Latest news with #TheNation:DiplomaticDispatch
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Turkiye lauds Malaysia's leadership on Gaza
KUALA LUMPUR: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan lauded Malaysia's principled stance on Gaza, praising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vocal advocacy and moral leadership on the international stage. "We really appreciate what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is really standing for when it comes to Gaza, defending al-Aqsa Mosque, the rights of oppressed Palestinians, and the freedom of the occupied Palestinian territory. "This is a moment that calls for standing shoulder to shoulder," he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch current affairs programme, titled 'Malaysia, Turkiye and the Asean Outlook', aired today. Fidan also condemned the ongoing atrocities in the enclave as a stain on the global conscience. Expressing his deepest regret and condemnation over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which continues to inflict unimaginable suffering upon the Palestinian people, he said, "The ongoing genocide in Gaza is something that burns us deep inside." "It is a big failure for humanity in general, but also for Muslims in particular. So, as an important part of the Muslim ummah, Malaysia, like Turkiye and other countries, has a responsibility to shoulder on the Gaza issue", he said. Asked about the risks smaller nations like Malaysia might face in taking a firm stand, especially against the perpetrators of the violence, the minister acknowledged the reality of geopolitical pressures. Malaysia's distance from the Middle East, Fidan added, does not diminish the moral and strategic weight of its position. "I think as long as we are on the right side of history, it doesn't matter who says what or who applies pressure, because we are defending the right position," he said. He also said that the people of Gaza — over two million of them — are being held hostage in conditions that resemble the concentration camps of the Second World War. "People deliberately and intentionally subjected to starvation, harsh weather and everything else. We cannot let this continue", he added. Fidan is in Kuala Lumpur for high-level talks held in conjunction with the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings. – BERNAMA
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Japan to Work With ASEAN on Myanmar Humanitarian Response
By Nurfardlina Izzati Moktar and Nor Farah Aqilah Mohd Sham KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Japan has thrown its weight behind Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship, hoping Kuala Lumpur will leverage the role to spearhead regional efforts to address the worsening crisis in Myanmar, including the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country, which has been further devastated by a powerful earthquake in March. Japan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, said Japan stands ready to work with ASEAN to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and is also keen to support and engage in the country's reconstruction. bootstrap slideshow "The situation in Myanmar has worsened because of the quake. We have been dispatching our humanitarian assistance and wish to engage in the reconstruction of the country. 'But at this point in time, it is very difficult to effectively conduct and carry out humanitarian assistance,' he said during an interview on Bernama TV's The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch, on Wednesday. "I have very strong expectations for Malaysia as chair of ASEAN to address these urgent issues, and Japan looks forward to supporting Malaysia's role as a chair of the ASEAN process," he added. According to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), the 7.7-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay on March 28 has killed more than 3,700 people. The quake caused widespread destruction to critical infrastructure and affected nearly 508,000 people, with more than 28,500 currently housed in 106 evacuation centres. The total estimated cost stands at US$1.7 billion with authorities continuing to verify this figure, the centre said.
