With the establishment of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) - the first international branch university of the United Kingdom-based Newcastle University, with over 180 years of history in the field of medical research, interested students can obtain a solid grounding from a top medical institution right here in Malaysia.In just over a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. As well as causing serious long-term health problems, including impaired vision, blindness and amputation of the lower limbs and feet, diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, heart attack and even stroke, as well as causing serious long-term.Type 2 diabetes has long been regarded as a chronic disease with a complex and unknown cause. However, research by Newcastle University’s Professor Roy Taylor using innovative magnetic resonance methods has confirmed his Twin Cycle Hypothesis – that Type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat within the liver and pancreas. By clearly defining the cause of the disease, a planned treatment can reverse the processes.

The research has established that people can reverse their Type 2 diabetes to the point where they no longer require medication. More importantly, recent findings by Prof Taylor who is also Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre Director, showed that diabetes stays away provided that the excess weight is not allowed to reaccumulate.Now, a trial is underway, aiming to find an effective and accessible way to put Type 2 diabetes into remission for good. Results from the first year of the trial, published in late 2017 by Prof Taylor, identified that people in the first six years of Type 2 diabetes who follow a low-calorie programme with support from their general practitioner (GP) can reverse their diabetes for at least a year.

PETALING JAYA: An estimated one in 20 potential hires in Malaysia has fake qualifications while one in 10 has credentials from unaccredited institutions, a corporate fraud investigation agency found.This comes as a foreign documentary showcases a list of possibly over 80 Malaysians with local addresses having allegedly purchased fake degrees via Axact, a Pakistani firm known for degree mills.Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, who is the managing director of Akhbar & Associates, an agency that conducts background checks on potential hires for companies, said 5% to 7% of the people that they investigated had fake degrees while 10% to 15% had degrees from unaccredited universities.

“Many of these people with fake degrees are applying for senior management jobs and it happens in multiple industries, including banks, clinics and hospitals,” said Akhbar, who is also Certified Fraud Examiners Association (Malaysia Chapter) president and former president of Transparency International Malaysia.Although the names of the “students” on the list were censored, it showed that among them were possibly over 80 Malaysians with local addresses.The list was seized by Pakistani authorities when they raided Axact’s premises.Axact founder Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh was later arrested and charged with fraud.

Kementerian Kesihatan mengakui cadangan harga siling bagi mengawal harga ubat-ubatan mungkin mendapat respons kurang selesa daripada hospital swasta.Namun, menterinya Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad berkata, pelaksanaan itu tetap diteruskan dan pihaknya akan mencari penyelesaian “menang-menang” untuk semua pihak.“Sektor swasta mungkin melihat perkara ini dengan respons yang agak kurang selesa.“Tapi kita terpaksa mengambil satu penyelesaian yang sesuai untuk semua. Kita tak boleh memilih. Mesti ada jalan penyelesaian untuk semua pihak.“Kalau (harga ubat) swasta terlalu mahal, hospital awam kita akan sesak,” katanya pada sidang media di pejabatnya di Kementerian Kesihatan, Putrajaya pada Selasa.

Namun, katanya harga siling itu tidak akan jauh berbeza kerana ia akan ditetapkan berdasarkan harga sandaran yang digunakan oleh negara seperti Australia, Eropah dan Amerika Syarikat.Apabila ditanya sama ada harga tersebut akan lebih tinggi sekiranya merujuk kepada negara-negara tersebut, Dzulkefly berkata setakat ini, harga ubat-ubatan di Malaysia lebih tinggi daripada negara tersebut.Beliau menjangkakan cadangan dengan kerjasama Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) itu dapat dibentangkan di Parlimen pada sesi akan datang.Untuk rekod, pada November lalu, Dzulkefly dilaporkan mencadangkan mekanisme kawalan bagi harga jualan siling kepada pengguna di semua saluran pendispensan yang sesuai untuk dilaksanakan dan selari dengan amalan antarabangsa.Beliau berkata, ia juga secara tidak langsung dapat menyelaraskan harga ubat dan memastikan akses ubat-ubatan mampu beli kepada rakyat.

KUALA LUMPUR: Laporan awal kajian rantaian bekalan 10 barangan terpilih mendapati wujud kegiatan ‘kartel’ yang mengaut keuntungan pada kadar terlalu tinggi.Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, ketika mendedahkan perkara itu berkata laporan awal berkenaan secara tidak langsung mengesahkan kewujudan kartel yang menguasai penjualan barangan ‘popular’ dalam kalangan pengguna di pasaran.Katanya, hasil maklum balas dan perbincangan dengan beberapa penggiat industri menyaksikan margin atau perbezaan harga terhadap satu daripada 10 barangan berlaku di peringkat pengimport ke pemborong.“Saya bukan sekadar baca laporan, sebaliknya panggil industri berkaitan dan tanya apakah harga ketika barang itu keluar dari tempat mereka.

