Malaysia Says AIPA Will Drive ASEAN's Peace And Development Agenda
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor says AIPA's role in ASEAN is indispensable. (Photo Credit National Assembly of Cambodia)
By Vijian Paramasivam
PHNOM PENH, July 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia said that the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus will be pivotal in driving the region's peace and stability, with lawmakers at the forefront.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor, who attended the 16th AIPA Caucus in Phnom Penh, said the body will remain an integral part of the 10-member grouping that sets the regional agenda for trade, security, and community building.
bootstrap slideshow
'In the framework of ASEAN, AIPA will remain an important mechanism because each country's parliament will decide on laws, policies and way forward and this will have an impact on ASEAN.
"This caucus includes discussions, methods and resolutions that can be accepted by the entire ASEAN community.
'We recognise that dialogue is important to avoid conflicts with neighbours, within ASEAN or outside ASEAN,' Ramli told Bernama on the margins of the meeting that ended on Wednesday (July 16).
The regional parliamentary body, established in 1977, held the meeting under the theme 'Peace Through Dialogue: The Parliamentary Path Forward.'
AIPA leaders from the regional bloc were in attendance at the caucus that commenced on Monday in Cambodia's capital, except for Myanmar and Timor-Leste (which is set to be admitted as the 11th member at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October).
'Malaysia continues to show a strong political commitment in strengthening ASEAN connectivity as well as regional peace, in line with the active role played at the global level.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Fisheries Act 1985 amendments to increase fines, protect marine habitats
KUALA LUMPUR: The Fisheries Act 1985 is set for amendments to strengthen enforcement, increase penalties, and safeguard marine ecosystems. The proposed changes, expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, aim to align Malaysia's regulations with regional standards while addressing habitat destruction and food safety concerns. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, highlighted that the amendments will introduce stricter controls on harmful fishing practices, such as the use of dragon nets, which damage fish spawning grounds. 'This act is mostly to strengthen existing enforcement including tighter surveillance of waters. Many new policies are being advocated by stakeholders for amendment,' he said. The revised act will also impose higher fines for violations, bringing Malaysia's penalties in line with those of neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Thailand. 'The existing fines are also lower when compared to Indonesia and Thailand. Therefore, this amendment will coordinate and strengthen the enforcement aspect,' Mohamad added. Additional measures include a ban on fishing in polluted waters and mandatory inspections of catches to ensure food safety. The amendments will also reinforce protections for endangered species, such as turtles, by prohibiting their sale. 'This will be detailed in the amendment to the act to ensure that the species does not become extinct,' he said. The draft amendments were finalised after consultations with industry stakeholders and elected representatives. The first reading is scheduled for the upcoming parliamentary session, with the second reading expected in August. - Bernama
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Barnama
Fisheries Act 1985 Amendments To Focus On Increasing Fine, Protecting Marine Habitat
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- The amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317) which are expected to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat sitting starting July 21 will focus on strengthening existing regulations, including increasing fines for violations of fisheries regulations. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the amendments, among others, involve efforts to strengthen protection for marine parks and impose stricter controls on the use of fishing gear such as dragon nets which can destroy habitats and fish spawning sites. "This act is mostly to strengthen existing enforcement including tighter survelliance of waters. Many new policies are being advocated by stakeholders for amendment. "The existing fines are also lower when compared to Indonesia and Thailand. Therefore, this amendment will coordinate and strengthen the enforcement aspect," he said at a press conference after officiating the 40th Annual General Meeting of the National Fishermen's Association (NEKMAT) here, today. He said the amendment also involves a ban on fishing and preliminary inspection of fish caught in polluted waters to ensure food safety. "The same goes for the ban on the sale of turtles. This will be detailed in the amendment to the act to ensure that the species does not become extinct," he said. According to Mohamad, the draft amendment was completed as a result of discussions with all stakeholders including elected representatives and players in the fishing industry. He said the first reading of the amendment to the act would be done at this sitting, while the second reading is expected to take place in August. -- BERNAMA
Malay Mail
18 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Youth Parliament revamp to introduce electoral system, online voting by 2026, says Speaker
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — The policy and system reforms in the Malaysian Youth Parliament (PBMy) which will be implemented starting next year will spark a new wave of young leadership who are more prepared, competent and inclusive in leading the country's future, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul. He said PBMy is not just a training ground, but rather a strategic platform to instil leadership values among the youth who would become the next generation to lead the country's government. 'If today we give them space at the age of 18, 10 years from now they will enter the Dewan (Dewan Rakyat) with full experience and knowledge. At the age of 28, they are no longer observers but mature leaders,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview. Johari said that among the biggest reforms to be introduced in the PBMy is the implementation of an electoral system based on Proportional Representation and Closed Party List, which sees youth voters aged 18 to 30 years old choosing PBMy members based on their manifestos and not individual candidates. He said that the entire PBMy election process is fully managed by the Malaysian Parliament which will offer seven parties to universities nationwide to be represented, with each party competing for 222 seats, in line with the number of Dewan Rakyat members. 'These parties will compete against each other based on manifestos. Youth voters will no longer choose individuals, but instead make choices based on the creativity and policy offerings of each party. They will compete to appear more inclusive and progressive,' he said. Johari said the PBMy elections are expected to be held entirely online starting next year, allowing voters to make choices according to their home states without the constraints of physical location, with the first group expected to convene in June 2026. He said the PBMy sitting would be held three times a year, with members debating major issues such as education, health and youth development and the resolutions agreed upon would be channelled to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee before being selected to be discussed as the country's official agenda in the Dewan Rakyat. According to Johari, the initiative is seen as a long-term investment to ensure the continuity of quality and responsible national leadership. 'We don't want to be a candle that burns and then goes out. We want to be a solar system, always burning, illuminating and enlivening the next generation. 'I believe that PBMy is a game-changer in shaping the next generation of leaders who are more credible, principled and resilient,' he said. He said the PBMy implementation guidebook is being actively disseminated through a series of workshops involving various stakeholders, including academic experts, youth representatives and policymakers, as a step to strengthen the structure and direction of the programme. — Bernama
