08/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 8, 2026

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‘Malaysia must embrace multilingual education’

Rare rhinoceros hornbill spotted in Malacca forests

MALACCA: A scientific expedition last year led to the discovery of the endangered rhinoceros hornbill in permanent forest reserves in Malacca, a rare and significant finding for preservation efforts. Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said three near-threatened bird species – the green iora, lesser green leafbird and short-tailed babbler – were also discovered in permanent forest reserves in Penang. He said the findings emerged from five scientific expeditions conducted across three permanent forest reserves in Malacca and two in Penang. The expeditions brought together scientists, researchers, government agencies, research institutions, universities and NGOs to strengthen the collection and documentation of the country’s biodiversity data. “In addition, the endemic flora species Schismatoglottis cordifolia and the liana species Embelia canescens var. glabrescens , both classified as endangered, were found in permanent forest reserves in Malacca and Penang,” he said after officiating at the closing ceremony of the Forest Biodiversity Scientific Expedition Seminar on Wednesday. He added that researchers also discovered a rare liana species, Dinochloa sipitangensis , in Malacca’s permanent forest reserves. The species had previously only been recorded in Johor and Borneo. He said the endemic Pulai tree species, Alstonia penangiana , was also found in Penang’s permanent forest reserves. The tree is unique to a specific geographical area and does not naturally occur anywhere else in the world. “The discovery of these species proves that the environmental conditions of permanent forest reserves in Malacca and Penang remain healthy and capable of supporting the survival and spread of biodiversity although forest cover in both states is limited,” he said. “The discovery of endemic, rare and endangered species through these expeditions also proves that the country’s permanent forest reserves serve as critically important biodiversity refugia,” he added. – Bernama Johor among highest-income states ISKANDAR PUTERI: Household income in Johor has increased since the current state administration took office in 2022, placing the state among the highest in Malaysia in terms of household income levels. State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said data from the Statistics Department showed Johor’s median household income in 2022 stood at RM6,879 per month, while average household income was RM8,517. Based on the latest 2024/2025 data, he said the state’s average household income had risen to RM9,484 per month, while median household income increased to RM7,712 per month. “This shows that economic growth and investment inflows into Johor are not merely on paper, but are translating into higher incomes for the people,” he said during the question-and answer session at the Johor State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday. Lee (BN-Paloh) was replying to Ee Chin Li (DAP-Tangkak), Nor Rashidah Ramli (BN-Parit Raja), Hahasrin Hashim (BN-Panti), Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Perling) and Liow Cai Tung (DAP Johor Jaya) on the impact of foreign investments on the rakyat and initiatives to support the capacity development of local companies. He also said the department’s Labour Force Survey showed Johor’s unemployment rate remained stable at 2.5% as of end-2025, compared with the national average of 2.9%. – Bernama

o Former central bank governor advocates English-medium pathways in public schools

and numeracy, especially in the early years. “The World Bank suggested that more investment should be directed towards preschool and primary education. More damningly, it concluded that Malaysia’s education system is not yet producing the skills needed for a high-income economy.” Muhammad said within Asean, Malaysia performs better than some peers but remains behind regional frontrunners

He said adopting a multilingual system in public education would strengthen proficiency in languages, especially English and Mandarin. “It will also reduce dependence on costly fees imposed by private and international schools. It will democratise access to global competencies and improve readiness for higher education and the workforce. It will also give the B40 group an opportunity to acquire skills that enhance their social mobility,” he added.

Ű BY ANDREW SAGAYAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim (pic) has proposed the reintroduction of English-medium schools or streams within the public education system as a strategic advantage for the country. Speaking at the Education Congress organised by the Umno Education Bureau, he said the government should be less paternalistic when it comes to educational choices. “Bahasa Malaysia anchors our national identity and unity. However, English and now Mandarin connect us to global knowledge, commerce and innovation. “We must depoliticise language, harnessing it as a source of national competitiveness rather than a weapon of endless controversial attacks. A language cannot be mastered through instruction alone. “It must be used as a medium of learning to acquire emerging knowledge” he said. “This is why Malaysia should reintroduce English-medium schools or streams within the public system. “Not as a replacement for Bahasa Malaysia, but as a complementary pathway. It also gives parents additional choices on the type of education they prefer for their children.” Muhammad added that Mandarin is another language future generations of Malaysians should master. “Mastering Mandarin offers clear benefits. First, it boosts employability in business, diplomacy, tourism and technology sectors deeply engaged with Chinese-speaking markets. “Second, it can be aligned with national education strategies by equipping students with a globally rising language and access to cutting-edge Chinese research. “Third, as China emerges as one of the world’s foremost economic powers and a major trading force, it unlocks vast economic, business and employment opportunities.”

such as Singapore and increasingly, Vietnam. “And then there is the question of who, precisely, is being left behind. In reading, only 42% of 15-year-old Malaysians reach the minimum proficiency level, against the OECD average of 74%. In mathematics, the figure is 41% against 69%. “At the very top of the performance scale, the students who will become our scientists, engineers and innovators account for just 1% of Malaysian students who qualify as top performers in mathematics. The OECD average is 9%. Singapore stands at 41%. “Malaysia does not lack basic capability. Malaysia lacks high-level excellence at scale. And the data tells us this deficit is not shrinking. It is widening,” he said. Muhammad also pointed out that many graduates entering the workforce are found lacking not in qualifications, but in capability.

“At the same time, Bahasa Malaysia must remain strong and compulsory as it reflects the national identity that must remain anchored as a source of national pride. The goal is not monolingualism. The goal is to have confident multilingual Malaysians,” he said. Muhammad cited the World Bank’s “Malaysian Economic Monitor 2024: Bending Bamboo Shoots – Strengthening Foundational Skills” report, which concluded that while Malaysia has achieved strong access and investment in education, learning quality and outcomes continue to lag behind expectations. “More concerning is that Malaysian students spend approximately 12.9 years in school, but learning outcomes are equivalent to only about 8.9 years of effective learning, indicating a learning deficit and inefficiency. “Many students struggle with basic literacy

Muhammad said adopting a multilingual system in public education would strengthen proficiency in languages, especially English and Mandarin. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Retired teacher, daughter share graduation joy SHAH ALAM: A retired teacher shared a proud and unforgettable convocation moment with his eldest daughter when both received their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at the 104th Universiti Teknologi Mara convocation recently. “As a school principal, the long working hours were tough. After I retired, I found myself questioning whether to continue with my studies.

Nurul Huda added that she was also unable to attend her master’s degree graduation ceremony at the University of Manchester because of Covid-19 restrictions. “I was so happy to graduate with my father. Although we started in the same year, we were not sure we would finish together because a PhD is such a long journey. “However, after our research reports were accepted, and despite our viva sessions being a week apart, we eventually graduated together. It felt really special wearing the same robe and sitting next to each other in the hall,” said Nurul Huda, who works as a regional communications specialist in Kulim, Kedah. A total of 25,336 graduates are expected to receive their diploma and degree scrolls in various fields during the convocation ceremony, that started on Wednesday and runs until May 23.

“I admit pursuing a PhD is not easy and it is something you have to go through on your own. But I am fortunate to have my daughter sharing this journey with me,” he told Bernama at the ceremony held at Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nurul Huda, 29, said she was grateful to pursue her doctoral studies alongside her father, who had long expressed his ambition to obtain a PhD. She said the convocation was even more meaningful as it marked her first experience attending a graduation ceremony, having missed her bachelor’s degree convocation at Universiti Sains Malaysia as she was then furthering her studies in Manchester, the UK.

Dr Jafni Ghazali and Dr Nurul Huda Jafni, who graduated in Business Management, had enrolled in different semesters in 2021 and never expected to complete their studies at the same time. Jafni, 60, a former Transkrian Mara Junior Science College principal in Nibong Tebal, Penang, said balancing research work with his duties as an educator was the most challenging part of his PhD journey. He added that the pressure intensified as the submission deadline for his research report approached while he continued struggling with his determination to complete the programme.