FMM Calls On ASEAN To Boost Intra-regional Trade, Integration
FMM President Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai stated that there is a need to advance mutual recognition of standards, harmonise digital customs platforms, and enhance regulatory coherence across member countries.
He noted that intra-ASEAN trade currently accounted for only 22 per cent of total ASEAN trade, compared to around 60 per cent in the European Union. 'Closing this gap will be essential to unlocking ASEAN's full economic potential and building long-term supply chain resilience,' he said in a statement.

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Borneo Post
a minute ago
- Borneo Post
Smart SBB revolutionises padi farming in Kota Belud
Adlin showing the new padi variety.-Bernama photo KOTA KINABALU (Aug 4): The Smart Large-Scale Padi Field (Smart SBB) programme has revolutionised padi farming in Kota Belud with the introduction of advanced technologies such as drone usage and modern ploughing machinery. Launched in 2023, this high-impact initiative has not only modernised the padi farming sector but has also nurtured a new generation of padi farmers who are more productive, efficient, professional, and competitive in increasing their yields. Kampung Jawi-Jawi Village is among the pioneering locations for the Smart SBB programme in Kota Belud, Sabah's main rice granary, located about 73 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu. Nineteen padi farmers are involved in cultivating 49 hectares of padi under this initiative. Sharing his experience with Bernama, Adlin Mohammad, the Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) farm manager in Jawi-Jawi, said the programme has significantly transformed the lives of padi farmers, who no longer rely on manual labour as they once did. Adlin, 51, a third-generation padi farmer who has been in the industry for 18 years, shared that the use of modern technology has not only saved time and energy but also enhanced fieldwork efficiency. 'We used to plough with buffaloes, but now we use a variety of modern machinery, adapted to the area's terrain and soil conditions,' he said when met by Bernama at the BERNAS booth during the three-day National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day 2025 celebration at the Sabah International Convention Centre, which concluded yesterday. Although there was initial scepticism, Adlin said the programme has since received a positive response from farmers, who now embrace the blend of traditional knowledge and modern technology. 'The rice-seeding process using drones is not only faster but also more uniform compared to traditional methods. Farmers no longer need to be in the fields daily. They can now monitor operations remotely,' explained Adlin, who plays a key role in overseeing the Smart SBB operations in his village. In addition to more systematic irrigation management, the programme also emphasises disease and pest control, with farmers guided to conduct regular monitoring to minimise the risk of crop infection. This proactive approach, he said, has improved discipline in crop management, addressing longstanding challenges such as pest infestations and unpredictable weather patterns like drought. He said padi yields have also shown consistent improvement throughout the programme's four seasons, with production rising from 4.11 metric tonnes per hectare in the first season to 4.59 metric tonnes per hectare in the fourth season this year. 'Every increase in paddy production means that our income also increases. We hope to be able to continue this momentum,' he said, hoping that the relevant agencies could provide diesel subsidies and logistical assistance, particularly for harvesting operations outside BERNAS-supervised areas. He proposed the introduction of new padi seed varieties, noting that while TR8 seeds have been in use for nearly a decade due to their suitability for local soil and climate conditions, newer varieties could offer even better yields. Adlin emphasised the importance of continued government support for BERNAS by approving proposals that could expand the Smart SBB initiative and strengthen infrastructure to boost paddy production. The Smart SBB programme is a strategic initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security aimed at increasing padi output, improving farmers' income, and ensuring national food security through the use of modern technology and integrated management. Apart from BERNAS, the programme in Kota Belud is implemented in collaboration with technical agencies such as the Kota Belud Integrated Agricultural Development Area, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and the Kota Belud Area Farmers' Organisation. Following its success in Kampung Jawi-Jawi, the programme was expanded in the second season of 2023 to cover 174.97 hectares with the participation of 121 farmers. – Bernama


Free Malaysia Today
19 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bursa pulls back on profit-taking
KUALA LUMPUR : Bursa Malaysia pulled back today as investors took profit on selected heavyweights, capitalising on Friday's sharp rally to lock in short-term gains. However, the recent announcement on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and the US's tariff reduction could bolster market optimism in the near-term. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd's head of investment research Sedek Jantan said the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) is still in a consolidation phase following strong upward momentum, as investors are still adjusting to evolving global macroeconomic signals. 'Utilities and banking counters came under pressure, contributing to the index's modest pullback. 'We interpret this rotation as reflective of selective repositioning rather than broad-based risk aversion,' he told Bernama. Looking ahead, Sedek maintains a constructive outlook, underpinned by optimism surrounding the recently unveiled 13MP, which lays the groundwork for long-term structural reforms. 'Additionally, the reduction in US trade tariffs has eased near-term geopolitical uncertainty and supported a more stable macro backdrop for Malaysian equities. 'We also expect the market to increasingly price in the prospect of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut at the upcoming federal open market committee meeting,' he added. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI fell 6.37 points or 0.42% to close at 1,526.98 from last Friday's close of 1,533.35. The benchmark index, which opened 3.07 points lower at 1,530.28, moved between 1,522.96 and 1,530.28 throughout the trading session. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing gainers 584 to 390, while 479 counters were unchanged, 1,037 untraded and 11 suspended. Turnover declined to 2.63 billion units worth RM1.94 billion from 3.16 billion units worth RM2.23 billion last Friday. Among the heavyweights, Maybank lost 6 sen to RM9.54, Public Bank fell 5 sen to RM4.24, Tenaga Nasional slid 14 sen to RM13.16, CIMB dipped 4 sen to RM6.75, while IHH Healthcare went up 2 sen to RM6.70. Of the most active counters, Trive Property inched up 0.5 sen to 1.5 sen, while Inari Amertron shed 14 sen to RM1.99, Magma went down 3 sen to 38.5 sen, Zetrix AI shaved 2.5 sen to 87 sen, and Tanco erased 2 sen to 82 sen. Top gainers included Nestle, which advanced RM1.18 to RM88.98, Fraser & Neave gained 38 sen to RM29, Petronas Gas rose 24 sen to RM18.12, and Ralco Corp soared 14.5 sen to RM1.11. As for the top losers, Malaysian Pacific Industries slumped 46 sen to RM19.88, Hong Leong Bank slipped 24 sen to RM18.90, and Petronas Dagangan trimmed 20 sen to RM21.42. Across the broader market, the FBM Emas Index sank 52.51 points to 11,472.82, the FBMT 100 Index decreased 52.03 points to 11,233.60, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index slipped 47.55 points to 11,493.21. The FBM 70 Index tumbled 99.61 points to 16,614.26 while the FBM ACE Index edged up 5.00 points to 4,629.37. By sector, the financial services index shrank 115.64 points to 17,364.56, the industrial products and services index was 1.12 points lower at 158.02, the plantation index shed 0.52 of-a-point to 7,370.45, and the energy index eased 9.81 points to 739.79. The Main Market volume declined to 1.51 billion units valued at RM1.73 billion from 1.97 billion units valued at RM1.98 billion last Friday. Warrants turnover fell to 824.19 million units worth RM117.88 million from 895.32 million units worth RM143.46 million previously. However, the ACE Market volume improved to 290.27 million units worth RM97.82 million from 289.60 million units worth RM108.93 million on Friday. Consumer products and services counters accounted for 192.04 million shares traded on the Main Market; industrial products and services (195.89 million), construction (154.55 million), technology (245.39 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (51.55 million), property (201.98 million), plantation (22.81 million), REITs (32.68 million), closed-end fund (2,700), energy (198.14 million), healthcare (119.63 million), telecommunications and media (32.24 million), transportation and logistics (32.54 million), utilities (34.92 million), and business trusts (144,300).


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Ringgit strengthens on weak US jobs report
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed stronger against the US dollar on Monday following a softer-than-expected United States (US) jobs report that significantly altered market expectations on the Federal Reserve (Fed) policy, said an analyst. At 6 pm, the local note rose to 4.2350/2385 versus the US dollar from Friday's close of 4.2750/2815. SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said that last Friday's nonfarm payrolls data showed a marked slowdown in US job creation, prompting traders to sharply increase bets on monetary easing. "Market-implied expectations for Fed rate cuts this year jumped to 64 basis points, up from 33 basis points prior to the release. The probability of a September rate cut surged above 90 per cent, while October is now fully priced for the first move," he told Bernama. Innes said the shift triggered a widespread sell-off in the US dollar and US government bonds, boosting demand for emerging market currencies including the ringgit, as sentiment pivoted towards a more dovish Fed outlook. Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit is likely to exhibit a positive trend as Bank Negara Malaysia is expected to maintain its current overnight policy rate (OPR) stance. "This would mean that the interest differentials between the Fed Fund Rate and the OPR would narrow in the months to come,' he said. Meanwhile, at the close, the ringgit ended lower against major currencies. It fell against the Japanese yen to 2.8652/8677 from 2.8407/8452 at the close on Friday, depreciated versus the British pound to 5.6296/6342 from 5.6208/6293, and declined against the euro to 4.8978/9018 from 4.8752/8826 previously. The ringgit was mixed against regional peers. It improved against the Singapore dollar to 3.2878/2908 from 3.2907/2960 and edged higher against the Indonesian rupiah to 258.2/258.5 from 258.8/259.4 at Friday's closing. However, it inched down versus the Thai baht to 13.0452/0616 from 13.0058/0319 and weakened against the Philippine peso to 7.38/7.39 from 7.35/7.36 previously. - Bernama