HANOI:-Malaysia has expressed its worries on the intrusion incidents of foreign fishermen including from Vietnam in the Malaysian waters.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, recently the Vietnamese fishermen had taken several aggressive and provocative actions against the maritime enforcements and also towards the fishermen in the Malaysian waters.
“This is closely related to the illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) in the Malaysian waters. Such actions have affected the fishing activities and the income of the fishermen in Malaysia.
“I have requested the government of Vietnam to take concrete actions on this issue as the Malaysian government is very concerned on this matter,” Ismail said in a press conference after his three day visit to the Republic Socialist Vietnam.
Ismail added, Vietnam has opened its international borders on 15th March while Malaysia will open the borders as well as shifting to endemic phase on 1st April 2022.
Prime Minister said, the government has proposed several new joint-initiatives including, the mutual recognition of the COVID-19 vaccinationion certificates between Malaysia and Vietnam. Vietnam has recognised the Malaysian vaccination certificate in August 2021.
Besides that Ismail said both countries have agreed to have an integrated application of MySejahtera with PC COVID Vietnam.
Ismail also highlighted on the interest of Vietnam to increase its cooperation with Malaysia to develop its halal food industry.Malaysia is ready to offer its advice including to interested companies in Vietnam. Cooperation has already started.
Regarding this matter, Ismail said, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has ensured the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) to take follow up actions on this matter.
“I have raised specifically the issue of the potential Halal cooperation in Vietnam in supplying Halal food during SEA Games 2021 that will be hosted by Vietnam in May 2022,” Ismail said.
Prime Minister Ismail also stressed Malaysia’s strong support on the ASEAN Chairman Special Envoy who has made his first visist to Myanmar on 21st March 2022.
“I have also brought up the issue of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. The Prime Minister of Vietnam has agreed that it is not wise the Rohingya issue is shouldered by one country but is the joint responsibility of ASEAN and the global community.
“My visit to Vietnam has also witnessed both countries have signed the documents namely Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relating to Legal Activities. This MOU is about the exchange of experiences and good practices in legal aspects, regional and international cooperations; MOU in Recruitments, Employment and Workers’ Repatriation , the renewal of the MOU that has ended its term in year 2020 related to the Vietnamese workers’employment procedures ,” Ismail added.
Ismail said, the two governments have also signed the Letter of Intent relating the cooperation in diplomatic training to establish cooperation in diplomat training in Malaysia with Vietnam between Diplomacy and Foreign Countries’ Relation Institute and Vietnam Diplomatic Academy.
Besides that Ismail added the Professional Agreement between BERNAMA and Vietnam News Agency (VNA) was also signed. It is a co-operation in news exchange and infographic news, experience sharing and best practices between the two countries’ national news agencies. –Malaysia World News
