Tag: Malaysia

Covid-19: China’s plan to show off its vaccine backfires
China, Singapore

Covid-19: China’s plan to show off its vaccine backfires

China wanted to showcase its scientific prowess and deliver a geopolitical win with its coronavirus vaccine. However, that plan is facing severe backlash in some places.Officials in Brazil and Turkey have complained that Chinese companies have been slow to ship the doses and ingredients.A few reports also suggest that China’s vaccines, while considered effective, cannot stop the virus as well as those developed by Pfizer and Moderna, the American drugmakers.In the Philippines, some lawmakers have criticized the government’s decision to buy a vaccine made by a Chinese company, Sinovac.Officials in Malaysia and Singapore, which ordered doses from Sinovac, have had to reassure their citizens that they would approve a vaccine only if it had been proved safe and effective.“Right now, I would no
Malaysia rejects Beijing’s claims in South China Sea
World

Malaysia rejects Beijing’s claims in South China Sea

Following the steps of the United States, now, Malaysia has rejected China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, saying Beijing’s claims in the waters “have no basis” under international law. “Malaysia opposes China’s claim that they have historic rights over those waters,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told the Parliament.“The Malaysian government also considers China’s claims over maritime features in the South China Sea to have no basis whatsoever under international law,” he added while answering questions from Members of Parliament on the status of China’s demands for territory in the South China Sea.This is an unusual move for Malaysia, which in the past had avoided reproaching China openly.A recent Malaysian government report disclosed the Chinese shi
Social media outburst against former Malaysian PM Mahathir for targeting Kashmir
Politics

Social media outburst against former Malaysian PM Mahathir for targeting Kashmir

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad faced heat on Twitter after he raised the issue of Kashmir in one of his tweets."Now that I am no more the Prime Minister, I take it that I can now speak without restrain and address the Kashmir issue without threats of boycotts and such. At Kashmir's one year lockdown since 5th August,” he said in a tweet.On his comments, Twitterati lashed out at him for not speaking about human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims. They also accused him of not raising global concerns over Pakistan sponsored terrorism and human rights violations in Balochistan, Singh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Shoaib Wani said, "Now I can speak freely! if you really mean what you say, can you raise your voice against Uyghur Muslims in China? CCP suppressing our fellow Musli
In Imran Khan’s 18-point Kashmir plan for Aug 5, outreach to Turkey, Malaysia and China
World

In Imran Khan’s 18-point Kashmir plan for Aug 5, outreach to Turkey, Malaysia and China

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has roped in his country’s notorious spy agency accused of colluding with terrorist organization - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) - in his elaborate 18-point plan to commemorate the August 5 anniversary of India scrapping Article 370, sources said.Under the 18-point programme, Imran Khan is scheduled to visit Pakistan occupied Kashmir where he is supposed to address the assembly, a speech that is going to be beamed live. Then, before Khan reaches Muzaffarabad, Pakistan government intends a field trip for foreign journalists to the occupied territory, with the exception of terror training camps funded by the ISI – a behaviour observed in the past.On August 5 last year, India had tabled the law in Rajya Sabha to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kas
Malaysia suspends Pakistan pilots after license fraud revelation
Asia

Malaysia suspends Pakistan pilots after license fraud revelation

After Europe and Vietnam, Malaysia’s aviation regulator has temporarily suspended pilots employed by domestic airlines who hold Pakistani licenses.The decision came after the Pakistani government revealed that many of its pilots had dubious qualifications.In a statement on July 2, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said that the decision came after an evaluation of all foreign pilots in Malaysia. The regulator said that there are less than 20 Pakistani pilots in the country.National carrier Malaysia Airlines said it does not have any Pakistani pilot. Malindo Air, the Malaysian arm of Indonesia’s Lion Air, said it does not have any foreign pilots, and AirAsia said it does not have any Pakistani pilot.CAAM said the pilots were employed with “local operators”, such as flying scho
Malaysia can’t take any more Rohingya refugees: PM Muhyiddin
Asia

