Asean must lead on plastics pollution crisis at treaty talks
While the resumed negotiations – the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, or INC-5.2 – are scheduled for for Aug 5 to 14, South-East Asian communities facing the daily reality of plastic pollution cannot afford to wait for global solutions that may be further delayed or weakened by competing national interests.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Asean news headlines as at 10pm on Tuesday (July 8)
Malaysia * Rubio to attend Asean meeting in first Asia trip * M'sia to continue striving for mutually beneficial trade deal with US, says Miti * Asean urged to stay united in keeping region free of nuclear weapons * Asean's Zopfan revived thanks to China and Russia's support, says expert * Rosmah awarded RM100,000 in TikTok defamation lawsuit * Timor-Leste's accession to SEANWFZ treaty will expand nuclear-free region, says Tok Mat * Malaysia hit with 25% tariffs, up from 24% * New director-general Mohd Shuhaily aims to transform border control agency * The 47th Asean Summit in KL poised to be largest ever * Malaysia scores RM1.16bil in potential sales at Paris Airshow * Ex-oil company exec charged with over RM400,000 in bribes * Salesman charged with cheating in RM5.1mil glove deal * AICHR aims for historic adoption of two human rights declarations under Malaysia's leadership * Four foreign nationals, one Malaysian charged with drug trafficking * Nhaveen murder trial put off pending apex court decision on appeal * INTERACTIVE: What you need to know about Malaysia's exports to the US, in 4 charts * US clouds Malaysia rate path with surprise threat of 25% tariff * AKPS implements stricter recruitment policies to combat smuggling * Asean prioritises human rights in its regional integration efforts * Visits to Italy, France and Brazil achieved key objectives, says PM Anwar * Three major events set to turn KL into urban development nexus in August * JPJ recalls 8,322 Kia, Yamaha, Mercedes-Benz vehicles * Manhunt for a monk: Suspected molester sought by Sepang cops * Putra Heights inferno: Sime Darby selected to rebuild destroyed houses, says Amirudin * China-based chain Nong Geng Ji expands its footprint in the Klang Valley Singapore * Malaysian tycoon Ong Beng Seng's new pre-trial conference date in Singapore set for July 23 * Two Malaysians found hiding in car boot in bid to leave Singapore illegally * Singapore FM to attend 58th AMM and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur * Man jailed for buying at least 20 iPhones worth S$40,000 using credit card details of scam victims * SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue: Report Thailand * Thailand drops casino legalisation plans after PM suspended * Pop Mart plane makes debut flight to celebrate China-Thailand anniversary * Autistic boy allegedly sets fire to Thai shopping mall * Thai authorities vow crackdown on cannabis-infused products after toddler hospitalised * Cultural row erupts as Thai dress seeks Unesco status amid Cambodian claim * Thai exports brace for impact as US slaps 36% tariff Indonesia * Ferry accident in Bali strait sparks calls to improve Indonesia's maritime safety * Prabowo's BRICS debut puts Indonesia's Asean ties and US relations to the test, analysts say * Death toll from passenger ship sinking in Bali Strait rises to ten * Malaysia, Indonesia to open over 10 new border entry points in Kalimantan, says Saifuddin * Indonesia pledges to buy more US wheat in bid for trade deal * Jakarta's Asean Park plan faces pushback over Barito Market relocation * Indonesian charged with countryman's murder in Sibu Philippines * Philippines struggles to green schools amid climate risks * Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sanctions against former senator * Filipino singer Ronnie Liang says over 100 women victimised by fake AI videos of him * Philippines detains 15 police officers over alleged killings of cockfighting fans Vietnam * Vietnam to offer unprecedented incentives for digital tech companies * Hanoi court sentences man to death for murdering entire family * Vietnam State Bank readies measures to counter tariff impact * Vietnam to complete 900km of expressways in 2025 Cambodia * Cambodia ready to fund transport of 20 antiquities from Thailand * US revises trade tariff on Cambodia to 36 per cent * Cambodian garment workers fret Trump's new tariff threat Myanmar * Myanmar's rare twin elephant calf dies after being accidentally trampled by mother * Fishing season resumes in Myanmar's waters, but Labour shortages hinder operations Laos * Laos rolls out Bus Rapid Transit trial to boost public transport * Ethnic festival showcases rich cultural diversity of Laos Brunei * Brunei Sultan calls for reforms in zakat governance during surprise visit * Cleaner jailed for outraging modesty of Brunei teen in department store toilet Aseanplus * China says Australian PM Albanese to visit this week * South Korea trade minister seeks reduction in auto, steel tariffs * From 'fantastic' to 'spoiled': How Japan's trade effort to woo Trump backfired * Tropical storm Danas looms over China after battering Taiwan, killing two * China detains principal over lead poisoning of 200 children * Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets Mongolian president to boost ties * China's Li, Brazil's Lula pledge joint effort to bring AI to farming * Dozens missing after floods on Nepal-China border * Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded * Asian nations push for US tariff concessions before August deadline * Japanese racehorse famed for losing all her races sees surge in popularity after mobile game launch * China probes Wuhan ex-mayor who presided over Covid response * High-flying Indonesian and leading South-East Asian R&B band Juicy Luicy to headline Malaysia's Ruang Inspirasi Festival (RIF) on Aug 17 * Indian villagers beat five to death for 'witchcraft' * China-based chain Nong Geng Ji expands its footprint in the Klang Valley * Pakistan army chief rejects Indian allegation of Chinese help in May conflict * Crowds celebrate Nepal ex-king's birthday in show of support * TVB star Kelly Fu eats 12 durians on first trip to Malaysia while co-star Owen Cheung struggles with a bite * TikTok reportedly prepping new app in the US as potential sale looms * Catch some sleep at these cute Pokemon rooms in Japan * Court to hold hearing on ex-leader Yoon's detention warrant * Lurid tale of China's cross-dressing 'red uncle' goes viral online * In Hiroshima, search for remains keeps war alive for lone volunteer * Hong Kong should have 'real' dialogue on same-sex partnership plan: LGBTQ groups * Pakistan confiscates 18 lions kept as pets in crackdown after attack * Which K-drama made South Korean President Lee Jae-myung cry? * iQIYI's C-dramas score big as eight of its series are in Enlightent's Top 20 cumulative effective plays in the first half of 2025 * Shinee member Taemin apologises for earthquake remarks on live stream * HK actress Samantha Ko discloses struggle with mental health issues and panic attacks * Ex-TVB star Lee Lung Kei, 74, embraces 38YO fiancee upon her release from prison: 'I've been waiting for a long time' * Most markets rise as Trump sends tariff letters, delays deadline
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
No compromise on country's sovereignty
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said every action the government takes on the South China Sea issue is based on thorough and strategic consideration, and that Malaysia's sovereignty will not be compromised. He said matters related to the South China Sea were complex and sensitive and must be approached with great caution and diligence. "I wish to emphasise that in dealing with disputes over the South China Sea, the government takes all necessary steps to ensure our sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests remain central to every decision made," he said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. "The government also consistently affirms Malaysia's position in all engagements with foreign nations, at every level, from heads of state to government officials." Mohamad was responding to a question from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh), who asked about the measures the government was taking to ensure Malaysia maintained a neutral yet sovereign position in international conflicts. Muhyiddin's question referenced the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 case, the South China Sea dispute and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visits to Russia and China. Mohamad said in its role as the Asean-China country coordinator until July 2027, Malaysia was working to expedite the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea to ensure a substantive and effective agreement was concluded as soon as possible. "Malaysia will continue to uphold its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national interests in its maritime zones in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." On MH17, Mohamad said Malaysia remained committed to pursuing justice for all victims, their families, and the parties involved. He said Anwar raised the outcome of the legal proceedings relating to the MH17 tragedy during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 14. "President Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incident as a tragedy, and gave assurance that Russia would cooperate with an independent and credible investigation. "The Malaysian government reaffirms its commitment to a transparent judicial process, in accordance with international law, to hold those responsible for this horrific tragedy accountable, and remains steadfast in its pursuit of justice for the victims' families," he added.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
The dialogical basis of Anwar Ibrahim's Nobel Prize nomination — Osman Bakar and Phar Kim Beng
AUGUST 7 — In the realm of international recognition for peace and justice, the Nobel Peace Prize stands as the world's most prestigious accolade. While the prize is often awarded for mediating ceasefires or ending wars, it is equally important to remember that peace is a process, not merely a momentary cessation of violence. It is in this broader, global civilisational sense that we offer our endorsement of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's nomination — not solely for his timely role in the Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire, but for something far more enduring: his lifelong contributions to the culture of dialogue. His role in the ceasefire, we believe, is not only born out of his sense of responsibility as ASEAN chairman and his 'love thy neighbour' philosophy but more importantly as a clear expression of his lifelong commitment to the pursuit of peace through dialogue. Indeed, even well before the recent escalation between Phnom Penh and