Latest news with #Irwan
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
Stone-throwing menace strikes again in Batu Kawa
Viral photo shows the damaged windscreen as a result of the stone-throwing incident. KUCHING (July 13): Another alarming case of stone-throwing has been reported in Batu Kawa, reigniting public concern over a recurring menace in the area. Padawan district police chief Supt Mohd Irwan Hafiz Md Radzi confirmed that the report regarding the incident was received last night. 'The incident is believed to have occurred at around 7.30pm during rainfall,' he told The Borneo Post when contacted today Irwan assured that police patrols continue to operate actively in the vicinity to deter such acts. Photos circulating on Facebook show a vehicle with a shattered windscreen, believed to be the result of the attack. It was also learnt that the driver sustained an arm injury during the incident.
Borneo Post
08-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Stone-throwing suspect remanded for four days, says Padawan OCPD
Police photos show the suspect (in red pants) apprehended by the police last night. KUCHING (July 8): A 68-year-old man believed to have been throwing rocks at vehicles along Jalan Batu Kawa has been remanded for four days to assist in an investigation under Section 427 of the Penal Code. Padawan district police chief Supt Mohd Irwan Hafiz Md Radzi confirmed the arrest in a statement issued this afternoon. 'The suspect was arrested on July 7 at about 7.15pm by the Padawan district police 'Task Force Lejang' team at the roadside along Jalan Batu Kawa. 'Some stones have also been confiscated,' he added. Reports of an unknown individual throwing rocks at passing vehicles have been ongoing since May this year. Reports of an unknown individual throwing rocks at passing vehicles have been ongoing since May this year. Irwan said police have received 10 reports regarding the incidents, and the case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief resulting in damage. In a statement earlier, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the suspect was arrested following a month-long police patrol along the road. He added that the suspect is currently in police custody and under observation for his mental state. crime damaging vehicle lead police remand order throwing rocks
New Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Push ahead with BRICS, economists say, despite Trump's threat
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on the right track by embracing multilateralism and strengthening ties with rising economic powers like BRICS, as global trade tensions and geopolitical shifts continue to unfold, economists said. They said Malaysia should deepen its engagement with the Global South and move quickly towards full BRICS membership, despite warnings from the United States of possible penalties for backing the bloc. "Malaysia, for now, is doing the right thing, that is, to focus on multilateralism," said Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Associate Professor Dr Irwan Shah Zainal Abidin. "With the US, Malaysia should continue engaging with them through mutual respect and inclusivity without compromising our own interest," he told Business Times. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that any country supporting the "anti-American policies" of the BRICS alliance will face an additional 10 per cent tariff. In a post on Truth Social, a platform owned by Trump Media and Technology Group, the former president said the policy would apply "without exception". Irwan said Malaysia will likely be hit with the additional 10 per cent tariff, with the impact of the reciprocal tariffs remaining uncertain. "Already, our exports fell 1.1 per cent on a yearly basis in May this year. An additional 10 per cent on top of the reciprocal tariffs will not be good for the development of the Malaysian economy. "It might impact Malaysia's gross domestic product growth forecast this year, and I think a reduction of 25 basis points for the overnight policy rate in the near future is warranted," he added. Irwan said that while global supply chains may face disruptions, no party has a genuine interest in dismantling them entirely. "For Malaysia, it is actually a blessing in disguise, if we know how to manoeuvre it well. Malaysia must play its role as a middle power, not taking sides and stay neutral," he said. Associate Professor Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School said a 10 per cent tariff by a potential Trump administration would impact Malaysia's exports. He said semiconductors, which make up about 60 per cent of Malaysia's exports to the US, would be the most affected. "Other exports like gloves, furniture and machinery will be more expensive in the US. However, whether Malaysia's products will be less competitive than other countries will only be known when other countries also completed their trade negotiations with the US. "The customers in the US eventually will have to pay more unless they find alternative sources of production," he said. Aimi said that as a trading nation, Malaysia must remain highly adaptable and strike a careful balance between its political and economic interests on the global stage. "Malaysia also needs to collaborate in a group like Asean in order to continue to be significant in multi lateral trades with all nations," he said. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the Malaysian government has carried out due diligence and scenario planning. Afzanizam said since the Trump tariff is beyond its control, the government must take a pragmatic approach in addressing the issue. "In essence, the government is still practicing non-partisan but at the same time, they are also exploring other opportunities. They need to be tactful as it is quite a fine line in respect to foreign and trade policy," he added. On whether the tariff regime would impact investor confidence, Afzanizam said foreign investors evaluate countries based on various factors. He said ultimately, they invest where they believe their capital will generate returns that exceed their initial investment. "My take is that the Malaysian government would just need to be clear on their narratives and execute them accordingly. "We have various policy documents such as Ekonomi Madani framework, New Industrial Master Plan 2030, National Energy Transition Roadmap, National Semiconductor Strategy and soon, the 13th Malaysian Plans to be tabled at the end of July," he added. Malaysia's engagement with BRICS Malaysia's involvement with BRICS, the economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has gradually evolved from informal alignment to formal participation. In June 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed Malaysia's interest in joining BRICS during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This move marked a shift in Malaysia's foreign policy posture, positioning the country more actively within the Global South. Anwar later reinforced this intent during a working visit to Russia in September, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and discussed Malaysia's aspirations to strengthen cooperation through BRICS. Malaysia's momentum was acknowledged at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. In January 2025, the country was welcomed as one of 13 new "partner countries," a designation that allows for greater engagement in trade, investment, and policy dialogues within the bloc, though without full membership status. In April 2025, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan represented Malaysia at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. There, he called for stronger Asean–BRICS linkages and emphasised Malaysia's position as a regional bridge advocating for sustainable growth, resilient supply chains, and inclusive multilateralism. Currently, Anwar is attending the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6-7, 2025, as part of his working visit to Brazil. His presence underscores Malaysia's increasing involvement in BRICS, particularly as it seeks to advance Global South interests while maintaining pragmatic ties with traditional economic partners.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
EU's 'standard risk' label on Malaysian palm oil clouds upcoming FTA talks
KUALA LUMPUR: The European Union's (EU) 'standard risk' label on Malaysian palm oil has thrown a wrench into next month's free trade agreement (FTA) talks, economists said. The classification, they said, sends a provocative signal at a time when both sides are hoping to reboot stalled discussions after more than a decade. Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd director Dr Geoffrey Williams said it also reflects the EU's intent to use non-tariff barriers as its main negotiating tool, echoing past failed strategies. "This is a disappointing start to the FTA talks and signals that the EU intends to leverage non-tariff trade barriers based on their own unverified and disputed sustainability criteria as their main negotiation tool. "It is exactly the same bullying tactic used by the United States (US), but through non-tariff barriers rather than tariffs," he told Business Times. Over A Decade Of Pause Malaysia and the EU are set to resume FTA negotiations next month, nearly 13 years after talks stalled over disagreements on procurement access and sustainability requirements. Universiti Utara Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Irwan Shah Zainal Abidin said the 'standard risk' classification could negatively impact the tone of the upcoming talks, especially since palm oil remains one of Malaysia's key export commodities to the EU. "This classification, rather than a 'low risk' label, will certainly have negative implications for the renewed FTA discussions, particularly for Malaysia," he said, adding that palm oil will be a central point of contention. Formal negotiations between Malaysia and the EU were first initiated in 2010 but were suspended in 2012 after little progress was made on key issues. Williams said the current posture from the EU suggests little has changed since the talks first began. The negotiations, he said, were hindered by two key demands from the EU namely access to federal government procurement and entry into Malaysia's automotive sector. To advance these goals, Williams said the EU employed non-tariff sustainability restrictions on palm oil and imposed stringent technological standards on electrical and electronic products as bargaining tools. "They failed to reach an agreement then and it looks like they intend to pick up where they left off. So the EU-Malaysia FTA risks becoming a repeat of history, ending in either overly extended negotiations or complete failure again," he added. Irwan said the EU's risk assessment may be based on outdated data or misconceptions, rather than the current realities on the ground. He argued that the 'standard risk' label is deeply flawed and