logo
PM receives courtesy call from new Malaysian ambassador to the US

PM receives courtesy call from new Malaysian ambassador to the US

The Star06-06-2025
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received a courtesy call on Friday (June 6) from the new Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.
The Prime Minister said that they discussed, among others, measures to strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and the United States, including strategic efforts to attract quality and high-impact foreign investments.
"Among (the topics) touched on included strengthening Malaysia-US ties as well as efforts to attract quality and high-impact foreign investments from the country,' he posted on Facebook on Friday.
The Prime Minister also wished Shahrul Ikram all the best on his appointment, while stating his confidence in the former to elevate Malaysia's aspirations, image and reputation to the highest level.
On June 3, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, presented the instrument of appointment to Shahrul Ikram in a ceremony at Istana Negara.
Shahrul Ikram is the former Foreign Ministry's secretary-general and he replaces Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, whose term as the Malaysian Ambassador to the United States concluded on Feb 8.
The Pahang-born Shahrul Ikram holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Ecology from Universiti Malaya and has attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in the United States.
He started his career as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer in the Foreign Ministry in 1988 and served as the ministry's secretary-general from Jan 6, 2019, to May 31, 2022.
Throughout his 35 years in public service, Shahrul Ikram has been posted as Malaysian Ambassador to Qatar, Malaysian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York.
While at the Foreign Ministry, he also served as deputy secretary-general (Bilateral Relations), director-general of the Asean-Malaysia National Secretariat (during Malaysia's 2015 Asean Chairmanship) and secretary of the Multilateral Political Division.
His other previous diplomatic assignments included the Malaysian missions in Vienna, Washington and Beijing.- Bernama
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Anwar: Sulawesi Sea talks must honour legal, historical claims
Anwar: Sulawesi Sea talks must honour legal, historical claims

New Straits Times

time3 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Anwar: Sulawesi Sea talks must honour legal, historical claims

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that any discussion involving the Sulawesi Sea must be based on legal and historical considerations, with outcomes requiring the agreement of both the Sabah government and the state legislative assembly. He said bilateral discussions with the Indonesian president concerning the Sulawesi Sea were conducted in the presence of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Anwar assured that not even an inch of Sabah's land or sea would be ceded.

Berkshire takes $3.8 billion Kraft Heinz writedown, operating profit falls
Berkshire takes $3.8 billion Kraft Heinz writedown, operating profit falls

New Straits Times

time3 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Berkshire takes $3.8 billion Kraft Heinz writedown, operating profit falls

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday took a US$3.76 billion writedown on its stake in Kraft Heinz, an acknowledgment the decade-old investment hasn't worked out, and reported lower quarterly operating profit as insurance underwriting premiums declined. Berkshire also reported a 59 per cent decline in quarterly net income, reflecting the writedown, as well as lower investment gains from its common stock holdings. The conglomerate run by Buffett since 1965 signaled it remains cautious about market valuations. It reported a near-record US$344.1 billion cash stake and an 11th straight quarter of selling more stocks than it bought. Through mid-July, Berkshire had also not repurchased its own stock since May 2024. Second-quarter operating income fell 4 per cent to US$11.16 billion, or about US$7,760 per Class A share, from US$11.6 billion a year earlier. Net income, including gains and losses on stocks such as Apple and American Express, fell to US$12.37 billion from US$30.35 billion. Revenue fell 1 per cent to US$92.52 billion. Buffett has long urged investors to ignore investment gains and losses, which are reflected in net results, on stocks that Berkshire still owns and often has no plans to sell. KRAFT HEINZ The US$3.76 billion after-tax writedown for Berkshire's 27.4 per cent stake in Kraft Heinz, equal to US$5 billion before taxes, followed the struggling food company's May announcement it would consider strategic alternatives, which could include a breakup. Buffett's company had been carrying Kraft Heinz on its books at above-market value but said economic and other uncertainties, as well as its longer-term plans to remain an investor, made the gap "other-than-temporary," necessitating a writedown. The writedown is Berkshire's second for Kraft Heinz, following a US$3 billion writedown in 2019. Buffett acknowledged at the time that Berkshire overpaid in the 2015 merger creating the food company. Berkshire is also carrying its 28.1 per cent stake in oil company Occidental Petroleum at US$5.3 billion above fair value, but said it saw no need for a writedown. Shares of Berkshire have fallen more than 12 per cent, and lagged the Standard & Poor's 500 by about 22 percentage points, since Buffett announced on May 3 he would step down as chief executive at the end of the year, with Vice Chairman Greg Abel replacing him. Analysts have said the premium embedded in Berkshire's stock price because of Buffett's presence has eroded, while growth may slow in the insurance sector, a major Berkshire profit center. A lack of new investments has also been a drag. Analysts believe Berkshire's BNSF unit could buy CSX to create another transcontinental railroad, after Union Pacific agreed on July 29 to buy Norfolk Southern. In his six decades running Berkshire, Buffett transformed it from a troubled and since-closed textile company into a US$1.02 trillion conglomerate with nearly 200 businesses. Berkshire owns several insurers and reinsurers, electric utility and renewable energy businesses, several chemical and industrial companies, and familiar consumer brands such as Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom and See's Candies. BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IMPACT Berkshire said the 12 per cent quarterly decline in insurance underwriting profit stemmed primarily from reinsurance businesses and some smaller insurance businesses. The best-known insurance unit, Geico car insurance, saw pre-tax underwriting profit rise 2 per cent, as a 5 per cent increase in premiums offset a smaller rise in accident losses. Geico has ceded market share in recent years to State Farm and Progressive, as it focused on improving underwriting quality and technology while cutting jobs. BNSF has also tried to reduce expenses, and lower fuel costs contributed to a 19 per cent gain in quarterly profit. The energy business, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, posted a 7 per cent profit increase. Berkshire said it is evaluating the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed last month by US President Donald Trump, on the "economics and viability" of its renewable energy, storage and technology neutral projects. Buffett is worth US$141.7 billion according to Forbes magazine, despite having over two decades given away well over half his Berkshire shares to charity. He is the world's ninth-richest person, dropping a few notches during Berkshire's recent share price decline.

From struggle to legacy: Felda veteran recalls life on RM2.90
From struggle to legacy: Felda veteran recalls life on RM2.90

New Straits Times

time3 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

From struggle to legacy: Felda veteran recalls life on RM2.90

KUALA LUMPUR: The legacy of Felda's earliest settlers continues to resonate through the memories of its pioneering figures—among them, 84-year-old Md Nen Kasim. Though now in declining health, Md Nen remains mentally sharp, vividly recalling the hardship, resilience, and unity that marked the formative years of Felda. A former member of the Felda board of directors, Md Nen was one of its earliest settlers and a pivotal figure in shaping the agency's development. On July 7, 1977, he was awarded the Semai Felda Gold Medal, the highest honour in recognition of his contributions to the movement. In the late 1970s, Md Nen was also part of a historic delegation to England and the Netherlands with four other board members, Datuk Zainal Hasan, Mahmud Sarjono, Walid Makrifat, and Yeop Mahidin Mohd Sharif. The mission, led by the late Yeop Mahidin, aimed to defend Malaysia's palm oil industry amid aggressive campaigns favouring soybean oil in Europe. That pivotal effort helped strengthen global trust in Malaysian palm oil, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the national economy. Md Nen is now the last surviving member of that delegation. "I am very proud to have been chosen to go to Europe. We defended palm oil on foreign soil. Today, it has become the backbone of the nation's economy," he told Mingguan Malaysia. Although he humbly describes his role as modest, Md Nen believes the struggles of early Felda settlers must never be forgotten, reminding Malaysians that Felda's success came through perseverance, sacrifice, and unity. "Look at how we remember the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee – we only truly appreciated him after he was gone. Don't let that be the fate of Felda's pioneers." Among his fondest memories was receiving the Semai Felda Gold Medal, followed by another gold medal in 1979, both symbols of his enduring service and recognition of the collective struggle of Felda settlers. Md Nen emphasises that Felda was never just a rural development project, but rather a legacy of Malay empowerment, one that should be honoured by every generation benefiting from its land schemes. "I still keep my Buku 555," he shared, referring to the small accounting notebook settlers used. "Back then, wages were only RM2.90 a day — but with that, we bought rice, sardines, and milk.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store