LGBTQ+ folk face isolation, bullying amid PAS initiatives
Growing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric spurred by the recent signboard initiative in PAS-led states risks deepening self-censorship and social isolation within the community, cautioned rights group Justice for Sisters (JFS).
JFS co-founder and researcher Thilaga Sulathireh asserts that the initiative, framed under the guise of morality, will only further marginalise the LGBTQ+ community and entrench fear in public discourse.
She also anticipates a rise in...
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The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
China eyes Pacific patrols, risks tension with U.S., Taiwan
SYDNEY: China is taking further steps towards high seas boarding of fishing boats in the Pacific for the first time, risking tensions with Taiwanese fleets and U.S. Coast Guard vessels that ply the region, Pacific Islands officials told Reuters. The Chinese Coast Guard demonstrated the capabilities of one of its largest ships, used to enforce maritime law in the Taiwan Strait, to Pacific Island ministers last week. It is also actively involved in debates on the rules of high seas boarding, according to documents and interviews with Pacific fisheries officials. The fisheries officials said it was anticipated China will soon begin patrols in a 'crowded' fisheries surveillance space. 'Hosting the leaders, demonstrating their capabilities in terms of maritime operations, those kind of things are indications they want to step into that space,' said Allan Rahari, director of fisheries operations for the Forum Fisheries Agency, in an interview with Reuters. The agency runs enforcement against illegal fishing for a group of 18 Pacific Island countries, with assistance from navy and air force patrols by Australia, the United States, France and New Zealand. The biggest fishing fleets in the Pacific, attracting the most infringement notices by inspectors, are Chinese and Taiwanese. But China is also the largest fisheries partner to some Pacific Island countries, and Rahari said agreements for Chinese coast guard patrols in coastal waters could be struck under security deals with these countries. China registered 26 coast guard vessels with the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in 2024 for high seas boarding and inspections in a vast region where the U.S. and Australia have the biggest inspection fleets. The commission has not received a notification from China that it has conducted any inspection, but Chinese officials have become active in debate over the rules on boardings, WCPFC executive director Rhea Moss-Christian told Reuters. China last year called for a review of the guidelines, and in March, Chinese officials attended a video meeting about an Australian-led effort to strengthen voluntary rules, she said. WCPFC inspectors in international waters need to gain permission for each inspection from the suspected vessel's flag state before boarding. Rahari said it could be 'very complicated' diplomatically if a Chinese coast guard vessel sought to board a Taiwanese fishing boat. Beijing does not recognise Taiwan as a separate country. Chinese officials and the Chinese Coast Guard did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Australia declined to comment, while Taiwan and the U.S. Coast Guard did not respond to requests for comment. SHIP TOUR Foreign ministers from 10 Pacific Island nations visited the coastal Chinese city of Xiamen and toured Haixun 06, which can travel 18,500 km (11,470 miles or 10,000 nautical miles) or 60 days without resupply. Papua New Guinea (PNG) foreign minister Justin Tkatchenko said 10 Pacific Island ministers saw the Chinese coast guard demonstrate a maritime emergency drill, but told Reuters they did not discuss Pacific patrols. PNG is negotiating a new defence treaty with Australia, and struck a 2023 security deal with the United States allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to patrol PNG's 2.7 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone. Fiji said it had approved a new maritime security agreement with Australia this week. Nauru's government broadcaster posted photographs on social media of the Haixun 06 drill, which it said 'reaffirmed the importance of maritime cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations'. Under a security treaty struck in December, Nauru must notify Australia before the Chinese navy comes to port. The U.S. Coast Guard has maritime law enforcement agreements with a dozen Pacific Island nations allowing it to enter nations' exclusive economic zones, and increased its patrols last year. 'The key considerations for China is stepping into that space without stepping on other partners toes, because that will then create conflicts within the region and that is something we don't want,' Rahari said. Reuters previously reported the first U.S. Coast Guard patrol in Vanuatu's waters saw local officials board several Chinese fishing boats in 2024, finding infringements, which Beijing criticised. Since 2008, Chinese fishing vessels were issued with 158 infringements, or 46% of Chinese boardings by WCPFC inspectors including the U.S., France and Australia, WCPFC data shows. Taiwanese fishing boats were issued 233 infringements.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
China demonstrates coast guard capability to Pacific nations, step towards high seas patrols
SYDNEY: China is taking further steps towards high seas boarding of fishing boats in the Pacific for the first time, risking tensions with Taiwanese fleets and U.S. Coast Guard vessels that ply the region, Pacific Islands officials told Reuters. The Chinese Coast Guard demonstrated the capabilities of one of its largest ships, used to enforce maritime law in the Taiwan Strait, to Pacific Island ministers last week. It is also actively involved in debates on the rules of high seas boarding, according to documents and interviews with Pacific fisheries officials. The fisheries officials said it was anticipated China will soon begin patrols in a 'crowded' fisheries surveillance space. 'Hosting the leaders, demonstrating their capabilities in terms of maritime operations, those kind of things are indications they want to step into that space,' said Allan Rahari, director of fisheries operations for the Forum Fisheries Agency, in an interview with Reuters. The agency runs enforcement against illegal fishing for a group of 18 Pacific Island countries, with assistance from navy and air force patrols by Australia, the United States, France and New Zealand. The biggest fishing fleets in the Pacific, attracting the most infringement notices by inspectors, are Chinese and Taiwanese. But China is also the largest fisheries partner to some Pacific Island countries, and Rahari said agreements for Chinese coast guard patrols in coastal waters could be struck under security deals with these countries. China registered 26 coast guard vessels with the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in 2024 for high seas boarding and inspections in a vast region where the U.S. and Australia have the biggest inspection fleets. The commission has not received a notification from China that it has conducted any inspection, but Chinese officials have become active in debate over the rules on boardings, WCPFC executive director Rhea Moss-Christian told Reuters. China last year called for a review of the guidelines, and in March, Chinese officials attended a video meeting about an Australian-led effort to strengthen voluntary rules, she said. WCPFC inspectors in international waters need to gain permission for each inspection from the suspected vessel's flag state before boarding. Rahari said it could be 'very complicated' diplomatically if a Chinese coast guard vessel sought to board a Taiwanese fishing boat. Beijing does not recognise Taiwan as a separate country. Chinese officials and the Chinese Coast Guard did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Australia declined to comment, while Taiwan and the U.S. Coast Guard did not respond to requests for comment. SHIP TOUR Foreign ministers from 10 Pacific Island nations visited the coastal Chinese city of Xiamen and toured Haixun 06, which can travel 18,500 km (11,470 miles or 10,000 nautical miles) or 60 days without resupply. Papua New Guinea (PNG) foreign minister Justin Tkatchenko said 10 Pacific Island ministers saw the Chinese coast guard demonstrate a maritime emergency drill, but told Reuters they did not discuss Pacific patrols. PNG is negotiating a new defence treaty with Australia, and struck a 2023 security deal with the United States allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to patrol PNG's 2.7 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone. Fiji said it had approved a new maritime security agreement with Australia this week. Nauru's government broadcaster posted photographs on social media of the Haixun 06 drill, which it said 'reaffirmed the importance of maritime cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations'. Under a security treaty struck in December, Nauru must notify Australia before the Chinese navy comes to port. The U.S. Coast Guard has maritime law enforcement agreements with a dozen Pacific Island nations allowing it to enter nations' exclusive economic zones, and increased its patrols last year. 'The key considerations for China is stepping into that space without stepping on other partners toes, because that will then create conflicts within the region and that is something we don't want,' Rahari said. Reuters previously reported the first U.S. Coast Guard patrol in Vanuatu's waters saw local officials board several Chinese fishing boats in 2024, finding infringements, which Beijing criticised. Since 2008, Chinese fishing vessels were issued with 158 infringements, or 46% of Chinese boardings by WCPFC inspectors including the U.S., France and Australia, WCPFC data shows. Taiwanese fishing boats were issued 233 infringements.
Focus Malaysia
5 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Boycott PKR in GE16 greets Nurul Izzah's victory; grassroots foresee rot from prevalent family ties
WHAT an anti-climax! Instead of being jubilant, many Reformasi diehards who have been vital lynchpins to PKR's very existence have vowed to disassociate themselves from the party which they claimed have switched to self-destruction mode following Nurul Izzah Anwar's victory against incumbent Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli in the PKR deputy presidency race. This came about as Malaysiakini broke the news citing party election committee chairperson Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa as having announced that Nurul Izzah has toppled the Economy Minister with 9,803 votes. Tak rasmi: Rafizi kalah pemilihan PKR — Malaysiakini (BM) (@mkini_bm) May 23, 2025 Although Dr Zaliha did not state the number of votes polled by Rafizi, it was revealed in the party's Borang Keputusan (Borang 14) that the Pandan MP garnered only 3,866 votes which means the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won by an overwhelming majority of 5,937 votes or 60.6% margin. Sarcasm of sorts filled the news portal's comments section with the most popular being 'hopefully later, Nurul Izzah's other sisters will contest for the party's vice-presidency'. Another insinuated that her younger siblings may even vie for head of PKR's youth wing or even PMX's son-in-law (Nurul Izzah's husband) as a member of the party's Central Leadership Council (MPP). On a more serious note, many anticipated the party to languish from nepotism, hence wanting to disassociate themselves from PKR come the 16th General Election (GE16). Boycotting the party or abstain from voting in GE16 which means turning their back to the PKR-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition would point to PMX being a one-term premier, insinuated one disgruntled grassroot member. One commenter expressed disbelief at how PMX used to hit out at twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for promoting his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as his successor yet he (PMX) himself is doing the exact same thing now. Another contended that it has become clear why prominent leaders like Datuk Ezam Mohd Nor (a founding PJR member) or Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (former deputy president) eventually left the party to join the opposition while one is bracing for PKR/ruling PH coalition to come under fire from their own supporters. 'There's no need to await the official results for the writing was already on the wall … I wish PH a happy return to being an opposition … confirm you shall be a flop in GE16; you've lost my vote,' fumed one supposedly staunch PKR backer. While it may be too soon to gauge the anticipated devastation, one 'overseas-stationed' commenter summed up that his entire family members who are still residing in Malaysia will no longer vote for Nurul Izzah, her father, her mother 'or the party now gasping under the weight of your entitlement!' – May 24, 2025
