
PM discusses free trade pact, expanding cooperation with S Korea
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have agreed to join hands in expanding bilateral cooperation in a "mutually beneficial and substantive" manner.
This includes efforts to conclude a free trade pact, the presidential office said today.
According to Yonhap, both leaders reached...

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Malaysian Reserve
27 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
PM Anwar: PNB, PHB must double efforts to boost Bumiputera investment literacy
KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd (PHB) must double their efforts to raise investment literacy among the public, especially the Bumiputera community. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) must remain committed to empowering Bumiputera entrepreneurs through access to financing and support in enhancing business capacity and capabilities. 'I stress that all government-linked agencies and companies entrusted with the Bumiputera development mandate must continue to be the drivers of policy and key implementers of government initiatives, particularly through the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan (PuTERA35), which has already been launched,' he said in a post on X today. Earlier, Anwar chaired the board of trustees meeting of the Bumiputera Investment Foundation to review the current performance of the companies under the board this morning. He also stated that strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic economy and ensuring sustainable returns for unit trust holders are crucial in facing global economic uncertainties. — BERNAMA

Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Merdeka Center poll: 73pc of Malaysians say economy is top issue, Anwar gets 55pc approval rating
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — A total of 73 per cent of Malaysian voters identified economic issues as the biggest problem facing the country, according to a new mid-term survey by Merdeka Center on the performance of the Madani administration. According to the center's 'National Survey Highlights May 2025' report, when respondents were asked to name their top concerns, they pointed to inflation (33 per cent), economic growth (13 per cent), corruption (seven per cent), Also cited were job opportunities (seven per cent), and issues related to Malay rights and fair treatment of all races (seven per cent). Concerns over racial issues and public safety were comparatively low, at just three per cent each. 'Concerns over instability have evaporated, but there is a slight rise in [concerns regarding] identity politics (protection of Malay rights),' said the center. Leadership and governance ratings Despite these concerns, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's approval rating stood at 55 per cent, up from 53 per cent in December 2024. A further 36 per cent expressed dissatisfaction, while nine per cent were neutral. According to the centre, Anwar's ability to maintain a two-thirds majority in Parliament and provide political stability was credited for easing public anxiety over governance. Satisfaction with the overall performance of the government was evenly split, with 50 per cent expressing satisfaction and 48 per cent dissatisfaction. 'Public sentiments on the direction of the country shows 50 per cent of the voters surveyed think the country is headed in the wrong direction (compared to 61 per cent one year ago), while the number of voters that think the country is heading in the right direction improved to 43 per cent compared to 29 per cent in June 2024. 'The major reasons for the wrong direction remain focused on the trajectory of the national economy and the performance of the current administration,' the survey said. Demographic breakdown of public sentiment Among those who believed the country was heading in the wrong direction, 68 per cent were Indian respondents, followed by 55 per cent Malay and 43 per cent Chinese. According to Merdeka Center, by age group, those aged 51 to 60 made up the highest percentage of respondents who believed the government was on the wrong track, at 59 per cent. Meanwhile, younger respondents aged 21 to 30 were more optimistic, with 54 per cent saying the country was heading in the right direction. Macroeconomic trends 'In terms of the economy, government data indicates that inflation has cooled to just 1.4 per cent in March 2025 — a three-year low — and economic growth hit 4.4 per cent in the first quarter. The government's minimum wage hike to RM1,700, combined with festive cash aid for civil servants and ongoing fuel subsidies, has helped ease some public frustration over the cost of living. 'While the survey continues to show that the public's top concerns remain the economy, the absence of price shocks despite the withdrawal of diesel fuel subsidies in 2024, has helped ease sentiments,' said the center. The survey was carried out by the Merdeka Center between May 12 and 23, 2025, to gauge voters' perceptions of current developments. A total of 1,208 registered voters were surveyed, comprising 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, seven per cent Indian, six per cent Muslim Bumiputera, and six per cent non-Muslim Bumiputera (from Sabah and Sarawak). Respondents were interviewed via fixed line and mobile telephones, selected through random stratified sampling across age group, ethnicity, gender, and state constituency.


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Lawyers for Daim's widow decry NFA decision as 'unacceptable'
KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyers for Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, widow of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, have described the police's No Further Action (NFA) decision on her report as "unacceptable" and a breach of the rule of law. Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal said this in a statement after the police classified the case as NFA recently. Na'imah lodged the police report on Sept 30 last year, following a Bloomberg News article alleging political interference in the MACC's investigation against Daim. The article had claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki were involved in a coordinated abuse of investigative powers. "This sudden NFA decision was conveyed to us via a letter received on June 21 from the Sentul police chief. "This decision is unacceptable, shocking, and contradicts principles of good governance and the rule of law. "For nine months, the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) remained silent on Na'imah's police report. "The NFA decision came only days after she lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) over the continued failure of authorities to act on her report. "No information was provided regarding who was questioned, what steps were taken, or the actual reasons behind the NFA decision," said the statement. The statement said the report contained serious matters of public interest and should not have been dismissed without proper explanation or accountability. The decision severely undermines the integrity of the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), and confirms the deterioration of institutional independence under the current federal administration, it said. "We will not remain silent or be deterred in our pursuit of justice. "This matter will be pursued until the truth is revealed and justice is served. "The Malaysian people deserve institutions that serve the rakyat, not those in power," it added. Last year, a Bloomberg report, citing sources, claimed that the MACC was instructed to investigate Daim as well as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his sons. According to the report, the instruction was purportedly given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a claim the Prime Minister's Office denied. Anwar had said that the government was considering legal action against Bloomberg over the report that MACC acted on his instructions during investigations into certain individuals.