AIPACODD meeting: ASEAN Parliamentarians convene to address regional drug threat
The theme 'Uniting Parliament for an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN in Addressing Contemporary Drug Challenges' aligns with this year's Malaysian ASEAN chairmanship theme, which emphasises inclusivity and sustainability.
According to a statement from the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) today, the meeting will be officiated by the AIPA president and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, while Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor will be appointed as the chairperson of the 8th AIPACODD Meeting.
'Among the main agenda of the meeting are a panel session featuring representatives from the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD), National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), and the Ministry of Health Malaysia, alongside progress report presentations by all AIPA member country parliaments,' according to the statement.
Also scheduled is a discussion session on the transformation of AIPACODD's role in addressing cross-border crime and the preparation and validation of the meeting's draft resolution.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives also announced that in conjunction with the meeting, a royal banquet will be held on June 10 in Kuantan, with the consent of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
'This royal banquet is the highest honour of the nation to the ASEAN parliamentary representatives, and the Sultan of Pahang's presence reflects the royal institution's support for the strategic role of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing the drug threat and building a safer and more sustainable future for the region,' said the statement.
AIPACODD was officially established in 2017 as a platform to strengthen the role of parliaments in addressing drug issues through policy monitoring, information sharing and regional cooperation.
Through the AIPACODD platform, AIPA continues to play a key role in driving the coordination of ASEAN parliamentary collective efforts in addressing drug issues across social, economic, health, and regional security dimensions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
11 minutes ago
- Focus Malaysia
Citizen alert: Hoist Malaysian flag at your own peril this 68th Merdeka Day 'unless we learn from China'
FALL-OUT from the upside-down flag issue continues. As the scenario gets ever more heated, one consequence is that Malaysians have become wary of hoisting the Jalur Gemilang for Merdeka celebrations. The fear of unforeseen repercussions from right-wing nationalists and public backlash online has prompted many to think twice about displaying their patriotism. This was highlighted by a post on X by Annoyed Malaysian (@annoyedmalaysian) who hinted at selective persecution. Advice to M'sian Chinese & Indians, from now onwards do not touch anything that has the Jalur Gemilang. Your flag got one small stain also UMNO gangsters will show up at your door & police will arrest you lol. 😊 — Annoyed Malaysian 🇲🇾 (@annoyedmsian) August 10, 2025 'Advice to Malaysian Chinese and Indians – from now onwards don't touch anything that has the Jalur Gemilang,' the self-confessed liberal secularist warned: 'Your flag got one small stain also UMNO gangsters will show up at your door and police will arrest you.' The current affairs observer also highlighted several incidents that have gone unpunished. An image of an upside down Jalur Gemilang hoisted in the apparent vicinity of the Kota Damansara Mosque was attached. The UMNO Youth Terengganu's gaffe in using a Jalur Gemilang that had the wrong number of stripes in a social media post was also appended. Both were used by the poster to ask the seemingly pertinent question – 'why only the Chinese are accused of wrongly displaying the Jalur Gemilang?' One commenter reflected his sense of unease at wanting to show his patriotism, claiming UMNO has 'kidnapped the flag'. Instead, he will keep his love for Malaysia in his heart for fear of reprisals. This was a clever electoral ploy by UMNO, claimed one commenter, by painting the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition as weak and unable to react accordingly in protecting the non-Malays which forms a strong base for its support. He predicts that this ploy is with the aim of challenging PH as direct rivals in the next general election. However, one commenter asked why not encourage Chinese and Indian citizens to fly the flag correctly instead of asking to refrain from doing so. Isn't the flag as symbol of unity? To which the poster conceded that this was, indeed, a great idea (though he has not modified his post to reflect this). To put the current state of affairs into perspective, another poster shared on X how such a scenario was handled in a rather professional and sem fuss manner in China. A short clip showed two policemen seeing a flag hoisted wrongly in front of a business premise. Instead of threats of arrest or some other brouhaha, the two officers simply corrected the flag and gave it a respectful salute once it was the right way up. What to do if we found an upside down JALUR GEMILANG. Peace, anas. — Anas Zubedy (@AnasZubedy) August 11, 2025 One commenter pointed out that in Malaysia the priority was to viral the image or video while highlighting the absurdity of the situation – 'make accusations, hire lawyers, politicise the issue, organise peaceful protest in front of Sogo shopping complex, march to Istana Negara for audience with the Agong, before finally rectifying the upside-down flag'. Lamenting that too many keyboard warriors were spreading messages of hate in Malaysia, one commenter argued that this would be a sensible and mature attitude to have. As the fallout continues, one must wonder what does the Jalur Gemilang represent? Is it a symbol unity or has it been hijacked and weaponised by the right-wingers into a symbol of victimisation and oppression? – Aug 13, 2025
The Star
41 minutes ago
- The Star
Thailand and Cambodia to hold border talks amid troop movements and minefield concerns
