Latest news with #TeoKokSeong
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Negeri Sembilan wins most progressive state award at IBR ASEAN 2025
SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan has been honoured as Malaysia's Most Progressive State at the International Business Review (IBR) ASEAN Awards 2025. The recognition highlights the state's achievements in key areas such as investment attractiveness, tourism, and sustainable development. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun stated that the award reflects the state government's commitment to progress. 'This recognition is more than just an award. It is a testament to the collective efforts of the Negeri Sembilan administration at all levels, guided by our principles of Clean, United and Prosperous,' he said. The evaluation covered 20 criteria, including financial security, ease of doing business, tourism growth, industrial development, and environmental preservation. The judging panel comprised local and international experts from diverse sectors. State executive councillor Teo Kok Seong and State Economic Planning Unit director Dr Arwan Sabri accepted the award at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday. – Bernama
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Experts call for more matriculation colleges to address entry bottlenecks
KUALA LUMPUR: Experts have proposed the establishment of more matriculation institutions nationwide to address the recurring discourse on entry into the university preparatory programme. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) sociologist Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong said the government should adopt a single pre-university pathway, matriculation, and gradually phase out the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) route. "With only one system, everybody goes through matriculation. "If you have two systems, every year we'll face the same chaos, and it's not good for national unity. You are creating a double standard with STPM students," he said. Teo said STPM had declined in popularity due to the length of the programme, the stigma associated with enrolling in Form Six, and its perception as being more difficult. He added that not all schools offering Form Six were adequately resourced to support students in attaining the co-curricular points needed for university entry. Echoing his views, UKM education sociologist Dr Anuar Ahmad said Malaysia needed more matriculation institutions to increase capacity. He said that the issue was not the Bumiputera quota but the limited number of available spots. "Every year, we talk about the same issue. The problem is insufficient places. "We only have 17 matriculation colleges, 15 under the Education Ministry and two under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara). "We hope the government will add two or three more institutions so that children of all races who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) can secure a place in matriculation," he said, adding that such expansion should be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan. Anuar also proposed that all public universities establish their own foundation centres to increase the number of preparatory pathways. "This way, we can increase access to university-level education," he said. However, he added that schools offering STPM should also receive additional funding to enhance the programme and make Form Six an attractive option for SPM leavers. On Monday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that all students who obtained 10As in the SPM, including those with A- grades, would be guaranteed a place in the matriculation programme. She, however, affirmed that the 90 per cent Bumiputera quota would remain. Two days earlier, Fadhlina said that students with 10As, including A- grades, would need to apply to matriculation institutions and would be assessed based on merit. Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced that all SPM candidates scoring 10As would be offered a place in matriculation colleges. The matriculation programme was introduced in 1998. In 2005, the government opened it to non-Bumiputeras with a 10 per cent quota. Debates over matriculation entry criteria have become a yearly issue, often revolving around merit and race.
Focus Malaysia
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Why is a non-Muslim DAP rep allowed to poke his nose in the running of Islamic affairs?
MUSLIMS seem to be divided over the recent 'open-minded' move by the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) to include non-Muslim politicians in its Islamic affairs briefing. This came about as a pro-opposition netizen questioned the presence of the state's Industry and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Teo Kok Seong (not to be mistaken for his controversial academician namesake) at the briefing on grounds that 'matters pertaining to Islamic affairs should shield be left to Muslims to manage by themselves'. 'Such action is incorrect and should be questioned,' he penned on X in reaction to a photo bearing the caption 'There is a DAP representative in the MAINS meeting as an observer'. Sampai sekarang kerajaan Negeri Sembilan PH-BN tak memberikan penjelasan kenapa ada pemimpin non-muslim yang masuk dlm mesyuarat Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan. Hal ehwal urusan agama islam biarlah org islam sendiri uruskan. Tindakan ini tidak betul & perlu ditegur. — (@ahmadazarul_) May 29, 2025 Earlier, MAINS had defended the briefing held on May 20 which Teo who is also a two-term Bahau state assemblyman attended as part of an inclusive and integrated governance approach involving members of the state executive council, including non-Muslims. 'The attendance was in line with the directive and consent of the Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir aimed at providing exposure and deepening understanding of Islamic administration in the state,' read the statemen by MAINS. The council further noted that it had previously conducted a similar briefing with all state assembly members – including non-Muslims from both government and opposition – on Oct 8 last year. This approach reflects its commitment to progressive and inclusive Islamic governance, according to the council. Many Madani government backers ticked of the poster for his narrow mindset, alluding to the point that Tuanku Muhriz as the Negeri Sembilan ruler had consented the move given Teo's attendance would further enhance the understanding of non-Muslims on the state's Islamic administration. Moreover, the poster was either oblivious or had y chosen to ignore to ignore the fact that MAINS had clarified on the matter on May 27 which is two days prior to his social media post. As one commenter aptly put it, though there was a non-Muslim presence in the briefing, 'it's the Muslims who eventually make decisions on Islamic matters'. This is when it became obvious that the issue here is not about non-Muslims sitting in the briefing or interfering in the administration of Islamic affairs but merely a tool by the pro-PAS faction to demonise DAP. To counter the grouses of a pro-opposition commenter as to why 'only Muslins are busy inviting non-Muslims to gatherings/conferences related to Islam when the same is not reciprocated by non-Muslims', one rational Muslim furnished the following cheeky response: 'How is this possible when some radical Muslims have even demanded that the Christian cross at churches be removed. And now you want to be invited to interfaith dialogues?' – May 31, 2025
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
N. Sembilan Fast Lane to boost competitiveness, industrial development processes
SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan government is committed to expediting the approval of manufacturing projects, including those in the semiconductor sector, which add value to the state's economy through the Negeri Sembilan Fast Lane initiative. State Industrialisation and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Teo Kok Seong said the Negeri Sembilan Fast Lane is a streamlined development process that accelerates all stages—from plan pre-approval to construction completion and operational approval—within a shortened timeframe. 'It involves an integrated process covering plan approvals, the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC), and operating licences. Early groundwork has already begun under the Seremban City Council (MBS). 'The criteria (for the fast approval) include the industry being in a planned area with resolved land matters, construction-ready sites, complete infrastructure, and approved reports for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), and Road Safety Audit (RSA),' he said. Teo (PH–Bahau) said this during the winding-up debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly sitting here today. He said that the project categories include factories, workshops, warehouses, private facilities such as schools and hospitals, and petrol stations. Meanwhile, regarding the innovative port project (Container AI Port) in Port Dickson, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that approval to construct the jetty on the seabed was granted on March 19. 'In this regard, the approved area must be gazetted. At present, the certificate for exemption of survey fees has been approved by the State Land and Mines Office. The Port Dickson District Land Office is submitting a survey request to the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) before the official approval letter is issued,' said the Sikamat assemblyman. Meanwhile, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Climate Change, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman S. Veerapan said the state MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme has recorded sales exceeding RM35 million, benefiting more than 713,000 residents. Veerapan (PH–Repah) said that as of April 29, 466 MADANI Rahmah Sales programmes were hosted across 36 state constituencies, offering discounts of up to 30 per cent on daily essential goods. The sitting adjourned sine dine.
Barnama
30-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
N.Sembilan Fast Lane To Boost Competitiveness, Industrial Development Processes
GENERAL SEREMBAN, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan government is committed to expediting the approval of manufacturing projects, including those in the semiconductor sector, which add value to the state's economy through the Negeri Sembilan Fast Lane initiative. State Industrialisation and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Teo Kok Seong said the Negeri Sembilan Fast Lane is a streamlined development process that accelerates all stages—from plan pre-approval to construction completion and operational approval—within a shortened timeframe. 'It involves an integrated process covering plan approvals, the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC), and operating licences. Early groundwork has already begun under the Seremban City Council (MBS). 'The criteria (for the fast approval) include the industry being in a planned area with resolved land matters, construction-ready sites, complete infrastructure, and approved reports for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), and Road Safety Audit (RSA),' he said. Teo (PH–Bahau) said this during the winding-up debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly sitting here today. He said that the project categories include factories, workshops, warehouses, private facilities such as schools and hospitals, and petrol stations. Meanwhile, regarding the innovative port project (Container AI Port) in Port Dickson, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that approval to construct the jetty on the seabed was granted on March 19. 'In this regard, the approved area must be gazetted. At present, the certificate for exemption of survey fees has been approved by the State Land and Mines Office. The Port Dickson District Land Office is submitting a survey request to the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) before the official approval letter is issued,' said the Sikamat assemblyman. Meanwhile, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Climate Change, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman S. Veerapan said the state MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme has recorded sales exceeding RM35 million, benefiting more than 713,000 residents.
