Author Archives: wcw

Joining forces to defend palm oil producers


Fadillah: Malaysia is the first producer of certified sustainable palm oil and remains the global gold standard

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will be making a visit to Brussels next month to meet the European Union (EU) which has imposed what he has described as “unjust and discriminatory’’ regulations against the palm oil industry.

The Plantation and Commodities Minister will be joined by his Indonesian Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto to meet EU Members of Parliament, officials, businessmen and non-governmental organisations.

Fadillah spoke to WONG CHUN WAI in an exclusive interview on the EU actions and their impact.

WONG: Datuk Seri, there has been considerable discussion in the press about Europe’s latest move to block palm oil exports, but this isn’t the first attempt. Can you tell us about the Renewable Energy Directive?

Fadillah: You’re right, in recent years the EU has enacted several legislations and regulations that specifically target palm oil. One of the most discriminatory is the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

RED, first enacted in 2018, is Europe’s landmark renewable energy and transport fuel policy. Since it came into force, RED has since undergone several revisions. The most recent update – so-called RED II – labelled palm oil as high risk.

This singled out palm oil and prevented palm-based biodiesel feedstocks from being counted under RED II’s renewable energy targets, nor qualify for its financial incentives. Worse, RED II implemented a ban on palm oil usage by 2030.

In response, Malaysia fielded action against the EU at the World Trade Organisation. It appears the EU was rather unhappy with our response. Europe is actively considering the introduction of “RED III,” which may ban palm oil biodiesel exports starting this year.

The EU has claimed these RED restrictions are not a ban. This is sophistry. What else should you call it, when the directive makes our immediate exports unviable, and then sets a future date after which we can no longer export?

I understand that the EU plans to carry out a benchmarking system of countries and placing them on low, medium, and high-risk places over deforestation, under EU Deforestation Regulation. How will this affect us?

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is set to become yet another trade ban erected against exports from Malaysia and other developing countries. Its benchmarking system used to determine the risk status of exporters is based on unsound reasoning and a weak scientific basis.

Malaysia, and the palm oil sector’s record on deforestation is clear. Today, deforestation from palm oil in Malaysia is effectively zero. Palm oil plantation expansion has slowed, and since 2019, palm oil planted area has decreased from 5.9 million ha to 5.67 million ha.

Since 2011, the forested area in Malaysia has actually increased. Forested area has now grown to 19.1 million ha which are under a long-term forest management plan. This is more than 55% of Malaysia’s total land area.

The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme has played a critical role in reducing deforestation from palm oil to effectively zero.

In 2022, MSPO revised its standards to strengthen our commitments to reducing deforestation.

The Malaysian government has been very clear to our European partners: our palm oil is not high risk, Malaysia is not high risk, and we do not expect to be classified as such.

Malaysian palm oil is sustainable and is one of the most certified vegetable oils in the world today.

The MSPO already guarantees Malaysia’s commitment to comprehensive sustainability standards.

It has been reported that Malaysia and Indonesia are considering stopping palm exports to the European Union. While this reflects our frustrations, is this a rational response as Europe remains the second largest importer of palm oil globally?

Malaysia values our European friends. We treat our trading partners with fairness. Sadly, this mutual respect and recognition has not been reciprocated by the leadership of the EU.

Malaysia and Indonesia will coordinate closely on the EUDR response, more closely than ever before. The EU should understand that our two countries are of one view on the nature of the EUDR and we are determined together to defend our palm oil producers and our farmers.

After my meeting with Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, last month, we have agreed to send envoys to the EU to discuss the impact of the bloc’s new deforestation law and to prevent unintended consequences of the regulation on Malaysia and Indonesia, and our critical industries.

At the same time, our producers are focusing on new, more promising markets that respect their trading partners, such as the Middle East, India and China.

We are also identifying other avenues for the Malaysian palm oil industry by encouraging the industry to diversify into the downstream activities, which produces higher value-added palm oil-derivatives, oleochemical products as well as palm biomass. This enables the industry to fully utilise these co-products, enable the adoption of circular economy and minimises its wastes.

Can high-end government-to-government engagements help?

Yes, such engagements are very important. However, the challenges present for Malaysia in the EU goes well beyond a joint mission. Malaysia and Indonesia are both members of the regional platform (Asean) and we have discussed how to work within Asean to address European unilateralism against our region.

We have agreed to coordinate cooperation with our Indonesian partners to express our shared concerns about the impact of the EU’s regulation and the harm it will have on our region and developing nations across the world.

This government is committed to standing for Malaysian interests, including in the palm oil sector, in every meeting, every speech, at every regional and international forum.

Should we spend more energy and resources in other countries such as China, India, and the West Asian countries?

These are markets that offer great potential and can only lead to closer ties and more engagement. Yet, they are not mature markets like Europe, either.

India and China remain the two biggest buyers of Malaysian palm oil and we feel there is still room for expansion in these growing markets. Oils and fats intake in both these markets are growing and we plan to expand the usage of Malaysian palm oil and downstream products, especially in the food sector.

At the same time, we are focusing on several key countries in the Middle East and Africa. In 2022, Malaysian palm oil exports to the Middle Eastern region increased by approximately 32% whereas exports to the North African region registered an increase of 51%. Under the umbrella of the MSPO, we are also positioning sustainability as the unique value propositions of Malaysian palm oil.

The same issue of deforestation has been used against Malaysia and Indonesia. This has been going on for a while. What else can we do to overcome the deforestation regulation?

Malaysia’s record on deforestation and forest conservation is far superior to that of many European countries.

Firstly, Malaysia’s commitments to uphold 50% of its land under forest cover, which was announced at the Rio Earth Summit 1992, still exists today.

Currently, Malaysia maintains about 55% of its total land area as forest cover.

The EU average is under 40%. So, who should be lecturing whom when it comes to forest protection and deforestation?

We also need to continuously convey Malaysia’s latest sustainability initiatives and efforts, to keep the Western market updated.

For example, our national palm oil sustainability certification scheme, revised last year, has included strengthened sustainability requirements, which include No Deforestation cut-off date, High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, Social Impact Assessment (SIA), improved social and labour practices and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions calculation.

To be clear: Malaysia is the first producer of certified sustainable palm oil, and we remain the global gold standard. Our major companies can meet the EU sustainability requirements in EUDR and elsewhere. That is not in question, and we will continue to supply our European customers seamlessly. The issue with EUDR is that it deliberately targets small farmers which could see them being excluded from supply chains – and that infringes on Malaysia’s sovereignty.

Has your Ministry had any engagements with the EU and are they engaging or open to discussing this contentious issue? Or are their minds closed?

Yes, we have held a dialogue and engagement session with our EU counterparts. We will continue to do so. Malaysia and Indonesia will also act in coordination.


Wong (left) and Fadillah during the interview.

What will you do to make the ministry more impactful and efficient in carrying out/implementing directives from your office? The sentiment is that the industry players are hopeful of this government demonstrating a better degree of delivery, what will you do to ensure that this happens?

As the Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, my main priority is to protect the interests and livelihood of the millions of citizens who depend on the palm oil industry. While we understand and acknowledge the concerns about the environment and deforestation, we firmly believe that the EU deforestation- free regulation is discriminatory and unjustified.

Sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) have been and will always be a core focus for us. We have implemented strict regulations and guidelines for oil palm plantation development and management, including guidelines for environmental impact assessments and monitoring of plantations.

We have also made mandatory the adoption of sustainable practices such as the MSPO certification scheme, which sets standards for responsible palm oil production.

In addition, we will work closely with the industry to explore alternative ways to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact and deforestation. We will also explore new markets and opportunities for Malaysia’s palm oil industry to reduce dependence on the EU market.

Furthermore, we will continue to engage in constructive dialogues with the EU and other stakeholders, and to demonstrate the positive contributions of the palm oil industry to the economy and livelihood of many Malaysians, as well as its commitment to sustainability and responsible production.

My priority as the Plantation and Commodities Minister will be to protect the interests of the industry and the livelihood of the citizens, while also ensuring that sustainability and ESG remain at the core of our policies and practices.

Given the continuing campaign against palm oil, what fresh steps will be taken to better promote palm oil?

Palm oil is the world’s most popular vegetable oil. It is the most productive, healthiest, and most versatile. So of course, our competitors wish to knock us down, whether through non-governmental organisation campaigns or through lobbying for trade barriers. So, we know that the key is to rely on facts and demonstrate our work to our customers. A simple example is our mandatory MSPO certification scheme, which clearly addresses sustainability, environmental protection, social responsibility, and workers’ rights, among others. It also focuses on, most importantly, traceability.

Our efforts are focused on getting stakeholders in Malaysia and abroad to understand and appreciate MSPO-certified products through talks, forums, and seminars.

MSPO has become our differentiation factor. We are producers of not just any palm oil, but certified Malaysian palm oil, and MSPO is the sustainability guarantee.

It is also important to mention that the Malaysian palm oil industry has more than 450,000 smallholders. They are the backbone of the industry. They are also a real-life example of Malaysia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Unfortunately, the proposed regulations that would harm smallholders would also directly undermine the SDGs.

The national fresh fruit bunch yields for Malaysia have been stagnating since the mid-1980s and have in fact regressed further the last three to four years reaching only 15.5 tonne/ha in 2022 (way below the likes of the more efficient planters in Malaysia). It is a new 30-year low, what initiatives must the industry focus on to raise our national yields so that we can also remain competitive in the future?

Firstly, the industry needs to focus on minimising losses through increasing its crop-recovery efforts by optimising the plantation operations’ collection of loose fruitlets, as well as reducing the occurrence of missed ripe fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) and unripe FFB collections.

Secondly, replanting efforts with selected and proven dura-free planting materials should be given utmost importance to maximise the yield. In addition to the conventional plant breeding programmes and in-vitro cloning of high yielding palms, the industry needs to utilise the developments made through the full mapping of the oil palm genome.

More genomics-based planting materials with selected traits such as thinner shells, thicker mesocarp, being disease and stress-resistant, are expected to be developed by the industry which can further increase the productivity of the new generation of oil palms in Malaysia.

Finally, the industry should embrace and adopt the latest available technological advancements in the form of Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) technologies to help increase yields, for example autonomous drones and mechanisation for agronomic practices, digitalisation and the utilisation of Big Data, Internet of Things and blockchain technology for precision agriculture, plantation management and milling operations.

The adoption of these technologies enables the industry to transition into precision farming that will fully optimise its available resources (planting materials, land, labour, energy, water, fertilisers, and pesticides).

There has been an acute shortage or foreign workers in the industry last year attributing to the lower production. What will you do to ensure that avenues exist so companies can replenish their workforce?

We are aware of the labour shortage faced by the palm oil industry during the pandemic. My ministry has been engaging with the Ministry of Human Resources in addressing the issue, such as speeding up the procuring of foreign workers.

My colleague, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, has announced this January that Malaysia would relax conditions on migrant worker recruitment involved in certain sectors which include plantations, where his ministry will process and approve applications within three working days.

Another measure undertaken is that the Human Resources Ministry will also enable Malaysian employers to employ foreign workers from 15 source countries without undergoing preconditions of employment and quota eligibility. This will help expedite the procurement process of foreign workers for the Malaysian palm oil industry. Nevertheless, plantation operators should not be too reliant on foreign workers.

They should be more creative in trying to entice the local workforce, for example, by offering flexible working hours as well as attractive incentives based on productivity. The industry needs to also explore and utilise available IR 4.0 technologies that can reduce the dependency on manual labour.

