We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Lessons from Shohei Ohtanis Interpreter Blame: The Daily Guardia
Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has found himself at the center of a scandal involving alleged sports betting activities and theft.....»»
Tough love: La Salle captain Coronel takes De Jesus criticism in stride amid steady rise
Often the target of helpful criticism by legendary La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, Lady Spikers captain setter Julia Coronel bravely absorbs his lessons as she leads their title defense.....»»
China urges dialogue amid Manila s South China Sea provocations
A Chinese diplomatic vehicle leaves the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines after a bilateral meeting in Manila, the Philippines, December 11, 2023. /CFPEditor's note: Ruqiya Anwar, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a PhD scholar of Media and Communication Studies in Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessari.....»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Hands off our war!’
Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, stressed yesterday that his country does not want the United Nations to interfere in its war against the extremist group Hamas, which killed at least 1,400 people, mostly Israeli civilians, in an unprecedented attack last 7 October. In a roundtable discussion with DAILY TRIBUNE editors and reporters, Fluss accused the UN of having a long-standing anti-Israel bias as he brushed aside a UN Security Council call for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict. The UN was founded 78 years ago to the day today, on 24 October 1945. “We’re in a war against Hamas, which is like the war in Afghanistan (following the 11 September 2001 or 9/11 terror attacks against the United States),” said Fluss, describing the attack by Hamas as second only in barbarity to what Israelis faced during the holocaust. Hitler’s Nazi Germany exterminated about six million European Jews from 1941 to 1945 during the Holocaust in World War 2. The genocide would spur the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. “We will make sure that there’s no humanitarian crisis as much as possible, and we are trying hard to minimize the casualties there,” he said, explaining that the airstrikes in the Gaza Strip are targeting well-known Hamas enclaves. Israel, with about 300,000 soldiers and armor massed at its border with Gaza, has expressed an intent to launch a ground offensive to rout Hamas, without occupying the territory it left in 2005. Fluss pointed out that civilians in Gaza are being warned in advance of the attacks, with pleas made for them to relocate to its south, away from the fighting. War on terror “Our objective in this war is to ensure that Hamas will no longer be able to attack Israel like it did. We will remove their capability in a war that is solely against Hamas and not the Palestinians,” Fluss said. The envoy stressed that Israel is not against delivering humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza, while stressing Israel’s right to protect its citizens against terrorist groups like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Fluss said that nobody, not even the UN, can stop Israel from a war that it did not start, one that was “forced on us” by Hamas with the latter’s massacre of innocent Israelis, including women and children. Enemies of Israel He explained that while the Philippines enjoys recognition by all countries, Israel has for decades, if not centuries, been trying to be recognized as a state with the right to exist peacefully. But Fluss lamented that the UN has been passing resolutions — at least 20 every year — “which are anti-Israel, (resolutions) that take the Palestinian narrative.” “There is no recognition of the Israeli narrative. The bias against Israel in the UN is well-known,” he said. He said that the UN and its agencies, like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, otherwise referred to as the UN Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA, have allowed themselves to be used by the enemies of Israel. Fluss cited as an example the use by Hamas of UNRWA facilities, supplies and even marked vehicles in attacking Israel. UNRWA had been accused in the past of perpetuating destabilizing events in order to have a perpetual supply of refugees to justify its existence and funding. It has over 18,900 staff working in 138 countries. Israel, as the lone Jewish state in the UN, is ranged against an automatic majority of countries that support the Palestinian initiatives. The Arab League has 22 members in the UN, while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has 57 members. It may be recalled that a number of Arab countries had banded together to wage wars against Israel, including in 1948 during its founding. The UN has also accommodated Palestinians many times in the past. In October 1974, or 14 years before the Palestine Liberation Organization nominally forswore terrorism, the UN General Assembly voted to invite it to send a spokesperson to take part in its deliberations. No one who was not a representative of a government — except the Pope, and even he was the head of a quasi-state — had ever before been granted such a privilege. The vote to extend the invitation was overwhelming, 105 to 4, with only the United States, Israel, and two Latin American governments opposed. The assembled delegates heard Yasser Arafat proclaim the necessity of getting at the “historical roots” of the issue, namely, “the Jewish invasion of Palestine [that] began in 1881,” and addressing it with a “radical antidote,” rather than “a slavish obeisance to the present.” Expulsion try In 1975, the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference were determined to have Israel expelled from the UN. The PLO lined up support for this move at a meeting of the African states while training its sights on a ministerial meeting of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) scheduled a month later, in August 1975, in Lima, Peru. Washington then objected. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered a major speech on the subject, with a thinly veiled warning that the United States might turn its back on the United Nations. In addition to Washington’s hard line, the drive to expel Israel was also slowed by disarray within the Arab’s ranks. The most decisive factor that disrupted the expulsion move was the surprising position of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who announced his opposition to it because “Israel must be present at the United Nations if it is expected to comply with its resolutions.” Israel’s enemies soon came up with an alternative that again targeted Israel through a resolution of the General Assembly, echoing Arafat and Soviet propagandists who declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In 1982, the body declared that Israel “is not a peace-loving member state and that it has not carried out its obligations under the Charter.” Likewise, the UN General Assembly has voted each year on 70 to 100 resolutions, including from 15 to 20 resolutions pejorative to Israel. Of all General Assembly resolutions that criticize a particular country, three-quarters apply to Israel. The relentless recitation of UN declarations reinforces the conviction in the Arab world that all right lies on the Arab side and that Israel is irredeemably evil. The post ‘Hands off our war!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia takes new step away from US dollar
The country has agreed to switch to trading in local currencies with its major partners, the Malaysian prime minister says Malaysia is set to increase settlements in local currencies to reduce reliance on the US dollar, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday. "To entirely stop the reliance on the US d.....»»
Malaysia shifting away from US dollar
The country has agreed to switch to trading in local currencies with its major partners, the Malaysian prime minister says Malaysia is set to increase settlements in local currencies to reduce reliance on the US dollar, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday. "To entirely stop the reliance on the US d.....»»
Malaysia eyes upgrading ties with Phl on Halal industry, digitalization
The Malaysian government is eyeing to upgrade its engagements with the Philippines, particularly in developing cooperations in the areas of the halal industry, agriculture, green technology, and digitalization. Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino confirmed this commitment at the Malaysian National Day Reception over the weekend. Castelino noted that the existing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Malaysia are currently “at its peak.” “Remarkably, this is the year where both our leaders officially met twice within a span of not less than six months. The Philippines was one of the first countries that invited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim right after he was elected,” he said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier hosted a state visit for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the Philippines from 1 to 2 March. During the state visit, Marcos and Anwar agreed that reinvigorating trade and investment exchanges would help the two countries navigate through the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the changing geopolitical landscape in the region. Following this, Anwar hosted a state visit for Marcos from 25 to 27 July in Malaysia. “This, to me, is truly special – and I am happy to be a part of the history to witness this momentous elevation of our country’s relationship. The two leaders agreed to focus collaborations on halal industry, agriculture, digitalization, and green technology,” Castelino said. “I can say that today, our bilateral relations are at its peak,” he added. The Philippines is hoping to tap the global halal market size which was valued at more than USD 2 trillion in 2022, while it sees Malaysia as an “ideal partner” to accelerate digitalization in the country. The post Malaysia eyes upgrading ties with Phl on Halal industry, digitalization appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos to celebrate birthday in SG for F1 race, Asia Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will present his administration's priorities to economic and business executives at the Milken Institute's 10th Asian Conference and attend the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023 in Singapore this week. In a Malacañang statement late Monday, Marcos is expected to highlight his administration's in improving the life of the Filipinos on 13 September at the Milken Institute. "Marcos will headline the 30-minute talk, highlighting the government efforts in improving the lives of Filipinos amid challenges from significant global events. Marcos will be the first sitting Philippine President to address the Milken Institute's Asia Summit," Malacañang said. "Marcos will be the first sitting Philippine President to address the Milken Institute's Asia Summit," it added, noting that the event will also be live-streamed on the Milken Institute's website. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, will also speak at the annual meeting. The Asia Summit 2023 will focus on peace and stability, inequality, cultural differences, and irreparable environmental damage. The Milken Institute hosts it and it has been going on for ten years. The Milken Institute is a non-profit think tank that focuses on accelerating progress toward giving everyone a meaningful life, Malacañang said. Malacañang added it brings together the best ideas and practices for how to hold a dialogue on critical global problems. Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, has also invited Marcos Jr. to the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix in 2023. In September 2022, Marcos Jr. went to Singapore for a state visit. After a month, he came back for the F1 Grand Prix. The post Marcos to celebrate birthday in SG for F1 race, Asia Summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia court drops graft charges vs deputy PM
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AFP) — A Malaysian court on Monday approved a prosecution request to drop all graft charges against the country’s deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, state news agency Bernama reported. Zahid was facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to the misuse of funds at a charity he founded. They were part of a raft of charges leveled at leading figures of the United Malays National Organization party after it was defeated at the polls in 2018, including former prime minister Najib Razak over massive corruption at state fund 1MDB. Prosecutors in Zahid’s case said they wanted more time to investigate his case “in more depth,” Bernama reported. Zahid, wearing a dark suit, hugged his supporters and family members who sat inside the packed courtroom when the decision was announced by the presiding judge. “My family and I are grateful that the court has discharged me of all 47 charges,” Zahid told a press conference. The court said Zahid’s discharge did not amount to an acquittal. He was appointed deputy PM after November’s election when his UMNO party joined the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar was forced to ally with his former foes after falling short of an outright majority to form government. Zahid was discharged from another graft case in September last year for what a court said was lack of evidence. The post Malaysia court drops graft charges vs deputy PM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia’s Anwar thwarts opposition challenge in state polls
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's ruling coalition thwarted a challenge by an opposition alliance in state elections, official results showed Sunday, with analysts saying the win would buy him time to consolidate power in the largely Islamic Southeast Asian nation. Saturday's vote in six states had been the toughest political challenge yet to Anwar, who was appointed prime minister in November last year to head a unity government after an indecisive general election. The election of state assembly members does not affect Anwar's current two-thirds majority in parliament. It was, however, widely seen as a barometer of support for Anwar, including his push for a more inclusive society in which minority ethnicities could be allowed greater participation in the largely Malay Muslim nation, which also has large Chinese and Indian populations. Results released by the Election Commission showed that Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition retained three states: Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan. The opposition alliance Perikatan Nasional -- whose key member the PAS party aims to create a theocratic state in Malaysia -- kept its hold on Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan. Retaining Selangor, which hosts the country’s biggest port, and Penang, home to Malaysia’s thriving semiconductor industry, are prized wins for Anwar, analysts said. The ruling coalition, however, lost its two-thirds majority in Selangor, as the opposition made strong inroads. Perikatan is backed by the Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, whose strong performance in last year’s general elections had sparked ruling party concerns it could spring a surprise and flip one or two states to the opposition. "This is a decision of the people. We have to respect this decision," Anwar said of the results at a late-night press conference as he also appealed for unity after a divisive campaign. "The federal government remains strong after this poll and we will continue to promote a prosperous Malaysia," he added. Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia think tank said "it was a nail-biting win for Anwar after he thwarted the challenge from the powerful Islamic party PAS". Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia expert from the University of Nottingham, said retaining the three states was a "victory for Anwar" as "he had gone into this campaign defensively". "It was in many ways a stress reliever for Anwar not to be confronted with any major political shifts that could alter the status quo," said Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore. But the outcome was also a disappointment in that "his coalition did not make much significant inroads" at the polls, he told AFP. Anwar "has more than enough time" before the 2027 general elections "to shore up support including the complex political bargaining that may need to happen within the coalition", according to Mustafa. No guarantee James Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania in Australia, had warned earlier Saturday of "dire" consequences if Anwar lost even a single state, including shifting allegiances that could have threatened his future as prime minister. Anwar became prime minister last November after a long struggle as an opposition leader. His party had won the most seats in the general election but fell short of the outright majority needed to form a government. That forced him into an alliance with former foes in the United Malays National Organisation to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval from Malaysia's king to form a "unity government". The coalition has so far held together in a country that had seen three leadership turnovers in as many years after scandal-tainted Najib Razak was voted out as prime minister in 2018 over massive corruption at state fund 1MDB. But Oh, the analyst, said Anwar "must remain vigilant" even as he pushes for reforms. "There is no guarantee that his government will stay until the next general elections," he said. The post Malaysia’s Anwar thwarts opposition challenge in state polls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese FM begins SE Asia tour as South China Sea tensions flare
