Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
Sabah's state sales tax collection totalled RM1.38 billion by end-June, driven primarily by crude palm oil and petroleum sectors, as the state government reviews tax rates to enhance competitiveness.
A retired senior judge has urged Malaysian schools to teach the works of celebrated journalist and educator Adibah Amin, arguing her writings can help build national cohesion among students.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned that while Malaysia must embrace artificial intelligence for global competitiveness, the nation cannot sacrifice its religious beliefs, cultural heritage and moral values in pursuit of technological advancement.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has underscored the government's unwavering dedication to advancing teacher welfare and strengthening Malaysia's education system, emphasising that educators are central to achieving national aspirations in economic growth and technological advancement.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for enhanced Bahasa Melayu competency throughout Malaysia's education system while simultaneously encouraging proficiency in languages like English, Mandarin, Tamil and Arabic.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged school leaders to report bullying cases transparently rather than suppress them to safeguard their institution's standing. He warned that concealment allows minor issues to develop into serious harm.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has decided that Malaysia's Form Six pre-university system will stay under the Ministry of Education's purview, reversing earlier plans to transfer it to the Higher Education Ministry next year.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's matriculation intake criteria, stating the policy successfully balances academic merit with assistance for underprivileged students seeking higher education.
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid has instructed Kemas leadership to convert key positions into permanent roles, signalling a push to improve teacher compensation and job security within the early childhood development agency.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid has ordered the Community Development Department (KEMAS) to make all key positions permanent and enhance teacher compensation, recognizing the agency's six decades of community service and international early childhood education achievements.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia's education system to equip students with technology skills while grounding them firmly in moral values, ethics and cultural understanding.
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Malaysian educators caution that while combating bullying is essential, the Anti-Bullying Act 2026's tribunal system may inadvertently transform schools into evidence-gathering centres, diverting resources from their core educational mission.
Prime Minister's wife Dr Wan Azizah has stressed that national strength depends on cultivating ethical, knowledgeable citizens rather than pursuing economic growth alone, highlighting teachers' pivotal role in character formation.
A new tuition programme is helping 1,600 SPM candidates in Kuala Lumpur prepare for their exams without financial strain on families. The initiative focuses on four core subjects and involves contributions from Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has outlined education, welfare and employment opportunities as central pillars for empowering Malaysia's Indian community, urging greater grassroots engagement from government agencies.
Malaysia's Community Development Department is working with government agencies to expand recruitment criteria for Tabika nursery teachers, moving beyond traditional early childhood education diplomas to accommodate emerging specialisations.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has outlined a matriculation intake policy that rewards top academic performers with automatic entry while maintaining Bumiputera provisions for disadvantaged groups.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that all KEMAS kindergarten centres nationwide will be equipped with smartboards by end of next year, part of broader efforts to modernise early childhood education through technology.
Malaysia's education ministry has set a fourth-quarter 2027 deadline for completing SJKT Sungai Bakap in Penang, a Tamil-language primary school whose construction has stalled for 12 years. The RM12.6 million project faced legal disputes and funding problems.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned educational institutions against hiding bullying cases to safeguard their standing, stressing that the wellbeing and safety of victimised students must take absolute precedence.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession backs a Teachers' Protection Act, citing growing lawsuits and social media backlash that discourage educators from disciplining students.
Johor's state government has initiated an investigation into Network School following allegations of Israeli links, reaffirming its stance against organisations operating within the state that may contradict Malaysian law and sovereignty.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on schools to cease concealing bullying incidents to maintain their public standing, emphasising that transparent reporting and immediate intervention are vital to protect student welfare.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned schools against suppressing bullying cases to safeguard their image, emphasising that transparent reporting and swift intervention are essential for protecting victims and addressing the problem.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has called for a strategic, multi-stakeholder approach to school safety, stressing that protecting students' physical and emotional wellbeing demands unified action across all institutions.
Perak's Menteri Besar Scholarship programme is lightening the financial load on families while enabling students to pursue academic excellence, with recipients using funds for tuition, books, and university preparation.
Chinese universities are cracking down on examination cheating by banning smart devices including smartwatches, fitness trackers and smart glasses from exam halls, deploying AI monitoring systems after discovering widespread misuse of wearable technology.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Tun Hussein Onn Teachers' Foundation have jointly funded a RM10,000 scoliosis surgery for 13-year-old Arissa El Zahra Reduan, scheduled for September at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged parents and educators to instil both academic excellence and moral values in children, warning against bullying and negative behaviour that could undermine their futures.
