logo
Sim on three-day visit to South Korea for APEC Ministerial Meeting

Sim on three-day visit to South Korea for APEC Ministerial Meeting

The Sun11-05-2025
PUTRAJAYA: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim is undertaking an official working visit to South Korea from today until Tuesday (May 11–13) to attend the 7th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM).
In a statement, the Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) said Sim is leading the Malaysian delegation to the HRDMM in Jeju, which is being held for the first time in 11 years, with the last meeting taking place in Vietnam in 2014.
The meeting, held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference, is themed 'Labour Market Sustainability and Future Work'.
'The two main topics under discussion this time are Flexible and Dynamic Labour Markets, and Work Challenges of the Future and Active Labour Market Policies,' the statement said.
KESUMA said Malaysia's participation in this year's HRDMM underscores the country's continued commitment to fostering cooperation and strengthening ties with APEC economic partners in the fields of human resources, manpower, and social protection.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Sim will hold bilateral talks with Thailand's Labour Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn and Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun to explore strategic cooperation in labour matters and human capital development.
'The Human Resources Minister and his counterparts are expected to produce a Ministerial Joint Statement.
'It will cover topics such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), women's participation in the workforce, empowerment of persons with disabilities, as well as worker safety and health, among others,' KESUMA said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Malaysia's king visits Russia to enhance high-tech and ASEAN cooperation
Malaysia's king visits Russia to enhance high-tech and ASEAN cooperation

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Malaysia's king visits Russia to enhance high-tech and ASEAN cooperation

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, may discuss cooperation in high-tech, interaction in ASEAN, trade, and military‑technical collaboration during the Malaysian monarch's visit to Russia. This was the opinion of the Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, Alexey Maslov. 'Firstly, this year Malaysia chairs ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), therefore the discussion will cover cooperation with the entire bloc. 'In addition, over the past year, we have outlined a number of projects with Malaysia, including supplies of Russian energy resources to Malaysia and purchases by Russia of a number of products such as fruit and textiles. But the most important topic, perhaps, will be interaction in the field of high technology,' Maslov told Sputnik, the Russian news agency. Malaysia is one of the most developed countries in the region in terms of science and universities, Maslov said, adding that joint production of microprocessors, system boards, and related technologies is possible. Sultan Ibrahim is the first Malaysian head of state to visit Russia on a state visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1967. The visit is scheduled for Aug 5 to 10. Sultan Ibrahim is scheduled to hold talks with Putin on Aug 6, during which the leaders are expected to discuss relations between Russia and Malaysia, as well as relevant topics on the regional and international agenda. - Bernama, Sputnik

Upholding respect for our flag
Upholding respect for our flag

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Upholding respect for our flag

National pride: A big Malaysian flag waving against the background of the Kuala Lumpur city centre skyline to mark the Merdeka month celebrations. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Malaysians should treat and fly the Jalur Gemilang with respect and dignity during the ongoing Merdeka Month celebrations, say unity advocates. National Unity Advisory Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the national flag must be hoisted correctly and in accordance with guidelines. 'Before raising the flag, it is important to ensure it is in good condition and positioned appropriately. 'Previously, we have seen instances where the flag was displayed incorrectly, leading to controversy and unfortunate politicisation of the issue. 'Such mistakes must be avoided at all costs,' he said yesterday. The 68th National Day celebration on Aug 31 will be held at Dataran Putrajaya, with the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16 to be hosted in Penang under the theme 'Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni'. Lee said flying the Jalur Gemilang is a matter of national pride. 'I also urge those responsible to replace any torn, faded or tattered flags currently on display,' he said, adding that the people should take this opportunity to renew their patriotic spirit. Unity advocate Anas Zubedy said Malaysians should always be mindful when displaying the national flag. 'The colours of our flag reflect core national values of unity, sincerity, courage and dignity,' said Anas. 'By responding with compassion and wisdom, we show the strength of our Malaysian identity. 'Let this Merdeka be a time where we fly the flag not just proudly, but with understanding and with our hearts,' he added. According to the Information Department's guidebook Bendera Kita Jalur Gemilang, the use of the national flag in forms such as clothing should be avoided, with the exception of the Merdeka Month celebration. The flag must not be used in ways that are seen as demeaning to the Jalur Gemilang, such as being made into tablecloths, headscarves, umbrellas, songkok, hats, bath towels, cushion covers and other similar items, the guidebook stated. Flags that are faded, torn or in poor condition should not be flown, as they are considered worn-out, and doing so would be disrespectful, it said. The guidebook states that such flags should not be disposed of in rubbish bins but be destroyed in a respectful manner, such as by burning them privately.

The doom-mongering about Britain is overdone
The doom-mongering about Britain is overdone

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

The doom-mongering about Britain is overdone

BRITAIN is in fiscal dire straits, faces an imminent threat of serious civil disorder, is seeing many of its wealthy head for the exits, and has a rudderless and divided government that's unequal to the task. But the sense of crisis pervading much reporting and discussion on the state of the nation isn't doing the public psyche any good. The country badly needs a better story. Are things really as bad as the drumbeat of doom emanating from social media and newspapers would suggest? The picture is skewed, I would argue. The United Kingdom has some real and pressing fiscal challenges, but it's hardly alone in that; France's situation is arguably worse. The protesters who descended on asylum hotels in Epping and Canary Wharf were relatively small in number and included the usual suspects from the far right and left – hardly evidence that Britain's entire social fabric is coming apart. Reports of a wealth exodus have rested on some dubious research commissioned by vested interests. The government, for all its missteps, remains in place with a huge majority. And so on. Whether it is objectively true that Britain is going badly wrong may matter less than the reflexive effects of such a discourse. Narratives aren't just a neutral mirror of reality; they help to shape it. You become what you devote your attention to, the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus observed (clearly a man who wouldn't have an X account if he was around today). If you read every day that the country is sliding into a dystopian abyss, you may start to believe it and act accordingly. People become more anxious about the future and therefore less willing to spend. None of this helps Britain's prospects for an economic recovery. So perhaps some historical perspective is useful. Britain has been in far worse predicaments in the past. This columnist can remember sitting in a darkened living room lit only by candles amid power cuts during the 1974 miners' strike. Two years later, the Labour government went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an emergency loan to stabilise the pound and prevent a collapse – a humiliation for a country that was once the world's foremost financial power. Yet less than a decade on from that, the Lawson boom was underway. Crises come and go. The whole of Britain's postwar history can be viewed as a succession of periodic crises – from Suez to the 1967 devaluation, the IMF bailout to Black Wednesday in 1992, and from the global financial crisis to, most recently, Covid-19. The nation always survives them, either muddling through, taking a radical turn (as under Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives), or being forced by circumstance into a new economic direction that lays the groundwork for recovery (as when Britain was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992). This, too, will pass. But an atmosphere of defeatism and relentless negativity doesn't help the process along. The Labour government of Keir Starmer must take its share of blame for creating this syndrome. It boxed itself in with unduly restrictive fiscal rules and a promise not to raise any of the three main taxes. The government's budget arithmetic was then blown apart when it failed to push through planned welfare cuts. This has had an enervating effect on the public mood, feeding a sense that the worst is yet to come – in the form of higher taxes, spending cuts or some unforeseen catastrophe – and triggering a heightened sensitivity among news outlets to anything that pertains to the fiscal situation. The IMF released a report last month that was broadly positive about Britain's fiscal plans, saying they strike a good balance between supporting economic growth and safeguarding financial sustainability. Almost all reports zeroed in on one line in the 91-page document, which suggested the United Kingdom could consider replacing the pension 'triple lock' and introducing co-payments for wealthier residents using the National Health Service – at a point 'beyond the medium term,' meaning more than five years away. It's often the nature of news to focus on the negative (if it bleeds, it leads), but it need not have been this way. In a less febrile climate, distant fiscal decisions might have been deemed less newsworthy. This was all self-inflicted. When you're stuck viewing the world through a negative mental filter, the answer is to change your focus. There are options! Britain is currently revelling in the reunion tour of Oasis – an event that has brought back memories of the 'Cool Britannia' era of the 1990s, when the band was in its heyday and economic growth was strong. Nostalgia is a double-edged sword, though – it can also serve to impress on us just how much better the good old days were. There's also sport. Last week, a far vaster crowd than seen outside asylum hotels turned out in central London to welcome home the England women's football team after their victory in the UEFA Women's Euro final in Switzerland. There have been other summer sporting successes – the British and Irish Lions rugby team clinched their first series win in 12 years in Australia, while England's cricketers have been locked in a pulsating test series with India, with the series ending in a tie. But the triumph of the Lionesses, as England's soccer champions are known, has a special resonance. The team was several times on the verge of going out during the tournament. In the quarter-finals, the Lionesses came back from a 2-0 deficit against Sweden and then won on penalties despite missing three of their first four spot-kicks. They equalised at the death against Italy in the semi-final after trailing for more than an hour and then won in extra time. In the final, England met a technically superior team in Spain but again recovered from a losing position to prevail on penalties. It appeared wildly improbable at times, but champion teams have the spirit of resilience that refuses to countenance defeat. There's a lesson here for Starmer's team and for the rest of us. Things can go wrong, quite badly wrong – repeatedly – and yet still come good in the end. The doom-loop rut depressing Britain isn't permanent or inevitable. All that's needed is the courage to change the script. — Bloomberg Matthew Brooker is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business and infrastructure. The views expressed here are the writer's own.

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