supposed to be the easiest, most affordable meal of the day. Now, it's another stress point for families, workers, retirees, and students alike. And the squeeze doesn't stop at the coffee shop. It hits the home kitchen too. From May 1, the government has cut the egg subsidy from 10 sen to five sen. By August, that support will be gone altogether. It may sound small, but in a country where eggs are a staple in everything from egg fried rice to soft-boiled egg on toast to 'char kway teow', this matters. An egg isn't just an egg. It's one of the best proteins. And it is not a burden to those watching their weight. It's the default item in school lunchboxes. It's what families turn to for a quick, affordable meal. Add 20 sen here, 30 sen there – and it begins to bite, especially when prices for other food are all climbing too. What does the government say? Well, they are proud to announce that inflation has slowed. DoSM said the national rate dropped to 1.8 per cent in 2024, down from 2.5 per cent the year before. We're told Malaysia is doing better than many other countries, where inflation averaged 5.7 per cent. But numbers on paper don't reflect the stress in our lives. Most people don't judge inflation by percentages – they keep a watchful eye over what their RM10 can still buy. And truly, it's not much you can buy with our red RM10 note. We're not talking about imported cheese or salmon here. We're talking about breakfast. The kind that used to power workers through the morning, or tide students over until recess. When even that becomes too expensive, what's left? It's the everyday folks who feel it most: the office worker grabbing something quick before clocking in; the parent packing three school-bags and planning three meals; the retiree who used to enjoy a peaceful morning at the 'kopitiam'. Now everyone's thinking twice. Skipping the egg. Settling for toast. Drinking plain water instead of 'kopi'. And it's not just food. Electricity, petrol, groceries – everything feels like it's inching upwards. But breakfast hits differently. Because breakfast is personal. It sets the tone for the day. And when we start the day stressed over prices, that stress lingers. Some say: 'It's just 50 sen more. Just RM1.' But it's never just that. It adds up for a family of five. It adds up when the pay stays the same year after year. It adds up when subsidies vanish, quietly. What's being lost isn't just affordability – it's ease. The ease of ordering your usual without double-checking your wallet. The comfort of chatting over breakfast without glancing at the menu price. The little pleasure of starting your day with something warm and familiar. Perhaps the government has its reasons for removing subsidies. Maybe it makes sense on paper. But what also needs to make sense is the support offered to those now paying more. If subsidies are taken away, then other forms of help must come in, whether targeted aid, or stricter monitoring of price hikes. And where are you, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living? Please step up! What we don't need is silence, or to be told everything's fine when our breakfast says otherwise. We need real conversation on easing daily burdens, on ensuring our most basic meals remain affordable and enjoyable, on why kampua mee now requires second thoughts. On how Malaysians, bit by bit, are giving up the very rituals that once brought us joy. Because when we can no longer afford to eat in peace at the start of our day, it says something. Not just about food, but about the kind of society that we're becoming. Let's not one day wake up and realise: we've priced ourselves out of our own mornings, while billionaires like Bill Gates, who was just in Singapore, fly in to savour our everyday hawker fares like roti prata, chicken rice, fishball soup, and satay.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
M'sian Chinese dad sets meaningful conditions for sons wearing Jalur Gemilang badge, PM Anwar thanks him
A Malaysian Chinese father's heartfelt message to his sons about wearing the Jalur Gemilang on their school uniforms has recently gone viral, resonating with netizens across the country. In a Facebook post, Ng Chee Kean shared a photo of his two young sons proudly wearing the national flag badge on their school uniforms. Alongside the image, he said, 'Today is the first day Upin and Ipin are wearing the Jalur Gemilang badge. Papa has set a few conditions for when the Jalur Gemilang is worn on our chest.' He then listed the three key rules: 1. Respect the flag – 'It must not be dirtied. It cannot touch the ground. Clothes can no longer be carelessly thrown around.' 2. Prioritise the national language – 'When the Jalur Gemilang is on your chest, priority must be given to Bahasa Melayu. When leaving the classroom to buy food at the canteen and meeting Chinese aunties and uncles, you must use Bahasa Melayu. Greetings and salutations to friends must also be in Bahasa Melayu, even in a Chinese school.' 3. Strive to improve Bahasa Melayu – 'Your proficiency in Bahasa Melayu must improve.' Ng Chee Kean Facebook Ng went on to explain that if their command of the national language did not improve—or worsened—he would remove the badge. If questioned by teachers about the missing badge, he instructed his sons to respond honestly: 'Because our Bahasa Melayu is not good,' and added that he was willing to explain the matter personally to the school principal if necessary. He concluded his post by emphasising that wearing the Jalur Gemilang is more than just a symbol—it comes with a sense of responsibility and national pride. 'So, make sure to follow and uphold these conditions. It's not just about wearing the badge — you must understand the meaning and responsibility that comes with it, as a student in a national school.' Ng's rules for his sons has since gone viral with over 3,700 shares and more than 1,100 comments including the likes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim! ''Thank you for sowing the love for the country together,' commented Anwar, much to the amazement of netizens. Ng then thanked Anwar for giving the kids the Jalur Gemilang badge to be worn on school uniforms and promised to take good care of it. 'Thank you Datuk Seri for giving our children the Jalur Gemilang to wear on their school uniforms. We will all take the best care of it.'
