No encroachment by developers in Putra Heights gas explosion, says Selangor MB
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the development or land excavation work by the parties concerned was carried out outside the incident site.
He said a developer company carrying out sewage pipe works in the area under the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) had applied for and received permission from Petronas.
'However, Petronas has set conditions, including appointing a panel company outlined by them. The panel company conducts excavations in Petronas areas. The results of their recommendations are managed and monitored under Petronas' actions.
'So, there is no encroachment after permission. The companies (subcontractors) that are considered blacklisted have also not started work,' he said during the winding-up session under Standing Order 13 (i) concerning the gas pipeline explosion incident in Putra Heights during the Selangor State Assembly sitting today.
Amirudin said his team had instructed MBSJ to improve the selection of contractors before the appointment was made by conducting a review through the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
Meanwhile, Amirudin gave an assurance that the results of the investigation report by the Special Committee on Gas Pipeline Drainage Risk Adaptation would be brought to the next assembly sitting.
Amirudin said he was also open to holding a special briefing session regarding the committee's report to all state assemblymen before the next state assembly sitting begins.
'The report (technical committee) has been brought to the Dewan and tabled. After this, the committee (Special Committee on Gas Pipeline Risk Adaptation) will investigate.
'We will bring the report (carefully), giving it enough time to review and then debate it. What is more important are the follow-up steps so that such an incident can be avoided in the future,' he said.
Amirudin was reported yesterday to have said that the Selangor government had agreed to appoint two experts nominated by the opposition to form the Special Committee on Gas Pipeline Risk Adaptation to ensure transparency in the report involving the explosion incident.
He said the committee, which will be made up of seven experts, would involve various agencies, including representatives of the state and federal governments, and related bodies such as Petronas to examine the results of the investigation to draft legal proposals and long-term preventive measures. — Bernama
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Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Tariffs: Intended or unintended tool for regime change? — Phar Kim Beng
July 10 — The sudden imposition of sweeping tariffs by President Donald Trump in early July — well ahead of the anticipated deadline — signals more than an effort to rectify trade imbalances. It reflects a calibrated exercise of economic statecraft where tariffs become not only tools of negotiation, but instruments of political pressure. When viewed in their broader context, these tariffs, despite exempting key sectors such as semiconductors and integrated circuits, are capable of precipitating political instability, policy reversals, and potentially even regime change in targeted states. Exemptions that signal strategic intent Significantly, the tariffs exclude semiconductors, motherboards, and integrated circuits — components that form the backbone of both global supply chains and bilateral trade between the US and countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. This is no coincidence. These sectors constitute the bulk of US trade — estimated at nearly two-thirds of total trade volume — making their exemption a tactical calculation rather than an economic oversight. By sparing these industries, Trump avoids disrupting American corporate interests and consumer markets while still signalling political dissatisfaction. In Malaysia's case, this pressure has not gone unnoticed. In a clear move to placate Washington, Malaysia has committed to acquiring a fleet of thirty Boeing aircraft — an unmistakable gesture of goodwill designed to signal alignment and buy strategic space. Punishment without collapse Trump's tariffs are not aimed at fully collapsing economies or dismantling vital production lines. They are surgical strikes intended to sow uncertainty, prompt capital outflows, and provoke policy concessions. The strategy lies in creating just enough discomfort to trigger domestic recalibration — without harming US supply chains. For politically fragile or externally dependent economies, this can be destabilising. Governments facing economic slowdowns may be forced to reduce subsidies, cut development budgets, or raise taxes — all of which can incite public anger or expose rifts among political elites. While the tariffs stop short of sanctions, they function similarly in effect: they extract behavioural shifts without requiring boots on the ground. Malaysia's delicate balancing act Malaysia is no stranger to external pressure. As a trade-dependent nation with global linkages, especially in electronics, it finds itself in the crosshairs of Trump's selective tariff regime. Though spared in the semiconductor and integrated circuit categories, Malaysia remains vulnerable to broader policy risks. The recent decision to purchase Boeing aircraft, widely interpreted as a gesture of mollification, illustrates the kind of transactional diplomacy Trump has championed. In this view, economic relief is not merit-based but conditional — contingent on visible political gestures, economic alignment, or foreign policy moderation. When viewed in their broader context, these tariffs, despite exempting key sectors such as semiconductors and integrated circuits, are capable of precipitating political instability, policy reversals, and potentially even regime change in targeted states. — Reuters pic Yet such concessions come at a cost. Prioritising foreign appeasement over domestic priorities can invite criticism at home, undermine industrial policies, or trigger a sense of lost sovereignty. In more extreme scenarios, public perception of economic capitulation may erode a government's legitimacy, feeding into opposition narratives and electoral volatility. Regime change by other means To be clear, Trump is not openly calling for regime change. But his policy toolkit enables outcomes that mirror it. When tariffs weaken a government's economic foundation, erode investor confidence, or amplify societal frustrations, they set the stage for political transitions. In democratic systems, this might mean a loss of parliamentary control or a change in administration. In authoritarian or hybrid regimes, it may lead to intensified repression, elite defections, or shifts in geopolitical alignment. The outcomes vary — but the pressure originates from the same source. The flawed genius — and danger — of Trump's tariff strategy lies in its deniability. Unlike overt sanctions or military actions, tariffs wear a mask of legitimacy. They can be explained away as economic tools while quietly forcing nations to rethink their entire policy compass. Strategic autonomy or strategic submission? The challenge for countries like Malaysia is to navigate between appeasement and autonomy. Excessive alignment with the US may yield short-term relief but weaken long-term resilience. Conversely, hedging toward alternative blocs such as BRICS or deepening ties with China risks further economic retaliation. This is the exact trap Trump's tariffs are designed to create. They force nations into binary choices where neutrality becomes untenable. By weaponising trade, Trump reduces diplomacy to a transaction and multilateralism to an afterthought. Conclusion: The political cost of economic coercion Trump's tariffs, though selectively applied and politically packaged, are far from benign. They are instruments of economic coercion with deeply political consequences. Whether or not intended, they are capable of reshaping national strategies, unsettling governments, and accelerating regime change without firing a single shot. Malaysia and its neighbours in Southeast Asia would do well to read the subtext. The exemptions granted today may be revoked tomorrow. The deals made now may come with deeper expectations later. And the space for independent decision-making may shrink under the growing weight of transactional power politics. In this era of manufactured economic pain, survival depends not just on trade diversification — but on strategic clarity, regional unity, and the courage to say no when pressure comes dressed as partnership. * Phar Kim Beng is the Director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies (IINTAS) and Professor of Asean Studies in International Islamic University of Malaysia. He writes frequently on regional trade, diplomacy, and international strategy. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.


The Sun
an hour ago
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Malaysia, US sign MoU on civil nuclear cooperation
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Malaysia, US sign MOU on civil nuclear cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the United States (US) have taken a major step forward in strengthening their comprehensive partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on strategic civil nuclear cooperation. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan described the agreement as a "significant milestone" that marks a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly in the field of energy security and sustainable development. "This MOU represents a crucial step in our shared journey to further strengthen the Malaysia-US comprehensive partnership," he said in his remarks during the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, held here on Thursday (July 10). He said that Malaysia views the exploration of nuclear energy as a key component of its long-term strategy, aimed at ensuring energy security, driving economic growth and developing national capacity to harness nuclear energy in a safe, secure and responsible manner. In the presence of visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mohamad also announced Malaysia's readiness to begin negotiations on the 123 Agreement - an essential legal framework required by the US before nuclear cooperation involving the transfer of materials, equipment or technology can proceed. "In your distinguished presence, Mr Secretary, I am pleased to inform you (of) Malaysia's readiness to commence negotiations on the 123 Agreement," he said. Rubio welcomed the signing of the MOU, calling it a model for how civil nuclear cooperation can be achieved between trusted partners while upholding the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. "We are very excited about this… this memorandum, which I think first and foremost, is a signal to the world of how civil nuclear cooperation is something that is available and that is out there," said Rubio. "There are many countries in the world; some are in the headlines lately, that have expressed an interest in civil nuclear programmes. And this is an example of how it can be done, and we're very grateful to be able to do it with such a close partner," he added. He reiterated the US's commitment to advancing the 123 Agreement negotiations with Malaysia, describing it as the next step forward with a country he said has a bright future. "Again, an incredible opportunity for your country, an incredible opportunity to strengthen our partnership, an incredible example to the world. So, it is my honour to be a part of this," he added. He highlighted the broader geopolitical significance of the memorandum, noting that it lays the foundation for a strong civil nuclear partnership based on the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Meanwhile, Mohamad reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment as a coastal state to uphold maritime law and environmental protection. "In this regard, I would like to say that we are actively formulating new regulations to tighten enforcement against illegal ship-to-ship transfer within our waters. These changes are expected to take effect by the end of this month," he said. Rubio, on his first official visit to Asia since his appointment as the US Secretary of State, said he was honoured that Malaysia was his first stop and was glad that the 58th AMM was his first event. He said the AMM is an event of great significance that transcends Malaysia or the Asean region, and it was an honour for him to be a part of it. The MOU ceremony also marked Rubio's first formal engagement in the region. The ongoing 58th AMM and related meetings are being held under Malaysia's Asean chairmanship for 2025 with the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability". More than 1,500 delegates from Asean and its external partner countries are participating in 24 ministerial-level meetings spanning four days. - Bernama