Malaysia

KUALA SELANGOR (Malaysia), Sept 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian government is optimistic that the economy in the third quarter (Q3) of this year will show stronger growth based on current positive economic indicators.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said economic growth was in line with the unemployment rate which was recorded at 3.7 per cent in July, compared to 3.8 per cent previously.

He said the rate was also better than the unemployment rate during the pandemic which was around 5.3 per cent in May 2020.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s exports of halal products had increased by 19 per cent to RM36.30 billion in 2021 from RM30.50 billion in 2020, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Lim Ban Hong.

In his welcoming speech at the launch of the 18th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) here, he noted that the halal industry is also expected to grow even further in the Asia Pacific region following Malaysia’s ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on March 18, 2022.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian Foreign Ministry (MOFA) with the cooperation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and activists is coming up with a comprehensive status paper to ensure the Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia get proper education. 

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the Rohingya children from Alternative Learning Centres (ALCs), whether run by their own community or NGOs, should have proper venues and teachers with certification. 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (NNN-Bernama) — The ASEAN Secretariat needs to buck up and have some sense of urgency in providing updates on the development in Myanmar, says Malaysian Foreign Minister  Saifuddin Abdullah.

The minister said he and his fellow ASEAN foreign ministers were only receiving reports on the situation in Myanmar from their own contacts through international organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), but not from the ASEAN secretariat itself. 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), said yesterday, it partnered with Xinyi Energy Smart (Malaysia), an overseas division of China’s integrated glass manufacturer Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited, for a supply chain programme.

This programme seeks to establish a conducive supply chain ecosystem, by partnering with local suppliers, vendors and service providers, the two sides said in a statement.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia reported 2,491 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the national total to 4,774,003, according to the health ministry.

There are no new imported cases, with all 2,491 cases being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed.

Another five deaths have been reported, pushing the death toll to 36,196.

The ministry reported 3,715 new recoveries, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 4,703,299.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government said Friday it will present its 2023 national budget on Oct. 7, three weeks ahead of schedule, sparking speculation that it may call an early general election.

Polls aren’t due until September next year, but Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has come under pressure from his United Malays National Organization party to dissolve Parliament for an early vote.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s top court on Saturday condemned as a smear attempt the leaking of an alleged guilty verdict against the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak days after he was imprisoned for graft linked to the looted 1MDB state fund.

The High Court is due to deliver its verdict Thursday in Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial over a 1.25-billion-ringgit ($279-million) solar energy project. Najib began a 12-year prison term Tuesday after losing his final appeal in one of the five graft cases against him involving 1MDB.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Aug 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian Space Board, which convened for the first time Thursday, agreed in principle that the government ratify the international space treaty in line with the country’s priorities and interests, according to a Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) statement Friday.

MOSTI said the government’s priority for now is a security and liability treaty related to the issue of suspected rocket debris discovered in Sarawak at the end of July.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak began his 12-year prison sentence Tuesday after losing his final appeal in a graft case linked to the looting of the 1MDB state fund, with the top court unanimously upholding his conviction and sentence.