Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The flood situation in three Malaysian states — Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang — continued to worsen, with more evacuees placed in temporary relief centres this morning compared to Monday night.

In Kelantan, the number of flood victims rose to 12,572 people from 3,860 families as of 8 am Tuesday compared to 9,721 people from 2,962 families Monday night.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) should vote to suspend Israel for its ongoing war on Gaza and the decades long Apartheid policies against the Palestinian people, an analyst said.

Director of Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya Assoc. Prof Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail said the UNGA had taken a similar decision to suspend the South African Apartheid regime in Nov 1974.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (NNN-Bernama) — The ringgit continued to trend higher as it strengthened against the US dollar in the early session on Friday following weaker US economic data, an economist said.

At 9 am, the ringgit climbed to 4.6300/6380 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.6525/6565.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the final third quarter (3Q) 2023 US gross domestic product (GDP) estimates came in lower than expected at 4.9 per cent against consensus survey of 5.2 per cent.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (NNN-Bernama) — Egypt is grateful to the people and government of Malaysia for their unwavering support in helping the Palestinians in Gaza with humanitarian aid.

Following the October 23 meeting in Cairo between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the presidential directive to promptly send humanitarian aid from Malaysia to Gaza as soon as possible was issued, according to Egypt’s ambassador to Malaysia, Ragai Tawfik Said Nasr.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Dec 16 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Saturday reaffirmed the urgent need to reform the United Nations (UN) to strengthen its functions.

In a joint statement following their bilateral meeting in Tokyo, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, both leaders said this reform should includes the Security Council, ensuring it reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit opened marginally lower Friday despite a falling US Dollar Index (DXY) as market expectation for an interest rate cut in 2024 supersedes statistical releases, including the better-than-expected US retail sales and initial jobless claims statistics, said an analyst.

At 9.01 am, the ringgit eased to 4.6700/6740 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 4.6695/6745.  

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Monday expressed regret and disappointment over the United States’ (US) use of its veto power to reject the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution urging a ceasefire between the Zionist Israeli regime and Palestine.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Dec 6 (NNN-Bernama) — Israel’s recent order for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to remove its supplies from the medical warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours as the regime continues its offensive ground operations is blatantly inhumane and violates international law, said Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry.

In a statement Wednesday, it said threatening a United Nations (UN) body, especially one that provides crucial life-saving aid to victims of the conflict, is neither acceptable nor defensible.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (NNN-BERNAMA) – The recent opening of a 30-day visa-free facility for Chinese nationals, is expected to see Malaysia receive an uptick in inbound Chinese tourists, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) said, yesterday.

China is a lucrative market and a significant contributor to Malaysia’s tourism receipts and arrivals, the association said in a statement.

“It is hoped that with this exemption in place, we are able to gain the momentum needed to cement Malaysia’s standing, as the preferred destination for this discerning market,” it said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia could weigh in to activate Article 9 of the Genocide Convention as a potential avenue to pursue a definitive resolution to the protracted conflict in Gaza.

A Board Member at Law for Palestine (L4P), Hassan Ben Imran said that Malaysia’s involvement in various international platforms, coupled with its status as a state party to the Genocide Convention, could garner support from like-minded nations and bring justice to the Palestinians.