Latest news with #RM110
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
1,742 illegal ‘bubu naga' traps seized last year under Op Sayong
PARIT BUNTAR: The Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized 1,742 illegal 'bubu naga' fish traps, with an estimated value of RM176,000, throughout last year in the waters off Kerian as well as Larut, Matang and Selama. Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone director commander Mohd Hairil Othman said all the traps were seized under Op Sayong between January and the end of December last year in areas around Kuala Kurau, Kuala Gula, Kalumpang and Bagan Panchor near here. 'In 2023 alone, MMEA seized 1,527 sets of bubu naga (in the same waters) worth RM110,000. All the seizures were made under Section 11(3)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for using prohibited fishing methods. 'There has been an increase each year, as these traps only need to be placed in the sea, and each morning, fishermen simply collect the catch. This method yields higher income compared to conventional fishing techniques,' he told a press conference here today. He added that two foreign nationals were arrested while deploying bubu naga and handed over to the Immigration Department for further action. The MMEA also reminded the fishing community not to use prohibited equipment, particularly bubu naga, to safeguard the sustainability of the country's marine ecosystem, he said.
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.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Al-Aqar locks in RM15mil annual rent from new KPJ hospital leases
KUALA LUMPUR: Al-Aqar Healthcare Real Estate Investment Trust (Al-Aqar Reit) is set to secure more than RM15 million in annual base rental income through new long-term lease agreements with KPJ Healthcare Bhd. This follows the trust's proposed acquisition of two new buildings at KPJ hospitals in Ampang and Penang worth a combined RM241 million. The 15-year leases, covering properties at KPJ Ampang Puteri and KPJ Penang, will commence upon the completion of the RM131 million and RM110 million purchases, respectively. Both properties will be leased back to their current operators under structured contracts that include fixed rental escalations and market-based rent reviews. In a bourse filing today, Al-Aqar Reit said the first-year base rent for the Ampang building is RM8.19 million, while the Penang building will contribute RM6.88 million, totalling RM15.07 million annually. The second and third years will see a two per cent increase each year. From the fourth year onwards, rental will be subject to periodic reviews based on open market value but capped at a maximum annual increment of two per cent. "Any adjustment to the rent shall not be more than two per cent incremental increase over the rent for the preceding year," it said, adding that both lease agreements come with renewal options for another 15 years. Unitholders will vote on the proposals at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for June 25 in Johor Bahru. If approved, the deal will boost Al-Aqar Reit's recurring income profile without materially affecting its net asset value (NAV) per unit. "The proposed acquisitions are not expected to have a material effect on the NAV per unit of Al-Aqar Reit," it added.
New Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asyraf Wajdi: Three UK universities offer tuition discount for Mara students
LONDON: Three leading universities in the United Kingdom have agreed to offer tuition fee discounts of between 10 and 20 per cent to students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), said its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. He said the discounts, secured through discussions between Mara and the universities' top management, could help reduce the financial burden by more than RM100,000 per student annually. The three institutions are the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham, both offering a 20 per cent discount, while the University of Edinburgh has agreed to a 10 per cent reduction. "To illustrate, Warwick is offering a discount of up to £6,000 a year. For a typical three-year undergraduate programme, that amounts to £18,000, or around RM110,000 in total, significantly lowering the overall cost," he said during a press conference today. Asyraf Wajdi is currently in the UK for strategic meetings with senior leadership and prominent academics at the University of Cambridge, as well as several other institutions. He said there are currently 1,508 Mara-sponsored students pursuing their studies in the UK. He added that the Cambridge University Trust has also expressed interest in collaborating with Mara through a co-funding arrangement for postgraduate research students at the Master's and PhD levels. "Insya-Allah, if all terms are finalised, Mara could save up to RM5 million through this initiative," he said. He described the partnership as part of Mara's strategic agenda to ensure that Malaysian students are globally competitive in academic and professional fields. Additionally, he said Cambridge University had agreed to send a delegation to Malaysia to engage with Maktab Rendah Sains Mara International General Certificate of Secondary Education (MRSM IGCSE) students. The initiative, he said, aligns with Mara's goal to establish a dedicated academic feeder pathway for MRSM students seeking admission into top global universities. Asyraf Wajdi also said that the collaboration would create opportunities for 9,987 Mara educators across vocational colleges, Mara universities and MRSMs to participate in knowledge exchange programmes. "These educators will be able to undertake joint research and pursue postgraduate studies in strategic fields at Cambridge. "These include renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, quantum technology, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), entrepreneurial innovation, and other emerging disciplines that will shape the global economy of the future," he said.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Three UK universities offer tuition discount for MARA students
LONDON: Three leading universities in the United Kingdom have agreed to offer tuition fee discounts of between 10 and 20 percent for students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), said its chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. He said the discounts, secured through discussions between MARA and the universities' top management, could save more than RM100,000 per student annually. The three institutions are Warwick University and Birmingham University, which have agreed to a 20 percent discount, while the University of Edinburgh is offering 10 percent. 'To illustrate, Warwick University is offering a discount of up to £6,000 a year. For a typical three-year undergraduate programme, that amounts to £18,000, around RM110,000 in total, significantly reducing the cost,' he said at a press conference today. Asyraf Wajdi is currently in the UK for strategic meetings with senior leadership and renowned senior academics at the University of Cambridge, as well as several other universities. He said there are currently 1,508 MARA-sponsored students pursuing their studies in the UK. He added that the Cambridge University Trust has expressed interest in collaborating with MARA through a co-funding arrangement for postgraduate research students at the Master's and PhD levels. 'Insya-Allah, if all terms are finalised, MARA could save up to RM5 million through this initiative,' he said. He described the partnership as part of MARA's strategic agenda to ensure Malaysian students are not only competitive on a national level but also on par with their global peers in academic and professional arenas. In addition, he said Cambridge University has also agreed to send a delegation to Malaysia to engage with Maktab Rendah Sains MARA International General Certificate of Secondary Education (MRSM IGCSE). He said the initiative aligns with MARA's decision to establish a dedicated academic feeder pathway for MRSM students to gain entry into top global universities. Asyraf Wajdi added that the collaboration would also open doors for 9,987 MARA educators across its vocational colleges, MARA universities, and MRSMs to participate in knowledge exchange programmes. 'These educators will have opportunities for joint research and to pursue postgraduate studies in strategic fields at Cambridge. 'These include renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, quantum technology, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), entrepreneurial innovation and other emerging disciplines that will shape the future global economy,' he said.
