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Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts

Monday 20 March 2023

Free Malaysia of racism, corruption and religious bigotry, ‘Time to chart a new future’ - says PM

 

Show of support: Anwar surrounded by supporters as he arrived at the Youth Empowerment Fair at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday. He called on Malaysians to stop corruption, racism and religious bigotry. — Bernama

 

KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for Malaysians to unite and back the current leadership to end corruption as well as racial and religious bigotry, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Remember, I need the full support of every Malaysian. It is time for Malaysia to chart a new history.

“No more corruption. Stop racism and religious bigotry. Let us work together,” Anwar said to a standing ovation during a youth dialogue session at the Youth Empowerment Fair at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday.

Anwar said it was heart-warming that youth at the dialogue session supported his stand.

“When I look at the innocent faces of youth, who were full of support, I’m telling you, you made my day. I love you guys,” he added.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said it was fine for students to be involved in political activism as long as they did not end up as lackeys or staunch party loyalists.

“You want to be an activist? Okay, but don’t be a ‘macai’ (lackey) or ‘walaun’,” he said.

Walaun is a colloquial reference which describes individuals who are staunch PAS loyalists.

Anwar also spoke about his experience as a student activist, which landed him two years in the Kamunting detention centre under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after he protested against rural poverty.

He said the silver lining in his imprisonment was that he began reading books.

“I started reading books that I didn’t read when I was at university. That is why I got a little smarter,” he added.

Without naming names, Anwar also said a certain desperate leader who had fallen out of power had resorted to manipulating sensitive public issues.

“He also resorted to religious bigotry without any understanding,” he said.

The premier warned that stern action would be taken against those who stoked racial and religious flames.

“For those expressing their opinions, we will protect your rights.

“But those who are playing up racial and religious issues, dividing the people, and instigating violence – I will take stern action,” Anwar said.

Last Friday, after chairing a Cabinet meeting, Anwar said he had ordered security forces to be on high alert against those stirring up racial and religious rhetoric ahead of a planned “Malay Proclamation” gathering that was to be attended by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The gathering was called off after its organisers failed to secure the venue for the second time. They were also rejected for a third time yesterday.

At the dialogue yesterday, Anwar fielded questions from youth in the session moderated by actress Amelia Henderson.

Various issues were raised, and he committed to addressing them, including the monopoly of Touch ‘n Go in the highway toll collection system.

“Touch ‘n Go has operated for more than two decades, and there were no convincing developments in its system.

“We will reconsider the Touch ‘n Go monopoly,” he added.

Other issues raised were the need to improve the public transport system and cannabis legalisation, to which he said he would consider all views. 

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Anwar wants a stop to racism and religious bigotry


 Dr Mahathir calls PM Anwar’s unity govt a ‘dictatorship’ after 'Malay Proclamation' rally cancelled

Saya orang Melayu....but seriously Tun just where are you going with this?

If this is from Muhyiddin...yes. From Hadi? Also, a yes. ....but surely you would have more sense than to invite Malays to this event to proclaim that the Malays "menghadapi kemungkinan hilang kuasa".

I am 75 Tun...and never in my life have I ever thought that the Malays "menghadapi kemungkinan hilang kuasa". Never ever...and it would be disingenuous...maybe even treasonous of you to suggest that the Malays now "menghadapi kemungkinan hilang kuasa". And the only reason for you to want to create these kinds of mischief is for personal political gain. Using race to further your own political gain, must surely be treason because it brings back shades of May 13 and the killing fields that came with May13.

Are there Malays who will be with you in this endeavor to take back Malaysia from the non Malays? For sure there will be.

Will there be Malays who can be whipped up into a frenzy of hate and loathing for the non-Malays to the extent that they will resort to physical violence to put the others in their place - as pendatangs to their Tanah Air? For sure there will be as there were, during May13.

The line between love and hate among the Malays and the others in this wretched country of ours, alas, is so thin and fragile because that is how you have wanted it to be. And all it takes to take racial balance over the edge is for some Malay leader to do what you are doing now....ask the Malays to rally together because the Malays "menghadapi kemungkinan hilang kuasa".