Malaysia's Education Ministry is committed to eliminating the digital divide by 2035, pledging universal high-speed internet access and equitable device distribution across all schools, building on recent gains in closing urban-rural achievement gaps.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has demanded a full investigation into reports of Israeli participation in the Network School programme, citing the need for transparency in educational partnerships.
A Malaysian education foundation is pushing the Education Ministry to create an independent body focused on student safety and welfare, arguing this would relieve teachers and address bullying and gang violence in schools.
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The Federation of Peninsular Malay Students has urged the government to implement mandatory mental health screenings across all schools, citing growing concerns over student suicide and emotional distress following a recent stabbing incident.
Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology faces a sharp reduction in its promised tax exemption period, from 10 years to just three, with new restrictions threatening the affordability of education for lower-income students.
Malaysia's Ministry of Education will establish 1,040 new preschool classes by 2027 as part of the MADANI government's commitment to expanding early childhood education access across the nation.
Malaysia's Federal Territories education official has called for a National School Safety Master Plan to combat rising violence in schools, proposing measures including enhanced security, counselling support, and coordinated response systems.
Malaysia's Finance Ministry has granted TARC Education Foundation a three-year interim tax exemption extension, conditional on the institution meeting governance and donation management requirements before eligibility for a full 10-year exemption.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has stressed that Malaysia's future prosperity hinges on cultivating high-quality human capital rather than relying solely on economic or technological strength.
The Malaysian government's MADANI Book Voucher Programme will distribute RM100 e-vouchers to 2.2 million students nationwide, funded by RM221.6 million. Redemption begins July 1 through the BookCapital platform featuring 1,238 registered booksellers.
The proposed relocation of SJKT Ladang Sungai Muar in Segamat has progressed to the land acquisition phase, with the Segamat Land and Mines Office managing the process and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek throwing her support behind the project.
Bangsa Johor KEMAS Kindergarten has become Malaysia's first community kindergarten to offer English-medium instruction alongside digital learning, with RM3.6 million in Johor Government funding supporting infrastructure and teacher training.
MARA has redirected its sponsored students from the United States to other countries for the 2025 and 2026 intakes, citing policy and geopolitical uncertainties. The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development says alternative placements will maintain academic quality and global recognition.
Malaysia is leveraging higher education as a strategic pillar to strengthen cooperation with African nations, combining talent development, trade expansion and investment innovation to build resilient partnerships.
Malaysia's Ministry of Education is intensifying efforts to safeguard students through strengthened audits, a dedicated safety committee, and expanded monitoring infrastructure including CCTV installations and additional hostel wardens.
The Royal Malaysia Police has extended its character-building and discipline programme to primary schools across Kuala Lumpur, capitalising on demonstrated success in secondary education where crime and disciplinary cases declined significantly.
Parliament will examine the Online Safety Act 2025's implementation framework, school safety protocols, and government support for traders impacted by Middle East supply chain disruptions during today's sitting.
The MARA Chairman has confirmed the expulsion of four students from a Johor MRSM following a bullying case, with two others suspended pending police investigation into physical assault allegations.
Sixteen retired Malaysian Armed Forces personnel will commence duties as full-time wardens at eight MARA Junior Science Colleges beginning July 1, marking the second phase of a military personnel recruitment programme designed to strengthen institutional discipline.
Mara's leadership has issued an urgent directive requiring the institution's disciplinary committee to complete a bullying investigation within 24 hours, with a firm commitment to impose the harshest possible penalties on any perpetrators identified.
The Sultan of Pahang has called on more higher education institutions, particularly in Pahang, to provide scholarships for students from Tioman Island. The appeal follows Institut Jantung Negara University College awarding scholarships to two outstanding island students.
Kelantan has distributed RM747,000 in excellence incentives to 1,494 students who achieved top grades in major national examinations, with each recipient receiving RM500 as recognition of academic achievement.
Malaysia's Education Ministry is undertaking an ambitious expansion programme to accommodate the historic dual intake of six and seven-year-old cohorts into Year One in 2027, recruiting 3,150 contract teachers and constructing 2,596 new classrooms.
Malaysia's Education Ministry will launch comprehensive advocacy programmes across schools focusing on child protection laws, anti-bullying measures, and sexual offences awareness, in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission.