Author: Wira Selamat

Malaysian politics have been in flux since the historic defeat of the long-dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in 2018. That defeat ended 60 years of uninterrupted UMNO rule; it also fragmented Malaysia’s party system and paved the way for outcomes that were previously almost unimaginable. Examples abound, from the current Unity Government that brings together former arch rivals, to the breakthrough performance of the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and the decoupling of East Malaysian parties from their erstwhile peninsular overlords. In short, Malaysian politics are both more open and less predictable today than in decades before.  Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who…

On this World Refugee Day (June 20, 2023), four Rohingya refugees who were forced to flee Myanmar due to targeted violence share their stories with Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières/MSF). Their stories showcase their remarkable resilience and strength, and how the kindness of Malaysians helped them get through tough times. Abu Bakkar, a 36-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, shared his journey and the difficulties he faced upon arrival in Malaysia in 2013. He said the first few months were difficult as he was not able to find places for necessities and get used to the cultural differences. However, with…

Malaysia has offered its condolences to India over Friday’s train disaster that left hundreds of people dead or wounded. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir condoled the deaths and wished recovery to those injured in the accident in the eastern state of Odisha. “We stand together with the people of India during this very difficult time,” he said in a tweet. The High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi yesterday extended its support and sympathy to India over the tragedy. “We join the government and the people of India in praying for the success of the rescue mission and…

The Philippines has deposited its Instrument of Ratification (IoR) of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday. Philippine ambassador to ASEAN Hjayceelyn Quintana handed over the depository of the RCEP agreement to ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on Thursday. “The RCEP Agreement will enter into force for the Philippines on June 2, 2023,” the ASEAN secretariat said. In handing over the document, Quintana highlighted RCEP’s “timely entry into force for the Philippines given the country’s ongoing economic reforms.” “The…

BANGKOK, Thailand — Pakistan’s hard-hitting unbeaten heavyweight “The Diamond Boy” Taimoor Khan (7-0, 6 KO’s), pushes forward his pro boxing career as the 26-year-old from the Pashtun Mohmand Tribe in Islamabad takes on battle-tested warrior Panya Chomphoophuang of Lopburi, Thailand, for the vacant WBC Asia heavyweight belt. The title fight, billed as “Explosive Power,” is set to unfold at SpacePlus Night Club, RCA Plaza, in Bangkok, Thailand, as another presentation of prolific Asian promoter Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions. A devoted Muslin, as well as a dedicated rising-star boxer, Khan feels spiritually motivated as well as physically strong, ready…

Thai police have widened their investigation into a woman accused of a spate of cyanide poisoning murders, with officers on Thursday raising the number of victims to 13 and charging her with premeditated murder. Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, who is married to a senior police officer, was arrested on Tuesday over nine alleged murders which took place over several years. Authorities didn’t identify all of the alleged victims, but named Sararat’s former partner, as well as two female police officers, among the dead, BBC News reported. Police believe money was the motive in the killings but said that Sararat — who is four…

Russia and China have a long history. Whenever the Chinese mention Russia, the words “good neighbor” and “good friend” come to mind. This is not only because we border on Russia, but also because of the long-standing historical relationship between China and Russia. Historically, whether it was Tsarist Russia or the Soviet Union, our relationship with Russia has never been interrupted. As the great wheel of history moves forward, it will inevitably experience strong winds and waves. In recent years, due to the emergence of the epidemic, the international environment has been turbulent, and international trade frictions have become more frequent. When it…

Recently, the 2nd China-ASEAN Cooperation Forum on Food Safety Nutrition and Health was held in Fangchenggang, Guangxi, China. Participants discussed and shared their experiences on food safety standards and nutrition policies in order to help implement RCEP, to promote the “Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone” as a platform for food safety and nutrition innovation, and to tap food as medicine, new food ingredients and traditional specialties in different countries. Liu Jinfeng, Director General of the Department of Food Safety Standards, Risk Surveillance and Assessment of the National Health Commission of China, briefed at the forum that, in recent years, China has been building…