Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia is ranked the 16th most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2019.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said Malaysia was also deemed the third most peaceful country in Southeast Asia behind Japan and Singapore.

“This GPI report is important and should be highlighted as it will attract foreign investors and tourists to the country.

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 13 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s shadow economy accounts for 21 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and amounts to an estimated RM300 billion, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the strong underground economy, which he attributed to illegal activities that are difficult to track down, should be tackeld effectively.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia and Japan are well on the way to bringing their ties to new heights in the next few years with the rejuvenation of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘Look East Policy’, says Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hiroshi Oka.

“(I am) happy to see the Look East Policy re-energised with Mahathir (coming) back to Prime Minister’s office…we would like to deepen and strengthen the mutual friendship between Malaysia and Japan in all fields namely business, politics, culture and perhaps education.

TAWAU, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Three Americans have been ordered to leave Sabah immediately after they were found to have entered and resided in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit, said Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin.

He said the three Americans – a 38-year-old man, his son and daughter aged 14 and 16 years – entered the country through the KL International Airport (KLIA) in 2017, and later reported that their passports were missing.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Two separate High Courts here today set Jan 16 to hear the bail applications of Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan and DAP member V. Suresh Kumar who are facing charges for supporting the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group.  

Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh and Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah set the date after counsel Ramkarpal Singh representing the two accused told the courts that his clients have filed their applications on Dec 26 last year.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia will maintain its claim in the disputed South China Sea area despite China’s objection to Malaysia’s submission of the claim to the United Nations last month, said Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. 

The minister said the ministry has expected Beijing’s move and described it as “normal”.

“For China to object is something that we expect, even before. This is normal. I’m not saying we are okay on it…but it is our claim and we will maintain our claim,” he told a press conference at Wisma Putra, here, Friday. 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Most of the plantation-linked counters on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session higher today as investors hailed India’s move of cutting import duties on crude palm oil and refined palm oil from Southeast Asian countries, effective Jan 1, 2020.

At 12.30 pm, all the three plantation-linked counters on the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI), namely KLK, Sime Darby Plantation and IOI Corporation, ended in the black due to the good news for the industry.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 2 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik today announced that he is stepping down from his post effective Friday, January 3.

In a 4.30pm press conference at his office, that was broadcast live by Bernama TV, he said he had met up with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad earlier today.

During the press conference, Dr Maszlee spoke in details some of the achievements made in the last one year by the ministry during his tenure.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The tanker detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRB) in Hormuz Strait recently is not Malaysian owned and the 16 crew are not Malaysians, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah clarified today.

He was commenting on a recent news report that the IRB had seized a ship suspected of fuel-smuggling and arrested 16 Malaysian crew members.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today called on Malaysians to pay attention to self-development just as the government was taking efforts to bring progress to the country.

In his New Year 2020 message, the prime minister said that despite Malaysia not being able to fully achieve a developed nation status, there were elements of a developed nation that Malaysians could still practise.

He identified these values as diligence, discipline, maintaining cleanliness, being tolerant, showing mutual respect, and being polite and magnanimous.