Month: June 2024

Evolving online platforms as grounds for disinformation and fake news, and the exchange of resolutions was discussed in the 3rd Mekong journalism training workshop held in Phnom Penh.

The Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) jointly organised the workshop on Jun. 6, centred around the theme ‘The Role of Media in Combatting Disinformation and Fake News in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Context for Regional Peace, Stability, and Prosperity.’

Speaking at the workshop, H.E. Dr. Kin Phea, Director General of RAC’s International Relations Institute of Cambodia, considered online platforms as powerful tools for spreading misinformation and fake news.

Such circulation, he said, undermines public trust in national institutions, divides communities, violates privacy, and provokes instability.

He warned that it can lead to social unrest, economic challenges, and threats to national security.

In an effort to address the potential issue, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has
set out an awareness-raising campaign among citizens as well as government officials and organized a series of trainings for journalists.

Meanwhile, the ministry continues to strengthen the quality of state media and spokespersons at the government’s institutions and grease cooperation among all players in addressing fake news.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today extended a donation to ailing former national footballer Azman Adnan to help ease the financial burden of his medical expenses and treatment.

In a post on Facebook, Anwar said the donation was presented to Azman by his Political Secretary Ahmad Farhan Fauzi who visited the former Selangor sensational footballer yesterday.

According to Anwar, Azman, 52, is now suffering from leg pain that requires regular physiotherapy treatment.

In addition, several other health problems also made it difficult for Azman to do heavy work and hence, lost his source of income.

‘Wishing Azman a speedy recovery, Insya-Allah,’ the Prime Minister posted.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BALIK PULAU, The draft amendment bill for Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to resolve the issue of registering medical doctors who obtain specialist qualifications through the parallel pathway has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for review, said Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Health Minister several engagement sessions will also be held with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and other stakeholders before it is presented to the Cabinet.

‘At the recent Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Higher Education (Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir) and I jointly presented a Cabinet Memorandum related to the specialist training or parallel pathway issue.

‘There are 14 programmes abroad, (and) 29 master’s programmes in medicine conducted by nine local universities; all of these were compiled together after the Health Ministry faced various controversies and finally referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers for a legal op
inion,’ he told a press conference after officially opening the new building of Air Putih Health Clinic here today.

He said the amendment bill is expected to be tabled in the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the current Parliament for debate.

The parallel pathway issue gained public attention when the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) requested Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to admit non-Bumiputera medical officers wishing to receive specialised training in the field of cardiothoracic, similar to how the institution accepts international students.

This came after the MMC rejected the application of four cardiothoracic surgeons to be listed in the National Specialist Register because the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery (FRCS Ed) they obtained was not recognised.

UiTM is the only university in the country that offers the parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute in the field of cardiothoracic.

On another matter
, Dzulkefly said all 194 member countries of the World Health Organisation have been given 10 months to review the targeted amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) agreed upon at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) in Geneva on June 1.

‘Whatever we signed recently is not final or conclusive and will be revisited in a few more series of meetings among member countries. So all (countries) take back the draft that we have signed to be reviewed, given 10 months to provide any feedback and views,’ he said.

Dzulkefly led the Malaysian delegation to Switzerland for WHA77, which, among other things, discussed the progress of negotiations for the targeted amendments to IHR 2005 and negotiations for the preparation of a Pandemic Agreement.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodia and Belarus have agreed to co-chair the 2nd Bilateral Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries in Phnom Penh in the third quarter of 2024, said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) in a news release this evening.

The agreement was made between H.E. KHUON Phon Rattanak, Secretary of State at the MFAIC, and H.E. Uladzimir Baravikou, Ambassador of Belarus to Cambodia, during their meeting at the ministry on June 7.

During the cordial meeting, the source pointed out, both sides engaged in in-depth and productive discussions, reflecting the strong potential diplomatic ties between the two nations.

According to the ministry, the 2nd Bilateral Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries serves as an essential platform for addressing key bilateral issues to further enhance bilateral relations and foster closer cooperation on regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interes
t and concern.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

KUCHING, Sarawak has urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to reconsider its decision to halt the operations of agents for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme as it will affect the tourism sector, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said discussions with the federal government on this issue will be held, considering that both states have autonomy rights to manage tourism matters.

“These two states have slightly different conditions for MM2H. For example, in Sarawak, applicants need RM150,000 in a fixed deposit compared to RM1 million in the Peninsula, hence the demand for the programme in this state has surged.

“The autonomy power is with us and we have the immigration right on this. We will not rock the boat but we would expect the federal government through MOTAC to be considerate also with the policy we have been doing,’ he said.

He said this when met by reporters after v
isiting the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) site at the Sarawak Cultural Village today.

It is learnt that MOTAC has issued a circular dated May 27, 2024 to all licensed agents handling MM2H applications, including in Sabah and Sarawak, to cease their operations.

Abdul Karim said MOTAC should have discussed with the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak before issuing the circular.

‘If MOTAC does not want to continue the programme because they are considering creating their own policy, then implement that policy in the Peninsula only; do not interfere with Sabah and Sarawak,’ he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the preparations for RWMF 2024, he said leaders from outside Sarawak and royalty are expected to be among the distinguished guests at the event, which is in its 27th edition this year.

‘This shows that the selection of artistes and performances this year is very good, thus attracting their interest to attend,’ he said.

Themed ‘Evolution’, RWMF 2024 will take place from June 28 to 30, featuring 2
0 performances by 68 international musicians from 14 countries along with 63 Malaysian artistes who will perform at the event.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency