21/05/2025

WEDNESDAY | MAY 21, 2025

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First locally-made tactical vehicle launched LANGKAWI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched “Ribat”, the first High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle (HMLTV) designed and fully built by local company Mildef International Technologies Sdn Bhd (Mildef ). faith, patriotism and technology. Ribat alludes to the practice of guarding and controlling the border to defend the safety of the people. It symbolises preparedness, courage and the spirit of sacrifice for the country.

King presents appointment letters to three judges KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim yesterday granted an audience and presented instruments of appointment to three judges at Istana Negara. The ceremony, held at Singgahsana Kecil, began with the presentation of the letter of appointment to Federal Court Judge Datuk Lee Swee Seng. His Majesty also presented letters of appointment to two Court of Appeal judges, Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng. Present were Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli. Also in attendance were Attorney General Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, Federal Court Chief Registrar Datuk Zamri Haji Bakar and Judicial Appointments Commission secretary Salinah Ismail. Lee was previously a Court of Appeal judge, while Hayatul Akmal and Lim were High Court judges. Following the presentation, Sultan Ibrahim posed for a group photograph with the newly appointed judges. – Bernama LANGKAWI: An aerial display by three F/A-18D Hornet aircraft and three Sukhoi SU-30MKM fighter jets, belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, kick-started the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima ‘25) yesterday. The opening of the exhibition and the RMAF opening gambit was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was accompanied by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The spectacular opening act was further enlivened with a formation and aerobatic air show involving 25 aerial assets, including six Pilatus PC-7 MK II training aircraft, two A400M transport aircraft, three C130H aircraft and eight helicopters of various types, including the EC-725, AW-139 and EC120B. The performance was held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre airspace and was witnessed by thousands of visitors, including local and foreign delegates. Also present were deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil as well as Malaysian Armed Forces chief Jen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar. The 17th edition of Lima brings together 860 exhibitors from 24 countries, of which 426 are international companies and 434 local. The five-day exhibition themed “Today’s Innovation, Tomorrow’s Achievements” ends on May 24. It is seen as a platform to further strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for defence and aerospace. Lima has been one of the largest maritime and aerospace exhibitions in Southeast Asia since its inception in 1991. – Bernama Lima ‘25 kicks off with spectacular aerial display

As an open trading economy, Malaysia must continually seek ways to protect its economic interests. Anwar’s call in Moscow for a stronger Global South voice echoed similar sentiments conveyed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia in April. He also rallied the Global South to support reforms to the international financial system, especially the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, which he believes should promote free trade and avoid discriminating against smaller nations. “The rise of protectionism has begun even among G20 nations that were originally proponents of free trade principles. “We will continue to promote an inclusive and sustainable approach to peace and security, both within our immediate region and beyond.” The upcoming Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, involving 10 Southeast Asian and six Middle Eastern nations, is expected to strengthen Global South cooperation. These meetings offer key opportunities to engage Asean’s main trading partners and reaffirm its support for rules-based multilateralism, as Asean, BRICS and the Global South commonly oppose unilateralism. Anwar also witnessed the inking of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Mildef and the Defence Science and Technology Research Institute (STRIDE), a prominent research agency under the Defence Ministry. The MoA is aimed at focusing efforts on the development of two more tactical vehicle platforms that will be fully designed domestically. At the agreement signing, Mildef was represented by its managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Nizam Kasa, PT Pindad by Sigit Puji Santosa and STRIDE by Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Malaysian Armed Forces chief Jen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar witnessed the signing of the agreement. Mildef said in a statement that the launch solidified its position as the country’s leading land defence company. It said Ribat was developed by local engineers with the support of industrial-grade engineering facilities in Seremban and Sepang, and is equipped with a modular ballistic protection system designed for missions such as patrols, convoys and special operations. Mohd Nizam said Ribat not only illustrates the capability of local industries but also the success of government policy in empowering a self-reliant and high-impact defence ecosystem. “Ribat is the result of local innovation, which proves that Malaysia is not only capable of being a user of defence systems but also a creator of strategic technology trusted by both the government and the global community.” Since its establishment in 2005, Mildef has grown from a group of young engineers to become a key player in the national defence industry, with its success in building various assets such as the high mobility armoured vehicle Tarantula, the Rentaka 4x4 and now the HMLTV Ribat. – Bernama

At the event, Anwar witnessed the signing of an MoU between Mildef and major Indonesian defence company PT Pindad. The collaboration is set to open up opportunities for exports, technology transfer and system integration between the two regional nations.

The launch yesterday was held in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre. The name Ribat, given by Anwar, carries a symbolic value and refers to the spirit of guarding and defending the country based on

Anwar, accompanied by deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, arriving for the launch in Langkawi yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC M’sia, Asean key players in Global South: PM

o During visits abroad, Anwar called for deeper South South collaboration to consolidate economic, political influence to enable grouping to carve out own destiny

KUALA LUMPUR: As Asean chair, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is clearly asserting the position of Malaysia and the regional bloc as key players in the Global South. The grouping, as a rising force to be reckoned with, is demanding a global shift from the dominance of bipolarity to equitable power-sharing through multipolarity. Throughout his visits from South America to Southeast Asia, and most recently to Russia, Anwar’s clear message has been for deeper South-South collaboration to consolidate economic and political influence, enabling these nations to carve out their own destinies rather than be dictated to by the North or developed countries. His call for a stronger Global South is therefore timely as emerging economies grow in stature and influence, seeking a greater say in shaping the global economic and political agenda. Given that the Global South represents 85% of the world’s population and accounts

for more than 40% of global GDP, a share that is only expanding, its call for equity is highly justified. As part of this strategy, Malaysia is now one of the nine partner countries in BRICS, an informal grouping of emerging economies. Its membership is fast expanding from the original five – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became official members in 2024, giving the grouping greater clout in undertaking economic initiatives. Anwar, who is also finance minister, said Malaysia’s Global South push is driven by the principle of a shared future, which has been well received by other leaders. On his visit to Russia, during which he met President Vladimir Putin, Anwar told the Malaysian media that the nation remains committed to expanding regional and global partnerships amid shifting geopolitics, Bernama reported.