Author Archives: wcw

Pushing the ESG agenda


ESG environmental social governance policy for modish business to set a standard to achieve high ESG score

LET’S be honest with the conversations that are taking place in many boardrooms of Malaysian corporations. Not all but many in private grumblings.

Many of us obediently sit through the discussions of the sustainability committee because of compliance.

Some of us even whine critically why consultants are being paid exorbitantly for their reports on this subject.

Among us, there are sceptical remarks that environmental, social and governance (ESG) is a Western import.

They point out that even US President Donald Trump has openly opposed ESG and has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, which means that the United States and its companies are no longer formally committed to limiting global warming, and face fewer regulations related to emissions and environmental standards.

Some Malaysian company owners do not see revenue and profits in the reports of the sustainability committee.

But the transformation is already under way. More and more, directors are convinced that ESG is not just a checklist driven by regulatory compliance.

Younger directors understand that for Malaysia to compete globally, thrive economically, and ensure sustainability, our businesses must believe in and champion ESG.

It is not because the law demands it, but because it is the right thing to do – ethically, economically and strategically.

ESG is not a cost centre or a burden but in reality a driver of long-term value creation.

Consumer preferences have changed dramatically. It is not just international investors who insist on backing companies with strong ESG practices but also Malaysians.

According to a report, a study revealed that eight in 10 Malaysian consumers are aware of the environmental impact of consumption on society and plan to take steps to minimise their impact.

The study was carried out by Visa, a global leader in digital payments, from its consumer payment attitudes (CPA) study in Malaysia.

There is increasing awareness of climate change, social justice issues and corporate ethics.

Increasingly, investors are asking ESG factors when making investment decisions and rightly so.

Ranstan.com.my said environmentally sustainability matters to employees more than ever before, and ESG is a key area where they are looking for alignment with their employers.

“This is especially true for younger generations, who are looking particularly interested in working for companies that are committed to sustainable business practices and social responsibility,” it said in a 2023 study.

Unlike previous generations who often compartmentalised personal values and professional obligations, Gen Z workers increasingly demand that their careers align with their convictions about environmental sustainability, social justice and corporate responsibility.

This cohort, born between 1997 and 2012, has grown up witnessing climate change, social inequality and corporate scandals unfold in real-time through digital media.

As a result, they approach job searching with a critical eye toward companies’ ESG practices. For many Gen Z professionals, a firm’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, promoting diversity and inclusion, and maintaining ethical business practices serves as a non-negotiable criterion when evaluating potential employers.

Research consistently shows that Gen Z workers are willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for meaningful work at organisations that demonstrate genuine commitment to positive social and environmental impact.

Deloitte’s research reveals that over 40% of Gen Z and Millennials have changed jobs or sectors due to climate concerns, or plan to do so, while the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) finds that Gen Z and Millennials (44%) are more likely than Baby Boomers (30%) to say they would look for a new role if their employer did not allow staff to work remotely – demonstrating their willingness to prioritise workplace values over traditional employment stability.

They scrutinise corporate sustainability reports, diversity statistics and executive compensation ratios with the same intensity previous generations reserved for benefit packages and advancement opportunities.

Companies have taken notice of this values-driven approach to employment. Many organisations now prominently feature their ESG initiatives in recruitment materials, highlighting everything from renewable energy commitments to community volunteer programmes.

However, Gen Z’s digital nativity makes them particularly adept at identifying “purpose-washing” – superficial attempts to appear socially conscious without substantive action.

CMI says this generational shift towards purpose-driven employment is reshaping corporate culture across industries.

As Gen Z workers increasingly occupy decision-making roles, their emphasis on ESG values is likely to accelerate the business world’s transition towards more sustainable and socially responsible practices, creating a feedback loop where purposeful work becomes both a competitive advantage and a business imperative.

A CMI poll of managers in February 2025 found over four in five managers in the United Kingdom (85%) agreed that they think all managers will be required to have an understanding of net zero and sustainability.

The CMI is a UK-based prestigious professional body for management and leadership. Eight in 10 managers (80%) agree that they will benefit from having training on net zero and sustainability.

However, it is worth noting that junior managers – those earlier in their careers – are significantly more likely than senior managers, directors and owners to strongly agree that they will benefit from having training on sustainability.

The sentiments in Malaysia will not be much different from their peers in the UK.

ESG should not just be a public relations exercise or a compliance of requirements to please Bursa Malaysia.

It has to be a genuine commitment to build trust with stakeholders, investors, regulators and most importantly, the Malaysian public.

A company that self-regulates and champions sustainability is seen not just as compliant, but credible.

Climate change is no longer an abstract matter. As travellers, we have felt that how the weather has become so unpredictable and the way we pack our clothes is testimony to that.

Floods have hit Malaysia in non-monsoon periods and often, the humidity has been unbearable.

Malaysia has already experienced worsening floods, shifting agricultural patterns and rising energy costs.

To put it simply, businesses that embed climate resilience, resource efficiency and social responsibility into their core operations are better prepared for disruption – whether from nature, regulation or market shifts.

Certainly, there are also the financial impacts on ESG standards. Global financial institutions integrate ESG into lending criteria.

The cost of borrowing will be more expensive for Malaysian firms that fail to adapt, or worse, find themselves excluded entirely from lucrative funding opportunities.

But leadership matters. There have to be champions in the top hierarchy to push for the ESG agenda to believe that it is a core value, an embedded culture, a moral responsibility and opportunity. It has to be translated into corporate action and governance.

Meaningful ‘pain’ that must be borne


Funding the nation: Money is needed for public services, education, and healthcare reforms, while new challenges such as artificial intelligence technology and digitalisation also demand the disbursement of funds. — 123rf

TAXATION in any form and name is never popular, and the expansion of the sales and service tax (SST) is no exception. It is unpopular, full stop.

Nobody likes taxes but there is no such thing as looking for a better time in the future to impose the taxes for the government to increase revenue.

Putrajaya knows well that this decision won’t make the Prime Minister and his government popular. But it has to be done.

