10/10/2024

THURSDAY | OCT 10, 2024

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Malaysian Paper

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Call for peaceful resolution to Middle-East conflict KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Kuwait have agreed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine and southern Lebanon, should be resolved through peaceful negotiations and in adherence to the resolutions set by the United Nations. The Defence Ministry said in a statement that the agreement was reached during a meeting between Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Muhammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Monday. It said Mohamed Khaled and his delegation were granted an audience with Sheikh Dr Muhammad Sabah at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. “This bilateral cooperation is important in supporting the Third Defence Strategy Pillar of ‘Credible Partnerships’as outlined in the Defence White Paper, which emphasises the importance of international relations in ensuring national security, regional sovereignty and global peace.” Earlier, Mohamed Khaled, who is on an official working visit to Kuwait, paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Fahad Yousef, who is Kuwait defence minister and interior minister, at the Kuwait Defence Ministry. “This meeting was highly significant and impactful for both defence ministers, as they discussed efforts to enhance bilateral defence cooperation in various areas, including military cooperation, information exchange, defence science, technology and industry. “The two countries are now in the final stages of negotiating an‘MoU on Defence Cooperation’, which is expected to be finalised and signed in Kuala Lumpur by 2025.” Mohamed Khaled also expressed interest in initiating discussions on identifying methods for the acquisition of F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets owned by the Kuwait Air Force for use by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, as part of efforts to enhance Malaysia’s air defence capabilities, benefiting both nations. – Bernama Nurturing synergy for national unity KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to strengthen national unity require the synergy of various parties, including the people, through participation in various programmes implemented through the National Unity Ministry, said its secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad. He said this synergy could be nurtured through various activities held throughout the year, including Semarak Kenegaraan , Semarak Perpaduan , Kembara Perpaduan as well as programmes under Rukun Tetangga . He said to date, more than 15 million Malaysians have taken part in the programmes. “These programmes are the platforms for the people of various cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds to interact and get to know one another and accept their similarities and differences,” he said on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme on Tuesday. – Bernama curbed, among other successes.” The World Bank Group announced on Wednesday that it had raised Malaysia’s economic growth forecast to 4.9% for 2024, up from the 4.3% projected earlier in April. According to the report, business investment in Malaysia will remain strong, driven by ongoing projects and new investments in the manufacturing and services sectors. The government will focus its spending on improving infrastructure in areas such as transportation, healthcare and education. – Bernama

Malaysia outlines several strategies for Asean o Bloc needs to redraw and secure regional supply chain and linkages to global economy, says Anwar (From left) Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Siphandone, Anwar and Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah posing for photos at the summit in Vientiane yesterday. – AFPPIC

economically resilient bloc, putting it on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. “Malaysia looks forward to the recommendations from our senior officials on measures to facilitate Timor-Leste’s early full membership into Asean.” Timor-Leste was granted official observer status and received in-principle approval to become a member of Asean during the 40th and 41st Asean Summits in Cambodia in 2022. The 44th and 45th Asean Summits and related summits officially opened in the Laos capital yesterday and will end tomorrow, Bernama reported. Anwar, who arrived here on Tuesday night, will also attend the Plus One Summits between Asean and seven dialogue partners, namely Australia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, United States and Canada, as well as the Asean Plus Three Summit, East Asia Summit and Asean-United Nations Summit. Other Asean leaders and dialogue partners, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are also expected to attend the summits. The summits will conclude tomorrow, with Laos handing over the Asean chairmanship to Malaysia during the closing ceremony. monthly assembly yesterday. He said approved investments surged to RM160 billion in the first half of this year, marking an 18% increase compared with the same period in 2023, while trade value rose by 18.6% in August, the highest growth in 22 months. He added that inflation rate decreased to 1.9% and unemployment rate stabilised at 3.3%, with 190,000 job opportunities created in the second quarter of the year. “Bursa Malaysia has seen gains, trading values have soared, Bank Negara Malaysia reserves have increased and diesel smuggling has been

VIENTIANE: Malaysia has outlined three strategies for Asean when it takes over the grouping’s chairmanship in 2025, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said these include bolstering regional value chains and regulatory cooperation, strengthening member countries’ fundamentals, and reinventing, restructuring and recalibrating their economies while leveraging one another’s strengths. Addressing the 44th Asean Summit Plenary Session yesterday, he said this is crucial to expand trade and investment linkages as well as to foster digital transformation in the region. “(Asean) needs to redraw and secure the regional supply chain and its linkages to the global economy. “I believe that if we pursue this course with determination and commitment, Asean can achieve economic resilience and be on track to become the fourth largest economy by 2030.” Anwar was the second leader to speak after Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at

the plenary session. All the leaders from Asean’s 10 member countries attended the session held at the National Convention Centre here. He said intra-Asean trade has remained low for the past few decades despite the phenomenal economic growth experienced in Southeast Asia. “I believe there is vast potential for enhancement in this regard, particularly so with the upgrading of the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement to be signed in 2025.” He also said it is imperative for Asean to explore and broaden the grouping’s economic partnerships beyond the region’s borders. “Malaysia’s proposal for the Asean Gulf Cooperation Council and China Summit in 2025 is aimed at achieving exactly this. I would like to thank Asean member states for supporting this proposal.” Commenting on Timor-Leste’s impending inclusion into the grouping, Anwar said the move would expand the region’s economy and contribute to making Asean a more

Country on track to achieve high-income nation status, says DPM KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on track to achieve the status of a developed and high-income country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. “This success is driven by effective government policies, strengthened investment and trade, and the political stability we have fostered.”

He pointed out the encouraging performance of the ringgit, which appreciated by 2.5% against the US dollar in July, significantly outperforming the Singapore dollar, Thai baht and Indonesian rupiah, which had recorded average increases of only 1%. Ahmad Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, was speaking during the Rural and Regional Development Ministry

His remarks followed the World Bank revision of Malaysia’s economic growth forecast for this year, reflecting stronger-than-expected household consumption, improved investment and trade performance. “After nearly two years since the establishment of the unity government, we have witnessed substantial progress, particularly in economic growth.