What will you do to ensure that red tape and bureaucracy are eliminated in the recruitment process as this is a problem stated by many industry captains today?

The ministry will continue its engagement with the Ministry of Human Resources in identifying unnecessary red tapes and bureaucracy that are hampering the recruitment process for the industry.

However, we need to also ensure that there is no element of forced labour during the recruitment process, and potential foreign workers are procured through ethical and transparent sourcing, without any form of exploitation or coercion. The government and private sector are both committed to this.

Sustainability has become a vital necessity to keep trade doors open today especially in Western markets, what emphasis will the DPM give to the topic of sustainability?

Firstly, we need to emphasise that Malaysia has and continues to be committed to ensuring that its commodities are regulated, sustainably produced and certified. Its MSPO certification scheme is mandatory for the palm oil industry. Its auditing process is fully independent, externally audited by certification bodies which include recognised international firms such as BSI, Control Union and SGS.

Additional sustainability requirements included in the revised MSPO standards in 2022, like High Conservation Value areas, No Deforestation cut-off date, Social Impact Assessment, have improved social and labour practices and GHG emissions calculations to enable the Malaysian palm oil industry to better address environment, labour and governance issues.

MSPO’s supply chain traceability platform (MSPO Trace) which extends beyond the mills to refineries and processing facilities and enables better transparency as well as traceability of MSPO-certified palm oil, will enable customers and consumers to verify the sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil used.

In addition to the MSPO certification, we are also looking at the possibility of making sustainability certifications compulsory for our other commodities as well.

Secondly, we are advocating to the palm oil industry that sustainability requirements are no longer about mere compliance and should now be the norm and engrained in our corporate culture.

With ESG ratings and risks gaining traction amongst financial institutions, investors and stakeholders, companies need to ensure that sustainability and ESG matters are well addressed.

This is crucial in gaining better financing access and attracting more institutional investments.

We hope that our international partners will work with us on this sustainability journey, rather than imposing trade barriers that will not incentivise positive change.

The EUDR is not a good development from this perspective. We hope to have more constructive and balanced approaches from our international partners.

Sir, as the first DPM from Sarawak, what have been the expectations from the people of Sarawak from you?

Sarawak demands its right as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA 63). We claim for our rights, allocations that Sarawak should receive, based on MA63 when Malaysia was formed.

Our oil royalties should be demanded as we are the producers of resources.

As the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem used to say, “I don’t care if the oil is dug in other countries, but if the oil is taken from Sarawak, we have the right to demand additional royalties for us to carry out further development”.

We are more assertive in asking for what was previously agreed upon to be fully honoured.

Expectations from Borneo are quite big, not only from Sarawakians but also Sabahans. It is my responsibility that this is borne and it requires the cooperation of not only Borneo MPs but even all MPs for us to see how we can close the gap between Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

What are the immediate targets for the immediate, medium and long-term for Sarawak and Sabah?

The three main areas to focus on are:

  • Education – to ensure every child has the access to proper education to prepare them with the required knowledge.
  • Healthcare – so that everyone, including those in the rural areas, has access to proper medical treatment and facilities.
  • Physical development – access roads that will help to spur development and connect people.

The size of Sabah and Sarawak is a challenge, but I believe the federal government is trying its best to provide the best infrastructure to both regions.

Though it might take time, correct steps are taken to ensure a successful implementation.

The decision of the federal government announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to empower the Public Works Departments of Sarawak and Sabah to manage federal projects of up to RM50mil should be the right move to prevent delays or non-implementation of approved projects in Borneo.

Liar

 

Time to tackle rape head-on

SEXUAL assault is a subject that most Malaysians prefer not to delve into, even if this particular topic is a work of fiction for a film production, as many of us find the subject, frankly, disturbing.

There is a degree of uneasiness over how such a subject with much social stigma here should be tackled sensitively.

So, for many, the easiest way is to avoid it completely.

Unfortunately, sexual assaults, or more precisely, rapes, take place almost every day in Malaysia.

In fact, there are an average of five rape cases reported daily in Malaysia, according to the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.

A compelling and educational drama is finally on our mini screens, with female voices taking the lead.

Liar, a television series produced by Astro Shaw, is a story of a divorced teacher, Lara Sulaiman, who goes on a date with a single father and well-known surgeon, Dr Aiman Yusuf.

He seems like the perfect gentleman – handsome, affluent, educated, witty and well-mannered.

But the relationship takes a disastrous turn after Dr Aiman takes Lara home.

She suddenly feels sick, and by the next morning, she just knows she has been sexually assaulted.

She accuses him of raping her; he naturally denies it, and without any real evidence, Lara faces a wall.

Her family members are also apparently unsupportive of her “baseless” actions in pursuing justice, preferring to have her just move on and forget about the incident that also affects them.

I won’t go any further, as I don’t want this to be a spoiler. I have watched six episodes, and I thought the finale was here. But Astro has told me there are six more shows to go.

Like most of Astro Originals productions, such as Kuasa and Kudeta, the setting is urban, and the dialogue is a mix of Bahasa Malaysia and English, with a multi-racial cast.

So is the production team, with Lim Siu Min as executive producer and Jason Chong and Imri Nasution as co-directors.

Liar is an adaptation of a British thriller of the same name, and Astro has acquired the rights to this Bafta-nominated drama.

The cast boasts the likes of Tiz Zaqyah and Tony Eusoff.

It is not often that local film producers provide a voice for women in Malaysia.

We still deal with gender biases here, let’s face it.

Women are often the ones blamed for rape, an unfair accusation initiated by conservative politicians who think that the way a woman dresses is a contributing factor.

Some even point the finger at “actions” by the women that purportedly send the wrong message to the men.

But the reality is that, according to a 2022 news report, children and teenagers aged between 13 and 18 make up the biggest number of rape victims in Selangor.

Here’s the punchline to these accusers – the victims did not dress provocatively.

