14/07/2026

TUESDAY | JULY 14, 2026

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Singapore highly valued trade, investment partner: King KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore is not just one of Malaysia’s closest neighbours but also a highly valued strategic partner and a key driver of trade and investment, said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.

Planters celebrate national golf legacy

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Sultan Ibrahim said the continued growth in bilateral trade despite global economic uncertainties reflected the strength and resilience of ties between the two countries. “The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) also reflects our cooperation in advancing regional economic growth and creating new opportunities within Asean,” he said in a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page yesterday, during the state welcoming ceremony for Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s first state visit to Malaysia since assuming office in September 2023. His Majesty also expressed confidence that the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link), scheduled to commence operations at the end of the year, would further strengthen connectivity between both nations. “Together with JS-SEZ, I am confident the RTS Link will play an important role in attracting investment and strengthening the position of Malaysia and Singapore as key gateways to the Asean market.” Tharman and his wife Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam arrived at Istana Negara at 10am and were received by Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia. Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as Cabinet ministers. The welcoming ceremony at the Istana Negara parade ground began with the playing of the national anthems of Singapore and Malaysia by the Central Band of the Royal Malay Regiment, followed by a 21-gun salute.

PETALING JAYA: The plantation community played a pivotal role in the emergence of golf in Malaysia, helping introduce and nurture the sport more than a century ago – a legacy celebrated as 116 golfers gathered for the ISP Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the 11th International Planters Conference 2026. Organised by the Incorporated Society of Planters Selangor and Wilayah branch at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf and Country Club, the tournament brought together plantation professionals from across the country in what is believed to be one of the largest gatherings of golfers from the industry. The event saw participation from senior industry leaders, estate managers, agribusiness executives, retirees and young professionals from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, providing a platform for networking, exchanging ideas and strengthening bonds across generations. ISP Selangor and Wilayah branch acting chairman Dr N. M. Thangaraj said the strong response reflected the plantation industry’s enduring spirit of unity. “While the tournament recognised excellence on the golf course, its greatest achievement was reaffirming the close-knit relationships and shared sense of purpose that have long distinguished Malaysia’s plantation fraternity.”

Sultan Ibrahim with Tharman during the welcoming ceremony at Istana Negara. – BERNAMAPIC Tharman then inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, led by Mejar Mohd Masrur Hidayat Masri. between the two neighbouring countries. The ministry added that Singapore remains Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner globally and its largest within Asean.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Singapore totalled RM402.35 billion in 2025, an increase of 1.5% compared with 2024. Trade continued to grow this year, rising 14.5% to RM189.90 billion between January and May 2026, compared with RM165.93 billion during the corresponding period last year. – Bernama

Tharman is undertaking a three-day state visit to Malaysia from July 13 to July 15 at the invitation of the King. The Foreign Ministry said the visit reciprocates Sultan Ibrahim’s state visit to Singapore on May 6 and May 7, 2024 and reflects the close and longstanding bilateral ties

M’sia to push for veto reform within UN Security Council

o Current system unjust, reflects outdated and undemocratic structure, says deputy minister

credibility, having served as a non-permanent member of the council on four occasions. He added Malaysia supported expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council to ensure fairer regional representation and better reflect current geopolitical realities. Malaysia also supported United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/262 in 2022, which requires the General Assembly to convene automatically within 10 working days whenever a permanent Security Council member exercises its veto. Lukanisman cited the mechanism being activated after China and Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution on April 7, 2026 concerning the situation in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, which led to an emergency special session of the General Assembly on April 16. Separately, France said on May 13 that 11 more African countries had backed its joint initiative with Mexico to limit the use of Security Council vetoes in cases involving mass atrocities. The support brought the total number of backers to 118, with the initiative needing 129 countries, or two-thirds of United Nations General Assembly members, to reach a symbolic threshold before a vote in September. The proposal seeks to discourage permanent Security Council members from using their veto powers in cases involving genocide, crimes against humanity and serious war crimes, although it would remain non-binding even if adopted.

infrastructure, as witnessed in Gaza,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. His remarks came as Malaysia officially submitted its candidacy to return as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2036 to 2037 term. Lukanisman said reform of the council, alongside global peace and security, would remain a key priority in Malaysia’s foreign policy. He added that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan would reiterate Malaysia’s position during the national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly debate in New York this September. Replying to Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan), who asked about Malaysia’s stance on the imbalance of veto powers among nations, and Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who asked if Malaysia was prepared to lead veto reform efforts, Lukanisman acknowledged the challenges involved. He said any amendment to the UN Charter under Article 108 required approval from two-thirds of UN member states, including all five permanent Security Council members, making changes to the existing system difficult. “For Malaysia to form a new movement or grouping, it requires a significant degree of consensus because the veto power held by the five major powers is not easy to challenge, nor is it easy for these countries to relinquish that power.” Lukanisman said Malaysia’s push for reform was backed by its track record and

Thangaraj presenting the Challenge Trophy to the National ISP Golf Champion Mohd Azmin. – PIC COURTESY OF N.M. THANGARAJ He added that the tournament also highlighted a lesser-known chapter of Malaysia’s sporting heritage, in which planters were among the early contributors to the growth of golf in British Malaya. He said during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, British planters, together with colonial administrators, mining executives and members of the expatriate community, established sporting clubs across plantation districts and administrative centres. Cricket was often the first organised sport in these communities, with modest grounds serving as social gathering points before many clubs later introduced golf, contributing to the establishment of some of the country’s oldest golf clubs. “More than 130 years later, the ISP Golf Tournament proudly honours that legacy by bringing today’s plantation fraternity together through a game that generations of planters helped nurture and popularise.” Thangaraj also expressed his appreciation to the organising committee, led by organising chairman Farid Zainal, together with Dato’ Radin Rosli, Sathianathan, Radzi Saad, Chang Ah Kow, Haji Hamzah and Ramesh Menon, whose commitment and voluntary efforts helped deliver the tournament.

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is pushing for a major reform of the United Nations Security Council, calling for the veto power of its five permanent members to be restricted in cases involving war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure. Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang said the restriction was the minimum reform measure Malaysia was seeking if the complete abolition of veto powers could not be achieved. He said the current system was unjust and reflected an outdated and undemocratic structure within the global body. “Malaysia’s position is clear: veto power is unjust and must be abolished. “At the very least, its use must be disallowed in cases involving serious violations of international law, particularly war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the deliberate destruction of civilian