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore Thursday at the start of a three-nation regional tour, Beijing's embassy in the city-state said, as tensions flare with the Philippines in the South China Sea. His three-day trip, after returning to the post last month following the unexplained disappearance of predecessor Qin Gang, also includes Malaysia and Cambodia. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy confirmed to AFP on Thursday morning that Beijing's top diplomat had arrived in the financial hub. "China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with the three Southeast Asian countries through this visit," China's foreign ministry said when it announced the trip on Wednesday. Wang will visit until Friday and hold separate meetings with his counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's government said. His visit comes after Beijing and Manila clashed at the weekend when the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of blocking and firing water cannon at its boats on a resupply mission to Filipino marines stationed on a World-War-II-era ship. China has since insisted the Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters that have long been a flashpoint between the two. Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China over a code of conduct in the sea that Beijing claims as almost entirely its own. Other ASEAN members Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei all claim parts of the sea, too. Singapore has for decades juggled ties with China and the US as their rivalry grows across the Asia-Pacific region. Wang will travel to Malaysia on Friday where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will meet with Beijing's envoy in the northern state of Penang, Malaysia's Star newspaper reported. Anwar is on the campaign trail ahead of local elections on Saturday in six states. Wang will finish his trip in Cambodia, which has become one of China's strongest allies in the region under the rule of outgoing ruler Hun Sen, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment. mba/jfx/aha © Agence France-Presse The post Chinese FM begins SE Asia tour as South China Sea tensions flare appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese FM begins SE Asia tour as South China Sea tensions flare
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore Thursday at the start of a three-nation regional tour, Beijing's embassy in the city-state said, as tensions flare with the Philippines in the South China Sea. His three-day trip, after returning to the post last month following the unexplained disappearance of predecessor Qin Gang, also includes Malaysia and Cambodia. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy confirmed to AFP on Thursday morning that Beijing's top diplomat had arrived in the financial hub. "China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with the three Southeast Asian countries through this visit," China's foreign ministry said when it announced the trip on Wednesday. Wang will visit until Friday and hold separate meetings with his counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's government said. His visit comes after Beijing and Manila clashed at the weekend when the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of blocking and firing water cannon at its boats on a resupply mission to Filipino marines stationed on a World-War-II-era ship. China has since insisted the Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters that have long been a flashpoint between the two. Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China over a code of conduct in the sea that Beijing claims as almost entirely its own. Other ASEAN members Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei all claim parts of the sea, too. Singapore has for decades juggled ties with China and the US as their rivalry grows across the Asia-Pacific region. Wang will travel to Malaysia on Friday where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will meet with Beijing's envoy in the northern state of Penang, Malaysia's Star newspaper reported. Anwar is on the campaign trail ahead of local elections on Saturday in six states. Wang will finish his trip in Cambodia, which has become one of China's strongest allies in the region under the rule of outgoing ruler Hun Sen, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment. The post Chinese FM begins SE Asia tour as South China Sea tensions flare appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suicide bomber attacks political gathering, kills 44
A suspected suicide bomber attacked a political rally in northwesst Pakistan on Sunday killing at least 44 people and injuring more than 100 others. “There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies,” witness Abdullah Khan said after the attack on 400 supporters of the the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F party in the town of Khar, near the Afghan border. “I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh,” Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter who had his arm fractured by the blast, said. Images from the blast site circulating on social media showed bodies strewn around, and volunteers helping blood-soaked victims to ambulances. Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakht unkhwa province — told Agence France-Presse late Sunday that the bomber detonated himself in close proximity to the stage. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast Sunday on social media, offering condolences to the victims and vowing to punish those responsible. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police said Monday their initial investigation suggested that the local chapter of the Islamic State was behind the bombing, according to Geo News. District Police Officer Nazir Khan said three suspects had been arrested, Geo News reported. The JUI-F is a major ally of the coalition government of Sharif, which is preparing for the November national elections. Last year, IS said it was behind violent attacks against religious scholars affiliated with the party, which has a huge network of mosques and madrassas in the north and west of the country. The jihadist group accuses JUI-F of hypocrisy for being an Islamic group while supporting hostile governments and the military. WITH AFP The post Suicide bomber attacks political gathering, kills 44 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Return of 56 Filipinos in Malaysia death row sought