The Malays are not losing political power. *You, Tun M have lost political power. *

The Malays have not lost their dignity. *You have lost your dignity, Tun. *

The Malays have not lost their self-respect. You have lost yours.

Personally, I am so, so disappointed by the things you have done after you lost your seat and your deposit in Langkawi. And, not only you, but everyone else in your Pejuang has also lost their seats and their deposit in GE15.

So now there is only Putra and PAS left for you to go to. Damm dignity, damm self-respect and damm any trace of self-worth that you might still have left within you. You have now gone crawling to Hadi not to ask for help, but to beg. To beg Hadi to throw you a lifeline to save you from downing - drowning in a pool of political irrelevance that you are already drowning in.

Hadi better help you Tun because God will surely not!

'Malay proclamation' to be launched, witnessed by Dr M - FMT

 

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MAHATHIR: A RACIST EXPOSED, Crime Watch Malaysia!

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Friday 17 March 2023

Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi 'provides hope to heal the world in turbulence' – another gift from China to world

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, attends the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting via video link and delivers a keynote address in Beijing, capital of China, on March 15, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

 Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi 'provides hope to heal the world in turbulence'

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, proposed the Global Civilization Initiative. Experts said following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, China is trying to share its wisdom and plans to bring new hope for all nations to consider together on how to escape the trap of the "Clash of Civilizations" and find a path that can help the world sail through the current turbulence.

Xi proposed the initiative during his  key note speech on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting via video link and delivered a keynote address.

Under the initiative, Xi called for respect for diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, highly valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

"We are ready to work together with the international community to open up a new prospect of enhanced exchanges and understanding among different peoples and better interactions and integration of diversified cultures. Together we can make the garden of world civilizations colorful and vibrant," Xi said.

World needs hope

According to a Xinhua News Agency story on Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also president of the African National Congress, and 11 other leaders of political parties and political organizations also addressed the dialogue on Wednesday.

They spoke highly of Xi's proposals in his keynote speech, and expressed their willingness to work with the CPC to play a leading and driving role in the modernization process.

"We fully agree with the four proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi in the Global Civilization Initiative," Ramaphosa said, noting the initiative is vital to the world today.

The event, with the theme "Path towards Modernization: the Responsibility of Political Parties," brought together more than 500 leaders of political parties and political organizations from more than 150 countries.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the Global Civilization Initiative will help the world get rid of the old mentality for relations between different civilizations, and create a new landscape for the world which allows all countries to deal with each other based on stability, mutual respect and equality.

Experts said a very fundamental reason why the world at present is experiencing great turbulence is that the old international order dominated by the US-led West is making the world fall into the trap of "Clash of Civilizations," with many countries with different civilizations having a hard time to deal with each other peacefully.

Li said that within the US, people from different ethnic groups and with different religious beliefs are having more tensions rather than becoming more united. For the foreign affairs, during the time of the Trump administration, US senior officials openly hyped "Clash of Civilizations" and currently Washington is still having tensions with many countries with different civilizations, and even instigating conflicts between the countries in the same region with similar civilization.

At present, the old system and order dominated by the US-led West is causing huge problems and dangers to the world in the fields like geopolitics, supply and industrial chains, as well as the financial markets.

The Ukraine crisis is still far from easing, and the energy and foods crises are troubling many countries worldwide. At present, the new danger of a potential global financial crisis brought along by the collapse of US-based Silicon Valley Bank and the problem of Credit Suisse in Europe has made the world more unstable.

Liu Dian, an associate research fellow of the China Institute under Fudan University, told the Global Times on Thursday that in recent years, the world has been facing rising challenges and uncertainties.

"It's just about 15 years away from the financial crisis in 2008, the world is once again under the shadow of another crisis caused by the US," Liu noted. "The world is getting increasingly worried about the old system and getting more desperate to ask for new solution."

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From the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative to the latest Global Civilization Initiative, China has presented the world with an ideological system that gets increasingly mature. Adding to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the ideal of the global community of shared future, China is trying to use its own wisdom, experiences and influence based on its own successful development and exploration in the past decades to help the world improve and reform the old problematic international system and order, experts said.

