HDC Secures RM345.2 Mln Potential Sales At JFEX Summer Show 2025 In Tokyo
In a statement today, HDC head of international cooperation Mohamad Romzi Sulaiman said that the participation further reinforces Malaysia's commitment to expanding its halal footprint in Japan and the region.
'HDC's presence at JFEX 2025 provided a strategic platform for 50 Malaysian halal-certified exporters and export-ready companies to present their products and services to the Japanese market and neighbouring countries.
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New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Beyond disputes: Turning Ambalat and Pedra Branca into platforms for maritime cooperation
THE maritime disputes over Ambalat and Batu Puteh are complex. Ambalat, located in the resource-rich Sulawesi Sea, is claimed by Malaysia and Indonesia since the early 2000s. The area is believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves, and both countries have issued oil exploration licences that have led to diplomatic protests and naval stand-offs. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently emphasised the role of Sabah — which is the Malaysian state closest to the area — in ensuring that any joint development has equitable outcomes for border communities. Meanwhile, the dispute over Batu Puteh was partially resolved in 2008 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty over it to Singapore. In the same judgment, the ICJ ruled that Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, while sovereignty over South Ledge would rest with the state in whose territorial waters it is located. As the ICJ did not delimit maritime boundaries, South Ledge's status is unresolved. In recent years, bilateral efforts have intensified to resolve outstanding maritime issues. At the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in January, both governments agreed to begin technical work to delimit maritime boundaries in the Johor Strait, using the 1927 Territorial Waters Agreement as a legal basis. Singapore's continued engagement through the Joint Technical Committee reflects its commitment to resolve maritime issues through dialogue and legal frameworks. These disputes reflect deeper questions of sovereignty, historical memory and control over vital sea lanes. But they also present an opportunity to transform contested maritime zones into shared spaces of cooperation. Malaysia and Indonesia should consider establishing a joint development authority (JDA) to manage resources and reduce tensions over Ambalat. Similarly, Malaysia and Singapore could explore cooperative arrangements around Middle Rocks and South Ledge, focusing on maritime safety, environmental stewardship and scientific research. Such frameworks — already proven in the Malaysia-Thailand JDA in the Gulf of Thailand — would allow all parties to benefit economically while preserving their legal positions. Importantly, joint development does not require any party to relinquish its claims. Under Article 83 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , states are encouraged to reach provisional arrangements pending final delimitation. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have played pivotal roles in Asean's evolution and have consistently advocated for peaceful dispute resolution and regional stability. Their cooperation on Ambalat and Batu Puteh could serve as a model for other maritime disputes in Southeast Asia, including in the South China Sea. A coordinated initiative involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore — each addressing their respective maritime disputes — could serve as a model for broader governance reforms within Asean, strengthening its commitment to pragmatic diplomacy and peaceful resolution. Public discourse in all three countries must focus on collaboration. Parliamentarians, diplomats and civil society leaders should advocate for open dialogue, confidence-building measures and creative legal solutions. The media should frame these disputes as opportunities for partnership. Ambalat and Batu Puteh should be reimagined as foundations for a shared maritime future — where sovereignty concerns are balanced with economic pragmatism and regional solidarity. The establishment of JDAs would not only unlock resource potential but also signal that Southeast Asia is capable of resolving disputes through diplomacy and innovation. During the recent Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation, President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to resolving the Ambalat dispute through peaceful means. Both leaders agreed to explore joint development initiatives as they recognise that legal processes may take years. This bilateral momentum reflects a pragmatic approach to diplomacy. On the Batu Puteh front, Singapore has likewise shown its willingness to cooperate. These parallel bilateral engagements — Malaysia with Indonesia over Ambalat, and Malaysia with Singapore over Batu Puteh — signal a commitment to regional stability, peaceful dispute resolution and collaborative maritime governance.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Ahmad Zahid: Singapore leaders commend Malaysia's leadership in addressing Thailand-Cambodia crisis
SINGAPURA, Saturday (Aug 9): Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pays a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong upon his arrival in Singapore for a two-day working visit and to represent the Malaysian government at Singapore's 2025 National Day Parade. - Photo: Bernama SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore's leaders have expressed their appreciation for Malaysia's leadership in efforts to contain the crisis along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said this was conveyed by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong during separate meetings with both leaders on Saturday. "This highlights Malaysia's active role in ensuring regional peace and stability,' he said in a statement on Saturday. Ahmad Zahid is in Singapore for a two-day working visit beginning Saturday and is scheduled to attend the Singapore National Day Parade this evening at the invitation of the Singapore Government. In the separate meetings, he conveyed his warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Singapore on the occasion of their 60th National Day celebrations. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said his meeting with Wong, who is also Finance Minister, focused on strengthening long-standing bilateral relations, including strategic projects that have the potential to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) and create more job opportunities in Malaysia. "We also discussed new areas of cooperation in tourism, TVET, and strengthening people-to-people ties as the foundation for long-term understanding,' he said. Both leaders also examined ways to share best practices in enhancing laws related to the gig economy, which has become one of the key sectors in both countries. Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia and Singapore are studying the matter from legal and policy perspectives to ensure industry players, especially gig workers, receive appropriate protection and have their welfare safeguarded. "In this context, I also shared Malaysia's initiatives in supporting gig workers through social protection and progressive policies, as part of efforts to build a competitive digital economy,' he said. Ahmad Zahid said that in his discussion with Gan, they agreed on the importance of fully harnessing ASEAN's large market potential to boost bilateral trade. "I also emphasised Malaysia's role as the region's leading halal hub, supported by halal industrial park infrastructure, world-class certification, and close regional trade cooperation,' he said. Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, informed that Singapore had sent TVET trainers to Malaysia, in line with the shared commitment to strengthen quality and empower the TVET ecosystem. Ahmad Zahid said Saturday's discussions were highly beneficial, full of new ideas and opportunities that could potentially enhance bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meetings would open a new chapter of closer strategic cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore, for the continuity and shared prosperity of the two neighbouring nations. "Hopefully, everything discussed today will be translated into actions that will bring great benefits to the people of both countries in the future,' he said. Ahmad Zahid concluded his engagements with Singapore's top leadership with a luncheon with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. - Bernama
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
King tours Kazan helicopter plant
KAZAN: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has visited the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KHP), one of the world's largest helicopter manufacturers. Accompanied by the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, His Majesty was welcomed by KHP general director Nikolai Yakovlev. Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is also Minister-in-Attendance, Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Malaysian Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai. During the visit, His Majesty was briefed on the plant's operations before touring the assembly facilities and the showroom. Sultan Ibrahim was also introduced to a range of helicopters produced by the Kazan enterprise, including the Mi-38 with a high-comfort cabin, the Mi-8MTV-1 in transport and premium configurations, and the light Ansat helicopters in police and medical variants. His Majesty also inspected the interior of several helicopters at the showroom. Before concluding the programme, Sultan Ibrahim viewed an exhibition highlighting Tatarstan's industrial capabilities at the new flight test building. The visit to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is part of His Majesty's state visit to Russia, undertaken at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. – Bernama