Barnama
19-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Australia Negotiating With Malaysia To Boost Halal Export Trade
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) – Australia is negotiating with Malaysia on a strategic partnership to boost its halal meat export industry. Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke said the outcome of the negotiation will be important going forward, not just in terms of comparative advantage in agriculture, but also the technology around agriculture, and Malaysia's aspirations around the halal industry. 'There are lots of opportunities and we hope to finalise the partnership via negotiations that we have been working on for a little while with Malaysia,' she said after Bernama TV's 'The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch' programme titled 'Australia–Malaysia: Partners in a Changing Indo-Pacific'. bootstrap slideshow The High Commissioner said that some 17 Australian meat exporters registered with the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), which meet the department's high halal standards, are exporting to Malaysia. Last year, Australia exported 38,220 tonnes of halal sheep meat and 13,511 tonnes of halal beef and veal into Malaysia, valued at A$249.26 million and A$120.83 million (A$1=RM2.75), respectively, according to figures provided by the High Commission. Malaysia is also Australia's second-largest red meat export market in Southeast Asia after Indonesia in terms of volume, according to 'Meat and Livestock Australia', a publication providing a market snapshot of beef and sheepmeat exports to Malaysia. The publication also said that Malaysians have the highest per capita beef consumption among ASEAN countries at 8.8kg per person in 2024. Heinecke said that economic ties between both countries have been further strengthened by the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA), which facilitates trade in goods, services, as well as investments. Malaysia is Australia's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and its 10th-largest partner overall, with total trade in 2023-2024 valued at A$33 billion.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Australia negotiating with Malaysia to boost halal export trade
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia is negotiating with Malaysia on a strategic partnership to boost its halal meat export industry. Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke said the outcome of the negotiation will be important going forward, not just in terms of comparative advantage in agriculture, but also the technology around agriculture, and Malaysia's aspirations around the halal industry. "There are lots of opportunities and we hope to finalise the partnership via negotiations that we have been working on for a little while with Malaysia," she said after Bernama TV's "The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch" programme titled "Australia–Malaysia: Partners in a Changing Indo-Pacific". The High Commissioner said that some 17 Australian meat exporters registered with the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), which meet the department's high halal standards, are exporting to Malaysia. Last year, Australia exported 38,220 tonnes of halal sheep meat and 13,511 tonnes of halal beef and veal into Malaysia, valued at US$249.26 million and US$120.83 million (US$1 = RM2.75), respectively, according to figures provided by the High Commission. Malaysia is also Australia's second-largest red meat export market in Southeast Asia after Indonesia in terms of volume, according to "Meat and Livestock Australia", a publication providing a market snapshot of beef and sheepmeat exports to Malaysia. The publication also said that Malaysians have the highest per capita beef consumption among Asean countries at 8.8kg per person in 2024. Heinecke said that economic ties between both countries have been further strengthened by the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA), which facilitates trade in goods, services, as well as investments. Malaysia is Australia's second-largest trading partner in Asean and its 10th-largest partner overall, with total trade in 2023–2024 valued at US$33 billion. Australia's economic and trade relationship with Malaysia is mature, comprehensive and complementary, said Heinecke. "In 2023–2024, Malaysia was our second-largest two-way trading partner among Asean member states and 10th-largest partner overall," she said. There are several established Australian retail brands in Malaysia, including Aesop, Arnott's, Blackmores, Boost Juice, Cotton On, Harvey Norman and King Living. Earlier during the programme, she said Canberra was intensifying its economic engagement in Southeast Asia, particularly through targeted trade and investment missions. "We are bringing a trade and investment mission here centred around Energy Asia and also exploring opportunities within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone," she said, adding that Australia is the fourth-largest digital tech investor in Malaysia. She cited successful Malaysian ventures in Australia, including Gentari's renewable energy projects and Gamuda's high-tech transport infrastructure initiatives, as two-way economic engagement that benefits both countries. Besides MAFTA, Malaysia and Australia are also members of the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). — BERNAMA
Barnama
17-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Australia Committed To Deeper Strategic Ties With Malaysia -- Ambassador Heinecke
By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali & Nurfardlina Izzati Moktar KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- Australia is committed to strengthening its longstanding relations with Malaysia by deepening cooperation in key areas such as education, defence, clean energy, and digital innovation, said Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Danielle Heinecke. She highlighted that the Australia-Malaysia relations, now marking its 70th year, is anchored by mutual respect, a strong people-to-people connection, and robust cooperation in a wide array of sectors. bootstrap slideshow 'We were one of the first partners here. We have built strong ties through education, trade, and security. Now, our focus is on how we can shape the future together,' she said during an interview on Bernama TV's The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch. As Australia prepares for more high-level visits to Malaysia, including one by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his ASEAN engagements this year in October, Heinecke said the focus will be on building future-oriented partnerships. 'This is about working together on education, defence, clean energy, and digital innovation. The opportunities are tremendous, and the foundation we have built over the last 70 years put us in a great position to grow further,' she said. Touching on education and youth mobility, Heinecke said more than 300,000 Malaysian alumni have studied in Australia, while four Australian universities – Monash, Curtin, Swinburne, and the University of Wollongong – operate campuses across Malaysia, collectively hosting over 13,000 students. 'In Australia, we currently have around 20,000 Malaysian students enrolled, including many in TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and vocational training programmes. 'We see increasing mobility and exchange of knowledge, which is a real strength of our relationship,' she said.
