Latest news with #SekolahAngkatMadani
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
RM1.1 million for Kampung Kiau development, SK Kiau adopted under Madani Programme
Ewon launches the Sir Hugh Low Heritage Trail, developed by Koperasi Minitinduk Kiau Kota Belud, as one of Kg Kiau's tourism products. KOTA BELUD (Aug 9): The government, through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), has allocated RM1.1 million for the Kampung Angkat Madani and Sekolah Angkat Madani development projects in Kampung Kiau here. Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said RM1 million would go towards seven small-scale infrastructure projects in the village, while RM100,000 has been channelled to the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kiau. The Kampung Angkat Madani projects include road upgrades, improved drainage, and enhancements to public facilities in Kampung Kiau Nuluh, Kampung Kiau Taburi, and Kampung Kiau Bersatu. 'Among the projects implemented are upgrading the field road, community hall, clinic and village hall in Kampung Kiau Nuluh; constructing drains in Zones Tebobon and Hongkung; building a road and culvert to the cemetery in Kampung Kiau Taburi; and constructing a community road and drainage system in Zone Tomoduh, Kampung Kiau Bersatu,' Ewon said. He was speaking after officiating the Tourism Development Programme Through the Cooperative Movement and the handover ceremony for the Kampung Angkat Madani and Sekolah Angkat Madani projects at Dewan Tamu Desa Kg Kiau on Saturday. For the Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative, RM100,000 was allocated to SK Kiau's PIBG for school development needs. 'SK Kiau is my adopted school, where I studied from Year 1 to Year 6. I hope that with this allocation, part of the development needs in my village, including those at SK Kiau, can be met,' he said. Ewon also encouraged villagers to harness the area's natural resources — particularly in agriculture, tourism and cooperatives — to further boost socio-economic growth. Also present were KUSKOP Secretary-General Datuk Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) Chief Executive Officer Noor Affifah Abdul Razak, as well as KUSKOP agency heads and village leaders. As part of the event, Ewon launched the Sir Hugh Low Heritage Trail, developed by Koperasi Minitinduk Kiau Kota Belud, as one of Kampung Kiau's tourism products.
New Straits Times
29-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM294mil MMEA vessel to arrive in Malaysia by early 2027
KUANTAN: The construction of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) Turkish-made Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) is progressing ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed earlier than anticipated. MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the MPMS, which will serve as a mother ship, is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia by early 2027. "Construction began in March this year and had reached 17 percent completion by June, which is about two percent ahead of schedule. The 24-month construction timeline is progressing well, and we anticipate completing the vessel ahead of the original deadline. "If it arrives before the Lima exhibition (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) in 2027, there are plans to showcase the ship at the event," he told reporters after launching MMEA's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative at SMK Sungai Baging here today. Rosli said the 99-metre-long vessel, which can accommodate 70 crew members and 30 passengers, will be deployed to enhance maritime security and uphold Malaysia's sovereignty in the South China Sea. The ship, capable of operating at sea for up to 30 days without resupply, is currently being built by Istanbul-based Desan Shipyard. MPMS which includes four fast interceptor craft, two unmanned aerial vehicles, a helideck, medical facilities, and a detention centre is built with a cost of RM294 million.
New Straits Times
29-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
MMEA: Warship wrecks in Malaysian waters safe thanks to heightened patrols
KUANTAN: There have been no reports of scavengers looting sunken World War 2 warships in Malaysian waters over the past two years due to increased patrols by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the agency had intensified patrols around the sites of sunken warships within the country's territorial waters. "I can say the number of cases is zero because we (MMEA) conduct regular monitoring. Our patrol vessels and boats are out at sea monitoring all the shipwreck sites.... the last arrest was recorded in Johor in 2023. "We have made several arrests in the past and recovered scrap metal believed to have been stolen from these wrecks. Now, we constantly patrol the sites to prevent any attempts by scavengers to enter them," he said after launching MMEA's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative at SMK Sungai Baging here today. Rosli said the strict enforcement efforts were also in response to strong interest from foreign maritime agencies, which were keen to know how MMEA was protecting the shipwrecks. He was responding to a question about whether illegal salvage operators were still operating in Malaysian waters and if there had been any reports in the past two years. In 2023, MMEA detained a foreign-registered grab dredger for looting steel and high-grade aluminium from World War 2-era shipwrecks, including the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, off the coast of Pahang. The vessel was seized in Johor. On the Sekolah Angkat Madani programme, Rosli said SMK Sungai Baging was chosen due to its strategic location near the Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy in Sungai Ular. He said the school, which established the Malaysian Maritime Cadet Team (Paskam) in early 2020, currently had 110 members and six of its teachers had joined the Malaysian Maritime Volunteer Reserve unit. "We now have a total of 586 Paskam members, including those from Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah and SMK Sungai Baging. "Joining Paskam provides early exposure for students to the maritime field and prepares them to join the Maritime Volunteer Reserve unit. This gives them an advantage if they choose to pursue a career with the MMEA," he said.
The Star
27-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
‘Be serious about supporting students'
At the recent launch of the Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated that education must not be viewed solely through the lens of infrastructure provision, but rather as a holistic ecosystem that meets the full spectrum of student needs. For many students in rural and underserved communities, the school building is only the beginning of their struggle. To realise this holistic vision, we must confront the less visible, yet deeply entrenched, barriers to educational access. One such barrier is safe and affordable transportation. For families in rural and low-income communities, getting a child to school can be a logistical and financial challenge, sometimes costing up to RM30 a day as pointed out by the minister in her address. This, repeated over months, becomes insurmountable for many, contributing to absenteeism and dropouts. This is where Malaysia must reconceptualise transportation support, not as a marginal welfare concern, but as a foundational pillar of educational equity. Solutions do exist so we need not start from scratch. Around the world, governments facing similar challenges have introduced innovative transport policies that offer useful lessons for Malaysia. In Tamil Nadu, India, the state's school bus system provides free transport to rural students, boosting attendance and reducing dropout rates, particularly among girls. Similarly, South Africa's Scholar Transport Programme funds travel for students living more than 5km from school, contracting private providers under strict oversight to ensure both access and accountability. We could adopt similar models or empower schools to manage their own transport services. Whether through direct subsidies or school-led initiatives, the goal must be that no child is denied education because the journey is too costly or unsafe. Another concern to address is hunger, which remains an underestimated barrier to meaningful learning. According to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation's 2024 Global Survey on school feeding, Malaysia's programmes currently reach only 25% of primary and a mere 1% of secondary students. This limited coverage is not just a nutritional gap; it is a missed strategic lever for advancing educational equity. Initiatives like Super Sarapan, which delivered over 170,000 meals to B40 students in 2023, show what's possible. These efforts must be scaled nationally, to ensure that no child learns on an empty stomach. Academic support is equally vital. Students who fall behind need structured remedial programmes led by capable, motivated teachers. These educators deserve fair compensation and recognition. NGOs like Teach For Malaysia and Yayasan Amir are already filling critical gaps. Their work should be formalised through long-term partnerships with schools, aligned with national goals. Access to education cannot be reduced to physical entry alone; it must also guarantee the right to meaningful learning. And at the centre of this guarantee is the teacher. No matter how well-resourced a school may be, the quality of instruction ultimately determines whether students engage, progress and succeed. In this sense, access and teaching excellence are inseparable. Malaysia already has strong foundations for continuous professional development but to fully realise their potential, these efforts must be embedded not just into policy, but also into the everyday school life. If we are serious about access, we must be serious about support. True access means students can remain and thrive in school. It means building a system that supports, nourishes and empowers every child. PROF DR SIVABALA NAIDU and DR AMANPREET KAUR Faculty of Social Sciences Quest International University
New Straits Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sejahtera Madani gets RM120mil boost from private sector, surpassing expectations
PUTRAJAYA: The Sejahtera Madani programme has achieved a significant milestone, securing RM120 million in contributions from private sector entities — an impressive testament to their shared commitment to eradicating hardcore poverty in Malaysia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hailed the response as exceptional, surpassing the initial RM50 million target, and a strong reflection of the private sector's confidence in the government's focused efforts to uplift vulnerable communities. "I had said that receiving RM50 million would already be commendable, and the government could top it up slightly. But the response has not just doubled — it has far exceeded expectations. "I do feel quite moved by this, and I apologise. I am only human, and sometimes emotions surface, even though some may be uncomfortable with that. But I believe in this initiative, and we have now raised nearly RM120 million," he said at the Sejahtera Madani launch today. The Sejahtera Madani programme, coordinated by the Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM), is a national initiative aimed at supporting poor and hardcore poor households registered in the eKasih system. The programme brings together various forms of assistance from ministries, government agencies, and the private sector in a targeted and integrated manner to combat poverty. Based on a "whole-of-nation" approach, it includes four key pillars: income generation, education, housing, and welfare — focusing on sustainable and high-impact interventions. Anwar also highlighted the Sekolah Angkat Madani (Madani Adopted Schools) initiative, which has expanded from 200 to 1,000 schools thanks to private sector support. "We want to move this country forward — to become strong and respected. And to achieve that, we must begin with leadership rooted in good governance, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power. "But our efforts will not succeed without the strength of the private sector — businesses that are now expanding into international markets in Egypt, Italy, France, Peru, and Brazil. This is a credit to the strength of our private enterprises. "Our role is to support and empower them, and when we succeed — driven by the spirit of our professional workforce — we return part of that success to the people so they may share in its rewards," he said. Anwar added that with Sejahtera Madani, alongside the commitment of the government, private sector, religious councils, and zakat funds, hardcore poverty could be addressed more effectively. "This isn't a new concept — some companies already employ locals from nearby communities. The presence of a CEO or president alone can offer confidence and hope to local youths, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Such engagement inspires and gives students a sense of possibility. Even more so if we can also provide them with basic facilities," he said. He also urged ministries to foster closer collaboration with private sector players. "There's no need to dwell on divisions over race, religion, regions, or states. This is our shared challenge — as one national family. Let's not undo the progress we've made. Let's work on this together," he said. As of July 15, a total of 306,403 heads of households were registered in the eKasih system, comprising 1,017 classified as hardcore poor and 305,386 as poor. The government remains resolute in its commitment to eradicate hardcore poverty and aims to reduce overall poverty by 33 per cent this year.
