Latest news with #RM6.1
BusinessToday
10 hours ago
- Business
- BusinessToday
Malaysian Universities Top The QS Rankings, Yet RM6.1 Billion Spent Sending Students Abroad
Sunway University saw its ranking jump 129 places to become the 410th best varsity globally By Dr. Syed Alwee Alsagoff Malaysia achieved the world's highest improvement rate in last week's QS 2026 University Rankings – 70% of our 32 institutions climbed global standings, with Universiti Malaya reaching 58th and Sunway University jumping 129 positions to 410th globally. Yet Malaysian families still spend RM6.1 billion annually sending 75,000 students overseas – equivalent to our top five universities' combined operating costs. Malaysia's best minds build foreign economies while outsourcing their children's education – a self- sabotaging cycle fueled by rankings obsession. This 'gilded cage' of global validation backfired: local tuition now exceeds Australian/Canadian household affordability, burying graduates under 1.33 years' salary debt (outpacing Singapore's 1.10 and Britain's 1.18). We've surpassed the very systems we emulate in financial burden, yet still question our own excellence. Meanwhile, the Western universities we're chasing face unprecedented crisis: the US has frozen student visa processing while universities lose billions in federal funding, the UK's Office for Students warns that 72% of English universities could face deficits by 2025-26, France imposed €900 million in education budget cuts, and Canada's elite institutions struggle with massive shortfalls. Three persistent myths drive our educational paradox, despite mounting evidence to the contrary: Myth 1: Western degrees guarantee success. The UK Higher Education Statistics Agency (2024) shows only 68% of graduates secured high-skilled jobs, while 40% work in non-graduate roles. By contrast, Malaysia's top STEM graduates earn 70-80% of US wages (PPP-adjusted, Bank Negara Malaysia 2023) without the RM400,000 overseas debt burden. The supposed 'global advantage' remains uncertain at best. Myth 2: Rankings equal quality. Our rankings obsession created this gilded cage. UPM's 'Triple Crown' MBA accreditation (held by just 1% of business schools worldwide) proves our excellence, yet we celebrate improvements in Western league tables that systematically favour centuries-old reputations over teaching excellence. Our misplaced reverence for imported credentials blinds us to homegrown excellence. Myth 3: We must undercharge to compete. UPM's Triple Crown MBA costs international students RM37,900 – just over a tenth of Melbourne's RM330,000 or Manchester's RM285,000. Malaysian universities offer equal quality at dramatically lower prices, but these discounts don't compete; they concede. Our own pricing perpetuates the very inferiority myth we seek to overcome. The global education landscape is shifting. China's R&D expenditure reached USD458.5 billion in 2023, contributing 40% of global AI research papers. India surged from USD32 billion to USD75 billion in R&D spending between 2015-2021. South Korea's formed their own University Rankings Forum. These nations stopped seeking Western validation and started defining their own excellence metrics. Malaysia must follow suit – not by copying their models, but by recognising that the improvement rate proves we already have what it takes to compete globally. Malaysia's education revolution begins with three decisive digital reforms: First, Education Malaysia must streamline its global footprint by reducing its twelve international offices to only the most essential – a move proven effective when the British Council saved £185 million after closing twenty locations. Second, we must implement competitive tuition pricing, ensuring international student fees reflect at least 50% of Western rates to balance accessibility with institutional sustainability. Third, TalentCorp's Malaysia@Heart initiative should be transformed into a student-diaspora centred networks platform that rival Germany's DAAD (which now manages €426 million in digital programs) and Australia's OS-HELP (supporting 15,000 students without physical offices). Yet money isn't the barrier – mindset is. True transformation requires more than restructuring – it demands strategic ambition. While other nations rely on physical presence, Malaysia should pioneer digital scholar-diplomacy: cultivating elite networks to secure preferential access at top global institutions, and deploying education envoys to negotiate strategic partnerships. Malaysia has the tools – now we need the nerve. We must stop treating degrees as job tickets and start demanding world-beating standards. This is our moment to stop chasing global benchmarks and start setting them. The world rewards leaders, not followers. Related
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Wentel Engineering optimistic on revenue growth for 2026, eyes Singapore market
KUALA LUMPUR: Metal fabricator and assembler Wentel Engineering Holdings Bhd is optimistic that its revenue growth will be good in 2026, especially with its business operations remaining strong, particularly in Singapore. Group CEO Chuah Chong Syn said the company targets its products at the Singaporean market more than the local market in Malaysia. 'Singapore's electronic and electrical (E&E) sector is on a strong multiyear growth trajectory, supported by global semiconductor recovery, rising electronics exports and a robust ecosystem of manufacturing and R&D infrastructure,' he explained. In April 2025, Singapore's electronics manufacturing output surged 15.2% year-on-year, outperforming regional peers and this reflects strong global demand for semiconductors, test equipment, and high-precision components, Chuah said at a press conference when announcing the company's first quarter FY 2025 results today. He said Wentel remains committed to leveraging its competitive strengths and expanding the company's market presence as means to drive value creation for stakeholders. This commitment will be supported by an expansion of a new manufacturing plant in Johor Bahru, which is targeted to commence operations in the first half of 2026. 'The new plant is expected to substantially enhance our production capacity and operational efficiencies, positioning us to capitalise on the resurgence of global trade economies. As demand rises, we are confident to achieve satisfactory financial performance for the coming year,' Chuah said. Wentel Engineering registered a profit after tax of RM6.1 million in the first quarter ended March 30, 2025, on the back of RM31.2 million in revenue. The growth is primarily attributed to high demand of E&E products including capital equipment, advanced packaging and wire bonding. There was no dividend declared for the quarter under review. Security screening equipment remained Wentel Engineering's fundamental business as it contributed 64.7% of its total revenue for the quarter. However, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the company's E&E segment, which produces semiconductors, is surging faster than its security screening equipment business, which falls under the semifinished and assembly segment. Financial controller Yap Yew Wei said this is because the semiconductor segment has large room to grow and they are starting off from a small base. 'We expect our security screening equipment business to make organic growth but no surge of revenue for now,' he said at the press conference. 'For the semiconductor segment there is room for us to pick up for both front end and back end customers,' he added. Yap said global semiconductor sales are projected to grow to US$697 billion (RM2.96 trillion) in 2025 from US$627 billion in 2024 (+11%), and Singapore contributes 11% of global chip output and 20% of chip equipment production.
New Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
JDT making lucrative salary offer to Sporting Gijon's Mendez?
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are reportedly preparing a lucrative offer to get Real Sporting Gijon midfielder Nacho Mendez. According to Spanish football insider Angel Garcia, under the name Cazurreando on X, Mendez is considering the JDT offer. "The midfielder of @RealSporting, Nacho Mendez, would be handling an offer from @OfficialJohor, where Jese Rodriguez, Jonathan Viera and Antonio Glauder played, among more than a dozen Spaniards, which would multiply his current salary by four," posted Garcia. Sporting Gijon are said to be keen to renew the 27-year-old's contract, while clubs from Spain's La Liga and Segunda Division have also shown interest in Mendez. Mendez has spent his entire professional career with Sporting. Since debuting for the senior side in 2017, he has made over 170 appearances in all competitions. A versatile central midfielder, he contributed one goal and three assists in 36 appearances during the 2023–24 Segunda season. His current market value, according to Transfermarkt, is €1.2 million (RM6.1 million). In a separate post, Cazurreando hinted that Mendez could earn around €400,000 (approximately RM2.04 million) annually in Malaysia.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MAINS corporation records increased annual income
PORT DICKSON: The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir said the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) Corporation has shown a significant increase in its annual income since its establishment in 2021. He said the decision to set up the agency was right and in line with the aspiration to empower the economy of Muslims in Negeri Sembilan and the success achieved reflected the effectiveness of the planning and implementation of the agency's initiatives. 'MAINS Corporation also plans various initiatives and strategies to expand the economic resources and strengthen the income of the organisation,' Tuanku Muhriz said after listening to the 2024 Negeri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Briefing presented by MAINS chairman Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Aziz Sheikh Abdul Kadir. Tuanku Muhriz also stressed that the principles of Maqasid Syariah should continue to be the basis and guideline in the drafting of policies as well as the implementation of religious programmes in the state. He added that it was important to ensure the planning and actions taken would bring benefits, guarantee the well-being of the ummah and avoid harm. Earlier, during the briefing, Abdul Aziz said the current estimated income of MAINS Corporation as of April is RM6.1 million. He also estimated that the agency could generate an income of RM19.8 million by the end of this year compared to the RM17.9 million it made last year and RM14.4 million in 2023. He also targeted an income of RM24.5 million next year through building rentals, land leases and property development. 'The projects that are being planned under the corporation include the construction of 31 shop lots in Batu 10 Pekan Labu, Nilai and the development of Sekolah Menengah Agama Johol, Kuala Pilah. 'Also being planned are freshwater aquaculture projects in Kampung Sentosa, Paroi as well as the Kg Legong Jaya Rembau People's Income Initiative-Agro-Entrepreneur Initiative (PR-Intan) Project,' he said.
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
MAINS Corporation Records Increased Annual Income
PORT DICKSON, May 20 (Bernama) -- The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir said the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) Corporation has shown a significant increase in its annual income since its establishment in 2021. He said the decision to set up the agency was right and in line with the aspiration to empower the economy of Muslims in Negeri Sembilan and the success achieved reflected the effectiveness of the planning and implementation of the agency's initiatives. "MAINS Corporation also plans various initiatives and strategies to expand the economic resources and strengthen the income of the organisation,' Tuanku Muhriz said after listening to the 2024 Negeri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Briefing presented by MAINS chairman Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Aziz Sheikh Abdul Kadir. Tuanku Muhriz also stressed that the principles of Maqasid Syariah should continue to be the basis and guideline in the drafting of policies as well as the implementation of religious programmes in the state. He added that it was important to ensure the planning and actions taken would bring benefits, guarantee the well-being of the ummah and avoid harm. Earlier, during the briefing, Abdul Aziz said the current estimated income of MAINS Corporation as of April is RM6.1 million. He also estimated that the agency could generate an income of RM19.8 million by the end of this year compared to the RM17.9 million it made last year and RM14.4 million in 2023. He also targeted an income of RM24.5 million next year through building rentals, land leases and property development. "The projects that are being planned under the corporation include the construction of 31 shop lots in Batu 10 Pekan Labu, Nilai and the development of Sekolah Menengah Agama Johol, Kuala Pilah.
