Asean travel meet as yearly event mooted
Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: Liew (4th right) with other guests and the organisers at the welcome dinner. From left: Dr Maklarin, Julinus, Wong, Lai, Eddy, Tan, Noredah, and Captain Fareh. Kota Kinabalu: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew suggests that the inaugural Asean Travel Exchange 2025 (ATEX 2025) be made an annual event. She raised the subject to the applause of 500 delegates from 15 countries at the welcome dinner hosted by her at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru (Star) on Thursday. 'An event of this nature is conducive to promoting travel and cultural exchanges, making new connections, building rapport and strengthening existing ties among Asean member countries,' Liew said, while urging the President of the Federation of Asean Travel Associations (FATA), Datuk Tan Kok Liang, who was present, to look into her suggestion. For tourism growth, the Minister, who was the guest of honour, also proposed reciprocal visits among the 10 member countries, saying ASEAN tourism must seize new opportunities and create new adventures. Speaking to the delegates, Liew said: 'If it's your first time in Sabah, I encourage you to explore beyond the venue. From the iconic Mount Kinabalu, a symbol of strength and unity, to vibrant markets and islands full of life, Sabah welcomes you with more than just beauty; it offers unforgettable experiences. 'As Malaysia is the Chairman of Asean this year, ATEX 2025 serves as a reminder that our greatest strength lies in the unity of its people and purpose. It invites us to celebrate the bonds of friendship and shared purpose that bring us together.
Advertisement 'As the inaugural dinner of the Asean Travel Exchange, tonight also marks the beginning of a new tradition of unity through tourism.' The participating countries were Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan and South Korea. ATEX 2025 was jointly organised by Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta), Federation of AseanTravel Associations (FATA) and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Sabah Convention Bureau (SCB) and Tourism Malaysia. Strategic partners included AirAsia and Jetama Water. Among the guests were Permanent Secretary to KePKAS Datuk Josie Lai, Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking, President of ASEANTA Eddy Krismeidi, President of MATTA Nigel Wong, and CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra. Also present were Chairman of Sri Pelancongan Sabah, Ken Pan, Director of Sabah Parks Dr Maklarin Lajim, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, CEO of STB Julinus Jeffery Jimit, and CEO of SCB Noredah Othman. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
23 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Plan to safeguard digital transformation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy 2026-2030 and Data Commission will safeguard national digital transformation through a comprehensive national ecosystem, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He said these measures were aimed at strengthening data protection and governance, enhancing cyber resilience and upholding the integrity of Malaysia's digital ecosystem. The strategy sets a long-term roadmap for building resilience against emerging threats, advancing data integrity and strengthening public confidence in the country's digital future. "Complementing this, the Data Commission will function as an independent oversight body, tasked with safeguarding and ensuring robust data governance while promoting ethical artificial intelligence (AI) practices. "Its frameworks will be designed for interoperability across Asean, enabling Malaysia to contribute meaningfully to a region-wide trust architecture," he said at the opening of Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 here yesterday. Gobind said Malaysia's proactive, future-oriented approach aimed to tackle current challenges while leading in setting regional and global standards for trustworthy AI and digital systems. "Our efforts to build trust — through the forthcoming Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy and the establishment of the Data Commission — are designed to complement and strengthen Asean's collective frameworks." He said these domestic initiatives would serve as building blocks for a wider Asean trust architecture capable of protecting data, ensuring AI safety and fostering public confidence across borders, especially in the agentic age of AI. Gobind said Malaysia was contributing to a region-wide trust architecture by aligning with Asean initiatives such as the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, the Asean AI Safety Network and the Asean Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030. He said this would enable AI to operate safely across jurisdictions, ensure consistent data governance and extend public confidence beyond national borders. He urged Asean state members to work together to close the AI gap and build regional trust so no community is left behind.
