Latest news with #46thAseanSummitandRelatedSummits
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Aviation experts gather in Penang for Asean sustainability workshop
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 88 aviation experts from the region and Europe have gathered here for the Asean Workshop on Aviation Sustainability – Operational Improvements and Efficiency Gains. The workshop aims to discuss various aviation-related topics, including a focus on carbon emission measurements and airspace efficiency. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) hosted the three-day workshop with support from other relevant agencies. AirAsia chief sustainability officer Yap Mun Ching said the workshop gathered aviation stakeholders from across Asean to explore innovative strategies to achieve net-zero emissions and to address the growing industry demand for greater collaboration between regulators and airlines. "For us as airlines, we have to work with all the regulators to implement our net-zero strategies. One of the things we requested from CAAM and EASA was support for a workshop to explore how to improve our measurement of carbon emissions and implement new technologies, as well as to learn from Europe's emissions mitigation plans for our airspace. "A lot of times when you talk about aviation sustainability, you hear people talking about things like sustainable aviation fuels, maybe carbon offsetting, but the core of it is how efficiently you operate," she told Bernama at the workshop's reception here tonight. Yap also noted that airlines are now looking to push further through innovation and closer coordination with air traffic management and air traffic control services. Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai graced the reception. It was attended by the CAAM deputy chief executive officer (regulator) Captain Md Jani Md Dom. Malaysia is the Asean chair in 2025. It recently hosted the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits from May 23-26 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. This is its fifth Asean chairmanship, having held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Hun Manet briefs Anwar on Cambodia-Thailand border dispute
PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has briefed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on ongoing border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand during a phone conversation. In a Facebook post yesterday, Manet stated that he explained the Kingdom's position on the dispute to Anwar. "Cambodia adheres to the principle of maintaining peace, friendship, and good cooperation with Thailand. Cambodia's decision to refer Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, and Mom Bei areas to the International Court of Justice is to seek an early, peaceful, and permanent solution to the border issue in these areas rather than to prolong the uncertainty which can lead to renewed armed conflicts," said Manet. The dispute escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash with Thai troops in Preah Vihear province on May 28. Manet added that Cambodia continues to work with Thailand to accelerate border demarcation and delimitation, excluding the four disputed areas, through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC). The next JBC meeting is scheduled for June 14 in Phnom Penh. "Cambodia continues to maintain relations between the two countries through all existing mechanisms for the mutual benefit of the two peoples," he told Anwar, who chairs Asean this year. Manet also congratulated Anwar on Malaysia's successful hosting of the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur last month.– BERNAMA
The Star
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Asean remains a credible partner on global stage, says Thai minister
Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. -- Photo: The Nation Thailand/ANN KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) remains a relevant and credible partner amid increasingly shifting global geopolitical and economic dynamics, said Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. He emphasised that Asean's cohesiveness and commitment to peace and economic cooperation are key to its resilience. "These elements are what make Asean strong together,' he told Bernama in an interview on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits held in Malaysia's capital last week. He said maintaining regional security and stability is vital for Asean to continue to be seen by its external partners as a region of peace and prosperity. He highlighted several Asean-led mechanisms that have continued to be the cornerstone of the region's security and peace architecture, such as the Asean Regional Forum, East Asia Summit, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Established in 1976, the TAC is a legally binding code for interstate relations in the region and beyond. As of October 2024, 55 countries are parties to the TAC while several others are also seeking to accede to the treaty. "We are moving in the right direction. The concept of Asean strong together will inspire confidence in the global community that Asean is a worthy and credible partner,' said Maris. Asean was founded in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, as a non-aligned regional response to the Cold War, with Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore as founding members. Asean today consists of 10 members after the inclusion of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Timor-Leste is expected to officially join as its 11th member by the end of this year. With a combined population of almost 700 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$4 trillion, the bloc is on course to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. Since its establishment, the bloc has continued to evolve to meet the challenges of the times, reflecting its pragmatism and strategic role as a constructive convener of powers. Maris said the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean Community Vision 2045 adopted during the summit is a testament to the bloc's ambition and long-term commitment to build a more integrated, prosperous and resilient future. The vision is anchored on three core pillars, namely political-security, economic and socio-cultural, and reflects the bloc's inclusive approach to development and integration. The Thai top diplomat also commended Malaysia's role and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership as Asean Chair 2025. "With his guidance, I can see that Asean will move in a correct direction,' he added. - Bernama
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asean remains a credible partner on global stage: Thai minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) remains a relevant and credible partner amid increasingly shifting global geopolitical and economic dynamics, said Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. He emphasised that Asean's cohesiveness and commitment to peace and economic cooperation are key to its resilience. "These elements are what make Asean strong together," he told Bernama in an interview on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits held in Malaysia's capital last week. He said maintaining regional security and stability is vital for Asean to continue to be seen by its external partners as a region of peace and prosperity. He highlighted several Asean-led mechanisms that have continued to be the cornerstone of the region's security and peace architecture, such as the Asean Regional Forum, East Asia Summit, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Established in 1976, the TAC is a legally binding code for interstate relations in the region and beyond. As of October 2024, 55 countries are parties to the TAC while several others are also seeking to accede to the treaty. "We are moving in the right direction. The concept of Asean strong together will inspire confidence in the global community that Asean is a worthy and credible partner," said Maris. Asean was founded in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, as a non-aligned regional response to the Cold War, with Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore as founding members. Asean today consists of 10 members after the inclusion of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Timor-Leste is expected to officially join as its 11th member by the end of this year. With a combined population of almost 700 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$4 trillion, the bloc is on course to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. Since its establishment, the bloc has continued to evolve to meet the challenges of the times, reflecting its pragmatism and strategic role as a constructive convener of powers. Maris said the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean Community Vision 2045 adopted during the summit is a testament to the bloc's ambition and long-term commitment to build a more integrated, prosperous and resilient future. The vision is anchored on three core pillars, namely political-security, economic and socio-cultural, and reflects the bloc's inclusive approach to development and integration. The Thai top diplomat also commended Malaysia's role and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership as Asean Chair 2025. "With his guidance, I can see that Asean will move in a correct direction," he added.
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Tech triumph on Asean stage
PETALING JAYA: Experts say Malaysia delivered impressive 5G connectivity at the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits held in Kuala Lumpur last week. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a Bernama report that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in partnership with local telecommunications industry players, provided three large-size '5G in a box' units and 26 smaller units for the Summit. Monash University Malaysia School of Information Technology senior lecturer Dr Tan Chee Keong believes that innovative use of "5G in a box" units was a key success factor. "These compact, portable 5G base stations were crucial for providing robust, high-speed connectivity, with reported speeds of 300Mbps to 600Mbps and up to 1Gbps at the media centre where the Asean Summit was held in KL," said Tan in a statement to LifestyleTech. He added that this "plug-and-play' capability enabled rapid, cost-effective and flexible network deployment which was essential for accommodating over 1,200 media personnel and delegates. "Traditional infrastructure would have been impractical for such a temporary event with intense, high-bandwidth demands for real-time reporting and communication," he said. With personnel constantly moving around within a complex event landscape featuring temporary structures and varied building materials, inconsistent signal coverage would have been a major hurdle, Tan added. "The agility of these units effectively overcame these architectural and logistical complexities, ensuring continuous high-bandwidth access precisely where needed," he said. He also explained that high-speed and seamless connectivity is crucial for ensuring real-time communication, live broadcasting and virtual participation can be facilitated without hiccups. "Providing ubiquitous connectivity at an international event like the Asean Summit serves as a powerful demonstration of a nation's technological capabilities and its readiness to embrace the digital future. It showcases Malaysia's commitment to digital transformation and its ability to host technologically-advanced events," Tan added. Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association president Siraj Jalil said MCMC's recent efforts to ensure smooth 5G connectivity at the summit was a strategic move that aligns with the country's aspiration to lead the digital frontier in South-East Asia. "It is essential to recognise that 5G readiness is not merely a technical benchmark. It is a demonstration of Malaysia's commitment to offering a secure, smart and competitive digital ecosystem," said Siraj. In terms of security, Siraj said 5G enabled advanced surveillance systems including AI-powered cameras for real-time anomaly detection and facial recognition. The network also allowed instantaneous sharing of documents, ultra high definition video conferencing and smart logistical coordination, which significantly enhanced operational efficiency and safety. "Digital infrastructure is not just a technical requirement, but a key enabler of modern diplomacy and high-standard governance," Siraj added. Tech expert and content creator Adil Hidayat, also known as Pendakwah Teknologi, said it was a good move by MCMC to enhance the 5G network and coverage at the Asean Summit. "What's more important is that there were no reports of slow Internet or connectivity issues throughout the event, that alone speaks volumes about the strength and reliability of our 5G infrastructure," Adil added. Beyond the Summit Local 5G network coverage in populated areas is reported to be at 82.4% as of December 2024, with over 53% of mobile users now on 5G compared to just 24.6% the year before. Based on latest Opensignal Q1 2025 data which indicates that overall 5G download speeds is at an average 237.5Mbps, Tan said this gives users faster downloads for large files, smoother 4K/8K video streaming plus a much-improved experience for cloud-based applications compared to 4G. 'The ability to achieve speeds well over 200Mbps in covered areas certainly offers a meaningful upgrade for data-intensive activities,' he added. He believes 5G also delivers a major security upgrade over 4G by providing stronger encryption and authentication, better user data protection and features like network slicing that creates isolated, highly secure virtual networks. It also enables safer integration of billions of IoT devices, giving users greater confidence in data protection and online activity in a cyber-threatened world. For 5G to truly benefit the entire country, particularly rural and remote areas, Tan said the focus should not just be on speed and coverage but also affordability, inclusivity and tangible real-world benefits. 'Critically, the recent transition to a dual 5G network model is expected to foster increased market competition among providers. This, combined with diverse and tailored packages, including affordable prepaid options, will be crucial in driving down the cost for consumers,' he said. He added that ongoing 5G rollout must prioritise rural and remote areas by overcoming bureaucratic and logistical challenges as well as using innovative solutions like Fixed Wireless Access. 'Prioritising these communities, as laid out in the national digital connectivity plan Jendela's second phase is critical. The way 5G has been rolled out at the Asean Summit and through ongoing initiatives truly highlights Malaysia's commitment to its digital transformation goals,' he said. Siraj acknowledged the strength of 5G connectivity at the Asean Summit as a proud moment for Malaysia, but added that it must be seen as the beginning of a broader transformation. 'The next step is to ensure that this technology forms the foundation of an inclusive, secure and high-impact digital ecosystem that truly improves the daily lives of Malaysian citizens,' he said. Tan concurred, adding that the Jendela initiative — which has recorded 9.03 million premises with high-speed/fibre Internet — provides the foundational backbone by enhancing nationwide fixed and mobile broadband coverage and preparing for 5G transition across all segments to ensure a pervasive and equitable digital foundation necessary for widespread adoption. 'Together, these efforts prove Malaysia is serious about its MyDigital aspirations, showing the world it's a dynamic, forward-thinking nation ready to seize the full potential of the digital era for sustainable growth and a better future for all,' said Tan.