BANGKOK: Thailand's Special Task Force (STF) has announced that it will hold a series of Regional Border Committee (RBC) meetings with Cambodia this month to discuss ongoing border issues, including mine clearance. The move comes as an Asean delegation prepares to observe the border situation and a senior Thai official reveals that Cambodia's recent troop reinforcements are considered "within an acceptable range." Speaking at Government House, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Thailand-Cambodia STF, stated that the border situation has been stable despite ongoing monitoring of Cambodian forces strengthening their positions. Rear Admiral Surasant also revealed that a team of Asean military attaches, led by the Malaysian military attache to Thailand, is scheduled to visit Ubon Ratchathani province and the 2nd Army Region area on Thursday (Aug 14). The purpose of their visit is to observe the situation and assess the impact on local communities. They will present their findings the following day and discuss future plans. A key point of concern for the Thai government is the presence of a large number of landmines along the border. Rear Admiral Surasant expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from Cambodia on mine clearance efforts. To address this, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now engaging with the Asean Regional Mine Action Center (Armac), whose director is Cambodian, to urge a more sincere commitment to the mission. "Landmines are a threat not just to military personnel but also to civilians in both countries," he stressed. He further claimed that Cambodian soldiers continue to lay mines in the area. Thailand hopes to see Armac collaborate with the National Mine Action Centre (TMAC) to clear as many mines as possible and restore safety to the affected zones. The army is reportedly adjusting its patrol strategies and exploring new technologies to better detect the explosives, giving reassurance to the public. The first of the upcoming RBC meetings is scheduled for Friday (Aug 15), in Trat province, and will be hosted by the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Command. Further meetings with the 1st and 2nd Army Regions are planned for later in the month, with mine clearance high on the agenda for discussions. - The Nation/ANN
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
EXPLAINER: How an inquest works and what it means in Zara's death probe
KUALA LUMPUR: The death of Zara Qairina Mahathir has gripped national attention — not only for its tragic circumstances, but also for what comes next: an inquest. Under Malaysian law, an inquest is one of the most important tools for answering the pressing questions after a sudden or suspicious death: What happened? How? And could it have been prevented? Zara, 13, a student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Sabah, was found unconscious in her dormitory compound in the early hours of July 16. She died the next day in hospital. Today, the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) ordered an inquest into her death, following her family's request to determine whether any criminal element was involved. SUBHEAD: What is an inquest? An inquest is a judicial inquiry conducted by a coroner or magistrate to determine how, when, and where a death occurred — particularly when the circumstances are sudden, unnatural, or suspicious. It is a fact-finding process, not a criminal trial. The coroner does not assign blame or determine guilt, but instead delivers an authoritative account of the events leading to the death, based on witness testimony, forensic reports, and other evidence. SUBHEAD: When is an inquest held? • Sudden, unnatural, or suspicious deaths – such as accidents, suspected suicides, unexplained falls, or possible homicides. • Deaths in custody or official care – including police lock-ups, prisons, immigration detention centres, or psychiatric facilities, to rule out misconduct or negligence. • Cases attracting public interest – where intense public debate or speculation has arisen, an inquest can help clarify facts and dispel misinformation. SUBHEAD: How does an inquest work? When a death meets the legal criteria, Malaysian law mandates an inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. A magistrate acting as coroner conducts open-court hearings to establish the cause, manner, and circumstances of death. Witnesses — from family members to medical experts — may be called to testify. Post-mortem and laboratory reports are examined, and families often engage lawyers to ensure their questions are addressed. At the conclusion, the coroner delivers a verdict such as death by natural causes, misadventure, suicide, homicide, or an "open verdict" if the cause remains unclear. In some cases, coroners also issue recommendations to prevent similar tragedies. SUBHEAD: Why does it matter in Zara's case? Criminal lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan had said that given the high level of public interest and the swirl of online allegations, an inquest is the most effective way to address concerns and uncover the truth. Even without clear signs of foul play, he said, the inquiry could explore whether factors such as bullying, negligence, or unsafe conditions contributed to Zara's death. The findings, while not directly resulting in criminal charges, may guide police and prosecutors in deciding whether further action is warranted — and will provide an official record for the family and public. SUBHEAD: Learning from past inquests: The Gunung Tahan case In June this year, courts began hearing the Gunung Tahan inquest into the 2022 death of hiker Raja Azlan Shah, affectionately known as Ian. What began as a trek through Malaysia's pristine wilderness ended in tragedy, raising questions about expedition safety and preparedness. During hearings, lawyers for other hikers objected to public commentary about the case, prompting the judge to caution all parties against making statements while proceedings were ongoing. At the heart of that inquest are issues of safety standards, accountability, and whether preventive measures could have saved Raja AzIan's life. In some cases, coroners' recommendations have led to reforms — offering hope that lessons learned might protect others in the future.