Another news report said that date rape is also high, with 60% of it happening during dates, and like Liar, it is hard to prove, especially when victims tend to clean themselves up after such assaults, believing it will wash away the shame and “dirtiness’’ they had just gone through.

But it also means they unwittingly remove the precious evidence away.

In most rape cases, the victims know their predators, and sometimes these may include their own family members.

Researchers Janet Ann Fernandez and Azmanwaty Mohamad Nor, in their article, rightly opined that “the problem lies not in the hands of an individual or a few misogynistic men but in society”.

“It lies in the mindset of the people, and every one of us is taking part in rape culture by endorsing rape myths.

“Rape myth acceptance within Malaysian society encourages sexual assaults or sexual violence.

“Some of the popular rape myths include: the victim’s clothing choice, the victim’s emotional reactions, the presence of physical injuries, rape occurs between strangers, women lie about rape, and men cannot be raped.’’

Astro Shaw, together with Double Vision and All3Media International, deserves to be commended for its willingness to take up this issue.

In the words of Astro Shaw’s head, Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, Liar is a gripping story that explores gender politics, sexual harassment, mental health and deceit, which are rarely addressed on our screens.

I am not lying; it’s a good TV series. Don’t miss it.

Revolting reverence


Setting things right: A Malaysia Madani billboard along the MRR2 highway. However, the Prime Minister has learned that there are many unnecessary billboards featuring him – erected using public money – all over the country, and has called for a stop to the wasteful splurge. – IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

THE Prime Minister has certainly set things right by calling for a stop to billboards with his face on them.

Surely all of us know what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks like, so there’s no need to splurge taxpayers’ money to compete with cosmetic ad models and tuition teachers along the highway.

Last week, he complained that while on his way to Alor Setar for a Hari Raya open house, he learned about the billboards featuring him all over the country.

The billboards, he said, had been erected by government departments using allocations from the previous government.

Well, it doesn’t matter if the money is from the budget of the past government. The bottom line is, there’s absolutely no reason to use the money to serve our political leaders’ narcissistic needs.

It’s good that Anwar pointed out the money allocated for these billboards should be put to better use.

These government bodies must have presumed that they were doing the PM a favour and wanted recognition for their contributions by buying space on these billboards.

But it isn’t just the PM who’s glorified. There are billboards of other leaders including Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, state executive councillors and elected representatives all over the place, too, sometimes, even on bus stands.

It’s perfectly understandable if such billboards were part of an election campaign because voters need to be reminded of politicians’ presence.

Then there are the banners put up during festivals to greet their constituents. They are certainly acceptable, but please direct the contractors to remove them after the celebrations are over.

These banners invariably become eyesores, yet no one seems to take them down, not even the local authorities whose tasks include tearing down illegal advertisements.

But the heart of the problem about using public funds for billboards lies in the long standing bodek culture afflicting Malaysia.

It’s unfair to just blame the civil service for wanting to gain favours from their superiors, including political leaders.

Pathetic as it may sound, some would have thought that putting up billboards would be a way to gain brownie points.

One writer aptly described this currying favour practice as “the greatest single organisational dysfunction within Malaysia’s civil service, compromising the quality and integrity of management along with protection against corruption.”

Strong words. Perhaps even out of line, but a new political culture is surely needed.

Our federal ministers, for a start, should direct government officials under their respective ministries to dismiss the practice of grand receptions when they attend meetings.

It’s inexplicable why so many officials should stop work just to greet and smile at a minister, or their deputies for that matter.

Malaysians would also like to see ceremonies become short and precise.

It’s criminal for civil servants and invited guests to be spending half the day attending unproductive events, which mostly entails listening to a VIP.

Ministers and their deputies are merely performing their duties and while we respect our leaders, nothing comes out of unnecessarily elevating the status of politicians.

For a start, some politicians can discard the need for travelling with an entourage, which often includes political hangers-on. It’s nothing more than a grandiose display of self-importance.

The old politicians, or commonly known as party warlords, are the worst of the lot. They enjoy travelling in a convoy of Alphard and Vellfire vehicles, or their equivalents.

And certainly, the entitlement of police outriders and even council outriders, must stop. These ingratiating, servile culture and pompous, egotistical practices must cease.

Then, there are those who insist that their titles must be properly addressed or else they’d be offended.

I’ve said enough of our rituals of addressing every Tan Sri, Puan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datin Seri, Datuk Datuk and Datin Datin. That’s practically everyone in the room.

Our obsession with titles and honorifics to earn respect and public standing has really gone overboard. Too many people are flaunting titles they don’t deserve.

No wonder there are Malaysians who are freely parading titles even if it’s an offence.

The PM started his political career in the 1970s, insisting that he should be addressed as just Saudara Anwar Ibrahim.

We need a fresh political culture where YBs are elected to do their work and not expected to be revered.

A new political culture is surely needed.

The new Cold War heats up


Insightful views: Kishore giving his assessment on the US-China rivalry during his lecture in Kuala Lumpur.

International relations expert Kishore Mahbubani has interesting views on US-China rivalry and the role Asean could play.

IT’S not every day that one gets to hear directly from Prof Kishore Mahbubani, one of the best thinkers on international relations.

In fact, it had taken the organiser, the Malaysian Institute of Management, over two years to invite the Singaporean diplomat, academician and best-selling author to Kuala Lumpur.

Those of us who turned up for his lecture on Tuesday evening wanted to hear his assessment of the United States-China rivalry, which is certain to get worse in the coming years.

Kishore is a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and has had two notable careers – 33 years in diplomacy and 15 years in academia.

He was the founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and spent over 10 years as Singapore’s ambassador to the United Nations.

He has authored several books, including best-sellers such as Can Asians Think? and Has The West Lost It?. His insightful views on the US-China geopolitical rivalry have grabbed the attention of many.

Gloomy as it may be, it is certain and unavoidable — in Kishore’s own words — that the rivalry will worsen as the Chinese push to challenge the United States for dominance.

For us living in the Asean region, especially Malaysians, it is more troubling as the power play is taking place in our backyard, the South China Sea, while Taiwan is merely about four hours away by flight.

Kishore predicts the contest, if not already a feud, will accelerate in the next 10 years and he doesn’t see it quietening down.

The scenario is unprecedented as for the first time in human history, these two superpowers are colliding.

Driven by what he describes as structural forces, he sees China as the “No. 2 that is about to take over as No. 1 and the US will push down China” at all costs as the latter does not see itself losing its pole position.

“They should learn from the Malaysian monarchy (where the reigning King) steps down every five years,’’ he joked.

He said in his highly provocative titled book Has China Won? that it hasn’t helped that the many US policymakers who will drive this geopolitical contest are “possessed by a psychology that sees all competition among great powers as a zero-sum game”.

“Hence, if China steps up its naval deployments in the South China Sea, the US Navy will see it as a loss and step up its presence in the region,” he said.

There is much insecurity on the part of the United States as “it is far from certain that America will win the contest as China has as good a chance as America of emerging as the dominant influence in the world”.

“In fact, many thoughtful leaders and observers in strategically sensitive countries around the world have begun making preparations for a world where China may become number one,” said Kishore.

He said it was an error of perception for America to view the CCP as a Chinese Communist Party embedded in communist roots, when in the eyes of Asian observers, the CCP actually functions as the “Chinese Civilisation Party” with its soul rooted in Chinese civilisation.

But Kishore has some advice for China – never underestimate the United States.

It’s a giant that has woken up and it has won the narrative, with the support of a powerful international media, that it is a contest between a democracy and an authoritarian government.

“It has been a strategic mistake for American thinkers to take success for granted, it would be an equally colossal strategic mistake for China to assume the same,” he said.

Painting the Chinese as demonic has been an easy selling point to the American public, most of whom have never travelled out of their country, added Kishore, saying in his book that it will be easier “for Americans to persist in the belief that they would eventually triumph against China, no matter the odds”.

Both the Republicans and Democrats have adopted the same tone and strategy of containing China.

So, it doesn’t matter who the next US President is although it got worse under President Donald Trump. It has simply become a bipartisan policy.

The rest of the world, especially Asean, will be affected by this great power play. No one will be spared as pressure will be applied to countries to take sides.

Even a simple acquisition of technology, such as using Huawei’s applications, has turned complicated.

Kishore shared an anecdote of how a British top official had told him that it would use Huawei as security clearance, and with a stiff upper lip, said there was no reason for it to submit to US pressure.

But just months later, the United Kingdom “crumbled” to US pressure and abandoned Huawei.

He feared that Taiwan would be a more sensitive issue than the South China Sea as it benefits the United States and China to keep the international waterways safe for freedom of navigation.

But Taiwan is a more potential flash point. It is the red line that no one should cross, and most Asians know it and “they shut up”, he said, advising Asian countries to continue with this approach.

The Chinese see Taiwan as a renegade province that belongs to China and do not tolerate any moves to push for independence. Most countries adopt a One China policy and have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Kishore said for a long time, the United States stayed away from the Taiwan issue, but now it has been broached and “it is not rational, it’s dangerous and emotional”.

But he said Asean could play an influential role to speak up for moderate measures to initiate dialogues between the United States and China and to help reduce tensions that could contribute to possibilities of a war.

He acknowledged that Asean may be “weak and chaotic”, but paradoxically, no one sees the grouping as a threat and its meetings were all attended by the powerful nations.

“Everyone loves Asean. It has convening abilities,” he said, adding that both China and the United States had invested huge amounts there compared to other regions of the world.

China has been the largest market for Asean exports for the past 12 years and Malaysia’s number one trading partner for the past 15 consecutive years, while Asean countries collectively are the United States’ fourth largest trading partner.

Together, they represent a market with a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$3 trillion (RM13.38 trillion). US goods and services traded with Asean totalled an estimated US$362.2bil (RM1.62 trillion) in 2020.

Kishore said while the US-China contest may be a gloomy topic, there is also a positive aspect as both sides will woo support and attention, adding that it was good to be courted but reaffirmed that Asean members must stay out of the feud.

“It is said that when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, but let’s not forget that when elephants make love, it tramples too,’’ he said in jest.

Talk is better than war and for a start, the rhetoric can be lowered down. A deeper rationality is needed and surely, there is a need to accept that the world has changed.

A painful and unnecessary clash needs to be avoided. The journey for both sides to work together has to start soon.

The perennial problem of p-hailing and potholes


Daily risk: A pothole near the entrance of Persiaran Surian from the Damansara-Puchong Highway heading towards Kota Damansara has consistently reappeared over the past few years, posing a threat to passing motorists. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

THERE are two things drivers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have to put up with when they are on the road – reckless food delivery riders, many of whom have no respect for traffic rules, and the countless unsightly potholes.

Almost all of us have accepted the fact that we are the ones who have to watch out for these delivery riders known to beat traffic lights, speed past the line of cars, or emerge out of nowhere right in front of us.

We fully understand that delivery riders are paid according to the number of deliveries they can take each day.

They have become an integral part of our lives and the gig economy has provided jobs to thousands of Malaysians, especially school leavers.

A 2021 news report said there were an estimated 70,000 food delivery riders in Malaysia.

More than 70% of some 500 respondents in a survey admitted to having been involved or injured in accidents, but less than half of them were covered by personal insurance.

Worse, 86.4% of them said they received no help from p-hailing companies if they were involved and got injured in any kind of accident.

In the case of accidents involving these riders, there were a total of 1,242 accidents until May last year.

According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, out of the total number of accidents, 112 of them were fatal, 82 had severe injuries and 1,048 sustained light injuries.

It’s serious.

Yes, the cumulative trips help to boost their income, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of their personal safety and lives – as well as that of other road users.

There is no reason why they should have to behave recklessly on the road in the name of saving time.

It is heartbreaking to see delivery riders losing lives or limbs on the road. After all, they are merely trying to eke out a living, given that the cost of living in the Klang Valley is surely the highest in the country.

But nobody is listening. Not the delivery riders and certainly there is little enforcement of traffic laws.

The police who set up roadblocks or wave you down are seemingly more interested in checking if you have a valid road tax sticker.

Now, we come to my main grouse. I had to spend a huge sum of money to fix my car after it hit a massive pothole along Persiaran Surian in the upmarket Petaling Jaya area.

I don’t know if I am one of those unlucky ones who have to face an unusually large number of potholes along the routes I take or if other motorists travelling in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are also at their wits’ end dealing with the same problem!

In my case, I have lost count of the disgraceful sight of such cavities around the Tropicana-Kota Damansara area.

It’s worse along Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama, where there has been a long dispute over the “ownership” of the road.

Driving towards Brickfields, near Muzium Negara, my tyres inadvertently went into a large pothole. Even in parts of the glitzy Jalan Bukit Bintang area, we face this problem. Why is this so?

To avoid going into these mini craters, we are forced to swerve to the side instantly, but it may mean hitting a nearby vehicle. It is, of course, dangerous.

I am sure most of us remember the bravado remark in October 2021 by then Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who foolishly provided his telephone numbers in the Dewan Rakyat so that people could alert him of potholes in Kuala Lumpur.

He was subsequently quoted as saying that he was so inundated by phone calls that he was unable to answer all of them.

We can only assume what happened to those phone numbers.

Likewise, this applies to all local authorities; the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which has a hotline, email, and other complaints app.

It’s the same with the Petaling Jaya City Hall.

I have made complaints before about a neighbourhood problem. The complaints were duly registered, but the outcome of the case has never been filtered down.

Those of us in the Klang Valley have become accustomed to making complaints or inquiries that mostly get no responses in the end.

A response in this case is just a record of having received your complaint.

The Works Department also has to shoulder some blame as federal roads come under its jurisdiction.

But the last thing we need is for these agencies to pass the buck to each other while road users suffer.

It is frustrating, but the lack of follow-up or action gives us an indication of how poor our system is.

Let’s not even talk about our elected representatives. They surely know how to locate us during the elections but try looking for them after they have become Yang Berhormat.

MPs and maybe even state assemblymen may tell you they are not councillors and it’s not their job to worry about such menial matters, but these problems make our lives miserable each day!

Here’s another mystery – don’t our politicians and their assistants experience this same problem of potholes and what do they do since they have access to the City Hall and municipal council officers?

Don’t they even report to the respective local authorities as dedicated and concerned politicians who care about our safety and well-being? Or am I just naïve?The rest of us must only rely on the e-aduan apps which seem to ask so many particulars of users before coming to the most important point – the complaint itself.Enough said of the dilapidated conditions of our roads. And please don’t let us delve into other problems such as dirty pavements and the filthy back lanes of Petaling Jaya and other places.

The pothole problem, unfortunately, is not just a Klang Valley issue. Last month, His Majesty, the Sultan of Johor, complained that the pothole-riddled highway in Johor caused the rims of his car to be dented.

Please don’t brag about our having world-class facilities if we cannot even maintain them right.

Festive fervour


IT’S surely no coincidence that the federal government is hosting its Hari Raya open houses in the six states holding the state elections in the coming months.

As much as it wants to deny the political agenda, it’s glaringly obvious. Come on, Malaysians aren’t fools.

But there are many reasons why Perikatan Nasional leaders should be concerned because this is going to entail a charm offensive by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

And we know the Pakatan Harapan president is very good at it. He is walking into the lion’s den, so to speak, and there would be no more effective way than to personally meet and greet voters.

He won’t even need to make any political speeches. His readiness for a selfie, sense of humour, wit and banter, will be the winning combination to get voters to flock by the droves to the gatherings.

If he’s asked to sing a Hari Raya song, he’d likely belt out more than one. Perikatan leaders, especially those from PAS, will look excruciatingly boring.

This is surely the strategy to penetrate the Malay heartland, which PKR has been struggling to gain support from. Meanwhile, Umno has also found its popularity waning in these constituencies.

Anwar is now going directly to these voters who will surely want to meet him, even if they disagree with his politics and have voted PAS.

It doesn’t matter if these up-close-and-personal approaches translate into votes. After all, he has already put Perikatan leaders in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan in a bind.

They can’t boycott these federal government open houses and yet, they’d feel uncomfortable being with him and other Cabinet members.

Perikatan has already accused the government of hijacking what they deem a religious celebration for political reasons and failing to adhere to its own austerity drive.

But PAS is not convincing because the open house celebration is a unique cultural practice of Malaysia and not a religious one as claimed by PAS.

The loudest critic has been PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who has described it as “an act of crossing the boundaries of respect and etiquette between the federal and state governments.”

The MP for Kota Baru, who is a lawyer, said it “challenges the dignity of the states.”

But PAS leaders have already taken contrasting stands on these open houses. Kelantan PAS chief Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar have welcomed the organising of the open houses.

Besides Takiyuddin, outspoken Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has also said he doesn’t support these open house events.

Last week, Petaling Jaya DAP MP Lee Chean Chung issued a statement claiming there were internal differences within PAS and said the open houses shouldn’t be politicised because it’s celebrated by everyone in the country.

It’s incredible how politicians can issue statements without batting an eyelid. Of course, these open houses are political, and Malaysians aren’t simpletons.

If no state elections were coming up, one wonders whether the federal government would hold these open houses in the six states, which include Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, too.