Liu said that the series of initiatives proposed by the top leader of the CPC and China are answering the questions for the world and our time. The combination of these three initiatives shows China's comprehensive thoughts that aim to solve global problems and improve global governance.

China is not just proposing the initiatives, but also making contribution through actions, and gain concrete achievements, analysts said. For instance, the successful mediation that lead to the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the BRI that links countries with different civilizations to jointly realize development.

The vast majority of the international community welcomes and praises the latest reestablishment of Riyadh-Teheran diplomatic ties with China's support and assistance. This shows that the world in turbulence and regions in chaos desperately need new hope and new solution for peace and stability. China is actively utilizing its influence and wisdom to solve global challenges, as a result, more and more countries will be open to and carefully consider and research China's initiatives, Liu said. 

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Global Civilization Initiative – another gift from China to world: Global Times editorial

 

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, proposed the Global Civilization Initiative when he delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on Wednesday. This is the third major global initiative presented by China after the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. It fundamentally answers a series of questions of the times, such as "What kind of modernization do we need?" and "How can we achieve modernization?" The initiative has become another important public good provided to the world.

The background of the Global Civilization Initiative is that in recent years, as geopolitical conflicts have intensified, the "clash of civilizations" and "superiority of civilizations" have returned to public attention under the instigation and hype of some politicians in the US and the West. The hatred and estrangement among different civilizations have seriously hindered international cooperation. At the same time, "black swan" and "grey rhino" incidents are occurring frequently in the international community, and multiple challenges and crises are intertwined and superimposed. Different countries and civilizations urgently need to work together to deal with global challenges that affect the future and destiny of mankind as a whole. The Global Civilization Initiative can be said to have emerged in response to the demand of the times, and has strong practical significance and practical value.

The Global Civilization Initiative puts forward four initiatives - respect for diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, highly valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. It covers the basic concepts and principles that different civilizations can tolerate each other and coexist, and has the source of motivation and a practical path for realization. It is a major initiative that is very constructive, operable and sustainable. Since it advocates respect for different civilizations and support for their development rights, it fully meets the strong needs of the international community and has shown strong vitality from the very beginning, arousing enthusiastic responses in the international community.

As abovementioned, after the end of the Cold War, the world entered an era of high globalization, but it has not really experienced peace. The Cold War mentality and practice of demarcating ideological boundaries and engaging in camp confrontation have not disappeared. On the contrary, in recent years it is resurging. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is essentially a remnant of the Cold War detonating a powder keg in the 21st century. In other parts of the world, the practice of distinguishing between friends and foes in the name of "values" and wooing one faction while fighting against another faction casts a huge shadow on world peace and development.

Furthermore, without true equality and inclusion among civilizations, the process of peace and development will always be at risk of being interrupted. There have been too many tragedies in this regard, both historical and current. In this sense, the Global Civilization Initiative is an extension and complement to the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and together they form the key components of a human community with a shared future.

The world does not need hatred, division or conflict, and the people of all countries want to live a good life. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people to create two miracles - rapid economic development and long-term social stability. These are by no means "out of luck." Instead, they have their own profound internal logic. The Global Civilization Initiative, Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative are highly condensed versions of China's past successful experiences, which China is willing to share with the world without reservation to achieve common development through mutual exchange and learning. It can be said that these three initiatives are all high-quality global public goods demonstrating China's sincerity and goodwill.

It should be emphasized that China is not only a "thinker" but also a "doer" in promoting building a human community with a shared future. In the past year or so, the number of countries and international organizations supporting the Global Development Initiative has increased to more than 100; the Group of Friends of the GDI established on the UN platform has expanded to more than 60 members; and platforms such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, the Global Development Promotion Center, and the China Global Development Knowledge Network have also been established one after another. Just a few days ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran held a dialogue and reached an agreement in Beijing, which also became a successful practice of the Global Security Initiative. This happened less than a year after the initiative was first proposed.

