logo
Singapore to launch young leaders' programme, joint police training with Japan to support Palestinian Authority

Singapore to launch young leaders' programme, joint police training with Japan to support Palestinian Authority

Malay Mail12-07-2025
SINGAPORE, July 12 — Singapore will launch two new initiatives in 2026 to support the Palestinian Authority (PA), including a Young Leaders' Programme designed to share the city-state's expertise in governance and public administration with emerging Palestinian leaders.
Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also announced that the other initiative is a joint training programme with Japan aimed at strengthening the community policing skills of the Palestinian Civil Police.
'These initiatives build on Singapore's longstanding support for the PA's capacity-building efforts and its institutional development, as the Palestinian people prepare for statehood,' he posted on Facebook.
Balakrishnan, who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, announced the initiatives at the 4th Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) Ministerial Meeting yesterday.
Meanwhile, the minister said he also met with PA Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr Estephan Salameh and had a good discussion on developments in the Middle East.
'I invited him to visit Singapore,' he added.
Singapore had previously reaffirmed that it will continue working closely with the PA, particularly through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, to support their capacity for administration and reconstruction. — Bernama
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

No road closures in KL ahead of anti-Anwar rally, say cops
No road closures in KL ahead of anti-Anwar rally, say cops

Free Malaysia Today

time36 minutes ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

No road closures in KL ahead of anti-Anwar rally, say cops

Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said additional personnel will be deployed at the various LRT, MRT and monorail stations within the city centre. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Police will not be closing any roads in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally on Saturday, which is expected to have 10,000 to 15,000 participants. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said they had been notified about the rally by PAS Youth, with NGOs, students and members of the public expected to be in attendance. He said the participants will gather at Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex before marching to Dataran Merdeka. To ensure the safety of public transport users, additional personnel will be deployed at the various LRT, MRT and monorail stations within the city centre. 'This is to ensure that the gathering will not affect public transport services or economic stability. We also advise public transport operators to take precautionary measures to ensure public safety. 'We expect traffic congestion towards the city centre. However, we will not carry out any road closures. Instead, personnel will be deployed to control and monitor traffic,' he said in a statement. Usuf reminded those joining the rally not to bring sharp objects, weapons or flares with them, and to refrain from carrying placards with writings or images that touch on race, religion or royalty (3Rs). Perikatan Nasional has planned the rally at Dataran Merdeka to push for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's resignation. The organisers expect up to 300,000 participants, although a similar protest in Shah Alam earlier this month drew just over 300 people.

AGC backs ban on civil servants joining ‘Turun Anwar' rally
AGC backs ban on civil servants joining ‘Turun Anwar' rally

Free Malaysia Today

time37 minutes ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

AGC backs ban on civil servants joining ‘Turun Anwar' rally

Civil servants have been told to refrain from joining the 'Turun Anwar' rally planned for Saturday at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Attorney-General's Chambers has backed the chief secretary to the government's directive prohibiting civil servants from taking part in the upcoming 'Turun Anwar' rally, saying there is legal basis for the instruction. The AGC said civil servants are bound by letters of undertaking Regulation 20(3) of the Public Officers (Appointment, Promotion and Termination of Service) Regulations 2012. It said the undertakings include complying with all regulations, including the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, general orders, circulars, and directives issued by the government from time to time. Both sets of regulations state that civil servants must not behave in any manner that could tarnish or bring disrepute to civil service and not make any public statements that could embarrass or tarnish the reputation of the government. The AGC said civil servants must at all times remain loyal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the nation, and the government. 'Any failure to comply with the regulations, general orders, circulars, and other instructions issued by the government may result in disciplinary action being taken against civil servants,' it said in a statement. On Sunday, chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said it was inappropriate for civil servants to take part in the rally 'because the action is not in accordance with the principle of loyalty to king and country as espoused by the Rukun Negara'. However, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said that Shamsul's statement lacked any basis in law and was contrary to the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and the right to peacefully assemble. He also said criticism, dissent, and protests were part of any democracy. The AGC said although Articles 10(1)(a) and 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution grant every citizen the freedom of speech and expression, as well as the right to assemble peacefully without arms, these rights are not absolute. 'In line with that, any public assembly is also subject to existing laws, including special directives issued by the authorities, such as directives issued by the chief secretary to the government to civil servants,' it said.

Johari wants review of stall demolition plan, Zaliha says don't worry
Johari wants review of stall demolition plan, Zaliha says don't worry

Free Malaysia Today

timean hour ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Johari wants review of stall demolition plan, Zaliha says don't worry

Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani called for the road-widening project to be put on hold while federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said DBKL would meet the stall owners soon. KUALA LUMPUR : Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani has urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to review the planned demolition of nine stalls in Desa Pandan to allow for a road-widening project. He said the road involved was just an inner road while the traders there had been operating legally for years, Berita Harian reported. 'They are licensed, and this is their source of income. So when DBKL came to demolish their stalls the other day, they were very shocked,' said Johari, who is also the plantation and commodities minister. 'Why demolish these stalls to widen a road that isn't a main road?' he asked, calling for the project to be put on hold while DBKL holds talks with stakeholders. Johari also asked if 60 other stalls further down the road would also have to make way for a road-widening project one day. 'Don't worry, we'll help the traders' Separately, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said DBKL had been engaging with the nine stall owners since November, acknowledging that they were licensed. She said some of them had already agreed to move while others refused to budge. Zaliha said the traders did not need to worry about losing their source of income as the federal territories department and DBKL would ensure that they have an alternative location for their stalls. 'We are supposed to meet them again this month to discuss where they will be moved to. This is part of our 'Lestari Niaga' project (to upgrade and beautify food stalls in KL) so I think they don't have to worry. 'We will do our best to help them and place them elsewhere, while giving them the facilities needed to open their stalls again,' she said when met by reporters at SMK Cochrane here. Zaliha also said that the road widening project needed to be expedited and was necessary for public use. 'I have asked the federal territories department and DBKL to meet the traders immediately and give them several options for new places to operate.' DBKL previously said the hawkers were told to vacate the site on Jan 15, but a final notice was only issued on July 4. During an operation to demolish the stalls on Tuesday, a man got into a brief stand-off with DBKL officers, brandishing a parang and shouting profanities at the officers. He was calmed down by members of the public before being arrested by the police.

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