Latest news with #Asean
The Star
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia hosts largest ever higher education fair in Indonesia
JAKARTA, July 13 (Bernama): Malaysia is holding the largest-ever higher education fair in Indonesia, aiming to attract more Indonesian students and boost regional academic cooperation under its 2025 Asean Chairmanship. The Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2025 fair organised by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) is taking place in Central Jakarta from July 12 to 13 and in Bekasi, West Java on July 15. The fair features 21 Malaysian universities and showcases the country's close geographical proximity, affordable tuition fees, and globally recognised institutions. The fair is expected to attract some 2,000 visitors. Prospective students have the opportunity to get advice and conditional offer letters. Established in 2012, EMGS operates under Malaysia's Higher Education Ministry to promote the country as a global education hub. A total of seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Malaysian and Indonesian universities, including Universiti Utara Malaysia with Universitas Airlangga, Asia e University with Universitas Hasanuddin, and Lincoln University College with Universitas Borneo Lestari. "Malaysia continues to strengthen regional academic mobility through initiatives such as the Graduate Pass, which offers a one-year post-study visa for graduates from 32 countries, including Indonesia,' said Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim at the fair. He also highlighted the Asean Global Exchange Mobility and Scholarship (ASEAN GEMS) platform, which connects students with over 300 scholarship providers across Asean, offering total commitments of more than RM19 million. Also present at the event was Minister Counsellor (Education) at the Malaysian Embassy Dr Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri. "Malaysia offers internationally recognised institutions, a reasonable cost of living, and strong cultural ties with Indonesia, making it an ideal and comfortable destination for Indonesian students,' said EMGS chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin. He pointed out that several Malaysian universities feature in the QS World University Rankings 2026, Kuala Lumpur ranks among the top 25 student cities globally, and Malaysia is 13th in the 2025 Global Peace Index, underscoring its safety and appeal as a study destination. Indonesia remains one of the top sources of international student applications to Malaysia, with around 11,445 Indonesian students currently enrolled, he added. -- Bernama
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Zahid to embark on working visit to New Zealand, focusing on bilateral ties
AUCKLAND: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be on a five-day working visit to New Zealand starting tomorrow until July 18. The Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mazita Marzuki said Zahid's visit is part of the government's ongoing commitment to further strengthen bilateral diplomatic relations that have been established for 68 years with New Zealand. The visit, she said, focuses on exploring opportunities for strategic cooperation covering various fields including defence, agriculture, education, halal industry as well as strategic cooperation. "This visit is expected to further strengthen the long-standing Malaysia-New Zealand bilateral relations across various areas of cooperation. "It also symbolises the continuation of the highest-level exchange of visits between the two countries, including the working visit by former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir on May 2 to 4 in 2023," she said at a press conference here today. Obviously, it includes the continuation of the working visit by former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, cum Foreign Minister of New Zealand to Malaysia on June 6-9 2024; as well as the official visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Malaysia on Sept 1-3 2024. Zahid will also be accompanied by a delegation consisting of senior Malaysian government officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department. Mazita said that among the main contents of Zahid's visit are meetings with New Zealand's top leaders on July 16–17 in Wellington. He is expected to meet New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka as well as Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay. The visit will also include Zahid's participation as chairman of the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH) in a halal forum jointly organised by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) which will witness the signing of a cooperation document between Malaysia and New Zealand on higher education. "In addition, it will also involve engagement sessions with New Zealand industry and business leaders including the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) and the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Corporation (NZTE)," she said. Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), will be visiting National Crisis Management Centre and will hold a Roundtable Session with the Māori community in Rotorua, she said. Zahid will also meet 250 members of the Malaysian community in New Zealand who are residents of the country. "This visit is seen as very much in line with Malaysia's role as Asen Chair for 2025. "It provides an opportunity for the Malaysian government to share initial achievements, directions and priorities under the theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability" within the Asean regional framework. "This visit thus reflects the government's commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations, promoting national interests and strengthening strategic cooperation between Malaysia and New Zealand," she said. The last time a Malaysian top leader visited New Zealand was the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was the prime minister at the time in March 2005.
