The Malaysian government will raise the minimum wage from RM 1,500 to RM 1,700, effective February 1, 2025, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Presenting Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday, Anwar announced that small employers with fewer than five employees will be given a grace period, delaying the implementation of the new wage until August 1, 2025, reports Malaysian daily The Star. Malaysia to accept 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed deadline: Asif Nazrul Anwar, who also holds the position of Finance Minister, added that the Human Resources Ministry will release new guidelines on starting salaries for key professions. These include RM 2,290 for industrial and production technicians, RM3,380 for mechanical engineers, and RM2,985 for professional creative content designers. In addition, the Prime Minister said the Progressive Wage Policy, introduced in June as a pilot programme, will be fully implemented next year, backed by a RM200 million allocation aimed at benefiting 50,000 workers. Anwar also announced that RM250 million will be allocated to the People's Income Initiative (IPR) to combat extreme poverty. "Next year, RM250 million will be dedicated to increasing the participation of individuals from the extreme poor group in the IPR programme to improve their income," he said.  

The Immigration Department in Malaysia has dismantled a syndicate trafficking foreigners disguised as athletes after detaining 21 Bangladeshi nationals in Maluri, Kuala Lumpur. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said three of those arrested are believed to be key members of the syndicate, reports Malaysian news agency Bernama. “Two of the men apprehended had temporary employment visit passes (PLKS), while the third had overstayed his visa. All three are aged between 21 and 33,” he said. Malaysia to accept 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed deadline: Asif Nazrul "The team also confiscated 18 Bangladeshi passports, RM990 in cash, and a suspicious invitation letter for a sports competition, along with the event schedule,” he said. The syndicate's modus operandi involved bringing in foreigners, particularly from Bangladesh, and having them pose as athletes in sports attire to evade detection by authorities. “They also booked return flights to Bangladesh and rooms in budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur a day before the supposed match to deceive authorities,” he added. The syndicate reportedly charged between RM2,000 and RM5,000 per person and has been operating for the past four months. All 21 detainees have been taken to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for suspected offences under Sections 6(3), 15(4), and 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. Fully support your position: Malaysian PM to Dr Yunus

Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said on Saturday that Malaysia has agreed to receive 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who previously missed the deadline to enter the country. “Now, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare of Bangladesh will work with our Malaysian counterparts to establish a roadmap for sending these workers,” the adviser said at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) held at the Probashi Kallyan Building in Dhaka. The event, presided over by Ministry Secretary Md. Ruhul Amin, saw the signing of the agreement between Bangladesh’s Wage Earners’ Welfare Board and Malaysia’s Social Security Organization (PERKESO). The MoC was signed by Md. Hamidur Rahman, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, and PERKESO's Group CEO, Dato' Sri Dr. Mohammed Azman bin Aziz Mohammad. ’Cyber Security Act must be repealed’: Asif Nazrul Under this agreement, starting from January 23, 2010, all Bangladeshi workers who have legally migrated to Malaysia will be covered by the Foreign Workers Compensation Scheme (FWCS). This includes essential protections such as medical benefits, temporary and permanent disablement benefits, dependents' compensation, funeral expenses, and rehabilitation support through Malaysia’s Social Security Organization. Highlighting the importance of Bangladeshi expatriates, Dr. Nazrul underscored their significant contribution to the country’s socio-economic development. “When our expatriates live and work abroad, they represent Bangladesh. Each worker carries the flag of our nation,” he remarked. He emphasized that beyond their contributions to the economy, expatriates also play a leading role in social development activities, both abroad and at home. “Their proper evaluation, along with the protection of their welfare and the well-being of their families, must be ensured,” he added. Asif Nazrul pledges to ensure justice to home and abroad The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, is dedicated to supporting and protecting expatriate workers and their families, Dr. Nazrul pointed out. This new agreement with Malaysia marks another step toward ensuring the welfare of Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday afternoon to discuss ways to take the relations between the two countries to a new height by exploring new areas of cooperation and strengthening the ties in diverse areas. He will be visiting Dhaka at the invitation of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. The Malaysian Prime Minister is likely to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 2:30 pm or after that; and he will directly go to a hotel where he will be staying for around four hours, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus will receive the Malaysian Prime Minister amid gun salute and guard of honour.  After almost a decade, a Malaysian Prime Minister will visit Bangladesh, and this official visit is the first by any head of government to Bangladesh since the formation of the interim government on August 8. The bilateral meeting between the Malaysian Prime Minister and Chief Adviser Prof Yunus will be held at the same hotel, which will be followed by a joint press statement. During the meeting, related areas of mutual interest including economic, political, trade and investment, education, technology and human resource development, manpower export, higher education cooperation, communications, infrastructure development, and defense cooperation are expected to be highlighted, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. The two leaders will also have a one-to-one meeting before the bilateral talks.  Prof Yunus will also host high tea in honour of the Malaysian Prime Minister.  The Malaysian Prime Minister will also meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban. He will sign visitor's book there. Malaysia is going to be the next chair of ASEAN from January 2025, and the Rohingya issue will also be discussed. In addition, the issue of Bangladesh to become a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" in ASEAN in terms of regional cooperation will also be specially raised. "As a result, this visit is very important in terms of bilateral relations," said the Foreign Affairs Adviser, adding that once the Prime Minister of Malaysia arrives in Dhaka, he will be accorded a warm welcome as per state protocol.  This visit is expected to be considered as an expression of deepening bilateral relations and enduring friendship between Bangladesh and Malaysia, said the Adviser ahead of the visit. A 58-member delegation will accompany the Malaysian Prime Minister that will include the country's Foreign Minister, Trade and Investment Minister, Deputy Minister of Transport, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, two Members of Parliament and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In August this year, Prof Yunus invited him to undertake a short visit to Bangladesh as soon as possible to further strengthen the brotherly relationship between the two countries. Malaysia is the 8th largest investor in Bangladesh. In August, the Malaysian leader made a phone call to his old friend, Prof Muhammad Yunus, to congratulate him personally on his recent appointment as the chief adviser of the Interim government of Bangladesh. Prof Yunus has long-standing good ties with Malaysia. "Thus, I assured him that Malaysia stands ready to help and support the interim Government in rebuilding and restoring peace and security in Bangladesh," said the Malaysian PM. At least seven Malaysian universities have Yunus Centres, promoting social business ideas he champions and his three-zero concepts. Malaysian companies, including several owned by its sovereign funds, have invested more than $5 billion in Bangladesh and are now willing to invest more, including in education. A second Malaysian car manufacturer has signed an agreement with a Chattogram-based company for distributing and assembling cars. Malaysia says they could be a desired destination for medical tourism, saying the Bangladeshi people can avail essential medical treatment in the country at an affordable price. The Malaysian Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 6:25pm.

In their third match in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs. It was Bangladesh’s second win in the tournament.  In their first two matches, against Sri Lanka and Thailand, Bangladesh beat Thailand but lost to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh won the toss on Wednesday in Dambulla and opted to bat first.  Read more: Shathira Jakir Jessy: First Bangladeshi Woman to Become an International Umpire Opener Murshida Khatun and captain Nigar Sultana proved the decision of batting first as justified, hitting a 50 each. While Murshida hit 80 with 10 fours, Nigar scored 62 with five fours and two sixes.  Riding on their excellent batting show, Bangladesh posted 191 for two.  In reply, Malaysia managed only 77 for eight in 20 overs and suffered a heavy defeat.  Nahida Akter took two wickets for Bangladesh. Read more: ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Match Fixtures, Schedule, Groups, and Teams

- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (July 24, 2024) invited Malaysia to install full manufacturing facilities for their Perodua cars in Bangladesh. She said this when outgoing Malaysian High Commissioner Haznah Md. Hashim called on her at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Prime Minister’s Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed reporters after the call on. At the meeting, the envoy mentioned that the local PHP Motors is assembling Perodua cars here. China agreed to provide Bangladesh with assistance equivalent to $2bn across 4 packages: PM Hasina PHP Motors, a concern of PHP Family, has tied up with Perodua, a top Malaysian automobile brand, to assemble their cars and SUVs in Bangladesh and sell them in the local market. During the meeting, both the Prime Minister and the Malaysian envoy also discused the longstanding and continuing relationship between the two countries since the government of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. PM’s Press Secretary also said that speaking on the issue of the current situation, the envoy said she has confidence in the Prime Minister’s ability to restore normalcy. “You’re handing the situation well and the matter is purely Bangladesh’s domestic affairs,” PM’s Press Secretary quoted the Malaysian envoy as saying. The high commissioner said that Malaysian business entities’ cumulative investment rose to USD 5 billion in Bangladesh – mainly propelled by the two telecommunication companies, Robi and Edotco Bangladesh as they reinvested their profits here. Explore new markets for Bangladesh products: PM to exporters She mentioned that a good number of Malaysian students are studying in agricultural universities, medical colleges and other institutions in Bangladesh. To this end, the high commissioner extended gratitude to the premier for it. Highlighting their health faculties, the envoy said many Malaysian hospitals are comparable to those in Singapore considering the services offered and lower costs. “Bangladeshis can avail the health facilities there as more than 70 of the physicians in Singapore are from Malaysia,” she added. Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin was present among others during the meeting.

Three Bangladeshi workers died and two others were seriously injured when an under-construction warehouse collapsed in Malaysia on Tuesday night, police said.  The incident occurred at 9:58 pm (local time) in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported.  The deceased were identified as Mohammad Moqaddesh Ali, son of Md. Afsar Ali in Haripur village under Shibganj upazila of Bogura, Mohammad Saiful Islam, son of Md. Rawshan Ali in Laxmipur village under Debidwar in Cumilla and Md. Ahad Ali, son of Mohammad Osman Mandal in Chaipai village under Chatmohar upazila of Pabna, said a media release signed by Sufi Abdullahil Maruf, first secretary (press) of Bangladesh High Commission  in Malaysia. Bangladesh among 5 countries selected for project to strengthen preparedness to COVID-19, other infectious diseases The injured workers were sent to Penang Hospital for treatment, while unidentified four are believed to have been buried under the rubble. A search and rescue operation was underway by the Fire and Rescue Department with assistance from other agencies, including the police and the Civil Defence Force. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) asked the developer to immediately stop work at the site. Local Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said this was to facilitate the rescue operation and the investigation carried out by the authorities. BNP’s 24-hour blockade underway with arson attacks Meanwhile, Bayan Lepas assemblyman Datuk Azrul Mahathir Aziz, who also visited the site, called for strict action against those responsible if negligence is found to have caused the incident. The Bangladesh High Commission in  Malaysia expressed deep sorrow and shock at the unexpected incident.  Bangladeshi acting High Commissioner Mohammad Khorshed A Khastagir sent first secretary (labour) A.S.M Zahidur Rahman and Legal Assistant Sukumaran Subramanian to the spot. The envoys collected information about the victims and are in touch with the families of the Bangladeshi workers to send the bodies home soon. The high commission has also been working to realise compensations for the victims from the authorities concerned. Dhaka's air 6th worst in the world this morning  

The Board of Directors of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI), led by President Syed Almas Kabir, meet with Deputy Governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman of the Bangladesh Bank to discuss key issues affecting the Bangladesh and Malaysian business community. The meeting was attended by Senior Vice President Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Secretary General Md. Motaher Hoshan Khan, and Director Mahbubul Alam Shah. Feni woman receives 200pc cash voucher buying Walton fridge During the meeting, President Syed Almas Kabir shed light on the challenges faced by general clients in cross-border e-commerce refunding. He also emphasized the importance of streamlining the remittance flow through proper banking channels from Malaysia. For effective management of these issues, BMCCI expressed its interest in partnering with Bangladesh Bank to overcome the challenges. Senior Vice President Shabbir Ahmed Khan highlighted the significance of promoting bilateral trade with Malaysia and urged for the implementation of appropriate policies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Secretary General Md. Motaher Hoshan Khan addressed the trade gap with Malaysia and emphasized the need to address policies that restrict export volumes. Islami Bank holds Shari’ah Compliance discussion in Banking Operations In response, Deputy Governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman expressed gratitude to the BMCCI delegation for raising these important issues. He requested the chamber to provide pinpointed proposals for review, assuring them that the Bangladesh Bank will handle these matters with utmost importance. The Deputy Governor also emphasized the importance of attracting remittance by providing services such as mobile applications for ease of money transfers, rather than relying solely on incentives. He urged BMCCI to focus on increasing export volumes and diversifying the exportable product to minimize the trade gap effectively. What to Wear for a Job Interview At the end of the meeting, BMCCI delegates echoed their promises to remain committed for fostering a business-friendly environment and enhancing economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The chamber will continue to work closely with Bangladesh Bank to address the challenges faced by businesses and promote bilateral trade growth.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, you are in for a treat. This vibrant country offers not only stunning natural beauty but also a unique shopping experience. Malaysia is renowned for its diverse shopping opportunities, from bustling street markets to high-end shopping malls. This article will explore the best souvenirs, home decoration items, and other special treasures to buy in Malaysia.  Best Souvenirs to Buy in Malaysia When you visit Malaysia, the desire to collect souvenirs that encapsulate the essence of this beautiful nation is nearly irresistible. Malaysia offers an array of choices for those seeking mementoes, each reflecting the rich culture and heritage of the country.  One such option is the exquisite Malaysian batik, a true work of art. These hand-dyed fabrics are adorned with intricate designs and a vivid spectrum of colours. This extends beyond clothing to include accessories and wall hangings available in the vibrant markets and boutiques across Malaysia. These intricate patterns and bold hues make batik an ideal keepsake. Read more: Romantic Beach Honeymoon Destinations in Asia Traditional Malaysian clothing is another fantastic choice. Women can opt for the elegant 'baju kurung' and 'baju kebaya'. Meanwhile, men have the option of the 'baju melayu,' a timeless symbol of style and cultural significance. These outfits pay homage to the rich heritage of Malaysia. Handmade crafts are the way to go for those who appreciate craftsmanship. Malaysian artisans’ skills are reflected in the exquisite wooden carvings, rattan baskets, and traditional pottery. These items are not merely souvenirs; they also serve as splendid choices for adorning your home. Their intricate details and cultural significance make them outstanding decorative pieces. Lastly, Malaysia's reputation as a haven for food enthusiasts makes it an excellent destination for culinary souvenirs. Among the popular choices is Durian Candy, offering a unique experience of the iconic but divisive durian fruit.  Another is Dodol, a beloved sweet treat throughout Southeast Asia, and White Coffee is a unique Malaysian brew known for its creamy, smooth taste. These souvenirs are more than mere items; they are fragments of Malaysian history and culture, destined to be cherished for years to come. Read more: Can You Travel Abroad Without Buying US Dollars? Home Decoration Things to Buy in Malaysia Malaysia presents a diverse selection of distinctive items when it comes to enhancing the aesthetics of your home. Malaysian pewter stands out as a prized choice. It offers intricately designed vases, candle holders, and figurines that exude elegance and charm, making them ideal additions to any home décor. Traditional Malaysian carpets, particularly those originating from Kelantan, are a splendid choice. These are perfect for those keen on incorporating a vibrant Malaysian flair. The carpets are renowned for their complex patterns and vivid hues. They serve as a perfect accent to infuse the living space with a touch of Malaysian culture. If you are on the lookout for furniture, you may choose Malay rattan pieces. Rattan chairs, tables, and storage units showcase exquisite craftsmanship and also reflect an eco-conscious choice.  Read more: How to comfortably travel with babies Other Special Things to Buy in Malaysia Beyond souvenirs and home decorations, Malaysia opens the door to a treasure trove of distinctive items that hold their own unique allure. Among them, fine jewellery commands attention. Gold and silver pieces are adorned with beautiful designs inspired by the rich tapestry of Malaysian culture.  For collectors and history enthusiasts, traditional Malay weapons such as the 'keris' and 'parang' offer an intriguing choice. These weapons bear a rich cultural legacy. It makes them fascinating collectables and also powerful symbols of Malaysia's history. Food enthusiasts can not overlook Malaysia's status as a culinary paradise with exotic spices and herbs. Lemongrass, turmeric, curry leaves, and more await to elevate your culinary adventures at home. Read more: E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents Whether you seek a meaningful gift, historical artefacts, or culinary inspiration, Malaysia's diverse offerings extend far beyond then expected. They are perfect to enrich both your home and your life.

Bangladesh is participating in the 19th Malaysia International Halal Showcase,known as the biggest halal showcase in the world. The fair is organised by Ministry of Investment, Malaysia, Trade, and Industry, and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), according to a press release. It began on Tuesday at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre and will end on Friday. A total of 1,040 companies are participating with 1,800 booths in various clusters, including food and drinks,modest fashion,e-commerce,Islamic finance, and fintech, among others. Sixteen Bangladeshi companies participated with nine booths in the Bangladesh pavilion in the fair under the overall supervision of Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh, the Export Promotion Bureau, and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kualalampur.