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Malaysia
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Malaysia

Malaysia
Malaysia
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Malaysia, covering politics, economy, society and the Asean member-nation’s relationships with China, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries.
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Head of State
Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar
Head of Government
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
US Ambassador Sean O’Neill attends the opening ceremony of Cobra Gold in Rayong province, Thailand, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

US, Thailand lead 30 nations in Southeast Asia’s largest military drill

Cobra Gold is necessary to address emerging threats and improve interoperability in the region, the US ambassador to Thailand says.

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Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s Anwar faces pressure as allies demand new probe into MACC allegations

LGBTQ

Malaysia blocks Grindr, Blued for promoting ‘deviant’ relationships

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Social media

Malaysian police arrest student for desecrating Koran in viral social media post

The post, which reportedly shows a photo of a man stepping on the holy book, has sparked public outrage and concerns over religious harmony.

Students learn to read the Koran as part of Ramadan activities in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
United States

‘They do listen sometimes’: Malaysians cheer US U-turn on controversial envoy

He boasted about eating rare steaks and reading the Bible daily, but the combative US envoy pick proved too tough for Malaysia to swallow.

Tourism

Malaysian resort owners face huge fines, jail over ‘exotic’ pangolin menu

An official said the establishment’s action tarnished Sabah’s image as a responsible, sustainable nature tourism destination.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong firm to test tokenised concert stakes ahead of digital gold trading

Hong Kong firm unveils crypto-based concert funding model, marking the city’s latest step in fintech innovation and gold tokenisation.

Cantopop singer Chris Wong’s concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum is part of the first batch of tokenised shows. Photo: handout
United States

‘Alpha male’ Nick Adams dropped as Trump’s Malaysia envoy nominee

His controversial nomination, opposed by Malaysians, was ‘returned to the president’ last month.

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s biggest state wants its energy wealth back – and it’s going to court

Sarawak state is challenging oil giant Petronas’ dominance in the highest court, in a test for the prime minister’s unity coalition.

China travel

Chinese tourism to Japan plunges 50% over Lunar New Year as Thailand cashes in

Thailand was the top destination for China’s outbound travellers over the extended holiday, with tourists avoiding Japan amid rising tensions.

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A lion dance troupe performs for tourists in Bangkok’s Chinatown during the Lunar New Year holiday. Thailand was the most popular destination for China’s outbound travellers during the holiday. Photo: EPA
Universities in Hong Kong

Boost R&D investment to make Hong Kong a global education hub: CUHK president

Chinese University chief Dennis Lo says Asia has been gaining prominence in the global tertiary education landscape.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi (centre) at the APAIE opening ceremony. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Earthquakes

Sabah quake strongest to hit Malaysia in 11 years: Met Department

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Sabah on Monday is stronger than the one that killed 18 people in Ranau in 2015.

SCMP Highlights

South Korean ex-president sentenced, Buddha’s early life: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-president Yoon’s sentencing to Singapore’s auntie matchmakers, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Lunar New Year

Sharing the luck: inside Southeast Asia’s embrace of Lunar New Year

Malay and Indian households are increasingly embracing the festivities, tossing ‘yusheng’ and giving hongbao to show ‘unity in diversity’.

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The Lourdes family take part in the traditional “yusheng” toss on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Photo: Alyssa Ann Lourdes
Singapore

Cross-border trips to Johor push Singapore checkpoint traffic to new high

About three-quarters of the record 245 million travellers who crossed Singapore’s checkpoints last year went via the land border.

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Vehicles travel across the causeway from Malaysia’s southern state of Johor to the Woodlands immigration checkpoint in Singapore on October 10, 2025. Photo: AFP
Religion

Bikini-clad mermaid sales stunt triggers religious probe in Malaysia

Authorities in conservative Kelantan are investigating the viral cross-dressing video after online critics accused the men of mocking Islam.

Trade

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

India has already paused trade talks with Washington as other Asian nations are left to question the validity of their recent agreements.

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Corruption in Asia

Malaysia summons anti-corruption chief in stock ownership probe

Civil society groups and protesters are seeking an investigation into allegations surrounding abuse of power, unexplained wealth and regulatory extortion.

Protesters carry a sign with Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief Azam Baki’s face at a rally on Sunday. Photo: SCMP files
Chinese culture

Ancient Chinese astrology gets a Gen Z rebrand in Southeast Asia

Forget rituals and superstitions, today’s young professionals are using ‘bazi’ 10-year luck forecasts to plan their next career pivot.

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Singapore

‘Just ask for it’: Malaysia’s vape crackdown fails to break the habit

An estimated 1.4 million Malaysian adults vape, despite existing curbs. Many say new laws will simply push them back to cigarettes.

Disease

Malaysia’s tuberculosis cases rise to above 3,000, health ministry flags risks

Higher social interaction during the month of Ramadan may increase exposure risks, the ministry says.

A doctor points to a lung X-ray in a hospital. A total of 596 new tuberculosis cases were reported across Malaysia over a week, the health ministry says on Saturday. Photo: dpa
China trade

As high-speed railways saturate China, how far can their global reach extend?

As Chinese giants eye Eurasia for new infrastructure, analysts speculate on what it will take to keep overseas projects from going off the rails in different host nations.

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A high-speed train leaves Tegalluar Station, located along the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia. Photo: Xinhua
South Korea

#SEAbling: the hashtag uniting Southeast Asia against South Korea

A row over K-pop fan behaviour in Malaysia has spiralled into a bitter regional dispute online, with echoes of the ‘Milk Tea Alliance’.

Mainland China

Malaysian police arrested over crypto extortion of Chinese nationals

Officers allegedly stormed a Selangor bungalow, seized laptops and forced a Chinese national to fork over US$51,000 in digital assets.

Indonesia

The silent crisis facing Malaysian women stranded in Indonesia

Trapped by financial woes after marrying local men in Lombok, many Malaysian women struggle to return home.

Many Malaysian women stranded in Indonesia face poverty and separation, unable to return home. Photo: Shutterstock
Asean

Opinion | Building Asean ties puts Hong Kong on path to long-term growth

Expanding relations with Southeast Asia can open new markets for the city’s firms, deepen the talent pool and promote greater understanding.

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Chief Executive John Lee delivers the keynote address at the Hong Kong-Asean Summit at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Aberdeen, on September 9, 2025. Photo: May Tse
Chinese tourists

Chinese tourists escaping cold flock to Malaysia for Lunar New Year fun

‘Malaysians still follow many of the traditions that we have stopped observing,’ a visitor in Penang says.

Crime

Suspect’s brother recounts final moments before family of 5 killed in Malaysia

According to police, a man allegedly murdered his wife, mother and two daughters with a sharp weapon before turning it on himself.

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