Philippine and Malaysian officials will meet in Manila in October to negotiate the possible repatriation of 56 Filipinos in Malaysia’s death row, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a recent interview. The government is proposing to the Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting the serving of the Filipino detainees’ sentences in their own country, according to the president. He said the final decision would be up to the JCM. Marcos raised the issue of the Filipino prisoners with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Kuala Lumpur early this week. He said the embassies of the two countries are already attending to the proposed transfer of the Filipinos to a Philippine prison. Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that 30 of the prisoners were serving time for murder and 18 for drug trafficking. The remaining eight were imprisoned for taking part in the deadly raid of a village in Lahad Datu, Malaysia in 2013. The alleged members of the “Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo” clashed with Malaysian security forces in a bid to reclaim Sabah for the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, who considered the teritory part of the Sultanate of Sulu. An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs previouly said it was trying to secure Malaysia’s pardon of the 56 Filipino convicts. The post Return of 56 Filipinos in Malaysia death row sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl-Malaysia JCM to discuss 56 Filipino detainees’ fate
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that officials will discuss the fate of the 56 Filipinos now serving death sentences in Malaysia when the Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting meets in October in Manila. In a recent media interview, Marcos said the Philippine government would consider sending the detainees home to complete their sentences as part of the JCM. However, he said that the final decision would be up to the JCM. "That's essentially it because they have been — they are being repatriated because of… I guess although they consider themselves Filipinos, they... are part of their ancestral land," Marcos said. "So that's where the differences lie. But when they apply Malaysian law, they are illegals. So yes, that is essentially what it boils down to," Marcos added. Marcos also mentioned that the issue is something that they are going to convene after a long time, as he raised the issue with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to the country's Southeast Asian neighbor. However, he said that the embassies are already attending to the issues of transferring Filipinos back to the Philippines. "And I think that we have a good working relationship when it comes to that," he added. Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs showed that 30 prisoners were found guilty of murder and 18 of drug trafficking. The remaining eight were imprisoned for waging a civil war against the Malaysian King during the 2013 Lahad Datu siege. An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs said before that they are trying to secure the Filipino convicts' pardons while serving their sentences in Malaysia. The post Phl-Malaysia JCM to discuss 56 Filipino detainees’ fate appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia offers halal, banking help
MALAYSIA — Filipino officials will soon get a helping hand from their Malaysian counterparts in terms of running the halal industry and Islamic banking. In his statement during his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said, “Malaysia has warmly offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors.” “Cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems,” Marcos said. “Malaysia has warmly offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors.” Halal is a dietary law derived from Islamic teachings, meaning “lawful or permitted. Of the 110 million Filipinos, Muslims in the Philippines make up about 6 percent of the population. The two leaders also agreed to enhance their trade and investment ties, with Marcos noting that Malaysia is one of the leading halal economies in the world. The Philippines and Malaysia, he said, have “longstanding relations and strong economic linkages” and “commonalities between our peoples which make our friendship easy.” Both leaders affirmed they would fortify further the bilateral ties between the two nations, geared toward the post-pandemic transformation. As he thanked the Malaysian government for its assistance in the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Marcos said it is time to examine and strengthen the relationship between both Southeast Asian countries. Plans for joint meeting He added that he and the Prime Minister agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in the near future. “We do this so that our government agencies will have an avenue to discuss priority cooperation in detail, most especially in the areas of transnational crimes, agriculture, the halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports and the digital economy,” Marcos said. Ibrahim, for his part, welcomed Marcos to Malaysia and said the two countries have a long history of close ties. Meanwhile, Marcos and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of their people and nations. In his remarks during the state banquet in honor of Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Malaysian King said the Philippines is an essential partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines’ proximity and active involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace, and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties to this day. We have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together,” the King said. [caption id="attachment_162690" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Warm welcome President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (seated) and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (right) are graciously received in a State Welcoming Ceremony at the Istana Negara on Wednesday. Honored by the presence of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah (2nd from left), the King of Malaysia and Queen Azizah (left), the visit signifies the strengthening of diplomatic ties. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PCO[/caption] Re-strengthened ties The Philippines and Malaysia “re-strengthened” their relationship as the two Southeast Asian nations prepare for a post-pandemic recovery where they will play an important role in the region, Marcos Jr. Marcos made the statement in a meeting with Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah, where he and First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos received a State welcome, including a 21-gun salute, on their arrival at Istana Negara, Malaysia’s National Palace. The King and Queen of Malaysia, as well as Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, welcomed the Philippine President and the First Lady. “It is time for us to really examine that relationship and re-strengthen that relationship, and that, for me, is the most important aspect of this visit that I have made to Kuala Lumpur, to Malaysia,” Marcos said in the meeting. “I believe that it is the way for us to refocus our efforts together to mutually beneficial initiatives for our two countries and to see how we can help one another as we face the post-pandemic future,” he added. The post-pandemic scenario is a very different road that the two nations face compared to what we had before the pandemic. According to Marcos, their membership in ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA continue to strengthen their relationship as they come back and start to emerge from the difficult period of the last two and a half years of the pandemic. The two countries must recreate and transform themselves to be competitive and to be part of a new world order as it is happening and changing now, he said. “We will play a huge part in that transformation. And that transformation is going to strengthen and be made more stable by this partnership that we make with each other,” Marcos asserted. “And so it becomes more and more important for me that these partnerships we will foster on a cultural level and people-to-people (diplomacy) will continue to be expanded and gain stature in the way that we promote that relationship between our two countries,” he said. This partnership is essential not only for Malaysia, the Philippines, and ASEAN but also for the rest of the world, Marcos pointed out. Whatever beginnings they have made, they all proved to be of importance to the continuing relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines, he added. The President arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon for a state visit that include meetings with the Malaysian king, government officials, as well as business leaders to strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Malaysia. The post Malaysia offers halal, banking help appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PM Ibrahim and PBBM affirm bilateral ties between MAL and PHL
MALAYSIA - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday affirmed to fortify further bilateral ties between the two nations, geared toward the post-pandemic transformation. In a joint press statement of the Philippine President and the Malaysian Prime Minister, Marcos said it is time to examine and strengthen the relationships between both Southeast Asian countries. Marcos explained that the Philippines and Malaysia have "longstanding relations and strong economic linkages," and "commonalities between our peoples which make our friendship easy." The Chief Executive also thanked the Malaysian government for its assistance in the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He added that Malaysian authorities intend to introduce running the Halal industry and Islamic banking to Filipino counterparts. "Malaysia has warmly offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors," Marcos added. He added that he and the Prime Minister had agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in the near future. "We do this so that our government agencies will have an avenue to discuss priority cooperation in detail, most especially in the areas of transnational crimes, agriculture, Halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports, and the digital economy," Marcos said. The two leaders also agreed to enhance their trade and investment ties, with Marcos noting that Malaysia is one of the leading halal economies in the world. "Cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems," Marcos said. Marcos also expressed gratitude to Malaysia for its assistance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. "Malaysia has warmly offered their expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors," Marcos said. Ibrahim, for his part, welcomed Marcos to Malaysia and said that the two countries have a long history of close ties. He noted that there has been a slight increase in trade and investment between the two countries in recent years, but that there is still significant potential for growth. "We must explore the strength of the Filipino economy and the business community in both countries," Ibrahim said. "We should jointly take measures to enhance bilateral relations and economic trade, at the same time help resuscitate our economic era," he added. Ibrahim said they had discussed the situation in Myanmar. They agreed that ASEAN should continue to strengthen the five-point consensus on Myanmar. Still, both the Southeast Asian leaders agreed that there should also be room for informal engagement with neighboring countries. The meeting concluded with the two leaders agreeing to accelerate resolving outstanding memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between Malaysia and the Philippines. They also agreed to meet again in the near future to discuss further ways to strengthen bilateral relations. The post PM Ibrahim and PBBM affirm bilateral ties between MAL and PHL appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’
