Latest news with #Zafrul
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
YCH Group makes RM500m logistics investment
KLANG: Singapore's YCH Group has broken ground on its RM500 million Supply Chain City Malaysia (SCC MY) in Bandar Bukit Raja, Selangor – its largest investment in Malaysia to date. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the RM500 million logistics investment by Singapore's YCH Group is a move to strengthen the country's role as a key manufacturing and services hub in Asean. 'As the lifeblood of global commerce, good logistics is key to ensuring the smooth and cost-efficient movement of goods and services. As such, we are pleased to welcome YCH Group's RM500-million investment in this sector in Malaysia,' he said in a statement. Tengku Zafrul urged the group to be more inclusive by enabling SME exporters to also access the global market. 'When trade flows seamlessly, investors see greater opportunities, fuelling further growth and innovation. This is what will support our New Industrial Master Plan's goals to increase our competitiveness and position Malaysia a key manufacturing and services hub for Asean and beyond,' he added. According to the group, this project represents their long-term commitment to Malaysia's regional supply chain development and a significant step in realising the country's vision as a leading logistics and trade hub in Asean. SCC MY is poised to serve as a key enabler of regional connectivity, supporting smoother trade flows and future-ready logistics infrastructure, it added. Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said as the first recipient of Mida's Smart Logistics Complex incentive, YCH Group sets a powerful precedent for Malaysia's integrated smart logistics future. 'This achievement reflects our commitment to attracting high-impact investments and strengthening Malaysia's supply chain ecosystem through innovation and automation. 'The SLC incentive aligns perfectly with the Deklarasi Kuala Lumpur: Asean 2045, supporting our vision of a digitally advanced, economically resilient Asean region.' YCH Group executive chairman Dr Robert Yap said Supply Chain City Malaysia is a major step forward in setting new standards of logistics excellence, supporting Malaysia's growth as a world-class supply chain leader. 'Our investment in FUSIONARIS and advanced technologies reflect our commitment to regional connectivity, efficient operations, and sustainable practices. We are also dedicated to training local talent, empowering them with essential skills to support Malaysia's journey as a preferred destination for global businesses.' The Supply Chain and Logistics Academy, an industry-level development academy, will be hosted at SCC MY. It offers training programmes to equip local talent with the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's logistics landscape, ultimately enabling Malaysia's workforce to remain competitive on the global stage. Sime Darby Property Group managing director & CEO Datuk Seri Azmir Merican said welcoming a global logistics leader like YCH Group to Bandar Bukit Raja reflects the confidence placed in Malaysia's industrial developments as well as the ability to deliver integrated, future-ready townships. 'As Malaysia continues to carry out its role as chair of Asean in 2025, this project is a timely example of cross-border collaboration, aligning with the region's shared focus on economic integration, sustainable and inclusive growth, while also strengthening trade linkages, supporting innovation, and contributing meaningfully to broader regional priorities.' Bandar Bukit Raja, a 5,333-acre integrated township developed by Sime Darby Property Bhd, is known for its sustainable design and thriving industrial ecosystem. With close to 60% of its landbank allocated for industrial use, BBR is home to Malaysia's first GreenRE Platinum-rated managed industrial park.
Malaysiakini
a day ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Zafrul wants to join PKR
Good morning. Here's what you should know today. Key Highlights Zafrul wants to join PKR Sabah graft cover-up 'perception' Hannah beats Kamarul in court Zafrul wants to join PKR Local politics were delivered another shock on Friday when Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz quit Umno. With just six months remaining on his senator tenure, Zafrul wants to join PKR. Umno is not happy, especially since Zafrul did not relinquish his minister post and is demanding that this be rectified. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, however, appears keen to keep Zafrul in cabinet. HIGHLIGHTS Sabah graft cover-up 'perception' Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim denies any attempts to cover up the Sabah corruption scandal involving videos of assemblypersons talking about taking bribes. He said the cover-up allegations were just "perception". Instead, he said the MACC was just being thorough in doing its job. He also said that the prime minister should not be investigator, prosecutor, and executioner - because that is a dictator's job. HIGHLIGHTS Hannah beats Kamarul in court The High Court found Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff guilty of defaming Hannah Yeoh for claiming she wanted to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation. The judge found that Kamarul had failed to establish a defence of justification and fair comment. However, no apology was ordered as the judge deemed it would be insincere. Kamarul was ordered to pay Yeoh RM400,000 in damages, as well as RM80,000 in costs. He will be appealing the outcome. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it Other news that matter
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
What happened to Tengku Zafrul
Datuk Seri Zafrul occupies the post of Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry by virtue of being appointed a senator, which term will expire in December 2025. PHOTO: BERNAMA JOHOR BAHRU -- Malaysian minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz's recent exit from Umno to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has sparked calls for him to resign and raised tensions between the two key parties within the ruling alliance. Datuk Seri Zafrul occupies the post of Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry by virtue of being appointed a senator, which term will expire in December 2025. This coveted spot in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet was one of seven ministerial positions held by Umno after the last Cabinet reshuffle on December 12, 2023. This compares against the eight ministerial posts occupied by the prime minister's party PKR, which are part of the 14 posts in total held by Pakatan Harapan, the coalition PKR leads. As a result, the minister's announcement on May 30 that he was leaving Umno has not only stirred concern over shifting allegiances among the disparate allies, but also over Umno's continued influence in Datuk Seri Anwar's so-called unity government. These concerns were voiced by Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Zahid Hamidi a day later. 'To me, what's more important is that Umno remains represented by seven full ministers in the Cabinet,' he told reporters, as quoted by national news agency Bernama. He also said it was 'unethical' for parties within the unity government to accept a member from another ally . Umno youth chief Akmal Saleh has called for Mr Zafrul to resign from Cabinet. Meanwhile the party's supreme council member Puad Zarkashi warned that accepting Mr Zafrul into PKR without proper consultation could erode trust between the parties and damage grassroots support for the unity government. 'If this is allowed to continue, more betrayals will happen,' Datuk Puad said, cautioning that Umno supporters may lose confidence in PM Anwar. Professor Wong Chin Huat, a political scientist at Sunway University told The Straits Times that Mr Zafrul's switch to PKR is a strategic move to avoid political irrelevance once his term as senator ends in December. Mr Zafrul, a former chief executive at regional bank CIMB Group, is widely seen as more a technocrat than a politician. He ran in the November 2022 general election as an Umno candidate but failed to clinch a parliamentary seat. His defection, said Prof Wong, matters less to Umno as a loss of loyalty and more as a hit to its ministerial quota and bargaining power. Mr Zafrul's own political future now rests on whether Mr Anwar, and PKR, will find him a safe seat to contest in a by-election. 'It is after all the PM's party, which has the resources to compensate whoever is willing to vacate their seat for Zafrul,' said Prof Wong. There had been speculation of him running for a Selangor state seat with an eye on the chief minister post, but PH leaders on May 31 reaffirmed their support for the current Menteri Besar Amirudin Shaari. Dr Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said such maneuvering, if done wrong, may risk losing a ruling party seat to the opposition. Instead, Dr Oh said, PM Anwar's next task is to balance Umno's demands to keep its seven cabinet seats against internal PKR promotions. 'Anwar would need to make sure that Umno is satisfied,' he said. Mr Zafrul's defection comes hot on the heels of two other significant exits -- the resignations of Economic Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - both party colleagues of the prime minister - after they lost in the recent PKR polls. Analysts say Mr Anwar's next move in a potential cabinet reshuffle needs to be carefully thought out to maintain harmony between allies in his government. All eyes will now be on whether Mr Zafrul's Cabinet post will go to another Umno representative when his stint ends, or whether PKR will use the opportunity to stake more influence. Harith Mustaffa is a journalist covering Malaysia for The Straits Times, with a focus on Johor. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
PKR yet to discuss Tengku Zafrul's resignation with Umno
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR has not yet held discussions with its unity government partner, Umno, regarding the resignation of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Its president and Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said the party respects Tengku Zafrul's decision and will discuss with Umno on the next steps. "Tengku Zafrul is a minister who has carried out his duty well. Many of our investments, worth hundreds of billions, have been managed through his efforts via Matrade, the ministry, and the current government. "As for his decision to apply (to join PKR), we have not reached that stage yet. Let him complete his Haj first. Of course, for PKR, we must discuss the matter with our friends in the unity government and consider it carefully," he said when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2025 today.
Malaysiakini
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Nothing 'personal' about Zafrul's party switch
COMMENT | I find it amusing that some politicians and commentators take Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz's announced party-switching from Umno to PKR so 'personal', with so much emotion invested. I hope those Malaysians who have felt confused and disillusioned by national politics with the dramas in the past weeks can feel less emotionally disturbed when they can see what these politicians and commentators have left unsaid. The elephant in the room is straightforward: Zafrul wants to...