“Mereka beri satu senarai harga, bukan saja tahun ini, tapi lima hingga enam tahun lalu dan bila dibandingkan dengan data majlis harga barang negara, bawah kementerian saya, harga akhir pengguna tinggi.“Pengambilan untung terhadap item ini tercetus di peringkat import ke pemborong, menjangkau 133 peratus kerana pengguna tiada pilihan alternatif.“Item ini diimport 100 peratus, tiada satu pun dihasilkan dalam negara ini,” katanya pada sidang media di ibu pejabat Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), di sini, hari ini.Saifuddin sebelum ini dilaporkan berkata laporan awal kajian rantaian bekalan barangan terpilih bagi mengesan pola perubahan harga secara ketara di pasaran dibentangkan untuk penelitian Kabinet pada 24 April lalu.Ditanya jenis barangan yang dimaksudkan, Saifuddin bagaimanapun enggan mendedahkan butiran terbabit kerana ia berupaya merencatkan proses risikan dan penyiasatan dikendalikan bahagian penguatkuasaan.

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata kerajaan meneliti cadangan untuk pemberian subsidi elaun dan gaji kepada graduan tempatan melalui majikan yang menggaji mereka.Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, berkata cadangan itu dikemukakan pada Mesyuarat Khas Kabinet di Perdana Putra, semalam.Katanya, subsidi tidak langsung itu akan diberikan melalui syarikat yang sukarela untuk melaksanakannya.“Kita ada cadangan tetapi belum ada keputusan. Kita akan kaji sama ada kita ada wang cukup atau tidak (bagi menyediakan subsidi berkenaan),” katanya.Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas melancarkan Platform e-Dagang Digital Bohai Commodity Exchange (BOCE) Malaysia/ASEAN di sini, hari ini.

Hari ini, sebuah akhbar tempatan melaporkan kerajaan berhasrat untuk menyediakan RM6 bilion sebagai subsidi elaun dan gaji bagi membantu 50,000 orang muda mendapatkan pekerjaan.Sumber memberitahu, dalam Mesyuarat Khas Kabinet semalam, kerajaan mempertimbang untuk menyediakan elaun RM700 hingga RM1,000 kepada graduan baharu.Dr Mahathir berkata, mesyuarat semalam membincangkan masalah lambakan pekerja asing di negara ini, yang mengambil peluang bekerja di sini kerana orang tempatan yang tidak mahu bekerja dalam bidang tertentu.“Jadi salah satu sebabnya mungkin kerana upah yang tidak begitu tinggi, tetapi kalau upah terlalu tinggi, barangan kita akan menjadi terlalu mahal sehingga tidak boleh bersaing dengan barangan negara lain.“Justeru, ada pihak yang membuat cadangan kalau boleh kita buat subsidi tidak langsung. Dengan cara itu, gaji dan pendapatan akan meningkat, pekerja kita akan bekerja serta tidak lagi bergantung kepada pekerja asing,” katanya.

“We believe that although the new products’ prices could potentially rise to levels close to the original products with the additional sugar tax, it could also potentially open up new market opportunities in the market.," Kenanga Research said.

PETALING JAYA: Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s reformulated drinks with lower sugar content could potentially open up new market opportunities in the health-conscious consumer market, according to Kenanga Research.“We believe that although the new products’ prices could potentially rise to levels close to the original products with the additional sugar tax, it could also potentially open up new market opportunities in the market.“The deferment of the implementation of sugar taxes to July 2019 has allowed the group more time to adjust its product portfolios accordingly.“Previously, the group had announced a RM30mil capital expenditure to expand production lines to facilitate the entry of these new products,” said Kenanga Research in a recent report.With up to 90% of the group’s Malaysian product offerings being affected by the sugar tax, F&N looks to reformulate up to 70% of its products, which would incur research and development (R&D) costs.

KUALA LUMPUR: The nation’s education sector has seen the introduction of various reforms aimed at promoting excellence in human capital development in the past one year since Pakatan Harapan helmed the Federal Government.Driven by its slogan “Schools for the Community, Universities for Society”, the Education Ministry is endeavouring to enhance the status and image of the teaching profession via the implementation of various initiatives, aimed at reducing the workload of teachers and ensuring their well-being.To relieve teachers of the clerical work they have been burdened with all these years, the ministry has simplified file management and documentation through three interventions, namely textbook loan scheme, committee files and classroom-based assessment reports.

Data and online system management have also been simplified via two interventions, namely collecting data from the ministry’s existing sources and recording student attendance online.National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said the new measures would give teachers more time to interact with their students.He said NUTP has been working with the ministry since last July and held discussions with minister Dr Maszlee Malik and his deputy Teo Nie Ching on the implementation of the new work processes.“What’s important is that the minister has begun to give focus on ensuring that teachers perform their rightful task, which is teaching and not be bogged down with filling up forms,” said Tan.He also said the challenges faced by teachers today were related to the issue of professionalism.

KUALA LANGAT 2 Mei - Inovasi dan teknologi digital akan menjadi kaedah terkini untuk menangani permintaan terhadap rumah mampu milik dalam waktu terdekat, kata Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.Beliau berkata penggunaan Sistem Binaan Berindustri (IBS) digital, yang merangkumi alat reka bentuk dalam talian, Pemodelan Maklumat Pembinaan (BIM) dalam projek perumahan awam akan membantu kerajaan untuk memenuhi sasaran satu juta unit rumah mampu milik dibina dalam tempoh 10 tahun."Saya dimaklumkan IBS digital menyediakan peluang untuk meningkatkan kemahiran tenaga kerja tempatan kita di masa depan, dan langkah memanfaatkan teknologi IBS digital akan membolehkan pemaju membina rumah lebih murah dalam tempoh lebih singkat.

"Ia juga kurang berintensifkan buruh, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan negara terhadap pekerja asing dan aliran keluar modal tahunan," katanya dalam ucapan semasa merasmikan kilang digital IBS Gamuda di kawasan perindustrian Bandar Mahkota Banting di sini, hari ini.Turut hadir pada majlis itu ialah Menteri Air, Tanah dan Sumber Asli Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir, Anggota Lembaga Pengarah Gamuda Berhad Raja Datuk Seri Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah, dan Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan Gamuda Berhad Datuk Lin Yun Ling.Menurut Dr Mahathir, rumah mampu milik serta akses lebih mudah menerusi rangkaian infrastruktur pengangkutan awam (termasuk rel) akan meningkatkan kesalinghubungan dan memacu aktiviti perniagaan dan pertumbuhan ekonomi.

THE ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse human behaviour across different age groups must be utilised to identify the needs of a person in his or her learning process.For decades, we have practised a conventional learning process that relies much on a standardised education system that mostly grades learners on the basis of age.Such a measure had been adopted on the grounds that the cognitive development of a normal person could be identified and differentiated based on chronological age, especially during their early years.However, even within the same age group, each person has different levels of cognitive development and learning capacity, and thus may have different needs in learning.Today, artificial intelligence offers such an opportunity, which is known as “adaptive learning”.

Adaptive learning provides more than just tailored learning resources to learners. It uses algorithm to process the interaction between the learner, the educator and the computer.This tailored-learning process requires the learner to be collaborative rather than a passive information receiver. At the same time, it allows the educator to monitor the progress of the learner through continuous formative assessment since every interaction is tracked in real-time.An effective adaptive learning system retains the key component of the learning process, namely the presence of the educator. A real teacher during the class hour is indeed relevant, and in fact, integral to the learning process. A teacher with sufficient knowledge and experience can properly guide the student towards a better understanding and prevent him from making mistakes.

JASIN: Dua pemilik premis kolam ternakan ikan keli yang dipercayai menjadi punca pencemaran ammonia di Sungai Batang Melaka bakal dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.Ketua Menteri Adly Zahari berkata, kerajaan negeri tidak akan berkompromi dengan tindakan tidak bertanggungjawab yang telah mengakibatkan kualiti air mentah di sungai berkenaan merosot dan lebih 18,000 pengguna di seluruh daerah Alor Gajah terjejas."Jaminan kita kepada pengguna air, kita akan pastikan mereka mendapat bekalan secukupnya. Kerana, sistem yang kita ada di peringkat Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB) ini, kita boleh pastikan bekalan cukup."Kita tak menghadapi masalah untuk memberikan bekalan air minum, cuma masalah kita adalah gangguan kepada sistem saliran kita yang menjadi punca air," katanya di sini hari ini.Dalam masa yang sama, tambahnya, kerajaan negeri akan memastikan pengguna air yang terkesan akibat pencemaran itu tidak akan terganggu, dengan memberi bantuan bekalan air.

"Memang kita akan ambil tindakan kepada mereka yang tak ikut peraturan, sebab biasanya dalam kes pencemaran air ini, kita tak akan bertolak ansur," tegasnya.Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Amanah Peduli Rakyat: Di Ambang Ramadan.Semalam, Astro AWANI melaporkan, lebih 18,000 pemilik akaun SAMB di daerah Alor Gajah terjejas selepas Loji Rawatan Air Gadek dicemari ammonia sejak Ahad (28 April) lalu.Hasil siasatan awal mendapati, air Sungai Batang Melaka tercemar teruk dipercayai akibat pelepasan air dari kolam ternakan ikan keli di kawasan Hutan Percha yang tidak sistematik.