- RM1 bil to boost paddy production in Kedah
- Puan Noor Aishah passed away
- The US to impose a 3,521% tariff on solar panel imports
IN Malaysia
Updates from the North
- RM1 bil kitty kit for Kedah’s paddy production – In response to Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s request for a RM200 mil annual incentive from Putrajaya to preserve Kedah’s rice granary areas, PM Anwar Ibrahim reiterated that the federal government has earmarked RM1 bil to boost paddy production in Kedah, as announced during the tabling of Budget 2025 last year. The RM1 bil funds are set aside for infrastructure development to support the five-season rice planting project, to be implemented in phases over two years in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area in Kedah.
- Kelantan is in need for speed for new development – During the opening ceremony of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, the Kelantan ruler, Sultan Muhammad V was not berlapik in his words and directly called for the expedite development of key development projects within the state. Among the key projects are –
- The construction of the proposed wall and buffer zone along the Malaysia-Thailand border in Sungai Golok to boost border security;
- The development of the Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Golok Rivers Integrated River Basin Projects (including the Lebir Dam) to resolve the intra-state flood issues;
- The set up of an agricultural produce collection centre in Lojing to transform the sub-district into an agricultural hub.
Business news
- Apparently Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia really does bear fruit and not just omong kosong as the visa-free travel arrangement between Malaysia and China will be extended for another five years. The visa-free travel will allows Malaysia tourists to stay in China for up to 30 days and Malaysia will also offer a reciprocal arrangement for Chinese tourists to Malaysia. Currently, Malaysians can travel to China visa-free until December 31 this year, while Chinese nationals can enter Malaysia without a visa until December 31 next year. The agreement is part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
- While most players are playing the ‘wait and see’ game amidst the ongoing US tariff armageddon, a China-based paper manufacturer, Zheijiang Jingxing Paper Joint Stock Co. Ltd, with balls of steel, decided to double down on its investment in Malaysia by pouring RM1.9 bil to a phase two expansion of its operations in Banting, Selangor. The expansion will introduce advanced manufacturing lines supported by integrated thermal power, water treatment and wastewater management systems, bringing the Chinese firm’s total investment in Malaysia to RM3 bil. This new investment further develops the country’s manufacturing sector, which attracted RM877.9 mil in 2024.
Around the S.E.A.
A sad week as prominent leaders passed away
- Pope Francis – The leader of the Catholic Church for the past 12 years, Pope Francis, passed away on Monday of a stroke followed by a coma and heart failure. Previously, Francis was still recovering from a double pneumonia in February. So, who will replace Pope Francis as the No.1 man in the Vatican City? The new pope will be chosen in a process called the papal conclave, where the College of Cardinals, comprised of senior Catholic clergy, many appointed by Francis himself, will elect the next pope. To prevent outside influence, the conclave locks itself in the Sistine Chapel and deliberates on potential successors. You can watch the Oscar-winning movie titled ‘Conclave’, to get a more clearer view on how the process of choosing the next pope works.
- Puan Noor Aishah – The wife of the first President of Singapore, 91-year-old Puan Noor Aishah Mohammad Salim, died peacefully at Singapore General Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. The Singaporean Government honoured her by being borne on the ceremonial gun carriage for her final journey from Masjid Ba’alwie to Kranji State Cemetery, where she was laid to rest alongside her husband. Fun fact, Puan Noor Aishah was born in Selangor and raised in Penang during the Japanese Occupation. She later moved to Singapore after she married Yusof Ishak, then managing director and co-founder of Utusan Melayu, who would become the first president of Singapore.
The US is set to impose a 3,521% tariff on solar panels
The US Commerce Department has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four Southeast Asian countries. The proposed levies – targeting companies in Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam – are in response to allegations of subsidies from China and the dumping of unfairly cheap products in the US market. The quantum of tariff differs on a company-to-company basis, where some solar equipment exporters in Cambodia face the full wrath of the 3,521% tariff, while a Chinese manufacturer that has a plant in Malaysia only faces a mere 41% tariff. In 2023, America imported almost USD12 bil in solar equipment from the four countries, according to US Census Bureau figures.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygdv47vlzo
Despite being slapped with the lowest US tariff on solar panels in the region, Malaysia’s solar manufacturing industry will still suffer, as Malaysia Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA) president Davis Chong expects more Chinese solar panel manufacturers to exit the Malaysian market. According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), exports of Malaysian-made solar products totalled RM37.4 bil in 2024. Of this, RM12.5 bil — or 33.4% — were shipped to the US. This marked a reversal from two years of growth up until 2023, which saw RM16.1 bil worth of exports (34.5%) to the world’s biggest economy.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/752531
For your EYES only
IHow X-Men is involved in the durian trees dispute in Raub.
The MCMC is probing a Facebook post with an AI-generated image falsely claiming vibranium and adamantium were found on the land disputed by the Pahang government and durian farmers.
Both metals are fictional elements from Marvel comics and films.
🧵1 https://t.co/rvO19lVFlq pic.twitter.com/o8s9R4oNAC
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) April 22, 2025
