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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
RM1.72mil worth of drugs seized in Johor raids
Major haul: Comm Kumar (second from right) showing the seized items at the press conference in Johor Baru. — Bernama JOHOR BARU: A drug syndicate was busted with the arrest of nine members and the seizure of some RM1.72mil worth of drugs following three separate raids here, say police. Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the raids were carried out between June 20 and 21 at three apartments. He said those arrested comprised four local men, a local woman, a Singaporean man, two Vietnamese women and a Laotian woman, aged between 21 and 64. He added that the mastermind of the syndicate, who is a 52-year-old local man, was among the suspects detained. He said police also seized 10.044kg of ecstasy powder, 140g of methamphetamine, 61.50g of ketamine, 5.7g of Erimin 5 pills, 40g of yaba pills, 78g of ecstasy pills, and 33ml of suspected drug-laced liquid. According to Comm Kumar, two of the units were converted into entertainment centres while another was used to repackage drugs. 'They operated from the gated and guarded apartments that were rented under the name of one of the suspects and a third party. 'They used two of the apartments to attract people for entertainment purposes while supplying drugs to their clients,' Comm Kumar said in a press conference at the Johor police headquarters yesterday. He said the drugs were packaged as tea bags while drug-laced liquids were stored in vape cartridges at the third unit. Comm Kumar added that the Singaporean suspect was believed to be a wanted person in his country for drug trafficking activities. 'We are working closely with the Singapore police over the matter. 'The suspects sell a kilogramme of ecstasy for around RM160, while the drugs packed into tea bags were sold at about RM5,000 per kg. 'The total seizure could feed the habit of about 33,000 drug users.' Comm Kumar also said that drug processing equipment, two cars, along with cash worth RM1,500 and some jewellery, were confiscated during the raids. 'Following investigations, it was found that four of the suspects are on record for offences related to drugs and crimes. 'We also conducted urine tests on the suspects, and all tested positive for methamphetamine,' he said. Comm Kumar said they have been remanded until today for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a death sentence or life imprisonment and whipping, if convicted. 'The four foreign suspects are also being investigated under Section 6(3) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,' he added. Comm Kumar also disclosed that from January until June this year, police seized a total of 1.08 tonnes and 5,816.5 litres of drugs valued at RM106.9mil collectively. He urged the public to continue providing information to help combat illegal activities by channelling information to the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department hotline at 012-208 7222.
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE Government Leaders Programme participants explore Vietnam's developmental transformation, global leadership insights
6 July 2025 12:46 DUBAI (WAM) During a meeting with the UAE Government Leaders Programme delegation from the Prime Minister's Office, Ho Duc Phoc, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, highlighted the importance of promoting bilateral ties between Vietnam and the United Arab hailed the UAE's leading experience in government innovation and its leadership in key sectors such as education, information technology, infrastructure, and meeting took place during the delegation's knowledge visit to Vietnam, organised in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Bader Al Matrooshi, UAE Ambassador to Vietnam; Khaled Sharaf, Director of the UAE Government Leaders Programme; and senior Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister emphasised Vietnam's aspiration to elevate the collaboration to new horizons through shared experiences, success stories, and by encouraging Emirati youth to seize strategic investment opportunities in stressed the value of joint efforts to embed sustainable development goals in ways that reflect the ambitions of both Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the UAE government is committed to enhancing global partnerships and exchanging successful models with other governments worldwide. This approach, he added, is guided by the UAE wise leadership's vision to deepen international cooperation and stay ahead of future challenges.'We believe that the strong ties between the governments of the UAE and Vietnam alongside the shared, promising opportunities of development offer fertile ground for broader strategic collaboration and bilateral partnerships across multiple sectors,' He addedHe underlined that the UAE Government Leaders Programme 2025 showcases the UAE's vision to empower national leaders with future foresight and world-class skills. The programme reflects the UAE's broader commitment to upskilling its national workforce by enhancing skills, expanding knowledge, and aligning capabilities with global leadership standards; providing participants with access to global experts, best practices, and disruptive Bader Al Matrooshi commended Vietnam's progress across various fields and highlighted the surge in bilateral trade in recent years as a testament to a shared outlook for expanding cooperation and forging new strategic visit to Vietnam comes as a part of the UAE Government Leaders Program's extensive training agenda, designed to introduce participants to diverse and impactful international models. The initiative promotes sustainable knowledge development through experiential learning and hands-on training, which are core components of the Programme's 2025 visit covered main cities including Hanoi, Dien Bien, and Ba Vi, offering an opportunity to develop leadership principles and explore social impact gained first-hand exposure to Vietnam's transformational journey and its model of inclusive development, positioning the country as an emerging economy and pivotal regional hub in the visit enabled participants to engage with pressing challenges related to water, sustainability, and community participants explored Vietnam's success stories in human capital development, economic transformation, and investment, and held key meetings with representatives of the UNICEF and Vietnamese government programme featured immersive educational tracks, starting with 'Purpose-Driven Leadership,' which involved addressing a real-world challenge related to clean water access in partnership with the UNICEF, and 'Discovering Inner Leadership', held in Ba Vi and focused on cultivating self-awareness and leadership 'Strategic Insight' track centered on decoding Vietnam's transformational path and its relevance to policy and regional economic innovation. 'Expanding Global Perspectives' examined shifting global dynamics and their impact on future governance. The last educational track explored how to leverage community engagement to solve real societal the Dien Bien province, participants developed practical solutions to scale climate-resilient water systems that could benefit over 20,000 residents. The field experience also strengthened participants' cultural adaptability, emotional resilience, and cross-cultural collaboration skills. Final presentations to the UNICEF officials featured proposals and recommendations informed by field delegation visited Vingroup, Vietnam's largest private-sector enterprise, to learn about its expansive portfolio spanning transport, energy, education, technology, construction, communications, and investment. The visit included a tour of the modern VinUniversity and VinFast, the country's flagship electric vehicle manufacturer, a standout success story in Vietnam's industrial development part of the programme's development-focused partnerships, participants collaborated with the UNICEF and the Vietnamese authorities to co-design actionable solutions for clean water scarcity; which represents a key challenge affecting children's health in underserved areas; aiming to deliver lasting community-wide the mountainous region of Ba Vi, participants undertook a transformative leadership journey, designed to uncover personal strengths, areas for growth, and adaptive leadership approaches. The retreat offered a rare moment of quiet reflection, helping participants step back from their daily routine to gain fresh insights and develop practical, future-focused latest edition of the UAE Government Leaders Programme 2.0 introduces a fully developed leadership development methodology. It emphasises self-learning, global benchmarking, and the acquisition of transformational leadership tools for managing future learn to lead change initiatives, implement national projects, and build their capabilities through a unique combination of theoretical knowledge and applied programme is distinguished by its integrated and hands-on approach to developing leaders personal and professional skills. It offers a unique, cohesive track for developing Emirati leaders by combining global case studies, transformation project design, and experiential learning. The programme equips participants with leadership skills through a new methodology focused on designing, managing, and executing transformative projects, learning from the global success models, and promoting self-directed learning capabilities. It further introduces a unified, cohesive track tailored to building the leadership capabilities of UAE talents.
Tatler Asia
2 hours ago
- Tatler Asia
Domestic Quiet Luxury brand: What is market language if not your own voice?
Ideal and reality Above Loro Piana Spring/Summer 2025 Collection promotional campaign (photo: Loro Piana) Quiet Luxury, despite its discreet facade, is a commanding yet unspoken expression of the elite. Eschewing loud logos or bold hues, it appeals through exceptional fabrics, clean silhouettes, pure minimalism and a near-bespoke feel. It is the kind of luxury discernible only to those beyond the need to declare status. These are the individuals who walk into a grand occasion in a look that bears no overt branding, yet every detail emanates quiet confidence and refinement. Read more: Icon of Icons: LOEWE Puzzle Bag Above CHANEL Spring/Summer 2025 Collection promotional campaign (photo: CHANEL) Yet within the context of the Vietnamese market, quiet luxury remains a distant concept. Here, luxury is not merely a coat or handbag, but a social signifier. A CHANEL bag, a Max Mara coat, a pair of Bottega Veneta shoes, they serve as declarations of class, influence and standing. For many Vietnamese fashion lovers, the logo continues to be the most legible language in the high-end fashion space. Above Max Mara Spring/Summer 2024 Collection promotional campaign (photo: Max Mara) According to a report by FiinGroup, Vietnam's fashion market is projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 9–10 per cent. This reflects a healthy momentum for local fashion. Over 200 international brands, ranging from mid-tier to luxury, currently operate in key cities. Domestic labels are not only contending with peers in their segment, but also with global powerhouses. Above Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2025 Collection promotional campaign (photo: Bottega Veneta) Although Vietnam has many wealthy yet discreet high-end customers, the segment that truly understands and is willing to invest in quiet luxury remains too narrow to sustain a purely minimalist luxury brand. This presents a considerable challenge for any designer pursuing this path within the country. The power of storytelling In the fertile landscape of quiet luxury, Vietnam holds rich creative promise, with names that have made a mark both at home and abroad. Among them are Nguyen Cong Tri, revered as the 'big brother' of Vietnamese fashion, for his aesthetic and artisanal design language; Lam Gia Khang, whose minimalist sensibility blends East–West inspirations; and Cuong Dam, with a philosophy grounded in 'minimalism for maximalism'. These designers entered the scene with a bold, singular vision: no logos, no gimmicks, no visual flamboyance—just premium materials, refined tailoring and a neutral palette infused with European elegance. Above Singer Ho Ngoc Ha wears designs by DANGHAIYEN (photo: DANGHAIYEN) With prices starting from VND8 million per piece, quiet luxury brands do not seek mass appeal. They cater to an affluent, discerning clientele who favour understatement. Yet those very strengths become fragile when tested in the realities of the market. Above Singers Bich Phuong, Huong Giang and Co Em Trendy wear minimalist designs by DANGHAIYEN (photo: DANGHAIYEN) DANGHAIYEN offers a cautionary tale. Its decline stemmed not only from an unprepared market but also from a development strategy that lacked firm direction. In the high-end segment, a loyal customer base is essential. While the clientele exists, they still gravitate towards international labels with recognisable branding. The audience truly fluent in minimalist fashion remains too small to sustain commercial viability. Quiet Luxury in Vietnam still requires time and trust to cultivate a community. This is something the brand had little chance to fully develop. Founder Dang Hai Yen spoke candidly with Tatler about the decision to cease operations: 'The closure of DANGHAIYEN coincides with the 10-year milestone of my career. It wasn't a decision made lightly, especially since the brand carries my most personal imprint. Running a fashion business professionally and to standard is not as simple as following your passion. I learned that during a time when I felt lost. When it's dark and you're unsure of your direction, it's best to stop, light a fire to warm yourself, rest—so that the next day, whether stormy or sunny, you can begin again in the best possible condition. After many years in operation, I feel it's time to pause and reassess how the market has evolved.' Above Resort Collection 2025 (photo: DANGHAIYEN) DANGHAIYEN's departure from the domestic scene stands as a quiet reminder to those dreaming of carving out space in Vietnam's quiet luxury realm. In a market where worth is still often measured by outward form, silence, however beautiful, must be shaped into a clear and memorable story. Only then can a name evoke not just aesthetic, but an enduring design philosophy. This is the lasting power that international quiet luxury brands have built and preserved for decades, if not centuries. 'I've never been one to rely on gimmicks to promote the brand. The decision to close DANGHAIYEN followed six months of discussion among the leadership team. We always begin by looking inward. We are businesspeople, and our approach is from a management perspective. I don't want to point fingers at external factors. Of course, those elements matter, but more than anything, a brand must have a clear orientation and a robust communication strategy,' added Dang Hai Yen. Running a fashion business professionally and to industry standards is far more complex than simply following your passion. - Dang Hai Yen, Founder of DANGHAIYEN - Above Resort Collection 2025 (photo: DANGHAIYEN) More than a fashion aesthetic, quiet luxury is a philosophy of life, a declaration of inner refinement and value beyond appearance. Yet in a market still dominated by visual impact, quiet luxury cannot survive on beautiful ideals or innovative design alone. It demands a comprehensive ecosystem: from nuanced positioning and strategic communication to a genuine connection with local cultural identity.
