Author: Isaam Jamaal

The South China Sea (SCS) has long been a focal point of global concern due to escalating superpower tensions, territorial disputes, and China’s belligerent posture in the region, which was recently manifested in China’s issuance of a new map claiming more areas in the SCS. The map, which also illegally claims parts of India, invited furious responses from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. China’s two-fold strategy of trying to engage Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in a protractive dialogue on CoC (Code of Conduct in SCS), while relentlessly pursuing its salami slicing, island reclamation, and…

NANNING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday said that China-ASEAN relations have become the most successful and dynamic model in regional Asia-Pacific cooperation, and a clear example of how to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for all. Li made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and the 20th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, the capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Li said the China-ASEAN Expo has witnessed the continuous development of bilateral relations since its establishment 20 years ago, and the two…

KUCHING (Oct 8): Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has expressed the desire to establish an education exchange programme with Dongyang Mirae University and other institutions in Guro City of Seoul. This was highlighted in a press statement yesterday, issued in connection with a recent visit by a delegation from Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to South Korea recently. It said the mayor had expressed hope that the establishment of such programme would produce more professionals, equipped with expertise especially in the technical field, for Sarawak in the future. “His (Wee’s) idea is to make our Kuching South residents,…

KUCHING, Oct 9 — The decision made by singer-songwriter Yunalis Mat Zara’ai, better known as Yuna, to pick Kuching as part of her “Yuna Asia Tour” is a brave and apt move as it will see her continue to spread her wings throughout Malaysia, especially in the Borneo region. Going against the grain by not choosing Kuala Lumpur as the location for the major concert, organisers RK LiveAsia and Icon Entertainment are confident the tour, to be held at Hikmah Exchange here on October 27, would receive an extraordinary response, thanks to the powerful image and hold Yuna has on…

LABUAN: The Labuan Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry commended the Unity Government for approving a quota of 7,500 foreign workers in three sub-sectors traditionally operated by the Indian business community, namely barber shops, goldsmiths and textile stores. Chamber Chairman Datuk Dahlif Singh said they are delighted with the governments’ quick response to their plight. “The traders had been troubled by worker shortage as appeals to the Immigration Department did not draw response. If it was left unattended, hundreds of shops nationwide would be affected and some even risked closures,” said Dahlif, who is also a Council Member of Malaysian Association Indian…

The Magistrates’ Court here today fined a man RM3,000 in default three months’ jail for damaging the roller shutter of a shop because he was dissatisfied with the durians he purchased. Chiew Tze Wei, 34, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi after he was charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief and thereby causing damage to the amount of RM25 or more. The Section provides for a jail term of between one and five years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. He committed the offence at a premises in Kempas Heights here around 5.30am on…

One of them is to make ASEAN more resilient in facing the challenges of the times. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized the four great spirits of Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, including laying out ASEAN’s long-term vision and realizing peace in the Indo-Pacific. At a press conference in Jakarta, Retno said that the first spirit of Indonesia’s chairmanship was to lay down ASEAN’s long-term vision. This long-term vision is very important because it will be a guide for ASEAN to move forward. The foundation will begin to be built in Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN,” he said…

The Philippines failed to exact revenge on Indonesia in the Southeast Asian (SEA) VLeague. In the bronze medal match of the VLeague’s Thailand leg, the Indonesians swatted away the Philippine national women’s volleyball team in four sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24, on Sunday. The same result happened in the first leg when the Nationals succumbed to the eventual bronze medalists, 20-25, 17-25, 21-25, last week in Vietnam. After the Philippines opened strong with first set win, the Indonesians came blazing back with two straight set wins setting up a thrilling fourth frame. Down by two, 12-14, coach Jorge Souza de Brito’s…

The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is focused on transforming Kuching into a smart city as part of its five-year plan, said Datuk Wee Hong Seng. The Kuching South mayor said among the first steps include the installation of more high-resolution closed-circuit television units (CCTVs). He added the council is in discussions with Syarikat Sesco Bhd regarding the replacement of existing street lights with LED types. “Apart from these measures, we will carry on with the ban of plastics and stern action will be taken against individuals who fail to comply with the policy. “We will also continue collaborating with…

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said an agreement between the Philippines and Vietnam on maritime cooperation will bring stability amid issues in the South China Sea. Marcos underscored the importance of enhancing maritime cooperation between the two countries during a meeting with outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador Hoay Huy Chung, Malacañang said in a release Thursday. According to the Palace, the president is looking forward to signing the deal. “Now that we are going to start discussions on the agreement that we have between the Philippines and Vietnam, I think it is a very, very important part of our…