
Singapore to launch young leaders' programme, joint police training with Japan to support Palestinian Authority
Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also announced that the other initiative is a joint training programme with Japan aimed at strengthening the community policing skills of the Palestinian Civil Police.
'These initiatives build on Singapore's longstanding support for the PA's capacity-building efforts and its institutional development, as the Palestinian people prepare for statehood,' he posted on Facebook.
Balakrishnan, who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, announced the initiatives at the 4th Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) Ministerial Meeting yesterday.
Meanwhile, the minister said he also met with PA Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr Estephan Salameh and had a good discussion on developments in the Middle East.
'I invited him to visit Singapore,' he added.
Singapore had previously reaffirmed that it will continue working closely with the PA, particularly through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, to support their capacity for administration and reconstruction. — Bernama
Hashtags

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

Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Justice for Zara Qairina must not be tied to boycotting Merdeka, says Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today urged Malaysians not to boycott Merdeka celebrations over the death of schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir. He stressed that the case is already being investigated by police and an inquest has been requested, BH Online reported this afternoon. 'Merdeka is a national event and I encourage us to celebrate it. I too want justice for Zara, I too want justice for Faris, and I too want justice for Syamsul,' he was quoted as saying at a cultural programme in Pantai Dalam today. The death of 13-year-old Zara, a SMKA Tun Mustapha student in Papar, Sabah, after an alleged bullying incident has sparked public outrage nationwide and renewed calls for safer schools. Police in Bukit Aman have since taken over the case. The two other names mentioned by Fahmi refer to a tahfiz student Wan Ahmad Faris Wan Abdul Rahman who was found dead in the school toilet in Kok Lanas, Kelantan 12 years ago. Syamsul Haris Shamsudin was a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia student who died during basic army training as a cadet in the Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) in Ulu Tiram, Johor, on July 28. 'We don't want bullying to become something that drags on. The laws are there, action is being taken with Bukit Aman now leading the investigation into Zara Qairina's case,' Fahmi was qoted as saying. Her inquest is scheduled to start in Kota Kinabalu tomorrow, her family lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri confirmed today. Fahmi stressed that justice takes time, pointing to the case of Bella, a young girl with Down Syndrome, as an example. 'We know the process of justice does take time. In Bella's case, it took a while but in the end we saw justice being served. I believe we will also get justice here,' he said. Fahmi also cautioned against using tragedies for political gain. 'Let us not build castles over a grave. Let us not use this to popularise ourselves. What we want is justice,' he was quoted as saying.


Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Fahmi says Kepala Batas Umno chief's handling of flag mishap ‘very good', no room for bullying Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today commended Kepala Batas Umno chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican for his handling of the upside-down Jalur Gemilang controversy in his constituency. The Lembah Pantai MP said Reezal's conduct in resolving the issue with calm and respect was 'very good', unlike those who chose to take matters into their own hands, BH Online reported today. 'People have seen some groups taking matters into their own hands outside the legal framework… such actions are unacceptable,' Fahmi was quoted as saying during an arts programme at Kerinchi low-cost flats in his constituency here this afternoon. He was referring to the dispute between DAP and Umno Youth after party members confronted a hardware shop in Bertam, Penang, where the national flag had been mistakenly hung upside down. 'The incident happened in Bertam, and I see the way Datuk Seri Reezal Merican handled the matter as very good,' Fahmi was quoted as saying. Fahmi reminded political parties and the public to let authorities act in such cases, instead of resorting to intimidation. 'Be proud of the Jalur Gemilang. Do not allow anyone to frighten us. It is wrong and unacceptable for anyone to bully Malaysians, especially over the Jalur Gemilang,' he added.

Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Show pride and fly the flag, not fear, Fahmi tells Malaysians as anxiety spreads over Jalur Gemilang
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Malaysians must not be afraid to raise the Jalur Gemilang this Merdeka month despite attempts by a small group to sow fear, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today. He urged the public not to be swayed by the intimidation tactics of such agents provocateur, news portal BH Online reported this afternoon. 'Do not be afraid to put up the Jalur Gemilang. 'There are those who feel anxious because of the actions of a small group of individuals who are trying to stoke sentiments, fishing in troubled waters to intimidate others,' he was quoted saying during a Merdeka-themed community arts programme at the Kerinchi low cost public housing project this afternoon. The Lembah Pantai MP also reminded the public not to take matters into their own hands but to leave enforcement and prosecution to the police, the Attorney-General's Chambers and the judiciary. Controversy began after a hardware trader was spotted raising an upside-down Jalur Gemilang in a Kepala Batas, Penang housing area recently, sparking outrage and police investigations. Some Malaysians have since taken to social media to publicly declare their intention not to fly the national flag out of anxiety. Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said firm action, not just warnings, will now be taken against anyone attempting to stir racial, religious, or cultural discord, stressing that national unity must be preserved.