Malaysia, Indonesia set to sign Border Crossing Agreement
Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to sign a Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) during Indonesia President Joko Widodo's visit to Malaysia later this year, a senior official has said.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) speaks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java, on January 9, 2023. (Photo: Tempo)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia and Indonesi🍸a areexpected to sign a Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) during Indonesia President JokoWidodo's visit to Malaysia later this year, a senior official has said.
The list of new border entry points is one of the three issues that will be finalised under the agreement, Malaysian Home Minister SaifuddinNasution Ismail said at a question and answer session at the House ofRepresentatives on March 8. The two countries have agreed to finalise areas of access toensure security because that’s where potential threats or violations of regulationswill occur, he said. Saifuddin said the third issue that will be completed was thereview of legal elements as national security remained a priority to thegovernment. As the number of travellers at Sabah and Sarawak entry pointswas expected to see an increase following the opening of Nusantara, Indonesia’snew capital, the Malaysian government had allocated1 billion RM (144 million USD) to improve Immigration, Customs, Quarantine andSecurity (ICQS) complexes and other facilities, the minister said. Healso said 194 million RM had also been approved to build and upgrade ICQScomplexes and immigration posts at Sarawak border areas./.
Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi on February 21 said that he had discussed with his Malaysian counterpart Loke Siew Fook on measures to strengthen bilateral partnership in the field of transportation between the two nations.
Malaysian Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh said the country and Indonesia have reached a resolution to reduce poverty in Southeast Asia and increase food security in the region, Bernama news agency reported.
Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim on February 24 submitted a 2023 revised budget plan draft with a record estimate of 388.1 billion RM (87.2 billion USD).
Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the National Investment Council (MPN) will be established to plan an investment-related agenda and ensure the empowerment of investment governance in the country.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) speaks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java, on January 9, 2023. (Photo: Tempo) 
