Latest news with #RM105
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mara students head to UK, Canada, Japan after US visa policy shift
KUALA LUMPUR: Almost all of 200 Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) scholars who were initially set to pursue their studies in the United States have now secured placements — or are in the final stages of admission — at top-ranked universities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that none of the students were left behind, stressing that the agency worked swiftly to find alternative destinations following its decision to halt new placements in the US. The suspension was due to growing uncertainty surrounding proposed visa restrictions under the administration of US President Donald Trump. "These are among our brightest students who have completed over a year of intensive preparatory training. We ensured every one of them was placed appropriately," said Asyraf during a visit to the Media Prima headquarters on Friday. Asyraf, who recently returned from a working visit to the UK, said several British universities — including the University of Edinburgh, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge and University College London — had agreed to reduce tuition fees by up to 20 per cent. "We're looking at savings of between RM105,000 and RM110,000 per student. This represents significant financial and logistical relief," he said, adding that the UK had emerged as a more stable destination for scholars in the current climate. While future cohorts will be redirected from the US, Asyraf stressed that Mara scholars already there had been advised to avoid any activities — such as political demonstrations — that could endanger their visa status. "We understand their emotional attachment to global issues like the Palestinian cause, but they must remain focused on their studies. We cannot risk having them entangled in foreign political agendas," he said. Beyond short-term contingencies, Asyraf highlighted Mara's broader efforts to future-proof its education and sponsorship policies. The agency, he said, now prioritised fields of study that aligned with long-term national development needs and evolving labour market demands, rather than simply accommodating parental preferences or academic trends. "We're asking, will this field be relevant in 10 years? Will it provide the students with meaningful, dignified employment that matches their training?" he said during an interview on Berita Harian 's Borak Hari Ini podcast. He said Malaysia's core issue was not unemployment, but underemployment — where graduates end up in jobs that do not match their qualifications. To address this, Mara has intensified collaboration with industry stakeholders to ensure that its programmes remain closely tied to market demand. "Education must go hand in hand with national economic strategy. We don't want to produce aimless graduates. Our goal is to build career pathways with purpose," he said. This strategic approach, Asyraf added, was rooted in Mara's founding mission to uplift the Bumiputera community. That vision remains central today, not only for overseas scholars but also for the 125,000 students enrolled across Mara's 344 institutions nationwide. Addressing brain drain concerns, Asyraf said Mara had adopted a pragmatic policy that allowed scholars to gain international work experience for up to three years before returning to serve the country. "There's nothing wrong with letting our students work abroad. Most will eventually come home — it's in our nature to return to our roots, our families and our culture." He added that concerns about Mara-sponsored graduates failing to return were often overstated. The agency continues to monitor their progress and holds them accountable through a structured repayment scheme. "The key is responsibility. Even those working abroad must begin repaying their loans. Some contribute as little as 10 per cent, depending on academic performance," he said.
