A file picture of Anwar boarding a plane to Keralam, India, from New Delhi after attending the BRICS summit. – Bernama Pesawat yang membawa Perdana Menteri berlepas dari Air Force Station (AFS) Palam di sini pada 2.15 petang waktu tempatan (4.45 petang waktu Malaysia) menuju ke Kozhikode (Calicut), Keralam. -- fotoBERNAMA (2026) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
MALÉ, Maldives: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in the Maldives to begin a two-day official visit aimed at further strengthening Malaysia-Maldives bilateral ties, which dates back to 1968.
The special aircraft carrying Anwar landed at Velana International Airport here at 8.12pm local time (11.12pm Malaysian time) on Monday (Sept 14), with Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu personally welcoming the Prime Minister.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan and a Malaysian delegation.
Also present to welcome the Prime Minister were the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Badli Hisham Adam, Maldivian Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who was the minister-in-attendance, as well as senior officials from both countries.
The warm welcome reflected the close and cordial ties between the two leaders and their countries.
Upon arrival, Anwar received a guard of honour and, before proceeding to the Official Jetty, was treated to a cultural performance by school students to mark his arrival in the island republic.
Muizzu then accompanied Anwar to the Official Jetty to complete the welcome ceremony at the start of his maiden official visit to the Maldives.
Tomorrow, Anwar's programme is scheduled to begin with an official welcome ceremony at Republic Square in Malé, followed by a four-eye meeting with Muizzu and bilateral talks involving delegations from both countries.
The two leaders are also scheduled to witness the exchange of memorandum of understanding in areas of defence and Islamic affairs.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to receive courtesy calls from several Maldivian ministers before attending an official luncheon hosted by Muizzu.
The Maldives is Anwar's final destination after attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday, followed by a visit to Keralam, the new name for Kerala, before flying to the island republic.
Maldives is one of Malaysia's important economic partners in South Asia and was Malaysia's sixth-largest trading partner in the region in 2025, with total bilateral trade valued at RM792 million.
Malaysia's exports to the republic amounted to RM786.2mil that year. – Bernama
Selain 2 mangsa berusia 12 tahun yang maut, dua lagi budak lelaki terlibat dalam kejadian dikejarkan ke hospital.
Dalam kejadian di Taman Desa Kayangan, Kulim petang tadi, 2 budak lelaki maut, manakala 2 lagi dikejarkan ke hospital selepas dipercayai terjatuh ke dalam longkang.
PETALING JAYA: Dua budak lelaki berusia 12 tahun maut manakala dua lagi dikejarkan ke hospital selepas dipercayai terjatuh ke dalam longkang di Kulim hari ini.
Ketua Polis Kulim Syamsul Sinring berkata, pihaknya menerima maklumat kejadian berlaku di Taman Desa Kayangan, Sungai Karangan, itu pada 7.30 malam.
“Maklumat awal yang diterima mengatakan empat kanak-kanak terjatuh ke dalam longkang,” katanya dalam kenyataan, lapor Bernama.
Beliau menambah, anggota yang dikerah ke tempat kejadian mendapati dua kanak-kanak maut, manakala dua lagi, masing-masing berusia lapan dan 11 tahun, telah dibawa ke hospital.
Menurut Syamsul, pihaknya masih menjalankan siasatan lanjut berhubung kes itu. - FMT
Raja Zarith Sofiah says the carnival will be held when the air quality improves.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah said she did not want to take risks with the health of the people in view of the prevailing haze.
JOHOR BAHRU: Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, has instructed that the Johor Family Day Carnival, scheduled for Sept 16, be postponed to a suitable date following the worsening haze situation in the state.
According to a post uploaded on the Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, she instructed that the carnival be held when the air quality improves.
“I advise the public to take precautionary measures, especially senior citizens and children, as well as those suffering from respiratory health problems.
“Although my intention is to provide a space for the people to create sweet memories in conjunction with Malaysia Day, we cannot take risks with the health of the people. Insya-Allah, this carnival will be held when air quality returns to a good level,” she said.
The carnival, inspired by the queen and organised by the state government and Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor, gives the public an opportunity to enjoy themselves with their families and children in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
Several districts in Johor recorded unhealthy air pollutant index readings today, with readings as high as 162 in Pasir Gudang and 159 in Larkin. - FMT
The meeting, which will discuss the issue of transboundary haze, among others, will take place within the next two months.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he and Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto had agreed to the Penang dialogue when they met at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. (Bernama pic)
KOZHIKODE (Keralam): Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to hold bilateral talks in Penang within the next two months to discuss, among others, the transboundary haze, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar said Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto had agreed to the talks when they met at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
“We will also discuss efforts to increase trade, strengthen bilateral relations, and cooperation on the haze issue, among others,” he told reporters here.
It was not immediately clear whether the proposed Penang meeting would be the 14th Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultation, which Malaysia is due to host this year.
The annual consultation is the highest-level bilateral mechanism between the two neighbours and is hosted alternately by Malaysia and Indonesia.
Anwar and Prabowo held the 13th annual consultation in Jakarta on July 29 last year, their first since Prabowo became president.
