Category: Literacy

PUTRAJAYA, July 6 (Bernama) — Minister of Communications and Multimedia Tan Sri Annuar Musa today held an engagement session with senior government officials to coordinate strategic communication in facing the challenges of global inflation and price hikes.

Among those present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, secretaries-general, heads of communication units and press secretaries of various ministries.

At the session, Annuar, who is also chairman of the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation, also stressed the importance of strategic communication planning and implementation at all ministries to be done in a more integrated manner.

“We need to reduce communication silos and start moving together in an integrated manner,” he told reporters after attending the strategic communication engagement session with the senior government officials here.

On June 30, Annuar said the government, through the special task force, will strive to keep the inflation rate in Malaysia low and manageable to ensure the wellbeing of Malaysian families.

He said despite the inflation rates being on the rise across the world, Malaysia is still among the countries with the lowest rates, which is at 2.8 per cent.

Annuar also said that information on the government’s approach and strategic decision to help the Malaysian families during the inflation and in facing the rising prices of goods should be widely disseminated so that the people know that the government cares.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had also pledged a high level of commitment to protecting the wellbeing and interests of the people, which was evident in the government’s decision to maintain the subsidy of RM4 billion for cooking oil in 1kg packets this year.

In 2021, the cooking oil subsidies borne by the government amounted to RM2.2 billion, while in 2020, RM500 million.

Yesterday, Ismail Sabri, who is currently in Turkiye, said the government will ensure that any increase in the price of basic necessities due to world supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical conflict and climate change will not burden the people of Malaysia.

He said the government continued to provide subsidies for food and goods like chicken, cooking oil, petrol and diesel, which had exceeded RM77.7 billion.

The government also maintained the electricity and water tariffs to protect the interests of Keluarga Malaysia by providing subsidies to the tune of RM5.8 billion despite the sharp increase in the costs of fuel and other generation costs, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) — The RM300 million Highway Digital Network project, which is expected to be fully completed in 2025, will make Malaysia a strategic big data hub in the ASEAN region.

Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the government had approved the project to construct and operate fiber optic cables along highways, to MSA Resources Sdn Bhd (MSAR), under the supervision of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

“This new telecommunications infrastructure, with low latency technology along the country’s major highways, will be able to provide users with seamless access to broadband traffic, at both the domestic and international levels.

“Cities and rural areas will be connected with a total of 4,000 Points of Interconnect (POI) which will enable high broadband coverage and will also contribute to the improved delivery of online public services, such as public health facilities, open access to education, and an improved transportation system,” he said at the launching of the project here today.

He said the availability of this digital network infrastructure, broadband network coverage, open access and competitive pricing gained by all telecommunications providers would benefit not only the local community but also small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other service sectors.

Fadillah said the project would also enable a shift for businesses to transform from face-to-face transactions to digital-platform businesses and reduce business boundaries from one place to another.

“Indirectly, the people will benefit by having a wider selection of goods and services at optimal prices and higher quality,” he said.

Meanwhile, MSAR managing director Saiful Husni Samak said the project would be built along the highway in Peninsular Malaysia in stages, through three phases of construction.

“The Phase 1 network is the installation of fiber optic cables from Johor Bahru to Bukit Kayu Hitam. The Phase 2 network will involve highways in the Klang Valley while the Phase 3 network will connect the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.

“Once these secured networks have been developed, Malaysian ministries and departments, such as the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police will be provided access while the LLM and concession companies under LLM will also benefit from the improved highway network services, such as free wi-fi facilities for their R&R areas and along the highway,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SUNGAI PETANI, The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative under the Rural Development Ministry (KPLB) provides opportunities for trainees who lack academic qualifications to further their studies.

Deputy Rural Development Minister I Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the TVET implementation was based on a system framework where the articulation path begins at the certificate till the Hi-TVET level.

“Starting from the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia Level One till Three at GiatMARA, KEDA College, KEMAS Academy and PERDA Tech.

