Anwar hopes Malaysia-Egypt ties will continue to flourish amid global challenges
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed hope that the diplomatic ties and friendship between Malaysia and Egypt will continue to grow, particularly in addressing complex global issues through dynamic and thoughtful engagement.
Anwar, who received a courtesy call from Egypt's Ambassador to Malaysia Ragai Tawfik Said Nasr today, noted that bilateral relations have strengthened under the leadership of the Madani government.
"This cooperation is particularly evident in areas such as the economy and trade, as well as education, including the establishment of the Arabic Language Institute through a smart partnership between Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Al-Azhar University in Cairo," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (April 29).
Anwar also highlighted ongoing humanitarian collaboration through aid efforts in Gaza for the Palestinian people, along with growing developments in the tourism sector in both countries.
The post was accompanied by several photos of Anwar's meeting with the Egyptian envoy at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
Ragai Tawfik, who has served as Egyptian Ambassador to Malaysia for nearly four years, will officially conclude his term on Wednesday (April 30). – Bernama
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Malaysiakini
33 minutes ago
- Malaysiakini
Don't hike fruit prices, they're a necessity, not luxury
YOURSAY | 'Will vegetables be next?' SST on imported fruits pose nutritional risks, consumer groups warn World Citizen: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has very bad advisors. As it is, consumers are already paying very high prices for imported fruits (and also local fruits) and imposing this five percent sales tax will only make things worse. On the one hand, people are encouraged to consume more fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, the ill-advised government wants to artificially raise the price of fruits. This is a total contradiction. The first thing this government should understand is not to raise the prices of food by imposing taxes. Instead, the government should do everything to keep the prices of food down and not the other way around, because the nation needs a healthy population, not a malnourished one. This is very basic. Food is never a luxury. It is essential unless it is of an exclusive category. Apples, oranges, and pears are not in the luxurious category. Talking about local fruits, what is the government doing about their high prices? Papayas, pineapples, guavas, and durians are very expensive compared to before, and it is cheaper to eat imported apples and oranges. This government is blind to facts and lacks people with grey matter. Plebeian: Malaysia has an extraction economy. Extraction from the ground and from its people. We keep getting taxed more and more for everything, but experience no improvements in the quality of life. Instead, what we do get in return for higher taxation is pollution and environmental degradation, abysmal urban planning, unsafe roads, a wretched public healthcare system, poorly maintained recreational facilities, horrible libraries, etc. Money going into a sinkhole. TaaS: Another 'great' reform by the government to improve livelihood and cost of living. 'Bill' the people again. Fruits are an essential part of a daily diet and nutrient intake. So are vegetables. It does not matter if imported or locally produced. Malaysia is a country which grows only tropical fruits, and very limited fruits are grown in higher areas of Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands. These essential products, therefore, must be free from taxes. Is the government going so low by going after daily necessities while going on a spending spree to protect race and religion? Will vegetables be next? Observer from Space: Hardworking Malaysians have time and again been pressed hard to pay more taxes to shore up a corrupt and bloated government! It's every citizen's right to eat fruits that are grown within the country and imported. It looks like these are now exclusively for the elite and corrupt. Anwar should listen and learn from Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's speech after his party's win at the recent general election. Specifically, he reminded his cabinet and himself that they are all servants to the citizens. Humble Opinion: I kindly urge the government to consider removing taxes on essential fruits such as apples and oranges. These fruits are a staple of a healthy diet and should be affordable for all Malaysians, especially ordinary families who strive to put nutritious food on the table. By eliminating these taxes, we can promote healthier lifestyles, reduce the burden on household budgets, make fresh produce more accessible to every community across the country, and also affect the well-being of many. BrownGoose2196: By raising imported fruit prices, the fruit sellers will automatically raise the selling prices of local fruits. As it is now, a piece of guava or mango is even more expensive than a piece of apple. Inflation is definite. All because the government wants to increase tax collections to cover large financial deficits, and the untouchables who have been squandering our money. Mhc9b23: I don't get it! We are trying to budget to eat as healthily as we can afford to, so some of these imported fruits are not a luxury but a necessity for our long-term health and well-being. We'd rather eat healthily to keep healthy than suffer later and pay for medical expenses. For one, uncontrolled usage of pesticides, especially in cultivating certain local fruits, is killing us. The other option is to go for organically grown fruits and also pay a premium. Please consider the people, our young and seniors in the family, who are trying and struggling to eat healthily before making and implementing such decisions. Zaheed: Fruits, whether local or imported, are essential and should not be slapped with sales tax. It is an essential foodstuff with nutrients and an essential part of keeping healthy. What is wrong with Madani? The local suppliers have very limited items, and that is too often in short supply. The good fruits are almost always exported while the locals get the C-grade ones. HJ Angus: All this just shows how complicated the Sales and Services Tax (SST) is, and trying to please different folks. A universal tax, like the goods and services tax (GST), is more efficient with all consumers having to contribute. VioletBeetle0699: Avocado is a healthy fruit that provides a lot of nutritional benefits. It is sad to see the government fail to realise this and make stupid statements instead. The government will just tell you to eat palm oil, then. OrangeBird5803: There should be SST on sugar, flour, and oil. Overconsumption of these items is killing Malaysians. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Wednesday (June 11, 2025)
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Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Reforms ongoing and backed by solid evidence, says Azalina
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said more than 30 legislative amendments have been passed since 2023. (File pic) PETALING JAYA : The government's reform agenda is ongoing and backed by solid evidence, says law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said. In a Facebook post, Azalina said she agreed with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's remarks yesterday that reforms cannot be rushed, and stressed that systemic changes should not be executed hastily or rolled out merely to look good on paper. She said the current administration has moved at an unprecedented pace in laying the groundwork for institutional and legislative reforms, setting a benchmark not seen under previous governments. Azalina said the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister's Department, together with other agencies under her purview, had made significant progress in implementing reforms in a structured and comprehensive manner. This included the successful reinstatement of the Parliamentary Services Act 2025, and the implementation of more than 30 legislative amendments since 2023. 'This shows that the government's reform efforts are not mere rhetoric. 'This is clear evidence that the Madani government's reform agenda is in motion and being implemented. 'As policymakers, our duty is to ensure that every reform initiative is not only ambitious but, more importantly, feasible and beneficial to the Malaysian public,' she said. Azalina said the legal affairs division had launched the PetaRI portal, a dedicated online platform to provide the public with regular updates on the progress of government reform initiatives. 'Whether we like it or not, we must acknowledge that the Madani government has laid the foundation for reform at a pace unmatched by previous administrations. 'The proof lies in the institutional changes and legal updates that the public can assess for themselves,' she said.