Even if the Madani government were not in power, another government would still have needed to carry out this exercise, maybe under another name.

The government is already two months behind its self-imposed May 1 target but the SST will finally take off on July 1.

What needs to be done is to have as many communication engagements as possible with the media, as well as social media influencers, business and professional groups, non-governmental organisation leaders, and other stakeholders.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan remains the best person to explain the issue but it is not the job of one person to do all the explaining.

Some questions are easier to answer while some are more complicated, but clarifications and some convincing are needed for a national buy-in.

The T20 (top 20% of income earners) has questions and priorities that are different from the M40 (middle income) and B40 (low income) groups. Business-men who read financial newspapers will scrutinise interviews with Amir as well as a host of analysts giving different perspectives.

The loudest grumble but certainly a reasonable concern is the inclusion of commercial rental and leasing under the SST, alongside selected goods and services.

The additional cost burden, at a time when many businesses are already struggling with rising operational expenses – including minimum wage adjustments and heightened regulatory compliances – will surely put pressure on margins.

This segment is justified in worrying about increasing operational costs while staring at weak business prospects and the continuing storms of the global trade wars.

The M40, which comprises mostly wage earners, are worried that they might have to pay more for their meals and rentals while members of the B40 group are left struggling and probably have no time at all to read the narratives about the SST.

Let’s not kid ourselves that all will be hunky-dory and that our lives will still be the same. Our pockets will be hit.

We read news reports that an additional revenue of RM5bil is expected in the second half of 2025 from the expanded SST to bolster the Federal Government’s revenue estimate to RM51.7bil, or 2.5% of GDP, from RM46.7bil, or 2.2% of GDP.

The revenue boost is reportedly RM10bil, or 2.5%, per annum but it is still short of about RM7bil to RM12bil of the 3% of GDP that could have come from the goods and services tax (GST).

But of course, no politician is going to touch another round of GST, even though the net spread is wider. The backlash from the word itself would be tremendously negative.

So, in simple language, the targeted collection of revenue from the broadened SST would still be insufficient.

What is needed from the narratives isn’t how much can be collected, but what the extra money from the SST would be used for.

Amir said in an interview: “The role of the government is to be judicious in how it spends and to be smart about how it actually tries to manage the reform.

“But we can see this reform, this transformation, is materially making a difference for Malaysia,’’ he said.

Taxpayers want to know where the money will go. They know development has a cost but it is always good to share with the rakyat again and again.

Money is needed for public services, education, and healthcare reforms while new challenges such as artificial intelligence technology and digitalisation also demand the disbursement of funds, and more funds.

Malaysians also need to wake up to the fact that PETRONAS is no longer the golden goose. We can no longer depend on dividends from PETRONAS as its contributions have dropped. It even had to downsize its own staff to ensure a tighter ship.

Even the rich oil-producing Arab nations started looking for other sources of revenue a long time ago.

Who would have thought that the day would come that conservative Saudi Arabia opens its doors to non-Muslim tourists?

I took a trip to various parts of the country, except Mecca, in 2023 and saw with my own eyes how it is aggressively promoting tourism.

One day, I was sitting at a bar in Al Ula that was blasting loud rave party music and the next, I was standing outside the holy Prophet’s Mosque, the Al Masjid an Nabawi, in Medina, which was previously forbidden to non-Muslims.

Malaysians need to be told that we cannot continue spending more money than the revenue we collect year after year.

That’s what we have been doing for a long time, with our debt-funded excess spending for the last 28 years of budget deficits. The SST collection just isn’t enough to service that debt.

This is a country that has relied on subsidies for almost everything – our petrol, for one, remains the cheapest in the region – but subsidies need to be cut, although this is another move that will never be popular.

The government has to do the necessary surgical cuts now instead of passing the burden to the next generation.

It has over two years before the next general election and can still do what is correct and not what is popular.

That window will close as soon as the election looms.

In fact, the campaigning has already started.

SST collection is not an interesting subject and the focus has been reduced to a debate on why imported fruits should be taxed.

Malaysia is not the only country that has imposed such a tariff in varying ways on imported fruits. For us, they included imported bananas, pineapples, apples, pears and grapes, for example.

Just Google and check. In the United States, a Congress reports states that about 60% of fruits and vegetables gets a tariff of less than 5%. In China, it is said that the tariff ranges from 25% to 40% depending on the fruit types, with tropical fruits getting the hit mostly.

The other countries included Egypt, Japan, South Korea and the European Union nations. It is a flawed argument that our local fruits are mostly seasonal. Our choices are plenty including bananas, guavas, papayas, watermelon, jackfruit and dragon fruits.

But there are good reasons to listen to calls that apples and oranges should be exempt as they are hardly luxury items. It is commendable that the government is prepared to relook these items as they should not be regarded as luxury goods.

World Bank Malaysia lead economist Apurva Sanghi tweeted: “Imported food price inflation is a concern but it may be overblown – only RM16bil of RM79bil imports affected.’’

The SST needs plenty of improvements, and many of the criticisms are justified, but more importantly, the conversations must continue and be encouraged if we are to make Malaysia a better place.

Apurva said: “Tax hikes are painful but people can bear them – if they are meaningful. This means faster progress, especially on governance reforms, and that would increase trust.

“Malaysia needs to spend more; not less. But there are areas where spending can be cut, waste arrested; and foregone revenues clawed back.’’

He cited that both revenue and spending have dropped – 30% lower since 2012 levels, which is well below global peers.

That is not to say we cannot criticise the government. If we are critical of Malaysia, it is because we love our country, and taxpayers should be regarded as customers by the Inland Revenue Board. And we should also adopt the attitude that it is a virtue to pay taxes.

What Malaysians cannot tolerate are horrendous leakages and the stealing of public money by politicians and people that we put our trust in.

Every year the Auditor-General uncovers and makes public losses in funds, irregular payments, and wastage across various ministries.

As Apurva says, the Government Procurement Act has been delayed. Faster progress on such reforms that build trust with the rakyat can make it easier to swallow bitter tax hikes.

