Latest news with #MajlisAmanahRakyat
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Five MRSM students remanded over bullying of Form Two student
KUALA TERENGGANU: Police have arrested five students to assist in investigations into the bullying of a Form Two student at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Besut. The suspects, comprising four Form Three students and one Form Five student, have been remanded for three days starting today to facilitate investigations under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting. Assistant court registrar Yuhanis Mohd Roslan granted the remand order when the suspects, aged between 15 and 17, were brought before the Kuala Terengganu Court Complex this morning. It was reported that police received a report regarding the bullying incident involving the Form Two student at 6.48pm on Wednesday. Besut district police chief Superintendent Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu was quoted as saying investigations revealed that the 14-year-old victim was forced to remain in a semi-squatting position with a pair of slippers placed on his head for about 40 minutes. "The victim also claimed he was punched in the stomach and slapped by several Form Three students while in the boys' dormitory of the college around 11.30pm last Tuesday. "As a result of the incident, the victim sustained injuries to his abdomen, ribs, and back," he said. He added that the incident was noticed by the duty warden, who then brought all those involved to the warden's office. "The victim's guardian was subsequently contacted, and the victim was taken to the hospital for treatment," he said. Earlier today, six MRSM students who were found to have bullied the victim were expelled from the institution. Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki stressed that there would be no compromise on such actions under any circumstances.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
6,600 Sabah women gained from financing, says Mara
Published on: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 26, 2025 Text Size: Asyraf said the loan repayment rate among women is among the highest across Mara's financing schemes. Kota Kinabalu: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has recorded a commendable achievement, with over 6,600 women in Sabah successfully registering with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and receiving initial financing through various entrepreneurship schemes under the agency. Mara Chairman Datuk Wira Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said they were among a total of 10,700 women participants who have taken part in 67 series of the Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme since its inception more than two decades ago. 'Of the figure, I am pleased to announce that 6,654 women – approximately 30 per cent – have officially registered their businesses with SSM and received financing. 'Among the most active are women entrepreneurs who are also managing households and families,' he said during the Sabah Women Empowerment Programme 2025 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here Tuesday. The programme was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister cum Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Asyraf said the loan repayment rate among women is among the highest across Mara's financing schemes. 'Out of the 17 active financing schemes involving women, the repayment rate has never fallen below 93 per cent. This clearly demonstrates that women are the true 'paymasters' – capable of managing businesses with discipline and accountability,' he said. He also praised the strong motivation and entrepreneurial spirit shown by women in Sabah, particularly through their active participation in Mara-led programmes. 'Sabah is among the states with the highest participation in these programmes. While I couldn't attend every session, the programmes with the largest turnout were here in this State – especially from rural areas. This proves that women in Sabah are truly driven to succeed,' he said. Asyraf said Mara has allocated RM31.2 million specifically for financing women entrepreneurs in Sabah this year, making it one of the highest state allocations to date. 'However, this amount is still insufficient. Given the significant impact of these programmes, we hope that with the support of the Deputy Prime Minister (Zahid), the Prime Minister and Cabinet will consider increasing the funds to expand financing for women entrepreneurs across the State, including rural areas,' he said, confident that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will continue to prioritise the women's empowerment agenda. Asyraf hopes such programmes can be continued and expanded in the future to provide more women with opportunities and benefits in the field of entrepreneurship. 'God willing, all the aspirations and proposals raised in today's programme will be conveyed and championed for future implementation,' he 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
New Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mara students head to UK, Canada, Japan after US visa policy shift
KUALA LUMPUR: Almost all of 200 Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) scholars who were initially set to pursue their studies in the United States have now secured placements — or are in the final stages of admission — at top-ranked universities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that none of the students were left behind, stressing that the agency worked swiftly to find alternative destinations following its decision to halt new placements in the US. The suspension was due to growing uncertainty surrounding proposed visa restrictions under the administration of US President Donald Trump. "These are among our brightest students who have completed over a year of intensive preparatory training. We ensured every one of them was placed appropriately," said Asyraf during a visit to the Media Prima headquarters on Friday. Asyraf, who recently returned from a working visit to the UK, said several British universities — including the University of Edinburgh, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge and University College London — had agreed to reduce tuition fees by up to 20 per cent. "We're looking at savings of between RM105,000 and RM110,000 per student. This represents significant financial and logistical relief," he said, adding that the UK had emerged as a more stable destination for scholars in the current climate. While future cohorts will be redirected from the US, Asyraf stressed that Mara scholars already there had been advised to avoid any activities — such as political demonstrations — that could endanger their visa status. "We understand their emotional attachment to global issues like the Palestinian cause, but they must remain focused on their studies. We cannot risk having them entangled in foreign political agendas," he said. Beyond short-term contingencies, Asyraf highlighted Mara's broader efforts to future-proof its education and sponsorship policies. The agency, he said, now prioritised fields of study that aligned with long-term national development needs and evolving labour market demands, rather than simply accommodating parental preferences or academic trends. "We're asking, will this field be relevant in 10 years? Will it provide the students with meaningful, dignified employment that matches their training?" he said during an interview on Berita Harian 's Borak Hari Ini podcast. He said Malaysia's core issue was not unemployment, but underemployment — where graduates end up in jobs that do not match their qualifications. To address this, Mara has intensified collaboration with industry stakeholders to ensure that its programmes remain closely tied to market demand. "Education must go hand in hand with national economic strategy. We don't want to produce aimless graduates. Our goal is to build career pathways with purpose," he said. This strategic approach, Asyraf added, was rooted in Mara's founding mission to uplift the Bumiputera community. That vision remains central today, not only for overseas scholars but also for the 125,000 students enrolled across Mara's 344 institutions nationwide. Addressing brain drain concerns, Asyraf said Mara had adopted a pragmatic policy that allowed scholars to gain international work experience for up to three years before returning to serve the country. "There's nothing wrong with letting our students work abroad. Most will eventually come home — it's in our nature to return to our roots, our families and our culture." He added that concerns about Mara-sponsored graduates failing to return were often overstated. The agency continues to monitor their progress and holds them accountable through a structured repayment scheme. "The key is responsibility. Even those working abroad must begin repaying their loans. Some contribute as little as 10 per cent, depending on academic performance," he said.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Budding technopreneurs have govt's full support, says Zahid
MELAKA: Students undertaking Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should consider becoming technopreneurs, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said TVET offers promising opportunities in the entrepreneurship sector. Government support is essential in realising such potential, he said. 'We are grateful for the growing trust of parents (in TVET) today. That is why we must find new ways to nurture and transform the mindset of TVET students into future technopreneurs.' Ahmad Zahid said to date, TVET institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat have produced 50 TVET millionaires. Speaking at the 2025 National TVET Day celebration, he said as Malaysia moves towards becoming a developed nation, the involvement of all parties in driving the country's progress must be properly coordinated. This is especially to help groups that are often seen as marginalised within the country's education system, he said. 'For instance, the National TVET Council has taken the responsibility to recruit huffaz students to join TVET so that their future can be better secured,' he said, Bernama reported. The Deputy Prime Minister cited examples, including huffaz students enrolled at Universiti Kuala Lumpur's aerospace and maritime affairs faculties as well as at Universiti Tenaga Nasional. 'The response has been quite good (from the huffaz) and we welcome their contributions to building this country,' he said.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
MARA allocates RM10m for MotoExpert Pprogramme
KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has allocated RM10 million to empower Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the motorcycle maintenance and repair sector through the MARA-Petronas Automotive Entrepreneur Development (PUMP) MotoExpert Programme. Its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the allocation would enable 30 motorcycle workshop owners targeted this year to receive business financing facilities of up to RM300,000 each. According to him, MARA was also offering RM1 million for structured technical training, in addition to rebranding support and financing facilities for selected entrepreneurs. 'Entrepreneurs will also receive support in terms of spare parts supply, improving the image of their premises and developing a more efficient and competitive workshop operating system. 'MARA will continuously monitor the programme, as it is not merely about providing financing but also involves structured training and ensuring integration with the supply chain network,' he told reporters after launching the programme here today. Meanwhile, MARA, in a statement, said PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PLMM) would supply PETRONAS Sprinta brand lubricant products directly to MotoExpert workshops without involving middlemen, thereby enabling entrepreneurs to enjoy higher profit margins. 'PLMM will also assist entrepreneurs in marketing, technical training and fostering collaboration with external industry players,' it said. The programme is open to graduates of MARA's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions or other recognised institutions who have operated a motorcycle workshop for at least six months, with annual sales exceeding RM360,000, subject to an interview-based selection.
