Category: Politics

Berlin: A working delegation from the Ministry of Justice led by Deputy Minister Mai Luong Khoi paid a working trip to Germany recently in the framework of Vietnam – Germany legal and judicial cooperation under the joint statement signed in 2008.

At a working session with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Khoi and Parliamentary State Secretary at the ministry Benjamin Strasser reviewed the cooperative activities between the legal and judicial partners of Vietnam and Germany under the cooperative programme during 2022-2025.

Regarding the cooperative plan in 2024, the two ministries will join hands to roll out specific and effective activities, including enhancing capacity for legal officials, judicial training and digital transformation in the field.

Strasser spoke highly of the achievements that both sides have attained, and said his ministry will continue coordination with the Vietnamese side to fully carry out cooperative activities in 2024, and work with the German Academic Exchange Service to support hi
gh-quality human resources training at the German Law Centre established at the Hanoi University of Law.

Meanwhile, General Director of the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) Alexandra Albert affirmed continued support for the Vietnamese ministry in learning international experience in relevant areas.

Deputy Minister Khoi also had a meeting with Minister of Justice of Hessen State Christian Heinz, during which the two sides agreed to continue implementing their Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two ministries in November 2022.

At the event, experts from the German side shared experience in building and carrying out the state’s e-justice programme with the Vietnamese ministry.

At a working session with vice chairman of Hessen state parliament’s legal commission Frederick Bouffier, Khoi briefed the host on the cooperative results in the legal between Hessen and Vietnam.

Bouffier, for his part, affirmed legal cooperation is important, which contributed to the cooperatio
n between the two countries.

President of the World University Service of Germany Kambiz Ghawami suggested both sides organise workshops to share experience of German and Hessen state in law enforcement and digital transformation in legal and judicial fields as the two countries are celebrating their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

During the trip, the Vietnamese Justice Ministry delegation also had working session with officials of the German Federal Chamber of Notaries (Bnotk), the Federal association of German, Mitte district court and Wiesbaden district court, the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin and the General Consulate in Frankfurt./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ninh Thuan: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh surveyed the drought situation in Ninh Son district, inspected the Tan My irrigation project and directed the work of preventing and combating the impact of prolonged heat and drought in the south central province of Ninh Thuan on April 28.

Seeing with his own eyes the drought situation on the large My Son field and checking the operation of the Tan My irrigation system, considered the most modern in Vietnam at present, the Prime Minister stressed that in the coming time, it is forecast that more heat waves will come at greater intensity than the average of many previous years.

He requested Ninh Thuan to closely monitor the situation and implement measures to promptly and effectively respond to natural disasters and extreme weather, especially heat and drought, to minimise damage to production and impact on people’s lives.

Ninh Thuan province must effectively operate irrigation systems to proactively store water to ensure that it meets the minimum need for crops w
hen water shortage occurs, and at the same time, survey and identify areas at risk of water shortage to proactively carry out solutions to ensure water supply for local residents.

It is necessary to dredge canals and reservoirs to restore and increase water storage capacity, and efficiently operate the Tan My irrigation system and other irrigation works to coordinate water supply and best meet the requirements for production and daily life, and prevent water loss and waste, Chinh said.

He asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to focus key resources on developing irrigation lakes and keep updated on the drought situation in residential and farming areas to effectively support localities in drought prevention and control.

The Government leader affirmed that the Party and State will pay attention to removing water-related problems for Ninh Thuan./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HULU SELANGOR: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has refuted claims that the Aidilfitri Open House organised by the state government in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) town yesterday violated the provisions of the Election Offences Act 1954.

He clarified that there were no campaign elements in the programme, adding that it was not limited to KKB residents alone but open to all Selangorians.

‘The programme is held on a rotation basis. Previously, it was held across all districts but we chose this area because it happens to be the first location of the Rumpun Selangor programme by the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

‘Looking at the positive response, we decided to hold the open house here as the Chinese New Year celebration recently took place in Dengkil or in the Sepang district. Perhaps for the Merdeka Day celebration, we can rotate the location to get closer to the community.’

He told reporters this after attending the Riuh Raya #KitaSelangor 2024 programme he
re last night.

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) recently questioned the location and timing of the open house on nomination day for the KKB by-election.

The KKB by-election sees a four-cornered fight between candidates from Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and an Independent candidate.

It is being held due to the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, 58, from DAP, on March 21 due to cancer.

Polling day is set for May 11, with early voting scheduled for May 7.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU SELANGOR: Two candidates contesting in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat by-election crossed paths this morning after filing their nomination papers yesterday.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Pang Sock Tao came face to face with the candidate from Perikatan Nasional (PN), Khairul Azhari Saut, at the Batang Kali morning market, where both had chosen to kickstart their respective campaigns.

Both candidates exchanged pleasantries before continuing the campaign with members of their election machinery.

