Latest news with #BruneiDarussalam
Malay Mail
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Sports minister says Sukma 2026 to feature e-sports, chess, cricket, and kabaddi
SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — The 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor will feature the new sports of e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said. She shared that the four sports were approved at the SUKMA Supreme Council meeting that she chaired today, adding that boxing and softball were also selected as mandatory sports for SUKMA effective from the 2026 edition. 'This brings the number of mandatory sports to 30. With the four additional sports approved for SUKMA 2026, 34 sports will be contested,' she said at a media conference after chairing the meeting here today, as she noted that the decision was final and no additional appeals would be entertained. This would ensure that the organiser had sufficient time to prepare for the Games, scheduled for Aug 15 to 24, 2026 in Selangor, she added. The meeting today also approved the official participation of the Brunei Darussalam contingent in SUKMA 2026, but the number of sports will be determined by a special technical committee soon, while the State Youth and Sports Exco meeting, which was also held today, agreed that state participation for the Para SUKMA would be managed by state sports councils from 2026, replacing the state youth and sports department to ensure preparation of para athletes was more strategic and focused. Yeoh also shared that they would continue developing sports for women following the lack of female athletes and technical officials in SUKMA 2024 in Sarawak, with today's meeting agreeing that for every open event, participation of athletes of different genders were compulsory. 'For sports events contested at the Olympic Games, they will be held and not dropped according to previous SUKMA regulations even if the number of women athletes did not meet the minimum requirement of six states. 'This is a very important departure to encourage women sports continue to provide opportunities to compete, even with the lack of investment and funds from all states,' Yeoh said. Also, each state contingent has been asked to appoint a woman head of contingent or deputy head and to have a 20 per cent quota of female support officials for secretariat and medical duties beginning from SUKMA 2026. 'Selangor SUKMA will have at least 30 per cent female volunteers and 20 per cent female tournament technical officials. I feel this is a very inclusive Games and many will wait to see how this SUKMA is different from the ones before,' she added. — Bernama
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia U-23 squad crushes Brunei 7-1 in AFF Championship
THE Malaysian Under-23 (U-23) football squad revived their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the AFF U-23 Championship with a 7-1 goal fest against Brunei Darussalam at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium this evening. The strategy by head coach Nafuzi Zain, who made five changes from the starting line-up that lost to the Philippines in the opening match recently, saw the national squad deliver a dominant performance throughout the match. Malaysia opened the scoring as early as the third minute through Muhammad Danish Syamer Tajuddin, before a defensive error by Brunei saw the ball deflected into their own net a minute later, giving Malaysia a 2-0 advantage. Mohammad Haykal Danish Mohd Haizon found the back of the net in the 32nd minute, followed by a strike from Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli eight minutes later to give Malaysia a commanding 4-0 lead at halftime. Danish Hakimi Sahaludin then netted the fifth goal in the 69th minute following sustained pressure that forced a defensive blunder. Brunei earned a consolation goal through Muhammad Haziq Naqiuddin Syamra in the 74th minute, but Malaysia swiftly launched a counter-attack and struck again just two minutes later, with Fergus Tierney scoring the sixth goal for the country. Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli added Malaysia's seventh goal in the 89th minute, sealing a resounding victory for the national side. The three points not only boosted the spirit of the young squad but also kept their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive ahead of their final Group A match against Indonesia on July 21 at 8 pm local time (9 pm Malaysian time) - BERNAMA
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia thrash Brunei 7-1 to revive AFF U-23 semi-final hopes
THE Malaysian Under-23 (U-23) football squad revived their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the AFF U-23 Championship with a 7-1 goal fest against Brunei Darussalam at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium this evening. The strategy by head coach Nafuzi Zain, who made five changes from the starting line-up that lost to the Philippines in the opening match recently, saw the national squad deliver a dominant performance throughout the match. Malaysia opened the scoring as early as the third minute through Muhammad Danish Syamer Tajuddin, before a defensive error by Brunei saw the ball deflected into their own net a minute later, giving Malaysia a 2-0 advantage. Mohammad Haykal Danish Mohd Haizon found the back of the net in the 32nd minute, followed by a strike from Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli eight minutes later to give Malaysia a commanding 4-0 lead at halftime. Danish Hakimi Sahaludin then netted the fifth goal in the 69th minute following sustained pressure that forced a defensive blunder. Brunei earned a consolation goal through Muhammad Haziq Naqiuddin Syamra in the 74th minute, but Malaysia swiftly launched a counter-attack and struck again just two minutes later, with Fergus Tierney scoring the sixth goal for the country. Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli added Malaysia's seventh goal in the 89th minute, sealing a resounding victory for the national side. The three points not only boosted the spirit of the young squad but also kept their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive ahead of their final Group A match against Indonesia on July 21 at 8 pm local time (9 pm Malaysian time) - BERNAMA
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Morocco: His Majesty (HM) the King Congratulates Sultan of Brunei Darussalam on Birthday
His Majesty King Mohammed VI has sent a message of congratulations to the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, on the occasion of his birthday. In this message, His Majesty the King extends His warmest congratulations and sincere wishes for good health and happiness to the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and his esteemed royal family, as well as for progress and prosperity to his brotherly people, under his wise leadership. The Sovereign takes pride in the brotherly bonds and mutual esteem that unite the two brotherly peoples, as well as in the strong ties of fruitful cooperation and solidarity between their two nations. His Majesty the King also reaffirms His firm resolve to continue working alongside HM Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to further elevate these relations to the highest level, in fulfillment of the shared aspirations of both peoples for greater prosperity and well-being. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Malay Mail
05-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
All must understand horizontal and vertical integration of Asean — Phar Kim Being and Luthfy Hamzah
JULY 5 — As Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaches its midpoint in 2025, a more rigorous appraisal is necessary. Malaysia's efforts, including championing Timor Leste's entry into Asean and orchestrating the successful Asean-GCC-China Economic Summit from May 23 to 27, have drawn wide praise. But the real question remains: what structural reforms or regional frameworks have been solidified to ensure Asean's strategic direction is not only symbolic, but sustainable? Too often, Asean's Group Chairmanship has been assessed through a ceremonial lens — the number of summits hosted, joint communiqués released, or bilaterals scheduled. These are valid barometers, but insufficient. The more substantive measure should be how well the Chair understands and executes horizontal and vertical integration of Asean's regional architecture. All analysts must apply these metrics too, rather than focus solely on perennial issues such as tensions between Thailand and Cambodia or the South China Sea. These challenges will always be present for Asean and the related summits to address. A more scientific approach lies in understanding the horizontal and vertical integration of Asean. Horizontal expansion: Lessons from the past Since its founding on August 8, 1967, Asean's trajectory has been defined by periodic expansions. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1984, marking the second major phase of Asean's evolution after the original five members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, with its stable polity and hydrocarbon wealth, added value to Asean without posing internal or sub-systemic challenges. But the subsequent inclusion of Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam (CMLV) between 1997 and 1999 — often praised as the third horizontal expansion — brought deeper and more enduring complications. Despite the noble intentions of 'One Vision, One Identity, One Community,' the development gap between maritime Southeast Asia and continental Indochina remains unresolved. The Myanmar conundrum alone continues to haunt Asean. Each Group Chair, including Malaysia in 2025, inherits the same headache. The Five-Point Consensus forged in Jakarta during Brunei's 2021 chairmanship remains unfulfilled, especially its first commitment: a cessation of violence. In 2025, the Group Chair, namely Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has had to employ quiet diplomacy, leveraging Thailand's channels to engage both Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and hold a separate online dialogue with the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar. Though there were indications of the Tatmadaw's willingness to consider a longer ceasefire process, Malaysia was unfairly criticised for 'legitimising' the military junta — a criticism that ignores the humanitarian collapse inside Myanmar, compounded by a devastating earthquake and the rise of cybercriminal syndicates. Indeed, the rise of 'scamdemics' — criminal activities involving fraud, online scams, and forced labour in digital slavery — has become an alarming security and reputational threat to Asean. The United Nations now estimates these cross-border operations generate nearly US$70 billion annually. With operations rooted along the porous frontiers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and increasingly northern Thailand, these groups have undermined regional tourism and trust. Eighty to ninety per cent of mainland Chinese tourists now shun Thailand, especially Bangkok and Chiang Mai, citing safety concerns — an invisible but potent cost to Asean's brand equity. Another horizontal expansion: PNG? Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto recently suggested at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur that Papua New Guinea (PNG) could be embraced into Asean in the future. PNG, after all, has long been an observer of the Asean Regional Forum — a status shared by Timor Leste. This could potentially mark Asean's fourth horizontal expansion, pushing the bloc further into the Pacific. PNG shares land borders with Indonesia's Papua province. However, before enlarging the tent again, Asean must first ensure the house is in order. This is where vertical integration becomes the essential litmus test for a mature and future-ready Asean. Since its founding on August 8, 1967, Asean's trajectory has been defined by periodic expansions. — AFP pic Vertical integration: The real test of Asean Centrality The Asean Charter, adopted in 2008, enshrines the principle of Asean Centrality — the notion that Asean must lead in shaping the region's norms, policies, and institutional interactions. However, the substance of this centrality lies not in speeches or summitry, but in the actual vertical integration of institutions and systems. For example, AseanPOL must evolve beyond annual meetings into a transnational enforcement mechanism. It should resemble INTERPOL in its interoperability, facilitating real-time cooperation among national police forces to counter transnational crimes, human trafficking, cyber fraud, and illegal contraband. The recent surge in digital slavery and trafficking scams has exposed glaring holes in Asean's policing capabilities and inter-agency coordination. Similarly, strategic infrastructure such as the Asean Power Grid and the Trans-Asean Railway Network — both longstanding items on Asean's master plans — cannot succeed without policy alignment and skilled labour mobility. These megaprojects require a liberalised flow of blue- and white-collar workers across Asean borders. But current barriers, including immigration bottlenecks, labour certification issues, and mutual recognition gaps, continue to inhibit such mobility. Moreover, vertical integration demands digital interconnectivity. Asean aspires to be a single digital market, and Malaysia aims to be its AI-driven digital hub. This requires seamless internet backbone connections, cybersecurity protocols, and regulatory harmonisation across the region. In today's Fourth Industrial Revolution, data is power — and Asean must secure and synchronise its digital governance accordingly. Here, Malaysia has a real chance to lead. As Group Chair, it must accelerate Asean's mastery of the six As of the digital age: Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Algorithm, Apps-driven economy, Augmented Reality, and Analysis of Big Data. From blueprint to execution Much of this agenda is already embedded in Asean's various roadmaps: the Asean Master Plan on Connectivity 2010, the Asean 2025: Forging Ahead Together blueprint, and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045. But these plans must now be matched by political will and policy execution. Hosting 330 meetings annually does not guarantee progress. Asean must shift from being a conference community to a community of action. That shift begins with recognising that horizontal expansion without vertical consolidation only deepens the bloc's structural weakness. In contrast, meaningful vertical integration — from security cooperation and human capital development to infrastructure and digital harmonisation — can deliver the 'People-Oriented, People-Centred' Asean that every Chair claims to support. Preparing the ground for future chairs As Malaysia prepares to hand over the Group Chair role to the Philippines in 2026, and then Singapore in 2027, the legacy it leaves matters. If Malaysia's chairmanship is remembered solely for ceremonial milestones or photo opportunities, then Asean has missed another chance for renewal. But if Malaysia can demonstrate that deep institutional reforms and regional integration strategies were seeded and cultivated in 2025, then it would have set a powerful precedent — not just for Asean's future, but for the credibility of Asean's Group Chairmanship itself. Ultimately, Asean cannot afford to remain a loosely integrated bloc held together by communiqués and camaraderie. It must evolve — by design, not by crisis. And that evolution depends on chairmanships that understand the delicate but urgent balance between expanding the bloc horizontally and integrating it vertically. * Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is the Director of the Institute of Internationalisation and Asean Studies (IINTAS) at IIUM, and Lutfy Hamzah is a Senior Research Fellow at IINTAS. ** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