He aptly quoted award-winning Japanese writer Haruki Murakami: “I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.”

Bring these perverts to book


Disturbing discovery: The Budak2 Sekolah Rendah group on Facebook, which features photos of schoolchildren, is said to have over 12,000 followers. — 123rf

IT’S a wake-up call for all of us. Not just parents, teachers and students but every one of us – we need to be vigilant to confront online sex predators, including paedophiles.

The recent expose by social media influencer Wee Yun Nee of a Facebook group that uses photographs of schoolchildren is most commendable.

Wee, also known as Mekyun, has taken the trouble to lodge police reports beyond just highlighting the issue after she found her pictures, from when she was younger, being used.

The group, called Budak2 Sekolah Rendah (Primary School Children), is said to have over 12,000 followers, and that is very disturbing.

We do not know how many of these followers are actually unknowing school kids or adults but the group sure attracted the attention of mental sickos with paedophilic tendencies.

It is said to have started as an undercover “community” disguised as a nostalgic forum for sharing memories of school life.

Eventually, it grew into something far more insidious as a gathering place for adults using coded language and imagery to indulge in paedophilic behaviour.

Rightly, it has been shut down by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Mekyun shared some of the lewd comments brazenly posted on Facebook and it was clear that there are predators out there who get sexually aroused just by ogling children, mostly in tudung and baju kurung school uniforms.


Wee, also known as Mekyun, has taken the trouble to lodge police reports beyond just highlighting the issue after she found her pictures, from when she was younger, being used.

These perverts openly expressed their sexual desires; about what they wished to do with these children and fetishising school uniforms. They were also said to be using coded language that’s common among paedophile networks.

It was clear that these degenerates treated the Facebook page as a digital playground to exploit children and sexualise the school environment. The pictures of the unknowing children were posted on the account by these degenerates.

Closing down the page is not enough. Every effort must be made by MCMC and the police to trace and hunt down the account holders who have posted nauseating comments. Some of these accounts have profile pictures, real or otherwise.

They should be publicly shamed for their actions, even if they are the average father and uncle. We must adopt zero tolerance for this.

Sinar Harian quoted a Twitter user as saying that these culprits should be reported to their wives with screenshot evidence of their husbands’ – or grandfathers’ – comments. They must be held accountable.

Mekyun showed screenshots of these indecent comments to prove the shocking behaviour of these deviants.

In Malaysia, such offences may fall under Sections 292 and 292A of the Penal Code, relating to the dissemination of obscene material and the sexual exploitation of children. Offenders could face lengthy prison sentences and mandatory registration as sex offenders.

In a country still grappling with rising online threats to children, the exposure of Budak2 Sekolah Rendah serves as a chilling reminder of the need for vigilance, policy reform, and zero tolerance toward those who exploit the most vulnerable members of society.

The fight against these online predators is an ongoing one. In fact, last year, the MCMC and police launched “Op Pedo” to track down individuals who possess, store, and distribute pornographic and child abuse materials (CSAM).

Raids were conducted across six states and territories, namely Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Terengganu, Penang, and Perak. The ages of those arrested ranged from 20 to 74 with some suspects admitting to finding and buying explicit content via social media and messaging platforms such as X and Telegram.

The New Straits Times quoted Bukit Aman’s D11 principal assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan as saying that “access to such pornography has made predators even more brazen, with some going to the extent of attempting to abduct children.”

According to the 2022 “ICT Use and Access by Individuals and Households Survey Report” released by the Statistics Depart-ment in May 2023, “Households with Internet access increased to 96% in 2022 compared with 94.9% in 2021”.

And, as reported by the Focus news portal, in 2018, the number of IP addresses linked to sex crimes spiked up to 2,660 and it kept increasing dramatically afterwards – escalating to 48,752 IP addresses in 2021.

“In total, there were 93,368 IP addresses detected engaging in cyberpaedophilia activities until the first quarter of 2022,’’ it said.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil had reprimanded Meta (which owns Facebook) for its continued failure to curb paedophilia and sexual grooming on Facebook, saying this was one example why the social media licence was needed – to curb crimes, including sexual crimes against children.

It is not an infringement of the media’s freedom or of the right to privacy as some naively believe.

Meta has made plenty of promises to have strong moderation and strict policies to protect minors but these haven’t been effective.

It is probably even harder to track down the offenders in non-English speaking countries; in Malaysia, Bahasa Malaysia is widely used on social media platforms. It is not just a moderation failure but a systemic failure.

Fighting these shady manipulative characters is not just the work of the enforcement agencies, it is a public responsibility.

All of us need to speak up against such behaviour.

The clampdown on Budak2 Sekolah Rendah should not be an isolated case. We must never allow similar groups to crop up again.

When integrity and trust fail


Businessmen with titles who siphon money meant for projects into their own pockets have to be brought to justice. These loans are meant to support projects, not for their personal expenditures and indulgences. —123rf

IT is common knowledge that most of our top business tycoons have, at some point in their careers, made flawed decisions that led to losses.

None of these big names have had easy paths to where they are. They have often put their company’s money, or their own, into ventures that failed to return any profits or worse, even failed to take off.

Not every deal is a successful one although we would like to think that these business personalities have all the answers.

We like to see them as symbols of success, with brilliant minds and the Midas touch; as people incapable of making blunders. However, risk-taking and failure are simply intrinsic parts of any business.

But a faulty business decision is not the same as failed integrity or abuse of trust for personal gain. In fact, they are the opposite.

Siphoning off multimillion bank loans meant for a company project to finance a lifestyle of luxury and indulgence is certainly unacceptable. This could include acquisition of opulent homes overseas and expensive liquor, among others.

Worse, while most of the money from the loans is spent, the project remains stalled, and a white knight has to be sought to clean up the mess.

For sure, the poor contractors would not have been paid and, in turn, the workers.

Malaysians are by now getting used to reading about some businessmen with Tan Sri titles being arrested, remanded, and investigated for various alleged crimes including money laundering.

