Latest news with #SuraidahRoslan
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia Can Rally ASEAN, Global Support For Palestine
By Suraidah Roslan KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, recognised for its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and constructive role as ASEAN chair, is in an influential position to rally regional and global backing for Palestine, said Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali. 'No one can question Malaysia's support for Palestine,' he said when appearing on BernamaTV's programme 'ASEAN's Role in the Palestinian Cause' here on Tuesday. bootstrap slideshow Walid said Malaysia, through its leadership in ASEAN and active engagement in platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), is well-positioned to encourage broader international solidarity and mobilise stronger regional and global support for Palestine. He said Malaysia can play a strong role at the regional level by leveraging its international relations to garner greater support and assistance for Palestine and the Palestinians. Walid said that ASEAN can also play a role in supporting Palestine through its influence and economic interests in the Middle East. He said ASEAN's decision to hold a summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries indicated that the regional grouping could contribute meaningfully towards achieving a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East. 'And that will encourage ASEAN countries to invest more in the Middle East, in Palestine,' he said. 'They can benefit from the capabilities of Palestinians,' Walid said, adding that despite living under occupation, Palestinians are among the most highly educated communities in the Middle East and the Arab world.
Barnama
19-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Well-positioned To Develop Islamic Finance Market Space
BUSINESS By Suraidah Roslan KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is well-positioned to develop the Islamic finance market space and be a hub for liquidity pooling, supported by growing demand in Islamic secure funding, said Affin Bank executive director of group treasury Hanif Ghulam. He said the Islamic secure funding, specifically the Malaysian Government Investment Issue (MGII) programme, has reached RM42 billion in 2024. 'The Islamic financial market has developed over the last few years, especially with the central bank's initiatives to ensure market stability. We have built the depth of liquidity in the Malaysian Islamic financial space. 'So, we are well-positioned not only to respond to potential downside scenarios but also to seize opportunities in the market. We also have a large and wide array of products to cater for any risk in currencies and also commodities,' he told Bernama at the sidelines of the Sasana Symposium 2025 yesterday. Hanif also highlighted Malaysia's potential in attracting investments through sustainable and environmental, social and governance-related projects such as solar and hydroelectric. To attract more foreign inflows into the Islamic capital market, he stressed the importance of standardising documentation and improving the legal framework, as well as easing entry and exit for investors in line with investment opportunity profile requirements. 'If we can just get our infrastructure well-planned, well-developed in terms of documentation and access, we can grow this market by twofold or threefold,' said Hanif, who is also the chairman of the Islamic Financial Market Subcommittee (IFMC). -- BERNAMA
Barnama
06-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Embracing AI: The New Imperative For Modern Journalism
GENERAL By Suraidah Roslan KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence (AI), journalists must quickly adapt and embrace the technology, not only to remain relevant but to redefine efficiency and excellence in their work. In conjunction with National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) journalist Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah, 34, shared her experience participating in the 2024 China International Media Exchange Programme, organised by the China International Press Communication Centre in Beijing. Marfika, a journalist with Bernama's Lifestyle Desk, said that during her four-month stint in China, she saw how deeply AI was woven into daily life and how it proved useful to her as well. 'AI became a part of my daily routine in China, not just as a work tool, but as a personal assistant that just made life easier,' she said. Among the AI applications she found indispensable were Baidu Translate and WeChat Translate, which let her instantly convert Chinese documents into Malay or English using just her phone. She acknowledged that she relied heavily on ChatGPT throughout her four-month assignment, using it to craft interview questions, write photo captions and translate Chinese texts into Malay or English. Reflecting on the challenges she faced in China, Marfika said the language barrier was the most difficult, as most locals had limited proficiency in English.
Barnama
21-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Only 10 Pct Of Former Teachers Have Retrieved Unclaimed KWSG Contributions
GENERAL By Suraidah Roslan KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Only 10 percent of former teachers who contributed to the Teachers Provident Fund (KWSG) between 1962 and 1972 have come forward to retrieve their unclaimed money from the Accountant General's Department as of April 2025. Tun Hussein Onn Teachers' Foundation (YGTHO) chief executive officer, Zahiruddin Mohammad Hanif, said this figure represents 185 former teachers or their heirs who have made claims. As a result, the unclaimed funds under the Unified Teachers Service (UTS) scheme have decreased to RM11.7 million from RM13.58 million in 2018, he said. 'Since the announcement in 2018, not many heirs have come forward. Out of 1,910 contributors, 1,725 have yet to make a claim. So far, fewer than 200 individuals have come forward, which is only about 10 percent. 'The contributors were UTS teachers who served between 1962 and 1972. They are not recipients of government pensions,' he told Bernama. He dismissed recent claims circulating online that the unclaimed KWSG contributions of former UTS teachers have reached RM135 million. Zahiruddin explained that contributions categorised as unclaimed funds remain with the Accountant General's Department, and may still be retrieved at any time. Commenting on the delay in claims, he said many families were unaware their relatives had contributed to the KWSG and outdated contact information makes it difficult for the foundation to reach them.
