
Rafizi spotted at Asean Summit amid questions over political future
He was present at the 16th Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit, which began at 8am in Conference Hall 2 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Also present were Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The summit was also attended by other Asean leaders, including the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Rafizi was spotted leaving the conference hall without engaging with the media.
His press secretary, Farhan Iqbal, told the New Straits Times yesterday that the minister would continue to fulfill his responsibilities.
Previously, Rafizi had pledged to resign from the cabinet if he failed to defend his position as PKR deputy president in the party elections.
He was defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar, who secured 9,803 votes.
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The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (Aug 16, 2025)
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speed up free-meal scheme * Indonesia's gas subsidy cut could slash industrial output, trigger layoffs: Industry Ministry * Son of Japanese soldier who died during WWII in Indonesia cherishes pebbles as substitute for remains * Indonesia: Prabowo touts economy and social welfare drive Thailand: * Thai lawmakers pass massive US$117bil budget to revive economy * Ceasefire, demining and stopping online scams top Thailand-Cambodia border talks * World recognises Malaysia's role in Thai-Cambodia peace efforts, says PM Anwar * Thai foreign ministry leads 36 envoys from 33 countries to inspect border clash damage and Cambodian minefields in Si Sa Ket Indonesia's soldiers from the music corps play trumpets during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, at the Ereveld Pandu cemetery, where Dutch soldiers who died in the war are buried in Bandung, West Java. --Photo by Timur Matahari / AFP Philippines: * The Philippines and Australia kick off major military drills near South China Sea in a big way * Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation chief resigns, blames 'orchestrated move to blacken reputation' * Hundreds flee homes after heavy flooding in Mandaue, Philippines Vietnam: * Failed plastics negotiations in Geneva leave the world few options to confront growing pollution crisis * Vietnamese rice grower helps tackle Cuba's food shortage * Vietnam calls for urgent action to fight scoliosis and obesity in children Myanmar: * Bangladesh looks to Malaysia's influence to address the Myanmar Rohingya crisis, says Yunus * Military airstrike on gem mining town kills at least 21 in Myanmaro * Large haul of drugs seized in Myanmar's Sagaing region Cambodia: * Cambodia-Thailand regional border talks end smoothly * Thai products targeted in Cambodian nationalism wave * Opinion - 'Like the Khmer Rouge': Forced from her home by soldiers Laos: * Vietnam willing to share experience in state-owned enterprises reform with Laos * Laos seeks to create safe learning environment in schools and encourage more young children to attend school Brunei: * Leadership, learning empower youth with disabilities in Brunei * BizBelia to empower Brunei youth: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah AseanPlus: * G2G MOUs to avoid involvement of agents, middlemen in defence asset procurement, says Khaled * Sabah Fest Singapore showcases North Borneo culture at Marina Square * Asean should harmonise skills recognition to boost region's growth, says HR Minister * Keningau cops bust prostitution syndicate exploiting teens, including Form Two students * Hong Kong court postpones Jimmy Lai's trial to Monday (Aug 18) over heart condition * Jimmy Lai getting proper treatment while in detention: Hong Kong govt * Brand new home for everyone's favourite royal couple - William and Kate moving to a new home in Windsor * Concert tickets, electronics among top items used in Hong Kong scams: Carousell * Top Chinese actress Zhao Lusi claims talent agency forced an exorcism to treat her depression * Pakistan rescuers recover bodies after monsoon rains kill more than 320 * Pakistan monsoon death toll rises to 225 in 48 hours: disaster agency * Flash floods in India, Pakistan kill more than 250 people * Body of missing canoeist, 38, found in Hong Kong waters * Move over, Labubu – Chiikawa is the new craze in Hong Kong * Hong Kong celebrates first birthday of city's panda twins * China's top diplomat Wang to visit India for border talks * China's first high-speed jet drone makes every warship an aircraft carrier * Missing eight-year-old boy found dead after extensive search in Dali, China * One dead, two injured after oil tanker, cargo ship catch fire in Yeosu, South Korea * Chinese couple escape unscathed from serious car crash, decide to get married right away * China hotel offers guests dog companions for US$70 a night, with canine bite compensation * Fighting chikungunya in Hong Kong: why do experts reject mosquito 'weaponising'? * Critically ill patients airlifted to district hospital: India's Dharali disaster relief efforts continue * Australia grants asylum to former HK lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui * Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes near east coast of Australia, European Mediterranean Seismological Centre says * Japan's Haneda Airport prepares for Bon holiday return of travellers from abroad, with peak expected on Sunday (Aug 17) * Badminton - Tangkis 2030 targets Thomas Cup, Olympic gold, says Tengku Zafrul * Sports - Karen-Ai Xin land historic table tennis title for Malaysia * Cricket-Australia win T20 series against South Africa after Maxwell heroics * Motorcycling-Marc Marquez wins Austrian Grand Prix sprint from second row


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Bangladesh looks to Malaysia's influence to address the Myanmar Rohingya crisis, says Yunus
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama): Bangladesh is seeking Malaysia's influence, particularly its role as Asean Chair, to rally international efforts to address the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis in the country. Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said Malaysia's experience in hosting Rohingya refugees, coupled with its leadership position in Asean, places it in a unique position to push for a comprehensive regional solution. "We are hoping that Malaysia will put its influence in the whole negotiation to make sure that we can overcome this problem,' he told the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in a special interview before concluding his official visit to Malaysia. The interview with the 2006 Nobel Prize laureate was led by Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. Yunus also warned that the refugee crisis has deepened amid ongoing fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the Arakan Army and government forces, forcing fresh waves of Rohingyas fleeing across the border into Bangladesh. "In the last 18 months alone, 150,000 new Rohingyas have arrived, in addition to the 1.2 million already in Bangladesh. "It becomes more and more acute. And worst of it, the US cut off all the funds to maintain them. So that is a huge problem for us,' he said. The Chief Adviser said three international conferences on the Rohingya will be convened in the coming months to seek a sustainable solution. The first is scheduled in Cox's Bazar at the end of this month, coinciding with the eighth anniversary of Bangladesh assuming responsibility for hosting Rohingya refugees fleeing hostilities in their home state. The second high-level meeting will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, while the third is planned for year-end in Doha, Qatar. Repatriation efforts have made little progress, further complicated by the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since 2021. The protracted humanitarian crisis continues to affect not only Bangladesh but also several Asean member states, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Malaysia, though not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, continues to temporarily host nearly 150,000 Rohingya refugees on a humanitarian basis. The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 following a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, which triggered a mass exodus of Rohingya into Bangladesh. - Bernama


Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Assassins in Alaska? From fake flags to fictional snipers, disinformation frenzy clouds Trump-Putin summit
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