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Free Malaysia Today
04-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Make education a focus in revamped 13MP, govt told
Malaysia should revamp its education system to emphasise character-building in early childhood using Japan as a model, an economist said. PETALING JAYA : Economist Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera says the government should make education a priority to drive sustainable economic growth as it revamps the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Kameel said development should extend beyond infrastructure and fiscal targets. It should also be people-centric, said the International Islamic University Malaysia's economics professor. He said there was an urgent need for Malaysia to reform its education system from preschool to the tertiary level, citing Japan's emphasis on character-building in early childhood as a model. Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera. He also called for greater investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects; technical and vocational education (TVET), and digital skills including artificial intelligence. 'Malaysian students are not inferior, but they need the right coaching, values and opportunities,' he told FMT. Kameel was commenting after the government announced that the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), originally introduced under former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, would be reworked by finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan. Coming just weeks before its scheduled tabling in Parliament, the 13MP revamp has sparked questions as to whether eleventh hour changes to be made would compromise policy continuity and reflect political uncertainty. Kameel, however, welcomed the revamp, saying previous approaches to national planning were too narrow, as they were focused largely on project spending and fiscal allocation. 'Malaysia Plans are too focused on projects. A good plan must also drive behavioural change and get the private sector actively involved in achieving national goals,' he said. He specified that the plan should promote equitable and sustainable growth, ensure balanced budgets, and empower citizens through education and healthcare. Asked whether the last-minute overhaul might unsettle investors, Kameel said: 'Investors are intelligent and rational. If the changes to the 13MP can bring about such results, then why would investors care if it is done by civil servants?' Although defending the concept of five-year plans, Kameel stressed that they must be dynamic and adaptable. 'They provide a macro view of where we're heading, but they shouldn't be rigid.' He called for regular reviews with input from all stakeholders, including investors, industries and the general public, to ensure the 13MP remains relevant and effective. Carmelo Ferlito. Meanwhile, Center for Market Education CEO Carmelo Ferlito urged the government to prioritise simpler reforms rather than undertake rigid central planning. 'These plans often end up as high-sounding wish lists,' he said, warning that unclear and complex measures, such as e-invoicing or the expanded sales and service tax, only burden businesses and investors. 'The less the government plans, the better. Let the people plan for themselves,' Ferlito said when contacted.
Malay Mail
28-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Analyst: Asean integration fuels push for independent regional financial system
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Greater economic integration among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is accelerating efforts to build an independent and resilient regional financial system, aimed at reducing reliance on external currencies and enhancing monetary stability across Southeast Asia, according to a Malaysian analyst. These moves are not meant to target any specific country but rather reflect a desire to move away from external financial volatility and facilitate transactions using local currencies for intra-Asean trade, which will enable seamless cross-border transactions, provide greater market access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as boost regional tourism, Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said in an interview with Xinhua. 'The push for the use of local currencies has been ongoing for some time, as it helps strengthen the economic integration of Asean member states—an important goal that Asean seeks to pursue. In fact, other regions are also moving away from relying too heavily on a single foreign currency, such as the US dollar, as external interest rates and shifting government policies may cause significant volatility in currency exchange,' she explained, adding that volatility is undesirable in any business. 'Apart from the benefits of easier and faster transactions between businesses and banks of Asean countries through the use of local currencies, cross-border payments in local currencies can also help to avoid volatility from outside the area,' she said. Lee also said that allowing cross-border settlements in local currencies would be faster and cheaper, and singled out the tourism sector as a big winner, as tourists in the region will not need to go through the hassle of changing physical money when visiting other Asean states. 'The Regional Payment Connectivity (RPC) initiative was first established to strengthen payment connectivity among the five Asean members, notably Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. To date, the initiative has expanded to include central banks of Vietnam, Laos, Brunei and Cambodia,' she said. 'The participation would bring about seamless cross-border transactions and boost tourism in the region. Under the local currency settlement framework, many national payment systems have been linked, such as between Malaysia and Indonesia,' Lee stated. She also noted that the Asean push for local currencies and reduced dependency on external monetary systems has gained momentum amid growing awareness of the risks posed by relying on the US dollar. 'In the past, certain currencies were viewed as stable, but due to increasingly unpredictable global developments, this perception is shifting,' Lee said, adding that if economic tools were to be used to exert pressure on policy differences, it could have negative implications. 'Such risks, even if unlikely, remind us why building regional financial resilience is critical.' — Bernama-Xinhua
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CB issues notice on CSS exemption plea
A constitutional bench (CB) of the Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the federation on a petition filed against induction of officers from armed forces in the civil bureaucracy without any written examination. A five-member CB led by Justice Aminuddin Khan took up a petition filed through Ali Azeem Afridi. During the hearing the lawyer contended that civilian candidates desirous of joining the Central Superior Services (CSS) are mandated to sit a written exam as well as an interview. However, officers from armed forces are exempted from the written exam. When Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, a member of the bench, asked the counsel as to which of his fundamental rights are violated by this provision, he replied that this provision was discriminatory. The CB issued notice to the federation under Section 3 of the Civil Services Rules, 1956 and adjourned the case for three weeks. The CSS refers to the elite civil service of Pakistan through which bureaucrats and government officers are recruited to various federal departments and ministries. Conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), the purpose of the CSS exam is to recruit officers for the Grade-17 posts in various federal government services. This exam includes written tests of compulsory and optional subjects, psychological assessment and a viva voce or interview. The bench, while hearing a petition regarding the inclusion of life skills education in schools, summoned the federal and provincial education secretaries. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the presence of all secretaries would help develop a joint strategy. The additional attorney general informed the court that life skills education is already being taught in Islamabad's schools. Justice Mazhar emphasized that all provinces must formulate a policy in coordination with the federal government. Salman Akram Raja pointed out that Punjab and the federal government have submitted their responses but copies have not been provided to them. The court expressed displeasure over the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's representative. The court directed that copies of all provincial responses be shared with the petitioner's counsel and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period. During the hearing of an appeal related to the appointment of vice-chancellors in universities, Justice Mazhar inquired whether the rector and president of Islamabad's International Islamic University had been appointed. The lawyer responded that the rector has not been permanently appointed and currently holds an acting charge. The university's lawyer informed the court that the president of the International Islamic University has been appointed but he has not yet taken charge due to being in Saudi Arabia.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Ahsan opens Int'l Centre of Excellence for Seerah Studies
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated the International Centre of Excellence for Seerah Studies and officially opened the International Seerah Conference on 'Contemporary Dimensions in the Study of the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)' at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) on Thursday. Addressing the audience as chief guest, the minister described the occasion as a historic milestone not only for academia but for the intellectual and moral future of Pakistan and the wider Muslim Ummah. He emphasised that the establishment of the Centre is more than a scholarly endeavour it marks the beginning of a movement to reclaim the ethical, spiritual, and intellectual leadership of Islam in today's complex world. Highlighting the universal relevance of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) life, the minister said that the Prophet's(PBUH) teachings serve as a complete code of conduct encompassing personal behaviour, justice, governance, tolerance, social harmony, and global peace. He underlined the need to draw from this Prophetic model at a time when the world is grappling with polarisation, materialism, and moral confusion. The minister linked the initiative to the broader national vision, URAAN Pakistan, which aspires to transform Pakistan into a $3 trillion economy by 2047. He stated that this transformation must be rooted in moral clarity and the Prophet's (PBUH) ethical teachings, forming the foundation for the 5Es framework — Exports, Energy, E-Pakistan, Environment, and Equity. According to him, the values of truth in commerce, justice in energy distribution, transparency in governance, care for the environment, and inclusion of the marginalized are inspired directly by the Seerah. Addressing the issue of national unity and interfaith harmony, Iqbal stressed that Pakistan's strength lies in its diversity. He warned against the dangers posed by sectarianism, extremism, and divisive foreign agendas, advocating for a return to the pluralistic and inclusive model exemplified by the Prophet (PBUH) through the Mithaq-e-Madina — the world's first pluralistic constitution. He called for youth education based on academic inquiry, ethical leadership, and public discourse rooted in Prophetic (PBUH) values. The minister urged the Centre to become a hub for countering extremism and misinformation, linking the Seerah's guidance to contemporary challenges such as climate change, gender equity, economic justice, and knowledge-based development. He stated that globally, the prophetic message offers answers to issues like war, discrimination, and systemic injustice, and that Pakistan has a duty to promote peace through character, dialogue, and research not force. Concluding his address, Iqbal congratulated the International Islamic University, the Higher Education Commission, and all contributors to the initiative. He expressed the hope that the Centre would serve as a beacon of peace, wisdom, and academic excellence for generations. He called upon scholars and students to rise to the sacred responsibility of embodying and promoting the Seerah not only as a subject of study but as a guiding force for national and global transformation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
