Applications for polytechnic bachelor's degree programmes open until July 3

 

Politeknik Ungku Omar Bercham campus in Perak. NSTP FILE PIC

PUTRAJAYA: The Polytechnic and Community College Education Department (JPPKK) has opened applications for admission into Polytechnic Bachelor's Degree programmes for Academic Session I 2026/2027 from today until July 3.

In a statement, JPPKK said 12 bachelor's degree programmes are being offered for the session, involving several polytechnics nationwide.

"Applications can be submitted via http://ambilan.mypolycc.edu.my, and no PIN number purchase is required," it said.

It said applications are open to polytechnic diploma and advanced diploma graduates, including final-semester polytechnic diploma students who have completed industrial training for Session II 2025/2026, as well as community college diploma graduates, including final-semester students who have completed industrial training for the same session.

Also eligible to apply are graduates of polytechnic TVET foundation programmes, university foundation programmes in science, physical science or engineering, Education Ministry matriculation colleges in science or engineering streams, as well as diploma holders in engineering, engineering technology, or technology from public and private higher education institutions.

In addition, holders of Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM), and APEL.A T-6 certificates are also eligible.

According to JPPKK, interview call status checks will open on July 14, while interview sessions are scheduled to take place from July 20 to 25.

"The announcement of admission offers will be made on Aug 21, while student registration is set for Sept 21," the statement said.

JPPKK said the programmes offered at Ungku Omar Polytechnic include Bachelor of Civil Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Supply Chain Management), Computer Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Marine Engineering Technology, and Architecture Technology.

Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Automotive Design) is offered at Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic, while Bachelor of Medical Electronics Engineering Technology and Bachelor of Facility Management Technology are offered at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Sultan Polytechnic offers Bachelor of New Media Design and Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management Science.

– Bernama

Iran attack on Kuwait airport kills one, injures 63

 

(Left) Debris lies on the floor as fire burns in the background in the aftermath of Iranian strikes at Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait City. (Right) Debris burns on the ground in a parking lot following reports of missile and drone attacks, in Sabah Al Nasser, Kuwait. – Reuters

KUWAIT CITY (AFP): An Iranian attack killed an Indian national and injured 63 people at Kuwait's international airport, forcing it to close temporarily, in the first deadly strike on the Gulf since an April 8 ceasefire came into place.

The attacks, which Kuwait says damaged unnamed diplomatic missions, test a ceasefire that has largely held despite sporadic strikes.

It largely halted more than a month of war, sparked by United States and Israeli attacks on Iran, during which Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf nations.

Iran accused Kuwait and Bahrain of allowing the United States to use their territory to launch attacks on an Iranian tanker and island.

Tehran said it attacked the US Navy's Middle East headquarters in Bahrain as well as the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, but did not mention the airport.

Health ministry spokesman Abdullah al-Sanad said 25 ambulances were dispatched at Kuwait International Airport, adding that: "63 injured individuals were received and distributed among hospitals... This includes serious injuries... including head wounds, cerebral haemorrhages, amputations and injuries resulting from explosions."

Those included "civilians and people working at the airport and travellers," it added.

The airport compound includes Cargo City, a base used by US forces but at a distance from the civilian terminals.

Kuwait's foreign ministry said Iranian attacks on its territory killed one person and damaged unnamed diplomatic missions.

The Indian foreign ministry said one of its citizens was killed at the airport and condemned the strike. "We again call on all parties to cease such attacks" on civilian targets, it said in a statement.

An airport source told AFP the deceased was a traveller.

Kuwait's ministry of defence spokesman Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan said 30 ballistic missiles and drones were launched as part of the "heinous Iranian aggression" that caused "significant material damage to the building".

Kuwait's state news agency said civil aviation authorities had suspended traffic and transferred arriving flights to alternative airports after "Terminal One came under Iranian attacks causing casualties and damage".

Air traffic partially resumed later in the day, with all Kuwait Airways flights operating again.

Kuwait's international airport was targeted several times during the war and had only fully resumed operations on June 1.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards blamed the United States for targeting an Iranian oil tanker and communications tower on the country's Qeshm Island.

"In response to this aggression, the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts helicopters, as well as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, were targeted with missiles and drones by the Guards' forces," the Guards said in a statement on their official Telegram channel.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks during the war, which began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran and killed its senior leadership in late February.

Tehran has repeatedly accused Kuwait and other Gulf countries of allowing US forces to launch strikes from their soil, claims they have denied.

Earlier, the US military said that it had "successfully defeated" a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain and conducted strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island.

"Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route and three missiles launched at Bahrain were immediately intercepted by US and Bahrain air defence forces," Centcom said in a statement.

The US military command for the region, CENTCOM, posted on X: "All Iranian attacks on American forces failed."

Bahrain authorities said they had intercepted three missiles and a number of drones launched by Iran. – AFP

3 parang-wielding robbers raid grocery shop in Chemor

 The suspects are believed to have been involved in a similar attack in Penang on the same day.

Police said they have identified the suspects behind an armed robbery in Chemor, Perak, on May 31. (Threads pics)

PETALING JAYA:

Police are tracking down three men suspected of robbing a grocery shop in Chemor, Perak, on May 31.

Najib Hamzah.

Ipoh police chief Najib Hamzah said the men entered the premises armed with parangs before fleeing with cash and several items.

A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

“No injuries were reported,” he said in a statement.

He said the suspects had been identified, and the case is being investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and armed robbery.

When contacted, Najib said the case is believed to be linked to another robbery at a sundry shop in Nibong Tebal, Penang, on the same day.

He also said RM1,600 in cash and valuables were stolen in the Chemor robbery. - FMT

Bukit Aman nabs suspected Geng TR member with help from India, Thailand

 The 46-year-old man, for whom an Interpol Red Notice had been issued, was arrested while on a flight from Chennai to Bangkok.

A group being charged with being members of Geng TR in Klang, Selangor, previously. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Bukit Aman today arrested a suspected member of Geng TR, which police say has been involved in violent crimes and drug-related activities in Selangor for the past five years.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said the man has a criminal record involving several serious offences, including murder, armed gang robbery and voluntarily causing hurt with weapons.

He said the operation to detain the 46-year-old was carried out with the assistance of Indian and Thai authorities, who arrested the suspect while he was on a flight from Chennai, India, to Bangkok, Thailand.

The suspect was subsequently brought back to Malaysia.

Kumar said an Interpol Red Notice had been issued for the man’s arrest on May 7, with the Kuala Selangor magistrates’ court also issuing a warrant for his arrest on April 17.

The suspect will be charged at the Shah Alam sessions court tomorrow with being a member of an organised crime group.

The charge under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code carries a prison sentence of between five and 20 years upon conviction.

The arrest marks the latest development in Bukit Aman’s ongoing crackdown on Geng TR, an organised crime syndicate said to comprise Geng 08, Geng 18, Geng 21, Geng 24 and Geng 36.

Police previously said the alliance has been active since 2019 and is linked to drug trafficking, extortion, murder, arson and other violent crimes in Selangor.

In May 2024, 20 people were charged in Klang with being members of the group, and four others were charged in Kuala Selangor in October last year. - FMT

Penang coffee shop told to remove ‘halal table’ labels after uproar

 Mayor says the shop is not operated by the Penang Island City Council and that the council has never encouraged such a practice.

A post circulating on Facebook claimed that tables at a coffee shop in George Town, Penang, were being used to separate Muslim and non-Muslim customers.

GEORGE TOWN:

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has ordered a coffee shop on Jalan Terengganu here to remove stickers marking tables as “halal” following an uproar on social media.

A post circulating on Facebook claimed that the tables were being used to separate Muslim and non-Muslim customers. There was also a claim that the outlet was run by MBPP.

Mayor Rajendran Anthony said no such practice existed at food outlets, public markets, or food complexes operated by the council, and that such a practice had never been part of MBPP’s policy.

Rajendran said MBPP identified the shop concerned after conducting checks on food outlets that were not operated by the council. It has since instructed the premises owner to remove the stickers.

“MBPP is guided by the Penang government’s inclusive policy, where harmony, sensitivity, and the comfort of all residents, regardless of race or religion, remain a priority,” he told FMT.

MBPP public health committee chairman Tan Soo Siang said the council had taken action against the coffee shop operator and issued a warning following public complaints.

Tan said that contrary to claims on social media, the eatery was privately operated and not run by the city council.

She said the issue arose after a burger stall began operating at the coffee shop and put up stickers designating separate seating areas for customers consuming halal and non-halal food.

Tan said the stall operator had not obtained MBPP’s approval before putting up the stickers.

The stall also did not have valid halal certification and, therefore, had no authority to designate any area in the premises as halal or non-halal.

Tan said food operators must obtain approval from the authorities before putting up any signage or introducing measures that could affect customers. - FMT

Johor polls right time to revive MN, PAS No 2 tells Umno

 PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says cooperation between the two largest Malay-Muslim parties is needed to usher in a new political realignment.

The Muafakat Nasional alliance between Umno and PAS was formalised in 2019 but eventually fell apart with the formation of Perikatan Nasional the following year.

PETALING JAYA:

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called on PAS and Umno to work together in the upcoming Johor state election, describing it as the right time to revive their now-defunct Muafakat Nasional alliance.

Tuan Ibrahim said cooperation between the country’s two largest Malay-Muslim parties was needed and that the state polls could usher in a new political realignment.

He described the upcoming state election as an opportunity to rebuild Malay-Muslim political strength and expand Bumiputera political influence across Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“All of this can only be achieved with consensus and tolerance among the country’s major Malay-Muslim political parties,” he said in a statement.

“Efforts to establish Malay-Muslim unity must be expedited, starting with the Johor election … now is the time for Muafakat Nasional 2.0 to be realised.”

The MN alliance between Umno and PAS was formalised in 2019 when Pakatan Harapan was leading the government. The pact eventually fell apart after PAS formed Perikatan Nasional with Bersatu the following year.

After the 2022 general election ended in a hung Parliament, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional formed the unity government with PH.

However, BN is going solo in the Johor state election, setting up clashes with both its federal ally and PN.

Tuan Ibrahim said several issues affecting Malays and Muslims required serious attention, including the Unified Examination Certificate, the authority of the Malay rulers, and legal challenges to state shariah enactments.

The PN deputy chairman said the division among Malay political parties and the failure to unite the Malays politically had contributed to these challenges.

“This should open the eyes of Malay political leaders, especially PAS and Umno, to act immediately before it is too late,” he said, adding that Islam must be the foundation for Malay political unity.

“Malay political parties have stood together before in the nation’s history,” he said, citing the formation of BN after the May 13 riots in 1969 and the establishment of MN during the PH-led government.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS hoped that all major parties, particularly Malay-based parties, would seriously consider setting aside their differences and prioritising the future of the community.

“God willing, when Malay-Muslims are united, we will be strong and able to protect the rights of everyone,” he said. - FMT