Latest news with #AbdulWahid
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia has buffers to weather capital outflows
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. "We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. "That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. "When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. "There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing," he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks. "The diversified structure of our economy has been improving over the years. The economy is mainly driven by the services and manufacturing sectors today. This (diversified structure) is not something that has occurred overnight. "Once we have that diversified structure of the economy and are committed to managing government funds, including reducing the fiscal deficit, we are going to make the economy more resilient," he said. Abdul Wahid noted that Malaysia's economy grew by 5.1 per cent last year, and without current external pressures, it would have been on track to achieve a growth rate between 4.5 to 5.0 per cent in 2025. "However, given what's happening, we can expect a lower growth towards the bottom of 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent range. But a 4.0 per cent growth projected by consensus is still credible, given the challenges that we have globally today," he added.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia has buffers to weather capital outflows
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. "We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. "That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges,' he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. "When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. "There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing,' he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks. "The diversified structure of our economy has been improving over the years. The economy is mainly driven by the services and manufacturing sectors today. This (diversified structure) is not something that has occurred overnight. "Once we have that diversified structure of the economy and are committed to managing government funds, including reducing the fiscal deficit, we are going to make the economy more resilient,' he said. Abdul Wahid noted that Malaysia's economy grew by 5.1 per cent last year, and without current external pressures, it would have been on track to achieve a growth rate between 4.5 to 5.0 per cent in 2025. "However, given what's happening, we can expect a lower growth towards the bottom of 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent range. But a 4.0 per cent growth projected by consensus is still credible, given the challenges that we have globally today,' he added. - Bernama
Barnama
25-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Has Buffers To Weather Capital Outflows -- Abdul Wahid
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS By Karina Imran KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. bootstrap slideshow 'We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. 'That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges,' he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. 'When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. 'There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing,' he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks.
Arab News
08-06-2025
- Arab News
Novice UK sailors arrive in Jeddah after surviving epic Hajj voyage
MINA: A group of six pilgrims with no previous sailing experience who set off from London on a 59-day maritime adventure have praised Saudi authorities for the welcome they received after finally completing their Hajj voyage. The UK-based group, aged between 27 and 47, set sail on April 1 and arrived in Jeddah on May 27, just one week before the start of Hajj. Each member brought a unique set of skills, from IT professionals to community organizers, but none had formal maritime training. Together, they learned to navigate, maintain their vessel, and endure weeks at sea, often facing unpredictable weather and challenging conditions. The six pilgrims — Abdul Wahid, Tauseef Ahmed, Jody McIntyre, Dobbir Uddin, Taher Akhtar, and Ayaz Khan — made several stops across Europe and North Africa during their journey, sharing the highs and lows of life at sea with a growing community of followers on social media. Speaking to Arab News at Mina during Hajj, Wahid, the captain, said that the voyage had been a memorable and life-changing experience. His favorite moment came after setting off from the Gulf of Suez on the final leg of the journey. Seeing mountains in the distance — the first sign of Saudi Arabia after days of storms and rough seas — brought pure joy. In that moment, he knew they had made it. Reflecting on their arrival and experience of Hajj, Wahid praised the exceptional care and organization. He said the pilgrimage itself felt calm and manageable compared with the challenges of the sea voyage. Wahid said the Saudi authorities treated pilgrims like honored guests, with ambulances stationed throughout, volunteers offering water and ice packs, and a clear sense that everyone was committed to making the experience spiritual and memorable. 'They're (Saudi authorities) looking after them (pilgrims), and they're trying to make sure that there's nothing you need. You're walking down the street, the Boy Scout is there handing you an ice pack to put on your hot head... The policeman passes you a bottle of water... The fire station isn't just a fire station, they're standing outside spraying people down with water to cool them off,' he said. 'Every single person here is engaged in trying to make sure that Hajj is an enjoyable, spiritual, wonderful experience.' Another crew member, Ayaz Khan, said that the challenge of sailing to Hajj was 'about pushing himself beyond limits and embracing the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage.' Khan also spoke of the profound welcome awaiting them onshore, saying that the reception was beyond anything he imagined — a dream come true. His family had never been to Hajj before. When he told his mother he was sailing, she was worried, but he told her that this was bigger than him — it was the chance to complete a sacred journey. The adventure route led the group through the English Channel and on to Marseille before passing the Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Crete. They sailed through the Suez Canal and finally the Red Sea before arriving in Jeddah. The seafaring pilgrims spent almost two months off-grid and battling storms on the 1978 Westerly 33 ketch. Khan said that the maritime pilgrimage has reminded the crew members that the path to spiritual fulfillment often requires navigating uncharted waters — both literally and metaphorically. But with perseverance, humility, and trust, even the most turbulent seas can lead to sacred destinations.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rohingya man arrested in Tripura's Unakoti district: police
A Rohingya man was arrested at Kailashahar in Tripura's Unakoti district along with a man in whose house he was found, police said on Thursday. The Rohingya man has been identified as Noor Mustafa and the other arrested man as Abdul Wahid. 'We got secret information last night that a Myanmar national is hiding at Dhaliarkandi. A team of police conducted a raid at Wahid's house and arrested Noor Mustafa and the house owner. Some touts helped him. We are trying to trace them. We forwarded them to court today,' said a senior police officer. The police have found out that Mustafa and his family left Myanmar for Bangladesh in 2012. In 2019, he came to India and worked in Hyderabad. He was planning to go back to Bangladesh with the help of a tout. Arrests of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have been common in Tripura, more so since the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government's fall in Dhaka last year following an uprising. Vigil has since been tightened along the 856-km-long border with Bangladesh, parts of which are still unfenced owing to local disputes. As per the police, 816 Bangladeshis, 79 Rohingya persons, and two Nigerians were arrested from January 1, 2024, to February 28 this year. As many as 483 of these arrests were made after August 5, 2024, when the Hasina government fell.