Luxury cars, expensive watches, and jewellery are usually seized while bank accounts, both personal and their company’s, are frozen by the enforcement agencies.

It would not be wrong to suggest that we have even lost interest in cases involving a criminal Datuk or Datuk Seri – they’re just so prevalent nowadays. There is only excitement when a Tan Sri is implicated.

These arrests make big news, and the identities of these personalities are often speculated about quite accurately. After all, Malaysia is a small country and it is hard to keep these things a secret, but Malaysians also want to see these errant figures being formally charged in the courts.

Many high-profile cases seem to have quietly faded away after a while, leaving many of us wondering why. Is it because there are insufficient grounds to charge them or are there other reasons that the public can only speculate about, rightly or wrongly?

It doesn’t help the authorities if these cases turn cold, whether they involve the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

More importantly, the recent cases of abuses of financial resources raises ethical, economic, and legal concerns.

Bank loans provide businesses with capital to grow, innovate, and sustain operations – not to fulfil personal delights.

Our institutions extend these loans based on trust, business plans, and the borrower’s plans, projections, and credibility.

It is fraud when loans are redirected towards something else under the pretext of developing the business project. Those who do so are not mere failed businessmen, they are criminals who have failed to uphold integrity and credibility.

They have betrayed the institutions, including banks, that provided the support.

But there is also another serious question: What has happened to the auditors, internal and external, and bank officials, who are supposed to keep track of such projects, and how the money has been used?

These abuses, at so many levels, are disturbing and chilling, as they are a clear reflection of deep ethical rot. They also mean weaknesses in monitoring mechanisms.

There are legal, enforcement, and regulatory areas that need improvement.

When professional bodies and experts are implicated, it takes on another dimension because they are seen to have willingly engaged in deceit and fraud. It no longer involves one dishonest individual but a trail of bad actors leveraging on connections and falsifying documentation while hiding away facts and figures.

When accountability flies out of the windows of accounting firms, then we have hit rock bottom.

If there is a lesson to be learnt here, it’s that we should not be so quick to award titles and honours, and highlight superficial successes.

They may have a Tan Sri to their names but they are failures if they have no ethics. These crooks don’t deserve any badge of honour, and any they wear should be taken away.

A shot in the arm for PKR with Tengku Zafrul

THERE isn’t going to be any by-election called to make way for Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz to contest in Selangor.

There is no compelling reason for anyone to make way immediately for the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, who has announced his decision to quit Umno and plans to join PKR.

His term as a Senator will only expire at the end of the year, which means he still has about six months to go as minister.

At this point, all talk that he is eyeing a Selangor state seat is mere speculation by the media. Why not a safe parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur where the options are wider and better?

Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari has already said he is remaining as the Mentri Besar. It is also no secret that the Selangor palace expects the Mentri Besar to complete his full term as chief executive of the state.

Whether the newly-elected PKR vice-president will decide to focus instead on a parliamentary seat in the next general election, expected to be held within two years, is another matter.

But as of now, there is no likelihood of any change in Selangor.

There has been much debate over Tengku Zafrul’s next political plan. Umno is understandably upset that the party would lose a Federal Cabinet post and there have been accusations that he is not a loyal member of the party.

Amidst all the noise, the harsh reality is that Selangor Umno is in the doldrums. It hasn’t recovered from its beating in the last general election and seems to be heading nowhere. Umno contested in 22 seats in the 2022 General Election, and lost all.

Tengku Zafrul himself lost to Amanah’s Datuk Seri Dr Zulkefly Ahmad in the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.

The political prospects for Selangor Umno haven’t improved and despite the hue and cry over Tengku Zafrul’s resignation, no one has a clue as to how Selangor Umno can recover its lost seats.

While there have also been brickbats over whether a newbie deserves a ticket to contest for PKR, no one has disputed Tengku Zafrul’s capability.

Let’s face it, all parties have fielded young and new faces in every election. It has never been about the length of a candidate’s membership in the party.

As Malaysia navigates a critical juncture in its economic and political journey, the role of capable, forward-looking leaders has never been more crucial.

Tengku Zafrul entered politics as a technocrat but his alignment with the unity government has led to intense private conversations about his potential future within PKR.

Without a doubt, the Prime Minister is comfortable with his role as MITI Minister. This is especially so when Malaysia needs to negotiate with the unpredictable Trump administration and its retaliatory tariffs.

Like him or loath him, no one would dare say he has not done his job well as a Minister.

Should he proceed to join PKR – and if his application is approved – it will certainly strengthen Malaysia’s reformist agenda as well as multi-racial politics.

Urbane, professional and approachable, he has global networking. At a personal level, he enjoys a wide circle of multi-racial contacts, friends and supporters.

More importantly, he brings a rare and valuable experience from both the public and private sectors.

He is a natural bridge between the government and private sectors, and we do need politicians who understand investments, digital transformation, green energy, the semi-conductor industry and industrial transformation.

Unlike some Malay politicians who thrive on race and religion, Tengku Zafrul has stayed above such communal agenda. Instead, he maintains a moderate voice and prefers to focus on results and policies.

Malaysians are sick and tired of chest thumping politicians who polarise the nation with the narrative of race and religion.

A stable and progressive government with plans for long-term reforms, and a performance-driven leadership, is needed more than ever.

Tengku Zafrul’s entry into PKR will add depth to the party’s economic branch and reinforce the image that the party places importance on competence.

A chance for renewal in government

THE resignations this week of two Cabinet members, as expected, became front-page news items and sparked speculation across Malaysia’s political and media circles.

After all, it’s not everyday that two ministers would announce their decisions to quit at one go, even though it came as little surprise for many.

Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli had pledged during the PKR party polls campaign that he would quit if he was not re-elected as party deputy president.

With Nurul Izzah Anwar challenging him, it was clear that the tide was against him and Rafizi knew defeat was imminent.

His ally, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also failed to keep his vice-president post, and has decided to leave his Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.

The two are held in high regard, not just by their party supporters, but also the general public.

In Nik Nazmi’s case, the media admires him for knowing his subject well, and he is also easily accessible.

Rafizi preferred to use his own social media platform effectively to reach out to the public and was one of the few party generals who readily took on opponents.

His ability to use simple language without technical jargon helped the party to explain government policies.

The media always loves factional feuds as it sells stories.

There will always be suggestions of cracks in a governing coalition or a looming political crisis.

There was even a fake news item about 11 PKR MPs, said to be aligned to Rafizi, wanting to call a press conference to announce their withdrawal of support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It never happened. Instead, it was quickly dismissed by Chang Lih Kang, the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, a re-elected PKR vice-president supporting Rafizi.

Nik Nazmi has also said he and Rafizi had resigned from their ministerial posts “but we will not betray the party.’’

Their resignations must be respected and many would even admire their principles for taking defeats well.

Having sacrificed their early adulthood for politics instead of cushy, well-paid jobs in the corporate sector, their disappointment was understandable.

They fought for Reformasi in the earliest stage of PKR, at a time when most shied away from the party.

But politics is cruel. As in all elections, there has to be winners and losers and no one will remember the losers in the next few months.

Even their most loyal supporters would happily take over the vacancies left by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi.

Already, some members of Parliament linked to the two have reportedly sent signals to the PM that they are ready if offered positions and their names have surfaced in private conversations.

In Malaysia’s current political climate, the resignations of the two are neither an existential threat nor a sign of federal instability.

In fact, the broader picture suggests the opposite: the government remains intact, its leadership strong, and its policy direction clear.

The resignations, while noteworthy, will not derail the Anwar administration.


While both Nik Nazmi (left) and Rafizi will be missed in the government, in Malaysia’s current political climate, the resignations of the two are neither an existential threat nor a sign of federal instability, says the writer. — Bernama

As a journalist, I am often asked if the Anwar administration is stable and if his government can win the next general election, purportedly because the predominantly Malay voters are not with him.

The first question is simple to answer – the Unity Government has remained intact. Anwar has the numbers. If he didn’t, the opposition would have tabled a vote of no confidence against him in Parliament at each meeting.

Will he win the next general elections? Well, he has two years more and as they say, even two weeks is a long time in politics.

Anwar Ibrahim enters this moment not from a position of vulnerability, but from a place of demonstrated leadership.

Fresh off the successful Asean Summit hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar has emerged as a key regional statesman, guiding Malaysia’s foreign policy with clarity and principle. Domestically, his administration still commands a parliamentary majority and holds the confidence of a wide-based coalition spanning ethnic, ideological, and regional lines.

A few individual resignations – while unfortunate – do not erode the legitimacy of a government that continues to function with stability and purpose.

The strength of the Cabinet, in any government, does not rest on a few individuals, but on the collective commitment to reform, economic revitalisation, and national unity.

Both the outgoing ministers contributed meaningfully during their tenure but their resignation will not paralyse the machinery of government, nor will it affect the strategic direction of national policy.

Malaysia’s political evolution over the past few years has seen a shift toward coalition-style governance – often messy, occasionally turbulent, but increasingly mature.

In this context, Cabinet reshuffles or resignations are not signs of collapse, but part of the political cycle of coalition management.

Importantly, no major coalition partner has withdrawn support.

There is no mass defection in the PKR, no floor-crossing crisis which the law forbids and certainly no loss of majority. What we see is not the unravelling of a government, but a recalibration – one that allows room for leadership renewal and rebalancing of portfolios.

Crucially, the core agenda of the government – economic recovery, institutional reform, good governance, and social justice – remains untouched.

Key ministries are operational, reforms are moving forward, and public confidence in the government’s policy direction has held steady.

The upcoming Budget discussions, the continued rollout of digital economy initiatives, and major infrastructure projects are all proceeding as scheduled. These are the markers of a functioning, resilient administration – not one in disarray.

Instead of being a setback, these resignations present a chance for the Prime Minister to refresh his Cabinet.

It opens the door for new faces, possibly technocrats or reformists. There are certainly many MPs and technocrats who are qualified or think they are good enough.

Economist Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, who has been helping the government in the background, is one possibility.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Cheang Chung, a central council member, is a 44-year-old researcher and environmental activist. He is pleasant and accessible, and the right fit to handle environment and sustainability causes.

Then, there is Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who successfully campaigned against the Internal Security Act and had served as a Bersih vice-president.

There are many others and it doesn’t matter who they had sided with in the party polls.

The renewal can inject energy and sharpen focus, particularly as the government approaches the mid-point of its term.

The only question is how much of a change Anwar wants to make with the General Election not so far away.

The senatorship of Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, will expire at the end of the year and Anwar will need to find a replacement.

That’s not a crisis either, but another opportunity for Anwar to reinforce his message of performance, transparency, and unity.

Choosing the right replacements wisely will allow him to strengthen his team while continuing to honour the diversity of the coalition.

Malaysia’s Leadership Shines At ASEAN Summit With Key Milestones And Global Partnership


KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) — Undoubtedly, the ASEAN Summit held in the capital earlier this week concluded on a high note, marking a significant moment for regional diplomacy and Malaysia’s leadership on the Southeast Asian stage.

Several key milestones were achieved at the meeting, which was attended by leaders from all ten ASEAN member states and key dialogue partners.

One of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the formal announcement that Timor-Leste will become a full member of ASEAN by October 2025.

Membership in ASEAN is never an easy path for any country, as the regional bloc works on a consensus basis. All it takes is for a member country to oppose the new entrant, and it goes out the window.

There have been some anxious moments for the youngest Asian nation, which has just a 1.5 million population, with one Timor Leste diplomat joking that “going to heaven is easier than joining ASEAN.”

Resource-rich Timor-Leste occupies the eastern part of the island of Timor, at the far eastern tip of the Indonesian archipelago.

But with its biggest supporter, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, pushing for its entrance into ASEAN, there were plenty of behind-the-scenes persuasions to ensure a consensus was met.

