ASEAN SOM Honours Vietnam's Late Former President Tran Duc Luong
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin extended the nation's deepest condolences and acknowledged the former leader's contributions, especially in the context of ASEAN cooperation.
'On behalf of Malaysia, we extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing of the former president.
'Our Prime Minister has already conveyed his sympathies to the government and people of Vietnam, expressing our sorrow and recognising the late leader's service and dedication to the nation,' Amran said before the meeting commenced at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today.
The SOM is a key preparatory phase ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place from May 26 to 27.
The session began with remarks by Amran welcoming ASEAN SOM Leaders, Timor-Leste's SOM representatives and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat to the meeting.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', will gather leaders from the bloc's member states to discuss regional issues, foster economic cooperation and advance the principles of inclusivity and sustainability.
Kuala Lumpur will also concurrently host the second ASEAN-GCC Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.
Yesterday, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, noting that the late president served during a pivotal period in Vietnam's history. He credited Tran Duc Luong with steadfastly upholding the spirit of the Doi Moi (economic) reforms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
ANPR toll system with 99.98% accuracy set for rollout by 2027
PETALING JAYA: The government aims to implement a nationwide Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll system within two years, starting with the pilot deployment of a new Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology that boasts a 99.98% detection accuracy. A new toll collection system being piloted on Malaysian highways boasts a 99.98% detection accuracy, using advanced number plate recognition and vehicle-matching technology that the government says leaves 'very little room to escape.' The Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, now undergoing pilot testing at 13 toll plazas across 35 lanes under PLUS Malaysia Berhad, uses high-definition cameras and AI to identify vehicles and charge tolls without the need for boom gates or lane barriers. 'This is a very tight system. Even if your number plate is unreadable, we'll still track you down. There's almost no way to avoid detection,' said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi at a media briefing and live demonstration today. The system not only reads licence plates, but also cross-verifies them with the vehicle's make and model. This allows it to flag plate cloning attempts and mismatched registrations. 'If a plate doesn't match the vehicle's shape or registered data, the system flags it. 'Fake plates don't match the vehicle body. We'll know. We have methods to trace the real owner,' Nanta explained. For rare cases where detection fails due to obscured or damaged plates, ANPR is supported by manual verification and artificial intelligence. Non-compliant 'fancy plates,' which include decorative fonts or small lettering, remain illegal and could face enforcement action. 'If it's a fancy plate, you could be fined under existing laws. And we may ask you to change it,' he added. The pilot system is integrated with JustGo, a newly introduced digital platform where users can register their vehicle details and preferred payment methods. The platform supports credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets including Touch 'n Go. Users can also link multiple accounts, enabling the system to automatically deduct from the next available source if the first fails. 'If none of your accounts have sufficient balance, we'll still detect the vehicle and follow up. You can't run,' he said. 'There will be no toll gates, no boom barriers. Just seamless flow. 'This system allows you to pass through any lane, at any speed,' Nanta further explained. He said he personally tested the system earlier in the day and described the experience as 'significantly faster' than existing toll methods. He also clarified that ANPR is not yet the full Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) model but serves as a foundational component. 'There are 13 toll plazas involved in the pilot right now. We expect to determine the system's readiness by September or October this year,' he said, adding that the entire project is led by the private sector without any financial burden to the government.
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Airbnb boosts Malaysia's economy with RM9.2 billion in 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Airbnb activity contributed RM9.2 billion to Malaysia's economy in 2024, making up five per cent of the tourism sector's GDP, according to an Oxford Economics survey. The online platform supported four per cent of tourism-related employment, equating to one in every 26 jobs in the industry. Airbnb-linked economic activity helped sustain around 93,600 jobs and generated RM2.1 billion in wage income. Beyond tourism, Airbnb injected RM1.4 billion into manufacturing, RM1.2 billion into transport and storage, and RM1.2 billion into food and beverage services. Guest spending on accommodation and other expenses reached RM11 billion in 2024. Host earnings further boosted local economies through property maintenance, services, and personal spending. Domestic travel rebounded strongly, with Malaysians making up 67 per cent of Airbnb guests, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. International travellers accounted for 33 per cent of guests, more than double their 2022 share. Over 80 per cent of international guests came from the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting its importance as a key market. More than half of Airbnb guest spending occurred outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Non-urban areas contributed 62 per cent of Airbnb's GDP impact and supported 63,500 jobs. Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb's country head for Southeast Asia and India, said the platform helps distribute economic benefits nationwide. He added that Airbnb's role in supporting local businesses and job creation is highly rewarding. - Bernama
Barnama
31 minutes ago
- Barnama
Federal Court Set Aug 13 To Deliver Verdict On AGC's Appeal In Najib's House Arrest Bid
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The Federal Court has set Aug 13 to deliver its verdict on the Attorney-General's Chambers' (AGC) appeal concerning the existence of a purported additional document that permitted Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. The former Prime Minister's counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, confirmed with Bernama the decision date. On July 9 this year, the Federal Court's three-member bench comprising Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim and Federal Court judges Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah reserved their decision in the appeal. On April 28, the Federal Court granted leave to the Attorney-General to appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision concerning the alleged additional document linked to Najib. On Jan 6, in a 2-1 majority decision, the Court of Appeal remitted Najib's application on the purported existence of an additional document that allows him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest, to the High Court for determination on its merits. This decision overturned the earlier ruling of the High Court, which had dismissed Najib's application for leave to commence judicial review concerning the alleged document. Najib is currently serving a six-year custodial sentence for his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, following the Federal Court's dismissal of both his appeal and subsequent review application. In February 2023, the Pardons Board commuted Najib's original 12-year sentence to six years and reduced the RM210 million fine to RM50 million. -- BERNAMA
