Latest news with #PasirGudangUmnoDivisionDelegatesConference
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Defence minister to call counterparts in Thailand, Cambodia ahead of GBC meeting
PASIR GUDANG: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will call his counterparts in Thailand and Cambodia this afternoon to confirm Malaysia's readiness to host the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between the two countries. He said the calls would precede a trilateral video conference with the other two defence ministers later today. "I will call the Defence Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia this afternoon to inform them that Malaysia is ready to host the meeting. "Then we will hold a Zoom meeting to discuss the key matters to be raised in the official talks," he said after launching the Pasir Gudang Umno Division Delegates Conference. The launch was officiated by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who is also the Plantation and Commodities Minister and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister. The Armed Forces had earlier announced plans to facilitate the GBC meeting in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 4 to 7. According to their Defence Strategic Communications and Intelligence Division, the GBC is part of a ceasefire agreement signed in Malaysia on July 28 to ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on July 28 after a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya. It was attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Both leaders agreed to the truce after weeks of heightened tensions, especially over the long-disputed 817km border. On May 28, a clash in the Preah Vihear area left one Cambodian soldier dead, escalating the conflict. Mohamed Khaled, who is also Umno vice-president and Kota Tinggi Member of Parliament, said the formal border meeting is expected to be held next week. He added that senior officials from Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia would hold preliminary discussions at Wisma Perwira in Kuala Lumpur before the minister-level talks.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Jo Ghani: US' 19 per cent tariff on Malaysian palm oil competitive
PASIR GUDANG: The 19 per cent export tariff imposed by the United States (US) on Malaysian commodities, including palm oil, is considered competitive and not burdensome compared to other Asean countries, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. Johari said Malaysia remained in a good competitive position as the tariff rate was among the lowest in the region. "The 19 per cent tariff imposed by the US on Malaysia is among the lowest in Asean countries. Even Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, is subject to the same tariff rate. If we look at the context of palm oil commodities, Indonesia is the largest producer, number one in the world, and we are number two. But Indonesia is also subject to 19 per cent like Malaysia, so there is no problem, meaning we have a 'fair fight'," he said. He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the Pasir Gudang Umno Division Delegates Conference today. Also present was Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is also an Umno vice-president and Pasir Gudang Umno division chief. Malaysia was subjected to the 19 per cent tariff based on an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. The document for the reciprocal tariff rate adjustment, signed by Trump on July 31, 2025, has been uploaded to the White House website. Previously, Trump set a 25 per cent tariff for Malaysia, but it is understood that a phone conversation between him and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday may have been a factor in the tariff reduction. Johari, who is also performing the duties of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, added that there had been no significant issues with the country's commodity exports due to the tariff rate. "Malaysia's commodity exports are still able to compete fairly in the international market. I don't see any problems so far with the 19 per cent tariff imposed by the US on our country's commodity exports," he said.
