East Asia Summit to table key declarations in October
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the initiative reflected a collective commitment to deepen cooperation among EAS member countries.
"This aligns with the call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the region's unity must go beyond mere declarations and be demonstrated through concrete action and firm resolve," he told reporters following the summit, held in conjunction with the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
Mohamad said the EAS, established in 2005 in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis, now marks its 20th anniversary with a renewed push to revitalise its mission.
"We have agreed to bring forward several declarations for consideration and approval this October to further enhance the EAS platform.
"The formation of the EAS, in tandem with Asean, was a deliberate initiative to forge closer ties among nations and foster consensus-based cooperation," he said.
On Wednesday, Anwar said Asean must face intensifying external pressures and global geopolitical rivalries — including retaliatory tariffs from the United States — with clarity, cohesion, and determination.
The prime minister stressed that regional unity must be embodied not just in statements but through resolute and tangible action.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
11 minutes ago
- Daily Express
13MP plans align with Halatuju SMJ: Hajiji
Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 01, 2025 Text Size: 'It also clearly reflects federal support to Sabah under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,' said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Kota Kinabalu: The State Government welcomes development programmes and fundings for Sabah under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which is strongly aligned with the State's development blueprint, the Halatuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ). 'It also clearly reflects federal support to Sabah under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,' said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He was glad to note that several high-impact projects proposed by the State Government had been included in the 13MP. Among the proposed development projects were the expansion of critical utilities (water, sewerage, transmission), strategic infrastructure (roads, flood mitigation, health) and Blue Economy Hub. Under the 13MP, the Federal Government will also prioritise the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan road network which augered well with the shifting of Indonesia's capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, he said. The others were intensive poverty alleviation strategies and support for digital transformation and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) resilience. 'The present State Government has set up a plan to ensure Sabah will continue to progress,' he said. * 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
The Star
34 minutes ago
- The Star
One million affordable homes to be developed by 2035
KUALA LUMPUR: One million affordable housing units will be developed between 2026 and 2035, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the initiative will involve collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and private developers. 'This is to ensure that more Malaysians can live in safe and comfortable homes,' he said when tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He cited various initiatives including the Residensi Madani Programme, Public Servants Housing Programme, New Home Construction Assistance Programme, Affordable Housing Programme and Rumah Bakat Madani. Anwar emphasised the government's continued commitment to providing quality, affordable and inclusive housing. 'As of 2025, 180,000 housing units have been completed, and another 235,000 are currently under construction,' he said. However, he acknowledged that there was a mismatch between supply and demand as well as house prices that remain misaligned with income levels. Anwar added that these matters remain key issues that must be addressed. To this end, he said the government will expand initiatives such as the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Rent-to-Own Scheme, particularly to benefit more low- and middle-income groups seeking home ownership. 'The transition to technologies such as the Industrialised Building System and Building Integrated Management will accelerate implementation and reduce construction costs, including for public housing,' Anwar added. He also announced plans to replicate the Kota Madani initiative in Putrajaya – developed in partnership with Putrajaya Holdings – as a model for affordable housing that embodies the concept of 'umran hadhari', which refers to urban prosperity rooted in values, ethics and sustainable development. 'This concept not only allows the people to own a home, but also to experience life in a city that combines progress with values, modernity with morals, and technology with humanity,' Anwar said.
New Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Govt to spend RM20b on flood-mitigation projects under 13MP
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will allocate RM20 billion for flood-mitigation projects over five years under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday when tabling the plan. He said disaster risk management plans would be incorporated into state structure plans and local plans. According to the 13MP, five targets have been set to strengthen flood mitigation and adaptation: Featured Videos EXPANDING flood-protected areas; CONSTRUCTING new retention ponds; COMPLETING priority flood projects; INITIATING integrated river basin developments; and, ENHANCING community-based disaster preparedness. Anwar said: "The government cannot stop rain from falling, but we can strengthen infrastructure and preparedness to reduce disaster risks and minimise the loss of lives and property. "We can no longer wait until disasters occur before acting, because prevention and preparedness are far more effective and less costly than post-disaster recovery." The plan places climate change adaptation as a national priority, with commitments to build climate-resilient cities, strengthen water resource management, and introduce climate risk assessments in all new developments. "Malaysia cannot ignore the reality of climate change — floods, landslides and rising sea levels are no longer distant threats, but challenges we face today. "This government is committed to climate action that protects lives, secures livelihoods and ensures that no community is left behind in facing future risks." He said disaster management would also be supported by better coordination between federal and state agencies, as well as the use of data and technology to improve early warning systems. "Stronger institutions, clearer responsibilities and the use of artificial intelligence-based forecasting models will enable faster responses and save lives. "Our goal is to build a Malaysia that is resilient, sustainable and prepared to face any crisis with confidence and unity."
