Latest news with #BaganDatuk
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Zahid urges Higher Education Ministry to review rejected applications from top SPM students
BAGAN DATUK, June 17 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Ministry of Higher Education to review applications from outstanding Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students who were unsuccessful in securing a place at institutions of higher learning. He said that compassion and fairness must be shown to these students regardless of race, as they not only excelled in their examinations but are also the hope of their parents. 'For any student who did not gain admission into matriculation colleges, foundation programmes, or first-year degree courses, I hope they will be assisted in securing a place. Although I understand places are limited, they should be treated fairly, and efforts must be made to ensure they are given a place,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, told reporters this after launching the 'Kembara Kesedaran Pendidikan Anak Desa (KeDESA) Didik MADANI 2025' programme at Politeknik Bagan Datuk today. Yesterday, it was announced that 150,557 SPM 2024 holders had received offers to continue their studies at public institutions of higher education, with 86,589 placed in public universities, 42,058 in polytechnics, 20,427 in community colleges and 1,483 in institutions under MARA's Higher Education Division. Ahmad Zahid also said he had requested the TVET Council Secretariat and the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to consider admitting outstanding students with Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Level 3 to 5 into MTUN institutions. 'For MTUN, in my view, each institution provides around 2,500 places. With six universities, that gives us 15,000 places. I hope SKM graduates who did not gain admission into public universities can submit an appeal to enter MTUN,' he said. Meanwhile, KeDESA Didik Madanu 2025 Main Committee chairman and adviser to the Bumiputera Education Movement of Malaysia, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, said the programme aims to raise awareness and provide access to higher education for students from rural and remote areas. In her speech, she said the GPBM-organised programme applies the 4M concept – identifying qualified and needy students, understanding their socio-economic background and potential, raising awareness of the importance of education, and guiding students to the right channels to further their studies. She said that in 2024, a total of 10 programmes were held across three states – Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu – with a total attendance of nearly 10,000 participants. At the same event, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, presented awards and aid to outstanding SPM 2024 students from the Bagan Datuk constituency. — Bernama
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
From ‘cowboy town' to tourist draw: Zahid touts Bagan Datuk's hectic weekends after waterfront revamp as sign of economic revival
BAGAN DATUK, June 17 — The Bagan Datuk Waterfront Square has transformed the town, once dubbed a 'cowboy town', into an attractive tourist destination, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said the development of the square has made the town one of the popular spots among domestic tourists, especially on weekends. 'It has been a game changer. This town used to be called a cowboy town, even described as a backwater, but now I get complaints about traffic congestion every weekend; that's a good 'problem' for this town,' said Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk MP. He said this when speaking at the official opening of the Bagan Datuk Waterfront Square here today, which was attended by over 500 guests and local residents. The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, officially opened the square, which was developed in 2019. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the square consists of several project components, including the construction of the Bagan Datuk Tourist Jetty Terminal, recreational and leisure facilities, as well as the conservation of shoplot façades and road upgrades in the Bagan Datuk town area. 'In addition, the Waterfront Square landscape is enhanced by a coconut shell replica with a fountain, the BD Walk building and a replica of a 'jong' (ancient trading vessel), which features children's playsets and historical exhibits inside and on top of the vessel,' he said. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (second from right) tours the revamped Bagan Datuk waterfront on its official launch day June 17, 2025. — Picture from Facebook/Zahid Hamidi He added that with the development of the square, both locals and visitors can now spend leisure time with their families while enjoying the sunset against the scenic backdrop of the Sungai Perak estuary. 'Other attractions such as children's ride-on car rentals, local busking groups and stalls have further enlivened the weekend night atmosphere at the square, helping boost the local community's socio-economic vibrancy,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Umno won't back Malay unity efforts with ‘hidden political motives', says Zahid
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno will remain part of the unity government 'we helped establish'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno will not support any movement that claims to unite the Malays but is actually rooted in personal political ambition, says party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid said any genuine effort to unite the Malay community must be built on shared ideals, not disguised attempts to revive political careers. 'We in Umno will never accept any form of secretariat that claims to unite the Malays under the guise of politics. 'We remain in Umno, and we will continue to be part of the unity government we helped establish,' he was quoted as saying at the Bagan Datuk Umno division meeting today. Zahid is believed to be referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal for a 'Malay secretariat committee' to unite the Malays and restore their political power. Announcing the formation of a loose Malay unity alliance on June 4, Mahathir said he would invite Umno members to join it in an effort to 'restore Malay power' in the government. He stressed, however, that he was not inviting Umno as a party to join the alliance. Zahid described the secretariat's formation as 'a political move driven by the failure of a former prime minister who lost public support'. 'When someone finds that none of their party's candidates won in the last election, and all lost their deposits, only then do they suddenly want to find a way to 'unite the Malays'. 'And yet, it was that very person who previously divided the Malays,' he said. He outlined Mahathir's political journey – from leading Umno and becoming prime minister, to forming new parties after being ousted, only to lose his deposit in a recent general election -and said his attempt to form a secretariat was merely an effort to compensate for his political shortcomings.
New Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Zahid questions true motive behind Sekretariat Orang Melayu
BAGAN DATUK: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today questioned the motive behind the establishment of the Sekretariat Orang Melayu, which claims to unite those championing the Malay community under one umbrella. The Bagan Datuk member of parliament said that efforts to bring together Malay political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the sake of the community have long been carried out by Umno since its founding on May 11, 1946. Zahid, who is also the Umno Bagan Datuk division chief, questioned the movement led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, particularly whether it harboured a hidden agenda to regain political influence. "I would like to wish all the best to the chairman of the Sekretariat Orang Melayu and pray that he succeeds in uniting Malay parties and NGOs for the good of the ummah (community). "However, it must be remembered that Umno was established on May 11, 1946, to unite Malay NGOs at the time, and the principle of Malay unity has remained a core value of Umno to this day, as enshrined in the party's constitution," he told reporters after launching the Umno Bagan Datuk Division Delegates Meeting at the Umno Complex here today. Zahid also said that true unity must stem from a unity of thought, intellect and conscience, not from personal interests or hidden political motives. "When someone finds that none of their party's candidates won in the last election, and all even lost their deposits, only then do they supposedly seek to unite the Malays. "And yet, this is the very person who once divided the Malays," he said. Earlier in his speech, the deputy prime minister described the formation of the secretariat as politically motivated, driven by the failure of a former Prime Minister who had lost public support. "Now there's an effort to unite the Malays under one secretariat. What is the real purpose? It's all political. "That individual rose to power under Umno, became Umno president and Prime Minister for decades, and saw himself as a statesman. "Then he formed a new party, supported by splinter parties from Umno, and returned as Prime Minister. "But after being ousted by his party, he formed yet another party and contested in the same constituency he once represented and ultimately lost his deposit. "From there came the attempt to establish a secretariat to compensate for his political shortcomings," he said. Zahid stressed that Umno would not support any form of secretariat that pretends to unify the Malays but is rooted in the personal political ambitions of an individual. "We remain with Umno and are committed to the Madani unity government we have established," he said. Dr Mahathir previously reported that as saying that the e stablishment of the Sekretariat Orang Melayu was not politically driven, but rather intended as a broad platform to restore Malay political power and address the current challenges facing the community.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Zahid: Don't exploit Malay unity for political gain
BAGAN DATUK: Do not use the Malay unity agenda as a political gimmick, especially after experiencing election failure, said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said Umno did not intend to dispute any party that wanted to establish a secretariat to unify Malay parties, but the motive for its struggle must be clear and not just for political purposes. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the establishment of Umno on May 11, 1946 also succeeded in bringing together Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at that time and the principle of Malay unification as a whole is still the party's guiding principle. 'I would like to wish the chairman of the Malay Secretariat all the best and I pray that he will succeed in uniting Malay parties and Malay NGOs for the benefit of the Malays. 'Let us unite in what is important in terms of thought, mindset and conscience, not for any other purpose when the organising party is trying to unite the Malays after not having a winner in the last election, apart from all losing deposits,' he said at a press conference after officiating the Bagan Datuk Umno Division Delegates Meeting for 2025 here today. On June 4, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported to have said that a movement called the Malay Secretariat was formed to unite all parties fighting for the Malays under one big umbrella. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, said in his speech that Umno would not accept any form of secretariat that supposedly aims to unite the Malays on a political basis. Meanwhile, he said that every member, especially Umno leaders need to strengthen the party again, besides realising that the struggle they have been through is full of tests. He said that all the events that have happened before must also be used as a lesson to ensure that Umno regains its place in the hearts of the people in the 16th general election (GE16). 'There is no struggle without tests. Someone who succeeds in becoming a leader will definitely be tested, if someone rises without tests, they will definitely go down. We must also change and build new strength to ensure that we return to dominating GE16,' he said.
