Category: Key Issues

KOTA BHARU, The High Court here today quashed an election petition filed by a representative of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, thus confirming the victory of PAS-Bersatu’s Datuk Mohd Azizi Abu Naim in the Gua Musang parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15).

Judge Datuk Roslan Abu Bakar ordered the petitioner, Mohd Azmi Mahmood, to pay costs of RM25,000.

In his judgment, Justice Roslan said the court accepted the three issues in the preliminary objection raised by Mohd Azizi as the respondent to the election petition.

He said the date the petition was filed was outside the permitted time-frame of 28 days according to the Election Offences Act 1954, and the appointment of the petitioner’s lawyers was not in accordance with the provisions of the same law.

“This third issue is that the petitioner failed to provide details on his bribery allegation like complete information on the agent of the bribe giver, causing the petition to be defective and invalid,” he said.

At the proceedings, the petitioner was represented by lawyers Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Rahmat, Mohamed Baharuddin Mohamed Ariff and Norhazira Abu Hayyan while the respondent was represented by Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Nik Bahrum Nik Abdulllah, Yusfarizal Yusoff and Mohd Faizi Che Abu.

In GE15, Tengku Razaleigh failed to retain the Gua Musang seat for a 12th time when he lost to Mohd Azizi by a majority of just 163 votes.

Mohd Azizi (PAS-Bersatu) obtained 21,826 votes while Tengku Razaleigh (BN-UMNO) garnered 21,663 votes.

On Jan 3, Mohd Azmi filed the petition to challenge the Gua Musang election result and Mohd Azizi then submitted his preliminary objection to cancel the election petition.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEOUL– South Korea’s presidential office on Sunday hinted at the possibility of easing some restrictions under an anti-corruption law as part of efforts to bolster domestic demand.

“There were questions about whether the food price ceiling stipulated in the Kim Young-ran Act can be raised from the current 30,000 won (US$23) to 50,000 won,” presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon told Yonhap News Agency.

“We are not only looking into this issue but discussing (various) matters as well to boost domestic demand,” he said, adding those issues would soon be discussed among economic policymakers.

The anti-corruption law, named after a former Supreme Court justice, went into effect in 2016, barring public officials, journalists and educators from being treated to meals worth more than 30,000 won.

They are also banned from receiving gifts exceeding 50,000 won, and congratulatory and condolence money over 100,000 won.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

AKP Phnom Penh, Three Cambodian sports to demonstrate cultural identity have been included among the total 37 kinds of sports for the 32nd SEA Games in the country

The note was underlined by H.E. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) in a press conference chaired by H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and Permanent Vice President of CAMSOC here in Phnom Penh on Thursday.

The three sports include Lbokator, Kun Khmer and Chess (Ouk Chaktrang) and the SEA Games 2023 will be a good opportunity for Cambodia to showcase the national cultural identity sports.

By far, Cambodia has organised two events – Kun Khmer SEA Championship 2022 and SEA Chess Championship 2023 – and the country will organise Lbokator SEA Championship 2023 next month, he added.

According to H.E. Vtah Chamroeun, International Kun Khmer Federation currently has 50 member countries and it will further promote the sports to attract more support from countries across the world.

In total, 36 sports and a demonstration sport (table football) have been listed for the 32nd SEA Games and 13 for the 12th ASEAN Para Games.

Cambodia will host the 32nd SEA Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games from May 5 to 17, 2023, and from Jun. 3 to 9, 2023 respectively, under the motto “Sport: Live in Peace”.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

On 23 February 2023, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, together with H.E. Mr. Alexander Khvtisiashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, co-chaired the 2nd Thailand-Georgia Political Consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The forum aimed to foster bilateral cooperation and enhance mutual understanding on regional and international issues.

The Meeting reviewed the bilateral relations and ways forward for Thailand and Georgia, notably through an exchange of high-level visits, inter-parliamentary cooperation and tourism. Both sides also discussed trade and investment opportunities, especially in agriculture, food processing as well as trade facilitation. Other topics of discussion included technical cooperation to exchange each side’s knowledge and best practices. Both sides also reiterated the importance of consular cooperation to further promote engagements between the peoples.

In addition, both sides exchanged views on regional and global situations as well as reciprocal support at the United Nations. VFM also asked for Georgia’s support for Thailand’s candidature to host the Specialised Expo 2028 in Phuket.

After the Consultations, the Co-Chairmen witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU), namely (1) the MoU between the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) and the Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training and Research Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and (2) the MoU between the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) which will further strengthen technical and trade cooperation in years to come.

On this occasion, VFM also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Georgian delegation.

Thailand and Georgia established their diplomatic relations on 21 July 1992. Both sides commemorated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations last year. Established in 2017, the Political Consultations Meeting is one of the important mechanisms between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to advance bilateral relations and cooperation. The 1st Political Consultations was held in Tbilisi in 2019.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand

SEOUL– South Korea and the United States are in consultation over the possible deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Korea for allied drills next month, an informed source said Friday.

The move is in tune with the allies’ stepped-up efforts to reinforce deterrence following the North’s missile provocations, including the launch of a long-range ballistic missile last Saturday.

If agreed, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, a centerpiece of America’s naval might, is likely to make a port call in South Korea and take part in maritime drills in connection with the allies’ springtime Freedom Shield exercise to begin in the middle of March, according to observers.