Daily Express
8 hours ago
- Daily Express
Nippon Paint tycoon and Singapore's wealthiest man Goh Cheng Liang passes at 98
Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: Goh Cheng Liang, who held a majority stake in Japan's Nippon Paint Holdings, had an estimated net worth of US$13 billion, according to Forbes. SINGAPORE: Goh Cheng Liang, founder of Wuthelam Group and Singapore's richest person, died today at the age of 98, his family said, according to a report published in The Straits Times today. According to Forbes' 2025 ranking of the world's billionaires, Goh topped the list for Singapore with an estimated net worth of US$13 billion (RM55 billion). Advertisement He held a majority stake in Japan's Nippon Paint Holdings, which he helped build into a global coatings powerhouse. Born in 1927, he grew up in a rented shophouse room in River Valley and was sent to Johor during World War II, where he helped sell fishing nets. In 1949, he bought surplus paint from a British army auction and began making his own Pigeon Brand paints using a Chinese dictionary to decipher chemical names. His business boomed during the Korean War when imports were restricted. He later became Nippon Paint's distributor in Singapore and founded Wuthelam Holdings in 1974, building it into a multinational company with nearly 60 per cent of Nippon Paint. Goh's other ventures included developing and later selling the former Liang Court mall and Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Known for avoiding publicity, he told The Business Times in 1997 that he preferred private companies to public ones. Through the Goh Foundation, he funded cancer research, treatment facilities and scholarships, and supported welfare agencies in Singapore as well as roads, schools and sanitation systems in Chaozhou, China. A cancer survivor himself, he also backed the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Asean urban growth must balance prosperity with equity
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean must ensure that the prosperity generated by rapid urbanisation is shared equitably among all communities and not achieved at the expense of the vulnerable, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He said urban areas in Asean are already home to over 370 million people, contributing 70 per cent of the region's gross domestic product (GDP) and powering a US$3.8 trillion economy in 2024 and by 2050, seven in 10 Asean citizens are projected to live in cities, making urban centres critical drivers of regional growth. "However, prosperity is not evenly shared. "We still see gleaming skyscrapers casting shadows over informal settlements, and infrastructure stretched beyond capacity. "As Asean moves towards becoming the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, we must ensure urbanisation delivers not only growth, but fairness and opportunity for all," he said in his keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF), Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) here today. Also present were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Asean Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs Nararya Sanggramawijaya Soeprapto. Fadillah who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said as Asean Chair, Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to deepening regional cooperation, advancing economic integration, and safeguarding peace and stability in Southeast Asia for the region's communities. He said that urbanisation must serve as a unifying force, urging urgent solutions to challenges such as housing shortages, mobility bottlenecks and climate risks, including recurring floods, choking smog and sinking streets. "Inclusivity means no one is left behind. "Women, youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities must all have a voice in shaping our future cities," he said adding that accessible transport, affordable housing and digital connectivity for rural migrants are essential. On sustainability, Fadillah said it was "not optional" but essential for survival, noting threats such as rising sea levels in Vietnam's Mekong Delta and intensifying heatwaves across the region. Praising proven Asean innovations in finding climate crisis solutions, Fadillah said Singapore's green building standards and Indonesia's renewable energy transition to Bandung's digital governance and Brunei's smart water management are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and respecting Asean's diversity. Fadillah also stressed the role of mayors and local governments as "frontline architects" of Asean's transformation, urging that they be central to regional decision-making and equipped with advanced tools such as AI-powered urban planning, systematic knowledge-sharing and stronger cross-border networks. "Your leadership will determine whether our cities become models of equity and environmental harmony, or cautionary tales of unchecked growth. "Let us seize this moment to build partnerships, inspire bold policies and create a legacy of thriving, liveable communities for generations to come," he said. The three-day forum starts today with the theme "Asean Future Cities and Regions: Inclusivity and Sustainability", aligns with the Asean Community Vision 2045 and brings together the Asean Smart Cities Network and Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy. - Bernama
