NEWSLETTER EMBASSY OF TO THE HOLY SEE OCT - DEC 2017 3rd Issue 2017

Inside this issue : MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY TAN SRI Message from the Ambassador of Malaysia has successfully tabled a Malaysia to The Holy See. Resolution on Moderation at the Inauguration of the Vatican Embassy in UNGA in December this year. We had . the support of no less than 135 countries. The Resolution comes with Enhancing Cooperation in education with a Declaration of 2019 as the year of the Missionary of Saint Gabriel. International Moderation. The Hari Sukan Negara 2017 challenge of global leadership on moderation is on our shoulders. At the Malaysia Festive Celebration. Holy See, this will be our focus for > Deepavali 2018 as we strive to contribute > Christmas Greetings from Vatican City! towards ensuring that Malaysia does Malaysian Priest and Nuns Gathering justice to the confidence placed upon Welcome to the third edition of our us by the countries which have Events/Receptions: newsletter for 2017. Year 2017 supported our motion. > Farewell of the Ambassador of marked the inauguration of the Malaysia to Italy. > Inauguration of the Borobudur Garden Chancery by the Honourable As the ‘Auld Lang Synes’ hit the in Vatican Museum. Foreign Minister, symbolising airwaves to bid farewell to 2017 and to > Interfaith dialogue on Ecumenism. Malaysia’s full commitment to the usher in the New Year, I take the > International Conference: Free World pursuit of a just world. It has opportunity to wish everyone, in the of Nuclear Weapon and Disarmament. indeed been a memorable year for old fashioned way, ‘ Happy New Year!’ Visits by : us working together with the Holy > YB Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred See and the 83 countries which are Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok Madius Tangau, Minister of MOSTI. represented by Resident Ambassador of Malaysia to The Holy See > YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Ambassadors. The Deputy Foreign Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia, Speaker of Minister has also since visited us. . > The Honourable Dato’ Sri Reezal We are delighted to share some of Merican Naina Merican, Deputy the Embassy’s activities for the Minister of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. year in this issue. > SKMT Team Year 2018 has all the makings of an Budget 2018. Public Transportation in Malaysia. exciting year for Malaysia’s Foreign Service. As you are all aware,

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 1 E-mail : [email protected] Inauguration of the Vatican Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See participated in the Inauguration of the Vatican Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on 23 November 2017. The Chancery was inaugurated by His Grace Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the substitute for General Affairs of the Holy See.

Malaysia established the Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See on 21 March 2016 and inaugurated its Chancery on 9 May 2017. The Inauguration of both the Embassies of Malaysia in Rome and the Embassy of Vatican in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 signifies greater commitment of both countries to work together in areas of mutual interests, particularly inter-religious dialogue and education.

The inauguration of the Vatican Embassy (Nunciature) was attended by His Grace Archbishop Angelo Becciu who represented Pope Francis and the Honourable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Enhancing cooperation in education with the Missionary of Saint Gabriel His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok met with Brother Georges Le Vern, Secretary General of the Brothers of Saint Gabriel in Rome on 8 November 2017. Both sides exchanged information pertaining to the importance of education, particularly to the communities in the rural areas. They also deliberated on strategies toenhance education to the rural areas in the Asian and African region.

The education Missionary of Saint Gabriel has contributed immensely to the development of education in East Malaysia. Their contribution is still on-going at present in Malaysia with the Monfort Youth Training Centre in and , and the Monfort Boys Town in Shah Alam, .

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 2 E-mail : [email protected] Hari Sukan Negara 2017 Malawakil Holy See

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See participated in the Inauguration of the Vatican Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on 23 November 2017. The Chancery was inaugurated by His Kedutaan Besar Malaysia ke Holy See telah meraikan Hari Sukan Negara 2017 peringkat Malawakil Holy See pada 14 Grace Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the substitute for General Affairs of the Holy See. Oktober 2017 di Rome, Itali. Ini merupakan kali kedua Kedutaan Besar Malaysia ke Holy See menganjurkan Hari Sukan Negara peringkat Perwakilan sejak penubuhannya pada 21 Mac 2016. Aktiviti sukan yang telah dipilih pada Malaysia established the Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See on 21 March 2016 and inaugurated its Chancery on 9 tahun ini ialah pertandingan Dart. May 2017. The Inauguration of both the Embassies of Malaysia in Rome and the Embassy of Vatican in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 signifies greater commitment of both countries to work together in areas of mutual interests, particularly Seramai 35 orang peserta telah menyertai Hari Sukan Negara peringkat Malawakil Holy See merangkumi pegawai- inter-religious dialogue and education. pegawai dan ahli-ahli keluarga Home Based Staff (HBS) dan Kakitangan Ambilan Tempatan Kedutaan Besar Malaysia ke Holy See; paderi-paderi dan biara-biara dari Malaysia yang sedang melanjutkan pelajaran di Universiti-universiti The inauguration of the Vatican Embassy (Nunciature) was attended by His Grace Archbishop Angelo Becciu who di Rome dan Vatican City; diaspora Malaysia yang berkhidmat dengan organisasi yang diiktiraf oleh Vatican City; dan represented Pope Francis and the Honourable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina warga tempatan dan asing yang terdiri daripada paderi, biara dan seminarian yang sedang menuntut di Rome, Itali. Merican. Peserta-peserta Hari Sukan Malaysia 2017 yang hadir telah memberikan maklum balas yang positif terhadap pelak- sanaan aktiviti sukan tersebut. Aktiviti-aktiviti sedemikian dilihat dapat meningkatkan imej dan profil Malaysia serta merapatkan lagi jalinan silaturahim di kalangan rakyat Malaysia di Vatican City dan Rome.

Penglibatan penduduk tempatan dalam aktiviti tersebut turut menyumbang ke arah mempromosikan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara moden dan progresif yang mengamalkan kesederhanaan melalui inisiatif Global Movement of Moderates (GMM).

TYT Duta Besar Malaysia ke Holy See turut serta dalam pertandingan dart peringkat Malawakil Holy See

Peserta-peserta pertandingan dart Pemenang-pemenang pertandingan dart

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 3 E-mail : [email protected] Deepavali celebration at the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok and Puan Sri Diana Dompok hosted a Deepavali lunch at the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 27 October 2017. The lunch was attended by all Home Based Staff of both the Embassies of Malaysia to Italy and the Holy See, Prelates from The Holy See, representative from the Mill Hill and Jesuit Missionaries, and the Embassy’s counterpart from the Pontifical Council of Interreligious Dialogue.

The Deepavali celebration was a joyous event celebrated in the spirit of 1 Malaysia.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 4 E-mail : [email protected] Christmas Day Celebration at the Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Ambassador of Malaysia to The Holy See hosted a Christmas lunch at the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 23 December 2017. The Christmas gathering was held with the Malaysian priests, nuns, seminarians and lay community residing in Rome and Vatican City.

Other invitees to the lunch include The Honourable Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and his spouse, family members of staff at the Embassy of Malaysia to Italy, Fr. Markus Solo from the Pontifical Council of Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City and Fr. Josef Schmolzer, Procurator General of the Mill Hill Missionaries.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 5 E-mail : [email protected] Malaysian Priests and Nuns Gathering

Group photo of Malaysian priests and nuns gathering at the Chapel of Collegio Saint Bernardo.

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Ambassador of Malaysia to The Holy See joined the Malaysian priests and nuns gathering on 14 October 2017 at the Collegio of Saint Bernardo in Rome. The gathering was held twice a year. To-date, there were approximately 16 Malaysian priests, nuns and lay community residing in Rome.

During the gathering, His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard took the opportunity to update the priests, nuns and lay community on the various initiatives undertaken by the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See since its establishment on 21 March 2016.

The gathering also provides the platform for greater engagements between the Embassy officials and Malaysians residing in Rome and Vatican City.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 6 E-mail : [email protected] Farewell Lunch for His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Samad Othman, Ambassador of Malaysia to Italy

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok hosted a farewell lunch for His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Samad Othman, Ambassador of Malaysia to Italy on 3 October 2017. The lunch was attended by members of staff of both Embassies of Malaysia to Italy and The Holy See.

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard congratulated His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Samad for his dedication and job well done in carrying the stripes of Malaysia worldwide throughout his civil service spanning more than three decades. TYT Dato’ Samad has also been instrumental in the setting up of the Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See.

