Latest news with #MohamadHassan
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia seeks successful negotiations with US to lower tariffs, says Tok Mat
SEREMBAN: Malaysia hopes its negotiations with the United States for lower tariffs will be successful and not in any way jeopardise the good ties and trade relations both countries enjoy, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan. The Foreign Minister stated that Malaysia, which has until Aug 1 to reach an agreement, would continue to make its case for lower tariffs than those currently proposed, for the benefit of both countries. "Malaysia is a strategic partner to both the US and many other nations. "We are still talking about lowering the proposed tariffs, and we do not want this to affect the good bilateral ties that we currently enjoy," he told reporters after presenting financial aid to poor families and students in Rantau near here on Thursday (July 17). Mohamad expressed hope that an agreement could be reached between the two sides that would be mutually beneficial. "We need to ensure that we are able to preserve the good ties we have for the future," he said. Mohamad was asked to comment on the US's decision to lower tariffs on exports from Vietnam and Indonesia to 20% and 19% respectively. Vietnam was initially slapped with a 46% tariff, and Indonesia, 32%. Malaysia, which was slapped with a 24% rate in April, had this increased to 25% despite initial talks between representatives of both countries. Mohamad said that although the US had announced a lower tariff of 19% for Indonesia, this was made unilaterally by President Donald Trump. "I understand that talks between them are still ongoing and that Indonesia will issue their own statement," he said. Mohamad said talks to lower tariffs should not be centred on trade aspects alone. "The scope has to be expanded and should not only focus on trade but on sovereignty and related issues," he said. On Wednesday (July 16), Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Malaysians should be realistic in their expectations regarding tariff talks with the US, as there are certain issues that Putrajaya would never compromise on. Mohamad said Asean has a shared policy of inclusiveness, so any effort to divide member countries would be seen as unhealthy. "We hope the negotiations (between the US and other nations) will not reach a point of dividing us or lead to problems in bilateral relations," he added.
Economic Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
‘Stop Israel now or…': Malaysia blasts Netanyahu at global stage, calls Gaza war genocide
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan slammed Israel at the East Asia Summit, accusing it of genocide in Gaza and decades of illegal occupation. In a fiery speech, he urged the global community to act and 'Stop Israel Now.' As ASEAN chair, Malaysia has consistently condemned Israel's actions and called for peace. The summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, includes 18 nations from East, South, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with key global powers in attendance. Show more 03:28 03:17 14:41 04:45 01:07 03:16 04:02 05:36 12:03 03:56 15:25 09:04 03:52 10:16 03:06 03:02 03:01 02:30 05:14 03:10 04:30 04:22 03:01 02:14 04:29 09:07 10:26
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Stop Israel now or…': Malaysia blasts Netanyahu at global stage, calls Gaza war genocide
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan slammed Israel at the East Asia Summit, accusing it of genocide in Gaza and decades of illegal occupation. In a fiery speech, he urged the global community to act and 'Stop Israel Now.' As ASEAN chair, Malaysia has consistently condemned Israel's actions and called for peace. The summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, includes 18 nations from East, South, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with key global powers in attendance. Show more Show less
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Stop Israel Now': Muslim Nation DESTROYS Netanyahu On Global Stage; Malaysia FM's Fiery Gaza Speech
/ Jul 11, 2025, 02:12PM IST Malaysia's foreign minister accused Israel of openly committing genocide in Gaza. Speaking at the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Mohamad Hassan condemned decades of what he called an unjust and illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. He urged the international community to stop the violence immediately. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia has repeatedly criticized Israel and called for peace. The summit includes 18 countries from East, South, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with key global partners attending.#malaysia #netanyahu #gazastrip #kualalumpur #HagueGroup #BogotaMeeting #EmergencySummit #GlobalActionForGaza #InternationalSolidarity #StopTheWarOnGaza #CeasefireNow #AccountabilityForIsrael #JusticeForPalestine #WarCrimesInvestigation
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
SEANWFZ's real challenge is to stop the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock was moved forward by one second to 89 seconds before midnight last January, signalling that the world is getting closer to an unprecedented catastrophe. The clock, which considers various existential threats, especially nuclear war, was last moved in January 2023, when the time was set at 90 seconds to midnight. Although largely symbolic, the Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board (SASB), has since its creation in 1947, served as a credible reminder of the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction. The SASB justified the one-second adjustment to the clock by highlighting the growing threat of nuclear conflict due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the never-ending conflict in the Middle East and inadequate contacts among nuclear powers and the collapse of the nuclear arms control process. As the Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight, Asean must intensify its efforts to convince nuclear powers to acknowledge the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ). As pointed out by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan in his opening remarks before the meeting of the SEANWFZ Commission on July 8, "it is deeply concerning" that SEANWFZ is the only nuclear weapon-free zone that has not been formally recognised by the nuclear powers. However, the efforts to win the recognition of nuclear powers must go beyond symbolic gestures. Concrete and practical steps are necessary to ensure the SEANWFZ Treaty can be a meaningful tool to ensure regional peace and stability. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono's call for Asean to focus on concluding a clear memorandum and timeline with China offers a practical path to building the pressure needed for broader recognition of the treaty. China has stated its readiness to sign the SEANWFZ Protocol. Besides China, another Nuclear Weapon State (NWS) under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Russia, has reportedly expressed its intent to join the treaty, while the United States is in the process of assessing its potential participation. Given the devastating reach of nuclear weapons, expanding the geographic coverage of the SEANWFZ may be a strategic way to transform it into a more meaningful force for peace and stability. It is not a straightforward process, but this will be partly achieved later this year. With Timor-Leste's accession to Asean, the geographical coverage of the treaty will be expanded. This is a strategic gain for Asean. Extending the treaty into the Timor Sea brings the SEANWFZ nearer to a region shaped by the strategic interests of two NWS, the United States and the United Kingdom. Beyond Southeast Asia, the treaty's objective can also be achieved by collaborating with other similar nuclear-free zones, as suggested by Mohamad in his remarks after the SEANWFZ Commission meeting. When weapons of mass destruction were last used, Southeast Asia was a direct beneficiary. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan's surrender, bringing peace and stability back to Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The potential use of weapons of mass destruction today may be governed by a more robust military doctrine and safeguards compared to August 1945, but modern nuclear weapons could potentially be more devastating than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Having once benefited from the use of weapons of mass destruction, Malaysia, as Asean Chair, now bears the moral responsibility together with other member states to maintain a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia and to convince nuclear powers that the horrors of August 1945 remain in the past. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the SEANWFZ. It is not just the foundation of Asean's security architecture but an important manifestation of Asean unity.] It is one of the organisation's success stories, but a glorious past is meaningless if it cannot stop a global catastrophe. To remain relevant, the SEANWFZ needs to be accepted by the five NWS. In the long term, the treaty will only be judged by its ability to stop the Doomsday Clock from moving closer to midnight.
