Over 100 Librarians Join Fun Run To Kick Off CONSAL 2025 In KL
Librarians Fun Run 2025 Project Director Dr A'dillah Mustafa said the five-kilometre run, held around the Sungai Bunus area and Titiwangsa Lake Gardens here, saw the participation of 12 delegates from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.
A'dillah, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Puncak Perdana, said the programme aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle.
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Sinar Daily
13 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Fire destroys teacher's room, administration office at SMK Dang Anum
The building had been undergoing an electrical wiring upgrade at the time of the incident. By SINAR DAILY REPORTER 03 Jul 2025 04:17pm A fire broke out early Thursday morning at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dang Anum, Merlimau, in the building housing the teacher's room and administration office, causing significant damage to the structure. - Photo by Bernama JASIN – A fire broke out early Thursday morning at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dang Anum, Merlimau, in the building housing the teacher's room and administration office, causing significant damage to the structure. The fire, which occurred at 5.30am destroyed four teacher's rooms in the school. Fire and Rescue Department Operation Commander Senior Fire Officer I Mohd Sukur Md Ali from the Merlimau Fire and Rescue Station said no casualties were reported as the school was not in session at the time of the incident. "We received an emergency call at 5.36am and dispatched the first team to the location within two minutes," he said in a statement on Thursday. A fire broke out early Thursday morning at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dang Anum, Merlimau, in the building housing the teacher's room and administration office, causing significant damage to the structure. - Photo by Bernama Upon arriving at the scene, the team confirmed that the fire involved the teacher's rooms on the first floor of the school building. The fire spread over an area of about 80 x 60 square feet, causing 80 per cent damage to the affected rooms. Firemen used two 200-foot hoses and three water jets from fire hydrants to suppress the flames. A total of 19 firefighters from four fire stations were involved in the operation, which included teams from Merlimau, Jasin, Padang Temu and Bukit Katil. Short Circuit Suspected as Cause A suspected short circuit has been identified as the likely cause of the fire at the school. The building, which housed a teacher's room, Design and Technology (RBT) room, Moral Education room and Graphic Communication and Technical (GKT) room, had been undergoing an electrical wiring upgrade at the time of the incident. Melaka Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Zaidi Maat confirmed that initial investigations revealed no signs of foul play. However, he noted that further investigation will be carried out with the assistance of the K9 detection unit to rule out the possibility of arson. "We need to assess if there was any malicious intent, but at this point, there is no evidence to suggest that," he said. The fire department also faced challenges in battling the blaze due to low water pressure at the scene. "We had to source water from the nearby Taman Baru Merlimau because the local water pressure was insufficient. "For firefighting, the required water pressure should be at least 1.7 bar to ensure water can be pumped effectively into our vehicles. Unfortunately, the pressure that morning did not meet that standard," he said. Meanwhile, State Exco for Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Datuk Rahmad Mariman confirmed that the building had been undergoing electrical upgrades since 16 weeks ago, with completion expected in 10 weeks. He stressed that a thorough investigation will be conducted and if the fire was caused by contractor negligence, no leniency would be shown. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and authorities have vowed to take appropriate action depending on the findings. Fire and Rescue Department More Like This
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
ABCs for village kids in heart of Gerik rainforest
Tucked away from the bustle of the city, deep within the forests and clear waters of Tasik Banding, stands a school that serves as a beacon of hope for Jahai Orang Asli children in the remote villages of the Royal Belum rainforest in Gerik, Perak. SK Sungai Tiang, the only school in the area, serves 125 pupils from Year One to Year Six, and is accessible only by a nearly two-hour boat ride across the lake and through the jungle. Despite the challenging terrain, the classrooms echo with the voices of Orang Asli children, who typically communicate in their native tongue, but are now learning to pronounce syllables and words in the national language and beginning to understand basic numbers. Every word spoken and spelled out by these young learners reflects their determination to learn, despite limited resources, a tenacity now given new momentum with their school's selection as one of 104 in Perak to join the 'Anak Kita' programme. (From left) Orang Asli pupils Amira Hasaan, Adham Hani and Nasri Zainal during class at SK Sungai Tiang. — Photos: Bernama School headmaster Mohammad Rezal Shuib said the programme was a collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, involving the placement of Guru Bitara (Master Teachers) from the local community to co-teach with remedial teachers, helping to ensure more effective communication and engagement with the pupils. He said Orang Asli pupils faced significant educational challenges compared to mainstream students because of their different cultural and language backgrounds, as well as geographic, socioeconomic and environmental factors that shape their overall learning experience. 'The strength of the 'Anak Kita' programme lies in its ability to adapt to local challenges, making it a more inclusive and effective educational initiative. 'At SK Sungai Tiang, for instance, most students are from the Jahai tribe who speak their mother tongue. 'Having a Guru Bitara, who understands the local culture and language, makes learning smoother and more effective,' he told Bernama. Launched on Sept 27 last year, the programme is a national education reform initiative under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The initiative is led by the Finance and Education Ministries, in collaboration with Unit Pantau Madani (UPM), Yayasan Hasanah, three public universities and seven civil society organisations, with UPM overseeing its implementation until December this year. Mohammad Rezal said the remedial classes yielded positive results, although students progressed at different rates depending on their abilities. 'For example, some students could previously only write single letters like 'A,' but now they are able to combine them into syllables such as 'K-A' and spell simple words like bola (ball), even if they are not yet fluent. 'When they see letters like 'L' and 'A,' they can now identify the corresponding sounds, which is a significant achievement. 'Their reading may still be slow, but we can see clear progress,' he said. Education deputy director- general (Policy and Curriculum Sector) Dr Rusmini Ku Ahmad said the programme was designed to address three key post-pandemic education challenges: mastery of the 3M skills (reading, writing, counting), SPM performance and student dropout rates. The 3M component currently supports 53,252 pupils across 1,288 primary schools. Meanwhile, the SPM programme provides academic assistance, particularly in core subjects such as Bahasa Melayu, History and Mathematics, to 10,119 students from 327 schools in 2024 and 20,000 students from 905 schools this year. The Dropout Student programme is a targeted initiative aimed at reintegrating at least 500 out-of-school students into the education system through focused support, including transportation, school supplies, food vouchers and counselling. UPM director-general Mohd Khalid Mohamed Latiff said the 3M component had benefitted pupils across Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak, with marked improvements in literacy and numeracy since its rollout earlier this year. Yayasan Hasanah Education Advocacy senior manager Aeti Abdullah attributed the programme's impact at SK Sungai Tiang to its ability to adapt to the unique needs of each school. 'It doesn't rely on a one-size-fits-all model. 'Its success is best reflected in the voices of the students, the commitment of school leaders and the dedication of educators who consistently go above and beyond. 'The next step is to scale, support and sustain these efforts nationwide. 'What's working at SK Sungai Tiang shouldn't be an exception; it should become a model for systemic change across the country,' she said. Students attend two remedial classes each week, one each for Bahasa Melayu and Mathematics, using a specially developed module designed for remedial learners, she added. The classes are co-taught by a remedial teacher and a Guru Bitara, with student progress closely tracked.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Daily Express
For 14 years and counting, mum fights to give kids their father's name
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 By: Faiz Zainudin, FMT Text Size: Ramya Thamarai Selvan joined the MyIdentiti programme for advice on how to facilitate procedures at JPN to include their father's name on her children's identity cards. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Over the last 14 years, Ramya Thamarai Selvan has made countless trips to the national registration department (JPN) and the home ministry, trying to include her late partner's name on their children's identity cards. Because their marriage was never officially registered, the father's name was left off the documents – a mistake that continues to complicate even the most routine matters, from medical treatment to school registration. 'Without a father's name, things like education and official matters become difficult. 'The children also feel pressured when people ask who their father is. They don't know how to answer. It's emotionally distressing for them. I just want them to live like other children,' the 35-year-old told FMT. Ramya lost her partner in an accident when their son was two and their daughter was still in the womb. The children are now 14 and 12. 'JPN told us that because we didn't register the marriage, the children aren't eligible to have their father's name listed. 'We admit that was our mistake, but when my partner passed and the children couldn't have his name on their documents, it made life very difficult,' she said. Ramya was one of over 100 participants at the MyIdentiti programme last Sunday, organised by the Kota Kemuning state assemblyman's office in collaboration with the Society for Community Advancement. The initiative offers advice and assistance to individuals facing documentation issues, from citizenship and birth certificates to adoption status and red identity cards for permanent residents. Effa Melia Insah Sumolang, 44, said she had waited 21 years for her application for permanent resident status to be approved, despite being married to a Malaysian citizen since 2004. 'Without a (red) identity card, my life is restricted. I have health problems and need to go to private hospitals, which is very costly. Even banking is difficult. Sometimes, I feel hopeless,' she said. Although her two children are Malaysian citizens, Effa continues to live in limbo, awaiting recognition as a permanent resident. Maznah Musa, 44, is appealing to the government for legal guardianship of her adopted daughter, now 12, whom she has cared for since the child was four days old. 'I got the baby from her biological mother, who is Sri Lankan. We've completed all of the court processes, but when I tried to register with JPN, the application was rejected. Until now, I still don't have legal custody,' she said. Rafidah Abdullah, 45, a former resident of a welfare department shelter, shared her frustration over still not having an identity card. 'Without an IC, I can't open a bank account, pursue further studies, or get married. I've applied for years with no success. I've lived in a welfare home since birth,' she said. * 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