After years of preparation and observer participation, Timor-Leste’s accession was unanimously endorsed.

The Prime Minister described the decision as “historic and deeply symbolic,” noting that it represents ASEAN’s commitment to inclusivity and support for emerging democracies in the region.

Malaysia has been providing training for the country’s budding diplomats at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR).

The IDFR also organised a specialised programme for over 50 government officials in support of Timor-Leste’s journey toward ASEAN membership.

In addition, two key high-level meetings – the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit – concluded successfully on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit.

The ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, which was attended by China’s Premier Li Qiang, is unprecedented as this is the first of its kind, reflecting Malaysia’s push for greater economic cooperation.

Against the backdrop of crippling tariffs and rising economic uncertainties, the Al Jazeera described the meeting as “alternative centres of global power in full display with the GCC and China attending the ASEAN summit for the group’s inaugural trilateral meeting.’’

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Both engagements reflected ASEAN’s increasing global relevance and its strategy of balanced engagement.

For Anwar, the summit was not only a diplomatic success but a personal milestone that underscored his growing influence in regional affairs.

The successful hosting of the summit was a defining moment in his premiership as the event offered a platform to showcase his commitment to multilateralism, inclusive development, and principled diplomacy.

He was able to forge economic consensus in rallying member states around the ASEAN Digital Trade Framework Agreement (ADTFA), demonstrating his ability to bridge diverse economic interests. He successfully aligned Malaysia’s digital economy goals with broader ASEAN ambitions.

Some have asked why the Palestine issue was brought up at a forum which should emphasise only regional economic operation, but the point is that ASEAN needs to be a voice that has to be taken seriously by the international community.

Anwar used the summit to push for a stronger ASEAN position on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His passionate advocacy led to a joint ASEAN statement urging an immediate ceasefire and calling for greater humanitarian access – a rare unified stance on a sensitive international issue.

Anwar also convened a special session on sustainable energy, bringing together ministers and private sector leaders to discuss accelerating the energy transition. His proposal for a regional ASEAN Green Finance Initiative gained traction, with several member states agreeing to explore joint green bond issuances.

Kudos to the Foreign Ministry for elevating the Malaysian diplomatic status with its smooth and well-organised hosting of the summit. It certainly has Malaysia’s reputation as a capable and constructive regional player.

Anwar’s emphasis on dialogue, inclusivity, and regional solidarity certainly resonated with both ASEAN leaders and external partners.

But the job for Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship, themed ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, isn’t fully done yet.

Three major events are coming up with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (AMM PMC) in July, and the ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting in September. The grand finale is from Oct 24-26, where the 47th Summit will be held and attended by its dialogue partners.

ASEAN dialogue partners are Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Diplomacy tested by a grump


Hostage theatre: Trump showing Ramaphosa articles of the alleged genocide of white people in South Africa before screening the videos at the White House. Reuters

IT’S been called Ambush Diplomacy – where the intention is to put unfortunate world leaders visiting the White House in an embarrassing spot in front of the rolling cameras.

There are even questions planted to be asked by the loyal right-wing media whose credentials and right to be in the White House pool is being questioned by the mainstream press.

The biggest victim so far has been Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He landed in Washington DC expecting reassurances about continued military support in Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Instead, he found himself seated next to President Donald Trump at a hastily-arranged press conference, where the latter announced – without warning – that Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countries “better start paying up, or maybe we will just take a break from defending Europe”.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Trump’s political wolves were unleashed and they barked at Zelenskyy for being “ungrateful” and “disrespectful”.

A reporter even asked why the Ukrainian president was not dressed in a suit and tie instead of his military-style black sweatshirt.

Zelenskyy was not just flustered – he was publicly embarrassed.

But the most bizarre episode so far came during the visit of South African President Cyril Rama-phosa last week.

He had arrived hoping to discuss tariff reduction, economic cooperation, and energy partnerships.

Trump instead launched into an unscripted rant – or maybe it was scripted – about conspiracies of a “white genocide’’ in South Africa amid tensions over Washington’s resettlement of white Afrikaners in the US.

Trump asked for the lights in the meeting room to be dimmed and Ramaphosa was shown a lengthy video with chants of “shoot the Boer [white farmer]’’. The African leader rightly insisted that such acts do not represent government policy.

It’s just like showing Trump videos of white rednecks ranting racist slogans – he would have also said they do not represent the entire United States.

These fringe lunatics exist everywhere, including in Malaysia, with their outrageous racial and religious remarks against minorities, but they are just the irritating loud minority.

There are now news reports that said that some of the pictures showed by Trump included one that actually took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

What is taking place at the White House isn’t diplomacy. It is downright bullying and meddling.

This is also hostage theatre. These leaders don’t appear to be visiting a world superpower so much as surviving an elaborate social experiment.

It is one man claiming that Greenland belongs to the US and that Canada is part of the US. All the gulfs have been renamed too.

Behind the scenes, embarrassed State Department officials are reportedly reduced to doing damage control, issuing clarifications, apologies, and sometimes outright denials in the wake of each press spectacle.

US diplomats, who are friends of mine stationed in several countries, have told me privately that they cannot even tell their insecure colleagues if some of them would still have their jobs next week.

As government servants, they serve the government of the day, and it is unfortunate that anger has been directed at them, as these embassy officials represent their country.

They know this is not how normal international relations should be conducted. A host does not embarrass his guests in front of the media.

When foreign leaders arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they come expecting protocol, policy, perhaps even a joint press conference, and at least a press statement.

What they get is a “three- act tragicomedy of confusion, coercion, and camera flashes” as one report rightly put it.

Certainly, Chinese President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin would not allow themselves to be subjected to such theatrics if they meet Trump.

Like all bullies, Trump chooses his victims. They are usually the weaker leaders over whom he has leverage.

The powerful rich Arabs meet him in their traditional robes and sandals – and Trump’s boys wouldn’t dare to even squeak about dress code.

Try criticising Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, or MBS as he is known.

Would Trump dare?

Trump, of course, is delighted when his guests find themselves in such uncomfortable positions.

He views these encounters not as international negotiations but as opportunities for brand extension. Every foreign leader becomes a backdrop for his self-congratulatory and talking-down monologue.

International relations has become a kind of transactional show business, where allies are cast based on loyalty and flattery, and facts are optional props.

The implications of all this is his victims have chosen to play down these provocations and humiliation for fear of offending the President.

It may be good for Trump’s ego but we know how it ends: alliances strained, trust eroded, adversaries emboldened.

Brand USA has also been damaged in the process.

For a long time, an invitation to the White House and a photo with the American president has been a prized opportunity for any foreign leader.

Now, many are asking if it is worth being given an open dressing down by Trump.

Beyond The ‘Cai Dan’: PKR Members Choose Unity And Performance


KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) — If there is one clear takeaway from the results of the PKR elections, the delegates voted for Team PKR.

There was no clean sweep by the leading teams.

For certain, they did not vote entirely for candidates supposedly aligned with a particular leader.

Track record and merit came first, not loyalty to a particular leader.

The rules stipulate clearly that no list of candidates from any group should be allowed, but the alignment was well known.

Referred to as "cai" or apparently the "cai dan," as in the menu of Chinese restaurants, the list comprises preferred candidates.

Defeated deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli snubbed the rule and openly took to Facebook to release his list of endorsed candidates aligned with his campaign.

They included Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Chang Lih Kang (Science, Technology and Innovation Minister), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister), as well as Manivanan Gowin.

Those who backed Nurul Izzah Anwar, who defeated Rafizi for the deputy president post, included Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, who is also Sungai Buloh MP. 

 But credit must go to the delegates from over 200 divisions who rose above party politics.

The campaign has been intense and, as expected with any form of contest, it was emotional at times.

Democracy has always been noisy, and that is the core value of the system. It is also about contests and choices.

With Nurul Izzah clearly a favourite once she announced her candidacy, the attention turned to the fight for the four vice presidential posts.

The delegates rightly chose performance and unity as they cast their ballots.

The beneficiaries were Amirudin, Aminuddin, Chang and Ramanan, who joined the party’s third-highest leadership post at the first time of asking. 

Their mature picks also demonstrated the multi-racial line-up of the four positions.

The victors for the central leadership council were also indicative of what the delegates wanted.

Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, the high-profile Communications Minister, finished top for the 20-member central council, which saw a crowded field of over 80 candidates.

It was a clear testament to the Lembah Pantai MP’s widespread popularity within PKR’s rank and file.

Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, the Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister made it into the council.

The pro-Rafizi politician, who was earlier defeated as the Johor Bahru division chief, had made allegations of discrepancies in the party's electoral system.

Others perceived to be supportive of Rafizi included Lee Chean Chung, the MP for Petaling Jaya, and Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh. They were voted in, too.

Now that the party election is over, the immediate task of the party leadership is to quickly heal wounds and rally the troops.

There is little point in winning the war but losing the looming battle — the next general election, which is just over two years away.

The next 18–20 months will be absolutely crucial for PKR to strengthen its fort and arsenal.

Those defeated in the party polls have to accept graciously that, as in any election, there must be winners and losers.

Allegations of a flawed or manipulated electoral system flew out the window following the outcome of the results.

Nurul Izzah won her post with a huge margin but now faces a bigger task ahead.

She obtained 9,803 votes against Rafizi's 3,866.

She rightly concluded her campaign by saying, “Saudara Rafizi is my friend, not only before but now and forever.”

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is led by PKR, and their real opponents are outside.

The reality is that PKR does not command the largest number of MPs in PH and must also contend with opponents who are now partners in the same MADANI Government.

It is an odd and complicated equation, but one that has worked well so far, although it has unfortunately slowed down PKR’s reformist pledges.

Lest we forget, in the country’s 68 years of independence, for the first time, the federal government is led by a truly multi-racial party.

The path to reforms cannot be achieved in two years, even as patience runs thin at times, but it is better than the race and religion narrative.

Bridging East And West: PM Anwar’s Pragmatic Push In Putin’s Russia



KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) — The office of the Russian news agency, TASS, is located at the intersection of Tverskoy Boulevard and Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street in downtown Moscow, a location that no one can miss.

I had the privilege of being invited to lunch by its director-general, Andrey Kondrashov, in a spacious room overlooking the beautiful Presnensky district.

Kondrashov, a former TV newscaster, is reportedly said to have been handpicked by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the powerful job. 

The media in Moscow claims he has direct access to the nation’s most powerful figure, but he downplays such talk, saying he has “only managed to interview Putin several times.”

We were joined by Mikhail Gusman, TASS’ first deputy director-general, who has interviewed a long list of world leaders, including several American presidents at the Oval Office.

I asked both men what their impressions of Putin were and how they expected the relationship with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to develop, a day before their meeting at the Kremlin.

Kondrashov said that despite Putin’s reputation as a stoic and serious leader, he actually has a strong sense of humour and enjoys reading history and literature, “just like Prime Minister Anwar.”

Indeed, the meeting between Putin and Anwar went off extremely well, beginning with light-hearted humour to set the tone.

During a private tour of the Grand St Andrew’s Hall, Putin showed Anwar three thrones. 

He explained that one was for the Tsar, the second for the Tsarina and then asked Anwar who the third was for. Putin then recounted that Anwar had responded by saying the third one was for his second wife.

Both laughed heartily when Putin said that it was actually meant for the Tsar’s mother.

Anwar quickly added: “I maintain—I have one wife. I don’t encourage people to have too many wives as it is tough enough to control and discipline one wife. Don’t tell my wife that, please.”

The Prime Minister then shared his conversation while the two leaders were on their way to the press conference. 

Putin had whispered, “Can I tell this story?”

To which, the Prime Minister asked, “What story? About the wife?”

“This was President Putin, whom I’d always seen as stern and serious. So I said: Of course, Mr President. I wasn’t sure, though, how he would tell the story.

Although Anwar’s reply drew mixed reactions, it was clearly a moment of spontaneous humour. There is no need to make too much of this. 

