logo
[UPDATED] Anwar: Too early to decide on Nick Adams as US envoy

[UPDATED] Anwar: Too early to decide on Nick Adams as US envoy

PUTRAJAYA: The government will give due consideration to the proposed appointment of conservative commentator and author Nick Adams as the new United States ambassador to Malaysia, but said it is still too early to make a decision.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would continue to adhere to proper diplomatic procedures while maintaining strong bilateral ties with the United States.
"It is still too early to decide, but the government will consider the matter accordingly while safeguarding good relations between Malaysia and the US," he said.
On July 11, US President Donald Trump announced that Adams would be nominated as the next American ambassador to Malaysia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Adams as a "remarkable patriot" and successful entrepreneur, praising his dedication to what he called "the Virtues of American Greatness".
Adams, an Australian-born conservative figure, is a vocal supporter of Trump and is known for his pro-American advocacy. He has authored several books and made numerous media appearances promoting right-wing values. His nomination is expected to undergo the Senate confirmation process before it can be formalised.
Following the announcement, government spokesman and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil reaffirmed Malaysia's sovereign right to accept or reject any proposed foreign ambassador, in accordance with established international diplomatic protocols.
He said any nomination must go through the agrément process, the formal procedure by which a host country grants approval before an ambassador can be officially appointed.
Fahmi added that the Cabinet has yet to receive an official memorandum from Wisma Putra regarding Adams' nomination, and that the matter will be considered once it is formally presented.
His remarks came amid growing public concern in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, over Adams' reported views on Islam and his strong support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza, among other sensitive issues.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Climate issues and gender in focus for World Bank in aid-reliant Pacific Islands
Climate issues and gender in focus for World Bank in aid-reliant Pacific Islands

The Star

time8 minutes ago

  • The Star

Climate issues and gender in focus for World Bank in aid-reliant Pacific Islands

THE PACIFIC (Reuters): The World Bank has maintained its focus on climate change and gender equality issues in the Pacific, managing director of operations Anna Bjerde said on a visit to Australia, even as its largest shareholder the United States reduces aid in those areas. After meeting Pacific Islands economic ministers in Fiji, Bjerde said countries in the region continued to worry about being exposed to the accelerating effects of climate change, and had grave concerns about food security and rising debt levels. Six Pacific Island countries are at high risk of debt distress, the bank says. The World Bank is moving a regional vice president from Washington to Singapore, and will move directors from Australia to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, to be closer to a $3.4 billion Pacific aid programme that has grown seven-fold in 10-15 years, she said in an interview on Monday. "We are committed to designing projects that really take into account the vulnerabilities of countries we work in. In this part of the world, countries are vulnerable to the impact of climate change," she said. "We haven't really changed our language around that," she added. Pacific road projects designed to be flood-resilient provide better infrastructure that can withstand the changing climate and also be counted in climate finance programmes, Bjerde said. The World Bank was focussed on boosting women's workforce participation to help lift the region's economic growth, she said, after meeting women leaders in Fiji who highlighted the need for childcare so women can work. On Monday, Bjerde also met officials from the Australian government, the largest bilateral donor to the region. Under reforms introduced last year by its president Ajay Banga, the World Bank has started to roll out region-wide programmes to have a bigger impact among Pacific countries with small populations. Eight countries have joined an arrangement that stops small island states being cut off from the international financial system, while a health programme targeting non-communicable disease will potentially reach 2 million people across the Pacific Ocean and train 16,000 health workers. A trade programme is also being designed to give access to goods faster and more cheaply, she said. Banga will attend the region's annual leaders' meeting, the Pacific Islands Forum, for the first time in September. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry and David Holmes) -- Reuters

Cyberattack disrupts Aeroflot flights in Russia
Cyberattack disrupts Aeroflot flights in Russia

The Sun

time8 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Cyberattack disrupts Aeroflot flights in Russia

MOSCOW: A cyberattack on Russia's national airline Aeroflot disrupted 42 flights on Monday, marking the first major aviation IT breach since the Ukraine conflict began. Officials confirmed the incident, with Ukrainian hacking group 'Silent Crow' and Belarusian 'Cyber Partisans' claiming responsibility in a joint statement. Russia's state prosecutor's office launched a criminal investigation after flight cancellations at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, Aeroflot's main hub. 'The cause was a failure in Aeroflot's IT system due to a hacking attack,' authorities stated. The hackers claimed to have compromised 7,000 of the airline's servers and threatened to release passenger data. 'We announce the successful completion of a long-term and large-scale operation that resulted in the complete compromise and destruction of the internal IT infrastructure of Aeroflot,' the groups said. Aeroflot assured passengers it was 'working to restore normal operation as quickly as possible.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the incident alarming, stating, 'We will, of course, clarify the information and wait for an appropriate explanation.' Cyberwarfare accusations have escalated between Russia and Ukraine, with Europol recently dismantling a pro-Russian hacking group accused of targeting Ukraine and its allies. – AFP

Pakistan cutting death penalty crimes sparks call for total abolition
Pakistan cutting death penalty crimes sparks call for total abolition

Herald Malaysia

time38 minutes ago

  • Herald Malaysia

Pakistan cutting death penalty crimes sparks call for total abolition

Removing two crimes from list linked to keeping special EU trade benefits, observers say Jul 28, 2025 Activists from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) carry placards during a demonstration to mark International Day Against the Death Penalty in Islamabad in this Oct 10, 2015 file photo. (Photo: AFP) By Kamran Chaudhry A decision by Pakistan's Senate to back the abolition of the death penalty for two crimes has sparked calls by Christian activists to end capital punishment for other offenses, including call came after the Senate on July 18 approved the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, which stipulated replacing the death penalty with life sentences and fines for assault and public spoliation of a woman; and aiding the hijacking of an airplane or other public punishes 31 offenses with death sentences including crimes against the state and high treason; military offenses such as mutiny and misconduct in combat; violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, and gang rape; kidnapping for ransom; terrorism, sabotage, and say the move to revoke death penalty for two crimes is linked to Pakistan's retention of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) from the European Union (EU).The GSP+ is a special trade status granted by the European Union that offers tariff-free access to EU markets in exchange for implementing international human rights and labor rights conventions. Cecil Chaudhry, a South Asia team member from the UK-based human rights organization, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, welcomed the revocation of the death sentence for the two crimes as 'a step in the right direction.' A former executive director of the Pakistani Catholic bishop's National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Chaudhry also urged the government to 'consider abolishing the death penalty for blasphemy.' 'We have witnessed that blasphemy laws are often, if not always, used to settle personal scores and so many citizens, especially religious minorities, are disproportionately affected by false accusations,' he told UCA News. The EU has been pushing Pakistan to improve human rights and labor practices to retain its GSP+ status in EU markets. The EU's Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skoog, during a visit to Islamabad in January, highlighted concerns about various issues, including the blasphemy law, women's rights, forced marriages and conversions, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression, religious freedom, media independence, due process, and the death least 34 members of minority groups, including Christians, are on death row in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Lahore-based lawyer and researcher Sarmad Ali. Peter Jacob, director of the Lahore-based advocacy group Center for Social Justice, said the Senate's move should begin the process for legal reforms and the complete abolition of the death penalty. 'This should open a broader debate on capital punishment and respect for life,' Jacob told UCA News.'A more comprehensive legal reform is needed to limit — and eventually abolish — the death penalty,' Jacob added. NCJP's deputy director Atta ur Rehman said Pakistan needs more reforms for its 'harsh criminal justice system.' 'The Church has always advocated for an affirmative approach to justice. Our position remains firm: the death penalty is against the sanctity of life,' Rehman Saman told UCA has seen a rise in death sentences recently, sparking concerns from rights groups. Pakistan courts handed down a total of 174 death sentences last year, a significant increase from 102 sentences in 2023, according to the Human Rights Commission of

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store