The Ambassador and members of staff of Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See wishes Dato’ Samad a wonderful and well-deserved retirement.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 7 E-mail : [email protected] Inauguration of the Borobudur Garden at the Vatican Museum

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok attended the Inauguration of the Borobudur Garden at the Vatican Museum on 4 October 2017. The cultural event was organised by the Embassy of Indonesia to The Holy See in collaboration with the Vatican Museum to promote arts, tourism and culture.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 8 E-mail : [email protected] Interfaith Dialogue on Ecumenism

From left Fr. Anthony Durrer (Co-Sec Vatican), Rev. Dr. David Chapman ( World Methodist Co-Chair), Dr. Hermen Shastri (Methodist), Bishop John Sherrington ( Vatican Co-Chair) and Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfeld ( World Methodist Co-Sec)

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok with participants of the Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Rome on the 15th October 2017. Attending the dialogue sessions from Malaysia is Dr. Hermen Shastri (Methodist, and also secretary of the Council of Churches Malaysia).

International Conference: Prospects for a Free World of Nuclear Weaponand for a Complete Disarmament

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok participated in the International Conference: Prospects for a Free World of Nuclear Weapon for a Complete Disarmament on 10 November 2017 at the Vatican City. The Conference was organised by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development of the Holy See.

The Conference provides a platform for debate on:

(i) challenges in addressing the proliferation of nuclear weapons to achieve peace, development and disarmament; and

(ii) impact of nuclear weapon with emphasis on humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon and paths to peace.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 9 E-mail : [email protected] Visit by YB Datuk Seri Panglima , Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia

YB. Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia visited the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 23 October 2017. He was accompanied by his spouse, Datin Seri Dr Jaina Sintian. This was their first visit to the Embassy since the establishment of the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 21 March 2016.

Subsequently, both Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau and Datin Seri Dr Jaina Sintian was given a private tour by the Ambassador of Malaysia to The Holy See to Castel Gandolfo, Basilica of Saint Paul outside the wall and the Prison of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome.

Visit by YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia, Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat

YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia, Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat visited the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 21 December 2017. He was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Hadijah Teng Abdullah. This was his first visit to the Embassy since its establishment on 21 March 2016.

YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar also congratulated His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard for his appointment as the first resident Ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 10 E-mail : [email protected] Visit by The Honourable Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia

The Honourable Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia visited the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See on 23 December 2017. He was accompanied by his wife Datin Sri Ismalina Ismail. This was the Deputy Minister’s first visit to the Embassy since its establishment on 21 March 2016.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minister and spouse was invited to a Christmas Day luncheon hosted by the Ambassador of Malaysia to The Holy See together with the Malaysian priests, nuns and lay community residing in Rome and Vatican City.

SKMT Roll-out at the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See

The Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See would like to record our appreciation to the SKMT team headed by Ms. Shahrul Bariah Mohd Yusof, Undersecretary of the ICT Division, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in ensuring the successful roll- out of the SKMT system at the Embassy of Malaysia to The Holy See.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 11 E-mail : [email protected] Courtesy call on His Grace Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Substitute for General Affairs His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok met His Grace Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Substitute for General Affairs on 11 November 2017 at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. During the Meeting, Tan Sri Bernard congratulated the Vatican for the successful completion of the new Chancery for the Nunciature in Kuala Lumpur.

Tan Sri Bernard also send his best wishes to the Archbishop who will visiting Kuala Lumpur to officiate the new Chancery and Residence of the Apostolic Nunciature in Kuala Lumpur.

75th Anniversary of the Japan - Holy See Diplomatic Relations

His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok and Puan Sri Diana Dompok attended the reception of the 75th Anniversary of the Japan – Holy See relations on 11 October 2017.

The reception was held at the residence of the Embassy of Japan to The Holy See. Prior to the reception, a mass was held at the Church of Jesus in Rome.

EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE Telephone : +39 06 6830 8432 Via Della Conciliazione 4D Fax : +39 06 6821 6166 Unit 2, 2nd Floor, 00193 Rome, Italy. 12 E-mail : [email protected] BUDGET 2018: PROSPERING AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY, BALANCING BETWEEN WORLDLY AND HEREAFTER, FOR THEWELLBEING OF RAKYAT, TOWARDS THE TN50 ASPIRATION

The Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak tabled the Budget 2018 in Parliament on 27 October 2017. The budget carries the theme “Prosper with inclu- sive economy, balancing duniawi (worldly) and ukhrawi (other-worldly) excellence to better the lives of the rakyat towards TN50 aspirations”.

A total of RM 280.25 billion has been allocated for Budget 2018, an increase of RM 19.45 billion over the 2017 budget allocation of RM 260.8 billion. Of the total figure, RM 234.45bil is for administration, the remaining RM 46 billion is for development.

Malaysia's income per capita is expected to rise to RM 42, 777 by 2018, median monthly income in the country has risen from RM4, 585 in 2014 to RM5,288 in 2016.

The eight core thrusts for Budget 2018 are as follows:

First thrust : To enhance investment, trade and industry; Second thrust : Towards achieving TN50 aspirations. Third thrust : Excellence in Education Development, Training, Skills and Talent. Fourth thrust : Driving inclusive development; Fifth thrust : Prioritising well-being of rakyat and income-making opportunities; Sixth thrust : Preparing for the fourth Industrial Revolution and the Digital Economy; Seventh thrust : Enhancing efficiency and delivery of government-linked companies (GLC) and public service; and Eighth thrust : Balancing between the par excellence of the worldly and the hereafter.

Among the highlights of 2018 budget are on investment incentives and income tax cuts. The minimum level of venture capital investment in a start-up business is to be cut from 70% to 50% for the period 2018-2022.

Among the other proposals are moves to guarantee equivalent income tax deductions in all instances of start-up investment (up to an annual maximum of RM 20 million (US$4.7 million)). A number of existing income tax exemption entitlements, also relating to start-up investments, are also tobe extended until 31 December 2020.

The budget also saw personal income tax rates cut by 2% for those earning between RM 20,000 and RM 70,000 per annum.

For full speech by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia and the 2018 Budget Touch Points you may read through online at: https://www.pmo.gov.my/bajet2018/Budget2018.pdf and https://www.pmo.gov.my/bajet2018/TouchpointsBudget2018.pdf

13 PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia, in particular, has been showing positive progress towards encouraging its citizens in using the public transportations. The Malaysian government has the newly launched Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and the integrated transportation hub of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan alongside other well- known and more ‘international’ transportation hubs such as the KLIA2. Highways, on the other hand, are public roads built to cater the needs of the public and shorten the distance or to provide a link between two destinations.

For now, basically, there are three new major expressways or highways in Malaysia and they are East Coast Expressway or Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT), Kajang-Seremban Highway or LEKAS and the Pan Borneo Highway. The LPT started operating on 1 August 2004 connecting the West Coast and the East Coast of the Peninsular of Malaysia. LEKAS was launched on 22 August 2008, connecting Kajang and Seremban. Lastly, the Pan Borneo Highway which was completed way back in 1997 and made it possi- ble to travel between Kuching and Kota Kinabalu by car or bus. Currently, the government is building newer sections of the highway to connect more rural areas in .

The Klang Valley MASS Rapid Transit (MRT) project which will be linked with Automatic Train Opera- tion (ATO) consists of 3 lines. The MRT Line 1 for Sungai Buloh-Kajang has been fully operationalised on 17 July 2017. The MRT Line 2 for the Sungai Buloh-Serdang- link is scheduled to be com- pleted by 2022. Whereas, the final line of MRT Line 3 is still at its planning and development stage.

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) is located at Bandar Tasik Selatan. TBS is effectively accessible through the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) and Sungai Besi Expressway, and it provides three major rail lines such as Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), Express Rail Link (ERL) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains. It is a 24-hour incorporated transportation center point for travellers heading out to more than 150 destinations of north, south, and eastern Malaysia. There are plenty of stores located withinthe terminal so that people could do some shopping while waiting for the bus.

The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) was launched on 2 May 2014. It was built to allow continuous connectivity for local and international low-cost plus to avoid crowds at KLIA. The KLIA2 is designed with greater limit to cater up to 45 million passengers per year, and supplanting the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). The KLIA Express provide fast train service (non-stop) which could take you from KL Sentral to KLIA in only 28 minutes, and 33 minutes from KL Sentral to KLIA2.

In nutshell, Malaysia’s public transportation is growing rapidly and tremendously like mushrooms after a heavy rain. This, in return, will benefit the citizens of Malaysia economically and socially. Public transportation is the next best thing when you don’t want to worry about where to park your car or getting stuck in the jam. Not only it is cheap, but it is also hassle-free and very convenient to get around in the hustle and bustle of the big city. Further information could be found at https://www.spad.gov.my; http://www.mymrt.com.my; and http://www.llm.gov.my/awam/highway.

TBS PAN BORNEO HIGHWAY LEKAS  Embass of Malaysi t  Hol Se

Wishe our reader Happ New Year 2018 !

CONTACT DETAILS

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