Month: December 2021

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Vietnamese Parliament To Discuss Urgent Economic Issues At Extraordinary Session

HANOI– The 15th National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, the country’s top legislature, will gather online from Jan 4 to 11, next year, for its first extraordinary session, to discuss “really urgent issues” concerning national development, NA secretary-general, Bui Van Cuong, said yesterday.

 

In particular, the legislators are expected to look into fiscal and monetary policies for the implementation of a socio-economic recovery and development programme, which is very urgent, given difficulties and challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he told a press briefing here.

 

He said, the legislators will also mull over an investment policy on construction of the North-South expressway for the 2021-2025 period, on special policies and mechanisms for the development of the southern Can Tho city, which is known as the leading growth engine in the country’s Mekong Delta region, and on many legislative amendments to facilitate investment and the operation of businesses.

 

According to him, the legislators will hold the session via video-conferencing, due to complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

 

In its second session in Nov, the Vietnamese top legislature set the country’s economic growth target for 2022 at between six and 6.5 percent.

 

Source: NAM News Network

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Malaysian PM Thanks UAE For Donation To Flood Affected Armed Forces Personnel

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob recorded his appreciation to the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for extending contributions to more than 700 Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel families affected by floods.

 

In his official Facebook posting on Thursday, he said the affected armed forces personnel received basic necessities and food presented by the UAE Ambassador to Malaysia, Khalid Ghanim Mohammad Al-Ghaith to MAF represented by Defence Forces chief Gen Affendi Buang.

 

“I wish to express our thanks to the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the kind gesture as Malaysia and UAE have a cordial relationship. Even though the two countries are far apart, such goodwill is highly appreciated,” he said.

 

Ismail Sabri said the donations would be distributed from this weekend to affected MAF families especially in the state of Selangor and Pahang.

 

 

Source: NAM News Network

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Malaysia Cancels New Year Celebrations

KUALA LUMPUR — The 2022 New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been cancelled and will be replaced with special prayers as a sign of respect and sympathy for flood victims in several states.

 

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a Facebook posting on Thursday said he had instructed for a prayers session to be organised at the Putra Mosque in the federal administrative capital, Putrajaya on Friday.

 

The posting was also attached with a poster of the event starting at 7 pm Friday.

 

In this regard, the Prime Minister called on mosques all over the country especially state mosques to organise similar functions for prayers.

 

Meanwhile, non-Muslim members of the Malaysian Family could also hold prayers according to their respective religions, he said.

 

He hoped all efforts would be made to receive blessings for Malaysia next year.

 

Source: NAM News Network

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COVID: Over 22.8 Mln Adult Population In Malaysia Fully Vaccinated

KUALA LUMPUR — A total of 22,855,374 individuals or 97.6 per cent of the adult population in the country have completed their COVID-19 vaccination as of Thursday.

 

Based on the Health Ministry’s data on the COVIDNOW portal, 23,148,776 individuals or 98.9 per cent of the group have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

 

As for the adolescent population aged between 12 and 17, a total of 2,753,927 individuals or 87.5 per cent have completed their vaccination while 2,846,238 individuals or 90.4 per cent have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

A total of 205,259 doses of the vaccine were dispensed on Thursday, of which 197,121 were as the booster dose, 4,719 the second dose and 3,419 the first dose.

 

This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme to 57,515,286 doses, including 6,109,673 booster doses.

 

 

Source: NAM News Network

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Asian Development Bank’s Former President Masao Fujioka Dies At 97

JAKARTA — Masao Fujioka, former president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has died at the age of 97, according to the regional development bank.

 

Serving as president from 1981 to 1989, Fujioka presided over one of the most dynamic and expansionary periods in the institution’s history as well as promoting greater coordination of ADB operations.

 

Under his leadership, annual ADB lending almost doubled in volume to US$3.2 billion in 1988 from US$1.7 billion in 1981 and disbursements nearly tripled to US$1.65 billion from US$667 million.

 

In 1986, China joined ADB, and a first loan was approved for India.

 

“Fujioka will be sadly missed by this institution and the people who have known and worked with him,” ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa said in a statement.

 

“His accomplishments during a long tenure helped significantly strengthen ADB’s presence in the Asia and Pacific region. We remain grateful to him for his foresight and leadership.”

 

Fujioka’s family said his passing, in Tokyo, Japan on Dec 27, was due to natural causes.

 

His involvement in ADB dated back to the institution’s creation. In 1966, Japan Finance Ministry seconded him to the United Nation’s Bangkok-based Economic Commission for Asia and Far East, which worked on the establishment of ADB.

 

The bank now has 68 members, compared with 31 members when it started. Malaysia joined ADB as a founding member in 1966.

 

 

Source: NAM News Network

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Malaysia Strongly Condemns Attacks On Jazan, Saudi Arabia

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia) — Malaysia strongly condemned the projectile attacks by the Houthis on Jazan, Saudi Arabia on Dec 24 which has resulted in the loss of lives and injuries, as well as destruction to properties.

 

The Foreign Ministry in a statement Friday said Malaysia extended its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to those affected by the attacks.

 

“Malaysia rejects all forms of violence that destabilise peace and security in the region. The continuation of hostilities will be detrimental to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the statement read.

 

Malaysia will continue to support efforts aimed at finding an amicable and peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen, the ministry said.

 

According to Saudi News Agency (SPA), two people were killed and seven injured, as a result of a Houthi projectile that hit the southern Saudi city of Jazan on Dec 24.

 

 

Source: NAM News Network