18/03/2025

TUESDAY | MAR 18, 2025

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Give flexibility to working mums, employers urged Ministry ready for 70% STEM students at boarding schools next year PENGKALAN HULU: The Education Ministry is prepared for fully residential schools to have 70% of their students enrolled in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) stream starting next year. Its minister Fadhlina Sidek said the recent proposal by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim aligns with the ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen STEM education. “STEM has always been a priority in fully residential schools, and we are continuously enhancing and refining the curriculum. Moving forward, we will place greater emphasis on STEM A (pure sciences) and STEM B (applied sciences), as the choice of pure sciences plays a crucial role in shaping the overall direction of STEM education. “Fully residential schools are already well aligned with this focus, but we will fine-tune the streaming process to ensure more attention is She was commenting on Anwar’s call on March 12 for 70% of residential school students to pursue STEM studies to strengthen expertise in the field. – Bernama given to STEM A,” she said at the Education Minister Santuni Madani Programme in Kampung Kuak Hulu here on Sunday.

8 M’sian council workers killed in Israeli strike KUALA LUMPUR: Eight humanitarian workers from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, last Saturday. Its chief executive officer Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said the attack occurred at 1.30pm when the workers were setting up tents to house families displaced by the ongoing Israeli attacks. “The attack on civilians carrying out humanitarian work is the most heinous and condemnable crime. “The organisation strongly condemns this war crime and calls on Malaysians to perform the Qunut Nazilah prayer to pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said in a statement yesterday. Sani said the organisation and its partner, the Al-Khair Foundation, were deeply shocked and saddened by the tragedy that claimed the lives of the workers, three of whom were media personnel dedicated to carrying out humanitarian missions. Sani identified the eight humanitarian workers as Mahmoud Yahya Al-Sarraj, Bilal Hossam Oqeila, Mahmoud Samir Oselim, Mahmoud Khaled Oselim, Mohammed Al-Ghafeer, Hazem Ghareeb, Bilal Abu Matar and Ahmad Hamad, all of whom were Palestinians. “This attack not only claimed innocent lives but also affected important humanitarian operations in Gaza.” Sani said the organisation would remain steadfast in its commitment to carrying out humanitarian work in Gaza. – Bernama Satok rep sworn in as Sarawak deputy minister KUCHING: Satok state assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki was sworn in as the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Deputy Minister in charge of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros), before Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at Astana Negeri yesterday. The SEB chairman’s appointment took immediate effect. “My key missions as deputy minister include driving efforts towards the green economy and realising the state’s aspiration to become an energy hub in the Asean region,” Ibrahim said. “This appointment is not a privilege but a trust that comes with responsibility,” he said. – Bernama

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Providing hybrid work options, adjustable hours, childcare support would help ensure productivity and employee retention: Awam

workplace flexibility is a major factor contributing to Malaysia’s low employment rate of just 55.59% among prime-age women with children under six, in contrast to Vietnam, which has the highest employment rate in Asean countries at 86.74%. “This figure of 55.59% has seen very little movement in the last decade. Another study found that nearly all the female respondents believe that requesting or taking advantage of flexible work opportunities will negatively impact their chances of promotion,” she added. Pong said as a result, women are often compelled to seek informal employment, gig work, or other precarious jobs in order to support their families, where they lack access to social protections and are paid lower wages. Stay-at-home mother Hemalatha Kannan, 37, gave up her high-paying job to care for her newborn after experiencing unfair treatment from her employer upon returning from maternity leave. “My son experienced health complications after birth, which required me to take extended leave. I also requested to work from home, as my job can be done remotely. However, my employer did not respond positively to this request. “The Human Resources Department justified its decision by stating that accommodating my request would be unfair to other employees. “After months of trying to adjust to the situation, I decided to quit my job to fully care for my son.” Another private sector employee, who requested anonymity, shared her concerns about her current work situation. Living in Seremban and commuting to Kuala Lumpur daily, she spends four hours travelling, in addition to her nine-hour workday, leaving her with limited time to spend with her two children. She said caring for her seven-year-old autistic daughter has become increasingly difficult due to her demanding work schedule. While her husband works from home and takes care of the children, she struggles with guilt and exhaustion from being away for most of the day. “It’s mentally and physically draining to work all day, and then navigate the horrendous traffic in Kuala Lumpur. By the time I get home, all I want to do is sleep,” she said.

PETALING JAYA: Although the government continuously promotes initiatives and incentives to reintegrate women into the workforce, the lack of flexibility from employers remains a significant drawback. Long and rigid working hours as well as discrimination related to pregnancy such as job redundancy, denial of promotions, extended probation, or even termination, force many young mothers to leave the workforce and become stay-at home parents. All Women’s Action Society (Awam) assistant advocacy officer Alyssa Pong Le Ann emphasised the urgent need for workplace reforms,

urging employers to address these challenges and provide greater flexibility. “While awareness of reintegrating women into the workforce is growing with strong support from the government, many Malaysian companies still cling to outdated work models. “Employers should implement hybrid work options, flexible hours and childcare support to ensure that mothers can participate in the workforce without sacrificing their

family responsibilities,” she added. Failing to address these issues affects working mothers and impacts workplace productivity and employee retention, Pong said. “When employees experience constant burnout and struggle with personal responsibilities, their job performance declines. Companies that adapt and offer flexibility will ultimately benefit from a happier, more productive workforce.” Citing a report in 2023, Pong highlighted that the lack of

Pong said women unhappy at their workplace are often compelled to seek informal employment such as gig work where they lack access to social protection and are paid lower wages. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Malaysia targets RM180b in 2025 property sales KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is targeting to generate RM180 billion property sales across all sectors this year. Asean countries. We will also invite China to participate,” he said in conjunction with a three-day Asia Real Estate Leaders (Arel) study tour to Melbourne, Australia recently. opportunity for Malaysian developers to engage with leading Australian experts in mixed-use developments, retirement villages, sustainable development, social housing, and urban townships.

rapidly with those 60 years and above projected to rise to 14.5% in 2040 from 8.3% in 2020. “One in every 10 will require housing solutions specifically designed to meet senior citizen needs. “However, the reality is that only 2.1% of Malaysia’s total housing stock is designated for senior living,” Nga said. He added that Malaysia is keen to explore senior living developments as an emerging segment within the domestic housing market. – Bernama

Its minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry is also working closely with the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Malaysia to organise the inaugural Asean Real Estate Conference 2025, scheduled for July 23-26 this year. “The event will be held alongside the Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition and will involve

He said more than 50,000 visitors are expected with sales of about RM1.2 billion. Arel brings together more than 180 key stakeholders from Australia and Malaysia’s housing and real estate sectors. Rehda Institute and Monash University organised the event. The study trip provides an

Nga highlighted that Malaysia has achieved the highest volume and value of property transactions over the past decade in 2024. Total property transactions rose 18% to RM223.2 billion versus RM196.8 billion a year ago. Earlier in his keynote address, Nga said Malaysia’s population is ageing