Kedah NGO praises PM's ceasefire success amid criticism
Association chairman Datuk Zuraidi Rahim criticised those mocking the effort, stating it undermines Malaysia's credibility as ASEAN Chair.
Zuraidi was responding to a social media post by PAS Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, which allegedly belittled the PM's mediation.
'This is a success all Malaysians should celebrate, not insult. Such remarks damage our diplomatic standing,' he said.
The post, which included a screenshot of a news report on the conflict, drew public backlash. Zuraidi revealed that 10 police reports had been lodged by him and seven PKR division chiefs in Kedah, urging authorities to investigate Ahmad Fadhli.
Padang Terap PKR division chief Mohd Tahar Hussin echoed the sentiment, demanding stern action.
'This involves security and humanity—it's no laughing matter,' he said. - Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
34 minutes ago
- The Star
Zafrul: 19% US tariff fair, ties intact
New pact protects national interests, preserves sovereignty KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia considers the newly imposed 19% tariff on its exports to the United States a fair and balanced outcome that safeguards national interests, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. While Malaysia had hoped for a lower rate, the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said the result of the negotiations does not compromise the nation's core policies or sovereignty. 'Among Asean countries, Malaysian goods remain competitive in the US market,' he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He emphasised that the United States is Malaysia's top export destination and a source of foreign direct investments, with nearly RM200bil in export value, making trade relations too important to be taken lightly. Tengku Zafrul cited the electrical and electronics sector, where about 100,000 jobs, particularly in Penang and Kedah, could be impacted by any adverse shift in US trade policy. He said both countries have agreed in principle to an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, covering six key areas: tariffs and quotas, non-tariff barriers, digital trade and technology, rules of origin, economic and national security, and commercial considerations. Malaysia has agreed to reduce or eliminate import duties on 98.4% of all tariff lines for US imports, he said. While excise duties remain untouched, Tengku Zafrul said sales tax exemptions will apply to certain US agricultural products like dairy and seafood. On digital trade, Malaysia agreed not to impose a discriminatory digital service tax on US companies, to drop the 6% Universal Service Fund contribution requirement for American cloud and social media firms, and to lift the directive requiring domain name system traffic routing through local servers. However, Malaysia rejected several US demands that could undermine sovereignty. 'Cloud service providers and social media platforms remain subject to Malaysian laws. We also retain the right to request source code transfers for use in critical infrastructure, government procurement and the financial sector,' said Tengku Zafrul. Malaysia, he added, also agreed to strengthen export controls under Section 12 of the Strategic Trade Act, addressing US concerns over the export and transit of AI chips to third countries. It also committed not to restrict exports of rare earth elements and critical minerals to the United States, though no exclusivity was granted over Malaysia's supply. Tengku Zafrul also dismissed claims that Malaysia Airlines' US$19bil (RM80.51bil) acquisition of Boeing aircraft was made under pressure from the United States, clarifying that it is part of a long-term fleet renewal plan by Malaysia Aviation Group. He said the purchase includes aircraft, engines, training, maintenance and long-term support, which would benefit Malaysia's aerospace and tourism sectors. Tengku Zafrul said that many Malaysian companies supply critical components to both Boeing and Airbus, contributing RM25.1bil annually and supporting 30,000 jobs nationwide. 'At the same time, our tourism sector has shown strong post-pandemic recovery. Boeing forecasts global passenger traffic to grow by 4.7% over the next 20 years. This investment enables Malaysia to tap into the growth potential of both tourism and aerospace industries,' he said. Tengku Zafrul reaffirmed that the government remains firm on key national interests, including SME participation in supply chains, bumiputra vendor empowerment, halal import standards, and protections for critical sectors. He also rejected allegations that Malaysia will automatically recognise halal certificates from US bodies. While both countries have agreed to facilitate the import of meat and poultry products from the United States, such imports must still comply with halal standards set by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department. Other key areas of agreement include streamlined registration for US dairy, meat and poultry exporters, regionalisation for disease control in poultry exports, and alignment of standards for industrial products like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and automotive goods with Malaysian regulations. Tengku Zafrul said both nations have also committed to strengthening enforcement in areas such as intellectual property rights, labour, environmental protection and sustainable fisheries management, based on Malaysia's obligations under relevant international organisations. 'I want to stress that Malaysia has not relaxed any controls or conditions that would compromise the rights of the people or the sustainability of local industries,' he said. 'There is no blanket exemption granted to import licensing or approved permits for products imported from the United States. 'There is also no full liberalisation of foreign equity ownership conditions in strategic sectors, and bumiputra equity requirements remain in place for all relevant sectors.'
The Star
34 minutes ago
- The Star
Cross-border insolvency issue tops Asean Law Forum
Legal commitment: Azalina (centre) states that the forum will see Asean law ministers commit to legal reforms. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of cross-border insolvency is set to be one of the main highlights at the Asean Law Forum (ALF) 2025, which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Aug 19 to 21, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said cross-border insolvency is considered a solution to business-related issues, leveraging alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, rather than relying solely on court proceedings. 'When Asean countries cooperate with each other, (whether involving) companies or governments, and encounter obstacles in certain matters, they can turn to international platforms for mediation or cross-border insolvency proceedings,' she told reporters at the ALF 2025 pre-launch ceremony at the Parliament building yesterday, Bernama reported. The forum, which will bring together international law experts and practitioners, is expected to address regional and international legal issues such as international mediation, online security, cybercrime, human rights in business, and reforms in criminal and commercial law. Azalina also said the forum will witness the adoption of a joint statement by Asean Ministers of Law on the Empowerment of International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation, symbolising Asean nations' commitment to legal reform. 'This further strengthens cooperation, reflecting Asean's core vision based on the rule of law for sustainable economic growth and regional integration,' she added. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the forum on Aug 21. Azalina said the forum marks a new chapter in the efforts of the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department to strengthen the nation's legal framework, in line with Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean this year.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
MoF: Targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol to be unveiled by end of September
KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry (MoF) said the detailed implementation plans for targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol will be announced by end of September, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement on July 23. In a written parliamentary reply, MoF said the government is actively developing and testing the subsidy targeting mechanism to ensure smooth execution upon rollout. "This includes refining data from agencies such as the National Registration Department, Road Transport Department and the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM)," it said. "The government aims to adopt a more comprehensive approach to ensure RON95 subsidies reach the intended target groups." MoF was responding to a question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), who asked for an update on the subsidy retargeting implementation, particularly the front-end and back-end phases announced by the Economy Ministry. According to MoF, once implemented, the retargeted subsidy mechanism will allow eligible Malaysians to enjoy RON95 at RM1.99 per litre through MyKad verification. Non-citizens and those ineligible for the subsidy will pay the unsubsidised market rate. Earlier, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, who has taken over the duties of the economy minister, said the first detailed application of the Central Database Hub (Padu) will be for implementing targeted subsidies for RON95 recipients, pending its full rollout.
