DPM Ahmad Zahid arrives in UK for four-day working visit
LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday (June 2) to begin a four-day working visit.
He arrived at Heathrow Airport at 8.30pm local time (3.30am Malaysia) and was greeted by Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland, Datuk Zakri Jaafar, as well as senior embassy officials and government agency officers.
The working visit aims to strengthen Malaysia-UK relations by focusing on areas of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), tourism and investment.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, is expected to meet representatives of leading institutions such as University College London, deliver a public lecture on the direction of the country's TVET, and interact with students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
He is scheduled to launch the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign for the UK market on Tuesday to boost tourism promotion activities, as well as attract investors from Europe to Malaysia.
The visit will also serve as an important platform to strengthen the strategic value of Malaysia-UK relations, expand diplomatic ties and open up more opportunities for cooperation for the people and the country.
The UK is an important trading partner for Malaysia, with total trade reaching RM16.80bil (US$3.68bil) in 2024.
On June 4, Ahmad Zahid will depart for Geneva on his series of international working visits. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
27 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Ringgit climbs against greenback as Trump's trade disruptions weigh on US economic outlook
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The ringgit continued to strengthen against the US dollar on Wednesday, as the US economy is perceived as fragile amid the Trump administration's continued push for disruptive trade policies. At 8am, the local note inched higher to 4.2370/2640 versus the greenback from Tuesday's close of 4.2425/2485. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit is expected to remain strong as the US economy is still seen as fragile, according to survey data such as the US Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Index and Consumer Sentiment Index. 'The data indicates business and consumers have become more cautious in their spending going forward as the Trump administration pushes forward their agenda on trade policies that are hostile and disruptive to global supply chains,' he told Bernama. Meanwhile, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd's head of investment research, Mohd Sedek Jantan, said the US dollar index (DXY) climbed to 99.2 from 98.9. 'Improved US labour data is lending support to the greenback. Job openings rose to 7.4 million in April, exceeding forecasts of 7.1 million. 'Wage growth is expected to continue outstripping inflation on average, which should underpin consumer spending and broader economic momentum,' he said. Mohd Sedek said greater clarity on the US labour market will come with Friday's nonfarm payrolls report. At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.9456/9646 from Tuesday's close of 2.9695/9739, climbed vis-à-vis the euro to 4.8234/8541 from 4.8415/8484, and inched up against the British pound to 5.7331/7696 from 5.7337/7418 previously. Against its Asean peers, the ringgit rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.2868/3082 from 3.2967/3016 on Tuesday's close and improved vis-à-vis the Thai baht to 12.9786/13.0777 from 13.0334/0603 previously. It was slightly higher versus the Indonesian rupiah, at 259.7/261.5, compared to 260.1/260.6 on yesterday's close, and gained against the Philippine peso to 7.60/7.66 from 7.61/7.63 previously. — Bernama
Malay Mail
27 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Fahmi, Azalina to collaborate on tightening social media regulation
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has expressed his readiness to hold further discussions with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, to strengthen the regulation of social media platforms in Malaysia. Fahmi said the meeting is vital following Azalina's recent proposal to amend existing laws, including requiring parents and guardians to monitor their children's online behaviour and participate in digital safety awareness and education programmes. He said that these measures will take into account the experience and approaches of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Ministry of Communications in handling various issues related to digital platforms and social media in the country. 'I will be meeting Datuk Seri Azalina to explore possible ways, based on MCMC's and the Ministry's experience dealing with social media platforms, on what we can do,' Fahmi told reporters after the Hawana 2025-Bernama Strategic Partners' Appreciation Ceremony and Official Launch of Bernama Motorhome at Wisma Bernama here yesterday. Present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, as well as Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also Hawana 2025 project director. Elaborating, Fahmi said that the Online Safety Act (OnSA) 2024, which is set to be enforced soon, will grant MCMC the authority to take action against social media platforms that fail to fulfil their obligations. 'So, we will look at the best ways to assist the Law Minister in the implementation and drafting of the legislation she mentioned,' he added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
36 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
AGC denies Anwar's pardon was invalid, rebuts Mahathir's claims as misleading
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday denied that the pardon granted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was invalid. In a statement, the AGC said this was because Anwar had been granted a full pardon by the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, which convened on May 16, 2018. 'The AGC affirms that the 51st Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at 11am at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur. 'The meeting was chaired by His Majesty the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, and was also attended, among others, by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself, who was the Prime Minister at the time,' the AGC stated. According to the statement, based on the advice of the Pardons Board, Sultan Muhammad V consented to the granting of a full pardon to Anwar, along with his immediate release, effective from the date of the Pardons Board meeting. The statement added that for the purpose of the meeting, the Attorney General had also provided a written opinion on the matter in accordance with Clause (9), Article 42 of the Federal Constitution for the Pardons Board's consideration. Therefore, the AGC refuted the remarks made by Dr Mahathir, in which the former Prime Minister publicly claimed that the pardon was invalid as it did not go through a proper Pardons Board proceeding. In this connection, the AGC views the matter seriously as it involves constitutional and institutional interests. 'The AGC also emphasises that any statement that could mislead the public regarding the decision of the Pardons Board is completely inappropriate,' the statement said. — Bernama
