Latest news with #NungsariAhmadRadhi
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia should strengthen Asean ties, engage in multilateral cooperation to counter trade pressures: Experts
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should continue to strengthen its intra-Asean trade relations and engage in multilateral partnerships, as this approach will reduce dependence on any single country and benefit all parties by minimising both trade and non-trade barriers, including tariffs and the movement of goods across borders. Amid an increasingly dynamic geopolitical landscape and rising unilateralism, Malaysia cannot control the actions of other countries that impose tariffs and duties as pressure tactics. However, it can choose to respond diplomatically and in ways that align with its national interests. Economist Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi said Malaysia should maintain its current strategy of negotiating with the United States while simultaneously forming alliances and bolstering existing trade relations, especially within Asean. 'We leverage US companies to lobby the US government, since a significant portion of electronics and electrical exports involve intra-firm trade by US companies across borders,' he told Bernama today. However, Nungsari emphasised that Malaysia must consistently support multilateral institutions over the long term. 'We need to do more to integrate Asean economies, even on a bilateral basis if not all at once, such as Malaysia-Singapore. We should deepen cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand, and definitely between Malaysia and Indonesia. 'Achieving free movement of goods between Malaysia and Singapore in the form of a customs union, Malaysia and southern Thailand, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak, with Kalimantan, are areas that should be explored and strengthened,' he added. Sharing the same view, Putra Business School Associate Professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said that as long as there is room for negotiation, Malaysia should seize the opportunity, since some countries, like the Philippines and Vietnam, among others, have successfully reduced tariffs. 'We hope that this time the negotiations will succeed in lowering tariffs, if not eliminating them. We must continue negotiating because it is not impossible to secure exemptions or reductions.' Malaysia has been negotiating with Washington to reduce these tariffs since April, with the latest round of talks held on June 18. Ahmed Razman pointed out that Malaysia cannot rely solely on the outcome of these negotiations. 'We must continue to seek new markets, strengthen the domestic economy, and diversify our industrial products so that if tariffs are imposed on one sector, the impact will not be severe.' Ahmed Razman stressed that Malaysia should boost intra-Asean trade, given the vast untapped potential. 'There is still room to increase trade among Asean countries. Trading within Asean reduces supply chain disruptions and tariff impacts, while also supporting local economies and the Asean economy as a whole,' he explained. Ahmed Razman elaborated that Malaysia's participation in agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and BRICS would lower costs through tariff elimination among member countries, reduce import duties, and facilitate the movement of goods. 'That is where I see the potential for cooperation with countries that have signed agreements with us,' he added. The US has imposed a 25% tariff on all Malaysian products imported into the country, separate from sector-specific tariffs, effective Aug 1. This rate is one percentage point higher than what was announced in April. In a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dated July 7, US President Donald Trump stated that 'the 25 per cent number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country'. However, the letter also noted that no tariffs would apply if Malaysia or Malaysian companies choose to build or manufacture products within the United States, and that Washington 'will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely - in other words, in a matter of weeks'. Malaysia has been negotiating these US tariffs with Washington since April, aiming to reduce the earlier 24% tariff, with the most recent discussions held on June 18. Senior lecturer at the School of Economics, Finance and Banking at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Muhammad Ridhuan Bos Abdullah, said that in the short term, industrial supply chains affected by the new tax will be disrupted as companies absorb the shock. 'A national stabilisation policy is crucial to drive growth by responding effectively to tariff issues, as competition is the main challenge. Bank Negara Malaysia, along with monetary and fiscal policies supported by appropriate instruments, must be more capable of absorbing the impact of US tariffs.' Muhammad Ridhuan said Malaysia's response policies to support competitiveness need to be stronger. 'We must understand that labour costs in the US have been rising steadily, making it an important factor for businesses. 'This trend is driven by factors such as wage increases, higher interest costs, and a competitive labour market. Rising labour costs impact various industries there,' he added. – Bernama
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Nungsari bullish on Kota Kinabalu International Airport's prospects
KUALA LUMPUR: The push for greater regional economic integration amid shifting global trade dynamics bodes well for the prospects of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), thanks to its proximity to key East Asian markets and the broader Asean region. These factors position KKIA in a uniquely strategic position, which calls for a long-term development strategy, said Khazanah Research Institute chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. 'I am bullish about KKIA, and I think there has to be more conversations between the federal and state governments on the long-term development strategy of Kota Kinabalu as a transportation hub,' he said. 'KKIA is two hours closer to major East Asian markets such as the Philippines, Korea, China, and Japan than Kuala Lumpur. It is already growing as a passenger destination but has yet to develop as a cargo destination,' he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama. Nungsari, a former Malaysian Aviation Commission executive chairman, now serves as Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's non-independent non-executive chairman. 