Latest news with #AmanahIkhtiarMalaysia
Malaysian Reserve
11 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysian investors urged to tap into business opportunities in Bangladesh
KUALA LUMPUR — Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus (picture) has called on Malaysian investors to explore the vast business opportunities in Bangladesh, underpinned by the country's youthful, creative and huge population. Speaking at a business seminar on trade and investment opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia here today, Yunus noted that half of Bangladesh's population is under the age of 26, offering a significant demographic advantage. Also present at the forum was the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. 'These young people's aspirations are limitless, and their creativity is boundless. If given the opportunity, they can transform Bangladesh and even the world,' Yunus said. He said Bangladesh is undergoing a 'new era' following the recent youth-led movement, with barriers to business being removed and the government working to make the country business-friendly in every way. 'With this concept of a new Bangladesh, many things have emerged. Many unexplored areas are being tapped — one of them is the business sector— and Bangladesh is striving to be business-friendly in every possible way. We are excited about the prospect of widening the horizon of business,' he added. He also highlighted untapped sectors such as the maritime economy, digital services market and cross-border trade with neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan and India's northeastern states. Yunus noted that Malaysia was the first country to adopt the Grameen Bank model in the early 1980s, through the establishment of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia. He said such examples show how innovations originating in Bangladesh can have a global impact, and encouraged Malaysian businesses to tap into this culture of creativity. 'Business in Bangladesh is not just about making money, it is also about the excitement of creating impact. We welcome you to share in our journey,' he said. Yunus is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia from Aug 11 to 13. Bangladesh is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia, with key exports including petroleum products, palm oil and chemicals, while imports comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products and manufactured goods. In 2024, Malaysia–Bangladesh trade rose 5.1 per cent to RM13.35 billion (US$2.92 billion). The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, building on the strong ties established since diplomatic relations began in 1972. — BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Dzulkefly's bid to recuse Apandi's daughter from libel suit dismissed
Dzulkefly Ahmad is suing former prime minister Najib Razak over claims the health minister had practised nepotism by securing the appointment of his daughter, Nurul Iman, to the board of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia. KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court has dismissed health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad's bid to recuse the judicial commissioner currently presiding over his RM5 million libel suit against former prime minister Najib Razak. Judicial Commissioner Arziah Apandi held that the plaintiff had not demonstrated a credible risk of bias arising either from her judicial remarks or her familial connections with former attorney-general Apandi Ali. Earlier, the plaintiff's lawyer Stanley Sabastien Sinnappen submitted that statements made by Arziah during case management on March 7 and April 7 – that the suit would be struck off if no settlement was reached and no notice of withdrawal filed – amounted to a real danger of bias. The parties had, in March, informed the court that they were working towards an amicable solution. Stanley further raised concerns that Arziah being the daughter of Apandi – appointed attorney-general in 2016 during Najib's administration – had created actual bias or reasonable apprehension of bias. Delivering her broad grounds of judgment, Arziah said the plaintiff's contention had no basis. She said the statements made during case management were standard directions aimed at preventing cases from remaining dormant, not expressions of partiality. 'Courts routinely make such directions to prevent cases from remaining dormant indefinitely,' she said. Addressing her relationship with Apandi, Arziah stressed that there was no evidence of any continuing relationship between her father and Najib beyond a brief court appearance as a witness in 2019. She said Apandi ceased to hold the office of attorney-general in 2018 and that any connection he had with the litigation was tenuous and historical. She also said familial relationships alone were insufficient to justify her recusal as it did not create a real danger of bias. 'Familial connections between members of the judiciary and legal professionals are common and do not automatically give rise to bias. 'Children of judges regularly appear before courts without raising concerns,' she said. Arziah dismissed the application with costs which will be decided at the end of the proceedings. Case management is set for Aug 13. Dzulkefly filed the suit in his private capacity on Dec 31, 2021, over Najib's claim that he had practised nepotism by securing the appointment of his daughter, Nurul Iman, to the board of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia two years earlier. In his statement of claim, the Kuala Selangor MP alleged that Najib's Facebook post on Aug 24, 2020, subsequently reported by a Malay daily, had defamed him.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
AIM announces additional RM50mil allocation to Indian women entrepreneurs
KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has allocated an extra RM50mil to empower Indian women entrepreneurs through the second phase of the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN 2.0) programme. Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the additional allocation brings the total fund for the programme to RM100mil. He said PENN 2.0 was developed after the success of phase one of the PENN, which benefitted 6,247 Indian women with a total financing amount of RM42,725,640. "From the 6,247 recipients of this fund, a total of 1,062 were new entrepreneurs. Therefore, the announcement of the additional fund allocation of this RM50mil will give opportunities to more Indian women to involve themselves in business and at the same time improve their standard of living,' he said. Ramanan said this at the launching ceremony of PENN 2.0 Empowering Indian Women Entrepreneurs at the AIM headquarters here Tuesday (June 3). PENN, which was launched on April 14 last year, is a government initiative through AIM as the implementing agency to empower Indian women, especially in the field of entrepreneurship. Ramanan said AIM is targeting that over 10,000 Indian women entrepreneurs in the country would benefit from this additional fund. According to him, the target of this fund is not only for new participants but this effort will also strengthen support for existing participants to expand their small businesses in various sectors including food, tailoring, beauty and community services. "Entrepreneurs who have received PENN financing have generally succeeded in increasing their income by 20 to 30 per cent compared to before," he added. Since its establishment in 1987, AlM has disbursed over RM35.9bil to Malaysians (especially women), in its ongoing efforts to liberate the poor and low-income groups from poverty. - Bernama
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
AIM announces additional RM50 million fund allocation to Indian women entrepreneurs
KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has allocated an extra RM50 million to empower Indian women entrepreneurs through the second phase of the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN 2.0) programme. Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the additional allocation brings the total fund for the programme to RM100 million. He said PENN 2.0 was developed after the success of phase one of the PENN, which benefitted 6,247 Indian women with a total financing amount of RM42,725,640. 'From the 6,247 recipients of this fund, a total of 1,062 were new entrepreneurs. Therefore, the announcement of the additional fund allocation of this RM50 million will give opportunities to more Indian women to involve themselves in business and at the same time improve their standard of living,' he said. Ramanan said this at the launching ceremony of PENN 2.0 Empowering Indian Women Entrepreneurs at the AIM headquarters here today. PENN, which was launched on April 14 last year, is a government initiative through AIM as the implementing agency to empower Indian women, especially in the field of entrepreneurship. Ramanan said AIM is aiming that over 10,000 Indian women entrepreneurs in the country would benefit from this additional fund. According to him, the target of this fund is not only for new participants but this effort will also strengthen support for existing participants to expand their small businesses in various sectors including food, tailoring, beauty and community services. 'Entrepreneurs who have received PENN financing have generally succeeded in increasing their income by 20 to 30 per cent compared to before,' he added. Since its establishment in 1987, AlM has disbursed over RM35.9 billion to Malaysians (especially women), in its ongoing efforts to liberate the poor and low-income groups from poverty.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
RM50m fund allocation to Indian women entrepreneurs
KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has allocated an extra RM50 million to empower Indian women entrepreneurs through the second phase of the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN 2.0) programme. Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the additional allocation brings the total fund for the programme to RM100 million. He said PENN 2.0 was developed after the success of phase one of the PENN, which benefitted 6,247 Indian women with a total financing amount of RM42,725,640. 'From the 6,247 recipients of this fund, a total of 1,062 were new entrepreneurs. Therefore, the announcement of the additional fund allocation of this RM50 million will give opportunities to more Indian women to involve themselves in business and at the same time improve their standard of living,' he said. Ramanan said this at the launching ceremony of PENN 2.0 Empowering Indian Women Entrepreneurs at the AIM headquarters here today. PENN, which was launched on April 14 last year, is a government initiative through AIM as the implementing agency to empower Indian women, especially in the field of entrepreneurship. Ramanan said AIM is aiming that over 10,000 Indian women entrepreneurs in the country would benefit from this additional fund. According to him, the target of this fund is not only for new participants but this effort will also strengthen support for existing participants to expand their small businesses in various sectors including food, tailoring, beauty and community services. 'Entrepreneurs who have received PENN financing have generally succeeded in increasing their income by 20 to 30 per cent compared to before,' he added. Since its establishment in 1987, AlM has disbursed over RM35.9 billion to Malaysians (especially women), in its ongoing efforts to liberate the poor and low-income groups from poverty.
