Malaysia has strong potential for robust productivity growth

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (NNN-Bernama) – Malaysia has a strong potential for robust productivity growth,  in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 (12MP) aspiration towards becoming a high-income nation. In its Economic Outlook 2023 report released Friday, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said the government has implemented several initiatives to strengthen Malaysia’s productivity. These initiatives…

Vaccination remains Singapore primary line of defence in living with COVID-19 — MOH

SINGAPORE, Oct 8 (NNN-Bernama) — Vaccination remains Singapore’s primary line of defence as it forges ahead and learns to live with COVID-19, according to the republic’s Ministry of Health (MOH) Friday. Since Aug 29, 2022, Singapore has stepped down almost all of its Safe Management Measures (SMMs), save for mask-wearing in healthcare…

63 Malaysian Umrah pilgrims remain stranded in Saudi Arabia

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Oct 8 (NNN-Bernama) — A total of 63 Malaysian pilgrims made up of 28 adults and 35 children remain stranded in Saudi Arabia since June 2022. “The pilgrims were brought to Madinah in March by a tariqa group Naqsyabandiyah Al-Kholidiah to perform umrah,” said a joint statement issued…

Malaysia announces US$80.1 billion budget for 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian government on Friday tabled Budget 2023 amounting to RM372.3 billion (US$80.1 billion) that was inspired in part by the Malaysian Family and aims to be “responsive, responsible and reformist”. Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, in tabling the budget in the Parliament, said RM272.3 billion…

China, Malaysia economic and trade cooperation reach new highs

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Economic and trade cooperation between China and Malaysia have hit new highs, with bilateral trade volume for the first eight months of this year reaching US$131.2 billion. China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said this constitute an increase of 21.2 per cent year-on-year.  Speaking at the China’s…

Malaysian ringgit falls to new 24-year low as it touches 4.60 to US dollar

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit continued its downtrend against the US dollar in Monday’s closing as reduced investor risk appetite pushed the ringgit to a new 24-year low. At 6 pm, the local currency depreciated to 4.6030/6045 against the greenback from 4.5775/5800…

Security Council veto power remains a conundrum, abolishing it the best way forward

By Voon Miaw Ping and V.Sankara KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that the veto powers of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) be abolished is the way forward in ensuring the United Nations (UN)…

Six soldiers killed in Pakistan army helicopter crash

NEW DELHI, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Six soldiers, including two majors, were killed in a Pakistani military helicopter crash in the province of Balochistan on Sunday night. The helicopter crashed during a flying mission in the Harnai area, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement…

Malaysian PM arrives in Abu Dhabi for working visit

From D. Arul Rajoo ABU DHABI, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a four-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) beginning today. The plane carrying the prime minister and his delegation touched down at the Abu Dhabi…

Malaysian ringgit slides further and touches 4.59 against US dollar at opening

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit continued to go down against the US dollar on Monday, dragged down by market volatility that was triggered by the recent steep US interest rate increase and the expectation of more hikes to come, said a dealer. At 10.39 am, the local currency fell to 4.5960/5980 against…