China, Russia to sign SEANWFZ treaty as US reviews decision
The participation of major global powers in the treaty is expected to reinforce Southeast Asia's status as a peaceful region free from nuclear threats.
'We have established Southeast Asia as a peaceful region, and next week, foreign ministers will convene for further discussions,' Mohamad said during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in Rome.
The SEANWFZ, also called the Bangkok Treaty, was signed in 1995 by all 10 ASEAN member states and took effect in 1997.
The treaty's protocol requires Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) to respect the zone's non-nuclear status, refrain from threatening nuclear attacks, and avoid actions that undermine the agreement.
Malaysia is set to host the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (58th AMM) and related sessions from July 8 to 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
The country assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship in January 2025, succeeding Laos under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability.'
This marks Malaysia's fifth time leading ASEAN, having previously chaired in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
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Daily Express
14 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Warisan demands answers over Ambalat deal
Published on: Thursday, July 03, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: 'These reports claim there is now a joint understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia to explore natural resources in the Ambalat area – but Sabah has not been consulted. This is a violation of our constitutional rights,' Azis said. Kota Kinabalu: Warisan has urged the Federal Government to clarify reports of a joint oil and gas exploration agreement with Indonesia in the disputed Ambalat block, warning that Sabah's maritime rights cannot be bypassed without state approval. Warisan information chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, in a statement today, said any bilateral deal involving Sabah's maritime boundaries must first be presented to the state government and approved by the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, as required under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'The Federal Constitution, read together with MA63, makes it clear that no boundary involving Sabah can be altered unilaterally by Putrajaya,' he said in a statement on Tuesday. Mohd Azis was responding to local and foreign media reports – including those by Indonesia Business Post, Jakarta Globe and Antara News – which claimed that Malaysia and Indonesia had reached an agreement to jointly explore natural resources in the Ambalat area. 'These reports claim there is now a joint understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia to explore natural resources in the Ambalat area – but Sabah has not been consulted. This is a violation of our constitutional rights,' he said. He stressed that parts of the Ambalat block fall within Sabah's maritime zone as defined in pre-1963 maps, and therefore cannot be treated solely as federal territory for negotiation. He questioned whether the Malaysian Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries, which were quoted as confirming the cooperation, had sought consent from Sabah before proceeding. 'Does this mean the Sabah government was consulted? Was this matter brought to the State Assembly? If not, then it is not just a breach of MA63, it is a betrayal of Sabahans' rights,' he said. Mohd Azis added that while Warisan supports peaceful diplomacy and bilateral cooperation, it must always be grounded in constitutional legality and respect for MA63. 'If the reports are inaccurate, the Foreign Ministry must immediately correct the record and seek clarification from the Indonesian media, as misinformation of this kind could jeopardise diplomatic ties,' he added. He warned that any agreement involving Sabah's waters without state approval could constitute a 'contact breach' of MA63 and carry serious constitutional implications. 'This issue must be handled with full transparency, professionalism and a firm commitment to uphold Sabah's sovereignty and the nation's integrity,' he said. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan also expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent statement in Indonesia, agreeing to jointly develop the disputed Ambalat maritime region near Sabah's maritime borders. The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku President, said it would be an insult if the announcement was made without prior consultation with the state government. 'I am disappointed to know this is happening, too. Ambalat has always been considered part of Sabah's territorial waters. 'If this decision was truly made without consulting Sabah, then it is not good. It's another way of bypassing Sabah's rights. And we need an explanation,' he said. Jeffrey said he would raise the matter in Parliament. Malaysia and Indonesia have overlapping territorial claims on the 15,000 sq km Ambalat sea block, which is believed to hold significant crude oil reserves. In 2023, deputy foreign affairs minister Mohamad Alamin said discussions about the Sulawesi Sea Treaty signed by Malaysia and Indonesia in June 2023 would not be held publicly to safeguard the sensitivity of the matter. Sabah has been fighting hard to regain the continental shelf and territorial maritime area, one of the issues to be discussed as part of the state's rights in the Malaysian Agreement 1963. Jeffrey said under the Land Ordinance (Sabah Cap.68), submerged land, including the seabed up to the continental shelf, falls under Sabah's jurisdiction. Land is a state matter under the State List in the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which includes land tenure, permits, and licences for mining activities. Therefore, he said Sabah's rights to manage and utilise its continental shelf, including the ownership and management of oil and gas resources, should be indisputable. In August 2023, chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said Sabah remains firm in rejecting Indonesia's claim over the sovereignty of the Ambalat area in the Sulawesi Sea. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
19 minutes ago
- The Star
WOMEN DRIVING SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE PROGRESS
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The Star
19 minutes ago
- The Star
Appointment of new Chief Justice briefly discussed by Cabinet
PUTRAJAYA: The appointment of a new Chief Justice was raised during the Cabinet meeting but it was not discussed in detail, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (pic). He said yesterday's meeting did discuss the replacement for outgoing Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat. 'We did discuss the matter (appointment of the Chief Justice) but it was not a deep discussion. The meeting centred around what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had mentioned on the matter during the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department on June 30,' he said yesterday. Anwar had stated that the extension of service of civil servants, including top judges, is not automatic and must follow procedures in accordance with the Federal Constitution. Tengku Maimun ended her service as the nation's 16th Chief Justice on Tuesday. She had made history as the first woman Chief Justice when she was appointed to the post in May 2019. Tengku Maimun celebrates her 66th birthday today, therefore reaching the mandatory retirement age. Additionally, the second most senior judge in the country, Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, retired yesterday. Justice Abang Iskandar was the first judge from Sabah and Sarawak to hold the position. Fahmi, who is the government spokesman, said yesterday's meeting also discussed actions to be taken against businesses suspected to be involved in profiteering after the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) came into force on Tuesday. The meeting also discussed the heatwave currently affecting parts of the country, he added. Fahmi said the Cabinet briefing touched on the resumption of consultation talks between Malaysia and Indonesia. 'During the Prime Minister's last visit to Jakarta on June 27, it was agreed that the two countries will revive the annual consultation. 'The Prime Minister will be visiting Jakarta on July 29 for the annual consultation and Asean Secretariat meeting. 'The annual consultation would be a good forum to raise issues between the two countries, such as the Ambalat Block,' he said. The Ambalat Block is a sea block covering an area of 15,235 sq km. It is located in the Sulawesi Sea, or Makassar Strait, and borders Malaysian waters. The dispute between the two nations over the Ambalat Block has been ongoing for decades and is yet to be resolved. The border issue in Ambalat arose because of the overlapping territorial waters of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries, whose measurement refers to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
