11/04/2026

SATURDAY | APR 11, 2026

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‘TVET gaining acceptance as mainstream education path’

NUP3 prepared by the ministry through PLANMalaysia as two key national spatial planning policies. The ministry said the documents would drive Malaysia’s physical development direction and governance in a balanced and sustainable manner, in line with the Madani government’s emphasis on federal-state cooperation. “The decisions of the meeting reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring that national physical planning remains dynamic, inclusive and forward-looking.” – Bernama Train schedule to be restructured KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad will implement a restructuring of the Klang Valley KTM Komuter service schedule for the Pulau Sebang-Batu Caves Pulau Sebang route starting April 18. The railway operator announced that the decision was made after the implementation of infrastructure upgrading works for the Klang Valley Electric Double Track Project Phase 2 (KVDT2) between Salak Selatan Station and Seremban Station. It added that the rescheduling is aimed at paving the way for the 67km track upgrading work to be carried out more safely and efficiently, as well as speeding up the project’s completion timeline. “The implementation involves operating using a single track system to ensure the continuity of passenger train and freight train services on the affected routes. “The rationalisation involves upgrading the track system, signalling and infrastructure to improve the safety, stability and efficiency of rail services and the reliability of the rail system in the long term.” It also said during the project implementation period, which is expected to last until the end of December, the morning and evening peak frequency for KTM Komuter services on the Pulau Sebang-Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang route would be optimised to five services with an interval of 15 minutes and 30 minutes “During the implementation period, no KTM Komuter services will operate from 10am to 4pm on the Midvalley-Pulau Sebang and Pulau Sebang-Bandar Tasik Selatan routes.” It said the track between Salak Selatan Station and Seremban Station would be closed from 10pm to 6am to allow maintenance and upgrading work to be carried out more intensively. The restructuring also involves adjusting the timetable and train numbers for two electric train services (ETS) on the JB Sentral-KL Sentral-JB Sentral route. The transport operator said train EP9530 (formerly EP9536) from JB Sentral to KL Sentral would now depart at 3pm and arrive at 7.20pm, while train EP9535 (formerly EP9537) from KL Sentral to JB Sentral would depart at 8pm and arrive at 12.20am. – Bernama

by an increasingly dynamic global economic landscape, including the emergence of new technologies and growing complexity of industry needs. The situation makes TVET a strategic, flexible and career-oriented education pathway for the long term. “It is now seen as a backbone of the country’s economic development. Graduates not only possess high technical skills but also have proven to be competitive at both national and international levels,” she said in her speech at the 10th Education Ministry Vocational College Convocation Ceremony. The ceremony was conducted by zones, involving 10,808 graduates from 84 vocational colleges across 32 programmes of study. She added that the employability rate of graduates under the ministry has reached an impressive 99%, reflecting the high skill levels of students supported by an increasingly strong and comprehensive national TVET ecosystem. “This is supported by industry involvement, which is considered crucial in meeting industry needs.” She said graduates are also recognised as well rounded and educated individuals who are capable of making a positive impact on industry and society, with the ministry committed to further strengthening TVET as a primary choice among students. “We are no longer talking about potential, but are seeing the results. Students are proving their capabilities on both national and international stages, not only through technical skills, but also as holistic individuals who are ready to contribute to industry and society.”

o Employability rate of graduates reported at 99%: Minister

NILAI: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is gaining wider acceptance and is no longer seen as a second option, but rather as a mainstream pathway for

exceeding the existing capacity of 17,912 places, which reflects growing public confidence in TVET courses, Bernama reported. “The shift in perception is driven

education. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the situation is evident from the rise in applications: from 28,098 in 2022 to 58,263 this year,

Fadhlina said graduates are also recognised as well rounded and educated individuals who are capable of making a positive impact on industry and society, with the ministry committed to further strengthening TVET as a primary choice among students. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Rice wholesalers urged to collect stocks to avoid supply issues

TELUPID: Rice wholesalers in Sabah have been urged to promptly collect their stocks to ensure smooth distribution and avoid supply disruptions, said state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar. He said about 3,000 tonnes of rice purchased by several wholesalers three days ago have yet to be PUTRAJAYA: The 50th National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) meeting has agreed that further review and coordination of the Draft Fifth National Physical Plan (NPP5) and the Draft Third National Urbanisation Policy (NUP3) be carried out jointly with state governments, including Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan, before they are finalised for adoption. The Housing and Local Government Ministry said the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also agreed

this affects the livelihoods of Sabahans. Investigations are ongoing and some wholesalers have failed to attend when summoned.” He added that higher prices and the absence of subsidies elsewhere may have led to rice being concealed and smuggled across borders.

on Thursday. He added that rice prices in Sabah would remain stable as subsidies for the staple continue to be maintained. He also said the ministry is auditing several wholesalers over alleged hoarding, with offenders liable to a minimum RM50,000 fine and possible imprisonment. “There will be no compromise as including a proposed new alignment for the West Coast Expressway Southern Link from Banting in Selangor to Gelang Patah in Johor, spanning 303.5km. The ministry also said the meeting took note of a proposed new road from Simpang Pelangai in Bentong, Pahang to Putrajaya, covering 118.7km, as an alternative route. “Both projects are designed to reduce critical congestion on the North-South Expressway and the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, while enhancing the efficiency of the

collected and remain at Padiberas Nasional Bhd warehouses. “I urge wholesalers to arrange transport to collect the rice they have ordered. I do not want this to become an act of sabotage to manipulate prices,” he told reporters after an engagement session with the Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department and a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering that proposed strategic infrastructure projects be explored through privatisation implementation models to optimise cost management and national fiscal efficiency. “Through the synergy of NPP5, NUP3 and strategic infrastructure projects, Malaysia is on the right track to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability for the wellbeing of the public.” It added that the NPPC also took note of strategic infrastructure initiatives by the Works Ministry,

“I am not making accusations, but we are gathering evidence.”– Bernama Consensus reached to coordinate policies with state govts

national transport network,.” The ministry said the meeting agreed on detailed negotiations to be conducted with the relevant state governments to refine implementation methods and ensure maximum economic impact for local communities. It added that the NPPC had considered a total of 10 working papers, comprising two approval papers, three agreement papers and five information papers. The ministry also said the NPPC reviewed the Draft NPP5 and Draft