Malaysia boosts defence cooperation with ASEAN member states
Malaysian Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has reaffirmed the importance of strong cooperation with countries, especially member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Photo: //www.theedgemarkets.com/)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has reaffirmed the importance of strong cooperation with countries,especially member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).
According to the minister, to realise this, theTrilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines will be upgraded toministerial-level cooperation.
In a statement on January 17, Hishammuddin said he will hold talks with hisIndonesian and Philippine counterparts on this issue later this month.
Malaysia and Indonesia will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) oncomprehensive defence cooperation. The two countries will also resume themeeting of the Malaysia-Indonesia General Border Committee to be hosted byMalaysia in February.
Referring to the organisation of the 2022 Defence Services Asia Exhibition & Conference (DSA), the Malaysian official said the event willtake place from March 28 – 31, offering a chance for Malaysian defence officersto meet their counterparts, thus promoting defence and security cooperation betweenstakeholders and government agencies./.
About 15 percent of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia were temporarily closed due to a lack of funds stemming from the COVID-19 epidemic.
Malaysia’s palm oil industry is expected to maintain its 2021 performance this year backed by various marketing and promotional efforts to be conducted by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities and its agencies.
Director General of the Malaysian Health Ministry Noor Hisham Abdullah said on January 6 that the Drug Control Authority (DCA) of the country has given conditional approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty jab for children aged between 5 and 11 years old.
The National Recovery Council (NRC) of Malaysia has recommended that the health and home ministries begin talks to study and propose measures to the council for the immediate and safe reopening of the country’s borders.
Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs Hamzah Zainudin announced on January 13 that his country will establish four more international gateways in Sarawak, Johor and Terengganu in 2022.
Analysis by an economist found the US tariffs may reduce Thailand's exports by 8.16 billion USD, and when factoring in the trade diversion effect, they could drop by 457 billion THB (14.14 billion USD) this year.
Laos has reaffirmed its strong commitment to protecting forests and enhancing climate change adaptation, calling for deeper regional cooperation to safeguard ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
The import restriction will remain in effect until further notice, depending on developments in disease prevention and control efforts in affected countries, according to the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
Addressing the event, Indonesian Ambassador Dr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan, who is now holding the ACAT rotating chairmanship, highlighted ASEAN’s message on a more united, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable association. He reviewed key achievements of the group, such as community building and expanded cooperation with global partners.
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) has become a key mechanism in narrowing development gaps among member states, helping the CLMV fully implement the joint commitments and comprehensively participate in the bloc’s integration and community building processes.
Four other major Thai destinations - Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai - also ranked among the region’s top cities for repeat visits, reflecting Thailand’s diversity and enduring appeal for travellers of all types.
In its Pre-Budget Statement 2026, the ministry stated that growth will be anchored by resilient domestic demand, particularly through private investment, stable employment, and income-enhancing measures such as targeted cash transfers and wage increases.
Singapore is at risk of chikungunya transmission as the number of reported cases this year has more than doubled compared to last year, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has reported.
On August 11, major RoK outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, KBS, The Korea Herald, and The Korea Times, provided prominent coverage of the talks held the same day between General Secretary Lam and President Lee Jae Myung, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy, security, technology, and culture.
The Singaporean government needs to enable people, workers and businesses to make full use of these tools, and enhance their competitive advantage. It “will walk this journey” with Singaporeans as it has done for the past six decades, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm both ASEAN member states' and partners’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and narrowing development gaps.
Thailand emits roughly 350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, with the energy and industrial sectors accounting for more than 75% of this amount. Though this volume represents just 1% of global emissions, the Thai Government is eager to achieve carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050.
The Malaysian government is undertaking a structured assessment to examine the role of nuclear power as a potential option for clean, stable, and competitive electricity within Malaysia’s future energy mix.
It aims to identify and honour digital technology initiatives, products, and solutions with practical applications; promote creativity in technology development; anticipate trends and development potential in digital technology; and recognise the role of digital technology in economic growth and enhancing quality of life for citizens in ASEAN countries.
Addressing the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador Simon D.I. Soekamo, the rotating Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, highlighted the bloc's spirit of friendship and solidarity, and reaffirmed ASEAN's core values of peace, stability, and prosperity through cooperation and dialogue.
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Photo: //www.theedgemarkets.com/) 
