Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir, 100, in hospital for fatigue, office says
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South China Morning Post
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- South China Morning Post
Anwar's big surprise? Malaysians sceptical over ‘tribute' teaser post
A cryptic promise from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has become the latest lightning rod for Malaysia 's restless public, whose patience is wearing thin after months of new taxes, political scandals and economic anxiety. Late on Monday, Anwar posted a stylised silhouette and the words Akan Datang (Coming Soon) across his social media accounts, promising a special gesture of 'extraordinary' appreciation for all Malaysians. The post, which was met with widespread derision, appeared just hours after nearly 1,000 lawyers had marched to the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, protesting alleged government meddling in judicial appointments. Malaysia's digital town square fired back with its trademark blend of wit and scepticism. Comments flooded in, many laced with biting humour about the government's recent expansion of taxes on goods and services , which came into force on July 1. The social media post shared by Anwar late on Monday. The central text reads 'Coming Soon: an extraordinary tribute to the people of Malaysia'. Photo: X/AnwarIbrahim
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Japan creates new agency to manage foreigner-related issues amid rising tensions
Japan on Tuesday set up an administrative body aimed at easing citizens' concerns over the rapid rise in the number of foreigners in recent years, as policies concerning non-Japanese residents emerge as a key issue in Sunday's national election. The body would serve as a cross-agency 'control tower' to respond to issues such as crime and overtourism involving foreigners, the government said. Headed by Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Sakata, the office will have 78 employees, including those from the Immigration Services Agency, according to Jiji Press. Japan has long sought to maintain a homogeneous population through strict immigration laws, but has gradually eased them to supplement its shrinking and ageing labour force. The number of foreign nationals hit a record of about 3.8 million last year, although that is still just 3 per cent of the total population. The formation of the administration body comes after a group of lawmakers in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba 's Liberal Democratic Party in June proposed measures to realise a 'society of orderly and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals'.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
EU chief for Asia-Pacific set to leave role after China summit, sources say
The European Union 's top official for Asia is to leave his role after a summit with China next week to take up a post in Sweden, the Post has learned. Niclas Kvarnström , managing director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, the bloc's diplomatic corps, is returning to his homeland for a senior position in the government there, according to nine people familiar with the situation. A summit in Beijing on July 24 will be his last official engagement in the role, a fitting finale for a diplomat who has helped steer the EU through ever-trickier ties with China . A search will then begin for his successor, with deputy managing director Paola Pampaloni set to take the helm on an interim basis. Kvarnström, a fluent Chinese speaker, has become a respected and influential figure over two years working in the top Asia job in Brussels, before which he was head of the Asia-Pacific department of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There, he played a key role in organising the EU's first Indo-Pacific summit in Stockholm in 2023. Another such summit is planned for November under the steer of the EEAS with assistance from the Danish government, which is the holder of the rotating EU presidency. One insider said the departure was 'quite sudden', while several suggested that the Swede would leave a big hole in the EU's small China policymaking machine, despite his relatively short stint there.
