Latest news with #ArulRajooDurarRaj
The Star
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Bangladesh looks to Malaysia's influence to address the Myanmar Rohingya crisis, says Yunus
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama): Bangladesh is seeking Malaysia's influence, particularly its role as Asean Chair, to rally international efforts to address the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis in the country. Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said Malaysia's experience in hosting Rohingya refugees, coupled with its leadership position in Asean, places it in a unique position to push for a comprehensive regional solution. "We are hoping that Malaysia will put its influence in the whole negotiation to make sure that we can overcome this problem,' he told the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in a special interview before concluding his official visit to Malaysia. The interview with the 2006 Nobel Prize laureate was led by Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. Yunus also warned that the refugee crisis has deepened amid ongoing fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the Arakan Army and government forces, forcing fresh waves of Rohingyas fleeing across the border into Bangladesh. "In the last 18 months alone, 150,000 new Rohingyas have arrived, in addition to the 1.2 million already in Bangladesh. "It becomes more and more acute. And worst of it, the US cut off all the funds to maintain them. So that is a huge problem for us,' he said. The Chief Adviser said three international conferences on the Rohingya will be convened in the coming months to seek a sustainable solution. The first is scheduled in Cox's Bazar at the end of this month, coinciding with the eighth anniversary of Bangladesh assuming responsibility for hosting Rohingya refugees fleeing hostilities in their home state. The second high-level meeting will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, while the third is planned for year-end in Doha, Qatar. Repatriation efforts have made little progress, further complicated by the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since 2021. The protracted humanitarian crisis continues to affect not only Bangladesh but also several Asean member states, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Malaysia, though not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, continues to temporarily host nearly 150,000 Rohingya refugees on a humanitarian basis. The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 following a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, which triggered a mass exodus of Rohingya into Bangladesh. - Bernama
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Health
- Barnama
Malaysia Stresses Equity In Global Health, Climate At BRICS Summit
From Arul Rajoo Durar Raj RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia believes that vaccine access, strong public health systems and the regulation of global medical supply chains are central to both national stability and international security. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that when governments divert limited resources from essential services such as healthcare and clean water to service historical debts, financial systems designed to foster development instead hinder progress. 'Let us begin with a hard truth. In too much of the world, life expectancy remains shaped not by biology, but by income. 'The fact that a child's chance of surviving past the age of five is still largely determined by GDP per capita represents a failure for us all,' he said during his intervention at the 'Environment, COP30 and Global Health' session of the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit here today. Malaysia, he said, welcomes the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases. 'It reflects a clear understanding that disease cannot be meaningfully addressed without tackling the conditions that entrench it,' said Anwar. The premier voiced Malaysia's support for deeper collaboration between BRICS and ASEAN to strengthen surveillance, accelerate knowledge transfer, and build resilience across borders. He also reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to a credible and just low-carbon transition, highlighting the country's pledge to reduce emissions intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia, Egypt And South Africa Call For Immediate End To Israeli Aggression In Gaza
GENERAL From Arul Rajoo Durar Raj RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia stands united with Egypt and South Africa in demanding an immediate halt to all forms of aggression and oppression by the Israeli regime in Gaza. This common stance was reaffirmed during separate meetings between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly, as well as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Speaking from the BRICS Leaders' Summit, Anwar said both Malaysia and Egypt agreed that the international community must no longer remain silent in the face of ongoing human rights violations. During his meeting with Ramaphosa, Anwar also expressed Malaysia's deep appreciation for South Africa's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, including its firm stance at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africa was the first country to bring Israel before the ICJ over the genocide in Gaza, which has claimed more than 56,000 lives and devastated the region. Anwar added that both the Egyptian and South African leaders shared a commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties through cooperation in multiple sectors. Malaysia and South Africa agreed to review existing partnerships and explore new avenues to expand strategic investments in the agriculture, automotive, tourism and halal industries. Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to deepening ties with South Africa as a key trading partner on the African continent, in line with the spirit of South-South solidarity and cross-continental MADANI cooperation.
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Anwar, Modi Discuss Trade And Investment Potential, Proposed IIT Campus In Malaysia
BUSINESS From Arul Rajoo Durar Raj RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, held on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit here on Sunday (Monday morning in Malaysia), touched on trade and investment opportunities as well as the proposed establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Malaysia. 'We discussed the significant potential for expanding strategic cooperation between Malaysia and India in various fields, including trade, investment, digital technology, and defence,' Anwar said in a statement released after their meeting. He also welcomed Indian companies' interest in investing in future-oriented sectors in Malaysia such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and the aerospace industry. 'We are also committed to continuing to strengthen people-to-people relations through cooperation in the areas of culture, tourism, and education, which includes the proposal to set up the IIT campus in Malaysia,' he said. IITs are a group of premier engineering and technology institutes in India. Both leaders also emphasised the importance of ensuring regional peace and stability, and expressed support for just and peaceful resolutions to international issues such as Palestine and Jammu-Kashmir. Anwar said Malaysia welcomed efforts to strengthen ASEAN–India relations with the ASEAN–India Summit scheduled to be held in October, in line with the spirit of cooperation for mutual benefit. 'May the strong ties between Malaysia and India continue to grow for the benefit and well-being of the people of both nations,' he added.
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia Continues Calling For Global Action And Justice In Gaza
From Arul Rajoo Durar Raj RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has once again called on the international community to break its silence on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continued oppression of the Iranian people. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the BRICS grouping, for one, must rise as a global voice for justice, rejecting all forms of oppression and upholding human dignity. He made the call during the intervention session on the first day of the BRICS Leaders' Summit here on Sunday. The summit focuses on strengthening multilateralism, pushing for reforms in the global economic and financial systems, and promoting ethical governance of artificial intelligence (AI). 'During the intervention, I reiterated Malaysia's stance that the world's future must not be dictated by bloc rivalries or geopolitical division. Instead, it should be shaped by a spirit of cooperation, shared prosperity, and a collective commitment to a just, secure, and inclusive digital future for all,' Anwar said. As of July 3, 2025, nearly 58,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in the Gaza war, which began in October 2023. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during the Peace and Security, Global Governance Session at the summit, also spoke about the conflict in Gaza, Iran and Ukraine. 'Absolutely nothing justifies the terrorist actions perpetrated by Hamas.
