logo
1st Chinese M'sian lieutenant general: 'No greater honour than serving nation'

1st Chinese M'sian lieutenant general: 'No greater honour than serving nation'

Malaysiakini11 hours ago
The first ethnic Chinese lieutenant general in the 92-year history of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Johnny Lim, has shared that his greatest source of pride is serving the nation for more than four decades, rather than the accolades he received abroad.
"I am prouder to have served the country for 41 years than to have received various international awards," he said.
Among the awards were best student at the Australian Army Command and Staff College and honorary citizenship from South Korea for his contributions to its relationship with Malaysia.
Sharing his views in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, Lim stressed that defending the country is not the responsibility of any one race, but a...
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

China accuses Philippine vessels of 'dangerous manoeuvres' after its own ships collided
China accuses Philippine vessels of 'dangerous manoeuvres' after its own ships collided

The Star

time35 minutes ago

  • The Star

China accuses Philippine vessels of 'dangerous manoeuvres' after its own ships collided

BEIJING (Reuters): China's defence ministry accused Philippine Coast Guard vessels on Friday of "dangerous manoeuvres" in response to reports of a collision earlier this week between two Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine vessels' actions "seriously endangered the safety of Chinese vessels and personnel," ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin. Jiang neither confirmed nor denied that there had been a collision involving two Chinese vessels on Monday. "We demand that the Philippine side immediately stop its infringing and provocative rhetoric and actions," Jiang said. "China reserves the right to take necessary countermeasures." The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in what is a strategic conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. Footage from the Philippine Coast Guard showed a Chinese coastguard ship trailing the PCG vessel before a Chinese navy ship suddenly cut across the path of the other Chinese ship, colliding with it and damaging the forecastle of the coastguard vessel. It was the first known crash between Chinese vessels in the area. The Philippines on Friday said it bore no responsibility for the collision. "It was an unfortunate outcome, but not one caused by our actions," Manila's foreign minister Theresa Lazaro said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed three vessels on Monday to deliver supplies for Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal before the collision took place, Manila said on Tuesday. The confrontation was the latest in a series of incidents amid a period of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal voided Beijing's sweeping claims in the region, saying they had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. -- (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Alex Richardson) Reuters

ATM Service Scheme Upgrades To Attract More Diploma Holders
ATM Service Scheme Upgrades To Attract More Diploma Holders

Barnama

timean hour ago

  • Barnama

ATM Service Scheme Upgrades To Attract More Diploma Holders

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Improvements to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) service scheme are set to attract more diploma holders by offering higher starting salaries and enhancing the overall quality of its personnel. Chief of Defence Force, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, said the Public Service Department (JPA) will detail the new entry qualifications and starting salary adjustments in an official implementation letter, which will take effect from Jan 1, 2026. 'Out of the 21 proposed entry qualifications, seven have been approved. We are grateful to the Prime Minister for the MADANI government's commitment to enhancing the quality of public service,' Mohd Nizam told Bernama today. During the 20th edition of the Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA XX), the Prime Minister also announced the expansion of the entry qualifications for enlisted members of the armed forces at Grade Z1 (special duties) to include the Medical Corps, Religious Corps, and Engineering Corps. The Performance-Based Incentives (BIP) will be extended to other ranks, namely Sergeant Equivalent (Grade Z4) and Staff Sergeant Equivalent (Grade Z5), while the qualifying period for BIP has been reduced from six years to four years, benefiting 3,789 personnel with an estimated financial implication of RM6.47 million annually. On the BIP, Mohd Nizam said the incentive will be given as a monthly allowance, equivalent to one Annual Salary Increment (KGT) for the rank held. 'This extension benefits ATM personnel by considering the shorter service period (21 years) and limited promotion opportunities,' he said. Furthermore, Mohd Nizam highlighted that three proposed improvements to the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) for ATM remain under review. These include the reclassification of ATM grades and the alignment of Jusa C grades for Brigadier General-equivalent ranks based on length of service. 'The review also involves strengthening the criteria for allowance grants, revising eligibility conditions, and extending career development initiatives for ATM personnel,' he added.

Foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand hold informal meeting in Kunming
Foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand hold informal meeting in Kunming

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand hold informal meeting in Kunming

KUNMING (Xinhua): The foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand held an informal meeting in Anning, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Friday, with all sides pledging to help maintain Myanmar's stability and jointly combat cross-border crimes. Since the first quadrilateral meeting last year, the situation in Myanmar has generally stabilized, and efforts are underway to advance post-earthquake reconstruction and safeguard its sovereignty, independence and national stability, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He called for adhering to a "Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned" approach, supporting the choices of the Myanmar people, and resolving differences through dialogue. Wang stressed the importance of mediation by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and assistance from neighboring countries, with ASEAN serving as the main channel, while also giving full play to mechanisms like the Informal Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Myanmar Neighboring Countries' Foreign Ministers' Meeting. He also urged prioritizing people's livelihoods and development, supporting Myanmar in improving people's well-being and post-quake reconstruction, and promoting cooperation in various fields for people's benefits, while warning against external forces that could undermine regional stability. Myanmar's Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe expressed gratitude for the support from China, Laos and Thailand in addressing challenges and reiterated Myanmar's commitment to advancing domestic peace and reconciliation process through political dialogue. He said Myanmar is actively preparing for transparent elections by year-end to return power to the people. Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane expressed his country's support for a "Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned" political process and elections to achieve peace, stability and national reconciliation. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Thailand is willing to work with other ASEAN countries to provide support and assistance for Myanmar to hold elections on the basis of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. The four foreign ministers also exchanged views on joint efforts to combat cross-border crime. Wang emphasized that combating such crimes is related to people's well-being, represents a common concern of the four countries, and requires coordinated action. He called for strengthening institutional building, strengthening joint operations and border control, strengthening capacity building and judicial coordination, and strengthening transformative development and social governance. All parties agreed to deepen law enforcement cooperation, intensify efforts against cross-border crimes such as online gambling, telecom fraud, drug and arms trafficking and human trafficking, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. - Xinhua

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store