Latest news with #PN-Machang
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
On alert against Mossad
KUALA LUMPUR: Aware of threats posed by international intelligence agencies including Mossad, Malaysia is taking extra precautions to ensure safety amid its firm stance on geopolitical issues, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the country has become a target for arms smuggling by Mossad agents, possibly due to its commitment in calling out atrocities and injustice faced by Palestinians. 'This information is based on recent intelligence briefings. We are treating this matter seriously, following strong evidence of their (Mossad's) presence here,' he told the Dewan Rakyat during the Prime Minister's Question Time. He was responding to a supplementary question by Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang), who asked the Prime Minister to explain whether measures have been taken to ensure the country is safe from the threat of Mossad agents. Anwar said several threats from foreign intelligence agencies had been identified and action taken, citing the arrest of a Malaysian couple found helping Mossad agents smuggle weapons from Thailand. 'Extra measures have also been taken and the Home Ministry is increasing our capabilities to monitor the situation,' he added. He said Putrajaya will continue to give voice to the atrocities and injustice happening in the Middle East and will not be swayed by external pressures. Malaysia will remain firm on the issue even if it may lead to unfair tariff impositions by US President Donald Trump, he added. 'Our stand, as a free and independent country, will remain firm despite any objections or intimidation,' Anwar said in response to a supplementary question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar). Syed Saddiq had asked whether Malaysia's firm position on the Middle East conflict was a factor for Trump's decision to impose unfair tariffs on Malaysian goods. Anwar said negotiations on the tariffs are still ongoing and that Malaysia had voiced its views through several meetings, including the recent one with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 'The US decision (on tariffs) is unfair, unilateral and goes against the World Trade Organisation's principles and existing agreements,' Anwar added. Malaysia was slapped with a 24% rate in April, which was later increased to 25%, to be enforced on Aug 1.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Malaysia's position triggers heightened security against foreign spies, says Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is taking extra precautions to ensure safety amid its firm stance on geopolitical issues, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said that the country has become a platform for arms smuggling and targets by Mossad agents (Israeli intelligence agency) possibly due to Malaysia's commitment to voice out against atrocities and injustice faced by Palestinians. 'Based on the recent briefing by the Malaysian intelligence body, we have been taking measures to look into this matter. 'This has been proven through the arrest of a Malaysian couple who had worked with Mossad,' he told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 22) during the Prime Minister's Question Time. He was responding to a supplementary question by Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) who asked the Prime Minister to explain whether there are measures taken to ensure the safety of the country from the threats of Mossad agents. Anwar said that the country has identified several threats from foreign intelligence agencies and action had been taken. He cited the arrest of a Malaysian couple that was found working with Mossad agents, helping the foreign agents smuggle weapons from Thailand. 'They have been arrested and are serving jail time. I agree that extra measures have also been taken and the Home Ministry is increasing our capabilities to monitor the situation,' he added. Last year, a local married couple was detained for allegedly supplying firearms to the Israeli man who was detained at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. It was reported that the couple's main task was to supply the Israeli man with firearms and other logistical needs. They were both charged under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Putrajaya yet to receive Adams request
WISMA Putra has yet to receive any application from the United States regarding the nomination of conservative commentator and writer Nick Adams as the new US Ambassador to Malaysia, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Any information regarding the matter would be brought to the Cabinet for its views and consideration before any decision is made, he added. 'On Nick Adams, we have yet to receive any request or agreement from the US government. 'Let's wait and see how it goes. Wisma Putra will provide views and considerations to be brought to the Cabinet and the Cabinet will decide on it,' he said when responding to a supplementary question by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai). International media had previously reported that US President Donald Trump had nominated Adams, an Australian-born conservative political commentator who is now a US citizen, as the US Ambassador to Malaysia. Mohamad said it would be premature if Malaysia rejected Adams' appointment when no confirmation had been forthcoming from the US government. 'That's my only answer for now, because we haven't received anything (from the US government),' he said. Adams' nomination has been criticised by many over his far-right views and vocal support of the Israeli regime. His nomination by Trump will have to be approved by the US Senate before he can assume the role. Former ministers Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Khairy Jamaluddin have earlier said Malaysia has every right under the Vienna Convention to reject Adams' appointment without providing a reason. On another matter, Mohamad said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to France has helped strengthen bilateral relations between both countries. He added that leaders of both nations have held talks on several issues during the brief stopover by Anwar while on the way to Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit earlier this month. 'It is not accurate to say the Prime Minister's visit was not meaningful. 'The Prime Minister held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on several issues. 'It was also the case about the Prime Minister's stopover in Italy, where he met the country's leader,' he told Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang). The MP had asked why Anwar was not accorded an official welcoming ceremony when he visited France. Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said a state-level welcome was accorded to the then prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in 1997 and Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, who was invited to attend the Bastille Day celebration recently. He added Anwar's visit was a 'missed opportunity', particularly when Malaysia was chairing Asean. Mohamad said Anwar's visit was just a stopover in France while he was on his way to attend the BRICS summit. 'If it were an official visit, we would have gone directly to the country instead of just making a stopover,' he added. He said that Anwar decided to make stopovers in France and Italy as he had been invited by the leadership of the two countries.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
PM Anwar held talks with Macron during brief France stopover, Dewan Rakyat told
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to France helped strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations, said Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said the leaders of both countries managed to hold discussions on several matters during the Prime Minister's brief stopover in France en route to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the BRICS Summit earlier this month. 'It is inaccurate to say that the Prime Minister's visit was not meaningful. 'It was indeed meaningful, especially because the Prime Minister held two-way talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. 'Both leaders discussed several issues, including bilateral ties. The same applied to the Prime Minister's stopover in Italy,' Mohamad said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 21), responding to a supplementary question from Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang). Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had questioned why Anwar was not accorded full state honours during his visit to France, unlike former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1997, former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2018, and Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, who was invited to attend the Bastille Day celebrations. He described Anwar's visit as a 'missed opportunity,' particularly with Malaysia currently chairing Asean. Mohamad clarified that Anwar's stopover in France was not an official visit. 'It was not an official visit — that would have been an entirely different matter. 'If it had been official, we would have flown directly to the country rather than making a stopover,' he said. He added that the Prime Minister had accepted invitations from both France and Italy to stop over and was accorded a high level of respect during the visits, including the inspection of a guard of honour. Earlier, Mohamad emphasised the importance of Asean engaging with countries within the Indo-Pacific region. 'The Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is a framework agreed upon by all Asean members. 'Asean cannot afford to be excluded from participating in such frameworks and developments in the Indo-Pacific,' he said. He pointed out that other regional frameworks, such as AUKUS and the Quad, also promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership involving Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, while the Quad comprises India, Australia, Japan and the United States. Mohamad said the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific framework is designed to ensure Asean remains free, peaceful and neutral. Regarding the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), he noted that 57 countries have signed the agreement, with Uruguay and Algeria being the latest signatories. The TAC, originally drafted in 1976, is a peace treaty initially signed by Asean member states.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar's brief visit to France still meaningful, says Mohamad Hasan
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's short visit to France during the country's Bastille Day was meaningful, especially due to bilateral discussions held with President Emmanuel Macron, the Dewan Rakyat heard today. In denying claims that Anwar was not accorded high-level honours during his recent visit to France, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that although the visit was not an official one, the prime minister was still given the honour of inspecting the guard of honour. "It was actually a short visit by the prime minister, en route to Rio de Janeiro to attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil. "From our side at Wisma Putra, we took note of longstanding invitations from both Italy and France for the prime minister to visit and we took the opportunity to include stopovers in those countries as part of the travel itinerary. "Nonetheless, even during the stopover, the prime minister was accorded high-level honours, including an inspection of the guard of honour, as such, it would not be accurate to say that the prime minister's visit to France was meaningless. "On the contrary, it was meaningful, especially due to the bilateral discussions between Anwar and Macron, including a four-eye meeting," he said during the question and answer session in Dewan Rakyat, today. Mohamad said this in response to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang), who questioned the diplomatic significance of Anwar's stop in Paris, suggesting that there was no wide media coverage and that it was a missed opportunity for Malaysia to strengthen strategic ties with France. Wan Ahmad Fayshal also questioned why Anwar, despite serving as Asean Chair, was not given similar recognition asregional leaders such as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1997, Singapore's Lee Hsien Loong in 2018, and Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto in 2025, who were extended high-level invitations to France. Meanwhile, Mohamad said that the same level of engagement took place during Anwar's stop in Italy and said if a full state visit to France were to take place in the future, it would be conducted with the same level of formality and respect as other official visits to foreign nations. "If, in future, we proceed with an official state visit to France, God willing, I believe it will be received with the same level of formality and honour as our other official visits to various countries." Anwar, earlier this month, visited France at the invitation of Macron, where the two leaders discussed a one-on-one meeting on issues related to trade, investment, renewable energy, semiconductors, defence, education, digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI). Macron has described Anwar's two-day visit to France as a success, with the two nations reviving partnerships across all sectors. Macron also called the visit meaningful, as it had been 15 years since the last official visit by a high-ranking Malaysian official. He expressed delight to see both countries signing agreements in areas such as minerals and aircraft purchases.
