Malaysia
Malaysia offering premium visa to draw wealthy investors
According to Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, Malaysia has established a premium visa program (PVIP) to entice wealthy foreigners to invest in the nation and live there for 20 years.
The Malaysian home minister declared that applications would be accepted starting from October 1, 2022, for the government’s groundbreaking “Residency Through Investment” program, which is intended to spur economic growth in the nation, Malaysian National News Agency Bernama reported on September 1, 2022.
Business tycoons from all countries, with the exception of Israel and those without diplomatic connections with Malaysia, are welcome to apply for PVIP, according to Hamzah.
Read: US embassy holds “Super Friday” to help meet huge demand for student visa interviews
Participants in the scheme, according to him, would receive advantages such as visa approval for up to 20 years, permission to study, permission to buy real estate for residential, commercial, or industrial use, and permission to make active investments in industries that are allowed, the Bernama report said.
At a news conference in Putrajaya yesterday, the minister said, “Program participants are also allowed to work and carry out lawful commercial activities in compliance with the rules of the country.” Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud was also present at the event.
Participants from all age groups who can show documentation of an offshore income of at least RM40,000 (USD 8,920) per month or RM480,000 (USD 107,047) yearly are eligible for the scheme, Bernama quoted Hamzah as saying.
Also read: Dhaka seeks greater trade, investment with visa-free Commonwealth regime
Other requirements include a fixed savings account with a deposit of at least RM1 million and a one-year restriction on principle withdrawals. After that, one may withdraw up to 50% of the principle amount for home purchases, medical expenses, or educational pursuits.
Hamzah stated that his ministry was aiming for at least 1,000 participants in the program’s first year, which would bring in an estimated RM200 million in revenue and RM1 billion in fixed savings for Malaysia, the Bernama report added.
The Malaysian ringgit’s value will be strengthened by rising demand, he predicted.
Read Visa Free Country List for Bangladeshi Passport Holders in 2021
He further guaranteed that the Malaysian police and the immigration department would monitor and enforce the Malaysia premium visa program’s adherence to its policies and objectives.
Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib returns to court for 1MDB trial
Jailed Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to court Thursday for a second corruption trial over the pilfering of the 1MDB state fund, two days after he began a 12-year prison term for graft.
Najib, 69, became Malaysia's first leader to be imprisoned Tuesday after the country's top court rejected his final appeal in his first graft case linked to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund. His incarceration comes four years after his election ouster over the scandal and was celebrated by many citizens as justice served.
Wearing a dark blue suit, red tie and face mask, Najib sat impassively in the dock without handcuffs as the hearing began. He was earlier brought into the court complex in a tinted police vehicle under heavy security to avoid a crowd of media waiting to catch a glimpse of him.
The current trial began in August 2019 and is the most significant as it ties Najib directly to the 1MDB scandal that has prompted investigations in the U.S. and several other countries. Prosecutors allege Najib pilfered billions of dollars from 1MDB through an “elaborate charade” and then sought to cover his tracks. Najib says he was misled into believing it was a donation from the Saudi Arabia royal family.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his power to obtain 2.3 billion ringgit (more than $700 million in the exchange rate at the time) from 1MDB between 2011 and 2014, and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of abuse of power and up to five years for each of the money laundering charges.
Read: Malaysia top court upholds ex-PM Najib's graft conviction
1MDB was a development fund that Najib set up shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege more than $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases that included hotels, a luxury yacht, art works and jewelry.
The scandal led to the ouster in 2018 general elections of Najib’s United Malays National Organization, which had been in power since the country’s independence from the British in 1957. The new government opened investigations into 1MDB that were stifled under Najib’s rule, and blocked Najib and his wife from leaving the country.
Najib faces dozens of charges of criminal breach of trust, graft, abuse of power and money laundering in a total of five criminal cases linked to 1MDB. His wife and other senior government officials have also been hauled to court for corruption.
Najib was found guilty in 2020 of seven charges of corruption for illegally receiving $9.4 million from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. The country's top court affirmed the decision on Tuesday, sending Najib straight to prison to begin his sentence.
Najib has insisted he was misled by fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho and other bankers into believing the funds entering his personal accounts were an Arab donation. Low, who was identified by U.S. investigators as the mastermind in the pilfering of the fund, is wanted in both the U.S. and Malaysia but has been in hiding.
Manpower export to Malaysia resumes after four-year gap
Malaysia on Tuesday resumed recruitment of manpower from Bangladesh after a long pause of four years as the first batch of Bangladeshi workers reached Kuala Lumpur.
A flight of Air Asia carrying 53 Bangladeshi workers landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5:22am, said the High Commission of Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Golam Sarwar welcomed them at the airport and expressed satisfaction over the resumption of workers recruitment.
Bangladesh expects that around five lakh workers will get employment opportunities in Malaysia within the next three years.
The High Commission of Bangladesh said the remittance inflows from Malaysia will exceed USD 3 billion with the recruitment of new five lakh workers.
Read: Bangladesh, Malaysia reaffirm commitment for further strengthening ties
The workers were employed in a Malaysian food processing industry Jimat Jaya.
According to the new salary scale of the Malaysian government, they will get a salary of at least Tk 37,000 per month.
Besides, they will be provided with overtime, free accommodation, health insurance, work accident insurance and other benefits as applicable under Malaysian law.
High Commissioner Golam Sarwar expressed his gratitude to all the Bangladeshi and Malaysian colleagues for the resumption of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.
Minister of Labor Wing of High Commission Najmus Sadat Salim along with officials of Human Resources Observatory of Malaysia and journalists from both countries were present at the airport.
In 2018, the then Malaysian government shut the door of his country’s labour market to workers from Bangladesh for alleged irregularities by hiring agencies in both countries.
At the centre of the latest dispute is that the Malaysian government wants the recruitment to be done by a selected group of 25 Bangladeshi agencies. Dhaka rejects the idea as it will leave out many mostly smaller agencies (over 1,500) out of the process and business.
Bangladesh, Malaysia reaffirm commitment for further strengthening ties
Bangladesh and Malaysia have discussed the issues of mutual interest including recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and reaffirmed their commitment for further strengthening the excellent relations between the two brotherly countries in the days ahead.
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob expressed his keenness to visit Bangladesh in a mutually convenient date in a near future.
Referring to the invitation from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Malaysian leader, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen requested him to visit Bangladesh in this year of golden jubilee of bilateral relations.
FIFA Women's Football: Bangladesh draw 0-0 with Malaysia to win series
Bangladesh won the two-match FIFA international women's football series Sunday after playing out a goalless draw against Malaysia in the second and last match in Dhaka's Kamalapur.
At the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Bangladesh forced higher-ranked Malaysia to play in their own half for most of the time.
The visitors played defensive football throughout the match and succeeded in foiling a series of Bangladesh attempts.
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The women in red and green managed 21 corners, 11 in the first half, but could not capitalise from the set-piece platforms.
Maria Manda of Bangladesh was adjudged the best player of the match and series; Ankhi Khatun was the highest scorer.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell enjoyed the match as the chief guest and later on distributed the prizes.
Thursday, the No. 146-ranked Bangladesh scripted history after crushing the No. 85-ranked Malaysia 6-0 in the first match at the same venue.
For the women in red and green, Ankhi scored two; captain Sabina Khatun, Siraj Jahan Swapna, Monika Chakma, and Krishna Rani Sarkar one each.
Also read: FIFA Women's Friendly: Bangladesh to play Malaysia in series deciding 2nd match Sunday
Earlier, Bangladesh conceded a 1-2 defeat to Malaysia in a three-nation football tournament in Singapore in 2017.
The women in red and green played the two FIFA international matches as a part of their preparations for the SAFF Women's Championship 2022, to be held in Nepal during August 12-24, and to improve their FIFA ranking.
FIFA Women's Friendly: Bangladesh to play Malaysia in series deciding 2nd match Sunday
With a sweet memory of crushing Malaysia 6-0 in the first match, Bangladesh National Women's Football team will play their superior Malaysia National Women' s team again in the 2nd match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Women's Football Series on Sunday (June 26).
The match will kick off at 6pm (Bangladesh Time) like the previous match at the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Shipahi Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.
In a pre-match press conference at the BFF House on Saturday, Head Coach of Bangladesh team Golam Rabbani Choton said, "We played one match against them according to our plan, now we will try to give our full efforts to win the (next) match playing a better brand of football with the entire satisfaction of the fans."
Also read: Int'l Women's Football: Bangladesh Women's team to play Malaysian women's Thursday
Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun said, "We a made a good start in the last match and finished it successfully , now our target is to entertain the football fans displaying a better game":
Replying to a question, Sabina said, "We are happy that our senior team made a good result, it is a big achievement of the national team rather than personal record."
Bangladesh Women's Football is playing two FIFA Int'l matches as a part of their preparations for the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship to be held in Nepal on August 12-24 and as well as to improve their FIFA ranking.
Ankhi Khatun struck two, Sabina Khatun, Sirat Jahan Swapna, Monica Chakma and Krishna Rani Sarkar scored one each for Bangladesh, which dominated the first half by 4-0 goal in the first match of the two-match series last Thursday.
Also read: National Football: Chattogram District, Bangladesh Army win
With the days well merited victory,, Bangladesh team not only boost up their morale for the SAFF Women's Championship in Nepal but also took revenge of their 1-2 goal defeat against Malaysia in a three-nation invitational football tournament in Singapore in February, 2017.
Bangladesh script history by crushing 61 ranked upper Malaysian National Women's team by 6-0 goal in the first match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Women's Football Series last Thursday (June 23) and to level head to head winning record 1-1 .
Ahead of the Sunday's match, touring Malaysian team made their practices at the Kamalapur Stadium Saturday morning while Bangladesh team took part in the swimming session at the hotel on Saturday cancelling the day's schedule practice session at the turf in the afternoon.
Encouraged by Malaysia’s leadership on Myanmar crisis: UN expert
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, on Thursday expressed his appreciation for Malaysia’s increasing leadership on the crisis in Myanmar.
He urged States in the region to adopt a similar approach to the human rights catastrophe unfolding under military rule.
“Too much is at stake for Myanmar and its people to accept complacency and inaction by the international community,” Andrews said in a statement at the end of an eight-day visit to Malaysia.
He said Junta forces have killed more than 2,000 civilians, arrested more than 14,000, displaced more than 700,000, driving the number of internally displaced persons well over one million, and plunged the country into an economic and humanitarian crisis that threatens the lives and wellbeing of millions.
““The military’s attacks on the people of Myanmar constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. No one has been spared the impact of the military’s violence,” said the UN expert.
Andrews said that even before the coup, the Myanmar military had committed atrocities against the people of Myanmar.
Read: Myanmar questioned for not fulfilling Rohingya repatriation pledge
“The Rohingya faced genocidal attacks by Myanmar security forces. I have learned that there are over 104,000 registered Rohingya in Malaysia who have fled from Myanmar seeking safe haven with untold numbers who are unregistered,” he said.
Those who fled Myanmar also told Andrews about the challenges they faced in Malaysia, citing fears of being sent to migration detention, insufficient education opportunities for their children, and instances of extortion by police officers.
“Let me be clear, refugees from Myanmar are here because they were forced to come here. Their inability to return to their homes in Myanmar is directly linked to the military junta’s human rights violations and war against the people of Myanmar. It is impossible to address issues related to those seeking refuge in Malaysia and other nations in the region without directly and effectively addressing the crisis inside of Myanmar,” Andrews said.
Malaysia not only recognizes this fact, it has been willing, through the words and actions of Foreign Minister Saifuddin, to challenge ASEAN to reexamine their current policy on Myanmar, the UN expert said, adding that Foreign Minister Saifuddin had called on ASEAN to move from a policy of “noninterference” to, in his words, one of “non-indifference”.
“Malaysia has given voice to the obvious fact that after more than one year, nothing has moved and since nothing has moved, more people are being killed and more people are being forced to flee the country,” Andrews said.
He has not only called for ASEAN to engage with the Myanmar National Unity Government, he has begun engaging with the National Unity Government’s Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung, Andrews said.
“I look forward to working to support Malaysia’s foreign policy leadership on Myanmar, to affirm the human rights of a people under siege and to reduce the incredible scale of human suffering in Myanmar.”
Myanmar military junta continues its attempts to hide truth: UN expert
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, will conduct a mission to Malaysia from June 17 to 23.
“As conditions continue to deteriorate in Myanmar, and the military junta continues its attempts to hide the truth, I remain steadfast in pursuing my mandate to document and report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I will continue to meet with people from Myanmar including those who have fled the country since the coup,” Andrews said.
The Special Rapporteur will visit Kuala Lumpur, where he will meet representatives of Government, Members of Parliament, UN officials, experts who work on Myanmar and ASEAN foreign policy, as well as representatives of civil society and community-based organisations.
Read: Myanmar Crisis: US, ASEAN urged to increase pressure on Myanmar military junta
“This visit is the beginning of a project of deeper regional engagement with the ASEAN region in relation to the crisis in Myanmar,” said the expert.
“Given the central role of ASEAN regarding Myanmar, I hope to visit a number of other ASEAN member states in the coming months.”
The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference to share his preliminary observations with the media on June 23 in Kuala Lumpur.
A former member of the US Congress from Maine, Andrews is a Robina Senior Human Rights Fellow at Yale Law School and an Associate of Harvard University’s Asia Center.
AFC Asian Cup: Bangladesh face Malaysia in dead rubber Tuesday
The No. 188-ranked Bangladesh will lock horns with the No. 154-ranked Malaysia in their last Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifiers Tuesday.
The match will start at 7pm Bangladesh time at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. All TV and Astro Pay TV will telecast it live.
Following consecutive defeats in group matches against the No. 89-ranked Bahrain (0-2) and against the No. 134-ranked Turkmenistan (1-2), Bangladesh bowed out of the competition.
Bangladesh and Malaysia have played against each other nine times since 1975.
READ: AFC Asian Cup: Bangladesh face Malaysia Tuesday
Malaysia beat Bangladesh six times. The men in red and green beat Malaysia once (2-1) in the Asian Games in 1982. But the last two matches between the teams – international friendlies – ended in a draw in 2012 and 2015.
On June 1, beset by injuries, Bangladesh played out a goalless draw against higher-ranked Indonesia (No. 159) in a FIFA international friendly in Bandung of West Java, Indonesia.
AFC Asian Cup: Bangladesh face Malaysia Tuesday
Bangladesh will lock horns with Malaysia in their last Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifiers Tuesday.
The match will start at 7pm Bangladesh time at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Following consecutive defeats in group matches against Bahrain (0-2) and against Turkmenistan (1-2), the men in red and green bowed out of the competition.
Also read: AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh slide to defeat against Turkmenistan
The No. 188-ranked Bangladesh and the No. 154-ranked Malaysia have played against each other nine times since 1975.
Malaysia beat Bangladesh six times. The men in red and green beat Malaysia once (2-1) in the Asian Games in 1982. But the last two matches between the teams – international friendlies – ended in a draw in 2012 and 2015.
On June 1, beset by injuries, Bangladesh played out a goalless draw against higher-ranked Indonesia in a FIFA international friendly in Bandung of West Java, Indonesia.
Also read: AFC Asian Cup qualifiers: Bangladesh lose 0-2 to Bahrain