Us

The US-ASEAN Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement (TIFA) is a framework that defines economic engagement between the two parties. While short on specifics, the TIFA — which was signed in 2006 — sets forth broad goals and principles for the US and ASEAN to cooperatively work toward strengthening trade and investment. ASEAN is currently the US’ fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for over US$354 billion in trade in 2019. As of 2020, the US was the largest source of foreign direct investment in ASEAN, responsible for over US$328.5 billion in investments. Close to 42,000 US companies export to ASEAN, supporting over 625,000 American jobs. As trade tensions with China persist, deepening economic relations with ASEAN has become a higher strategic priority for the US. The TIFA, as an overarching framework, provides a useful guide for how the US and ASEAN will increase their economic integration. Strengthening the relationship The TIFA contains several references to ... » Learn More about The US-ASEAN Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement Explained

PUTRAJAYA: Interstate travel will likely be allowed during the first half of October, says National Recovery Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin said the issue was one of the things discussed during the council’s meeting on Monday (Sept 27), which included several other Cabinet ministers. “During the meeting, the council was told that interstate travel could be allowed early October or latest, the middle of the month. “So, you can start making plans to travel the country after this. But at the same time, do not forget to practise Covid-19 SOPs (standard operating procedure),” said Muhyiddin at a press conference after the meeting. Muhyiddin said the council also discussed the reopening of the country’s borders to tourists and business travellers. “The reopening of the country’s borders was also discussed. This will be deliberated by the ministers involved within this week. “They will be looking into whether to allow fully vaccinated Malaysians to travel ... » Learn More about Interstate travel likely to be allowed by first half of October, says NRC chairman Muhyiddin

SHAH ALAM (Bernama): The head of the religious cult Perjalanan Mimpi Yang Terakhir (PMYT), Masitah Ab Jalar, who announced her declaration of repentance (Istitabah) on Monday (Sept 27), has called on her followers to repent and return to the true teachings of Islam. During the ceremony held at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, here, Masitah, 39, who is also known as Sittah Annur, said she was making the declaration willingly and without coercion from any party. "I repent and will practice the teachings of Islam based on authentic sources of knowledge. "Therefore, I call on all parties or any individual who had listened to, followed, or believed in my ‘dream’ to immediately stop any form of belief built upon my statements, and return to the true teachings of Islam," she said. Masitah then signed the declaration of repentance document. Selangor Mufti Datuk Dr Anhar Opir; Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad; Selangor ... » Learn More about Cult leader calls on followers to repent, return to true teachings of Islam

IPOH: The state Forestry Department arrested 11 people for allegedly trespassing into a permanent forest reserve in Hulu Perak. The 10 men and a woman were driving through the Amanjaya forest reserve heading towards the Temenggor forest reserve for a picnic in five different four-wheel drive vehicles. The department’s director Datuk Mohamed Zin Yusop said the 11 people had allegedly entered the prohibited forest area on Sunday (Sept 26), and following a tip-off, enforcement officers made the arrest at 1am at the site on Monday (Sept 27). “Initial investigation revealed that the suspects had entered the Amanjaya forest, and were heading towards the Temenggor forest reserve for the purpose of picnicking. “All of them had committed an offence of entering the forest reserve without obtaining permission from the department,” he said. Mohamed Zin said all the five vehicles were also seized, and a police report was lodged at the Gerik police station. He said those who failed to ... » Learn More about Eleven arrested for allegedly trespassing into forest reserve in Perak

SHAH ALAM (Bernama): Police have smashed a drug trafficking syndicate with the seizure of heroin worth RM910,000 and the arrest of nine suspects in a series of raids in the Klang Valley. Selangor Narcotics CID chief ACP Ahmad Jefferi Abdullah said police got their break in the case when a team from Bukit Aman arrested a man at a double-storey terrace house in Puncak Alam near here at 1.30pm on Sept 20. He said the team seized 57 packets of drugs believed to be heroin and weighing 30.35kg in a room of the house. “In follow-up operations, we arrested seven men and a woman at several locations in Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Gombak, Brickfields and Cheras on the same day,” he told a press conference at the Selangor contingent police headquarters here on Monday (Sept 27). The suspects are aged between 30 and 50, he added. ACP Ahmad Jefferi said the syndicate was believed to have been distributing drugs in the Klang Valley for more than three months. He said police also ... » Learn More about Police bust drug syndicate with arrest of nine, seizure of heroin worth RM910,000