Since the federal government will be hosting and paying for the food, drinks, and other arrangements, we can expect a hefty bill – which will be borne by taxpayers, of course.

It doesn’t look like it’s a free lunch. Visitors may think that as taxpayers, they have already paid for these open house festivities so they may as well bring their entire families for the food.

It’s also preposterous to hear PAS leaders criticising the federal government for these open houses being political when they have notoriously used religion for political reasons as well.

They have justified their politics by even defending corruption, with religious exculpation.

Barely seven months after last year’s general election, Malaysians in these six states must come out to vote again.

Well, there’s no conventional entertainment in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, so political rallies could provide comic relief from certain politicians’ antics, but for voters in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, it’s looking like a chore.

The challenge for Pakatan, especially, is to convince urbanites to come out and vote because a poor turn-out due to political fatigue will be detrimental for the party in the state elections.

The non-Malay voters, who are loyal Pakatan backers, are known to be disinterested in by-elections and possibly state elections too, because they believe the status quo would remain.

But in predominantly Malay areas, if there’s a close clash between Pakatan and Perikatan or Barisan Nasional and Perikatan, the non-Malay votes would be costly. Here’s the irony, for the first time, we’ll see Pakatan campaigning for Barisan and vice versa.

Everything is political and the last thing we want is to hear our politicians saying their actions are not political or telling their opponents to stop politicking. Hypocrisy is surplus to requirements.

Earning her stripes as a filmmaker


Pole position: Eu is the first female Malaysian movie director to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival.

MALAYSIAN filmmaker Amanda Nell Eu may not be a familiar name to most Malaysians, but she has set a record by becoming the first female Malaysian director to head to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France.

Her movie, Tiger Stripes, is in competition for the coveted award for best first feature film at the event and is set to showcase her talent as a rising filmmaker in Malaysia.

At the 62nd edition of the Cannes Critics’ Week next month, the film will have its world premiere at the festival alongside 11 titles selected from 1,000 films screened.

Certainly, it’s a feat, regardless of the outcome of the event. It is also the first Malaysian film to be featured in Cannes since 2010.

Over the Hari Raya holiday, I had a chance to speak to Eu, who has already received international coverage, including from the media in the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and even the Middle East.

Tiger Stripes tells the story of 12-year-old Zaffan, who struggles with puberty and discovers her body morphing in a terrifying way, with her friends turning against her, and soon, dropping dead one by one.

I think this should suffice without giving away any more spoilers.

It’s no surprise that Eu has always been interested in watching horror movies since she was a teenager.

“I was especially into horror, and I would watch everything from black-and-white silent films to obscure cult classics.

“Even in art school I was making weird small films and music videos for the bands that I was in. This was when I lived in the UK.”

Eu studied graphic design in Central Saint Martins, one of the world’s leading centres for art and design education.

“But most of my projects were always films and animations. I was still adamant to get my graphic design degree, and a year after graduation, I enrolled myself into film school, so I ended up doing a Master’s at the London Film School in filmmaking.”

While Eu has been making short films since her return to Malaysia, she described Tiger Stripes as really a continuation of that obsession.

“It’s my dark sense of humour maybe, where I like to play with the idea of monstrosity and beauty, and who gets to dictate those definitions.”

She isn’t sure if her Bahasa Malaysia film would be regarded as commercial or independent, but notes that Tiger Stripes is not associated with any studios, so can be regarded as independent in that sense.

If in the past, filmmakers had to rely entirely on the decision of cinema owners to screen their movies, that has changed too. The monopoly has ended. For the first time, Malaysians can watch foreign movies and TV series because of platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Viu, and even on Astro.

These platforms, known as streamers, have provided a great opportunity to reach out to a wider audience and is a big help to filmmakers.

No doubt, going to the cinemas is an experience. The big screen with the best sound and colour makes the difference.

But there are also many who like to take their time to watch shows, especially after midnight, and not to forget the luxury of stopping a movie and resume watching at our time. Any film buff would agree that both platforms – the cinemas and streamers – have their own merits.

We hope Eu will create history for Malaysia at Cannes, the resort town on the French Riviera, which is also regarded as the Capital of Cinema.

For now, she has already earned her stripes as a young filmmaker.

Planning a sakura holiday in Japan? It’s all about timing


This year, cherry blossom season in Japan started earlier than expected. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH

It has become progressively difficult predicting the cherry blossom season in Japan each year. Since it’s regarded peak period, travellers should make their airline and hotel bookings at least six months in advance to get a good deal.

Some may have even placed their reservations a year ahead. In my case, I bought three air tickets to Osaka before Covid-19 hit.After two years, Japan finally fully opened its borders a few months ago. Unfortunately, my mum-in-law didn’t make the trip because she passed away last year.

It was her wish to see the sakura, but we couldn’t realise her dream. Besides, she knew her days on Earth were numbered.

Finally, my wife Florence and I made the trip on March 30. Malaysia Airlines kindly reimbursed my mum-in-law’s fare.

But we still had to take our chances on our timing to be in Osaka – which was our gateway to Kyoto and Kanazawa, our true destinations.

The cherry blossoms only have a short blooming season. Just about two weeks before the petals fall off and it’s over. It’s certainly a reminder of how fleeting life can be.But we arrived in Kyoto during the peak of the season. This year’s cherry blossom has bloomed earlier than usual, with reports that the season moved on to other areas like Sendai and Yamagata just a few days before our arrival – which was two weeks earlier than usual!

My former colleague, PK Katharason, who now resides in Kyoto, texted me before our arrival saying the rain had started, and he was worried that the petals would be completely gone before we arrived.


The writer and his wife, Florence, at Kyoto’s Keage Incline or Sakyo-ku, with three cute youngsters dressed in traditional garb.

But the cherry blossoms waited for us. Not only in Osaka but in Kyoto, Kanazawa and Nara as well, which my sakura trail took me to subsequently.

