
Sultan of Brunei keen to visit Malaysia for Asean summit
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has expressed a strong interest to visit Malaysia, particularly to attend the upcoming Asean Summit and related forums.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the Brunei Sultan conveyed this during an audience granted to her and Asean information ministers at Istana Nurul Iman, held in conjunction with the 17th Conference of Asean Ministers Responsible for Information and Related Meetings here on Thursday (May 8).
"His Majesty said he is very much looking forward to visiting Malaysia, especially with the upcoming Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council and China Economic Forum taking place in less than two weeks,' she told Bernama.
Teo conveyed her sincere appreciation to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for granting the audience and thanked Brunei for its steadfast commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the fields of information and communication.
Teo is leading the Malaysian delegation to conference, which concluded on Wednesday.
Also present during the audience were the deputy secretary-general of Asean for the Asean Socio-Cultural Community, San Lwin, senior information officials, and representatives from Asean Plus Three dialogue partners, China, Japan and South Korea.
The 46th Asean Summit, scheduled for May 26-27, will convene leaders from the bloc's 10 member states to address regional challenges, promote economic cooperation and advance the shared principles of inclusivity and sustainability.
Malaysia assumed the Asean Chairmanship from Laos on Jan 1, 2025, under the theme "Inclusion and Sustainability,' reflecting its commitment to fostering a united, resilient and forward-looking Asean community.
This marks Malaysia's fifth term as Asean Chair, having previously held the position in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
MPs have the right to criticise their own party
YOURSAY | 'PKR is on the path towards self-destruction under Anwar.' Quit if you're no longer aligned with party, Subang PKR tells MP EmEmKay: In the realm of politics, the pressures can be overwhelming. As representatives, politicians often bear the weight of their constituents' hopes and frustrations. A holiday, especially one designated for thoughtful reflection, is not only deserved but necessary. Subang MP Wong Chen's time away offers him the chance to recharge mentally and emotionally while considering the direction of his political career amid continuous demands and expectations. He has not shied away from discussing the realities facing the Pakatan Harapan coalition and the government. He has rightly pointed out that many reforms promised by PKR remain unfulfilled, and as we reach the halfway mark of the federal government's mandate, it is crucial to assess what has been accomplished and what lies ahead. His statements underscore the need for accountability - not only for party supporters but for the Malaysian people who desire tangible improvements in governance. The acknowledgement of the gap between promises and performance highlights Wong's commitment to genuine progress. By speaking truthfully about the shortcomings of his party, he aims to spur necessary conversations that could ultimately lead to constructive change. Some within the PKR grassroots might feel frustrated with him for his candidness, but it is essential to realise that speaking the truth is not a fault but rather a responsibility. Open dialogue about the challenges faced by the party cultivates an environment where constructive criticism can flourish. Wong's reflection on these issues is rooted in his desire for the party to succeed and fulfil its commitments to the people. PKR activists and supporters should understand that his honesty aims to strengthen the party and not undermine it. His insight into the current state of PKR and the Madani government should be recognised as a courageous step toward fostering accountability and progress. As he reflects on his political future, one can hope that his experience abroad will empower him with a renewed focus on how best to serve the people of Subang and contribute to Malaysia's political landscape. Meerkat: Wong is still aligned with the original PKR aspirations. If he's now deemed as not aligned with the party, it's only because the party has shifted. The party should do a lot of soul-searching and get back on track. Otherwise, it will lose the support of many. Sure, they won't vote for Harapan, but they are not obliged to vote for Subang PKR deputy chief Dr Wan Hasifi Amin Wan Zaidon either. PurpleJaguar0553: Why should Wong quit? He was elected by the people based on PKR's promise of reforms. If PKR president Anwar Ibrahim is unable to or fails to fulfil this promise, then the MPs are entitled to demand an answer and question him on his failure. These unelected PKR divisional leaders should understand that MPs owe a duty to the public, not the party. When the party fails to live up to its promises to the public, they have every right and a duty to raise this. Anwar's minions seem to be working overtime to shut down all dissent within PKR. The effort is bound to fail. The non-Malays already realise PKR's failure and that this party is a family dynasty. The non-Malay vote is going south, and Harapan will fall in the 16th general election unless promises are fulfilled. GP2025: Country undergoing a reform process? What a laugh! What reforms can it boast about? This is enabling unqualified people without the support of the majority to seize power. Is that acceptable to reformists? What a joke. Anyway, I'm in your constituency, Wan Hasifi. You won't get my vote, but Wong might. BluePanther4725: Why can't a PKR MP criticise his own party? Seems like PKR only wants Pak Turuts (yes men). PKR has lost all its vision for 'reformasi' and does not practise democracy. PKR is rapidly morphing into Umno. PKR is getting rid of those who dare to speak out, like former deputy president Rafizi Ramli, former vice president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and now Wong Chen. PKR is on the path towards self-destruction under Anwar. RedMarlin1833: PKR was always the 'weakling' in a few coalitions it was in before. Not much grassroots support, and now it is going to face a huge backlash in the next general election! The infighting continues, and now another one in the party will probably give up his post. Good luck! Pink: Endless fight for positions in PKR. I heard that Anwar would spend more time with the party to meet and consolidate the grassroots. This does not seem to be happening. This is what happens when the mission for reforms is no longer firmly upheld by the members. Nothing in common to hold them together. Every man fights for himself to grab the war loot. The process of attrition has started in the party. Gasinggeorge: You could easily defend his points, but the truth is that he came out criticising his party while at the same time announcing planned reflections on his career at an expensive foreign retreat. This is weird, to say the least. OrangeJaguar9341: Rejecting hard truths and then maligning the person who expressed them is immature and pathetic. Those in PKR who want to continue to live in a fantasy Madani-ville should not be so threatened by those who are more evaluative and realistic. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Stable yields to support performance of REITs
Maybank IB Research remained positive on REITs. PETALING JAYA: The outlook for Malaysian real estate investment trusts (REITs) is becoming more challenging even as yields remain stable amid rising unit prices, analysts say. This is also despite the KL REIT Index gaining 0.9% against Bursa Malaysia's benchmark FBM KLCI's 8.2% loss over the five months to May. Analysts said that the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST), which will come into effect on July 1, would have an impact on REITs as it would require them to them to impose an 8% service tax (unless specific lessee exemption criteria are met), raising operating costs for tenants. Revisions to Malaysia's SST include targeted increases for non-essential goods and an expansion of the services tax to six new categories: leasing or rental services, construction, financial services, private healthcare, education, and beauty services. While the aim of revising the SST is to broaden the tax base with minimal impact on the majority of Malaysian consumers, specific business sectors, particularly REITs and financial services, are expected to bear a more direct and potentially adverse impact, analysts said. CGS International Research said while REITs with prime assets would remain resilient due to strong tenant profiles and footfall, weaker properties may face tenant attrition. 'In this regard, REITs with lower-quality portfolios may be compelled to provide rental support, which could weigh on earnings and distributions,' the research house said. Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB Research) remained positive on REITs, with its top pick being Sunway-REIT. The research house said retail and industrial REITs remained resilient, but office REITs face challenges despite long leases and stable occupancy. It added that domestic REITs offer attractive average dividend yields of between 5.6% and 6.1% or a healthy spread of between 208 and 258 basis points against the 3.5% for current 10-year Malaysian Government Securities (MGS). 'We see room for spread compression should Bank Negara initiate an overnight policy rate cut in the second half of this year that would benefit REITs with higher floating-rate debt exposure,' Maybank IB Research said, adding that this would support valuation upside and lower financing costs for growth-oriented REITs. It noted that the managements of various REITs maintained a cautiously optimistic outlook but flagged a few concerns such as the potential 8% service tax that could limit their ability to raise rents, as well as the potential increase in electricity tariffs and broader economic uncertainty such as subsidy rationalisation for RON95 petrol and international trade tensions. MIDF Research, which downgraded REITs to 'neutral' from 'positive', said most of the positives have been priced in. 'Going forward, we expect REITs to continue registering earnings growth. However, we expect moderate earnings growth going forward from a normalised base in 2024. 'Besides, the yields of REITs under our coverage tapered to 4.6% following the increase in unit prices of REITs recently,' the research house said. It expects its top pick, Pavilion-REIT, with an unchanged target price of RM1.69, to see its earnings supported by a rental revision for Pavilion KL Mall, while Pavilion Bukit Jalil's performance remains stable. MIDF Research said that the KL REIT Index was resilient in the first five months of the year following a gain of 11.4% last year in comparison to the KLCI, as investors flocked to defensive investments. However, the research house said the increase in unit prices have also narrowed the yield spread versus 10-year MGS, which makes them less attractive to investors.

Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Over 150,000 Visitors Expected At TVET Day, 5,000 Jobs On Offer
10/06/2025 05:24 PM PUTRAJAYA, June 10 (Bernama) -- The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2025 celebration is expected to attract over 150,000 visitors, with more than 5,000 job opportunities offered through career matching with employers from various strategic sectors, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. In a statement issued today after chairing the Special Coordination Meeting for National TVET Day 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister said the celebration brings together broad participation from various government agencies, TVET institutions, industries and the general public, aiming for a direct impact on human capital development and employment opportunities. The three-day event will begin tomorrow at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officially launch it on Thursday. 'The official launch on June 12 is expected to include several strategic announcements related to the agenda of strengthening national TVET. Key focus areas will include efforts to encourage wider participation of TVET graduates in high-impact entrepreneurship sectors, in line with current economic needs. 'This step is hoped to further strengthen TVET's role as a driver of growth in high-potential sectors,' said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development. With the theme "TVET: The Career of Choice", he said the celebration symbolises the MADANI government's commitment to making TVET a core pillar of national development and reinforces its dedication to mainstreaming the skills pathway as part of the country's progressive, inclusive and sustainable Malaysia MADANI aspirations. He said the event will be implemented comprehensively and with high impact, featuring various inclusive, interactive and strategic activities aimed at bringing the public closer to the world of TVET. According to him, the National TVET Day 2025 celebration will consist of four main segments, including the TVET Convention Hub, TVET Job Fair, and TVET Challenge. 'The celebration is expected to take place in a positive atmosphere, with growing public interest in the skills pathway,' he said.