Author: admin

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia (MFAIC) H.E. KHUON Phon Rattanak visited Georgia on May 15-16.

During his stay in Tbilisi, he paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, pointed out an MFAIC’s news release this morning.

H.E. KHUON Phon Rattanak and Georgian Foreign Minister highly valued the two countries’ bilateral relations and expressed their commitments to strengthening the relations of friendship and enhancing collaboration in the areas of common interests, the source said.

While staying in Tbilisi, it continued, H.E. Secretary of State co-chaired the First Session of Bilateral Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries with H.E. Alexander Khvtisiashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on May 16.

According to the news release, both sides emphasised the importance of this Bilateral Consultations mechanism and the future high-level interactions which will pa
ve the way to further strengthening and expanding the close ties and manifold cooperative sector, especially in trade and economic exchanges between Cambodia and Georgia.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

IPOH, – A total of 150 people from 52 families were evacuated to six relief centres last night after three districts in the state were hit by flash floods following several hours of heavy rainfall.

The Perak State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat in a statement said that as of 8 am today, four centres were opened in the Taiping district, namely at the Sungai Baru Trong Community Hall, Jebong Kiri Community Hall, Masjid Al-Wusta Batu 8 and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Termelok.

The relief centres are housing 78 victims from 30 families residing in Kampung Sungai Baru, Kampung Dato Sagor, Kampung Senduk Seberang, Kampung Batu 8, Kampung Temerlok and Kampung Nibong.

‘A relief centre was opened in the Hilir Perak district, which is at the Padang Tembak Multipurpose Hall, to accommodate 42 victims, involving 10 families from Bt 9 Jalan Changkat Jong.

‘In the Kuala Kangsar district, a centre has been opened to house 30 victims from 12 families from Kg Periang,’ said the statement.

The continuous heavy rai
n last night also caused the water levels of Sungai Kerian in Selama and Sungai Perak at the Sultan Iskandar Bridge to rise, reaching alert levels.

Meanwhile, in Kedah, a total of 132 residents from 31 families in Kulim and Bandar Baharu districts were relocated to two relief centres following floods caused by continuous heavy rain yesterday evening.

Kulim District Disaster Management Committee Secretariat officer Captain (PA) Amirul Aliff Ahmad said 74 victims comprising 17 families were evacuated to the centre at Sekolah Menengah Agama (SMA) Al-Ihsaniah, Jangkang, which was opened at 12.12 am.

‘Those affected are residents of Kampung Padang Limau, where flash floods occurred due to heavy rainfall, which resulted in the overflow of water from hilly areas to low-lying areas.

‘Members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) are monitoring flood-prone areas and water levels at each location,’ he said in a statement here today.

In the meantime, Bandar Baharu District Civil Defence officer, Lieutenant (PA
) Abdul Rahim Khairuddin said 58 victims from 14 families were evacuated to the relief centre at the Sungai Batu Mosque, which was opened at 3 am today.

He said the affected residents were from Kampung Sungai Tengas, Kampung Sungai Batu and Kampung Cherok Meranti

‘Heavy rainfall lasting over three hours yesterday evening caused the water in Sungai Terunsing to overflow,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia strongly supports and commends South Africa for its resolute effort to stop the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

It also welcomes South Africa’s latest request for the indication of additional provisional measures before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel at the two-day public hearing being held at Peace Palace in The Hague from May 16 to 17, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

This is the third request for additional measures brought by South Africa since the initial provisional measures granted by the ICJ on Jan 26, 2024.

The additional provisional measures pertain to the urgent need for the cessation of Israel’s military offensive in Rafah, facilitation of unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza.

South Africa urged submission by Israel of a report to the ICJ on all measures taken to abide by the provisional measures.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had represented Malaysia during the Publi
c Hearings on the request for the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem at the Peace Palace on Feb 22.

‘The international community has a collective responsibility to demand that Israel cease its military operations.

