Latest news with #Malaysian
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
A timely boost to doctors' morale
PETALING JAYA: The move to do away with contract doctors will provide a better sense of job security for young doctors serving in government hospitals, ending years of anxiety, say stakeholders. Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said hiring doctors on a permanent scheme would also pave the way for more students to take up medicine. 'We are happy that steps are underway to resolve the contract doctor system. 'The employment of doctors under the permanent scheme will provide job security and planned career progression for the new doctors. 'This will in turn also help encourage students to take up medicine as a profession and also will be key to improving retention of doctors within the healthcare system,' he said when contacted yesterday. He said there is a need for more doctors and specialists to address the shortage in the public healthcare workforce. He said the retention of doctors under a permanent scheme would also help the nation meet the growing challenges posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and an ageing population. The MMA had earlier called for the contract doctor system to be abolished. The medical body had also raised the matter during its previous interactions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Dr Kalwinder was responding to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's comment that efforts to abolish the contract system for government doctors are being looked into. Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin said the abolishment of the contract system is long overdue. 'This move addresses a critical, years-long grievance within the healthcare workforce. 'The creation of permanent positions will finally provide thousands of junior doctors with the needed job security and career stability which they have desperately lacked since 2016. 'This will put an end to years of anxiety faced by the affected doctors with regard to the renewal of their of contracts,' he said. Dr Zainal added that offering permanent posts is the most effective way to retain skilled Malaysian doctors within the public system. 'This significantly curbs the brain drain of frustrated contract doctors seeking better prospects overseas or in the private sector,' he said. Converting contract doctors to permanent staff, he added, will also improve the morale and commitment of doctors serving with the government. 'A stable, valued workforce is fundamental to building a more resilient and sustainable public healthcare system for the long term,' he added. Dr Zainal cautioned that the success of introducing permanent employment of doctor lies with its execution of the scheme. 'Concerns remain about whether enough permanent posts will be created promptly and allocated fairly based on merit, avoiding further delays or perceived bias,' he said. He noted that the move to do away with the contract system will not automatically solve the severe lack of specialist training posts which the ministry must also urgently address. When contacted, Hartal Doktor Kontrak spokesman Dr Muhammad Yassin hoped that the assurance given by Dzulkefly would not be merely 'lip service'. 'It has to be backed by real intentions and determination by those in power to solve this long-standing issue which had contributed to the bleeding healthcare services that the country is facing right now,' he said. Parliament's Special Select Committee on Health chairman Suhaizan Kaiat said the government's proposal to end the contract doctor system will improve the national healthcare system.
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Fish Liew aims to re-master Bahasa M'sia
Compiled MARTIN CARVALHO, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN ACTRESS Fish Liew regrets neglecting her Bahasa Malaysia and vows to re-master the language for local roles, reported China Press. The 35-year-old, who won Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2022, will be starring in Pavane for an Infant – the latest movie by local director Chong Keat Aun. The Hong Kong-based Malaysian, who had returned here for filming, found that she had lost touch with her home country and could no longer speak the national language well. 'Every time I return home, when people call me a Hong Konger, I feel sad in my heart,' she said. According to Chong, Liew had dialogue in Mandarin, English, Hokkien, Cantonese and Bahasa Malaysia. 'It seems that she has been away for too long. When speaking Bahasa, she had to read her lines out word by word,' he said. Liew promised to re-master the language so that she can sound like an actual Malaysian on film. In Pavane for an Infant, Liew plays a social worker at a baby hatch who takes an interest in a troubled young girl who is contemplating abortion. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Govt to monitor students still in Iran
JELI: The five Malaysian students who have chosen to remain in Iran will continue to be monitored by the Higher Education Ministry, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir ( pic ). 'The government has offered support and expressed its willingness to help them return if they choose to,' said the Higher Education Minister, Bernama reported. 'We will continue to monitor their situation closely, wherever they are, to ensure their safety,' he told reporters after opening the Jeli Umno division meeting here. Previously, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed only five Malaysians remained in Iran by choice. All five had signed letters of undertaking to stay in the country, despite the government's earlier advisory urging Malaysians to leave amid tit-for-tat air strikes between Iran and Israel. On June 23, the Malaysian government brought back a total of 24 individuals who arrived safely at the KL International Airport from Iran on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781. They comprised 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens and one Singaporean national. Meanwhile, Zambry said all students who survived the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris crash on June 9 have been discharged from hospital.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ministry urges Harvard hopefuls to check enrolment updates
