Latest news with #VoonMiawPing

Barnama
19 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
Bangladesh Looks To Malaysia's Influence To Address Rohingya Crisis
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 -- Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus delivers speech during Business Seminar on Trade and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED By Voon Miaw Ping KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- Bangladesh is seeking Malaysia's influence, particularly its role as ASEAN Chair, to rally international efforts to address the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis in the country. Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said Malaysia's experience in hosting Rohingya refugees coupled with its leadership position in ASEAN places it in a unique position to push for a comprehensive regional solution. bootstrap slideshow 'We are hoping that Malaysia will put its influence in the whole negotiation to make sure that we can overcome this problem,' he told the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in a special interview before concluding his official visit to Malaysia. The interview with the 2006 Nobel Prize laureate was led by Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. Yunus also warned that the refugee crisis has deepened amid ongoing fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the Arakan Army and government forces, forcing fresh waves of Rohingyas fleeing across the border into Bangladesh. 'In the last 18 months alone, 150,000 new Rohingyas have arrived, in addition to the 1.2 million already in Bangladesh. 'It becomes more and more acute. And worst of it, the US cut off all the funds to maintain them. So that is a huge problem for us,' he said. The Chief Adviser said three international conferences on the Rohingya will be convened in the coming months to seek a sustainable solution.

Barnama
2 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Yunus Rules Out Contesting Bangladesh Election, Focuses On Reforms
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 -- Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a recent interview with Bernama, said Malaysia could serve as the 'beneficiary window' for enhancing economic connectivity between ASEAN and the populous South Asian region. With Bangladesh's central position as a strategic hub for trade, production and investment, he noted, the potential for business opportunities is immense. — fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED By Voon Miaw Ping and Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, reaffirmed he has no intention to enter active politics or contest in the country's upcoming general elections set for February next year. 'No, I'm not the person who has any chance of joining politics,' the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in an exclusive interview during his official visit to Malaysia earlier this week. bootstrap slideshow In a conversation on a wide range of issues with Bernama's Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram, Yunus reflected on the responsibility entrusted to him in the efforts to restore and rebuild Bangladesh. He said his immediate focus revolves around steering the interim administration to bring about its reform agenda. The world-renowned economist and social entrepreneur was hand-picked by Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin to lead the transitional government on Aug 8, 2024, in the aftermath of the youth-led uprising that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and ended her 15-year authoritarian rule. 'We have come a long way within a year. We just completed our first year in August, and we have achieved a lot,' Yunus said. Among the key progresses, he said, was the formation of the Consensus Building Commission, which is based on the findings of the 11 reform commissions. Its work on election reforms is expected to conclude with a final report by the end of the month, marking a major step towards building a more inclusive, participatory, and credible electoral system.

Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Bangladesh, Malaysia Agree To Establish Cleaner, Transparent Recruitment System
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 -- Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a recent interview with Bernama, said Malaysia could serve as the 'beneficiary window' for enhancing economic connectivity between ASEAN and the populous South Asian region. With Bangladesh's central position as a strategic hub for trade, production and investment, he noted, the potential for business opportunities is immense. — fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED By Voon Miaw Ping KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to work towards establishing a cleaner and more transparent recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers. Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said the matters have been discussed in depth during his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Tuesday. bootstrap slideshow He also acknowledged existing flaws in the current process and stressed the need to 'clean it up' to avoid problems for either side. 'We had a very elaborate discussion on how to proceed without having trouble for the Malaysian government. 'We both promised ourselves to clean up the system and to make it easier and transparent,' he told the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in an exclusive interview held on the sidelines of his official visit here. The interview was led by Bernama's Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj together with Editor of International News Service, Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service, Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. The Nobel Prize laureate said that while Malaysia needs foreign workers, Bangladesh also seeks to ensure that the recruitment of its citizens is transparent, allowing them to work abroad with dignity, proper rights and benefits. 'Malaysia needs people and we need to have these people come here to make a living for themselves and their families. So both sides need each other.

Barnama
07-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
International Diplomatic Spotlight On Malaysia As KL Hosts 58th AMM
By Muhammad Faiz Baharin and Voon Miaw Ping KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian capital will be in the international diplomatic spotlight as it prepares to host the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings beginning Tuesday. The 58th AMM and related meetings, a key annual event in the ASEAN calendar, will be hosted by Malaysia under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. The highly anticipated gathering will see one of the largest assemblies of foreign ministers and high-ranking diplomats from around the world to discuss pressing global and regional issues, foster cooperation and advance the agenda of security and sustainability in ASEAN. Over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from international organisations are scheduled to attend a series of ASEAN-led meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11. All foreign ministers of ASEAN member states will be present, except for Myanmar, which will only be represented by a senior official from the foreign ministry, while the Foreign Minister from Timor-Leste will be participating as an observer. Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin confirmed at a news conference on Sunday that all of ASEAN's external partners would be attending the meeting. He said the strong turnout reflects the growing interest from other countries in the regional grouping's strategic role on the global geopolitical stage. 'This is no longer just a routine. Even though there are many regional and international meetings on the calendar, the participation (in the 58th AMM and related meetings) so far is very encouraging,' he added.

Barnama
05-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
ASEAN Remains a Credible Partner on Global Stage
By Voon Miaw Ping KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains a relevant and credible partner amid increasingly shifting global geopolitical and economic dynamics, said Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. He emphasised that ASEAN's cohesiveness and commitment to peace and economic cooperation are key to its resilience. bootstrap slideshow 'These elements are what make ASEAN strong together,' he told Bernama in an interview on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in Malaysia's capital last week. He said maintaining regional security and stability is vital for ASEAN to continue to be seen by its external partners as a region of peace and prosperity. He highlighted several ASEAN-led mechanisms that have continued to be the cornerstone of the region's security and peace architecture, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Established in 1976, the TAC is a legally binding code for interstate relations in the region and beyond. As of October 2024, 55 countries are parties to the TAC while several others are also seeking to accede to the treaty. 'We are moving in the right direction. The concept of ASEAN strong together will inspire confidence in the global community that ASEAN is a worthy and credible partner,' said Maris.