logo
Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia makes trade concessions to US to keep exports flowing, protect 100,000 jobs

Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia makes trade concessions to US to keep exports flowing, protect 100,000 jobs

Malay Maila day ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Malaysia has agreed to a series of trade concessions in response to demands from the United States (US) to safeguard the country's export-driven economy and protect local jobs.
He explained that the United States remains Malaysia's largest export destination, with exports reaching RM198.65 billion in 2024, and is also a major source of foreign investment, contributing RM32.82 billion to date.
'..... Any changes in US trade policy cannot be taken lightly, as they could have a negative impact on Malaysia's economy.
'For example, it is estimated that up to 100,000 workers, particularly in Penang and Kedah, could be at risk of losing their jobs if electrical and electronic products can no longer be exported to the US due to high tariffs,' he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
MORE TO COME
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

German major general dismisses talk of Russian attack against NATO
German major general dismisses talk of Russian attack against NATO

Malaysia Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • Malaysia Sun

German major general dismisses talk of Russian attack against NATO

Moscow is too focused on Ukraine to attack the US-led military bloc, Andreas Henne has said Russia is committed to the Ukraine conflict and is unlikely to pursue an attack against NATO, according to the commander of the German Army's Homeland Security Division, Major General Andreas Henne. European officials have increasingly claimed in recent years that Moscow is planning to attack the US-led military bloc - speculation which Russia has dismissed as "nonsense." Henne was asked to comment on the possibility of an attack in an interview with Focus magazine published on Monday. "The Russians are very committed in Ukraine and couldn't possibly carry out such an attack to its conclusion. I'm telling you this as a military analyst," he said. "One can't rule anything out with regard to Russia, but I personally think that we will experience many more summers of peace." Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, NATO has "adapted and created a new force model," Henne stated, adding: "This envisions us bringing forces to the northeast flank very quickly." Germany is the US-led military bloc's "most important hub" for this, he said. The German Defense Ministry has reported a sharp rise in military recruitment since the start of the year, which officials in Berlin have claimed is directed at countering the alleged "threat" from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has condemned the claims, accusing Berlin of "whipping up hysterical Russophobia" in Europe. "Everything is being done to create an image of our country as an enemy," he said in a press briefing last week. Russia has condemned NATO's recent push to increase military spending to 5% of GDP, accusing European members of the US-led military bloc of rampant militarization. "Today's Europe has completely plunged into a Russophobic frenzy, and its militarization is becoming, in fact, uncontrolled," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta. (

Shede Aged Baijiu Festival Debuts in Malaysia and Singapore – Fosun Empowers Shede Spirits to Share Its Aroma with the World
Shede Aged Baijiu Festival Debuts in Malaysia and Singapore – Fosun Empowers Shede Spirits to Share Its Aroma with the World

Malay Mail

time35 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Shede Aged Baijiu Festival Debuts in Malaysia and Singapore – Fosun Empowers Shede Spirits to Share Its Aroma with the World

Panoramic view of the Shede Aged Baijiu Festival KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 August 2025 -On August 3, the Shede Aged Baijiu Festival was staged in Malaysia, following its successful Singapore edition. Once again, Shede Spirits celebrated baijiu as a cultural bridge to advance its expansion in Southeast Asia, hosting a series of high-profile events to actively promote Chinese baijiu culture on the global guests included Lee Thai Hung, Deputy Director-General of Tourism Malaysia; Datuk Chong Sin Woon, Secretary-General of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA); Prof. Dr. Choong Chee Keong, Vice President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR); Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International; Pu Jizhou, Chairman of Shede Spirits; Wu Yifei, Co-Chairman of Shede Spirits; Tang Hui, President of Shede Spirits; Yang Xiao, Chairman of Mix Company; along with representatives from Malaysian business circles, distributors, media, and collectors and aficionados of aged the event, Lee Thai Hung, Deputy Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, lauded Shede Spirits for its role in fostering China–Malaysia cultural exchange and charitable initiatives. He noted that the "Shede Spirit" resonates strongly with Malaysia's vision of integrating culture and tourism, fulfilling social responsibilities, and deepening bilateral friendship. He expressed the hope that more leading Chinese enterprises would join in advancing cooperation between the two Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, reaffirmed Fosun's commitment to propelling Shede Spirits and Chinese baijiu culture onto the world stage. He highlighted Shede's recent strides in production capacity and R&D infrastructure, which underpin the brand's long-term growth under its aged-baijiu strategy. Guided by the principle of long-termism, Fosun will continue to support Shede's sustainable development by harnessing both domestic and international platform resources—deepening its footprint in China while accelerating overseas expansion. Guo emphasized Southeast Asia's deep-rooted Chinese communities and natural affinity for baijiu, expressing his hope that Shede will become the most beloved and trusted Chinese baijiu brand in the region. He added that cultural outreach and product innovation would serve as the twin engines driving Shede's future, creating shared success for partners and energizing global market a cornerstone of Shede's international strategy, Southeast Asia holds profound strategic importance. In his keynote, Shede Spirits Chairman Pu Jizhou reflected on the enduring friendship and cultural bonds between China and Malaysia, offering an incisive interpretation of the contemporary significance of the "Shede" philosophy. He noted that Shede hails from Shehong in Suining, Sichuan—Hometown of Baijiu. As Tang poet Du Fu once wrote, "Shehong spring wine stays freshly green despite the chill." Today, a pot of Shede Baijiu, just like the iconic Guanyin Lake with its vast expanse, becomes the signature of the city. With Fosun's support, Shede has rapidly expanded into 40 countries and regions worldwide, achieving both overseas profitability and sustained growth. Pu pledged to deepen Shede's commitment to the Southeast Asian market, forging partnerships with more distributors to weave premium aged baijiu into local lifestyles—transforming the wisdom of Shede into a bridge for global cultural exchange and emotional resonance, and enabling the world to savor the fragrance of Chinese baijiu and the elegance of Chinese evening reached its zenith with a charity auction, as rare bottles of Shede aged baijiu drew spirited bidding from collectors and connoisseurs, with every lot sold. All proceeds were donated to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman to support the advancement of Chinese education and academic development in Malaysia—embodying the Shede Spirit through meaningful Fosun's strategic empowerment, Shede Spirits continues to accelerate its global footprint, with products now available in 40 countries and regions. Looking ahead, the brand will further leverage its "Aged Baijiu + Culture" model, exploring new pathways for sustainable overseas growth and joining hands with partners worldwide to champion Chinese baijiu culture—crafting a better life for families across the #ShedeSpirits The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Flux introduces new TÜV-certified smart light for vision protection
Flux introduces new TÜV-certified smart light for vision protection

Malay Mail

time36 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Flux introduces new TÜV-certified smart light for vision protection

This HELIOS Pendant Light is engineered with low blue-light emission and zero flicker technology to protect screen-heavy workers from silent vision burnout. It is developed in collaboration with Malaysia's No.1 lighting expert, Richard's Prestige Lighting & Design, as a solution to address rising levels of myopia and digital eye strain globally. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Flux, a future-focused local lighting brand, announced the launch of its HELIOS Pendant Light, a TÜV-certified smart light that aims to support long-term vision wellness for office professionals and remote creatives who spend long hours on screens under artificial lighting. The latest launch is a partnership with Malaysia's trusted lighting provider and one of the largest custom decorative lighting manufacturers in Asia Pacific, Richard's Prestige Lighting & Design, to reach out to more underserved masses in the market. Engineered with RG0 TÜV certification – an eye-safe certification that meets the highest global eye safety standard called the IEC R60 - the HELIOS features 1.2-meter-wide coverage, 1600 lux brightness, and RA>95 colour rendering, which provides soft, vibrant illumination without the typical risks of modern lighting. As a science-backed technology, it mimics natural light cycles and minimizes glare to reduce visual fatigue caused by micro-flickering LEDs and prolonged exposure to blue light. Conceptualised and birthed by a working-class professional who had experienced eye strains working late nights under the harsh white light, this HELIOS solution is also designed in response to an increasing global epidemic of digital eye strain and early-onset myopia among this current generation of workers. The precision optics system behind FLUX Helios' balanced illumination. Each layer is meticulously designed to reduce glare and enhance visual comfort. 'Our eyes are the most overworked yet overlooked productivity organ,' said Tan Ming Howe, CEO of Richard's Prestige Lighting & Design. 'HELIOS is thus built for the screen-heavy generation, including designers, remote workers, and gamers who unknowingly suffer from invisible lighting issues. We designed it not just to look great, but to protect our all-important vision in today's digital age.' Recent studies have reported that up to 68 per cent of screen users experienced digital eye strain, while 43 per cent of remote workers were quoted as saying that their sight has taken a turn for the worse since shifting to online work. Further compounding such concerns is a worsening myopia condition among the global population, where the severity is projected to hit a rate of 50 per cent by 2050. Now, thanks to the advanced features of PWM flicker-free drivers that eliminate invisible light fluctuations, RG0 photobiological safety certification, and low-blue-light diffusion embedded in HELIOS, a solution is in sight - no pun intended - where users will be able to mitigate progressive eye fatigue and prioritise their eye health. With a lifespan of 50,000 hours and backed by a 1-year warranty, customers also get to select from the light's four preset ambient modes, which are Polynesia Sky, Hungary Blue Hour, Vanuatu Beach, and Sabah Sunset, each tailored to help regulate circadian rhythm and support focused work. HELIOS is compatible with standard wall switches, enabled with intelligent motion sensing that allows for light control at a gesture of a hand wave, and convenient remote operation. FLUX Helios in 'Sabah Sunset' mode — delivering rich amber illumination designed for focus, ambiance, and eye comfort. The light has since received some glowing testimonies by different users, such as a streamer, Kelvin W., who says 'I used to get eye fatigue after 2 hours of gaming. Now I can go for hours without strain.', while remote professional & mother Aina M., calls it the 'Best home upgrade I've made. My kids can study longer, and my eyes finally feel normal.' To learn more on how you can upgrade your workspace and protect your vision with HELIOS, visit or contact the Flux team at: [email protected]. Pre-orders end on 31 August, 2025. As with its tagline, it's time to 'fix the light to save your sight'.

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