The Star
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Human Writes: Deadly road crashes every few minutes
Early this month, the football world was left shocked and devastated by the tragic death of Diogo Jota, who died with his brother, André Silva, 25, when their car crashed and caught fire in Spain. At 28, Jota was at the peak of his career. He had celebrated so much in recent weeks, including winning the English Premier League with Liverpool and the Nations League with Portugal, as well as marrying his childhood sweetheart and long-term partner 11 days earlier. The disbelief has been deep, as has the outpouring of grief. People have struggled to take in how a talented player was killed in his prime, when he still had so much to live for and give. 'It doesn't make sense,' Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo said. This was indeed a terrible tragedy. But the harsh reality is that, fame aside, this is heartbreakingly common. Every day, countless young lives end in a horrific fate on the road. Their stories rarely make headlines, but the pain and loss felt by their families runs deep. Globally, road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young people and children (aged five to 29), with more than a million deaths annually. Malaysia ranks high in road fatalities, both globally and regionally (second highest among Asean countries). We seem to view road deaths as unavoidable, as just 'accidents' or isolated incidents. The reality is that driving is inherently risky, and we should see it as a systemic issue that needs addressing rather than simply blaming drivers. Some countries have significantly reduced road deaths by proactively working towards a safe system (which also involves safer road design and policies such as speed limits of 30kph in residential areas). It's ironic that despite the statistics, people are so shocked when a famous person dies on the road. When Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, the global disbelief was so deep that conspiracy theories flourished, speculating about a secret plot to kill her. Yet the causes behind that crash were among the most common factors of road fatalities: Speeding – higher speeds increase the risk and severity of injuries in a car crash. At the time of the crash, the car carrying Diana was speeding at over 100kph, twice the speed limit for that area, in an attempt to evade paparazzi. Lack of seat belts – Diana and the other occupants of the car were not wearing seat belts. An unbelted passenger can become a projectile in a crash. Drunk driving – even small amounts of alcohol (or drugs) can impact reaction times and judgment. The driver, who lost control of the car, had a blood alcohol content three times higher than the legal limit in France and was also taking prescribed tranquillisers. Speeding has also been cited as a top cause of road deaths in Malaysia, in addition to dangerous turning and overtaking. Rear seat belt use is particularly low in Malaysia; one expert said last week it was as low as 10%. Drunk driving is less of an issue here, but drug use (stimulants) among commercial drivers has been identified as an issue. Also, both Diana and Jota died in crashes that occurred shortly after midnight, when fatigue and visibility are more of an issue. In Jota's case, which is still under investigation, police said a tyre blowout on his Lamborghini during overtaking caused the car to veer off the road and burst into flames. Tyre blowouts are a common precursor to serious crashes. The road of the crash site has been criticised for having potholes while authorities are also investigating 'possible speeding'. What feels particularly tragic to me is that Jota was advised by doctors to drive rather than fly after recent minor surgery on his lung. So with his brother, also an international footballer, he planned to drive over 600km from Porto, Portugal, to Santander in Spain, to catch a ferry to England. It was a fatal choice. If road safety had been considered, perhaps the odds might have been in favour of flying, given that deaths from commercial aircraft crashes are very low. Football will eventually move on, but for Jota's parents, who have lost their only children, and his widow, who now has to raise their three kids alone, this tragedy will leave a lasting void and ache. The news of Jota's death brought back memories for my aunt of the loss of her own brother decades ago. My uncle was just 22 when he was killed on a road trip to Penang, caught in a crash between two lorries. His death was deeply felt, but he was just one number in a sad statistic. In the time you've taken to read this article, a few more crashes would have occurred. As reported in The Star in March, every 50 seconds there is a road incident, and every two hours, another road death. How long more will we allow this to go on? Mangai Balasegaram writes mostly on health, but also delves into anything on being human. She has worked with international public health bodies and has a Masters in public health. Write to her at lifestyle@ The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Britain is on a clear mission to reconnect with the Asia-Pacific
Last year, just three weeks into my new job, I visited Laos for the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting. I did so with a clear mission: to reconnect the United Kingdom with the Indo-Pacific. I said then that I would be back. And I've kept that promise. I've just completed my fifth visit to the region, covering 10 countries – from India to Indonesia, Samoa to Singapore. This matters to the UK because this region is where the 21st century economy is being forged. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for example, is set to be the fastest-growing economic bloc this decade – no surprise, given the region's embrace of technology. I saw this clearly in Singapore. From the early days of the national computerisation committee to the Smart Nation initiative and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy , Singapore has consistently been ahead of the curve. But this story is not just about Singapore. Whether meeting entrepreneurs in India or seeing British investment in a bustling Jakarta metro station, I've seen many examples this past year of the dynamism of the Indo-Pacific. It's no surprise to me that Asean is already the world's fifth-largest economy. And with half the bloc's population aged under 30, it's only just getting started. 04:41 'Asean's moment is now': Malaysia's Anwar on the bloc's response to AI, tariff challenges 'Asean's moment is now': Malaysia's Anwar on the bloc's response to AI, tariff challenges The UK's Labour government, elected last year, is seizing the opportunities offered by new technology too. The UK is home to Europe's largest tech sector, and we're investing in the future. Our new Industrial Strategy targets high-growth sectors like digital technology, while our AI Opportunities Action Plan too seeks to strengthen our AI capabilities by supporting pioneering British AI firms.
The Star
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Chinese foreign minister elaborates on South China Sea issue
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday (July 12) spoke to reporters about the South China Sea issue in response to questions while attending annual Asean Plus foreign ministers' meetings here. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the South China Sea issue is discussed every year at the meetings, and this year was no exception. "What struck me most this time is the clear temperature difference between regional countries and a few countries from outside the region." At the China-Asean foreign ministers' meeting, the discussion on the South China Sea was held in a more calm and confident manner, becasse compared with other seas in the world, the South China Sea is clearly stable. There are no problems with freedom of navigation and overflight, Wang said Some countries outside the region continue to make irresponsible remarks about the South China Sea. Although their tone has notably softened this year, they have not stopped, he said, adding tt seems they fear the South China Sea will not be chaotic. Regional countries are now well aware of these "old tricks." Wang said he proposed that a new narrative should be built for the South China Sea. We should not always associate the South China Sea with friction, conflict, or confrontation, but with peace, stability, and cooperation. This should become the mainstream narrative in the future, stated the Chinese foreign minister. China and Asean countries are working toward this direction, he said, adding there is still one country that seems out of sync with the others, but I believe it will come to eventually understand. Acting as a pawn for others will only lead to being sacrificed. Wang said that China and Asean countries have agreed to upgrade the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) by formulating a Code of Conduct (COC) that is effective, substantive, and consistent with international law. All sides also agreed to strive to conclude the COC as scheduled next year, he said. In the next stage, consultations will become more frequent, and the process will speed up. We have the confidence, capability, and wisdom to maintain stability in the South China Sea, remove external interference, and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Wang emphasized that during the meetings, he also elaborated on China's position regarding the so-called South China Sea arbitration case. This arbitration case has serious flaws in terms of fact-finding and application of law. It carried out actions that violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea under the name of the convention itself, and its damage to regional peace and stability as well as the maritime order has become increasingly evident. Wang stated that we must ask: if compulsory arbitration can be abused, is there still value in diplomatic efforts? Should bilateral consultations be abandoned? Do commitments under the DOC still count? If territorial sovereignty and maritime demarcation issues are submitted for arbitration, should the exclusive declarations under the convention still be respected? Does an agreement between China and the Philippines to resolve disputes through dialogue still hold? And if all islands and reefs in the South China Sea are denied maritime entitlements, should the world's maritime map be redrawn? In fact, this so-called arbitration case is a political manipulation and should be thrown into the trash heap of history, Wang said. - Xinhua
