Latest news with #Ceapad
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysia channels US$1mil to UNRWA and Palestinian Red Crescent
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has announced a US$1 million (RM4.25 million) contribution to be channelled to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said this is in addition to the US$16 million that had already been channelled for the Palestinian people since September 2023. He said this was conveyed during the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (Ceapad), attended by Palestine Planning and International Cooperation Minister Dr Estephan Salameh. "We reaffirmed our strong support for Palestinians' right to self-determination, amid the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly Gaza, with the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan 2025. "Through the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan, collective regional assistance will be galvanised to urgently address Palestinians' needs. "This Action Plan will guide members of Ceapad in assisting Palestine in areas, among others, humanitarian aid, reconstruction and state-building through capacity-building and technical cooperation," he said in a press conference here tonight following the conclusion of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. He also reaffirmed Malaysia's long-standing principled position on Palestinians' right to self-determination through the swift establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mohamad also called upon the remaining 46 states that have yet to recognise Palestine to do so without any preconditions, and to support Palestine's admission as a full member of the United Nations without any further delay. "Malaysia is committed to assisting Palestine through targeted assistance, focusing on humanitarian aid, reconstruction and state-building as well as youth development.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Myanmar elections only possible when unrest settles, says Tok Mat
KUALA LUMPUR: Any elections being held in conflict-stricken Myanmar must be impartial and inclusive, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister said peace and the cessation of hostilities must be a priority before any elections take place. "Elections have to be inclusive, including everybody and all political parties. All stakeholders must be able to participate. "Any elections held without prior inclusive dialogue and political agreement with all Myanmar stakeholders are likely to worsen the conflict and not be seen as credible or legitimate," he said on the last day of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings here on Friday (July 11). Mohamad also said he is scheduled to visit Nay Pyi Taw in the coming months. Malaysia, he said, expressed concerns that the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus is still lacking. He said three of the five points fall on stakeholders to implement them. They are the cessation of hostilities and violence; inclusive dialogue including all parties concerned; and humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar. "Malaysia has continuously called on the SAC, as the de-facto party in power, to show leadership and sincerity in committing towards peace and creating a conducive environment for inclusive political dialogue," he said. 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. Mohamad, who also co-chaired the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (Ceapad), said assistance would be galvanised regionally to urgently address Palestine's needs. He said this will be done through the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan. "This will guide Ceapad members in assisting Palestine in areas including humanitarian aid, reconstruction and state building," he said at a press conference. As Asean chair, he called on the remaining 46 states that have yet to recognise the state of Palestine to do without any preconditions and support Palestine's admission as a full United Nations member. Mohamad also announced that Malaysia would be contributing an additional US$1mil to be channelled to the UNRWA and the Palestinian Red Crescent. This is on top of the previous US$16mil contribution channelled for the Palestinians since 2023.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore to launch 2 new initiatives in 2026 to support the Palestinian Authority
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on July 11 that the first initiative would be carried out in collaboration with Japan's International Cooperation Agency. KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore will launch two new initiatives in 2026 to support the Palestinian Authority, including a programme to train civilian officers, as part of efforts to help prepare the Palestinian people for eventual statehood. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on July 11 that the first initiative would be carried out in collaboration with Japan's International Cooperation Agency, and will involve training the Palestinian Civil Police Force on community policing. Singapore will also be organising a programme for young and emerging Palestinian leaders to share the Republic's experience in governance and public administration, Dr Balakrishnan said. 'We look forward to doing more to support the Palestinian Authority where we can,' he added. He was speaking at the fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (Ceapad), held in conjunction with the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The previous conference was held in 2018 in Bangkok. Launched by Japan in 2013, Ceapad brings together Japan, South Korea and Asean members except Myanmar to coordinate support for Palestinian development. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Nuclear safety research gets boost with new institute, $66m funding as S'pore weighs energy viability Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide Business OCBC CEO Helen Wong to retire on Dec 31; Tan Teck Long named successor Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Opinion The unspoken reason people sometimes quit their jobs: Loneliness Singapore S'porean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Singapore has been a Ceapad member from the beginning. At its inaugural meeting in 2013, the Republic announced it would give the Palestinian Authority (PA) $5 million under the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP). This was doubled to $10 million in 2016 during then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Ramallah, the PA's de facto capital in the West Bank. To date, more than 800 Palestinian officials have benefitted from ETAP-funded training courses and study visits in areas such as public administration, digitalisation, and public health. The programme has also supported postgraduate scholarships for Palestinian officials in Singapore, and will soon be expanded to include undergraduate scholarships in STEM-related fields. Dr Balakrishnan said these efforts aim to build capacity and human capital in preparation for eventual statehood. He added: 'Gaza's needs will be massive. Singapore will do what we can to help.' At the meeting, he reaffirmed Singapore's long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , consistent with UN Security Council resolutions. Dr Balakrishnan said that it was the only viable pathway towards a 'durable, just, and comprehensive solution' where both Palestinians and Israelis can live alongside each other in peace, dignity and security. At the meeting, Dr Balakrishnan also reiterated the group's deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Middle-East conflict. 'We urgently reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the swift and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid,' he said. The war in Gaza erupted in October 2023 after a cross-border attack by Hamas militants triggered heavy Israeli retaliation. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and much of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed. The scale of civilian casualties and the risk of famine have sparked global calls for a ceasefire and for urgent humanitarian support.