Bangkok, there were sustained discussions among scholars, thinkers and civil society leaders about nominating Anwar Ibrahim for the Nobel Peace Prize. Our reasons were rooted not in the tactical diplomacy of a single event, but in the strategic and ethical ethos that Anwar has exemplified over decades: the empowerment of dialogical culture across civilisations, religions and political fault lines. Anwar Ibrahim's public life has consistently been defined by his belief in the power of words over weapons, and in the transformative potential of mutual understanding over mutual suspicion. From his early involvement with Islamic civil society movements in the 1970s, to his intellectual engagement with global thinkers like Ismail Al-Faruqi, John Esposito, even the works of Izutsu Toshiko, Anwar has consistently called for the harmonisation of faith, reason and governance through dialogue. He has embodied what we may call a 'civilisational mediator' — a leader who recognises that conflicts, even geopolitical ones, are rooted in deeper epistemological and cultural misunderstandings. The current ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, brokered in part through Malaysia's quiet but deliberate diplomacy under Anwar's chairmanship of ASEAN, is a case in point. While the dynamics of great power politics may shape regional developments in complex ways, this should not detract from the dialogical infrastructure that made the ceasefire possible. Moreover, it is continuing dialogue — the spirit of which flows in his blood veins — that will help sustain peace between the two nations and in the region beyond Anwar's chairmanship of ASEAN and even premiership of Malaysia. The success of any negotiation is built on years of trust, cultural literacy and principled leadership. This is precisely where Anwar's lifetime of work in fostering interfaith dialogue and regional understanding becomes invaluable. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's civilisational positioning of Malaysia as a bridge nationhas become a model of peaceful coexistence in an increasingly fractured global order. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin His leadership in convening the ASEAN–GCC Summit, coupled with China's active participation in the ASEAN–GCC–China Summit, represents a defining moment of dialogical diplomacy. These summits were not merely symbolic. They brought together diverse civilisational blocs — Southeast Asia, the Gulf and East Asia — into a single framework of cooperation grounded in mutual respect, shared values and an agenda for peace and development. That such a summit could take place under Malaysia's chairmanship, with Anwar at the helm, reflects his profound ability to orchestrate dialogue at a civilisational scale. It is worth recalling that Nobel Peace Laureates are not chosen merely for stopping a war. Many have been honoured for laying the groundwork for future peace — by building institutions, creating intellectual bridges or planting seeds of understanding in hostile terrains. In this regard, Anwar's lifelong commitment to the dialogical method — to resolving difference through deliberation rather than domination — resonates with the highest ideals of Alfred Nobel's vision. Anwar Ibrahim's political trials have also forged in him a moral authority that cannot be manufactured. His years in prison did not diminish his belief in reconciliation. Upon returning to power, he chose dialogue over vengeance, inclusion over exclusion. This is not just a political choice — it is a philosophical and a moral one, a commitment to the idea that democracy, like religion, must be grounded in a culture of ethical conversation and mutual respect. Moreover, his civilisational positioning of Malaysia as a bridge nation — between East and West, Islam and the modern world, between liberalism and tradition — has become a model of peaceful coexistence in an increasingly fractured global order. Whether through the ASEAN–GCC–China platform, Track II diplomacy, or his writings and speeches on the spiritual and ethical foundations of governance, Anwar's hand has always been visible, guiding the conversation toward common ground. Some may argue that the full impact of his dialogical contributions has yet to be measured on the global stage. We submit, however, that the Nobel Peace Prize has always been as much about moral signal as political signal. It is about honouring those who, through patience and principle, have shaped a new architecture of peace, even when global attention is elsewhere. In that spirit, we submit that Anwar Ibrahim's Nobel-worthiness lies not in a single ceasefire — though that alone is commendable — but in a life devoted to the ethics of dialogue. A prize bestowed upon him would be a recognition not only of his past, but a reinforcement of a model the world urgently needs: leadership rooted in humility, guided by wisdom, and committed to dialogue in the service of humanity. Let us not wait until history catches up. Let us recognise now what many already know: that Anwar Ibrahim represents the dialogical conscience of our time. * Emeritus Prof Dr Datuk Osman Bakar is the Al-Ghazali Chair of Epistemology and Civilisational Studies Rector at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Prof Dr Phar Kim Beng is professor of Asean Studies, IIUM and director, Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies (IINTAS). ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