It was also the first of such meetings between the two countries in nearly eight years. The previous meeting was held in Kuching, Sarawak, on Nov 22, 2017, between then prime minister Najib Razak and then Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
Anwar pushes for closer ties with Kerala
Earlier, Anwar met Keralam chief minister VD Satheesan, where they discussed ways to increase trade and investment between Malaysia and the Indian state.
They also discussed closer ties in technology, healthcare, tourism and education.
Anwar later met Keralam governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who presented him with a book on legendary Indian singer Kishore Kumar, after seeing the prime minister sing “Dost Dost Na Raha”, a classic Hindi song, at the BRICS Summit.
At a meeting with Keralam business leaders later, Anwar urged companies from the state to consider investing in Malaysia, and Malaysian firms to look for opportunities in Keralam.
He said areas with potential included electronics, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. - FMT
MALAYSIA has a refugee problem, but at its core, it has a refugee-law problem.
For decades, Malaysia has sheltered people fleeing war, persecution and political instability. Yet it remains outside the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and it has never enacted a comprehensive law defining the status, rights and responsibilities of refugees and asylum seekers.
As of February 2026, UNHCR recorded about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, with more than 90% from Myanmar, including a large Rohingya population. Parliamentary figures later placed the total at 219,472 as of April.
These are not simply numbers. They are people already living among us, working where they can, raising children, renting homes and contributing, however informally, to the economy.
The real question is why Malaysia continues treating refugees primarily as an immigration problem when it has managed them as a long-term humanitarian, social and economic reality for decades.
Sovereignty is not the whole answer
The strongest argument against joining the Refugee Convention is usually sovereignty.
Malaysia has every right to control its borders, conduct security screening and protect national security. But joining the Convention does not mean surrendering immigration policy to the United Nations.
The Convention establishes a framework for identifying genuine refugees while requiring them to obey the laws of their host country. Malaysia would still decide who enters, prosecute crimes, distinguish refugees from economic migrants and remove those who do not qualify.
In fact, a clear legal framework could strengthen sovereignty rather than weaken it.
Today, refugees recognised by UNHCR have no corresponding legal status under Malaysian law. That legal grey zone creates uncertainty for everyone.
Registration alone is not protection
Malaysia has begun introducing its own Refugee Registration Document (DPP), replacing the previous UNHCR registration system. The government says it will improve security, registration and refugee management.
That is a useful step, but registration alone is not protection.
A biometric database can identify a person, but it does not answer fundamental legal questions.
Can recognised refugees work legally? Can their children attend school? What happens if they are detained? How are decisions reviewed? Under what circumstances can someone be returned safely?
Those questions require legislation, not simply registration.
Let recognised refugees work legally
The current system creates an obvious contradiction.
A refugee prohibited from lawful employment still needs food, shelter and income. The result is predictable: many end up in the informal economy, where exploitation, underpayment and undocumented work become harder to monitor.
Malaysia should reverse that logic.
Recognised refugees should be allowed to work under controlled conditions, with employers registered, wages regulated, security screening maintained and exploitation punished.
This is not charity. It is practical governance.
A regulated worker is easier to monitor than someone forced underground.
More importantly, a legal framework would help distinguish four groups that are too often lumped together: genuine refugees, economic migrants, undocumented migrants and genuine security threats.
They should not all be treated the same.
The Rohingya dilemma
(Image: Reuters)
The Rohingya crisis illustrates why clearer rules matter.
Myanmar’s displacement crisis has lasted for years, and Malaysia cannot simply assume that everyone can safely return.
The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face serious threats to life or freedom, sits at the heart of refugee protection.
UNHCR maintains that it forms part of customary international law, regardless of whether a country has formally joined the Convention.
If Malaysia is already expected to observe fundamental protection principles, establishing transparent domestic procedures becomes even more sensible.
From registration to recognition
Malaysia often speaks about moderation, compassion and the rule of law. The Rukun Negara itself reflects those values through belief in God, loyalty to King and country, the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and courtesy and morality.
The refugee question touches all five.
The answer is not unlimited acceptance. It is a principled system that determines who qualifies for protection, who does not, who may work, who can be returned safely and who should be resettled elsewhere.
A practical path forward would involve three steps.
First, enact a comprehensive Malaysian Refugee and Asylum Act. Second, establish an independent refugee status determination system that integrates immigration, security and humanitarian considerations.
Third, begin accession to the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol while negotiating international burden-sharing, funding and third-country resettlement.
The government is already bringing refugee registration under Malaysian control through the DPP while pursuing voluntary repatriation programmes involving Myanmar nationals.
At the same time, disagreements with UNHCR over whether conditions in Myanmar are safe enough for returns have highlighted the need for clearer legal processes.
Malaysia cannot solve the global refugee crisis. But it can decide how it governs the people already here.
The real choice is not between having refugees and having none. It is between allowing thousands to remain in a legal grey zone or building a transparent system grounded in Malaysian law, national security, economic reality and human dignity.
Malaysia can protect its borders without closing its conscience.
KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
