KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — Palestine’s Ambassador to Malaysia Jehad Fouad Alqdra has praised Malaysia as one of Palestine’s most consistent and principled international supporters in its enduring struggle for statehood and self-determination.
He said the country has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, both at the government and public levels.
He reaffirmed that while bilateral ties are firmly rooted in solidarity, mutual respect, and shared humanitarian values, Palestine also seeks to advance cooperation with Malaysia in broader areas such as in economy and trade.
“I come here with clear mandate from by my president, Mahmoud Abbas and prime minister, Mohammad Mustafa. They have instructed me to further strengthen the relationships with Malaysia.
“And I am lucky in this matter because I do not have any problems conveying the Palestinian narrative to the government and people of Malaysia. Malaysia has long [been] aware of the situation since the beginning and supporting us all the time,” he told Bernama in an interview at his office.
Describing Malaysia as an important partner with strong regional and global linkages, Alqdra believed Putrajaya could further leverage its influence on regional and global platforms, as well as in multilateral forums, to rally stronger support for Palestine and highlight the ongoing humanitarian plights in the occupied territories.
“We hope Malaysia can use its good relations with other countries to support our cause,” he said.
On bilateral relations, Alqdra who assumed his position here in October last year, underscored plans to strengthen cooperation, including efforts to operationalise the Joint Committee Meeting, which was established in 2022 to enhance collaboration in tourism, trade, health, and Islamic affairs.
“That said, we also look forward to arranging an official visit by Palestinian Foreign Minister to Malaysia at soonest time possible.
“Malaysia has always been close to us, and we are working to bring this relationship to a higher level,” he added.
The ambassador also invited Malaysia to participate in post-war reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
He highlighted the deplorable situation as a result of Israel’s ceaseless attacks since October 7, 2023, pointing out that more than 80 per cent of the enclave has suffered devastations of key infrastructure and public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and housing blocks.
“We are appealing to governments and friends to participate in rebuilding efforts once the situation stabilised.
“We hoped Malaysia too would be able to take a more active role in the reconstruction process, bringing in their technology and building expertise to help us,” he said.
Alqdra stressed the need for a structured and meaningful approach, adding that participation in rebuilding projects such as housing, hospitals, and educational institutions would benefit the larger Palestinian community in Gaza. — Bernama
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With the fuel crisis showing no sign of abating, the Albanese government has unveiled a package worth more than $10 billion to protect the country’s fuel and fertiliser security.
The measures include setting up a government-owned Australian Fuel Security Reserve of about a billion litres.
The government would also raise the Minimum Stockholding Obligation by about ten days for every type of fuel.
The measures would expand Australia’s onshore reserve to at least 50 days supply and storage of diesel and aviation fuel.
As well, there is money for examining the feasibility of new or expanded refining capacity. Australia’s previous multiple oil refineries have shrunk from eight to just two, one of which, near Geelong, recently had a serious fire.
The government would aim to have its plan fully in place by 2030. It would be financed off budget meaning it doesn’t hit the budget’s bottom line. Much of the detail remains to be worked out.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese briefed national cabinet on the package on Wednesday before the announcement.
The components of the plan include:
$7.5 billion for the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility with financial support including loans, equity, guarantees, insurance and price support
$3.2 billion to establish the government-owned Australian Fuel Security Reserve to increase long-term diesel and aviation fuel supply and storage, combined with an increase to the Minimum Stockholding Obligation to extend Australia’s critical fuel reserves to 50 days. The reserve will concentrate on regional stocks and supply constraints for essential users in times of crisis.
$10 million for feasibility studies into new or expanded refining capabilities. These studies would be co-funded with state and territory governments.
Recently the opposition announced its own policy to boost fuel supplies. It said a Coalition government would boost Australia’s minimum fuel reserve to 60 days, and deliver at least one billion litres of new storage with a $800 million Fuel Security Facility.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor said the government plan was “too little and too late”.
Tony Wood, from the Grattan Institute’s climate change and energy program, told The Conversation the government’s planned modest increase in onshore storage was probably a good idea.
