Political analyst Edmund Tayao on Philippine President Marcos' state of nation address
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Independent Singapore
5 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'We admire Singapore deeply': Johor calls for end to rivalry, urges deeper regional partnership
SINGAPORE: Johor and Singapore must shift from a mindset of rivalry to one of partnership if they are to unlock the full potential of their shared geography and economic interdependence, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Speaking at the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship dinner in Singapore, Onn Hafiz called for the two neighbours to embrace each other's strengths and pursue joint strategies for regional development. 'Let's stop thinking in terms of rivalry and focus on shared strategy. Together, we can build regional supply chains, renewable energy projects, data infrastructure and food security frameworks,' he said, as quoted by the New Straits Times. Complementary strengths offer regional potential Onn Hafiz highlighted how Singapore's capital and connectivity, combined with Johor's land and labour resources, form a naturally complementary partnership. Rather than compete, the two should collaborate to build a 'corridor of prosperity' stretching from Woodlands to Iskandar Puteri and beyond. 'If we plan wisely, we can create a corridor of prosperity,' he said, urging both sides to fully realise the potential of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), a key initiative currently under development. Praise for Singapore and call for mutual respect Onn Hafiz also paid tribute to Singapore's transformation and its founding leader, calling Mr Lee Kuan Yew 'a statesman whose vision uplifted not only Singapore, but leadership standards across the region.' His remarks underscored Johor's admiration for its neighbour, even amidst the frequent public comparisons between the two. 'It's not always easy being Singapore's neighbour when your people constantly compare roads, airports and customer service! But the truth is, we admire Singapore deeply,' he said, according to the New Straits Times . A relationship beyond GDP Framing the Johor–Singapore relationship as one of Southeast Asia's most important bilateral dynamics, Onn Hafiz emphasised that genuine cooperation rests on goodwill, not merely economic figures. 'It is goodwill, not just GDP, that sustains partnerships,' he said. His remarks come at a time when both sides are looking to deepen economic integration, particularly through cross-border infrastructure projects like the RTS Link and the JS-SEZ. See also SDP's finalised slate of candidates for GE2020 An open invitation to Singaporeans The Menteri Besar extended a warm invitation to Singaporeans, encouraging them to view Johor not just as a destination for food and shopping, but as a partner in progress. 'Our friends in Singapore are always welcome in Johor, not just for better food, but for real partnership and shared progress,' he said. The event, attended by Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and other dignitaries, marked Onn Hafiz's participation as a Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow — a programme that honours regional leaders who have made significant contributions to diplomacy and development. His comments signal a diplomatic shift toward closer ties and shared growth, a message both symbolic and strategic as Johor and Singapore navigate a new phase in regional cooperation. Read also: Tourism sector welcomes heritage-focused investment zones in Johor Bahru under 13MP
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
EU condemns arrest of former Macau pro-democracy lawmaker
BRUSSELS: The European Union on Saturday (Aug 2) condemned Macau's arrest of former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam-san, saying it only heightened concerns about the "erosion of political pluralism" in the Chinese territory. Au is the first person to be arrested under the city's national security law. Authorities alleged on Thursday that the 68-year-old primary school teacher had ties to foreign groups endangering China. "This development adds to the existing concerns about the ongoing erosion of political pluralism and freedom of speech in the Macao Special Administrative Region," said European Union spokesperson Anitta Hipper in a statement. "The EU recalls that the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a central element of the Macao Basic Law and 'one country, two systems'," set up in the former Portuguese colony. The territory near Hong Kong, known for its casinos, has retained its own legal system since China took it back from Portugal in 1999. The security law, which restricts political activity, was passed in 2009 but broadened in 2023. Au, a legislator up to 2021, has campaigned on social welfare, corruption and electoral reform.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
India will continue to buy Russian oil, government sources say
NEW DELHI: India will continue to purchase oil from Russia, despite US President Donald Trump's threats of penalties, two Indian government sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. "These are long-term oil contracts," one of the sources said. "It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight." Trump last month indicated in a Truth Social post that India would face additional penalties for purchases of Russian arms and oil. On Friday (Aug 1), Trump told reporters that he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia. The New York Times on Saturday quoted two unnamed senior Indian officials as saying there had been no change in Indian government policy, with one official saying the government had "not given any direction to oil companies" to cut back imports from Russia. Reuters reported this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil in the past week after discounts narrowed in July. "TIME-TESTED PARTNERSHIP" WITH RUSSIA "On our energy sourcing requirements ... we look at what is there available in the markets, what is there on offer, and also what is the prevailing global situation or circumstances," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a regular briefing on Friday. Jaiswal added that India has a "steady and time-tested partnership" with Russia, and that New Delhi's relations with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. The White House in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Indian refiners are pulling back from Russian crude as discounts shrink to their lowest since 2022, when Western sanctions were first imposed on Moscow, due to lower Russian exports and steady demand, sources said earlier this week. The country's state refiners - Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd - have not sought Russian crude in the past week or so, four sources familiar with the refiners' purchase plans told Reuters. 100% TARIFF THREAT On July 14, Trump threatened 100 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the top supplier to India, responsible for about 35 per cent of India's overall supplies. Russia continued to be the top oil supplier to India during the first six months of 2025, accounting for about 35 per cent of India's overall supplies, followed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, received about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil in January-June this year, up 1 per cent from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by sources. Nayara Energy, a major buyer of Russian oil, was recently sanctioned by the European Union as the refinery is majority-owned by Russian entities, including oil major Rosneft. Last month, Reuters reported that Nayara's chief executive had resigned after the imposition of EU sanctions, and company veteran Sergey Denisov had been appointed as CEO.