Pang, who continued her campaign to the Batang Kali flea market, about 1.8 kilometres from the morning market, when met by reporters, expressed hope that all parties could conduct the campaign in a healthy manner.

‘This is a good thing as we run the campaign in a friendly manner. I hope this spirit continues,’ said Pang who was accompanied by two central DAP Committee members, Bangi Member of Parliament (MP) Syahredzan Johan and Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman.

Meanwhile, Young Syefura said her experience w
hen she first became a people’s representative in Ketari state constituency and Bentong Parliament, both in Pahang, would be used to assist Pang.

‘Hence, my role here is to encourage and advise Pang when dealing with various communities. Pang is just like the late Lee Kee Hiong and she will serve well and be able to make a better change for Kuala Kubu Baharu,” she said.

The campaign atmosphere appeared to be lukewarm despite the flag war between contesting parties.

The KKB by-election will witness a four-cornered clash involving Pang, Khairul Azhari (PN), Hafizah Zainuddin from Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent). It is being held following the death of incumbent Lee, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The EC has set polling day for 11 May with early voting on May 7.

A total of 40,226 registered voters are eligible to vote in the upcoming by-election.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU SELANGOR: The chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) must take responsibility if the people in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state constituency elect an ‘inappropriate’ leader in the upcoming by-election to drive development in the area.

Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan, also PKR Deputy Information chief, said that if the campaign is successful, the former Penang Deputy Chief Minister will have to face the constituents when problems arise.

‘Would Ramasamy help the constituents if the elected assemblyman (not a Unity Government’s candidate) could not help them?

‘Because I often see those elected giving excuses – that they are not the state government, they don’t have allocations (so) they cannot help. I would like to ask if Ramasamy would help them then?’ he told reporters after today’s Sembang Santai Vanakam MADANI, a get-together with the KKB residents.

It was reported that Ramasamy had started his campaign trail, urging the voters to reject
Pakatan Harapan (PH).

The KKB by-election, the nomination of which was yesterday, sees a four-cornered fight among candidates from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and an Independent candidate.

The by-election is being held due to the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, 58, from the DAP, on March 21 due to cancer.

Early voting is on May 7, and polling is on May 11.

On Vanakam MADANI, Ramanan said it was held to provide information to the Indian community and allow them to share their views with the Unity Government directly.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU SELANGOR: Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) today launched its Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election manifesto which contains six offers.

The six offers include establishing a herbal plant technology hub for the purpose of traditional practices; encourage KKB citizens to be involved in eco-tourism economic activities; ensure the infrastructure of public facilities, government buildings, police stations and drainage systems are in good and safe condition.

Also contained in the manifesto is to increase welfare allocations to the families of low-grade civil servants, women, the elderly, the disabled (PwD) and children.

PRM candidate Hafizah Zainuddin when contacted by Bernama said the by-election manifesto was launched at the 53rd PRM National Congress held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) in Kuala Lumpur today.

The KKB by-election campaign which entered its second day today saw a four-cornered battle involving former press secretary to the Minister of Housing and Local Government
Pang Sock Tao (Pakatan Harapan), acting head of Hulu Selangor Bersatu Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah and Nyau Ke Xin ( Independent).

It was held following the death of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Election Commission set the voting day for the by-election on May 11 with early voting on May 7.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU SELANGOR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Pang Sock Tao will launch PH’s manifesto in conjunction with the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election next week.

The former press secretary of the Minister of Housing and Local Government said that the manifesto is being studied and planned.

“When it is launched later, the entire machinery will work hard to ensure the entire community here knows and has information about our offers.

“Of course this is also a challenge because the incumbent (the late Lee Kee Hiong) had done her job well and was very active with community activities here. So apart from the manifesto offer, I will try to maintain that momentum including the good relations with all village leaders and councillors for the well-being of the people,” she said.

She said this in a press conference after joining National DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo in a form submission ceremony to set up a new Malay DAP branch at the Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman service centre here today.

Asked about the recepti
on of the Malay voters in the state constituency on her representing the Unity Government, Pang said the reception was very good.

“So far I have been to the Malay areas around Batang Kali and their response has been very good and many have given me speeches and words of encouragement thus giving me confidence to defend this KKB seat,” she said.

Commenting on the status as a ‘non-local’ candidate, Pang said it was not an issue since KKB was no stranger to her as she had followed the late Lee’s work including courting the community before.

“I’m from Selangor, I studied in Selangor, my heart has been captivated by the beauty of Kuala Kubu Baru… our only challenge now is to attract outside voters to come back to vote,” she said.

The KKB by-election candidate nomination yesterday saw Pang opposed by three challengers, namely the acting head of Hulu Selangor Bersatu Khairul Azhari Saut representing Perikatan Nasional (PN), Hafizah Zainuddin of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent).

The by
-election was held following the death of incumbent Lee, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Election Commission (EC) set the polling day for the by-election to be on May 11 and early voting on May 7.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency