Latest news with #Datuk
The Star
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
From Gaza to South China Sea: Malaysians laud Anwar's bold Asean diplomacy
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Chairmanship of Asean this year has been hailed as a diplomatic success, marked by strong joint statements reflecting unity among member states, especially in addressing pressing global humanitarian and regional security issues. Even the general Malaysian public praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's bold leadership, particularly on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His firm stance, they noted, garnered support from Asean leaders, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China, culminating in a unified statement condemning violence against civilians. Pensioner Minati Hamir, 70, said she fully supports the government's unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights of Palestinians who have long suffered under prolonged conflict. "As Asean Chair, Malaysia has a powerful platform to push for more effective regional diplomacy and global awareness campaigns. "Support for Gaza must extend beyond Muslim nations. This is a humanitarian crisis that demands action and solidarity from all nations that uphold justice, regardless of religion or ethnicity,' she told Bernama when contacted. Minati, who is also a former school principal, also called on the government to broaden awareness campaigns, particularly among the younger generation, so the atrocities and suffering in Gaza are never forgotten. Sharing her sentiments, Anni Holilah Syahuddin, 23, a public university student, expressed hope that the recent summit resolutions would lead to peace in Gaza. "The bloodshed feels endless. I hope their decades-long suffering will finally end with liberation from Israeli occupation,' she said. Lauren Yee, 35, a private sector employee, congratulated the Prime Minister for his effective diplomacy as Asean Chair, especially in managing complex regional issues such as tensions in the South China Sea. "As Malaysians, we hope peaceful resolutions can be achieved through diplomacy, particularly since China is one of our key trading partners. In today's uncertain global economy, maintaining regional stability is crucial,' she said. Yee also expressed confidence in Anwar's ability to navigate international affairs with diplomacy and credibility. "We need wise, credible leadership to maintain regional cooperation and stability. Asean may be small geographically, but we must project unity and strength in the face of global geopolitical challenges,' she added. Meanwhile, Lim San Shien, 25, a Government's Unity Ambassador and National Bahasa Melayu Icon, said Malaysia's successful hosting of the Asean Summit reaffirmed Asean Centrality, positioning the region as a hub of peace, security, and robust economic cooperation. "This summit also addressed youth issues. I hope young people, as the future of Asean, will be further empowered through initiatives that develop talent, encourage dialogue, and enable skills-sharing,' he said. Lim pointed to the launch of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045: Our Shared Future as a significant outcome - a roadmap for deeper bilateral and multilateral cooperation across sectors, including economics and socio-cultural development. "Malaysia must mainstream Asean's values, identity, and unity, and show that we can navigate complex geopolitical and geo-economic environments together,' he added. The Prime Minister, in his exit press conference after the conclusion of the summit, credited the success of the 46th Asean Summit to collective effort and team spirit across government and society. Anwar said the smooth organisation of the preparatory meetings, the summit and related summits from May 23 to 27 was the result of exceptional commitment from government machinery and the public's shared understanding of Malaysia's regional role as Asean Chair 2025 under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. - Bernama
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Cultural welcome at KKIA marks Kaamatan Festival and gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026
Tourists arriving at KKIA receiving goodie bags from Tourism Malaysia. KOTA KINABALU (May 30): In celebration of Sabah's iconic Kaamatan Festival and in anticipation of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, Tourism Malaysia Sabah hosted a special welcoming event at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), showcasing the richness of local culture and tradition to arriving travellers. Throughout the day, 27 flights touched down during the event period, bringing in visitors from Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and across Malaysia. An estimated 930 international and 4,933 domestic passengers were greeted with festive cheer and immersive cultural experiences. Arriving guests were treated to traditional Magunatip (bamboo dance) and KadazanDusun performances, alongside tastings of local delicacies such as tapai (fermented glutinous rice), offering them an authentic slice of Sabah's heritage. The event was officially launched with a symbolic gong-beating ceremony by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The celebration also featured a traditional winnowing of rice by distinguished guests and a Kulintangan music performance, encapsulating the spirit of the Kaamatan Festival. Among the dignitaries present were Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah; Jefry Ramli, Senior Airport Manager of KKIA; Bobby Alex @ William, Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board; Alex Chong, Deputy Chairman of MATTA Sabah Chapter; Vincent Sia, Chairman of the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chapter; and Melanie Chu, Chairman of the Sabah Tourist Association (STA), along with representatives from various airlines. Celebrated annually in May, the Kaamatan Festival honours the rice spirit Bambaazon and is a time for thanksgiving, unity and cultural pride among Sabah's indigenous communities. This initiative aligns with Tourism Malaysia's mission to enhance cultural tourism and elevate visitor experiences ahead of VM2026. Malaysia's tourism industry continues to show robust recovery and growth. In 2024, the country welcomed 38 million international visitors — a 31.1 per cent increase from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Visitor receipts surged to RM106.78 billion, marking a 43.7 per cent rise from 2023 and a 20 per cent increase over 2019. The positive momentum has carried into 2025, with 13.4 million tourist arrivals recorded in the first four months — a 21 per cent year-on-year growth. The top ten visitor markets from January to April were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ex-MMEA director jailed 20 months for accepting RM10,000 bribe
JOHOR BARU: A former Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director was today sentenced to 20 months in prison by the Sessions Court here for accepting a RM10,000 bribe five years ago. Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail found Mohd Zulfadli Nayan, 44, guilty after ruling that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence stage. "After hearing and considering all the evidence, the court is of the view that the accused has failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case. "The court therefore finds the accused guilty and convicts him of the charge," he said, ordering Mohd Zulfadli to begin serving his sentence today. Lawyer Mohd Fazaly Ali Mohd Ghazaly, representing Mohd Zulfadli, formerly Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone MMEA director, requested for a stay of the execution of the jail sentence, but it was dismissed. Earlier, during mitigation, the lawyer requested the court to impose a fine on his client, who has four children aged three to 11 to support. He said Mohd Zulfadli was suspended from work as senior assistant director of the International Relations and Coordination Branch at the MMEA Headquarters on May 23, 2021, and had since been working as an e-hailing driver and taking an electrical wiring job, earning between RM2,000 and RM3,000 a month. "He also suffers from gout, serious migraines and gastritis for which he has to take his medication regularly," said the lawyer. Deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), prosecuted. On May 23, 2021, Mohd Zulfadli claimed trial on a charge of accepting a cash bribe of RM10,000 from a shipping company owner, Wan Mohd Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin, at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal here at 10 pm on Oct 2, 2020. He was alleged to have used his position at the time to refrain from taking action in an investigation involving the vessel MT 'Singa Gangsa', owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd. The ship was detained by 'KM Mulia' of the MMEA's Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone on Sept 17, 2020. He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Former MMEA director jailed 20 months for bribery
JOHOR BAHRU: A former Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director was today sentenced to 20 months in prison by the Sessions Court here for accepting a bribe of RM10,000 five years ago. Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail ruled Mohd Zulfadli Nayan, 44, guilty after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case. 'After hearing and considering all the evidence, the court opines that the accused failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case. The court ruled that the accused is found guilty and convicted of the charge,' he said and ordered Mohd Zulfadli to serve the sentence from today. Lawyer Mohd Fazaly Ali Mohd Ghazaly, representing Mohd Zulfadli, formerly Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone MMEA director, requested for stay of the execution of the jail sentence, but it was dismissed. Earlier, during mitigation, the lawyer requested the court to impose a fine on his client, who has four children aged three to 11 to support. He said Mohd Zulfadli was suspended from work as senior assistant director of the International Relations and Coordination Branch at the MMEA Headquarters on May 23, 2021, and had since been working as an e-hailing driver and taking an electrical wiring job, earning between RM2,000 and RM3,000 a month. 'He also suffers from gout, serious migraines and gastritis for which he has to take his medication regularly,' said the lawyer. Deputy Public Prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), appeared for the prosecution. On May 23, 2021, Mohd Zulfadli claimed trial on a charge of accepting a cash bribe of RM10,000 from a shipping company owner, Wan Mohd Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin, at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal here at 10 pm on Oct 2, 2020. He was alleged to have used his position at the time to refrain from taking action in an investigation involving the vessel MT 'Singa Gangsa', owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd. The ship was detained by 'KM Mulia' of the MMEA's Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone on Sept 17, 2020. He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction. On December 18 last year, Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin ordered him to enter his defence after finding the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Day 4 of SPIC MACAY musical event a treat to all the senses
The fourth day of the 10th International Convention of SPIC MACAY at IIT Hyderabad kicked off with the same vibrant energy and spiritual pulse as Day 3. First up was an Odissi performance by Padma Shri Datuk Ramli Ibrahim. Conceptualised and choreographed by the maestro himself, the piece was a poetic celebration of 'Basant Ritu' — spring in all its blossoming glory. Draped in hues of red and orange, dancers brought Radha and Krishna to life against the rhythms of awakening nature. This moved into a powerful depiction of Surya, the Sun God, in his chariot of seven horses, a symbolic fusion of Vedic cosmology and classical dance. The maestro's vision and the ensemble's grace transported the audience into a realm where devotion and nature converged. The energy then shifted, but also stayed just as intense, with an electrifying Pung Cholom performance by Khumukchan Romendro Singh. It was rhythm, precision, and spiritual intensity rolled into one. With acrobatic leaps, spinning pirouettes, and that hypnotic blend of dance and drumming, he demonstrated the sacred precision of the Manipuri tradition, rooted in Nata Sankirtana. Every beat was more than rhythm — it was a prayer. The audience watched in awe as art became meditation, and movement became mantra.