PETALING JAYA: The Higher Education Ministry has advised students enrolling at Harvard University for the September intake to get in touch with the university and their respective sponsors for information on the latest developments before making further decisions. At this time, the ministry reported that there are no issues related to the Student Exchange Visa Program or the cancellation of visas. This follows the US State Department's directive to consulates globally to restart the processing of visa applications for international students accepted into Harvard. The ministry noted that this development is a relief for the nearly 7,000 foreign students enrolled at the Ivy League institution. The ministry is closely monitoring developments through its Education Malaysia Washington DC (EMWDC) office. Currently, there are 54 Malaysian students at the university, of which 16 are scholarship holders and 38 are self-funded. 'This decision allows international students, including Malaysian students, to continue their studies without disruption to their visa status for now. The ministry and EMWDC office have contacted the relevant sponsors and US education authorities,' it said in a statement yesterday. The ministry also expressed appreciation for the commitment of these parties to working together to provide updated information regarding the optional practical training programme and address immigration matters. Malaysia believes that cross-border higher education is the best platform for talent development, knowledge exchange and strategic cooperation among nations. It also urged all parties to remain calm and act based on true information. On June 6, the US State Department instructed consulates worldwide to resume processing visa applications for international students admitted to Harvard University, reversing guidance issued a day earlier ordering such requests to be rejected. The new directive rescinded one issued a day earlier, less than an hour before a judge blocked the Trump administration from restricting international students from entering the country to attend Harvard.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Keeping media standards high
Yong says the sponsorship will also be spent on upskill training for media personnel, the corporate sector and government agencies. A total of 548 entries have been received from media practitioners vying for recognition in Malaysia's journalism awards. Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) said there were a total of 60 entries more than the previous year. Fifty-eight media organisations from all over the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, are participating in MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards 2024, which will be held in conjunction with a media night in Kuala Lumpur on June 20. MPI chief executive officer Ainol Amriz Ismail said the event had garnered up to RM1.25mil in sponsorship, with PETRONAS putting in RM450,000 as the main sponsor for award night prizes. The media practitioners are competing in both traditional and emerging media formats, comprising 21 categories including environmental, social and governance (ESG) journalism, radio broadcasting, podcasting, video documentary work, live streaming, and investigative reporting. For the media night, MPI collaborated with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and received RM799,500 in sponsorship from 51 organisations, including corporate entities, ministries, government agencies, and media organisations. 'The total amount of sponsorships is 15% more than last year,' Ainol Amriz said during a sponsors appreciation event in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 'The number of organisations has also increased, from only 22 last year. 'The increase is a sign of confidence in MPI,' he added. A town hall on how corporations, government agencies, and sponsors could obtain opportunities for coverage in the media was also held during the event attended by 130 representatives of 41 organisations. MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, in a press conference after the event, said sponsorship for the awards had several main selling points. 'One is to be able to attend a function where the best in Malaysian media will be in the same room. 'Sponsors will be able to mingle with the editors, chief editors and reporters to get to know how they work. 'They can improve their ways when it comes to interacting with the media to achieve higher visibility. 'It is also a prestigious event. This year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will be attending the event,' he said. Yong said the money received from sponsors would also go towards upskill training, not only for journalists but also those working in corporate and government agencies. 'What you see today is not just a form of contribution and encouragement. 'It is also a sign of lasting friendship which has taken time to build,' said Yong, adding that MPI had been receiving support for its awards night for the past 45 years. Some 1,000 guests are expected to attend the awards night. To mark the occasion, a coffee-table book detailing the generosity of its major sponsors and featuring the work of former journalists will be one of the souvenirs.