‘Israel’s offensives in Rafah, a 64-square-kilometre area crowded with over 1.4 million Palestinians seeking refuge, will result in a massive humanitarian catastrophe,’ the statement read.

The Ministry emphasised Malaysia’s unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the admission of Palestine as a full Member of the United Nations.

— BERNAMA

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: May 17 (Bernama) – Malaysia’s first Dusun language film ‘Sinakagon’ is all set to be screened in 30 cinemas nationwide beginning June 13.

‘Sinakagon’, which means progeny in the Dusun language, is the directorial debut of Timothy Stephen and the maiden production of Bamboo Sound Studio. Its all-Sabahan cast comprises Fiona Josepher, Ejin Dinting, Lisa Christy, Esthaer Zaino and Ron Langad.

Also titled ‘Bloodline’ for international audiences, the movie’s intriguing storyline blending elements of drama, mystery and thriller, has fared well at a few international independent film events.

Timothy received the Best First Time Director (Feature) award at the Milan Independent Awards, while his film emerged finalist at the Prisma Rome Independent Film Awards. ‘Sinakagon’ also made it to the Official Selection at the Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Fest, ranking among the top five out of 100 selected films.

Timothy said his movie brings the language and culture of the Dusun people of Sabah to the silver
screen and hoped it would be well-received by Malaysian movie enthusiasts.

He said the movie is inspired by the legend of Huminodun, which tells the story of a girl who sacrifices herself to save the people in her village from a devastating famine brought on by a drought. This folk tale is connected to the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant which is held annually during the Tadau Kaamatan festival.

Timothy admitted facing significant challenges in completing the film, particularly in terms of costs and casting.

‘The main challenge was the cost of making the film. We received a grant of RM200,000 from FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) but the actual production costs were much higher,’ he said recently when he appeared as a guest on Bernama TV’s ‘Apa Khabar Malaysia’ programme.

He said casting was also a challenge because most of the actors were inexperienced and could not speak the Dusun language fluently.

‘It was hard to find (suitable) actors… they can speak Dusun but some were not fluent
(in the language). Some were also acting for the first time, so we had to train them first,’ said Timothy.

Besides directing ‘Sinakagon’, he was also the film’s director of photography and script writer. He was also responsible for producing and marketing the film.

Filming for ‘Sinakagon’ began on May 15, 2021, taking place at various locations in Keningau, Tambunan and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The production took a year to complete although it was interrupted several times due to the implementation of the movement control order.

— BERNAMA

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, The Sultan of Kedah, Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah has advised pilgrims to always adhere to the advice and guidelines provided by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) throughout their stay in Makkah and Madinah.

His Royal Highness urged the pilgrims to maintain a high level of discipline and comply with the regulations set by TH and the Saudi Arabian government.

‘Muslims in the state of Kedah should be grateful, as Tabung Haji always cares for the welfare of the Hajj pilgrims by organising various courses and providing good services and facilities both here and in the holy land.

“Hajj pilgrims need not worry, make sincere intentions and open your hearts to perform the Hajj rituals well, besides following all the advice and instructions given by Tabung Haji,” he said at the Farewell Ceremony for Hajj Pilgrims from Kedah at a hotel here today.

Also present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Norizan Khazali and TH Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Syed Hamadah Syed Othma
n.

His Royal Highness also requested the pilgrims to pray for the well-being and protection of Malaysia.

A total of 142 Hajj pilgrims from the state departed from Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Kepala Batas, here to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today, and are scheduled to depart for the holy land on a special Hajj charter flight MH8082 tonight.

The flight, which is scheduled to depart at 10.50 pm, comprises the 142 pilgrims from Kedah and another 142 pilgrims from Johor, and is expected to arrive in Madinah at 2.35 am Saudi Arabian time.

A total of 31,600 pilgrims from Malaysia are expected to perform the Hajj this year, with more than 7,000 pilgrims already present in the holy land.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency