Clarion call for quality education, Update of syllabi needed, Time needed to revamp system, say experts

The Implications of Outdated Syllabus: A Call for Education ...

 The national education system needs an urgent overhaul by making changes to irrelevant subjects, says Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. New and proactive initiatives are needed to equip the country’s youth to face upcoming challenges, the Regent of Johor says in his first state assembly speech. Experts agree on the need to transform the current national education syllabi but reorienting an education system could take time.

Royal presence: Tunku Ismail (left) opening the third term of the 15th state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar. — Bernama

Update of syllabi needed

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Regent of Johor has called for a national education reform by making changes to the syllabi of subjects that are no longer relevant to ensure that the next generation will remain competitive.

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said the Federal Government should take more proactive measures to improve the quality, system and facilities of education.

“An important change that needs to be made is to update the syllabi of subjects that are no longer relevant.

“If this cannot be done at the national level, let Johor become the first state to change the syllabi in our schools,” he decreed when opening the third term of the 15th state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar here yesterday.

It is also his first state assembly opening speech as Regent of Johor.

According to Tunku Ismail, he has always stressed the importance of quality education for the people.

“Quality education is the basis of a developed state. It will help to solve various issues and bring more job opportunities to the next generation,” he said.

He also highlighted a recent World Bank report as well as the country’s substandard performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) in his speech.

Malaysia’s achievements in the international assessment “Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study” and Pisa have yet to reach the top three positions as desired in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

“If we do not face these realities, then we should not complain when our next generation is less competitive compared with their peers.

“New and proactive initiatives are needed to equip youths to face upcoming challenges,” said Tunku Ismail, who is also the Johor Crown Prince.

He hoped that in years to come, every Johorean student would graduate from a higher education institution and not just stop at the secondary school level.

“The state needs more technology-savvy students and those who are exposed to ever-changing technology trends.

“It is my priority to ensure that all the Bangsa Johor people have food on the table, a place to stay, and access to quality education for their children, besides access to basic amenities and good healthcare services,” he told the state legislative assembly.

When Tunku Ismail was a guest on the Keluar Sekejap podcast in October last year, he told hosts Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan that quality education for the next generation is something that is close to his heart.

Tunku Ismail also said the Causeway in Johor Baru and the Second Link near here are important bridges to cross the border into Singapore for work as well as for Singaporeans to visit the state.

“Lately, upgrades have been conducted at the Customs, immigration and quarantine complexes at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (at the Causeway) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (Second Link), but there are still many shortcomings that need to be addressed.

“I want to see these issues solved without compromise,” he added.

Tunku Ismail also thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Government for selecting Johor to implement the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and Special Financial Zone (SFZ).

Besides significantly boosting Johor’s economic growth, he is confident that Johor and Singapore’s ties would be further strengthened through the initiatives.

He urged the state’s civil servants to do their part in ensuring that the JS-SEZ, SFZ and other related projects are implemented efficiently and on schedule.

He hoped this would help Johor transform into one of the main economic hubs in the region by 2030.

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Time needed to revamp system, say experts

PETALING JAYA: There is a need to transform the current national education syllabi in keeping with the times and global challenges, but reorienting an education system could take time, say experts.

Dr Yeah Kim Leng, director of economic studies programme at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute of Sunway University, said that for a country to move forward, it is important to create quality and skilled students so that they can compete with their peers globally.

He pointed out that there should be greater emphasis on the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the 3Rs of learning.

The 3Rs refer to the skills of reading, writing and arithmetic.

“The current education syllabi in national schools definitely need to be reoriented to include more STEM subjects while emphasising the 3Rs. Language skills must also be given more focus, especially due to the deterioration of language proficiency.

“Language proficiency is important in a borderless economic landscape, and what more with advanced technology? The emphasis should be on the English language, as it is widely used in the business world, and with the rise of China as an economic power, Mandarin, too, is of much importance.

“Malaysian schools need to enhance learning; students need to learn how to learn so that they can be critical thinkers with a broad understanding of world developments.

“The focus should be on financial literacy and cross-cultural acculturation, which will allow students to be flexible in a multicultural setting. It is very important for Malaysians to be inclusive and apply their skills to take the country to greater heights,” said Yeah.

“The education ministry needs to update itself to incorporate and review the education system to ensure that the national education institutions keep up with the times.”

National Union of Teaching Profession president Aminuddin Awang said the current Malaysian National Education Blueprint ends in 2025, and changing it abruptly would be unwise.

“We cannot deny the recent World Bank report on Malaysia’s education standards, as it was done based on data, and we should accept such criticism for our own good. I believe the Education Ministry understands such criticism from the World Bank and has already started to engage the stakeholders in national education to get their inputs for the next blueprint.”

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said teachers are the most important factor in making any national education system a success.

“As long as the teachers cannot deliver, no matter what syllabi you come out with, if the same teachers are going to deliver it the same way, the results will not get any better.

“The authorities overseeing the national education system need to reconsider the training methods for teachers.

“The Education Ministry has obviously been in denial by stating that there is nothing wrong with the education system,” said Azimah.

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Bracing for a maze of projects in Penang

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Schemes to ease future congestion causing traffic trouble in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Traffic on Penang island is often monstrous, especially at peak hours, with narrow roads and many industrial areas.

With five major transportation projects taking off almost in tandem this year, the nightmare is going to get worse for Penangites – at least until the projects are completed.

The Bayan Lepas area – where most factories are, Air Itam – the most densely populated area on the island, and Jalan Utama – the main thoroughfare leading to the seaside areas of Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah and Telok Bahang, are especially notorious for their jams.

However, these are also the places where the projects, meant to ease the island’s perennial traffic woes, are being built.

The RM851mil Air Itam to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project is almost 50% ready but is causing massive jams in the Bandar Baru Air Itam area.

The four other projects that are expected to clog up nearby roads are the land reclamation project of Silicon Island in Batu Maung, the RM1.5bil Penang International Airport expansion, the Federal Government-funded Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) – all in the Bayan Baru-Bayan Lepas area – as well as the RM245mil Penang Hill cable car project at Jalan Kebun Bunga.

For the next few years, motorists will have to bear with not just worse jams but also the inconvenience, noise, dust and vibrations.

The jams in Air Itam are already a major headache which Penangites have never experienced before.

“It can take me about 30 minutes to pass the traffic light junction at peak hours, when it should take just five minutes,” said hotel manager M. Muniandy, who lives in Air Itam.

“Two lanes at the junction were taken away to build the elevated road and now cars are lined up for between 2km and 3km just waiting for the light to turn green.

“I’ve never had such a bad time driving before.”

Muniandy was referring to the junction at Lebuhraya Thean Teik and Jalan Angsana, the main thoroughfare of Bandar Baru Air Itam.

Once it is completed, the Air Itam bypass will allow residents to have an uninterrupted hillside route all the way to the expressway near the Penang Bridge without having to cut through the city.

This will reduce the current 40-minute drive between Bandar Baru Air Itam and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to less than 10 minutes.

For now however, residents are dealing with intense bottlenecks and long queues at junctions.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman said that the traffic impact assessments of these mega projects were each created in “silos”.

“They are done piecemeal, in a disjointed manner. It is a town-planning nightmare.

“We face unprecedented traffic congestion because of the shortsighted planning for long-term projects, some of which we continually assert are unnecessary,” she said.

Other stakeholders argue that while these mega projects are good for Penang in the long run, state authorities need to plan them out more carefully.

GUH Holdings Bhd’s Datuk Seri Kenneth H’ng said that besides intolerable jams, the severe shortage of public parking space is another daily headache.

“A new factory in Bayan Lepas is under construction right next to ours and because of that, the local authority has removed the roadside parking lots.

“Employees now suffer from a severe lack of public parking. They end up being forced to park illegally where they are regularly fined,” lamented the chief executive officer of the electronics, properties and utilities group.

To help his employees, H’ng’s firm provides special allowances for them to park at a nearby shopping complex early in the morning and a shuttle bus to take them to and from the factory.

“Because one factory is being built, the shopping complex’s parking facility is under strain, our company must bear extra cost and our employees also have to come out with money for ehailing rides to get back to their cars if they miss the shuttle.

“Poor planning causes far-reaching inconveniences to many.

“We need the authorities to plan construction work with all due diligence because the jams and parking problems erode the quality of life in Penang,” H’ng said.

The state government, meanwhile, has appealed for public cooperation and patience while these projects are carried out.

“The government cannot do it alone. We need the people’s full cooperation,” said state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.

One short-term solution the authorities are hoping will help is to station traffic policemen at critical junctions affected by these projects during peak hours.

Zairil said each of those projects has a detailed traffic management plan to reduce the impact of construction work on motorists.

“Every project will have a traffic management plan, but there will still be inconveniences. So we must all be patient and plan our commutes because the public infrastructure being constructed will eventually solve the traffic problems.

“Whenever there is major construction anywhere in the world, there will be short-term traffic consequences,” he said.

He said a new committee on road congestion and safety has been formed by the federal Cabinet and its first meeting will be held early next month with Penang traffic being on the agenda.It will be chaired by the secretary-general of the Transport Ministry, he added.

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Penang LRT Mutiara Line project has been officially taken over by the Federal Government, to begin in Q4

Property News/29 March 2024Leave a comment

The construction of Penang’s first light rail transit (LRT) project will begin by the fourth quarter of this year, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister added that the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project has been officially taken over by the Federal Government and is estimated to take six years, with completion slated for by 2030.

“We hope that within six months, the negotiations with SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd can be concluded.

“Following that, we expect physical works can start at least by the fourth quarter this year,” he told reporters at the ministry’s office on Friday (March 29).

The contracts for the LRT project have been divided into three main components – Silicon Island to Komtar contract (Segment 1), Komtar to Penang Sentral contract (Segment 2) and turn-key systems and rolling stocks contract.

Loke said SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd has been offered the Segment 1 contract based on the Single Sourcing Request for Proposal mechanism.

Meanwhile, the other two remaining contracts will be offered on an open tender basis.

“The offer (to SRS Consortium) was made based on the request by Penang state government which had appointed SRS as the Project Delivery Partner of the Penang Transportation Master Plan, which comprises the Penang LRT Mutiara Line, through an open tender in August 2015.

“SRS has also studied the technical early designs while acquiring approvals for the Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment and conditional Skim Kereta Api,” he said, adding that the costs were also borne out by SRS.

Loke added that the Cabinet has agreed to appoint MRT Corp as the developer and asset owner of the new train line.

He said that the rolling stock operations depot and transit-oriented development projects will be conducted by MRT Corp together with the state government.

“The new strategy aims to generate extra non-fare revenue to be reinvested for train maintenance in the future,” he added.

Stretching about 29km, Penang LRT Mutiara Line, will be equipped with 20 stations which include two interchange stations in Komtar and Penang Sentral.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Penang LRT project on track despite minor amendment

Property News/5 May 2024Leave a comment

The construction of Mutiara Line, Penang’s first light rail transit (LRT) project, will be according to schedule despite a minor amendment to the original plan.

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Corp chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said everything would be carried out on time, adding that there is no need for the resubmission of the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

“The slight amendment to the track is meant to accommodate the line extended to Penang Sentral on the mainland from Penang island via an elevated track above the sea.

“Once we have updated the data on the LRT alignment, we will need to engage all the relevant agencies through workshops.

“The amended alignment, once finalised, will then be provided as an addendum meant for the necessary approval.

“All these will be done in the next three months. The main component of the alignment is still intact,” he said after giving Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin a briefing on the RM10bil project during the North Zone Madani Rakyat programme at the Sungai Nibong Pesta site in Penang.

It was earlier reported that the Penang government had planned to hold a workshop with stakeholders to finalise the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project following minor amendments to the original plan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was quoted as saying that the workshop was expected to be held within a week or two so that further work involving the transformative infrastructure project could be carried out.

In the latest report released by MRT Corp, the alignment will begin from Penang Sentral on Penang mainland to the proposed first station on Penang island – Macallum.

From Macallum, it will pass through Komtar, Jalan Gurdwara, Solok Sungai Pinang, Sungai Pinang, Jelutong Timur, all the way to Silicon Island.

Two proposed stations – Bandar Sri Pinang and Sky Cab – along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which were seen in the original plan, have since been taken out of the picture.

On March 29, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the Federal Government officially took over the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project from the state government, with MRT Corporation appointed as the developer and asset owner.

The procurement of the project is divided into three main components, which are civil construction works for Segment 1 which is the alignment of Silicon Island to Komtar; works for civil construction for Segment 2 which is the line from Komtar to Penang Sentral and a “turnkey contract” for system and carriage (coach) works.

Also present at the briefing were Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan and Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng.

Source: TheStar.com.my

PENANG LRT PROJECT

https://images.app.goo.gl/eN8uo1EZtXPxYzPo7 

Bayan Lepas LRT

Station names are provisional and subject to confirmation.

Moving Towards a Modern Penang

The proposed BL LRT line will cover a distance of 29.9 km, forming the main North-South rail backbone on the island. As the first LRT system in Penang, the BL LRT line will provide direct airport transit from Penang International Airport to major destinations on the island. The line will begin at Komtar and ends at the upcoming Penang South Reclamation (PSR) Smart City.

• 29.9km in length;
• 27 stations;
• First LRT line in Penang;
• Passes through high-demand areas like Komtar, Macallum, Jelutong, LCC Terminal and Bayan Lepas FIZ.

THROUGH BL LRT, WE CAN:

• Travel efficiently without getting into traffic congestion
• Travel safely and be more cost effective
• Increase productivity and personal time. Less time on the road means more time for family, work and leisure
• Move towards greener Earth. Light rail consumes less energy per passenger than cars and thus, less carbon footprint

Playing their part to beat the monstrous jams

Playing their part to beat the monstrous jams

Diversify your protein sources for better nutrition

Protein, an essential nutrient needed by our body, can be found in both animal and plant food sources

One way of increasing your plant-based protein intake is by mixing your protein sources in one meal, e.g. you have dhall and chickpeas, alongside fish, in this dish. — Filepic

When discussing protein in our diets, we often think of animal-based protein sources, such as meat, fish and poultry.

But did you know that protein is also available in foods originating from plants?

In fact, it is essential to include these plant-based protein sources in our diet as part of our healthy eating plan.

Before delving deeper into the topic, we need to understand what protein is and why we need to eat foods containing it.

Apart from carbohydrates and fats, protein is a major nutrient needed by our body to function properly.

It contributes significantly to the growth and maintenance of our body, including the formation of new cells and the repair of old ones.

Additionally, protein serves as the building block for enzymes and hormones, which are key to various biological processes in the body.

It also provides energy when the supply from carbohydrates and fats is insufficient.

As protein is essential for cell growth and repair, adequate intake is important during periods of rapid development, such as during childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In addition, sufficient intake of high-quality protein by the elderly is important to help improve mood, boost resistance against stress and prevent muscle loss.

In the most recent update to the Malaysian Food Pyramid, protein-rich foods are placed on the third level from the base, indicating that they need to be consumed in moderation.

According to this guideline, individuals are advised to incorporate a balanced mix of protein sources into their daily diet.

The Food Pyramid recommends one serving of fish; one to two servings of poultry, meat or eggs; and one serving of plant-based protein foods.

To achieve optimal health, adults are encouraged to aim for approximately one gramme of protein per kilogramme of body weight daily, as per the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) of 2017.

This means an individual weighing 70kg should aim for an intake of 70g of protein per day.

Understanding protein sources

As mentioned earlier, protein is not solely sourced from animal-based foods, such as chicken, meat, eggs and fish.

Indeed, protein can also be obtained from plant-based protein foods such as legumes, nuts and soybean products, which are equally nutritious and beneficial for our body.

Hence, incorporating both animal- and plant-based proteins into our daily meals can provide a higher quality of protein to support overall health.

To help us make better dietary choices, let’s learn more about the different sources of protein:

> Animal protein

Fishes such as Indian mackerel (ikan kembung), salmon and herring are excellent sources of protein with lower levels of saturated fats compared to meat and poultry.

Additionally, they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development in children.

Shellfish varieties like crabs, lobsters and shrimps offer lean protein with minimal saturated fats and calories, and are high in many micronutrients.

Meat and poultry are complete proteins that contain all the essential amino acids.

They are also high in minerals and vitamins.

The fat content may vary depending on the cuts, with examples of lean options including skinless chicken or turkey breast, and beef or pork tenderloin.

A cost-effective protein source, eggs provide excellent quality protein containing all the essential amino acids.

Additionally, egg yolks are rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are good fats.

> Plant-based protein

Legumes are generally low in fat, high in dietary fibre, and free from saturated fats and cholesterol.Soybean is considered as one of the best complete protein sources and can make a pretty delicious dish, such as this Szechuan mapo tofu. — Filepic

They are also a good source of B-group vitamins and contain phytochemicals and antioxidants.

However, they are incomplete proteins as they are low in some essential amino acids.

Examples of legumes are dhal, lentils, peas, chickpeas and peanuts.

Nuts are nutrient- and energy- dense foods that contain high amounts of protein, healthy fats, phytochemicals and antioxidants.

They are also rich in dietary fibre and various micronutrients.

Examples include almonds, pistachios, chestnuts and hazelnuts.

Soybean is considered as one of the best complete protein sources.

Soybean foods are widely consumed and available in various forms.

They are also rich in protein, dietary fibre, unsaturated fat, vitamins and minerals.

Examples of soybean foods are soymilk, tofu, tempeh and natto.

Increase your plant-based proteins

Here are some practical tips to boost your intake of plant-based proteins:

• Add legumes to dishes

  Try mixing plant-based proteins and animal proteins in the same dish.

  For example, you can prepare stir-fry shrimps with added tofu or incorporate chickpeas into beef stew.

• Include legumes daily

  Aim to incorporate a serving of legumes every day as part of your daily protein intake.

  For example, you can have lentil soup with bread for breakfast, instead of toast with kaya.

• Have a variety of legume dishes

  Prepare different legume dishes to keep your meals exciting and nutritious.

  For example, you can have stir-fry tempeh one day and braised tofu the next.

• Choose legumes or nuts as snacks

  This is an easy way to increase your plant-based protein intake.

  However, be mindful of portion sizes, especially with nuts, as they are high in calories.

  For example, you can have steamed chickpeas, boiled peas/edamame, roasted almonds or chestnuts for a satisfying and nutritious snack.

Also, follow these simple cooking tips to ensure that you get the essential nutrients needed by your body, while avoiding excessive intake:

• Choose skinless or lean cuts

  Opt for skinless chicken or duck parts, and lean cuts of beef, lamb or pork, when buying meat or poultry.

  Otherwise, you can also remove the skin or trim excess fat before cooking to reduce saturated fat intake from animal protein.

• Include plant-based protein foods

  Add plant-based protein foods to your grocery shopping list to diversify your protein options when cooking dishes.

• Use healthier cooking methods

  Cooking methods can also affect the quality of your protein intake.

  Choose to cook by steaming, stewing, braising, boiling, poaching, grilling, roasting or air-frying.

  Limit deep-frying and breading as these methods will cause the food to soak up more oil during cooking, hence adding more fat and calories to your intake.

• Limit intake of organ meats

  Organ meats such as the liver, spleen or kidney are nutritious, but also high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

  Consume them in moderation to maintain a balanced diet.

When we have mixed rice for lunch, protein-based dishes are often the star of the meal.

However, most of us tend to choose chicken or meat as the primary protein source.

It is worth noting that dietary guidelines recommend including at least one serving of fish and one serving of plant-based protein as part of our daily protein intake.

This will ensure that we have a variety of protein sources in our diet.

Combining both animal and plant-based proteins in our diet will also provide higher-quality proteins for our body.

So go ahead and try some different protein-based dishes in your menu.

ByTan Ye Ting and Georgen , who are members of the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association (MDA). This article is contributed by Nutrition Month Malaysia (NMM) 2024, an annual community nutrition education initiative jointly organised by the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, MDA and the Malaysian Society of Body Composition. NMM’s annual Food-Fit-Fun Fair will be held in Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on May 22-26 (2024).

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