But he said there were a lot of questions about the proposed government-owned storage facility. These included how it would be managed, how the fuel would be used and who would pay for it.
Wood criticised the provision for feasibility studies for new refineries as a “dumb” idea given Australia was not producing oil to refine. There has been speculation about development of the Taroom Trough in Queensland, but the economic viability of this is unknown.
Wood said the emphasis should be on encouraging electric cars and trucks, and also looking at biofuels.
The Queensland government has just announced a plan to make available state-owned land for potential oil storage and refineries near ports.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
GEORGE TOWN, May 6 — The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will install two 1.8-metre (m) diameter main pipelines to channel more treated water from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to the Barat Daya district on the island as part of efforts to strengthen water supply by 2030.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the project is a key component of Phase 3 of the Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030), with an estimated total cost of about RM416 million involving pipe procurement, installation works, excavation and road reinstatement works, as well as land acquisition costs.
He said the first pipeline will connect the Sungai Dua WTP to the connection point of the Penang Third Undersea Twin Pipeline Project (3rd PTSP) in Butterworth, involving a route of about 13 kilometres on the mainland.
“The second 1.8m diameter pipeline will connect the 3rd PTSP landing point in the Macallum area to the Bukit Dumbar Reservoir and Pump House Complex over a distance of about 3.9 kilometres on the island at a cost of RM56 million,” he told reporters after inspecting the project site at Solok Tengku here, today.
According to him, the two pipelines are crucial to enable PBAPP to pump more treated water from Sungai Dua to the island, particularly to meet rising demand in the Barat Daya district, which is expected to increase from 202 million litres per day (MLD) this year to 301 MLD by 2030.
Pathmanathan said works for the new pipeline from Macallum to Bukit Dumbar are scheduled to begin this month and are expected to be completed by May 2027 due to technical and logistical constraints involving traffic management and relocation of utilities, such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and telecommunications lines.
“In addition, with the cooperation of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), the Public Works Department (JKR) and local authorities, we are confident these challenges can be overcome and the project completed as soon as possible,” he said.
He said the 3.9-kilometre project will be implemented in two phases due to land acquisition constraints, with the second phase involving about one kilometre crossing Sungai Pinang.
According to him, about 400 million litres of water per day are currently channelled to the island and with the completion of the dedicated pipelines, the capacity can be increased to around 600 million litres per day.
He added that the overall RM2.1 billion WCP 2030 is being implemented to optimise raw water resources, increase water treatment capacity and reduce dependency on the Sungai Dua WTP. — Bernama
SINGAPORE, May 6 — School bullies in Singapore face caning under new guidelines, but the education minister said today it would be meted out only as a last resort with strict safeguards.
Human rights groups regularly criticise Singapore for the use of corporal punishment, which remains part of both the school system and criminal justice, but authorities have defended it as a deterrent to crime and serious misconduct.
Caning was discussed in parliament yesterday after legislators asked how it would be used in relation to bullying in schools.
The debate followed stricter guidelines against serious student misconduct, including bullying, unveiled by the education ministry last month.
Under the guidelines, offenders could face between one and three strokes of the cane.
“Our schools use caning as a disciplinary measure if all the other measures are inadequate, given the gravity of the misconduct,” Education Minister Desmond Lee said yesterday.
“They follow strict protocols to ensure safety for the student. For instance, caning must be approved by the principal and administered only by authorised teachers,” he said.
“Schools will consider factors such as the maturity of the student and if caning will help the student learn from his mistake and understand the gravity of what he has done.”
The punishment is given only to boys, per “the Criminal Procedure Code, which states that women shall not be punished with caning”, Lee said.
Caning in Singapore is a legacy from British colonial rule, but Britain has long abolished corporal punishment.
After the caning is meted out, the school will “monitor the student’s wellbeing and progress”, including providing counselling, Lee said.
According to a World Health Organization report last year “there is now overwhelming scientific evidence that corporal punishment of children carries multiple risks of harm and has no benefits”. — AFP
Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired a welcome ceremony for Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation on their State visit to the Republic of India at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on the morning of May 6.
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