Malay teachers must reclaim role as community activists, says PN leader

Published on: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Published on: Sat, May 31, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Bersatu's Saifuddin Abdullah said Malay teachers have long played a pivotal role in shaping national identity and in community leadership. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: A Perikatan Nasional MP has urged Malay teachers to revive the historic role they played in activism that contributed significantly to the Malay independence movement, culture and politics. Saifuddin Abdullah said Malay teachers should serve as catalysts contributing ideas, community leaders and political activists to steer the nation's future. 'Historically, Malay teachers have provided crucial leadership and have taken management roles in political parties. 'Their involvement has enabled parties to reach their peak and played a key role in advancing the interests of the Malay community,' the Indera Mahkota MP said when delivering a keynote address at the Forum Pendidikan Melayu, organised by the Selangor Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semananjung, at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 'With teachers playing such key roles, they were known then as 'parti berjuang' (parties that led the struggle). Today, with fewer teachers involved, some parties have become 'parti berwang' (cash-rich parties).' Saifuddin, who heads the PN education bureau, also said teachers must be meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels — from the schools right up to the education ministry.
Advertisement To better support teachers, he proposed expanding the number of subject matter experts, increasing funding for education research, improving career schemes, and easing teacher workloads by hiring more support staff and clerical personnel. He added that these ideas were part of PN's education reform proposals, completed in March last year. They outline reforms in philosophy, policy, curriculum, technical and vocational education and training, digital technology, human capital development, governance, and broader stakeholder involvement by parents and alumni. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Express

an hour ago

• Daily Express

People's welfare remains Sabah government's priority: CM

Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: Musa, Hajiji and others during the cake-cutting ceremony. – Pic by CMD KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the State Government remains focused on prioritising the welfare of the people. He stressed that core infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, and roads will continue to be upgraded, especially in rural and interior areas. Speaking at the official State Banquet for the 74th official birthday of Head of State Tun Musa Aman, Hajiji said public service delivery must be efficient, transparent, and people-oriented. He reminded civil servants to carry out their duties with sincerity, discipline, and integrity at all times. Hajiji said the public's trust in the government must be honoured through responsible and effective governance. He reaffirmed the State's commitment to strengthening integrity and good governance in collaboration with enforcement agencies, including the police, National Audit Department, and MACC. Advertisement Hajiji added that accountability and integrity are essential pillars in safeguarding Sabah's sovereignty, prosperity, and stability. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Daily Express

3 hours ago

• Daily Express

Students deny payment claims at anti-corruption rally

Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey, Crystal Hermenegildus Text Size: Noridi (left) and Fadhil KOTA KINABALU: A brief commotion occurred during the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally on Saturday after Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students were accused of being paid to participate. Led by Suara Mahasiswa Sabah's Fadhil Kasim, hundreds marched through the city to demand action on corruption and long-standing water issues affecting their campus. Protesters urged UMS to take legal action against the Sabah Water Department and called for a fully independent MACC with bipartisan parliamentary oversight. The rally remained peaceful despite the rain, with participants moving from Suria Sabah to Lintasan Deasoka. The two-day event included forums and performances, with Fadhil pledging continued student activism for Sabah's future. Separately, the Gerakan Anak Muda dan Mahasiswa Anak Sabah (Gammas) reiterated its support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's leadership. Advertisement Gammas organiser Noridi @ Noraidi Maya praised Hajiji's student aid programmes and his role in blocking an alleged 'cartel' from dominating Sabah's mineral sector. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Barnama

7 hours ago

• Barnama

Veteran Journalist Emin Madi Says Receiving PGDK Award Great Honour For Him And Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, June 21 (Bernama) – Veteran journalist Datuk Emin Madi, who is also a stringer with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Sabah bureau, described the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award he received today as a significant recognition for himself in the world of journalism. Emin, 75, said the PGDK, which carries the title 'Datuk' is also seen as a very high recognition from the Sabah government to Bernama as a whole, especially the Sabah bureau staff who operate in the state. "I am very grateful, and thankful, to the state government for this award to journalists in Sabah. I believe many more journalists and writers deserve an award like this," he said to Bernama here today. Emin was met after the 2025 Sabah State Honours and Awards investiture ceremony held at Istana Seri Kinabalu today (June 21) where 60 individuals received their respective awards conferred by Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Musa Aman. Also present at the event was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and a line-up of state government leaders. Apart from Emin, two other Bernama Sabah bureau staff members, namely the head of the bureau, Fadzli Ramli, who was awarded the Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (ADK), and Sabah bureau photographer Zamain Singkui, who was awarded the Bintang Setia Kinabalu (BSK), will receive their awards in the next session (of the ceremony), the date of which is yet to be confirmed. Born in Tambunan on Nov 29, 1949, Emin began his career as a journalist in the 1970s before becoming an editor at a local newspaper, "The Sabah Times", and served as the press secretary to the former Minister of Land and Cooperative Development, Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam. Emin, a father of two, has been with Bernama since the 1990s and has written various articles in both Malay and English, as well as novels including "Salarom" and "The Green Gold of Borneo". "Salarom" won third place in the Sayembara Penulisan Novel Sempena 50 Tahun Merdeka competition, organised by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka, in 2007 where there were no first- or second-place winners. The novel was published in 2008.