Latest news with #BahasaMelayu
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
RM300 incentive for top SPM students in RISDA tuition programme
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) will reward RM300 to all high-achieving students under the Tuisyen Rakyat RISDA programme who excelled in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that 884 participants achieved outstanding results, including 17 scoring 11As, 16 with 10As, and 72 obtaining 9As. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, highlighted the significant improvement in performance compared to 2023, where 654 students scored 5As and above. 'This success reflects the hard work of students, parents, teachers, and RISDA's rural education support system. The incentive recognises their determination, proving that rural students can excel despite geographical challenges,' he said during the Tuisyen Rakyat RISDA appreciation ceremony. Since its launch in 2007, the programme has supported 35,316 students with an allocation of RM31.03 million. Last year, RM3.51 million was dedicated to helping 3,015 rural students prepare for SPM, focusing on core subjects like Bahasa Melayu, English, Science, Mathematics, and History. Ahmad Zahid also commended the 1,005 teachers across 201 tuition centres nationwide for their pivotal role in student success. He noted the growing trend of rural students pursuing higher education, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The UP_TVET platform, introduced in 2023, received over 125,000 applications by 2024, with 35,000 placements offered initially. TVET graduates now enjoy a 95.1% employability rate due to rising industry demand for skilled workers. Ahmad Zahid praised the University College of Agroscience Malaysia (UCAM), a RISDA-owned institution, for offering TVET courses in modern agriculture, business, and halal certification. 'UCAM must become a regional leader in agricultural TVET,' he added, emphasising RISDA's role in rural transformation and social mobility. - Bernama
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Shaping the future of psychology education
AS mental health and human behaviour gain increasing attention, so does the demand for qualified psychology professionals. In response, universities are evolving their programmes to produce well-rounded graduates. Rising to this need, Taylor's offers a seamless pathway in psychology — from Foundation in Arts (FIA) through to the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and Master of Clinical Psychology — equipping students with both strong theoretical grounding and hands-on experience. Dr Neerushah Subranimaniam, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) programme director at Taylor's University said: "The integrated bachelor-master pathway allows students to progress smoothly into postgraduate options, with credit transfers granted for selected modules." EARLY EXPOSURE AND ACADEMIC DISCOVERY Derrick Raj, a second-year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student at Taylor's University was initially uncertain of his career path. However, his foundation year at Taylor's College, through the FIA programme, provided exposure to multiple disciplines and ultimately helped him discover his interest in psychology. "From mass communication and law to my personal favourite, psychology, the foundation programme gave me good exposure and prepared me for what university-level coursework and research would look like," he said. For students like Derrick, early academic exploration was matched with practical learning, as he was able to get involved in projects and volunteering opportunities early on. "Through Taylor's Multidisciplinary Learning Experiences (MLE) projects, I got to teach underserved children reading and writing Bahasa Melayu and English," he said, explaining how this experience helped him understand how psychological concepts can be applied in educational settings. WHERE THEORY MEETS PRACTICE At the core of Taylor's hands-on learning approach is the HEART Psychological Services, an on-campus clinical training centre where students engage in real-world simulations and community service, developing essential therapeutic skills. "The Hub serves as a live clinical setting where students deliver psychological services—including psychotherapy, assessments, and mental health workshops—to the public under the close supervision of licensed clinical psychologists," said Neerushah. "It integrates education, research, and community engagement in a way that's rarely offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels." For Derrick, participating in counselling simulations and peer discussions at the Hub sharpened his interpersonal and observational skills. Meanwhile, postgraduate student Nadhira Afiqah Zainal Abidin, now completing her final semester of the Master of Clinical Psychology, began her practicum at the Hub before progressing to a private psychology centre. "It allowed me to apply assessment tools and clinical skills in a supportive environment," said Nadhira. "Now working with clients externally, I have learnt that clinical practice demands not just knowledge but also patience, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity." Beyond clinical training, the institution supports behavioural research through the Centre for Human Excellence and Development (CHED) and its AI-equipped Socio-Behavioural Lab. These centres enable advanced behavioural research using tools such as Electroencephalography (EEG) brain scanners, virtual reality (VR) systems, and AI-powered emotional recognition software. Students also gain international perspectives through guest lectures, exchange programmes, and transfer options with partner universities in the United Kingdom and Australia after Year 1 or Year 2. Derrick recalled attending a guest lecture by Alan Baddeley — the psychologist behind the Working Memory Model — as a highlight of his early studies. For Nadhira, engaging with international lecturers helped her understand global trends in clinical psychology, and prepared her to work in cross-cultural and increasingly globalised mental health settings. PATHWAYS TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE The Master of Clinical Psychology programme at Taylor's aligns with the requirements set by the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council, the Allied Health Professions Act 2016, and the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP). Graduates are eligible to register as clinical psychologists in Malaysia. "The programme's accreditation reassures me that my training meets national standards, and that my qualifications will be respected and valid as I begin my career," said Nadhira. Neerushah added that graduates have pursued diverse career paths — not only in clinical psychology, but also in education, corporate wellness, human resources, forensic psychology, media, and more — reflecting the programme's wide applicability. Many also contribute meaningfully to community mental health through non-governmental organisations, policy research, crisis intervention, and advocacy work. Visit Taylor's Open Day on August 9, 10, 16, and 17 to explore the campus, speak with faculty members, and learn more about psychology programmes at Taylor's.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Academy to strengthen debate culture launched
PUTRAJAYA: The government yesterday launched the Akademi Bahas Madani, a national-level training initiative aimed at strengthening the debate culture in fully residential schools and cultivating students' critical thinking, intellectual discipline and ethical argumentation. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the 50th edition of the Piala Perdana Menteri Debate held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. The initiative will be implemented immediately at 72 'Sekolah Berasrama Penuh' nationwide. 'I was very impressed not only with the fluency and confidence of the students but also their knowledge, mastery of language and respectful conduct. 'Shouldn't our MPs take lessons from all of you? The students are firm, articulate, full of substance and yet, they debate politely. 'We must train our students not only to reach for the skies in terms of knowledge and technology but also to remain grounded in character, culture and identity.' Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the newly established academy would serve as a platform for structured, long-term training, with a focus on intellectual empowerment and critical reasoning. 'We want to ensure that students, especially those in Form 3 and Form 4 who show remarkable potential this year, are given equal opportunities to be trained and supported through this academy. 'This will be one of the key agendas leading into next year's 51st edition of the Piala Perdana Menteri Debate.' She said the ministry is also looking at the potential for future expansion beyond residential schools through related platforms such as Debat Madani. Fadhlina also announced that the Bahasa Melayu debate trophy, used since the inception of the competition in 1974, would be retired and handed to the National Archives and a new trophy contributed by Anwar would be introduced in 2026. In the 50th edition of the debate, Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang won in the Bahasa Melayu category, defeating SBP Integrasi Sabak Bernam, while Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah claimed victory over Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar in the English category.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Govt to set up Madani Debate Academy in residential schools
PUTRAJAYA: The government is set to establish the Madani Debate Academy in stages at all fully residential schools nationwide aimed at strengthening the language proficiency and public speaking skills among students, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Fadhlina said the academy would not merely serve as a training space for students participating in the upcoming Prime Minister's Cup Debate Competition, but also as a platform to equip them with the ability to articulate and express their views confidently. "This academy will focus on training, intellectual empowerment, critical argumentation, and continuous practice to ensure our students have equal access and opportunities to be trained under this envisioned academy. "This will be our key agenda as we head towards the next debate competition," she said when met by reporters after the final round of the 50th edition of the 2025 Prime Minister's Cup Debate Competition today. Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. Commenting further, Fadhlina said the academy would enable students to be trained as debaters, while also emphasising the pursuit of knowledge and the importance of discipline. "This means teaching them how to utilise their intellectual abilities to argue effectively, while most importantly, upholding values of morality and respect, especially when dealing with differing opinions," she said. The 50th edition of the Prime Minister's Cup Debate Competition 2025 saw SMA Persekutuan Kajang defend its title in the Bahasa Melayu category, while Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah, Putrajaya defeated Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar in the English category. Winners in both categories took home a cash prize of RM5,000, a trophy, certificates, and an iPad.
Hype Malaysia
6 days ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) 'How Dare You!': UK Couple Exposes Street Vendors In London For Selling Fake Malaysian Food
Nothing brings people together quite like good food. When travelling abroad, one of the top priorities on any itinerary is to sample as many local delicacies as possible. Each destination offers a rich variety of delicious dishes just waiting to be savoured by curious visitors. Even if you can't afford to travel, you can still enjoy these dishes, as many restaurants offer authentic cuisine from the countries they represent. However, it's always best to do some research beforehand, just like this UK couple, who were nearly scammed into trying fake Malaysian food by a street vendor. Here's what happened: Earlier this week, UK content creator couple Pat and Giulia posted a video of their recent trip to the northeast of London, where they visited several eateries, one of which served Malaysian cuisine. The first restaurant, Raya, did not disappoint. The pair, who have spent time in Malaysia and are in the process of moving here, described the food as being very similar to what they had tasted during their stay. However, during their day out, the couple decided to highlight a suspicious street vendor who claimed to sell authentic Malaysian dishes but didn't. While visiting Camden Lock Market, a location well known for its diverse food stalls and eateries, they stopped to check out the aforementioned suspicious 'Malaysian' vendor. Pat asked one of the hawkers which dish was a classic Malaysian option. The vendor responded with beef rendang and chilli chicken Manchurian, adding that it was a 'traditional curry from Malaysia'. Sceptical, the influencer decided to expose the stall by asking a question in Malay: 'Kamu dari mana?' (Where are you from?), to which the hawkers froze in silence, unable to respond. Pat asked again, 'Dari mana? Boleh cakap Bahasa Melayu?' (Where are you from? Can you speak Malay?), but once more, there was no reply from the vendors. He called out the vendors for not even being Malaysian and selling fake Malaysian dishes. The accused vendors defended themselves by claiming that their boss was from Malaysia, specifically, Penang. Unconvinced, the content creator continued speaking in Malay, telling them that he had lived in Malaysia and wouldn't be easily fooled by their false claims. 'What an embarrassment that was. They claimed to sell Malaysian food, but it wasn't,' he told viewers. 'I was getting a bit annoyed, like, 'How dare you say this is Malaysian food?''. The vlog has since gone viral, with many Malaysians praising the content creators for being able to spot fake Malaysian food after having lived in the country. Others commented that they would have reacted far more strongly if they had discovered someone misrepresenting their national cuisine. What would you have done if you were in this situation? Watch the full vlog below: Source: YouTube
