Day: May 7, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), Malaysia’s largest private quaternary hospital, has announced a partnership with the prestigious International Medical University (IMU University) for the Graduate Trainee Programme (GTP).

The programme is aimed at providing opportunities for IMU University’s Bachelor in Pharmacy students who are interested in pursuing careers in hospital pharmacy.

In a statement released today, SMC outlined the objectives of the programme, which include identifying suitable candidates from Year 2 onwards, facilitating early engagement between SMC and potential candidates through interviews, elective placements, and hospital activities.

‘With 25 years in the healthcare industry, winning various accreditations and awards including the recent inclusion of SMC into the prestigious Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024 rankings, the GTP is expected to greatly benefit the selected IMU graduates and SMC.

‘Furthermore, the initiative will provide a smooth transition for the
graduates fulfilling full employability with SMC, while providing the hospital with a consistent stream of applicants for Provisionally Registered Pharmacists (PRP) positions annually,’ the statement read.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was recently signed between the two institutions is effective for three years. Under this agreement, up to five eligible IMU University graduates will be selected annually to commence their PRP-ship (Provisionally Registered Pharmacist) with SMC.

Signatories on behalf of SMC were President of Sunway Healthcare Group, Datuk Lau Beng Long, Managing Director (Hospital and Healthcare Operations) Dr Khoo Chow Huat, while signatories on behalf of IMU University were Professor Gerard George, Group Managing Director of IMU Health; and Professor Winnie Chee, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic), IMU University.

Also present were Chief Executive Officer of SMC, Dr Seow Vei Ken, Vice Chancellor of IMU University Professor Abdul Aziz Baba and Deputy Vice Chancellor of IMU Univer
sity Professor Ian Symonds.

Meanwhile, Dr Khoo during the ceremony said the MoU will facilitate the early exposure of trainees to real-world healthcare settings where they can acquire invaluable insights and experiences that will shape their future careers.

‘By fostering robust partnerships between academia and healthcare institutions, we have the opportunity to cultivate a pipeline of talent that is not only highly capable but also inspired to push the boundaries of what is achievable in healthcare,’ he said.

IMU’s Director of Industrial Partnership and Engagement, Ridzuan Repin said that GTP aims to provide the graduates with a holistic career pathway, leveraging the rich ecosystem offered by SMC.

He added that the GTP will showcase a seamless collaboration between industry and academia, ensuring curriculum relevance, and early talent development for their graduates.

‘Through this collaboration, SMC will not only contribute insights into the current best practices and future directions of the employmen
t market but will also actively engage in curriculum enhancement, industry input, and the development of our early talents,’ he said during the ceremony.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Federal Territories Youth Conference (SBWP) will be a ‘parliament’ for young people to voice their views, suggestions and constructive criticism to improve the implementation of existing and new policies in the Federal Territories.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the SBWP is an open and inclusive platform that aspires to bring together young people with various backgrounds from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan to debate proposals related to policies in the Federal Territories.

‘If at the national level, this event would be like the Youth Parliament, but the Youth Parliament focuses more on national issues while the SBWP focuses only on issues in the Federal Territories.

‘I want the Federal Territory to be a platform to groom young leaders who will one day lead the country,’ she said after a pre-launch of the SBWP in conjunction with the Semarak Aidilfitri programme with the Media here today.

Dr Zaliha said the SBWP, which has th
e cooperation of the Federal Territories Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Putrajaya Corporation and Labuan Corporation, will gather 65 youths with five participants representing each Parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

‘Those selected will sit like Parliament to debate policies related to the Federal Territories, involving five main clusters namely Economy, Social, Technology, Legislation and Policy as well as Environment and Natural Sustainability,’ she said.

She hopes that SBWP will draw views, constructive criticism and suggestions from the youth group on policies that have been and will be implemented in the Federal Territories.

Applications for participation are open to all Malaysians aged 18 to 35 residing in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan from today until May 17.

Applications can be made through the website http://sidangbeliawp.my/ and participants will be shortlisted by the participant selection committee.

The First Meeting of SBWP will be from July 12-15 and
the Second Meeting from Nov 8-11.

Meanwhile, at the Semarak Aidilfitri programme with the Media, Dr Zaliha also presented a special cash donation totalling RM1.102 million to prospective 1445H/2024M haj pilgrims in the Federal Territories through the Ihsan @ PUJI initiative.

The special contribution involves RM776,000 in cash to the pilgrims in Kuala Lumpur, RM289,500 (Putrajaya) and RM36,500 (Labuan) to help in preparations to perform the pilgrimage.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The Federal Territories Department (JWP) has allocated cash contributions, amounting to RM1.102 million, to 2,204 prospective hajj pilgrims in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, through the Ihsan@PUJI initiative.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said that each pilgrim would receive RM500 for their preparation for the pilgrimage.

“The cash donation will be channelled to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) and the Labuan Corporation (PL), and will then be distributed to prospective hajj pilgrims in the three territories,’ she said, in a statement today.

Dr Zaliha said that such a donation was the first time from JWP, and the department would continue to commit to focus on supporting the needs of the people, including religious and worship aspects.

‘I hope that this donation will facilitate the pilgrims’ preparations, and pray that they will be blessed with a ‘marbrur’ (accepted) hajj,’
she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed appreciation to the media personnel who provided coverage throughout the last Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season.

Speaking at an appreciation ceremony for Frontline Personnel of the 2023/2024 MTL today, he said the media had provided excellent coverage of the country’s encounter with the disaster.

“I would feel guilty if I did not express my gratitude to the media personnel who provided extremely good coverage.

“It appears that when we face disaster problems, there are no negative remarks or views directed towards us, meaning Malaysians and media practitioners in this country do not engage in argumentation. The cooperation from the media is commendable,” he said.

In addition to the media, he also thanked enforcement agencies, response agencies, technical agencies, telecommunication companies, state governments and non-governmental organisations for their contributions and roles during the MTL.

At the ceremony, Ahmad Zahid pre
sented certificates of appreciation to the parties involved, including the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), which was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.

Nur-ul Afida thanked the government for recognising the contributions of Bernama staff, including journalists, photographers, camera crew and social media personnel who provided coverage on the MTL.

‘This shows our important role and contributions as part of the frontliners in reporting disasters throughout the country

‘Bernama’s role as a trusted source of news is also important, especially to other media organisations which are our subscribers relying on the delivery of accurate, authentic and fast news,’ she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, A special task force will be formed to look into the terms of reference (TOR) for the initial financing initiative by Sarawak for federal projects in the state.

Sarawak Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee said the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Sarawak State Secretary will jointly head the task force.

‘The task force will come up with the details of the (initial financing initiative) implementation.

‘Therefore, all issues pertaining to the status of implementation and timeline of the upgrading of dilapidated clinics and hospital in Sarawak, which have funding issues will hinge on the success of the TOR and details of the new funding mechanism,’ he said in his reply to a question from Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (GPS-Bawang Assan) during a question and answer session at the state assembly sitting today.

Wong wanted to know if there had been any definite plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the dilapidated and ill-equipped rural clinics in
Sarawak.

On March 30, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Sarawak government will be the first state to provide initial financing for federal projects in the state to speed up their implementation.

Anwar said that the cooperation, which is of historical significance, would begin with the implementation of the Sarawak Cancer Centre at Kota Samarahan.

‘I agree, we use a new method, where Sarawak can start the construction first, and we cover the expenses later through the federal government. We begin the construction and development of this cancer hospital as soon as possible,’ said the Prime Minister.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency