Latest news with #LowerSecondaryAssessment
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Over 500 graduates among Q1 drug offenders, says AADK
BUTTERWORTH: A total of 559 individuals, or 0.5 per cent, of those arrested for drug abuse in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, held bachelor's, master's or doctoral (PhD) degrees, while 2,323 others, or 2.1 per cent, were diploma holders, according to data from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that these individuals were involved in abusing various substances, including synthetic drugs and traditional drugs, such as marijuana and heroin. Most of them were young adults, aged between 19 and 40. The data also showed that 503 drug addicts held the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), 41,743 were Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, while 30,016 had attained secondary-level education, such as the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) or its equivalent. 'A total of 9,736 addicts had only primary school education, while 21,057 had no formal education. Youths aged 15 to 40 continued to make up the largest group of drug users nationwide, with 65,264 individuals, or 60.2 per cent, recorded between January and March 2025. 'These individuals are supposed to be the nation's future, but they are caught in the grip of drug addiction. This is very alarming, especially as we are also seeing involvement among schoolchildren. For the same period, 23 students aged 14 were found to be involved in drug abuse. He said this after attending the joint engagement session between AADK and the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), here, today. Also present was Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who is also the state Pemadam chairman. He said that AADK is now focusing on the prevention of drug addiction activities, because it not only damages the country's future generations, but also requires high expenses to treat it, and the agency spends RM51 per day for each PUSPEN trainee. Meanwhile, in another development, Shamsul Anuar, who is also the national PEMADAM president, said that AADK is conducting an internal investigation into the incident in which six male trainees from the PUSPEN in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, escaped from the centre early Tuesday morning. He said that AADK headquarters, together with its Negeri Sembilan branch, has launched an internal investigation to examine all aspects of the incident, including identifying its cause. 'I was informed that six trainees at PUSPEN Jempol escaped, and so far, five have been successfully recaptured, while one remains at large and efforts are ongoing to track him down,' he said. 'Once the investigation is complete, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, based on the findings,' he said.
Barnama
9 hours ago
- Barnama
AADK: 559 Drug Offenders In Q1 2025 Hold Degrees, Including PHDs
BUTTERWORTH, June 21 (Bernama) -- A total of 559 individuals, or 0.5 per cent, of those arrested for drug abuse in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, held bachelor's, master's or doctoral (PhD) degrees, while 2,323 others, or 2.1 per cent, were diploma holders, according to data from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that these individuals were involved in abusing various substances, including synthetic drugs and traditional drugs, such as marijuana and heroin. Most of them were young adults, aged between 19 and 40. The data also showed that 503 drug addicts held the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), 41,743 were Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, while 30,016 had attained secondary-level education, such as the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) or its equivalent. 'A total of 9,736 addicts had only primary school education, while 21,057 had no formal education. Youths aged 15 to 40 continued to make up the largest group of drug users nationwide, with 65,264 individuals, or 60.2 per cent, recorded between January and March 2025. 'These individuals are supposed to be the nation's future, but they are caught in the grip of drug addiction. This is very alarming, especially as we are also seeing involvement among schoolchildren. For the same period, 23 students aged 14 were found to be involved in drug abuse. He said this after attending the joint engagement session between AADK and the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), here, today. Also present was Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who is also the state Pemadam chairman. He said that AADK is now focusing on the prevention of drug addiction activities, because it not only damages the country's future generations, but also requires high expenses to treat it, and the agency spends RM51 per day for each PUSPEN trainee. Meanwhile, in another development, Shamsul Anuar, who is also the national PEMADAM president, said that AADK is conducting an internal investigation into the incident in which six male trainees from the PUSPEN in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, escaped from the centre early Tuesday morning. He said that AADK headquarters, together with its Negeri Sembilan branch, has launched an internal investigation to examine all aspects of the incident, including identifying its cause.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
AADK: 559 drug offenders in Q1 2025 hold degrees, including PhDs
BUTTERWORTH: A total of 559 individuals, or 0.5 per cent, of those arrested for drug abuse in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, held bachelor's, master's or doctoral (PhD) degrees, while 2,323 others, or 2.1 per cent, were diploma holders, according to data from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that these individuals were involved in abusing various substances, including synthetic drugs and traditional drugs, such as marijuana and heroin. Most of them were young adults, aged between 19 and 40. The data also showed that 503 drug addicts held the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), 41,743 were Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, while 30,016 had attained secondary-level education, such as the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) or its equivalent. 'A total of 9,736 addicts had only primary school education, while 21,057 had no formal education. Youths aged 15 to 40 continued to make up the largest group of drug users nationwide, with 65,264 individuals, or 60.2 per cent, recorded between January and March 2025. 'These individuals are supposed to be the nation's future, but they are caught in the grip of drug addiction. This is very alarming, especially as we are also seeing involvement among schoolchildren. For the same period, 23 students aged 14 were found to be involved in drug abuse. He said this after attending the joint engagement session between AADK and the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), here, today. Also present was Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who is also the state Pemadam chairman. He said that AADK is now focusing on the prevention of drug addiction activities, because it not only damages the country's future generations, but also requires high expenses to treat it, and the agency spends RM51 per day for each PUSPEN trainee. Meanwhile, in another development, Shamsul Anuar, who is also the national PEMADAM president, said that AADK is conducting an internal investigation into the incident in which six male trainees from the PUSPEN in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, escaped from the centre early Tuesday morning. He said that AADK headquarters, together with its Negeri Sembilan branch, has launched an internal investigation to examine all aspects of the incident, including identifying its cause. 'I was informed that six trainees at PUSPEN Jempol escaped, and so far, five have been successfully recaptured, while one remains at large and efforts are ongoing to track him down,' he said. 'Once the investigation is complete, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, based on the findings,' he said.