PK took us to Kyoto’s Keage Incline (Sakyo-ku), a former railway track known for clusters of picturesque cherry blossoms lining a 582m-long space, which offers the best setting in spring.

It was such a delight to see many locals and foreigners dressed in kimono and posing with the gorgeous cherry blossom trees, numbering about 100.

In fact, just down the road is the popular Philosopher’s Path, a cherry-tree-lined canal, with over 400 trees!

Linking the disused railway line is Lake Biwa Canal leading to Kyoto’s Kamo River, which was used to transport water, merchandise and passengers.

After two nights in Kyoto, we embarked on a two-hour train ride to Kanazawa, which is known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, geisha houses, samurai districts, art museums and the iconic Kenrokuen Garden, which opened in the 17th century.

Kanazawa is not on the radar of most Malaysian tourists, but it’s worth visiting because of its well-preserved historical sites, and it has successfully retained its traditional atmosphere.


At the Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, locals (and foreigners) were seen enjoying themselves in beautiful kimonos.

At the Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, locals (and foreigners) were seen enjoying themselves in beautiful kimonos.

Kenrokuen is certainly the number one spot for cherry blossoms. So, it was no surprise when we spotted a couple from Hong Kong spending hours, with an entourage of photographers and make-up artists, posing for their wedding pictures.

There were families, all in their traditional Japanese costumes, taking pictures and just milling about.

The third stop was Nara, with its world-famous deer park. Set up in 1880, it’s one of the oldest parks in Japan, with about 1,300 deer roaming in the sprawling park and temple grounds.

What could be better than having your Instagram pictures taken with the deer and the cherry blossom trees? Indeed, that was something my wife and I did.


A gorgeous sakura tree in one of the gardens in Kanazawa.

But all good things must come to an end. We wrapped up our adventure at Osaka Castle, waiting for the sunset.

We joined the younger crowd of Japanese around the castle garden, where they were drinking sake, beer, and eating beef on skewers and takoyaki, the ball-shaped Japanese snack filled with diced octopus.

Here’s a tip to keep your budget reasonable – book your hotels early, choose one that’s near a train station, so you don’t have to resort to the expensive taxis. Travel light and exclude breakfast as part of your hotel stay.

Better still, check if the onsen or public baths are part of the hotel facilities. Japanese hotel rooms are tiny, so having a good scrub down at the spacious thermal baths is recommended.

There are many good Japanese meals anywhere and anytime on every street corner. If you’re lost and your app can’t help you, just ask for directions because the average Japanese person is most helpful and courteous, even if they might struggle a little with English.

Kampung boy leads space stem cell research at top varsity


Prof Dr Kee Keh Hooi from the School of Medicine, Tsinghua University in Beijing.

KUALA LUMPUR: It may seem like a galaxy far, far away when human beings from earth can stay for a long period of time in a spacecraft or even on the moon or Mars, but Malaysian scientist Prof Dr Kee Keh Kooi is already doing research on its effects on human bodies.

The Tsinghua University lecturer is heading a team to study how gravity and even radiation affect the development of human embryonic stem cells in space.

In short, understanding how human reproduction will affect human beings who will spend a long time in space.

The research is also to find answers as to how the human embryonic stem can differentiate in space.

“It is already happening as Chinese astronauts could stay for a period of time in a station on the moon, astronauts could orbit around the earth, and even ordinary people could travel to space,’’ he said.

The Sitiawan-born renowned academician was interviewed online from Beijing by Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai on his webcast programme @realchunwai on Thursday.

His accomplishment was highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he spoke at Tsinghua University during an official visit to China last month.

China recently announced its readiness to start its lunar base on the moon within five years, ahead of landing astronauts there in subsequent years.

Dr Kee has also conducted his research via China’s first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, which was launched in 2017.

Its main task was to deliver fuel and supplies to the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab, but it also played host to ground-breaking scientific experiments conducted remotely by earth-based scientists in China.

Dr Kee specialises in stem cell research and how it can be cultured for medical technologies to help patients suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and even spinal cord injuries.

Besides devoting his time in laboratories, he also lectures undergraduate and post-graduate students at Tsinghua, which is regarded as China’s top university.

He spent decades in the United States, where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Iowa State University. This was followed by a PhD at Weill Cornell University.

Later, he worked at the University of California, San Francisco, before taking up a three-year stint as a research associate at Stanford University.

The opportunity for him to take a leading role as a principal researcher came when he applied for a post at Tsinghua University after seeing a vacancy advertised in an academic journal in 2009.

“There was an opening for stem cell research at the university, and it caught my interest immediately,’’ he said.

Asked about the differences in the manner in which research is conducted in China and the United States, Dr Kee said that in the United States, individual research was common, while in China, a team of between 50 and 100 people could be involved in a big project.

Despite having spent over 12 years in Beijing, Dr Kee, who grew up in Johor Baru, makes it a point to visit Malaysia annually, especially during Chinese New Year.

His parents, who moved to Johor Baru from Sitiawan to run a coffee shop, are still operating at the premises in Gelang Patah.

Dr Kee is a former student of Foon Yew High School, one of the elite independent schools in Johor.

“Balik kampung is always on my mind. The minute China reopened its border, I took my family home to Malaysia for three weeks,” he said.

Dr Kee, who was born in Kampung Remis, a small fishing village, described himself as a kampung boy. His family, he said, is “a simple Teochew family”.

Dr Kee said he would be happy to conduct talks on his work at Malaysian universities if there are opportunities.

His advice to Malaysians who wish to study at Tsinghua or Peking University is simply to study hard, get good grades and be focused.

However, he added that there are many other universities in China besides these top two.

He said Tsinghua also offers other disciplines, especially at the post-graduate level in economics, architecture, and law, which are conducted in English for international students.

To watch the full interview with Dr Kee, follow @realchuwai on Facebook and YouTube.