SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) makes it to the finals with ‘HELPIE’ mental health app developed by pupils.
T4 Education said SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) has seen its pupils’ stress levels drop by 60% and classroom behaviour improve by 40% through ‘HELPIE’. (T4 Education pic)
PETALING JAYA: A primary school in Putrajaya has been shortlisted as a top 10 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025.
SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) made the list after its pupils developed an app called HELPIE to make mental health support accessible, engaging and fun.
Awards organiser T4 Education said that, through the app, the school had seen pupils’ stress levels drop by 60% and classroom behaviour improve by 40%. Also, 90% of the pupils reported understanding their emotions better.
In a statement, T4 Education said a survey among the 1,400 pupils in 2023 revealed that 34% of them were experiencing stress, and 47% were struggling to express their emotions.
It said the school was planning to publish the app on the Google Play store so it could be integrated into the counselling programmes of other schools.
T4 Education founder Vikas Pota praised the school as a beacon of hope, calling it an inspiration for global educators facing the pressures of technological change, climate crises and societal challenges.
“It is in schools like SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future.
“Leaders and schools around the world have so much to learn from this inspirational Malaysian institution,” he said.
The winners of the awards’ five categories – community collaboration, environmental action, innovation, overcoming adversity, and supporting healthy lives – and the T4 Education community choice award will be announced in October.
“They will be invited to the World Schools’ Summit in Abu Dhabi on Nov 15-16 where they will share their best practices and unique expertise and experience with policymakers and leading figures in global education,” it said. - FMT
Bukit Aman says the suspect received payments for the ‘independent’ haj packages through the bank account of a madrasah he owns.
Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department acting director Hasbullah Ali said 22 reports have been filed by family members of the victims. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A man who allegedly duped 47 elderly Muslims into purchasing “independent” haj packages had used his influence as an ustaz and owner of a madrasah to “scam” the victims, police said today.
Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department acting director Hasbullah Ali said an investigation showed that the suspect, 59, directly received the payments for the packages through the madrasah’s bank account.
The ustaz who was arrested with another 58-year-old man recently, had offered haj packages that did not involve local tour agencies, Harian Metro reported.
The ustaz was arrested at KLIA while the other man, who had served as a guide for the pilgrims, was arrested at the Nilai police headquarters.
“A total of 22 police reports have been filed by family members of the victims. Nine of the pilgrims have given their statements so far,” Hasbullah said.
It was reported that the 47 elderly victims had purchased the haj package before being forced to go through dangerous passages on foot, and without their passports, to get to Mecca. - FMT
The graft buster’s legal department reiterates that anyone involved in the offence being reported is not eligible for whistleblower protection.
MACC legal and prosecution senior director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said reports filed with malicious intent, such as to seek revenge or defame others, do not meet the criteria for whistleblower protection. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed that the businessman set to be charged alongside two Sabah assemblymen in connection with a corruption case involving mineral mining licences is not protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
MACC legal and prosecution senior director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said Section 11(1) of the Act clearly states that anyone involved in the offence they report is not eligible for protection.
“If a person is involved in the offence in any way, they are not protected under the Act and therefore cannot be considered a whistleblower.
“This is to preserve the integrity of the whistleblower framework and prevent it from being misused as a ‘shield’ by those trying to escape accountability,” he told Bernama.
Wan Shaharuddin said that to qualify for protection, a report must be made in good faith to a recognised enforcement agency such as MACC, the police or other authorised government body.
“Reports made with malicious intent, such as to seek revenge or defame others, do not meet the criteria for protection,” he said.
Earlier, the businessman’s lawyer claimed that his client was a whistleblower who had cooperated with authorities, but was later informed he would be charged in court on June 30.
Several video clips had gone viral previously, allegedly featuring conversations involving certain individuals and Sabah elected representatives discussing corrupt practices linked to mineral mining activities.
Earlier today, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that two Sabah assemblymen and another person were expected to be charged in court this month in connection with the scandal. - FMT
The Bhumjaithai party says the Thai prime minister’s criticism of the army in a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen is the ‘last straw’.
Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has suffered a blow with the second largest party in her ruling coalition pulling out. (AP pic)
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Bhumjaithai party, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, has announced its withdrawal from the government.
The Thai News Agency (TNA) quoted the party as saying in a statement that all eight of its ministers have submitted their resignations, effective June 19.
It cited prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen on the ongoing border dispute, in which she blamed her own military for “miscommunication”, as the “damaging” conduct that was the last straw, TNA reported. - FMT
PDP division chief defends the appointment of Wong Soon Koh’s grandson as a councillor, tells SUPP to mind its own business.
