
MCA says Zahid missed the point, wants clarity on Madani ties
MCA is dissatisfied with a statement by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and remains unsure if the coalition will cooperate with the Madani government in the 16th general election (GE16).
MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng said Zahid's statement that BN will contest under its own banner did not provide a clear direction for the national polls.
'What BN grassroots and member parties are most concerned about now is...

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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
HIMP2030 first phase achieves 89.7% implementation, contributes RM149 bln to GDP — Ahmad Zahid
PUTRAJAYA: The first phase of the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP2030), covering the period from 2023 to 2025, has recorded encouraging achievements with an implementation rate of 89.7 per cent, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH) chairman, said that during this period, the halal industry contributed RM149 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while halal exports reached RM61.8 billion. 'This achievement is a clear indication that our halal industry development direction is on the right track and is gaining increasing confidence not only domestically, but also in international markets,' he said in a statement after chairing the MPIH Meeting No. 1/2025 here today. The meeting, attended by representatives from 15 federal ministries and state governments, served as a key platform to coordinate policies and strategic actions aimed at strengthening Malaysia's position as a global leader in the halal industry. Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia continues to strengthen the halal ecosystem through the expansion of Halal Parks, which now total 14 strategic halal parks spanning 200,000 acres nationwide. As of the first quarter of 2025, these parks have recorded a cumulative investment of RM3.8 billion. 'This proves that the competitiveness of our halal ecosystem continues to be a key attraction in the regional investment landscape,' he said. Following this, Ahmad Zahid urged all state governments to submit specific intervention plans to enhance their respective halal parks, especially those still facing low industry participation rates. In line with the government's aspiration to boost investment value and stimulate employment in the halal sector, he said MPIH has introduced a new framework for HALMAS (Halal Malaysia)-certified Halal Industrial Parks, which is more dynamic and aligned with the National Investment Aspirations. Under this framework, Malaysia is targeting RM25 billion in cumulative halal sector investment by 2030, supported by infrastructure development initiatives, improved governance and the strengthening of more competitive investment incentives. 'The government is also reviewing the formulation of a Bill of Guarantees, offering investor-friendly incentives, integrating HALMAS services into the Malaysian Investment Development Authority's Digital One-Stop Portal, and introducing the HALMAS Mark of Excellence as a symbol of global quality and standards,' he said. Today's meeting also saw the launch of the Women in Halal Industry initiative, a joint effort aimed at empowering women's roles in the national halal ecosystem and recognising their contributions across various stages of the industry value chain. Led by Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, in collaboration with Halal Development Corporation Bhd, the initiative is expected to provide greater opportunities for women to shine in the sector.

Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
HIMP2030 First Phase Achieves 89.7 Pct Implementation, Contributes RM149 Bln To GDP — Ahmad Zahid
PUTRAJAYA, June 16 (Bernama) -- The first phase of the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP2030), covering the period from 2023 to 2025, has recorded encouraging achievements with an implementation rate of 89.7 per cent, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH) chairman, said that during this period, the halal industry contributed RM149 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while halal exports reached RM61.8 billion. "This achievement is a clear indication that our halal industry development direction is on the right track and is gaining increasing confidence not only domestically, but also in international markets,' he said in a statement after chairing the MPIH Meeting No. 1/2025 here today. The meeting, attended by representatives from 15 federal ministries and state governments, served as a key platform to coordinate policies and strategic actions aimed at strengthening Malaysia's position as a global leader in the halal industry. Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia continues to strengthen the halal ecosystem through the expansion of Halal Parks, which now total 14 strategic halal parks spanning 200,000 acres nationwide. As of the first quarter of 2025, these parks have recorded a cumulative investment of RM3.8 billion. 'This proves that the competitiveness of our halal ecosystem continues to be a key attraction in the regional investment landscape,' he said. Following this, Ahmad Zahid urged all state governments to submit specific intervention plans to enhance their respective halal parks, especially those still facing low industry participation rates. In line with the government's aspiration to boost investment value and stimulate employment in the halal sector, he said MPIH has introduced a new framework for HALMAS (Halal Malaysia)-certified Halal Industrial Parks, which is more dynamic and aligned with the National Investment Aspirations. Under this framework, Malaysia is targeting RM25 billion in cumulative halal sector investment by 2030, supported by infrastructure development initiatives, improved governance and the strengthening of more competitive investment incentives. 'The government is also reviewing the formulation of a Bill of Guarantees, offering investor-friendly incentives, integrating HALMAS services into the Malaysian Investment Development Authority's Digital One-Stop Portal, and introducing the HALMAS Mark of Excellence as a symbol of global quality and standards,' he said. Today's meeting also saw the launch of the Women in Halal Industry initiative, a joint effort aimed at empowering women's roles in the national halal ecosystem and recognising their contributions across various stages of the industry value chain. Led by Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, in collaboration with Halal Development Corporation Bhd, the initiative is expected to provide greater opportunities for women to shine in the sector. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial , @bernamatv , @bernamaradio Twitter : @ , @BernamaTV , @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial , @bernamatvofficial , @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Zahid needs to clarify Barisan's election strategy, says MCA veep
PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must clarify whether the coalition will collaborate with the unity government or partner with Pakatan Harapan in the next general election, says MCA vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng. Tan said that component parties require leadership and clear direction on this unresolved issue. On Sunday (June 15), Ahmad Zahid stated that Barisan component parties - including MCA and MIC - would continue to have opportunities to contest in the 16th General Election (GE16). However, Tan said that his party's leadership has yet to start detailed seat discussions with other Barisan parties. Tan also highlighted that Zahid's statement about Barisan contesting under its own banner lacks clear direction for the national polls. "While Ahmad Zahid recently suggested that MCA would have a chance to contest in the upcoming election, it needs clarification because the MCA leadership has not had detailed discussions with other Barisan component parties about seat distribution," he said. "As MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon rightly noted, MCA has given Barisan over two years since the conclusion of the 15th General Election to recalibrate and set a strategic path forward. "To date, no decisive plan has been presented to the component parties," Tan added in a statement on Monday (June 16). He urged that, in the spirit of genuine partnership and unity within Barisan, MCA calls on the Barisan chairman to start a proper consultation process involving all component parties. "Seat negotiations and electoral strategy should not be determined or announced unilaterally. These decisions should reflect the collective will and consensus of the Barisan coalition. "The credibility of Barisan moving forward depends on its ability to operate with transparency, inclusiveness, and a shared purpose. To regain the confidence of the people, we must respect coalition leadership principles, which have held us together through decades of service to the nation," he added. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid emphasised the importance of remembering the contributions and sacrifices of MCA and MIC, particularly during Umno's split in 1987. He stated it would be inappropriate for Barisan to abandon these parties when they are currently facing challenges.