KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry says the New Straits Times’ “Heard the News?” initiative can help strengthen English proficiency while ensuring access to information nationwide.
Secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa said English remained a vital gateway to opportunity, being the global language of science, technology, business, and diplomacy.
“Yet many SPM leavers still struggle with basic comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence in using English in real-life contexts.
“Malaysia ranked 26th in the Education First English Proficiency Index in 2024, a slight dip from the previous year.
“This signals an urgent need to focus on language education, especially in underserved and rural communities,” he said at the launch today.
He said language learning needed to go beyond classrooms and into daily life.
“We must create living, breathing opportunities to use and experience English in real contexts, and this is precisely why the ‘Heard the News?’ initiative is so important,” he said.
Fauzi said the collaboration between the NST and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was proof of how media could serve not only as a channel for information, but also as a powerful tool for education.
The initiative uses QR-coded articles in print and e-paper formats, enabling readers to scan and listen to narrated versions of the news.
He added that MCMC, through its 1,099 National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi), would ensure the programme reached rural and underserved communities.
“Our Nadi centres will not only offer access to NST print and e-paper versions, but also serve as hubs where communities can explore the audio articles together and develop digital literacy.
“This initiative can and will reach even the remotest corners of our country, from Sabah and Sarawak to the villages of Kedah and Kelantan,” he said.
Congratulating NST on its 180th anniversary, Fauzi said the newspaper had long stood as a pillar of credibility and national connection.
“With today’s launch, it continues that legacy not by standing still, but by moving boldly into the future, innovating to meet the needs of a new generation,” he said.
He urged educators, parents, and community leaders to embrace the initiative.
“Read with your children. Listen with your elders. Learn together.
“Because a better Malaysia starts with a more curious, connected, and confident society,” he said.