Sean Wong, the grandson of PDP senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh, was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: The row between two Gabungan Parti Sarawak allies has continued with the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) defending the appointment of senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh’s grandson as a local councillor in Sibu.
Bawang Assan PDP chief Wong Hua said it was the party’s right to nominate Sean Wong as a Sibu municipal councillor, fending off criticism from a Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leader.
Wong Hua said SUPP should mind its own business instead of concerning itself with the affairs of other parties, the Borneo Post reported.
“If you are questioning why Sean was recommended by our party, then all I can say is thank you very much for your concern. When SUPP recommended its councillors, PDP never commented on the appointments,” he said.
He was responding to Dudong SUPP Youth chief Yiing Sy Huat, who is also a Sibu councillor, who questioned Sean’s appointment to the post.
Sean is the grandson of Bawang Assan assemblyman Soon Koh, the former state finance minister II who has had an ongoing conflict with SUPP since he was sacked from the party in 2014.
Not long ago, Soon Koh was the Parti Sarawak Bersatu president as well as the opposition leader. However, the party was dissolved when he and other members joined PDP en bloc.
Sean was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April.
Wong Hua urged Yiing to focus on his job as a councillor instead of politicking, saying their energy should be spent on serving the public and developing the local community instead of meaningless arguments and personal attacks. - FMT
EACH year, thousands of students across Malaysia receive their Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) placement results, marking a milestone that is often met with a complex mix of emotions.
For some, there is excitement and relief. For others, there is confusion, doubt, or even quiet disappointment. What makes this period particularly difficult is the pressure to feel certain—about one’s course, one’s future, and one’s direction in life.
As a lecturer working with foundation students, I often hear the same concern voiced in different ways: “Miss, I don’t know what to choose for my degree. I’m scared I’ll make the wrong choice.”
This hesitation doesn’t usually appear in formal academic discussions. It slips out during quiet moments—during consultation, or in passing—when students finally feel safe enough to speak honestly.
These fears are deeply valid. Behind every university offer lies the weight of expectations: to choose something practical, respectable, fulfilling; to make decisions that won’t disappoint loved ones; to prove oneself ready for adulthood.
In reality, very few students at this stage of life feel completely ready. Many are navigating unfamiliar territory, unsure of what they truly enjoy or whether a particular path will lead to long-term success.
I understand this uncertainty well because I have lived it. There was a time when I, too, had to choose a degree without being fully sure of what I wanted. I made my decision cautiously, doubting whether it was the right fit.
But over time, I grew into it. I found meaning even in the parts I hadn’t initially chosen with enthusiasm. That experience taught me a crucial lesson: growth often begins where certainty ends.
There is a widely held belief that students should pursue their “true passion”—a course that aligns perfectly with interest, future job prospects, and personal fulfilment. But that ideal, while inspiring, can also be misleading.
(Image: Vecteezy)
Even those who enter their first-choice programmes may encounter challenges that shake their confidence. Passion alone does not insulate anyone from difficulty. It simply gives us something to hold on to when the learning gets hard.
Rather than asking “Is this the perfect course?”, perhaps a better question is: Am I willing to grow through this, even when it gets difficult? A course need not be perfect for it to be meaningful. Sometimes, what initially feels like a detour leads to discovery of new skills, fresh interests, or untapped parts of ourselves.
It is also important to remember that our educational path does not rigidly determine our life trajectory. Many individuals today find themselves working in careers far removed from what they studied.
The professional world is changing quickly—skills evolve, industries shift, and interdisciplinary roles continue to emerge. What matters is not just the field you enter, but the mindset you bring to it.
To students currently facing doubt or second-guessing their UPU placement: know that it is entirely normal to feel this way.
Confusion is not a sign of failure; it is a sign that you care about your future. Some people discover what they love at 18, others at 28. There is no standard timeline for clarity.
Even if the course you are pursuing now wasn’t your first choice, it still holds value. You may come to enjoy it. You may learn things that surprise you.
And if, down the line, you choose to pivot, that does not mean the time was wasted. It means you grew enough to understand yourself better.
As someone still relatively new in academia, I continue to learn and adapt every day. I do not have all the answers. But I have come to believe this: we do not need complete certainty in order to take the next step.
We simply need to trust that the version of ourselves making the decision is doing the best it can with what it knows now.
Let go of the pressure to be sure. Start where you are, and allow yourself the grace to grow.
The author, Nor Syadza Zamani is the Chemistry Lecturer at the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science (PASUM), Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