'There is also the significant infrastructure development under way in Kalimantan, primarily driven by the relocation of Indonesia's capital city to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Borneo is set to become the centre of gravity in the region and the development of KKIA must be carefully crafted, taking into account its potential growth and existing constraints,' he said. It was reported that the expansion of KKIA is set to begin in the third quarter of this year, following Cabinet approval of the RM442.3 million project in November. The expansion will increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from nine million to 12 million passengers a year. The upgrades include an expanded main terminal, a new multi-storey car park, seven additional aircraft parking bays and road improvements around the airport. While Kuching International Airport has similar ambitions, Nungsari acknowledged that it faces greater challenges than KKIA. Nevertheless, he remains confident in both airports' opportunities to strengthen Malaysia's aviation sector, triangulating the two ends of Kalimantan and the peninsula. On the international, front, US-China trade tensions and the many unilateral decisions taken by the US will change global trade in some significant ways. Regardless of the outcome, Asean has to consolidate further to be able to respond to these changes as a single bloc. Key to this economic integration is transportation and logistics within the region, as well as connecting it to the outside world. Furthermore, intra-Asean trade growth depends on greater connectivity within the region. Asean has had various initiatives, namely the Asean Economic Community, Asean FTA, Asean+3, and it is also part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership encompassing 15 countries in Asean, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The potential of these initiatives has mainly remained unfulfilled, and the time is right to make it all happen. Nungsari posited that greater flows of people and goods across the borders within Asean will strengthen Asean as an economic bloc. 'The focus now is so much on border controls instead of promoting greater flows of goods. This division does not promote economic growth and integration. There should be more bilateral initiatives, such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, and past initiatives such as the IMT-GT and BIMP-Eaga should be rejuvenated,' he said. Nungsari also said that economic integration is beyond infrastructure, as Asean should move towards becoming a customs union to allow free movement of goods within the region. He said this would allow small and medium enterprises all over the region to leverage a much larger demand side, beyond their national borders. 'It will also make Asean an attractive market in which to invest. A single market of 600 million people, in fact, is not just in potential (but) a significant leverage against the size of China or India,' he said. Responding to a question about the ongoing geopolitical tug-of-war between the US and China, Nungsari opined that Asean and Malaysia should act in their own interests. 'We do whatever benefits us. It does not matter whether it is with the US, China, or anyone. We are and should remain non-discriminatory in that sense. 'That should be our posture. But we are aware of the neighbourhood we live in. We are aware of the tensions that exist. And we are aware that the world is undergoing a transition,' he concluded. – Bernama
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Aerotrain timeline not affected by privatisation: MAHB chairman
KUALA LUMPUR: The timeline for completion of the Aerotrain project at KL International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. Dismissing speculation that a delay was linked to the company's privatisation, the chairman attributed it to multiple changes in government and leadership over the years. "In my view, any professional would know how to deal with obsolescence and replacement, and would make sure of its timely execution. "No, it has nothing to do with privatisation. The time taken was due to too many changes in government since recent years, which impacted the decision-making process," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently. He noted that a decision to replace the Aerotrain was made as early as 2016, but subsequent political shifts in 2018 until 2022 caused delays in implementation. "Over the past six years, we've had five prime ministers, five chairmen, and five chief executive officers. Every time there is a change, it affects the decision-making process. "While management was aware of the need to replace the train and recommended it, circumstances beyond our control slowed the process," he explained. The chairman assured that the Aerotrain project is now progressing as scheduled, with testing currently underway. "Everything is in place. The train is on the track, the power supply is ready and testing is ongoing. Since it's a public transport system, we must obtain approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the service is expected to be operational by the second quarter of this year," he said. The Aerotrain, which serves as a vital mode of transport between the airport terminals, was suspended in March 2023 for maintenance and upgrading works after a breakdown, with an initial promise to restore service in time for the new year. The service, which had been in operation for 25 years, has been a backbone of KLIA's internal transport network since 1998. In January this year, MAHB announced that the Aerotrain service would resume in the second quarter of 2025. — BERNAMA
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
MAHB chairman: Political shifts, not privatisation, delayed KLIA Aerotrain project
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — The timeline for completion of the Aerotrain project at KL International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. Dismissing speculation that a delay was linked to the company's privatisation, the chairman attributed it to multiple changes in government and leadership over the years. 'In my view, any professional would know how to deal with obsolescence and replacement, and would make sure of its timely execution. 'No, it has nothing to do with privatisation. The time taken was due to too many changes in government since recent years, which impacted the decision-making process,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently. He noted that a decision to replace the Aerotrain was made as early as 2016, but subsequent political shifts in 2018 until 2022 caused delays in implementation. 'Over the past six years, we've had five prime ministers, five chairmen, and five chief executive officers. Every time there is a change, it affects the decision-making process. 'While management was aware of the need to replace the train and recommended it, circumstances beyond our control slowed the process,' he explained. The chairman assured that the Aerotrain project is now progressing as scheduled, with testing currently underway. 'Everything is in place. The train is on the track, the power supply is ready and testing is ongoing. Since it's a public transport system, we must obtain approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the service is expected to be operational by the second quarter of this year,' he said. The Aerotrain, which serves as a vital mode of transport between the airport terminals, was suspended in March 2023 for maintenance and upgrading works after a breakdown, with an initial promise to restore service in time for the new year. The service, which had been in operation for 25 years, has been a backbone of KLIA's internal transport network since 1998. In January this year, MAHB announced that the Aerotrain service would resume in the second quarter of 2025. — Bernama
