News

by NURNABIHAH DINI 

THE Transport Ministry is taking steps to tackle bus and lorry driver shortages, particularly express and tour buses, where the journey exceeding 300km requires two drivers according to law.

Minister Anthony Loke (picture) said the shortage is due to fewer people interested to join the profession despite ongoing recruitment campaigns and free training programmes as well as free class E driving license offered by the ministry.

He was replying to Jelutong MP Sanisvara Nethaji A/L Rajaji, who asked about the measures taken by the ministry to ensure that horrific accidents such as those in Teluk Intan and Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) members and Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) students, no longer occur.

“This profession is not easy, as it consumes a lot of time with potential risks. The drivers are often paid minimal wages, in which some drivers rely on the number of trips.

“We want to ensure they are paid fairly for their time, responsibilities and risks,” Loke said.

The ministry is also looking to elevate the profession’s image, taking example from abroad where the drivers are called as “captains” rather than “drivers.”

Loke added that drivers must be competent and professional.

“We are developing a database to check whether they have criminal or poor safety records. Those drivers would be excluded from the system in order to raise the profession’s status,” he said.

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by GLORIA HARRY BEATTY 

AS AT March 31, 2025, a total of 8,653 medical specialists are serving with the Health Ministry (MOH).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (picture) said the government has undertaken several initiatives to increase the number of specialists, including amending the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to streamline the recognition process for specialist qualifications via the master’s programme or the parallel pathway.

“Additionally, the MOH is working with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to increase the number of master’s degree slots in medical specialist programmes from 1,100 to 1,600 across 23 specialisations starting from the 2023/2024 academic session.

“The MOH is also providing up to 600 slots annually for parallel pathway specialist training programmes, sponsored by the ministry, covering 14 specialisations. To date, 7,452 medical officers are pursuing specialist training through the master’s and parallel pathways.

“Specialist training programmes (PLK) with MOH scholarships have also been introduced for contract medical officers beginning with the 2022/2023 intake. As of now, 340 contract medical officers are undergoing specialist training under this scheme,” he said in a written reply on the Parliament website today.

He was responding to a question from Chong Zhemin (PH–Kampar) on measures taken to address the shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals.

Dzulkefly said in addition to encouraging Malaysian specialists working abroad to return home, the MOH has also implemented measures to retain existing specialists.

These include the introduction of the UD15 grade for specialists, more promotion opportunities to special or top grades, allowing specialists to practise in the private sector outside of normal working hours to earn additional income and giving them one flexible working day per week for research or private sector work, subject to the approval of their department head.

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by AZALEA AZUAR

OVER half of Malaysian secondary school leavers (53.56%) chose to pursue technical and vocational education and training (TVET) last year, while more than 430,000 students are enrolled in TVET institutions nationwide, according to Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture).

He said this has led to Malaysia’s graduate employability currently standing at 95.1%.

He attributed the increase in TVET participation from policies such as the National TVET Policy 2030, TVET Big Data System, TVET Madani Portal and UP_TVET.

“Alhamdulilah, these reforms have already shifted the national landscape,” he said in his opening speech at the ASEAN TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 today.

The UP_TVET programme was launched in May 2024 and more than 200,000 applications to enroll in national TVET institutions have been recorded in its second year.

Ahmad Zahid shared that the government allocates around RM10 billion annually to TVET and skills education.

Meanwhile, he proposed forming an ASEAN Green and Digital Skills Taskforce to drive concrete actions and measurable goals for regional talent development.

“In this conference, I see there will be discussions on skills mismatch, the rising demand for digital and green talent, and the drive for innovation. 

“I have instructed my officers to capture these insights — because I will not allow this to be mere dialogue, but it must spark policies that meet market needs, open opportunities for all, make employers true partners and fast-track cutting-edge learning,” he added.

Ahmad Zahid also stressed the need to pioneer cross-border apprenticeship programmes. For instance, a student from the Philippines could train in Malaysia, an Indonesian to train in Vietnam and a Thai graduate to train in Singapore. This would foster ASEAN integration through skills and knowledge exchange.

Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong supported this, saying to unlock ASEAN’s full potential, Malaysia needs to work towards stronger collaboration through a long overdue higher synergy in a common certification framework.

“If skills are the currency of industrial revolution (IR 4.0), then in order for greater advancement of the ASEAN skills market, we must work hard towards mutual recognition,” he said.

Sim also noted that Malaysia has over 50 years of experience in high-tech manufacturing. Currently, it accounts for 7% of global semiconductor trade and 13% of global semiconductor backend production.

The two-day ATVET, jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia (PTPK) focuses on high-level discussions and collaboration focused on advancing TVET to support inclusive digital and green transitions across ASEAN.

It is the fourth flagship platform under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025 and features 23 prominent speakers who share insights to help shape a more equitable and sustainable future for ASEAN’S workforce.

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POLICE are tracking down a suspect linked to the discovery of a prematurely born baby boy buried at a playground here yesterday.

Gua Musang police chief Supt Sik Choon Foo (picture) said the infant was found at a People’s Housing Project (PPR) following a public tip-off at 10.30 pm.

“Initial investigations indicate the baby was born prematurely and is believed to have died several hours before being discovered,” he said in a statement today.

The body, wrapped in a diaper and bearing traces of blood, was sent to the Forensic Unit at Gua Musang Hospital for a post-mortem. A teenager made the grim discovery after stepping on soft soil covering the baby’s body.

Sik urged anyone with information to contact the Gua Musang Police Station at 09-9121222 or the nearest police station. — BERNAMA

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A SMUGGLING syndicate involving drugs, cigarettes and other contraband allegedly orchestrated by senior Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) officers has been exposed, following the arrest of 10 individuals — including five senior army officers — by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

According to Utusan Malaysia, the arrests — which also included an Indonesian national — were carried out around the Klang Valley since the launch of “Op Sohor” by MACC’s Intelligence Division, with support from the Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS).

The syndicate, which operated in the south of the country, comprised senior officers from ATM’s Intelligence Division, including two former members of the same unit.

According to source, the officers were supposed to monitor and curb smuggling activities but are believed to have colluded with the syndicate for the past five years, allegedly collecting more than RM3 million in bribes.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the five senior officers — the main suspects — are believed to have leaked military operational information to smugglers and worked with them to bring prohibited items such as drugs, cigarettes and other contraband from neighbouring countries into Malaysia.

“All these items amounted to an estimated value of about RM5 million per month.

“The suspects are believed to have received bribes of around RM30,000 to RM50,000 for each smuggling trip,” the source revealed.

In raids conducted early this morning based on about 12 months of intelligence gathering, authorities seized over RM63,000 in cash, several packets of drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, liquor and imitation firearms from various premises.

“The smuggling network involving these senior military officers is large and complex to uncover,” the source said.

During the raid, an Indonesian woman without valid travel documents was also arrested. She was allegedly kept as a mistress by one of the senior army officers under investigation.

MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests when contacted.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.

“This operation must be taken seriously by all parties as it involves smuggling activities that can compromise national security.

“Although we have various agencies to monitor and take action, smuggling activities still occur,” he added.

All suspects will be brought to the Putrajaya Magistrates’ Court tomorrow for a remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code. — TMR

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THE Selangor government has allocated RM26.62 million to 873 schools in the state under the 2025 Selangor State School Assistance Programme.

Of the total, Sekolah Agama Rakyat (People’s Religious Schools) received the largest allocation of RM11 million, followed by Chinese national-type schools (RM6 million), Tamil national-type schools (RM5 million), Chinese independent schools (RM2 million), national primary schools and national secondary schools (RM1.62 million) as well as mission schools and national-type secondary schools, each with RM1 million.  

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the funds could be utilised for various purposes, including repairing infrastructure to provide a more conducive learning environment.

He said the latest allocation marks an increase of RM124,000, bringing the total assistance disbursed for the same purpose since 2019 to RM311.92 million.

“The increase is to meet the needs of national schools, and for Tamil national-type schools. We have also extended assistance to the association of Tamil school principals and headmasters,” he told reporters after the handover ceremony here today.

Commenting on the bullying issue, Amirudin said the state government has instructed schools under the administration of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to curb such behaviour and ensure a safe environment for students.

He added that his administration’s approach to preventing unhealthy behaviours, including drug abuse among students, focuses on the physical as well as the social aspects.

“I will first look into schools under JAIS, while for the rest, we will try to liaise with the State Education Department, as they fall under the Education Ministry’s jurisdiction. The state will only assist in enhancing measures taken, if necessary,” he said. — BERNAMA 

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