Latest news with #AZHARMAHFOF
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Gusmao does something sweet for the media
Little treats: Gusmao (left) giving sweets to members of the media assembled at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Media personnel covering the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit here were treated to an unexpected moment of warmth from Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. Leaders from Asean and GCC member states were attending the summit and journalists were waiting for a chance of doorstop interviews when the meeting concluded. At the end of the two-hour meeting, the leaders proceeded for lunch. That's when Gusmao did something unexpected. With a broad smile, he approached the waiting media and offered them candies. 'Take it, you've waited so long,' he said. The thoughtful gesture sparked smiles and appreciative laughter from the weary media practitioners, many of whom had not anticipated such a personal moment amid formalities. The Asean-GCC Summit, held in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit, was aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and regional relations between Asean and Gulf countries.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Timor-Leste to join Asean in October
Seeking solutions: Anwar (right) with Asean leaders attending the second Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council summmit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Timor-Leste's wait to be included in Asean will be over in five months, when they will be granted full membership at the next regional meeting, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced. The Prime Minister said Asean leaders have agreed to accept Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the association at the next Asean Summit in October. He said Timor-Leste has been working hard to fulfil requirements to become an Asean member and Malaysia is satisfied with the country's efforts. 'Malaysia, Indonesia and a number of other countries have assisted in many ways to ensure that they meet this precondition. I would say we are quite satisfied. 'The decision is to agree that they will be accepted as a full member by the next session in October,' said Anwar during his exit press conference after the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits yesterday. He said Timor-Leste has to fulfil 'one or two' economic preconditions to be admitted as a full member of Asean. 'The consensus is that we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that they come in by October as a full member,' he added. Current Asean members are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines. Timor-Leste was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2002, making it Asia's youngest democracy. The country officially applied for Asean membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022. Its Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, who was also in Kuala Lumpur to attend the Summit, was reported as being optimistic about securing the full membership by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Anwar said as Asean Chair this year, Malaysia is hoping to come up with tangible programmes that will benefit the people by October. Anwar said various ministries and officials will have to start working on these initiatives. 'So by October, we want to see the results. We want to see real change that will benefit the people,' he added. The Prime Minister said the Asean Summit and Related Summits achieved its objectives by successfully bringing together the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China at the same table, crediting the outcome to the strong spirit of unity and the unwavering support of all regional leaders. Reflecting on the engagements throughout the summit, Anwar said Malaysia's chairmanship had enabled deeper discussions with Asean's external partners. He also said discussions held throughout the summit had been fruitful. 'There is a dramatic change in terms of attitude. The South China Sea was discussed, and we also saw exchanges between the Philippines and China. 'I'm not saying these issues can be resolved, but at least there is meaningful and positive engagement. That is the spirit of Asean,' added Anwar. Malaysia is the Chair of Asean this year, having held the post in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
The Star
26-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Safer high-rises for kids
Safety first: Experts are calling for measures to be taken to curb accidental falls, especially of children, from high-rise buildings. Photo posed by a model. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star Experts reignite calls for better protection in dwellings PETALING JAYA: Two recent fatalities involving children in high-rise residential buildings have reignited calls for enhanced safety regulations, with a focus on balconies and window grilles. Experts have called for a review of the relevant local government by-laws to make such dwellings safe for toddlers and other young children. Children's Commissioner to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said the two deaths which occurred within three days made the issue more pressing, with past statistics not to be overlooked. ALSO READ: More than just a view in Singapore and London 'Besides reviewing the existing by-law on balcony height, installing window grilles or netting for high-rise accommodation should be made mandatory. 'The protection of children must override aesthetic considerations,' she said when contacted. On May 17, a two-year-old boy fell to his death from the seventh floor balcony of a public housing flat in Precinct 9, Putrajaya. Following this, a seven-year-old girl who was believed to have climbed out of a window fell to her death from the 29th floor of her babysitter's condominium in Puchong on May 20. Under the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UBBL), balcony railings of residential high-rise buildings cannot be less than a metre or 1,000mm, but local authorities can impose stricter requirements. CLICK TO ENLARGE It is also not mandatory for window grilles to be installed in residential high-rise buildings under the UBBL, although it could be regulated by the building's management or voluntarily installed by the owners. Child activist Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS agreed that current by-laws were inadequate in preventing accidental falls involving children at high-rise residences. He said what was needed were by-laws that mandated high-rise residential buildings to be fall-proof for children. 'The UBBL should explicitly address child safety in high-rise dwellings,' he said. The paediatrician suggested mandatory installation of invisible grilles at balconies made from strong stainless steel cables that provide a barrier without obstructing the view. (Invisible grilles are a type of safety grille designed to provide protection without blocking the view or significantly altering the appearance of a window or balcony and typically made of thin, high-tensile stainless steel cables spaced closely together to create a barrier.) Dr Amar also proposed window restrictors to limit the maximum opening of windows to between 10cm and 12cm as well as childproof locks on balcony and sliding doors, and windows. 'Accidental falls from high-rise buildings are posing a threat to children's safety, especially with high-rise living becoming more common. 'Young children are naturally curious but may underestimate the danger. 'In addition, cartoon and TV shows on superheroes may give them a false sense of safety,' he pointed out. Dr Amar said constant supervision by parents and caregivers was important although he accepted that it was difficult to keep an eye on children all the time. 'Parents should evaluate the risk of their high-rise apartments and remove all furniture near windows and balconies so that they do not aid children in climbing,' he said. Dr Amar also suggested that the government provide assistance, mainly to the B40 community who live in flats, to child-proof windows and balconies. Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said present by-laws on high-rise residential buildings which did not take into account child safety must be reviewed. 'The design of high-rise buildings are more on aesthetics rather that safety. It does not take into account aspects of children prone to playing along corridors. 'The current by-laws must be relooked to address safety concerns involving children,' he said. Lee suggested the installation of motion- sensing CCTVs at all floors of high-rise buildings which will allow security teams to raise an alert if children were at risk. 'This may involve cost, but it is something worth spending on if it can prevent the loss of life,' he added.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Malaysia in fresh bid for Myanmar peace
Peace matters: Mohamad arriving at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for an extended Asean Troika meeting on Myanmar. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: As Asean Chair, Malaysia is planning to head to Myanmar again for peace talks with the country's military junta, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said this time around, the Malaysian team will be presenting a list of requests from the various armed ethnic groups to Myanmar's State Administrative Council (SAC) leadership. 'We have already met with the respective stakeholders (in Myanmar) and we know their wishlist. Now, we want to present it to the SAC and wait for feedback,' he told reporters after chairing an extended Asean Troika meeting on Myanmar yesterday. Mohamad said peace talks are a continuous process, where negotiations have to be conducted from time to time in order to build mutual trust. 'Most importantly, we must build confidence and there has to be a bridge between warring factions there,' he added. He said the meeting, which was also attended by his Asean counterparts, has concluded that Myanmar-related matters must be handled carefully. 'Myanmar is a family within Asean and we have a responsibility to ensure that the country is in good condition. 'It is not that we want to interfere, but its internal affairs have become an issue to Asean nations,' he explained. Internal issues in Myanmar, such as ongoing civil war and transnational crime, have affected neighbouring countries, he said. 'We discussed ways to ensure that the SAC will abide by the Five-Point Consensus,' he said, pointing to the complexity of the Myanmar issue as it involves conflicts between the SAC and various different ethnic armed groups. 'This is the challenge in our negotiations, but all of our friends in Asean agreed that we need to continuously engage all sides in Myanmar,' Mohamad said. The Five-Point Consensus by Asean lays out a roadmap for peace and calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive national dialogue, humanitarian assistance and peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, it has been criticised for being ineffective in stopping violence in Myanmar. The Myanmar civil war, which was sparked by the coup d'etat by its military junta in February 2021, has created lawless border regions that have allowed criminal syndicates to set up 'scam parks', where foreign nationals are trafficked into the country and forced to commit scams.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Asean Summit booths showcase culture and heritage
Prisons Department officer Sergeant Major Zulkifli Jusoh showing a tanjak and a piece of batik cloth at the Prisons Department booth in the product exhibitions and booths hall in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre..—AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star. KUALA LUMPUR: Just past the security cordons of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre where the 46th Asean Summit and related summits are being held, another showcase is unfolding. Apart from the focus on policies, Malaysian product exhibitions and booths are on full display, with delegates and visitors alike getting to experience the country's diversity and cultural heritage. "It is a chance for us to see what Malaysia's diverse cultures offer. "We're interested in looking at all different aspects, especially Malaysian batik," said Vietnam national Chi Lan, who visited the exhibition with her daughter and aunt. P. Vijayakumar, 48, said the exhibition enables him and his two children, who also tagged along, to learn more about Asean. "My kids are also learning about Asean in their textbooks, so this is a chance to expose them to the Summit,' he said. Around the hall, various booths highlight Malaysia's cultures, including hand-painted batik artwork. As he works on an intricate piece, Ahmad Fathil Othman noted how batik is one of Malaysia's most popular tourism products that showcases the country's heritage. "We hope batik can go further. I am also hoping that I can play a role to help the art reach greater heights internationally,' said the 51-year-old, who is more popularly known as Padil Osman. The crowds were also entertained with a traditional sewang dance performed by the Temiar community from Kampung Orang Asli Batu 12 in Gombak. Accompanying the troupe of dancers were the melodious sounds of bamboo instruments. The Prisons Department booth was also a hit, with many coming to see the works produced by inmates including batik shirts, songket and pastries. The items were produced across the Marang, Penor, Bentong, Pengkalan Chepa and Machang prisons as well as the Kajang Women's prison. There are also specially crafted headgear, made by inmates, which are to be presented as souvenirs for leaders attending the summits.