The U.S. previously sent the USS Ronald Reagan carrier to the peninsula last year.

Seoul’s defense ministry refused to confirm whether the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier will be deployed to Korea anytime soon.

“The deployment of the U.S.’ key military assets has proceeded in close consultation between South Korea and the U.S.,” it said in a press statement.

During the allies’ annual defense ministerial talks in November last year, the two sides agreed to increase the frequency and intensity in the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the peninsula. Strategic assets usually mean aircraft carriers, strategic bombers and nuclear-powered submarines.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, paid an Official Visit to Thailand during 23-24 February 2023.

During the visit, H.E. Mr. Prak Sokhonn held a bilateral discussion with H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and paid a courtesy call on His Excellency General (Ret.) Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, at the Government House.

Both sides were pleased with the excellent bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia with strong friendship at both Leader and people levels, as well as growing cooperation in all areas of common interest. Both sides were particularly pleased with fast-growing bilateral trade and investment and tourism, which directly benefit peoples of both countries.

Trade between Thailand and Cambodia grew almost 23 percent from 8 billion US dollar in 2021 to 9.8 billion US dollar in 2022. Thai investment in Cambodia grew to over 2 billion US dollar in 2022, while Cambodia’s investment in Thailand increased to 130 million US dollar, or over 8 percent growth.

With over 850,000 Thais visiting Cambodia in 2022, Thai visitors were the largest group of foreign visitors to Cambodia last year, while almost 400,000 Cambodians visited Thailand during the same period.

Both sides believed that there are a lot more potentials for the two countries in the future, and recognised the need for neighbouring countries to combine strengths in order to be stronger and more resilient amidst uncertainties in global political and economic situations. To this end, both sides will further advance the Partnership for Peace and Prosperity between the two countries as follows:

• Closer Connectivity for Common Prosperity

Both sides will work to synergise the strengths and potentials of Thai and Cambodian economies through closer connectivity in all dimensions. Both countries will work closely to harmonise rules and regulations, and ensure smoother trade facilitation in order to achieve the bilateral trade target of 15 billion US dollar by 2025, as well as to increase the supply chain connectivity between the two countries.

Both sides will strive to enhance physical connectivity between Thailand and Cambodia, which will stimulate greater economic activities and uplift the well-being of peoples of both countries.

During this visit, Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn presided over a ceremony to officially mark the soft opening of Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge (Ban Nong Ian – Stung Bot) connecting Sa Kaeo Province of Thailand and Banteay Meanchey Province of Cambodia. This is an important milestone and opens a new chapter for greater connectivity and common prosperity between the two countries. This Friendship Bridge, the first between Thailand and Cambodia, will be the main channel for over 60 percent of Thailand – Cambodia border trade, which previously depended on the congested Ban Khlong Luek – Poi Pet International Point of Entry. It will significantly boost the transportation of goods between Thailand and Cambodia, and along the Southern Economic Corridor.

Both sides also attached importance to enhancing financial cooperation and banking connectivity, especially the possible expansion of the cross-border QR code payment service, which has been fully operationalised since November 2022, to cover more types of transaction, including remittances of Cambodian workers in Thailand.

• Closer Cooperation for Common Peace and Prosperity

Both sides attached high importance to the maintenance of peace and stability along the Thai – Cambodian border. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the security agencies of the two countries at all levels through regular visits and close coordination to address common issues of concern. They will work together to advance cooperation on the issue of survey and demarcation of land boundary, which will benefit the people.

In particular, both sides agreed to work closely, at bilateral and regional levels, to tackle the fast-growing problem of call center and cyber scams. The Thai side proposed the setting up of a joint task force, consisting of relevant agencies of Thailand and Cambodia, to effectively address the problem. Thailand and Cambodia will work closely with other countries in ASEAN and beyond to combat this transnational crime that affects people from many countries.

Both sides also discussed ways to expedite humanitarian demining along the Thai – Cambodian border, as agreed by the Leaders of the two countries. The Thai side proposed 10 pilot areas and looks forward to starting this cooperation as early as possible in order to ensure the safety of people in these border areas.

In response to the fire incident in Poi Pet in December 2022, both sides agreed to work on an MoU on disaster and emergency response to enhance joint preparedness for any emergency in the future.

• Closer People-to-People Ties for Long-Lasting Friendship

Both sides attached high importance to promoting understanding and friendship at the people-to-people level, especially among young people of Thailand and Cambodia, through more educational and cultural exchanges. This will constitute a lasting foundation for Thailand – Cambodia relations in the future.

Both sides will also work closely on development cooperation and sustainable development that benefit the people and will continue to look for ways to further enhance cooperation on many areas that are important for the well-being of the people.

• Closer Partnership for Regional Peace and Prosperity

Both sides underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries of the Mekong Sub-region through ACMECS and expressed desire to see continued progress under this framework. Both sides also emphasised the importance of maintaining ASEAN solidarity and centrality in addressing challenges that are of importance to the region. Both countries will closely coordinate to advance ASEAN cooperation in all dimensions.

Thailand appreciated Cambodia for supporting Thailand’s candidature to host the Expo 2028 in Phuket.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand