Latest news with #ZambryAbdKadir
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Minister clarifies halal status of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz caterer amid audit report concerns
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir today clarified that the delay in halal certification for the food service provider awarded the patient meal contract at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) was due to technical issues in the application process, not non-compliance with halal standards. He said the matter should not alarm the public, as it does not suggest the company involved is operating outside halal requirements. 'The issue is not that the company doesn't practise halal procedures, but rather a technical delay in obtaining the certificate. 'The halal certification process in Malaysia applies not to the company as a whole, but to the specific premises,' he said during the debate on the Auditor-General's Report in Parliament today. Zambry explained that once a company is awarded a tender, it is typically given six months to apply for halal certification. However, in this case, the process took more than a year due to administrative setbacks, including delays in appointing a Person in Charge (PIC), which is required for the certification process. 'The company was awarded the tender in 2024, but the PIC was only appointed on April 14, 2025. Without the PIC, the company could not even begin the application process. 'Only after the PIC is in place can the company begin uploading details into the halal system, undergo audits, and proceed with inspections,' he said. This lengthy, sequential process, Zambry said, led to delays that exceeded the stipulated six-month period. He also noted that while the specific premises used for HCTM had yet to be certified, other premises under the same company already held valid halal certification. He added that all food suppliers working with the company were halal-certified. 'This shows that the company does observe halal standards. The issue lies with procedural inefficiencies that we need to correct moving forward,' he said. On Monday, the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2025 revealed that HCTM had awarded a three-year catering contract worth RM25.64 million to a company that did not yet possess halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim). According to the report, the company was granted the tender to supply patient meals at HCTM from February 2024 to February 2027. The report also noted that the objective of the tender was to provide halal meals to patients, in line with the hospital's Main Kitchen, which is certified halal by Jakim.
Barnama
7 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Highlights Higher Education At Expo 2025 Osaka
PUTRAJAYA, July 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is promoting its higher education capabilities at Expo 2025 Osaka, with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) hosting Higher Education Week at the Malaysia Pavilion from July 21 to 26. In a statement, KPT said that more than 20 universities and agencies are participating to showcase the country's academic strengths, research excellence and openness to international collaboration under the theme 'Study in Malaysia'. The programme was officially launched online today by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. KPT said the initiative aims to attract more international students while highlighting the global impact of Malaysian institutions through high-impact research and innovation. Malaysia's presence at the Pavilion, coordinated by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), reinforces its position as a regional education hub offering internationally recognised programmes with local relevance. In his speech, Zambry said Malaysia's higher education landscape continues to evolve as a regional hub offering internationally recognised programmes enriched with local strengths. KPT also introduced the Edutourism Gateway, a digital platform that combines learning and tourism to enhance Malaysia's appeal as a study-abroad destination. It noted that Malaysia remains a top study destination for international students due to globally accredited programmes, highly ranked institutions, affordable education and living costs, safety and its unique multicultural society. Activities during the week include exhibitions, innovation showcases, sharing sessions and the signing of strategic partnerships involving public and private higher learning institutions.
Barnama
19-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia-Japan Ties Built On Strategic Partnership, Trust Since 1957
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia–Japan relations are more than just diplomatic; they are a long-standing strategic partnership grounded in trust, mutual respect, and shared benefit since 1957, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir To further strengthen this relationship, Zambry recently received a courtesy call from the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko, at his office in Putrajaya. In a Facebook post, Zambry said the meeting opened meaningful discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in higher education. 'We explored ways to expand student and academic mobility between institutions in both countries, while also addressing the welfare of Malaysian students in Japan and Japanese students in Malaysia, including scholarships and career opportunities after graduation,' read the post. Zambry noted that the meeting also marked key milestones in education cooperation, including the establishment of University of Tsukuba Malaysia, the first overseas branch campus by a Japanese university. He said this was a historic moment that reflected the growing depth of academic collaboration, alongside the strengthening of the Malaysia–Japan Linkage Office based at the Malaysia–Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). 'This meeting also served as a precursor to my upcoming official visit to Tokyo at the end of July, where I will meet my Japanese counterpart. 'It reflects our shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in knowledge and innovation, towards building a more competitive and forward-looking future,' he said. -- BERNAMA
The Star
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
College campuses under watch
Shades of red: Zambry interacting with Wanita Umno representatives after officiating the Setiawangsa Umno delegates' meeting at Residensi UTM in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is actively monitoring whether there are any activities related to militant movements based on the extremist ideology of the Islamic State (IS) among students at higher learning institutions, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. The Higher Education Minister said this follows the recent arrest of several individuals, including 36 Bangladeshis, suspected of being involved in the militant movement based on the IS ideology under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). 'We are continuously monitoring the situation in collaboration with the security forces, particularly the police, to prevent the spread of such ideologies, whether originating from within the country or abroad. 'The cooperation between the ministry and the security forces has always been at a strong and effective level,' he said when met by reporters after opening the Setiawangsa Umno delegates' meeting here yesterday, Bernama reported. On June 30, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said some of those arrested had been deported. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had confirmed that no Malaysians were recruited into the militant network. He was reported as saying that police investigations revealed that the group's activities only involved Bangladeshis.
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MOHE introducing special pathway for community college graduates to pursue studies
KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is providing a special pathway for new graduates of community colleges to further their studies at polytechnic and university levels in technical fields. Its minister, Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, said this aims to provide better career progression opportunities for graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes upon completing their studies at community colleges. "In the past, they might have been limited to applying to technical universities alone. "Now, we are opening up opportunities for them to continue their education at a higher level, whether at other universities or polytechnics, based on their qualifications and the courses they have completed," he said. Zambry, who is Umno Supreme Council member, said this when met by reporters after opening the Setiawangsa Umno delegates meeting here today. He said the ministry is also formulating a new policy to review the effectiveness of community colleges in producing skilled local talent by ensuring the courses offered are aligned with current industry needs. Additionally, the ministry is also assessing the feasibility of establishing community colleges in urban areas to expand access to technical education and skills training, he said. Earlier, Setiawangsa Umno Chief Datuk Seri Dr Izudin Ishak, in his speech, urged the government to establish more educational institutions in the Setiawangsa area, suggesting that at least one community college be set up, to serve as a catalyst for human capital development, particularly for local youth. – Bernama