MALAYSIA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope that the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of the people and nations. In his remarks during the state banquet in honor of visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Malaysian King said the Philippines is an essential partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines' proximity and active involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties to this day, we have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together. "Mutual efforts and understanding are vital to further elevate our close relations and good cooperation to new heights. I hope that Malaysia and the Philippines can expand their collaborations and partnership in new and emerging areas such as agriculture, digital economy and halal food industry," said His Majesty. Marcos, for his part, said that he believes the Philippines and Malaysia can work together to "recreate ourselves" and "transform ourselves" in the post-pandemic world. He added that these partnerships will be strengthened by the close people-to-people ties between the two countries. "It is important not only to Malaysia, it is not only important to the Philippines, it is not only important to (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), but it is important to the rest of the world," Marcos said. "And that we hope is the part that we will play as partners, Malaysia and the Philippines, in the years to come," he added. The President received a State Welcome Ceremony, complete with a 21-gun salute, when he arrived at the Istana Negara, also referred to as the National Palace, earlier on Wednesday. The King and Queen of Malaysia, along with Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, personally greeted him. The President is currently in a three-day official trip to the nearby Southeast Asian nation after making a stop in Manila last March. The Philippines holds the 15th position among Malaysia's trading partners in terms of global trade and ranks as the fifth largest among the ASEAN member states. The total trade between the two countries reached $9.42 billion in 2022, marking a significant growth of 20.1 percent compared to the previous year's recorded value in 2021. The post PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PHL and MAL strenghten partnership towards post pandemic recovery
MALAYSIA – The Philippines and Malaysia restrengthen their relationship as the two Southeast Asian countries prepare toward post-pandemic recovery, wherein both countries will play an important role, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday. Marcos made this statement in a meeting with Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah, where the Philippine President and First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos had a State Welcome Ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, upon their arrival at Istana Negara (Malaysia's National Palace). The King and Queen of Malaysia, as well as Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato' Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, welcomed the Philippine President and the First Lady. "It is time for us to really examine that relationship and restrengthen that relationship, and that, for me, is the most important aspect of this visit that I have made to Kuala Lumpur, to Malaysia," President Marcos said in their meeting. "I believe that it is the way for us to refocus our efforts together to mutually beneficial initiatives for our two countries and to see how we can help one another as we face the post-pandemic future," he added. The President said that the post-pandemic scenario is a very different road that the two nations now face compared to what we met before the pandemic. According to the President, their memberships in ASEAN and in the BIMP-EAGA still continue to strengthen their relationship as they come back and start to emerge from the difficult period in the last two and a half years of the pandemic. The two countries must recreate and transform themselves to be competitive and to be part of a new world order as it is happening and changing now. "We will play a huge part in that transformation. And that transformation is going to strengthen and made more stable by this partnership that we make with each other," he said. "And so, it becomes more and more important for me that these partnerships we will foster on a cultural level and the people-to-people (diplomacy) now continue to be expanded and to gain stature in the way that we promote that relationship between our two countries." This partnership is essential not only to Malaysia, the Philippines, and the ASEAN but also to the rest of the world, Marcos pointed out. Whatever beginnings they have made, they all proved to be of importance to the continuing relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines, said Marcos. The President arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon for a state visit that included meeting the Malaysian king, government officials, as well as business leaders with the goal of strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and Malaysia. The post PHL and MAL strenghten partnership towards post pandemic recovery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»