Herald Malaysia
09-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
From Fields to Faith: A Journey of Vocation and Grace
I am the second of six siblings. My early years were spent in Keningau, where life was comfortable and stable. Our parents made sure we attended Mass every weekend at the Cathedral of St Francis Xavier. May 09, 2025 Fr. Nelbart PeterI am the second of six siblings. My early years were spent in Keningau, where life was comfortable and stable. Our parents made sure we attended Mass every weekend at the Cathedral of St Francis Xavier, and I studied at St Francis Mission School from kindergarten through Year Three. School supplies and necessities were easily accessible, and life in town seemed secure. However, everything changed when my parents decided to return to our ancestral land in Simbuan to cultivate the fields. Transitioning from urban comfort to rural village life was a profound adjustment. School supplies became scarce, and poor road conditions made trips to Keningau town rare, sometimes just once a year. Despite these hardships, it was in the simplicity of village life that I learned to speak my mother tongue, Dusun, and discovered a deeper connection to the land and to God's providence. Reflecting on this experience, I see how it shaped my vocation theme: 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few' (Luke 10:2). Life in the village taught me resilience, gratitude, and faith, seeds that would later blossom into my priestly vocation. School Days: Challenges and Perseverance My educational journey spanned two very different environments: urban and rural. In town, we were driven to school; in the village, we walked daily, rain or shine. Initially, I struggled academically, I couldn't even read until Year Two. But through my mother's tireless encouragement, I eventually caught up. Moving to the village improved my academic performance somewhat, although my passion leaned more toward practical skills rather than academics. During secondary school, my disinterest in purely academic subjects often led to poor performance, worrying my parents, especially my mother. In Form Three, determined to pursue a vocational path, I studied hard to complete the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) syllabus within a year. With support from my teachers and older brother, I passed with excellent results. However, despite my dream of entering vocational school, my mother insisted I continue on the academic path. After completing Form Five, I reluctantly entered Form Six at SMK Bingkor in 2012, but after a month, I expressed my desire to quit. Hoping for an easier commute, my mother transferred me to SMK Sook. Yet, after beginning Form Six there, I once again asked to leave. Frustrated, and seeking an end to the discussion, I blurted out words I barely understood: 'I want to be a priest.' My parents, shocked into silence, didn't press the issue further. Seeds of Vocation What began as an escape from academic pressure unexpectedly opened a door to a true calling. Living close to the land, I often read the diocesan diary after work. Luke 10:2 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few', stirred something deep within me. I prayed for young men from our village to answer God's call, until one day I realised: I could be the answer to that prayer. When I shared this newfound desire with my parents, they were surprised, and my grandmother initially objected, worried about the lack of grandchildren. But my mother helped her understand and, in time, she accepted my decision. To discern more deeply, I met with Fr Benedict, our parish priest, who explained the formation process. I was intimidated by the eight-year journey ahead especially the English requirements, but Fr Benedict, who shared his own struggles, encouraged me. Trusting in God's grace, I attended a vocation seminar at Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre in 2014. Although I was initially placed on the waiting list, I remained hopeful. Later that year, during a vocation retreat at Tatal Retreat House, I was chosen to begin my seminary formation in 2015. Seminary Life: A Time of Growth Starting formation at the Catholic Diocesan Centre (CDC) in Kota Kinabalu was a moment of great joy. Seminary life was structured and prayer-centred, and though it took time to adjust, I gradually embraced it. In 2015, seminary restructuring moved the philosophy program to College General in Penang, and a higher MUET score was required. My English skills were not strong, so I spent an extra year improving them. Thanks to God's help, perseverance, and support from teachers, I passed MUET with Band 4 in 2016 and entered the Initiation Year in 2017. The Initiation Year deepened my spirituality and knowledge of Church teachings. However, 2017 also brought a painful trial: the sudden passing of my mother. I had prayed fervently for her healing, and her death left me lost and heartbroken. Yet God's grace sustained me. Supported by my siblings, friends, and seminary community, I found the strength to continue. This suffering matured my faith and taught me to entrust my life fully into God's hands. Formed for Mission I continued my formation at College General, Penang (2018–2019), studying the development of human thought and preparing for theological studies. From 2020 to mid-2024, I studied Theology at St Peter's College (SPC) in Kuching. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classes and pastoral assignments, but even in adversity, I grew in perseverance and love for the Church's mission. After nine and a half years of formation, I was assigned full-time pastoral ministry at the Church of St Theresa, Tambunan embracing with joy the very mission I had prayed about years before. Ordination and Mission On November 10, 2024, I was ordained a deacon by His Lordship Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong at Dataran Keuskupan Keningau. On March 2, 2025, I was ordained a priest at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sook — the culmination of a journey that began with a small, half-understood 'yes' to God many years ago. I now serve joyfully at the Church of St Theresa, Tambunan, answering Christ's call to labour in His abundant harvest. A Word to the Youth To the young people, especially those still discerning their future: Do not be afraid to deepen your relationship with God. Trust Him. He may call you to the priesthood or religious life. The journey is not without struggle, but the reward is a life filled with purpose and profound joy. As Jesus said, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.' (Luke 10:2) Let us pray for more generous hearts to answer His call.
