Asean must reaffirm commitment to Myanmar's humanitarian crisis
The Five-Point Consensus, adopted by Asean in 2021, remains the clearest pathway toward regional peace and stability in Myanmar. Yet its implementation remains uneven. Mercy Malaysia urges Asean to match political will with principled action, especially in ensuring that humanitarian aid is not subjected to delay, obstruction, or politicisation.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
US consumers ultimately the ones to bear increase in palm oil prices: Johari
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not be significantly impacted by the newly imposed US tariff as the country primarily export products to the US that cannot be easily sourced or substituted domestically. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the tariff hike announced on Monday – raising duties on Malaysian goods from 10% to a combined 25% – targets a range of exports, but Malaysia's unique position in the global supply chain offers some protection from the effects. 'We are not the only country affected by these measures. What I want to emphasise is that, out of our total exports valued at RM186 billion, only about RM20 billion are exported to the US. 'Within this RM20 billion, our main exports to the US include rubber products, such as rubber gloves, furniture and wood products, oleochemicals, including palm oil and cocoa. 'When it comes to palm oil specifically, there is essentially no alternative available in the US market. Soybean oil cannot be converted into the same oleochemicals that our palm oil products provide. 'If the US imposes a 25% tariff on our products, it will ultimately be American consumers who bear the additional cost,' he told reporters at Malaysia Palm Oil Council's trade networking visit with international buyers today. Using rubber gloves as an example, Johari stated that Malaysia is not the only producer; China and Vietnam also manufacture them, and their exports face similarly high US tariffs, in some cases even higher than those imposed on Malaysia. 'This creates a highly competitive environment. The same applies to furniture; many countries produce furniture, including Malaysia. 'Ultimately, buyers make their decisions based on design and quality. If our designs are unique and appealing, there will still be demand, even if tariffs raise the final price. 'If the US imposes tariffs of 10% plus 25% or 5% plus 25%, that simply becomes part of the cost for buyers,' Johari said. Touching on exports, Johari said that last year, 40% of Malaysia's palm oil exports were directed to North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asean markets, beyond Malaysia's traditional trading partners. Exports to North Africa increased by 63.5% in 2024, while Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 26% year-on-year rise during the first five months of 2025. He said that this growing reliance on Malaysian palm oil to meet edible oil requirements highlights the importance of strengthening long-term partnerships and ensuring efficient and stable supply chains. 'Each region represented here today has distinct drivers of palm oil demand. In North Africa, Egypt serves as a strategic re-export hub, supplying markets across the region. In Sub-Saharan Africa, demand is rising for industrial applications, particularly in food processing, whereas in Asean, rapid growth in refining and food manufacturing continues to drive the need for a high-quality, reliable palm oil supply.' Johari said that by supporting the development of the downstream sector, Malaysia aims to embed its palm oil more firmly into local and regional value chains, adding economic value beyond the supply of raw materials. 'This approach not only strengthens supply chain integration, but also encourages joint ventures, technology transfer and local processing partnerships, fostering a long-term, resilient and shared industrial growth.' At the networking session, Johari said that for many decades, Malaysia has been a top producer of palm oil in the world. The palm oil plantation area in this country covers roughly 5.7 million hectares across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The commodity is an export-oriented sector for the Malaysian economy, with 15.4 million tonnes out of the 19.3 million tonnes, or 80% of the palm oil produced was exported in 2024.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Singapore FM to attend 58th AMM and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur
SINGAPORE: Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (pic) will visit Kuala Lumpur from Tuesday (July 8) to attend the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM). The republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the minister will also attend the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), 26th Asean Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM), 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) FMM, and 32nd Asean Regional Forum (ARF) from July 8 to 11. "Minister Balakrishnan will exchange views with his counterparts on regional and international developments at the 26th APT FMM, 15th EAS FMM and 32nd ARF, and discuss ways to advance regional peace and stability as well as promote inclusive and sustainable growth,' MFA said in a statement on Tuesday. MFA said the AMM will reaffirm the ministers' commitment to Asean unity and centrality and discuss ways to advance Asean integration and community building, amid rising geopolitical tensions and geoeconomic uncertainties. The ministers will also continue discussions on Asean's efforts to strengthen cooperation in new growth areas such as the digital economy, green energy, and supply chain connectivity in line with Malaysia's chairmanship theme of Inclusivity and Sustainability. In addition, they will discuss the ongoing preparations for Timor-Leste's admission to Asean as the 11th member at the 47th Asean Summit in October 2025. Meanwhile, Asean will engage its dialogue partners at the PMCs, namely Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States, and review ongoing cooperation. - Bernama
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Brazil reaffirms long-term commitment to ASEAN partnership
KUALA LUMPUR: Brazil has reinforced its dedication to fostering a strong and progressive partnership with ASEAN, highlighting the bloc's role in promoting peace and economic integration. Maria Laura da Rocha, Brazil's Secretary-General of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the significance of the Brazil-ASEAN trilateral meeting as a key step in deepening engagement. 'The Brazil-ASEAN trilateral meeting is a milestone in Brazil's ever-closer engagement with ASEAN. Our shared objective is to steadily deepen this partnership,' she said during the second trilateral meeting between Malaysia, Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting, held under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' was chaired by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin. Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the Political-Security Community, Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz, also attended. Rocha expressed optimism that the discussions would strengthen mutual trust and explore new avenues for collaboration. Meanwhile, Amran highlighted the potential for ASEAN and Brazil to work together on global issues such as multilateralism and peace. 'ASEAN and Brazil share the same aspirations for peace, stability, prosperity, equality, justice, and humanity,' he said. He also pointed to Brazil's contributions in sustainable energy and agriculture as key areas of cooperation. Amran stressed the importance of collective advocacy for conflict resolution, particularly in Gaza, urging accountability for violations of international law. He noted Brazil's role in supporting ASEAN's sustainability goals through biofuel projects and capacity-building initiatives. 'Together, ASEAN and Brazil will advance the interests of the Global South,' he added. - Bernama