Anwar’s four-day trip was the first official visit by a Malaysian Prime Minister to Russia in 20 years and certainly highly significant in both bilateral and historical terms.

This was Anwar’s second visit to Russia, following his working trip to the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in 2024, also at Putin’s invitation.

The current visit builds on that foundation. As Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, wrote in the New Straits Times in 2024, the Prime Minister has a clear purpose: advancing Malaysia’s interests by strengthening ties with Russia. 

That policy remains in place today. 

“His grand strategy was to broaden Malaysia's geo-economic space while diversifying its global partnerships,” Dr Mohd Faiz noted.

Malaysia must expand its markets, and it understands the sensitivities of engaging with Russia amid today’s geopolitical climate. 

Simply put, the Prime Minister conceded in this 2024 visit that it "was not an easy feat" but it was undeniably "the right move”.

Malaysia also recognises the growing importance of BRICS, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

The partner countries include Malaysia, Thailand, Cuba, Bolivia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Uganda and Nigeria.

Dr Mohd Faiz noted that “while BRICS may still be in its formative years compared to more established international organisations, its potential shouldn't be underestimated.”

“By engaging early, Malaysia could secure its position as a key player in this growing network.

“Beyond BRICS, Anwar sought to elevate Malaysia-Russia economic ties. For all the efforts of previous administrations, Malaysia's trade relations with Russia have remained underdeveloped relative to some of its ASEAN neighbours. “

“In 2022-2023, Malaysia’s trade with Russia increased by 15.6 per cent to RM14.22 billion, yet this is lower in comparison to the volumes of nations like Vietnam, which benefits from a free trade agreement with Russia via the Eurasian Economic Union,” Dr Mohd Faiz wrote. 

Dr Mohd Faiz also opined that Russia’s pivot toward Asia, accelerated by Western sanctions and the decline in European trade, presents a timely opportunity for Malaysia.

“It needs to be noted that Russia's shifting focus towards Asia, accelerated by sanctions and the decline of its European trade, presents a timely opportunity for Malaysia,” he wrote.

Dr Mohd Faiz said in 2023, Russia's trade with Asia surged dramatically, with its exports and imports rising by 72 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively. 

This pivot toward the East offers Malaysia a chance to capitalise on the new trade flows, he added.

He also noted that on the tourism front, Malaysia has yet to sufficiently capture the Russian market, which currently favours Thailand, Vietnam and even Indonesia.

Interfax reported that just over 60,000 Russian tourists visited Malaysia in the first half of 2024, although the numbers are expected to grow.

In contrast, during the first four months of 2025, Thailand welcomed 877,516 Russian tourists, making them the third-largest group of foreign visitors.

Aviation-related obstacles and sanctions have made travel arrangements difficult, but Anwar and Putin discussed this issue at the highest levels.

“Malaysia is set to benefit from the high tourism potential from Russia through the Russian airline Aeroflot, which is expected to resume flights to Malaysia soon,” Anwar said when speaking to the Malaysian media. 

Surely, solutions can be found for AirAsia and Aeroflot to operate flights between the two countries.

Attracting Russian tourists could significantly boost Malaysia’s tourism sector and diversify its sources of travellers.

There are also three strategic areas for future collaboration: Islamic finance, agriculture and education.

Malaysia, as a global leader in Islamic finance, is well-positioned to assist Russia in developing Syariah-compliant financial systems, particularly given its large Muslim population, said Dr Mohd Faiz.

Anwar also participated in the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2025, where the halal market was a key topic in the oil-rich Republic of Tatarstan, under the Federation of Russia.

In this respect, Anwar said that during his meeting with Putin, he openly expressed interest in expanding the halal network, as well as Islamic banking and finance. 

Certainly, the halal industry presents ample opportunities for joint initiatives and deeper cooperation.

In agriculture, Russia’s role as a major grain producer aligns with Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen food security.

In education, Russian expertise in technology presents wide-ranging opportunities, particularly through the newly established Russian-Malaysian High-Tech Centre.

Anwar said that throughout the visit, he and his delegation met with 24 companies in Russia that expressed interest in expanding their businesses in Malaysia and also held two business events with companies wanting to learn more about trade aspects in the country.

However, the visit coincided with the findings of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which concluded that Russia was responsible for downing Flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014. Anwar rightly addressed the matter with Putin, at the highest level.

“No country should be used to support the designs of others. We have to have the patience to deal with it.

“With President Putin, I even raised one very sensitive subject, the shooting down of MH17, the Malaysian plane, that caused 43 Malaysian deaths.

“I said how do I respond to this UN report and mind you, President Putin told me in very clear terms, we should get to the bottom of it. Any international effort to resolve this must be done professionally, scientifically. And of course, I would accept that. That is a precondition.’’

Speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations University (MGIMO) — a renowned academic institution in Moscow — Anwar pointed out that history is not moved by perfection, but by perseverance and resilience.

“Leadership is the work of patient conviction to struggle forward when the path is uncertain, to act with courage when clarity is elusive, and to hold fast to hope when it feels most fragile. That is the task before us”. 

The reality, as the Prime Minister noted, is that Malaysia is a small country, and we must understand that political and economic realism will always underpin our strategies.

We continue to maintain and emphasise our non-aligned position, while also expanding our markets in a rapidly evolving global economy.


KAZAN, May 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived here today for the second leg of his official visit to Russia, where he held a meeting with the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. Anwar departed from Moscow after delivering a public lecture at the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations University (MGIMO), and took time to appreciate the scenic surroundings of the Kazan Kremlin. He later held a closed-door meeting with Rustam.


KAZAN (Tatarstan), May 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his keynote address during the Plenary Session of the XVI International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2025” at the Concert Hall, Kazan Expo, here today.


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (left) with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference following the conclusion of the delegation meeting held at the Kremlin, Moscow, on Wednesday.


Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai attends a press conference by Malaysian Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai, held in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s four-day official visit to Russia beginning, last Tuesday.