PM, govt leaders extol Palanivel's contributions to nation
Heaping laurels on the former MIC president's contributions, Anwar said Palanivel's efforts in uplifting the Indian community, rural development and environmental conservation will always be remembered.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Thailand accuses Cambodia of second ceasefire violation in two days
Soldiers load supplies onto a vehicle after a relief donation ceremony in Oddar Meanchey province on the day military negotiations are set after the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a truce effective midnight Monday, ending their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fierce fighting, in Cambodia, July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's military accused Cambodian forces on Wednesday of breaching a ceasefire agreement at three separate locations along the disputed border, warning that continued aggression could compel Thai forces to respond more decisively. The allegations come less than two days after both governments agreed to a ceasefire brokered in Malaysia, which came into effect at midnight on Monday, aimed to stop fighting and prevent escalation of their deadliest conflict in more than a decade following five days of intense fighting that has killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000 civilians on either side. The truce came after a sustained push from Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, with the latter warning Thai and Cambodian leaders that trade negotiations would not progress if fighting continued. Thailand and Cambodia face a tariff of 36% on their goods in the U.S., their biggest export market, unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the ceasefire deal was reached, Trump said he had spoken to both leaders and instructed his trade team to restart tariff talks. On Wednesday, Thailand said Cambodian forces fired on positions in northeastern Thailand's Sisaket province on Cambodia's northern border. "Cambodian forces used small arms and grenade launchers, prompting Thailand to respond in self-defence," Thai army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree told reporters. "This was the second incident since the agreement and reflects a behaviour that does not respect agreements, destroys de-escalation efforts and hampers trust between the two countries." Cambodia rejected the allegations, saying it was committed to the ceasefire and called for observers. "Cambodia strongly rejects the ceasefire accusations as false, misleading and harmful to the fragile trust-building process," Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry told reporters at a press conference, adding the government supports a monitoring mechanism and independent observation. The ceasefire, which also agreed to halt troop movement, paves the way for a high-level military meeting that includes defence ministers on August 4 in Cambodia. There have been no reports of any exchange of heavy artillery fire but also no reports of troop withdrawals by either side. (Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
PM Anwar to table 13th Malaysia Plan in Parliament tomorrow
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 31). According to a media invite from the Economy Ministry, Anwar will be tabling the 13MP at 11.30am until 2.30pm. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said on July 19, the tabling of the 13MP will be the main focus of the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament. The 13MP, which sets the direction for the country's development for 2026 to 2030, is the first by the Madani Government under Anwar's administration as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar previously said the 13MP was formulated with a focus on the economic empowerment of the people through increased income, inclusive and sustainable economic structural reforms, as well as strengthening governance and efficiency in public service delivery. Apart from that, it also emphasises regional justice, human capital development, and policy reforms to strengthen Malaysia's competitiveness at the global level in line with the principles of Madani Malaysia. In this regard, Johari said this Dewan Rakyat session would provide adequate debate time for Members of Parliament to discuss the contents of the 13th Malaysia Plan while calling on all elected representatives to be professional and use the debate space well. The Star in its front page in July 25 highlighted that the (13MP) is expected to enhance Malaysia's competitiveness by promoting high-value manufacturing through business and investor-friendly policies, according to experts and economists. The Prime Minister had previously said the 13MP was being formulated with a focus on the economic empowerment of the people through increased income, inclusive and sustainable economic structural reforms, as well as strengthening governance and efficiency in the delivery of public services.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Imperfect truce: Thailand and Cambodia must relearn habits of cooperation
THE ceasefire brokered in Kuala Lumpur on July 28, 2025, by Asean Chair, Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was intended to halt the rapid escalation of a five-day conflict that claimed over 40 lives and displaced more than 300,000 civilians. Yet, within hours of implementation, accusations surfaced. Thailand claimed that Cambodian troops had violated the terms of the truce. Cambodia, in turn, denied any wrongdoing and insisted on full compliance. This mutual distrust underscores a reality often overlooked in the aftermath of ceasefires: peace is not made by paper alone. A ceasefire is merely a suspension of hostilities. Without a shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and restraint, such agreements remain brittle and ultimately ineffective. In the case of Thailand and Cambodia, the habits of military cooperation and political coordination appear to have withered, replaced instead by unilateralism and suspicion. Thailand holds the upper hand in conventional terms. Its military is better equipped, more mobile, and strategically coordinated. Cambodia, led by the new Prime Minister Hun Manet but still heavily influenced by his father, Hun Sen, has responded with nationalist fervour and rhetorical defiance. Both approaches risk deepening the impasse. Political actors on both sides seem more focused on managing domestic legitimacy than genuinely building bilateral trust. That posturing only widens the gap between their forces in the field and the peace so urgently needed by civilians caught in the crossfire. This dispute is more than a mere contest over ancient maps and sacred sites. It is now a regional concern with significant international consequences. President of the United States Donald Trump has warned that if the ceasefire fails, his administration will implement punitive tariffs — 49 per cent on Cambodian exports and 36 per cent on Thai goods. These threats are not idle. For a region still recovering from pandemic-era disruptions and global inflation, such tariffs would be economically devastating. China, for its part, has called quietly but firmly for dialogue. Its interests in mainland Southeast Asia — particularly through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism and key Belt and Road infrastructure — depend on a stable and predictable neighbourhood. Prolonged conflict not only risks damaging Chinese investments but also weakens Asean's overall cohesion, making the region more vulnerable to great power manipulation. The General Border Committee meeting scheduled for August 4 2025 in Cambodia presents an opportunity to reset the trajectory. But it must go beyond symbolism. Concrete steps are needed. These include setting up joint verification teams, activating real-time communication lines between military commands, and establishing demilitarised zones in the most volatile areas. There must also be an agreement to jointly manage humanitarian relief and reconstruction for the tens of thousands displaced. Asean, long derided for its "non-interference" doctrine, has shown glimpses of maturity. Malaysia, as Chair, moved swiftly to convene both sides. Laos and the Philippines, the previous and future Chairs respectively, have been engaged in quiet diplomacy. Singapore and Indonesia have lent support to confidence-building. But Asean's effectiveness now depends on sustained follow-through. It must consider the deployment of neutral observers and take bolder steps to institutionalise early-warning and de-escalation mechanisms. Thailand and Cambodia must remember that military victories, even if achievable, do not resolve territorial or political disputes. A genuine settlement requires mutual recognition of sovereignty, shared responsibility for border governance, and acknowledgment of past grievances without weaponising them. The alternative is a return to tit-for-tat clashes, each deadlier than the last, with each side blaming the other while their people suffer the consequences. This is not a conflict that demands external arbitration, it is a dispute Asean is well-equipped to handle if its member states summon the will. The past 50 years have proven that Southeast Asia can contain its tensions through dialogue, consensus, and community-building. That legacy is now being tested, not by superpowers, but by two of its own. The ceasefire agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur must not become another footnote in a long list of failed truces. So far it isn't. It must serve as the foundation for a new habit of cooperation — one where Thailand and Cambodia can jointly manage their border, de-escalate tensions, and prioritise the lives and dignity of their people over nationalist grandstanding.