should be contested, suggesting it likely stems from inadequate engagement or entrenched bias against palm oil. "The reality is that deforestation linked to palm oil is no longer the case in Malaysia," he added. Irwan also pointed to the implementation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which has been mandatory since 2020, as a key policy shift that the EU appears to have overlooked. "There is a need for the EU to consider country-specific contexts. Not all palm oil production leads to deforestation, certainly not in Malaysia," he added. In contrast to the EU's rigid and outdated frameworks, Williams said Malaysia has demonstrated greater agility in forging trade deals. He pointed to Malaysia's swift conclusion of an FTA with the United Kingdom and a tariff arrangement with the US within weeks. This, he added, highlighted the stark difference in negotiating pace compared to the EU, whose "efforts remain bogged down". Sharp Criticism The EU's recent move to assign Malaysia a 'standard risk' designation under its EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) has also drawn sharp criticism from the Malaysian Palm Oil Council. It argued that the label unfairly undermines Malaysia's national sustainability standards, particularly the MSPO scheme. Williams echoed this concern, calling the designation a unilateral and protectionist tool. "It is simply a way of making life difficult for Malaysian palm oil producers by saying the MSPO standards are too weak and pose a sustainability risk. "It is a unilateral negative product label rather than an actual ban," he said. Under the EUDR, countries and commodities are classified into three categories namely low risk, standard risk and high risk. The classifications determine the level of scrutiny and due diligence required for goods such as palm oil, soy and timber entering the EU market. A 'low risk' status means simplified checks, while 'high risk' implies stringent controls. 'Standard risk', which Malaysia has been assigned, subjects exporters to the full due diligence requirements under the regulation. "A 'low risk' designation would reassure EU buyers that Malaysian palm oil was generally safe from compliance breaches that could halt production or sales," Williams said. "But with the 'standard risk' tag, it damages brand perception, consumer confidence and puts pressure on Malaysia to engage EU consultants to fix so-called operational gaps." Efficient Sector, One Of The Best According to Irwan, Malaysia's palm oil sector is among the most efficient globally and contributes positively to climate goals. This efficiency is reflected in palm oil's significantly higher yields compared to other oil crops such as sunflower and soy, along with its role as a carbon sequester. Labelling Malaysia as 'standard risk' without accounting for these advantages, he argued, overlooks the broader environmental context. Given this, he stressed that any credible risk classification must be based on a holistic evaluation of a country's overall climate impact. "Any country that has achieved zero conversion of natural forest should not be classified as 'standard risk'. "There is still time for Malaysia to engage with the EU and highlight the real progress being made, especially by smallholders working to reduce forest loss and degradation," he added. Malaysia exported about 1.07 million tonnes of palm oil to the EU in 2023, representing about 7.1 per cent of its total palm oil exports. The export value of crude palm oil alone amounted to roughly US$446 million, with a volume of 392,811 tonnes, making the EU one of Malaysia's key markets. Despite this, trade volumes have shown signs of strain. Between July 2022 and March 2023, Malaysia's palm oil exports to the EU fell by around 30 per cent, totalling 426,000 tonnes over the period. The decline has been attributed in part to regulatory uncertainty and shifting EU sustainability requirements.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Kelantan prep for massive revamp ahead of new season
KOTA BARU: Kelantan will undergo a major overhaul to be a more competitive squad in the Malaysian League, especially the Super League for the 2025-2026 season. Their chief executive officer, Datuk Mohd Irwan Rizal Ali Napiah said that his current focus, together with the leadership team, is to ensure that outstanding salary arrears owed to players from last season can be resolved quickly. 'We will bring in quality players and coaching staff to ensure Kelantan can compete with other teams in next season's league campaign,' said Irwan. 'The most important thing right now is that we do not want to face the same (debt) issues this season. 'We want to begin the new league season debt-free.' Irwan said although the club would carry out changes in players and coaches this season, spending will be done prudently according to financial capacity. Previously, Kelantan president Rozi Muhamad admitted there were still outstanding arrears owed to players for the 2024-2025 season, but stressed that efforts had been actively made to settle them soon. Irwan said the club management were also working to ensure all requirements set by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for this season's club licensing would be fulfilled. 'A few remaining documents are being finalised, and we are committed to meeting every requirement before the final decision is announced by the MFL. 'I am confident Kelantan will continue to compete in the M-League,' he added. — Bernama
