Oman Audit Institution Seeks Strategic Collaboration With MACC
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Oman's State Audit Institution (SAI) has expressed its intention to establish a strategic partnership with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to strengthen international cooperation in combating corruption and enhancing governance.
In a statement, the MACC said that the matter was conveyed by SAI deputy chairman for Audit on Authorities, Investment and Companies, Zahra Mohamed Al Lawati, during a courtesy call on MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya today.
'SAI is an independent body that reports directly to the Sultan of Oman and is tasked with overseeing financial and administrative controls, including auditing, performance monitoring, investment management, and the oversight of financial violations,' it said, adding that the institution recorded a significant improvement in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, reflecting a positive outcome of its governance efforts.
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The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (June 19, 2025)
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Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Has Proposed To Set Up ASEAN Institute
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (right) and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir pose for a photo before attending the ASEAN Education Ministers' Roundtable (#EduRoundtables2025) and related events held here today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED LANGKAWI, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Institute to consolidate expertise across various fields among member countries in the region. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that this proposal was among the topics discussed during the ASEAN Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable here today. "Although certain countries have conducted studies at their respective university levels, there isn't a more comprehensive institute for all ASEAN member states," he said at a press conference after the roundtable here today. He added that Malaysia has offered to host this ASEAN Institute, given the country's expertise, including through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthermore, he noted that the roundtable also discussed student and academic mobility within the region, including exchange programs that would allow foreign lecturers to teach at educational institutions in Malaysia. "Additionally, we also agreed to establish a body to manage scholarship matters, namely ASEAN-GEMS. This platform will be utilized to seek financial resources among ASEAN member states to provide scholarships," he said. The ASEAN Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (AEAN GEMS) is a one-stop platform for information about regional scholarship and mobility programs throughout the ASEAN region that was launched tonight. This initiative will, among other things, provide access to opportunities and scholarship offers for all ASEAN students, while also supporting regional integration by encouraging youth mobility and cross-border academic exchanges. Zambry further mentioned that other matters discussed included proposals to establish networks and collaborative platforms among ASEAN higher education institutions, and to ensure that all discussion outcomes are elevated to the ASEAN Heads of State Meeting in October.


Malaysian Reserve
6 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Domestic tourism expenditure up 25.6% to RM106b in 2024
PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia's domestic tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2024, with total domestic visitor expenditure reaching RM106.7 billion, a 25.6 per cent increase from RM84.9 billion in 2023, according to the Malaysia Domestic Tourism Survey released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was driven by higher spending from tourists and day-trippers, registering growth rates of 20.6 per cent and 33.8 per cent, respectively. 'The number of domestic visitors rose by 21.7 per cent to 260.1 million in 2024, compared to 213.7 million the previous year. 'The increase in domestic travel activities was supported by seasonal factors in the first quarter, including Chinese New Year celebrations, Ramadan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri preparations and school holidays, which contributed to higher movement and tourism-related spending,' he said. In terms of transportation modes, 97.6 per cent of domestic visitors used land transport, while air travel accounted for only 2.1 per cent, he said. Mohd Uzir said as for accommodation preferences, 60.4 per cent of tourists stayed with relatives or friends. The proportion of tourists opting for paid accommodation increased, with hotels accounting for 21.7 per cent of overnight stays, while homestay usage rose from 6.7 per cent in 2023 to 8.6 per cent in 2024, he added. 'Visiting relatives and friends remained the primary purpose of domestic travel, contributing 34.6 per cent of total trips in 2024. In contrast, shopping-related trips declined to 27.6 per cent in 2024 from 32.6 per cent the previous year. 'However, shopping remained the largest expenditure category, accounting for 37.4 per cent of total domestic tourism spending, followed by food and beverages at 16.2 per cent and vehicle fuel purchases at 12.7 per cent,' he said. Mohd Uzir said Selangor was the most visited state, attracting 34.5 million domestic visitors, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 27 million and Perak with 21.8 million domestic visitors. 'Overall, Malaysia's domestic tourism sector in 2024 demonstrated robust and rapid growth, driven by an increase in visitor numbers, higher spending and evolving travel patterns. 'While visiting relatives remains dominant, growing interest in recreation-based tourism, programmes and experiences reflects a dynamic and diverse market,' he said. — BERNAMA