Tag: politics

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday hinted that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle this month. As if he didn't hear the question asked by a reporter when met after performing Friday prayers at Surau Putra Al-Amin in Precinct 18 today, Anwar jokingly asked a young congregant, a 12-year- old Akmal Afif Yaseer Arafat, to repeat the question. The boy obliged and asked: "Datuk Seri, when is the Cabinet reshuffle?" To that, Anwar replied: "When do you propose, before or after (New Year) 2024?" When the boy said "before 2024", Anwar smiled and told the waiting reporters: "He said before 2024. I agree." Earlier, Anwar joined 2,000 congregants including the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar in performing Frid...

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) has decided to defend his post and contest in the party election scheduled for next year. He said the decision was made after considering the call voiced by Bersatu Supreme Council (MPT) and delegates urging him to continue leading the party. “Actually, my wife asked me to stay for another term and not to disappoint them. She said carry on, Bersatu still need you and I said I will stay for the last term,” he said when delivering the adjournment speech at the 2023 Bersatu Annual General Assembly here today. Yesterday, Muhyiddin announced that he will not be defending his post in the party election next year to give way to other leaders to take over the party leadership through the democratic ...

Indonesia-Malaysia relations strengthened further over the past year since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became Malaysian prime minister, especially in efforts to unite the ummah in both countries and the ASEAN region, according to Muhammadiyah, the oldest Islamic organisation in Indonesia. “The Malaysia-Indonesia relationship is very important to drive and establish a balance in this region and in the Islamic world,” said the Chairman of the central leadership of the organisation, Prof Haedar Nashir, in his congratulations to Anwar. In a video message broadcasted on Republikatv, Haedar emphasised the concept of Malaysia Madani brought by the prime minister, stating that it is in line with Islamic teachings. “Malaysia Madani aligns with Muhammadiyah’s vision to create Al-Madinah A...

Muhyiddin, who heads both the Bersatu party and the broader Malay-majority opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, revealed his intention to step aside and allow new leaders to assume control of Bersatu during its elections slated for the end of 2024. Under his leadership, the opposition made significant strides in provincial polls last August and in the nationwide vote the previous year. The absence of Muhyiddin at the helm of Bersatu is expected to diminish the opposition's strength vis-à-vis Anwar. Political analysts, such as Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, highlight that the stature and experience Muhyiddin possesses are pivotal. His departure leaves a leadership void that could potentially grant Anwar more stability...

China has launched its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to the Pentagon's latest report on China's military - giving it land and sea attack options once the sole province of U.S. and Russian vessels. The Pentagon report, published Oct. 20, marks the first apparent confirmation that modified submarines seen in Chinese shipyards over the last 18 months are Type 093B guided missile submarines. The Pentagon report says that in the short term, the Chinese navy "will have the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets from its submarine and surface combatants using land-attack cruise missiles, notably enhancing (China's) power projection capability". Known as SSGNs, conventionally armed missile submarines were developed by the Sov...

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated on Tuesday that Thailand is considering a sizable land bridge project in the country's south that would help increase growth and international trade and be projected to cost one trillion baht (US$27.44 billion or RM130.15 billion). According to a government research, the project would start with bidding in 2025 and end with 280,000 jobs in the southern provinces of Ranong and Chumpon. The state planning office also predicted that the project would boost economic growth to 5.5% yearly. The GDP of Thailand is expected to expand by 2.8% this year and 4.4% the next year. In Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum, he told reporters, "It will be an important connector for logistics for transporting goods between India, the Middle East, and Africa." ...