Daily Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Titijaya to acquire two properties in Sabah
Published on: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: The first proposed acquisition for RM99 million involves the purchase of a parcel of land with foundation works fully completed, and two blocks of 19-storey purpose-built student accommodation buildings comprising 513 apartment-style units that can accommodate 3,078 students. - Titijaya Land Bhd's website Kuala Lumpur: Titijaya Land Bhd (Titijaya) has proposed to buy two property assets in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for RM105 million, further deepening its foray into Sabah and the wider East Malaysia region. The urban lifestyle property developer said both properties are located side-by-side and adjacent to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the upcoming Hospital UMS, with both acquisitions expected to be completed within nine months. 'The strategic location of these assets - offering strong connectivity to both UMS and the future hospital - makes the area a highly desirable locality in Kota Kinabalu,' it said in a statement. The first proposed acquisition for RM99 million involves the purchase of a parcel of land with foundation works fully completed, and two blocks of 19-storey purpose-built student accommodation buildings comprising 513 apartment-style units that can accommodate 3,078 students. The second proposed acquisition, for RM6 million, involves a parcel of land with an existing building structure intended for the Bangunan Koperasi UMS project. The original development plan would have seen the construction of a 14-storey apartment building with 476 apartment units, a one-storey shop lot with 38 units, and a three-storey car park podium. Advertisement 'However, the project has not been completed and has since been abandoned. Following the acquisition, the group intends to resume the project to develop new residential properties,' it said. Titijaya Group managing director, Datuk Lim Poh Yit, said the acquisition aligns with the group's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability approach to real estate development. 'This move also aligns with our broader growth strategy to diversify our revenue streams and customer base, and extend our footprint beyond the Klang Valley. We believe that these two assets will enable us to benefit from rising demand for housing accommodation in the surrounding area and boost contributions from recurring income to our revenue,' he added. * 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
Daily Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Titijaya Announces Proposed Acquisition Of Residential Property Assets In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah For RM105 Million
Published on: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 27, 2025 Text Size: Kuala Lumpur: Urban lifestyle developer Titijaya Land Berhad ('Titijaya' or the 'Group') announced the proposed acquisition of two (2) property assets in Kota Kinabalu for a total of RM105 million, further deepening its foray into Sabah and the wider East Malaysia region. The first proposed acquisition, for RM99 million, involves the purchase of a parcel of land with foundation works fully completed, and two (2) blocks of 19-storey purpose-built student accommodation buildings comprising 513 apartment-style units. Together, the apartment blocks have a total capacity to accommodate 3,078 students. Following the acquisition, Titijaya intends to operate the completed buildings and complete the remaining project works, tapping into the existing and rising demand for student and housing accommodation in the surrounding area. The second proposed acquisition, for RM6 million, involves a parcel of land with an existing building structure originally intended for the Kompleks Koperasi UMS project, launched in 2012. The original development plan would have seen the construction of a 14-storey apartment building with 476 apartment units, a one-storey shop lot with 38 units, and a three-storey car park podium. Advertisement However, the project has not been completed and has since been abandoned. Following the acquisition, the Group intends to resume the project to develop new residential properties. Both parcels of land sit side-by-side and are located adjacent to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the upcoming Hospital UMS, which is slated to commence operations in 2026. Hospital UMS is set to serve as an important centre for medical education, research and public health services. The strategic location of these assets—offering strong connectivity to both UMS and the future hospital—makes the area a highly desirable locality in Kota Kinabalu. YBhg. Datuk Lim Poh Yit, Managing Director of Titijaya Group, said: "We are pleased to announce the acquisition of these assets, paving the way for the next chapter of our foray into Sabah. This acquisition aligns with our ESG and Sustainability approach to real estate development by increasing the availability of quality accommodation for public university students, and reviving an abandoned housing project for public and social good. Furthermore, repurposing the existing building, following the completion of remaining works, will result in significantly lower carbon emissions compared to constructing an entirely new one. This move also aligns with our broader growth strategy to diversify our revenue streams and customer base, and extend our footprint beyond the Klang Valley. We already have a presence in Sabah via our luxury mixed development, The Shore, and the Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu hotel managed by Ascott. Today's announcement deepens our foray into Sabah and East Malaysia at large, positioning us to be a long-term beneficiary of the region's growth. On a more project-specific level, we believe that these two assets will enable us to benefit from rising demand for housing accommodation in the surrounding area and boost contributions from recurring income to our revenue. Recurring income has the potential to deliver a stable income stream for the Group, while serving as a hedge against short-term fluctuations in the property market. With contributions from this project and other projects such as our logistics commercial complex at Bayan Lepas Waterfront that we have leased to DHL Properties (M) Sdn Bhd, we are steadily strengthening the recurring income component of our revenue mix over the next few years. " The two acquisitions are expected to be completed within 9 months. * 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
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Titijaya expands East Malaysia footprint with RM105mil property deal in Kota Kinabalu
KUALA LUMPUR: Titijaya Land Bhd is ramping up its expansion into East Malaysia with the proposed acquisition of two prime property assets in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for a total of RM105 million. The urban lifestyle developer said both assets are located adjacent to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the upcoming Hospital UMS, positioning them in a high-demand area with excellent connectivity. The company expects to complete the acquisitions within the next nine months, according to a statement. The larger of the two deals, valued at RM99 million, includes a parcel of land with completed foundation works and two 19-storey blocks of purpose-built student accommodation. The development features 513 apartment-style units, with the capacity to house up to 3,078 students. Titijaya intends to operate the completed buildings and carry out remaining project works to meet rising demand for both student and residential housing in the vicinity. The company has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Yayasan Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Bay Precinct Sdn Bhd (a construction firm), and one of its directors, Lok Yee Hsun. The second acquisition, priced at RM6 million, involves another parcel of land with an existing building structure originally meant for the Bangunan Koperasi UMS project. The original plan envisioned a 14-storey apartment block with 476 units, a one-storey retail section with 38 shop lots, and a three-storey car park podium. However, the project was abandoned and never completed. Titijaya plans to revive and redevelop the site into new residential offerings. Titijaya group managing director Datuk Lim Poh Yit highlighted that the group already has a footprint in Sabah through developments such as The Shore, a luxury mixed-use project, and the Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu hotel, managed by Ascott. He said that the location of the two assets, offering strong connectivity to both UMS and the upcoming Hospital UMS, makes the area a highly desirable locality in Kota Kinabalu. "This move also aligns with our broader growth strategy to diversify our revenue streams and customer base and extend our footprint beyond the Klang Valley. We believe that these two assets will enable us to benefit from rising demand for housing accommodation in the surrounding area and boost contributions from recurring income to our revenue," he added.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Don't abandon injured players, says ex-M-League team doctor
KUALA LUMPUR: Former team doctor for several Super League clubs, Dr Hazwan Khair, has called for greater accountability from Malaysian teams when it comes to managing injuries — particularly those sustained during national duty or while players are in contractual limbo. Dr Hazwan said while injuries are part of the game, M-League teams cannot afford to ignore the legal and financial implications that come with them. "Teams often forget that their responsibility doesn't end when a player gets injured — in fact, that's when it begins," he said. "You have players who return from national duty injured, sometimes even without a valid contract in place yet. The question becomes: who takes care of them?" A certified World Rugby medical trainer, Dr Hazwan said players negotiating transfers or awaiting contract renewals are especially vulnerable. "I've seen players who were injured while technically still with a club. But once the contract expires or isn't renewed, the club washes their hands of any responsibility. That's unethical and devastating for the player," he said. He stressed the need for clubs to implement a clear injury management framework, covering not only contracted players but also those caught between deals, especially when the injury occurred while representing the club or country. Dr Hazwan added that many teams are unaware of the FIFA Club Protection Programme (CPP), which provides financial cover for players injured on senior international duty under specific conditions. The CPP covers temporary total disablement (TTD) injuries that prevent players from training for more than 28 days. It only applies during official FIFA international match windows, not friendlies or training camps outside those dates. Under the scheme, compensation can go up to €20,548 (about RM105,000) per day, capped at €7.5 million (RM38.4 million), with a 28-day deductible. "Unfortunately, the current Harimau Malaya camp and the friendly against Cape Verde fall outside the CPP coverage," he said. "So if a player sustains a long-term injury during this period, there's no financial protection from FIFA and the club bears the brunt." In the Super League, where resources are often tight, losing a key player to long-term injury can disrupt operations. While CPP doesn't cover medical costs, Dr Hazwan said knowing salaries can be reimbursed helps prevent clubs from being financially crippled. "But beyond that, teams need to take a hard look at how they manage injured players — not just medically, but contractually and ethically," he said. "If a player gets hurt in your colours, whether or not the ink on his contract is dry, there's a duty of care." With Malaysia striving to raise its footballing standards, Dr Hazwan believes it's time clubs and governing bodies professionalised injury management, putting player welfare at the forefront. On Thursday, Timesport reported that Harimau Malaya's friendly against world No 72 Cape Verde at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras on May 29 falls outside the official FIFA window (June 2-10). Harimau Malaya will face Cape Verde again in a closed-door match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3, as part of preparations for their Asian Cup Group F qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