Malaysia can’t take any more Rohingya refugees: PM Muhyiddin

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday said that his country can no longer take in Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar, saying that Malaysia is already struggling on an economical front due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.For persecuted Rohingya seeking a better life after fleeing a military-led crackdown in Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh, Muslim-majority Malaysia is a favored destination.But Malaysia, which does not recognize refugee status, has recently turned away boats and detained hundreds of Rohingya, amid rising anger towards foreigners accused of spreading the coronavirus and taking up scarce state funds."We can no longer take more as our resources and capacity are already stretched, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic," Muhyiddin said in teleconference wi...
[South East Asia] Malaysia, Singapore agree to defer HSR project until December 31
Asia, Singapore, World

[South East Asia] Malaysia, Singapore agree to defer HSR project until December 31

Malaysia and Singapore on Sunday came to an agreement and said that they have decided to defer the long-awaited Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project again until the end of the year.The construction of the 350km-long HSR project has been suspended since September 2018 and was due to resume at the end of May.The update comes after Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Friday said that Singapore was considering Malaysia’s request to extend the suspension period of the project.In a Facebook post, Khaw wrote that Malaysia had requested a seven-month extension to allow both sides to discuss and assess Malaysia’s proposed changes to the project."In the spirit of bilateral cooperation, we have agreed to a final extension of the suspension period to 31 December 2020," said K
[South East Asia] Malaysia to deport undocumented migrants from next week
Asia, World

[South East Asia] Malaysia to deport undocumented migrants from next week

As Coronavirus continues to spread unabated, the Malaysian government has decided to deport undocumented immigrants in the country to their respective countries starting next week.Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the sending back process will start with Indonesian citizens on June 6.“All Indonesian illegal immigrants will undergo Covid-19 testing via the Rapid Test Kit Antigen (RTK Antigen) method first in the presence of officials from the Indonesian embassy before being sent back.“The first phase, which starts on June 6, will involve 2,189 Indonesians, who are currently being detained at immigration depots in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, as well as 672 at depots in Sabah,” Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said on Saturday.“From the total number of Indonesians involved, the
[South East Asia] Ousted from Bersatu, Mahathir and four others calls move illegal, reflective of PM Muhyiddin’s insecurities
World

[South East Asia] Ousted from Bersatu, Mahathir and four others calls move illegal, reflective of PM Muhyiddin’s insecurities

The five MPs dropped by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), including its founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, have decried the move as illegal and reflective of party president Muhyiddin Yassin's insecurities and dictatorial leadership.In a joint statement on Thursday, Mahathir and the other four MPs rubbished the interpretation of their decision not to join Prime Minister Muhyiddin's government bench in Parliament as joining another party, which results in automatic revocation of memberships, according to the Bersatu Constitution."This reflects the president's dictatorial attitude. We also state here that the unilateral move by the Bersatu president in sacking us without cause is due to his difficulties in the face of party elections, as well as his insecurity as the most unstable prim...
[South East Asia] COVID-19 outbreak: Malaysia tightens border control to guard against import of cases
World

[South East Asia] COVID-19 outbreak: Malaysia tightens border control to guard against import of cases

After nabbing 300 migrants in this month alone, Malaysia is now beefing up its border monitoring to prevent foreigners from entering via illegal routes and potentially importing COVID-19 infections, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Thursday.“The government takes seriously the entrance of illegal immigrants into the country and we feel the fear, especially at this time (of the COVID-19 pandemic).“So we have started 'Ops Benteng' where the maritime agency, the military as well as the police are working together in monitoring the borders, especially illegal routes that can be used by immigrants to enter illegally,” he said.Ismail Sabri, who is also defence minister, also raised his concern over possible re-entry of foreign workers who have earlier left Malaysia for Hari Raya Aidilf