PETALING JAYA: Legal and technical intricacies are among the reasons why the government allowed Lynas Corp to postpone the construction of a permanent disposal facility (PDF) to next March, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Deputy Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said the proposed PDF site at Bukit Ketam, Mukim Kuala Kuantan was no longer considered, as the forest reserve status issue involving the area was not solved. "Lynas needs time to acquire approval to construct the PDF site by the Pahang government." Ahmad also said the construction of a PDF at a new area requires fresh studies into technical and legal aspects, which was limited due to the movement control order (MCO) imposed to curb Covid-19. "The implementation of the MCO limits analysis and studies to be carried out for the new proposed PDF site," he said in response to Fuziah Salleh (PH-Kuantan) in Parliament on Monday (Sept 27). Fuziah had asked if the government was serious in ... » Learn More about Lynas allowed to postpone construction of permanent disposal facility due to legal, technical issues, Dewan Rakyat told

NILAI: The Customs Department has seized 28kg of methamphetamine worth some RM1mil and arrested five suspects, including a pair of twins, believed to be runners for a drug syndicate. Customs director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said his officers made a breakthrough in the case when they arrested an Indonesian man in Puchong, Selangor, at around 6pm on Sept 13. "My staff saw two men behaving suspiciously in a car at a parking lot and asked them to stop but they refused. "They crashed into a Customs vehicle in their bid to escape and my officers gave chase," he told reporters at the Customs (Narcotics) headquarters here on Thursday (Sept 23). After a short distance, both suspects got out of their vehicle and ran into a residential-cum-commercial area. Customs personnel managed to apprehend a suspect, an Indonesian, inside a shop at Pusat Bandar Puchong a short while later. "We checked their car and found the drugs stashed in two backpacks in the boot. "The ... » Learn More about Customs seizes 28kg of meth, twins among five suspects arrested

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 416 construction sites have been ordered to cease operations since June due to failure to comply with Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. The Deputy Works Minister said the 416 were detected in SOP compliance checks conducted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) till Sunday (Sept 26) across 10,087 construction sites. Arthur said it was found that 4,770 construction sites were not operating while 5,317 were operating. Out of the 416 construction sites that were ordered to shut, 232 were allowed to resume operations after they were found to be in compliance with Covid-19 SOPs, he added. "The authority to declare an area as an active cluster that isn't allowed to operate lies with the Health Ministry. "But CIDB has powers under the CIDB Act 1994 (Act 520) to issue penalties if a construction site does not abide by SOPs," he said in Parliament on Monday (Sept 27) in response to Datuk Che Abdullah ... » Learn More about Deputy minister: 416 construction sites ordered to shut since June for Covid-19 SOP breaches

TOKYO: National para athletics champion, Abdul Latif Romly can compete in the normal category if he wants to, says his coach Shahrul Amri Suhaimi. Shahrul said he would support Abdul Latif, who successfully defended his T20 long jump (intellectual disability) gold at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, if he decides to compete in the normal category in the future. “Abdul Latif has no problem competing in the normal category as he had competed in the Malaysia Games and the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. If that is his wish, we will not stop him and will give our best support,” said Shahrul in an online press conference. The 38-year-old coach he will draw up a new plan to determine the future of the Perlis athlete after his charge recovered from the leg injury he suffered in the final on Saturday in Japan. In the final, Abdul Latif, who won his first Paralympics gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, was in a class of his own when he led the standings with his second jump of 7.45m which was ... » Learn More about Coach will not stop Abdul Latif from competing in normal category

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has congratulated Abdul Latif Romly for winning the gold medal in the men's long jump T20 (intellectual impairment) ) category at the Tokyo Paralympics. "Latif is flying high! I’m very proud of the success of our paralympic athletes who have shown exceptional performance in this tournament. "This is our spirit, the Malaysian Family!,” the Prime Minister said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Sept 4). The athlete, who hails from Perlis and who also won gold at the 2016 Rio edition, was in a class of his own to confirm Malaysia’s third gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics with his very first jump - leaping to a distance of 7.26-metres. ... » Learn More about PM congratulates Abdul Latif for long jump gold medal