Latest news with #Malaysian
The Star
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Govt to monitor students still in Iran
JELI: The five Malaysian students who have chosen to remain in Iran will continue to be monitored by the Higher Education Ministry, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir ( pic ). 'The government has offered support and expressed its willingness to help them return if they choose to,' said the Higher Education Minister, Bernama reported. 'We will continue to monitor their situation closely, wherever they are, to ensure their safety,' he told reporters after opening the Jeli Umno division meeting here. Previously, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed only five Malaysians remained in Iran by choice. All five had signed letters of undertaking to stay in the country, despite the government's earlier advisory urging Malaysians to leave amid tit-for-tat air strikes between Iran and Israel. On June 23, the Malaysian government brought back a total of 24 individuals who arrived safely at the KL International Airport from Iran on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781. They comprised 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens and one Singaporean national. Meanwhile, Zambry said all students who survived the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris crash on June 9 have been discharged from hospital.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ministry urges Harvard hopefuls to check enrolment updates
PETALING JAYA: The Higher Education Ministry has advised students enrolling at Harvard University for the September intake to get in touch with the university and their respective sponsors for information on the latest developments before making further decisions. At this time, the ministry reported that there are no issues related to the Student Exchange Visa Program or the cancellation of visas. This follows the US State Department's directive to consulates globally to restart the processing of visa applications for international students accepted into Harvard. The ministry noted that this development is a relief for the nearly 7,000 foreign students enrolled at the Ivy League institution. The ministry is closely monitoring developments through its Education Malaysia Washington DC (EMWDC) office. Currently, there are 54 Malaysian students at the university, of which 16 are scholarship holders and 38 are self-funded. 'This decision allows international students, including Malaysian students, to continue their studies without disruption to their visa status for now. The ministry and EMWDC office have contacted the relevant sponsors and US education authorities,' it said in a statement yesterday. The ministry also expressed appreciation for the commitment of these parties to working together to provide updated information regarding the optional practical training programme and address immigration matters. Malaysia believes that cross-border higher education is the best platform for talent development, knowledge exchange and strategic cooperation among nations. It also urged all parties to remain calm and act based on true information. On June 6, the US State Department instructed consulates worldwide to resume processing visa applications for international students admitted to Harvard University, reversing guidance issued a day earlier ordering such requests to be rejected. The new directive rescinded one issued a day earlier, less than an hour before a judge blocked the Trump administration from restricting international students from entering the country to attend Harvard.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Keeping media standards high
Yong says the sponsorship will also be spent on upskill training for media personnel, the corporate sector and government agencies. A total of 548 entries have been received from media practitioners vying for recognition in Malaysia's journalism awards. Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) said there were a total of 60 entries more than the previous year. Fifty-eight media organisations from all over the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, are participating in MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards 2024, which will be held in conjunction with a media night in Kuala Lumpur on June 20. MPI chief executive officer Ainol Amriz Ismail said the event had garnered up to RM1.25mil in sponsorship, with PETRONAS putting in RM450,000 as the main sponsor for award night prizes. The media practitioners are competing in both traditional and emerging media formats, comprising 21 categories including environmental, social and governance (ESG) journalism, radio broadcasting, podcasting, video documentary work, live streaming, and investigative reporting. For the media night, MPI collaborated with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and received RM799,500 in sponsorship from 51 organisations, including corporate entities, ministries, government agencies, and media organisations. 'The total amount of sponsorships is 15% more than last year,' Ainol Amriz said during a sponsors appreciation event in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 'The number of organisations has also increased, from only 22 last year. 'The increase is a sign of confidence in MPI,' he added. A town hall on how corporations, government agencies, and sponsors could obtain opportunities for coverage in the media was also held during the event attended by 130 representatives of 41 organisations. MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, in a press conference after the event, said sponsorship for the awards had several main selling points. 'One is to be able to attend a function where the best in Malaysian media will be in the same room. 'Sponsors will be able to mingle with the editors, chief editors and reporters to get to know how they work. 'They can improve their ways when it comes to interacting with the media to achieve higher visibility. 'It is also a prestigious event. This year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will be attending the event,' he said. Yong said the money received from sponsors would also go towards upskill training, not only for journalists but also those working in corporate and government agencies. 'What you see today is not just a form of contribution and encouragement. 'It is also a sign of lasting friendship which has taken time to build,' said Yong, adding that MPI had been receiving support for its awards night for the past 45 years. Some 1,000 guests are expected to attend the awards night. To mark the occasion, a coffee-table book detailing the generosity of its major sponsors and featuring the work of former journalists will be one of the souvenirs.
The Star
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
SMEs still lagging in digitalisation journey, says Gobind
KUALA LUMPUR: Most Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still trailing behind larger enterprises in their digitalisation journey, says Gobind Singh Deo ( pic ). The Digital Minister said that to address the issue, the ministry is working hard through initiatives like the Business Digitalisation Initiative (BDI), recently launched by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, to help SMEs accelerate the adoption of digital technology in their operations. 'The government has also set aside RM50mil for digital matching grants for SMEs and digital grants for vendors. 'Global technology companies based in Malaysia, such as Microsoft and Alibaba Cloud, are working closely with the government to assist SMEs through multiple programmes,' he said in his keynote address at the CTOS SME Biz Day 2025 yesterday. Gobind said the government is also committed to ensuring that SMEs are prioritised in navigating current geopolitical challenges with funds allocated for this purpose, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament on Monday. He said the government's initiatives have always been designed to provide SMEs with the resources, knowledge and support they need to navigate the digital landscape effectively. 'Our vision is to create a digitally empowered Malaysia, where every business, regardless of size, can thrive in our national digital ecosystem. 'We are committed to fostering an environment that supports innovation, digital adoption and, ultimately, building up Malaysia as a strong digital nation,' he said, Bernama reported. On Monday, Anwar announced that the government has agreed to increase government guarantees under the Business Financing Guarantee Scheme by RM1bil to assist SMEs affected by the recent United States' reciprocal tariff announcement in securing loans from commercial banks. Additionally, another RM50mil will be allocated to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation to expedite efforts for SMEs to explore new markets through participation in international trade expos and exhibitions, as well as facilitating business matching with foreign buyers.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Star
Navigating the landscape of digital safety at work
THE theme for this year's World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28), 'Revolutionising Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalisation at Work', highlighted the profound impact of emerging technologies on work, and the critical need to address the evolving safety and health challenges and opportunities they present. The International Labour Organisation's focus on the impacts of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) on occupational safety and health resonates deeply within our Malaysian context.
