Guinea Bissau President Embalo given official welcome in Putrajaya
PUTRAJAYA: President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex here today.
Embalo, who arrived yesterday, is making his first visit to Malaysia since assuming office in February 2020.
Upon his arrival at 9 am, he was warmly received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the venue.
The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthems of Guinea-Bissau and Malaysia.
Embalo then inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 103 members of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (Ceremonial), led by Major Mohamad Waqiyudin Abd Rahman.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, senior government officials and diplomats.
Following the ceremonial protocols, President Embalo signed the guest book before proceeding to a bilateral meeting with Anwar, where discussions particular focus on trade and investment, agriculture, education and capacity building.
Both leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau established diplomatic relations in November 1974.
Bilateral ties between the two nations remain cordial, underpinned by a shared commitment to cooperation on bilateral and multilateral platforms, including the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
In 2024, Malaysia's total trade with Guinea-Bissau amounted to RM4.1 million, with exports to Guinea-Bissau valued at RM4.04 million and imports at RM0.06 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Allowing refugees to work formally may ease labour market gaps, says UNHCR
KUALA LUMPUR: Including refugees in formal work may be the solution to addressing the gaps in Malaysia's labour market. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Louise Aubin said that allowing refugees to work formally will also support Malaysia's goals of eradicating forced labour. "Currently, refugees in Malaysia have no legal status in the country, and have no access to legal and regulated work. "They, therefore, seek wage-earning opportunities in the informal sector to make ends meet, where work is often irregular and exploitative in nature. "Common conditions encountered by refugees include low or non-payment of wages, unsafe working conditions as well as unfair dismissals due to the lack of contractual arrangements," she told the New Straits Times. She explained that enabling refugees to work formally would subsequently improve the protection of refugees against exploitation and abuse. She said that 69 per cent of refugees registered with UNHCR were of working age and able to contribute to the workforce. "A report by think tank IDEAS, suggests that if refugees were given the right to work, they could contribute over RM3 billion to annual gross domestic product by 2024 through higher spending, contribute RM50 million in tax annually by 2024, and help create over 4,000 jobs for Malaysians," she said. She added that UNHCR has had positive discussions with Putrajaya to facilitate access to employment for refugees and reiterated its commitment to support the government with any proposed guidelines to legal work and having further discussion with the relevant ministries and agencies. However, human rights and social justice NGO North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said refugees in Malaysia could seek employment if there was a government directive. Nonetheless, there is a grey area in the framework's standard operating procedures and the rights that refugees have at work. "So, without clarity, this is going to put refugees and asylum seekers not just in forced labor conditions but also putting employers at risk by being fined or punished by the enforcement agencies that have no clue or are unaware of the directive," he said. Pereira added that the numerous raids and fines against refugees and their employers did more harm than good due to lack of clarity over the directive. "If the government does not regulate this, human traffickers, organised crime syndicates, and greedy employers will continue to exploit them," he said, adding that there have been cases of refugees being paid 40 per cent of the legislated minimum wage of RM1,700 per month. He said that refugees may also fall into the black labour market due to lack of regulations. "We can see over the years certain sectors have bloomed due to exploitation. An example is the massage or the leisure industry and restaurants. "It's good that they are giving refugees the right to work but at what cost? Are they free from forced labour, modern day slavery? It's time to have a clear legal framework for refugees," he said. Last week, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) called on the government to allow refugees to work formally in a structured and safeguarded framework for economic and social benefits. Earlier this year, Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government was working on details to allow refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to work legally in Malaysia.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Netanyahu sees ‘opportunities' to free Gaza hostages
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his country's 'victory' over Iran in their 12-day war had created 'opportunities', including for freeing hostages held in Gaza. 'Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory. First of all, to rescue the hostages,' Netanyahu said in an address to officers of the security services. 'Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both goals,' he added, referring to his country's campaign to crush the Palestinian militant group. In a statement late Sunday, the main group representing hostages' families welcomed 'the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister'. 'This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza,' the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said. Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages during Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Of these, 49 are still believed to be held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas also holds the body of an Israeli soldier killed there in 2014. The forum called for the hostages' 'release, not rescue'. 'The only way to free them all is through a comprehensive deal and an end to the fighting, without rescue operations that endanger both the hostages and (Israeli) soldiers.' The October 7 attack triggered a fierce Israeli offensive to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. That campaign has killed at least 56,500 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable. Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Malaysia should act on this definitive legal report on Palestine
IN mid-2023, the United Nations quietly released one of the most consequential legal studies on the Question of Palestine in recent history. Unlike the usual stream of resolutions and policy statements, this was no ordinary publication. It was a formal legal study – one of only a handful ever commissioned by the UN – produced by leading international legal scholars. Its findings were sharp, direct, and unambiguous. And almost immediately, it was buried. Buried, I believe, not for irrelevance but because of its clarity. It was too precise. Too damning. Too actionable. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
