Christina Chin

Malaysia

Deputy Executive Editor at The Star (Malaysia)

Deputy Executive Editor

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Articles

Unregulated e-cigarettes pose severe health risks - even death

2 weeks ago | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

PETALING JAYA: Originally used as an anaesthetic, etomidate is now being misused recreationally in e-cigarettes, or vapes, warns a psychiatrist and addiction specialist. Unregulated vapes have been found to contain heavy metals, synthetic cannabinoids and harmful solvents, increasing the risk of respiratory and neurological damage, particularly among adolescents, said Monash University Malaysia Associate Professor and KPJ Puteri Hospital consultant, Dr Anne Yee.
Vaping their way to drugs

2 weeks ago | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

A DECADE ago, when e-cigarettes, or vapes, landed on our shores, tobacco cessation experts cautioned that the devices could be a gateway to smoking, and a threat to Malaysia’s goal of becoming a smoke-free nation. Today, the fear is that vapes are luring teens to drugs, creating a generation addicted to substances even more dangerous than nicotine, Monash University Malaysia associate professor and KPJ Puteri Hospital consultant Dr Anne Yee told StarEdu.
UM to open China campus

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya (UM) will be setting up its first overseas branch campus and it’s going to be in China. Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman, vice-chancellor of the country’s oldest and highest ranked varsity, told Sunday Star that the branch campus will be in Shandong. “This will also be the first branch campus of a public Malaysian university in China. “We are very excited as discussions have started and if all goes well, the branch campus will open next year.
UM to appoint experts as ‘Prof of Practice’

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM) will be appointing experts as Professors of Practice. The move, introduced on March 6, said UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman, will enhance academia-industry synergy, allowing students to gain direct exposure to industry leaders, enhancing their critical thinking, leadership and innovation skills, and access high-quality industrial training opportunities. “We already have candidates for the positions.
UM heading to Maldives

Feb 15, 2025 | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

THE Republic of Maldives and Universiti Malaya (UM) will be collaborating to realise the nation’s goal of creating a healthy generation of Maldivians. Minister of State for Education Dr Ahmed Mohamed said Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu had made a “very difficult” decision to ban vaping in the country because the latter wants to make sure that the country’s future talent remains healthy.
Training teachers

Feb 15, 2025 | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

Teacher shortage is not just a perennial problem for Malaysia –it is also a challenge in the Maldives. Republic of Maldives Permanent Secretary Shifaz Mohamed said the country is facing a shortage of some 2,000 teachers. “Annually, we have about 50 teachers joining the profession. I have just approved early retirement applications for 85 teachers who were trained in Islamic studies. It is very difficult to get replacements for these teachers.
Reaching for Michelin Stars

Aug 24, 2024 | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin

Cédric Bourassin and Marc Turcas are French Michelin Star maestros but ask them about their favourite dessert and they will tell you its about the simple pleasures. Turcas, a pastry chef, loves tucking into a well-made dark chocolate lava cake with a warm liquid centre, describing it as “perfection”, when served with a good custard cream or ice cream, while Bourassin enjoys baking apple pies. “It’s the simple things that remind us of when we were children.
Vigilance needed when vetting speakers

Apr 25, 2024 | thestar.com.my | Jaayne Jeevita |Christina Chin

PETALING JAYA: All institutes of higher learning must have air-tight procedures and guidelines to vet potential speakers and collaborators, say academics. Calling for more stringent checks on potential speakers, especially by renowned academic institutions planning on inviting them, educationist Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu said when a talk is given in a university, it must be intellectual and not political.
‘Let schools decide on newspapers’

Mar 14, 2024 | thestar.com.my | Tarrence Tan |Christina Chin

PETALING JAYA: An Education Ministry directive urging national schools to subscribe to only Bahasa Malaysia newspapers has raised the ire of education groups which questioned the rationale. “There should be at least one Malay newspaper. However, English, Tamil and Chinese newspapers should also be included,” said Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
‘Girls can do anything’

Feb 17, 2024 | thestar.com.my | Christina Chin |Serafina Liew

Crediting a “privileged” upbringing in a Welsh mining community for her success, Prof Dr Jane Clarke said she was raised by parents who made “me believe that I could do anything”. Speaking at a school recently, the Wolfson College president shared with her young audience how she was one of the most privileged people they would see. “Of course, privilege often means you’ve got money and all sorts of resources but that was not the privilege I had.