03/07/2025

THURSDAY | JULY 3, 2025

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Ministry to table Peaceful Assembly Act amendments

Campaign to attract Thai tourists unveiled BANGKOK: Malaysia launched a major campaign to attract more Thai tourists ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) by promoting the country as a top destination for sustainable and inclusive travel experiences. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said VM2026 highlights Malaysia’s wide-ranging tourism assets, including eco-parks in Sabah and Sarawak, Unesco heritage sites, vibrant multicultural urban experiences and tranquil coastal retreats. “We are focusing on seamless accessibility, improved infrastructure and sustainability driven experiences that meet the changing preferences of modern travellers,” he said in his speech during the VM2026 launch in Bangkok on Tuesday. Tiong, who is currently leading a tourism promotion campaign in Bangkok, said Thailand and Malaysia share a strong friendship rooted in shared cultural values, people-to-people connections and robust cross-border trade. “Within Asean, we must see one another as collaborators rather than competitors. By working together, we can strengthen travel corridors, offer more appealing tourism packages and create richer, more meaningful experiences for both regional and international visitors.” Malaysia received 13.4 million international visitors from January to April, marking a 21% increase compared with the same period last year. Of these, 833,610 visitors were from Thailand, representing a 3.4% year-on-year growth and solidifying Thailand’s status as a key market. Meanwhile in Sabah, villagers from five water villages on Gaya Island, about 10 minutes by boat ride from Kota Kinabalu, are participating in a community-based tourism initiative to turn their homes into vibrant tourism attractions. Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the efforts are spearheaded by the Meraki Daat Initiative, an NGO. “This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. Developing community-based tourism on the island will create value for the villagers, especially given its proximity to the city centre,” he said in a statement. – Bernama Expedite development projects: Minister LABUAN: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has urged all implementing agencies in the federal territories to halt the improper practice of granting unjustified extensions of time for development projects. Chairing the Federal Territories Development Action Council meeting in Putrajaya on Tuesday, she said projects such as schools, hospitals, military housing and other critical infrastructure related to national security must be expedited without compromise. “Contractors must be held accountable to the agreed timelines. There should be no room for excuses,”she said in a post on her Facebook page. Zaliha said under the 12th Malaysia Plan’s Fifth Rolling Plan, a total of 648 physical and 320 non-physical projects have been recorded, Bernama reported. She said of these, 402 are in the pre-implementation stage, 461 in progress, 104 have been completed and one cancelled.

of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, that penalises an organiser who fails to provide police with a five-day notice before holding an assembly, was unconstitutional. Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who chaired the panel, said it is inconsistent with Article 10(2)(b) read in conjunction with Article 8(1) of the Constitution (equality before the law). The decision was made following a constitutional challenge by former Muda secretary-general Amir Hadi, who was charged in 2022 for failing to provide police with five days’ notice before organising a gathering in front of the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur. He was charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act, which states that a prior notice must be given to police. Amir Hadi faced punishment under Section 9(5) which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000. Tengku Maimun ordered that Amir Hadi’s criminal case be returned to the High Court and be settled in accordance with the Federal Court ruling.

the issue of freedom of assembly seriously. He said Anwar had announced the Cabinet decision to impose a moratorium on prosecutions under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 as an initial step towards comprehensive reform of laws related to the right to assemble, Bernama reported. On the Federal Court ruling that a provision under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is unconstitutional, Saifuddin Nasution said the ministry would scrutinise it for appropriate action. He said this includes considering proposed amendments to the affected legal provisions to ensure that they are in line with the Constitution and consistent with the decisions of the apex court. “The Madani government will continue to ensure a balance between individual freedom and the need to maintain public order and security. It is a priority of the Madani government to ensure that every right guaranteed by the Constitution is exercised in a peaceful, orderly manner.” On Tuesday, a Federal Court five-member bench ruled that a provision under Section 9(5)

o Madani government committed to upholding democratic principles and supremacy of Federal Constitution, says Home minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry will table amendments to Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 in Parliament this month, said its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He added that the Madani government remains committed to upholding democratic principles and the supremacy of the Federal Constitution in protecting the people’s right to peaceful assembly. He said in a statement that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as the key driver of the Madani government reform agenda, takes

Anwar in Italy for three-day official visit ROME: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived here for a three-day working visit to the third-largest economy in the European Union (EU). The aircraft carrying Anwar landed at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport.

On hand to welcome him were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Malaysian Ambassador to Italy Datuk Zahid Rastam, Italian Senior Ambassador for Protocol Affairs Fabrizio Romano and former Italian Ambassador to Malaysia Massimo Rustico. Anwar expressed hope that the visit would strengthen Malaysia-Italy ties, deepen strategic cooperation and elevate Asean-EU engagement. “This visit, which comes at the invitation of my counterpart Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the long-standing bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Italy, based on the principles and spirit of friendship, trust and mutual respect. “Malaysia sees Italy as an important strategic partner in the European continent, and we are committed to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, the defence industry and the energy transition sector.” He said as Asean chairman, the visit would also enhance the value of the relationship between the Southeast Asian region and Europe in an increasingly challenging geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. “I am confident that this visit would open a new chapter that is more dynamic, yielding concrete benefits and taking Malaysia-Italy relations to a new and higher level.” Anwar is being accompanied by Mohamad, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. Immediately upon arrival at the capital, Anwar and his delegation attended a gathering with the Malaysian diaspora in the country. Today, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral

Anwar being received on arrival at the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. – BERNAMAPIC

countries to explore trade and investment collaboration. He is scheduled to meet captains of industry from 36 Italian firms, including multinational companies such as Leonardo SpA, STMicroelectronics and Ferrero. He is also expected to meet leaders of the local Muslim community. Italy is the third-largest national economy in the EU and the world’s eighth-largest by GDP. In 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Italy recorded a 2% increase, reaching RM14.61 billion compared with 2023. Italy remains Malaysia’s fifth largest trading partner and third largest importer of Malaysian palm oil among European Union member states in 2024. – Bernama

meeting with his counterpart at Chigi Palace. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the meeting would provide an opportunity for both leaders to take stock of the current state of Malaysia-Italy relations and explore avenues to further strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, defence technology and energy. He said the two leaders would also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the Asean Italy Development Partnership, Asean European Union Dialogue Relations and the situation in the Middle East. Anwar will also officiate at the Malaysia-Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable, which will bring together industry leaders from both