“Then there’s the TVET Diploma at the MARA Skills Institute, MARA High Skills Institute, Malaysia Japan Industrial Institute and German Malaysia Institute and then at the Hi-TVET level at Universiti Kuala Lumpur,” he said during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 2022 TVET@KPLB Education Institute Expo here today.

His text was read by the Rural Development Minister’s political secretary, Muhamad Nur Aizat Noor Azam.

Abdul Rahman said besides being equipped with technical skills, TVET KPLB trainees are also armed with knowledge and soft skills, including mastery of a second language, namely English.

He added that the approach aimed to make TVET KPLB graduates into a complete package as well-rounded skilled workers.

He also explained that entrepreneurial aspects would be also focused in the TVET KPLB syllabus to allow trainees to pursue and create jobs as well as open and manage their own business ventures.

On the 2022 TVET@KPLB 2022 Education Institute Expo, Abdul Rahman said the programme was capable of convincing the public that TVET is able to create sustainable job opportunities to improve the quality of life for Malaysians.

“Throughout the three days, the expo has received over 300,000 visitors, physically and online. I would like to congratulate everyone for making it happen,” he said.

The three-day 2022 TVET@KPLB 2022 Education Institute Expo, which began on Thursday, promotes the TVET programmes offered by various agencies and departments under the Rural Development Ministry to attract interest and boost the intake of new students.

The expo involves over 280 TVET@KPLB Education Institutes under seven main agencies, including the Social Development Department, the Orang Asli Development Department, Majlis Amanah Rakyat and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TANJUNG MALIM, June 18 (Bernama) — The Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim today recorded her appreciation to all teachers who have completed the heavy tasks entrusted to them.

Her Royal Highness who is also Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Chancellor said the responsibility was fulfilled, even under any circumstances such as the lack of resources, especially those teaching in areas with limited Internet access.

“The teachers have displayed extraordinary special qualities, patience, diligence, perseverance and determination,” she said at the 23rd UPSI Convocation Ceremony at Dewan Tuanku Canselor, Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, here today.

Tuanku Zara said the challenges faced by teachers when implementing home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) was a new educational experience that should be codified.

She said as an education university that closely related to the teaching profession, UPSI should conduct a study and produce a report on the teachers’ experiences when implementing PdPR.

“The study and report should identify the weaknesses and shortcomings as well as provide suggestions for improvements. Further studies and reports can be submitted as important feedback to the government.

The findings of the study on PdPR should serve as an eye opener for the government and the teaching profession to explore effective, practical and realistic teaching and learning methods during the emergency and outside the norm,” she said.

Meanwhile, UPSI Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff in his speech said the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 had recognised UPSI as the 801st university in the world and the eighth best public higher education institution in the country.

“UPSI is also ranked 176th in the world in the education subject and has secured 164th position in the Asia University Rankings for the first time,” he said.

A total of 6,606 graduates received degree and diploma scrolls at the convocation ceremony which lasted for eight days beginning today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, June 10 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) allows public and private universities to set the appropriate time for the implementation of full physical teaching and learning (PdP), depending on the capacity and capability of their respective campuses.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad said that MOHE was confident every university is able to evaluate its capability to receive the full attendance of students on campus.

“Personally, it is not the issue of whether we can have everyone coming in to study, but the ability to control the students and the current situation.

“Insya-Allah, the capacity of students learning at the universities can reach 90 per cent by the end of this year.

“We do not want unforeseen problems, because eventually, the problem will return to the community and the government,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Apprentice Programme launching ceremony, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and McDonald’s Malaysia here today.

Meanwhile, UiTM vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Roziah Mohd Janor, said that the MoU was aimed at providing a career opportunity to 4,000 of its students through a pioneer programme at the fast-food company.

In addition, Roziah said UiTM recorded the marketability of its graduates at 84 per cent, through the Impact Study Summary of the university, over a period of 20 years.

“The report proved that the marketability of the UiTM graduates is recognised by the QS World University Rankings as the ‘Most Employable Grads Among World’s Varsities’.

Meanwhile, the 2021 MOHE Graduate Tracking Study Analysis reported that the marketability of UiTM graduates last year was at 83 per cent, despite the challenge of the (COVID-19) pandemic, she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency