Latest news with #RM5
The Star
4 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Hiking group maintaining Penang Hill trail marks 29th anniversary
(From right) Choong, Koay and Ong presenting a mock cheque for RM5,000 to Tan (third from left) and Khor (second from left) while Heng (centre) looks on during Moon Gate No. 5 Hiking Group's 29th anniversary event in Penang. A LIVELY reunion dinner celebrating decades of hiking, bonding and trail maintenance was held by the Moon Gate No. 5 Hiking Group in Penang to mark its 29th anniversary. The hiking club is known for its free refreshments and volunteer-driven upkeep of the famous Moon Gate trail on Penang Hill. In his opening speech at the dinner, the group's honorary advisor Datuk Seri Benny Khor said the club provided free coffee, water and biscuits to hikers. 'The hiking club focuses on maintaining and improving the trail's condition to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors. 'Our mission has always been to bring people together to enhance and care for the Moon Gate No. 5 trail that is now a must-visit for nature lovers and fitness enthusiasts. 'The group relies on donations, surplus funds from the annual dinner and contributions from its committee members to sustain its operations. 'This is because there are no membership fees or public fundraising initiatives,' he said. Representing Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) chairman Tan Sri Tan Khoon Hai, was vice-chairman Datuk Heng Yak Hoi who said the hiking club promoted both hiking and humanitarian values. 'The stories are truly touching as members and volunteers tirelessly carry gas cylinders uphill, prepare hot drinks and serve hikers come rain or shine. 'This selfless spirit aligns with the Penang2030 vision of fostering an inclusive, healthy and resilient community,' he said. Heng added that the importance of hiking as a form of physical and mental exercise should be emphasised to encourage people to embrace outdoor activities for a balanced lifestyle. During the dinner, TG Ocean Health Food Industries Sdn Bhd directors Datuk Ong Thor Guan, Koay Kai Bin and Choong Jin Koi presented RM5,000 to club chairman Tan Chee Yeong to support its efforts. More than 1,000 people attended the dinner at Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society in Macalister Road, George Town. Many of the diners took home prizes such as hiking shoes, electrical goods and motorcycles. Moon Gate No. 5, is a colonial- era stone archway. The hiking group's upkeep of this historic path has helped the trail become a popular destination. At the dinner, members and supporters reaffirmed their goal of keeping the trail accessible and well-maintained to ensure that Moon Gate No. 5 remains a symbol of Penang's community-driven conservation efforts.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asyraf Wajdi: Three UK universities offer tuition discount for Mara students
LONDON: Three leading universities in the United Kingdom have agreed to offer tuition fee discounts of between 10 and 20 per cent to students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), said its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. He said the discounts, secured through discussions between Mara and the universities' top management, could help reduce the financial burden by more than RM100,000 per student annually. The three institutions are the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham, both offering a 20 per cent discount, while the University of Edinburgh has agreed to a 10 per cent reduction. "To illustrate, Warwick is offering a discount of up to £6,000 a year. For a typical three-year undergraduate programme, that amounts to £18,000, or around RM110,000 in total, significantly lowering the overall cost," he said during a press conference today. Asyraf Wajdi is currently in the UK for strategic meetings with senior leadership and prominent academics at the University of Cambridge, as well as several other institutions. He said there are currently 1,508 Mara-sponsored students pursuing their studies in the UK. He added that the Cambridge University Trust has also expressed interest in collaborating with Mara through a co-funding arrangement for postgraduate research students at the Master's and PhD levels. "Insya-Allah, if all terms are finalised, Mara could save up to RM5 million through this initiative," he said. He described the partnership as part of Mara's strategic agenda to ensure that Malaysian students are globally competitive in academic and professional fields. Additionally, he said Cambridge University had agreed to send a delegation to Malaysia to engage with Maktab Rendah Sains Mara International General Certificate of Secondary Education (MRSM IGCSE) students. The initiative, he said, aligns with Mara's goal to establish a dedicated academic feeder pathway for MRSM students seeking admission into top global universities. Asyraf Wajdi also said that the collaboration would create opportunities for 9,987 Mara educators across vocational colleges, Mara universities and MRSMs to participate in knowledge exchange programmes. "These educators will be able to undertake joint research and pursue postgraduate studies in strategic fields at Cambridge. "These include renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, quantum technology, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), entrepreneurial innovation, and other emerging disciplines that will shape the global economy of the future," he said.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Three UK universities offer tuition discount for MARA students
LONDON: Three leading universities in the United Kingdom have agreed to offer tuition fee discounts of between 10 and 20 percent for students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), said its chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. He said the discounts, secured through discussions between MARA and the universities' top management, could save more than RM100,000 per student annually. The three institutions are Warwick University and Birmingham University, which have agreed to a 20 percent discount, while the University of Edinburgh is offering 10 percent. 'To illustrate, Warwick University is offering a discount of up to £6,000 a year. For a typical three-year undergraduate programme, that amounts to £18,000, around RM110,000 in total, significantly reducing the cost,' he said at a press conference today. Asyraf Wajdi is currently in the UK for strategic meetings with senior leadership and renowned senior academics at the University of Cambridge, as well as several other universities. He said there are currently 1,508 MARA-sponsored students pursuing their studies in the UK. He added that the Cambridge University Trust has expressed interest in collaborating with MARA through a co-funding arrangement for postgraduate research students at the Master's and PhD levels. 'Insya-Allah, if all terms are finalised, MARA could save up to RM5 million through this initiative,' he said. He described the partnership as part of MARA's strategic agenda to ensure Malaysian students are not only competitive on a national level but also on par with their global peers in academic and professional arenas. In addition, he said Cambridge University has also agreed to send a delegation to Malaysia to engage with Maktab Rendah Sains MARA International General Certificate of Secondary Education (MRSM IGCSE). He said the initiative aligns with MARA's decision to establish a dedicated academic feeder pathway for MRSM students to gain entry into top global universities. Asyraf Wajdi added that the collaboration would also open doors for 9,987 MARA educators across its vocational colleges, MARA universities, and MRSMs to participate in knowledge exchange programmes. 'These educators will have opportunities for joint research and to pursue postgraduate studies in strategic fields at Cambridge. 'These include renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, quantum technology, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), entrepreneurial innovation and other emerging disciplines that will shape the future global economy,' he said.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Young racers rev up excitement at NSTP's Jom Heboh e-racing challenge
KUALA LUMPUR: The e-racing competition organised by The New Straits Times Press (NSTP) booth at the Jom Heboh carnival, hosted by Media Prima Berhad, received an overwhelming response — especially from parents and children. Open to participants aged 12 and below, the tournament was held in a knockout format, with five winners selected for the top five positions. NSTP's Business Development and Special Projects Manager Tengku Kaifi Mirza Tuan Cherit@Tengku Hamzah said the booth drew more than 800 visitors over the three-day carnival. "We were pleasantly surprised by the strong turnout this time. "We featured various engaging activities, including the racing simulator competition. "For just RM5 per pair, visitors could experience the thrill of real racing via a simulator equipped with onboard cameras and track displays on TV screens," he said. He added that many participants, particularly children, were eager to have multiple turns, proving the simulator's strong appeal. One of the winners, Mohammad Damien Alfie Mohd Samsuri, 11, said he thoroughly enjoyed trying the game for the first time — despite some initial nerves. "Alhamdulillah, I'm really happy. Thank you NSTP! I was a little nervous at first, but I really enjoy gaming. "I usually play mobile racing sims, so trying this one was amazing. If it comes back, I'd love to play again," he said after the competition. Meanwhile, booth emcee Azrul Affendi Ahmad said the contest also offered attractive prizes, including 100PLUS beverages, goody bags and trophies. "Events like this help spark interest among the younger generation in NSTP's products and publications," he said. Azrul added that, given the enthusiastic reception, the team hopes to bring the activity to upcoming Jom Heboh locations.
The Star
a day ago
- Science
- The Star
Real-world solutions earn nods at national-level hackathon
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) continues to solidify its reputation as a leader in technological excellence and innovation. At the recent Varsity Hackathon (VHack) 2025, held on April 26 and hosted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang, two outstanding APU teams won top accolades, further cementing the varsity's position as a powerhouse in technology-driven education. The spotlight was on five-member 'Team The Try People' from APU's School of Engineering (SoE) and School of Computing (SoC), which secured the coveted first runner-up title. They received a cash prize of RM5,000 for their achievement in the national-level competition. The award-winning team comprised Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science (Cyber Security) students Chong Jinn Xiang, Chia Jing Liang, Bryan Low Zhern Yang and Evin Kor Kar Hei, as well as Kok Jia Yin, a student from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Engineering programme. The team was guided by SoC lecturer Tan Li June and Assistant Prof Dr Lau Chee Yong from the SoE. Their innovative project envisions a holistic smart city management system designed to tackle key urban challenges, including waste management, traffic congestion, and flood and weather predictions. By integrating real-time data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), the system enables efficient and proactive city operations – ranging from optimised waste collection routes and traffic flow adjustments to advanced alerts for inclement weather conditions. Team CheeseB: Amad (far left) with the winning trio of APU software engineering students behind DeNate. Importantly, the project is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. It aims to contribute meaningfully to building inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable urban environments. The solution not only enhances public safety and infrastructure but also empowers urban planners with data-driven insights for long-term development strategies. In another standout performance, 'Team CheeseB' from APU made waves in the blockchain category, winning the Excellence Award for their cutting-edge solution, DeNate – short for 'Decentralised Donate'. Comprising three software engineering students – Thien Wei Jian, Ivan Wong Hong Zheng and John Paulose – the team impressed judges with their novel approach to reimagining charitable giving through blockchain technology. Mentored by SoC senior lecturer Amad Arshad, the team designed DeNate as a transparent, secure and user-engaging donation platform. The project features several pioneering components, including real-time donation tracking, milestone-based fund disbursements, T-based recognition for top donors, an AI-powered chatbot offering donation forecasts and interactive dashboards to encourage community engagement. By leveraging the power of decentralised systems, DeNate aims to restore trust and increase accountability in the donation ecosystem, ultimately bridging the gap between donors and charitable organisations. Interdisciplinary collaboration The students' double achievement reflects APU's deep commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and industry relevance. SoC head Assoc Prof Dr Tan Chin Ike praised the synergy between departments: 'These outstanding achievements exemplify what we can accomplish when different disciplines come together. 'The collaboration between our SoC and SoE has created a powerful ecosystem where technological innovation meets practical implementation.' He added, 'Our students have demonstrated not only technical prowess but also the ability to address real-world challenges through multidisciplinary approaches. 'This success reinforces our commitment to fostering an environment where cross-disciplinary collaboration thrives, preparing our graduates to become versatile problem-solvers ready to make meaningful contributions to society.' The recognition earned at VHack 2025 reflects APU's enduring mission to equip students with the skills, mindset and opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly complex digital world. These accolades highlight not only the quality of education and mentorship provided by APU's academic staff, but also the forward-thinking spirit of its student innovators. As the university continues to nurture creativity, foster collaboration and champion sustainability, its students are proving to be well-equipped to take on the technological challenges of tomorrow – and to shape a better, smarter and more inclusive world.