Thus, there are more reasons to expect that the Global Civilization Initiative, together with the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, will constantly inject stability and bring new hope to this world of turbulence and transformation. At the same time, we also believe that "Chinese modernization, as a new form of human advancement, will draw upon the merits of other civilizations and make the garden of world civilizations more vibrant." 

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Saturday 10 December 2022

Malaysian Unity Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers full list

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PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unveiled the list of deputy ministers in a live telecast on Friday (Dec 9).

This follows after his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah earlier to present the list of names.

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There are 27 deputy ministers in Anwar's unity government.

All the ministries got one deputy except for the Finance Ministry

ALSO READ: Nanta calls for more Dayaks, Chinese from Sarawak to be made deputy ministers

Anwar also said the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 3pm tomorrow (Dec 10).

On Dec 2, Anwar unveiled a slightly smaller Cabinet than that of his predecessor – naming two Deputy Prime Ministers and 25 ministers.

ALSO READ: MIC to turn down deputy minister posts if offered, says party sec-gen

The Prime Minister will also serve as the Finance Minister, a post he had held from 1991 until his sacking in 1998.

  

Here is the full list:

Finance

Minister- Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Deputy Ministers - Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Steven Sim

Rural and Regional Development

Minister- Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Deputy - Datuk Rubiah Wang

Plantation and Commodities

Minister - Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof

Deputy - Datuk Siti Aminah Aching

Works

Minister - Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi

Deputy - Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad

Defence

Minister - Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan

Deputy - Adly Zahari

Health

Minister - Dr Zaleha Mustafa

Deputy - Lukanisman Awang Sauni

Transport

Minister - Anthony Loke

Deputy - Datuk Hasbi Habibollah

Agriculture and Food Security

- Mohamad Sabu

Deputy - Chan Foong Hin

Economy

Minister - Rafizi Ramli

Deputy - Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib

International Trade and Industry

Minister - Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz

Deputy - Liew Chin Tong

Law and Institutional Reforms (PM’s Department)

Minister - Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said

Deputy - Ramkarpal Singh

Women, Family, and Community Development

Minister - Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri

Deputy - Aiman Athirah Sabu

Communications and Digital

Minister - Fahmi Fadzil

Deputy - Teo Nie Ching

Education

Minister - Fadhlina Sidek

Deputy - Lim Hui Ying

Higher Education

Minister - Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin

Deputy - Datuk Muhammad Yusof Apdal

Youth and Sports

Minister - Hannah Yeoh

Deputy - Adam Adli Abd Halim

Local Government Development

Minister - Nga Kor Ming

Deputy - Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir

Home

Minister - Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution

Deputy - Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah

Science and Technology

Minister - Chang Lih Kang

Deputy - Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living

Minister - Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub

Deputy - Fuziah Salleh

Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change

Minister - Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

Deputy - Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii

Foreign Affairs - Datuk Seri Dr Zambri Abdul Kadir

Deputy - Datuk Mohamad Alamin

Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development

Minister - Datuk Ewon Benedick

Deputy - Saraswathi Kandasamy

Tourism, Arts and Culture

Minister - Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

Deputy - Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan

Human Resources

Minister - V. Sivakumar

Deputy - Mustapha Sakmud

Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs)

Minister - Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali 

Deputy - Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong 

 CLICK TO VIEW THE FULL LIST

CLICK TO VIEW THE FULL LIST

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Friday 9 December 2022

China, Saudi Arabia deepen relations amid development synergy

During their meeting, both leaders discussed cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the matters of science, technology, regional peace and other aspects of society.

 

 Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia to a lavish reception, a welcome seen as a not-so-subtle reminder to the United States that the Saudis can forge other alliances, analyst Nader Hashemi tells CNA’s Asia Now.

 

 

Xi, Saudi king agree to hold regular head-of-state meetings

The national flags of China and Saudi Arabia are seen on the street of Riyadh ahead of the China-Arab States Summit on December 7, 2022. Photo: thepaper.cn

The national flags of China and Saudi Arabia are seen on the street of Riyadh ahead of the China-Arab States Summit on December 7, 2022. Photo: thepaper.cn

  A grand welcoming ceremony, high-level bilateral meetings and wide-covering investment agreements are among proofs that China-Saudi Arabia relations have been lifted to a new high.

On Thursday, President Xi Jinping and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signed an agreement on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and also agreed to hold a meeting between the two heads of state by turns every two years.

Experts believed that Saudi Arabia's industrial diversification endeavor can be a perfect match for China's Belt and Road Initiative and its policy of developing high-tech industries. During the visit, Saudi and Chinese companies signed 34 investment agreements, covering green energy, transportation, logistics, medical industries and construction, local media reported.

In the welcoming ceremony held by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on behalf of King at the royal palace in the capital Riyadh on Thursday, Xi reviewed the guard of honor, who extended the most solemn welcome to the Chinese president with traditional sword-holding etiquette.

Cultural roots

This visit also witnessed the efforts of the two sides to enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. In a signed article published Thursday on the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh, Xi said that "China and Saudi Arabia have admired each other and conducted friendly exchanges since ancient times. The prophet Muhammad said, 'Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China.'" 

Such mutual respect has been carried forward to today. On Thursday China agrees to list Saudi Arabia as a destination for group travel and expand personnel exchanges as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.

Experts believed that China-Saudi relations play a crucial role in boosting the relations between China and Arab countries, serving as an example as South-South cooperation. As the only G20 member among Arab countries, Saudi Arabia has seen its regional influence grow, playing a leading role in the affairs of GCC as more Arab countries are realizing that compared to China that promotes peace and development in the region, the US instigated conflicts and divergences, imposes extra geopolitical conditions in its cooperation with Arab countries. 

A new level 

Abdulaziz O. Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center in Saudi Arabia told the Global Times that China-Saudi Arabia relations is a good role model that can be expanded to different countries in the Middle East region, as the great relationship is based on mutual interests and non-intervention in the domestic issues from both sides. 

"We will not interfere in the issues between the US and China. We will not take US' position when it comes to China. We think our relationship with China is extremely important, and extremely valuable," said Sager. 

China and Saudi Arabia will reportedly sign a plan to harmonize the Kingdom's Vision 2030 with China's Belt and Road Initiative, according to people familiar with the matter.

"There is a lot of complementarities between BRI and the Saudi vision 2030," said Sager, noting this unleashes many opportunities for China and Saudi Arabia to have stronger ties. He expects the China-Saudi Arabia and China-Arab relations to move forward not only from an economic dimension, but to have a political dimension, saying the Arab countries are looking for more constructive engagement with China on regional issues that are of concern to them.  

In the past, many Middle Eastern countries were seen as proxies of the West but are now trying to get rid of such identity by working on development on their own, seeking a balance in cooperation with major powers, Zhu Weilie, director of the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"China-Saudi strategic relations have now entered a new level covering many more areas, and the two countries share similar aspirations in the country's development and reform, especially in green energy and digital economy," Zhu said, adding that deepening cooperation is in line with their own development targets, and it's not targeting any third-party country. 

Fahad Almeniaee, Director of the China and Far East Unit of the Riyadh-based Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge, told the Global Times that the relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China is a multi-faceted relations ranging from trade to culture. "Xi's visit has been successful by all standards," he emphasized. 

Broader cooperation 

Xi also met with leaders of several other regional countries, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahon, on Thursday.

Commenting on China-Arab States Summit, news site Middle East Eye said the goals of China and the Gulf are aligned in many domains, which means that the summit is only likely to produce new synergies. "It is a growing reality in the Gulf and it is likely that the summit will elevate these economic synergies to a new level and a possible free trade agreement, oil deals in yuan and membership of BRICS Plus would hugely strengthen Gulf-China ties and further challenge US hegemony," the news site said. 

Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia came amid strained US ties with the Middle East country, some US media reports said, which also underlines Beijing's growing influence in the Middle East and draws "inevitable comparison" to a low-key welcome afforded to Biden when he visited Saudi Arabia in July. 

Compared with relations between the US and Arab countries, China's relations with them are based on equality and mutual respect with honesty, unlike the US which brings ideological bias in its interactions with the countries, some experts said. 

"And more Gulf countries understand that when the US mentions 'security,' it has become unsecure for them while China-proposed ideas promoting peace and development are much more welcomed," Wang Guangda, secretary-general of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. 

China hopes to promote the benefits for people of the both sides rather than competing with the US in terms of the influence in the region or filling "vacuum" left by the US, Wang said. 

China-GCC relations have achieved sound, steady and comprehensive development, staying at the forefront of China's relations with Arab countries. China has remained the GCC's largest trading partner for a long time. 

In 2021, the trade volume between China and GCC bucked the overall downward trend and rose by 44 percent. And China-GCC relations have set a fine example of cooperation between China and other developing countries. 

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Monday 5 December 2022

Political factor was crucial, kindness and graciousness of DAP

 

 

 

PETALING JAYA: A wide range of views has emerged on the Cabinet line-up but most analysts agree on one thing – it reflects the current political set-up and the need to appease all the parties involved.

“I think it does reflect the strength and number of seats that each party has,” said senior fellow from Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, Dr Azmi Hassan.

He described the appointments as “fair”, adding that they were made in tandem with the ratio of parliamentary seats held by each party.

The main factor in determining the line-up of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet was the need to please the political parties involved, he added.

This, he said, was to ensure that Anwar would have the support of the parties in the unity government.

“The political factor was crucial in determining the Cabinet appointments,” he added.

Azmi said the ministerial appointments might not please everyone.

DAP, he noted, has been relatively quiet since the Cabinet list was unveiled.

“I would understand why – they (Pakatan Harapan) needed to appease Barisan Nasional and thwart the advance of PAS,” he said.

The 28-member Cabinet includes 15 Pakatan ministers comprising four from DAP, eight from PKR, two from Amanah and one from Upko.

There are six Barisan Nasional ministers, five from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, one from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and one without a political party – Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, a Syariah court chief judge who was appointed Religious Affairs Minister.

Presently, Anwar has the support of Pakatan’s 82 MPs, Barisan (30 MPs), GPS (23), GRS (six), Warisan (three), Muda (one), KDM (one), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (one) and two independent MPs.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said the Cabinet line-up was a result of negotiations between the Prime Minister and the component coalitions of the unity government.

“It reflects the proportionality of the components and party hierarchies,” he said.

He added that parties such as Muda and Warisan were not given ministerial positions, “but I think they would not protest about it”.

However, Tunku Mohar noted that Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister had compromised Pakatan’s pledge for good governance.

Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.

Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb said the Cabinet was one which Anwar could cobble up based on the current political arrangement.

“It’s much slimmer and appeases almost everyone,” he said.

However, he was of the view that Anwar should not have assumed the Finance Minister’s post.

The last prime minister to hold both portfolios was Datuk Seri Najib Razak from 2008 to 2018.

Back then, this had come under criticism with Pakatan pledging in its 2018 general election manifesto that the prime minister would not hold the finance portfolio.Azmil also had reservations about the appointment of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (International Trade and Industry Minister).

“I don’t think it is a good idea, while excluding someone like Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad,” he said.

Dr Dzulkefly, the health minister in the Pakatan-led administration from 2018 to 2020, had defeated Tengku Zafrul in the battle for the Kuala Selangor seat.

Political analyst Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the Cabinet appointments could appease those supporting the unity government “for a while, perhaps”.

He said the political parties would be “temporarily satisfied” with their allocated representation in the Cabinet.

“But politics nowadays is so fluid that anything could change rapidly,” he added.

Oh, however, conceded that the ministerial appointments reflected the proportion of the various parties in the administration.

“It is, in essence, a coalition government,” he added. 

 By TARRENCE TANRAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM

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A new dawn begins | The Star

 

      CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIST       New Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been welcomed by many like a breath of fresh air..

  Great expectations: Anwar – pictured here receiving congratulatory calls from world leaders in the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya – 
 
Here’s a look at the pay and allowances our elected reps get, and it’s a pretty sweet deal. I AM writing this week’s column on Monday, a...