https://www.scmp.com/rss/324750/feed 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. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele US interceptions of Iranian-linked tankers in Asian waters suggest Washington’s maritime pressure campaign may be spreading eastward, raising new risks for Southeast Asian states overseeing crucial sea lanes. Analysts said that although Southeast Asian nations were not parties to the war, countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were not insulated from rising US-Iran maritime tensions. For these states, the bigger risk may not be a Gulf conflict spilling directly into their waters,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351281/why-us-interception-iran-tankers-asian-waters-pose-new-risk-asean-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351281/why-us-interception-iran-tankers-asian-waters-pose-new-risk-asean-neutrality?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:10:33 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof The death of a Bangladeshi gaming influencer in an alleged drink-driving crash involving a Malaysian soldier has sparked cries for justice and renewed demands for punitive laws, as anger grows over a second similar fatal case in less than a month. Muzahid Millad, 22 – better known as Advance Gaming – died on Wednesday after the suspect’s car reportedly veered into the opposite lane on the Maju Expressway, colliding with the e-hailing vehicle in which the content creator and his wife were... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351255/bangladeshi-youtubers-death-sparks-mourning-amid-malaysias-drink-driving-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351255/bangladeshi-youtubers-death-sparks-mourning-amid-malaysias-drink-driving-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:50:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Indonesia’s top diplomat said the country will not pursue tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Malacca, seeking to calm concerns after its finance minister raised the idea this week. “As a trading nation, Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and expects open sea lanes,” Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Thursday in Jakarta. “So Indonesia is not in a position to impose such charges – that would not be appropriate.” Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Wednesday questioned whether... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351233/indonesia-rules-out-collecting-transit-fees-ships-malacca-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351233/indonesia-rules-out-collecting-transit-fees-ships-malacca-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:30:13 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen US confrontations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz point to future American attempts to contain China via maritime chokepoints, a Chinese policy adviser has warned, suggesting that Beijing boost its naval presence in the region. In a policy recommendation addressed to Beijing, Gu Dingguo, an East China Normal University research fellow in neighbourhood diplomacy and security, said the Iran war reflected Washington’s greater emphasis on implementing its maritime security strategy. “By... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351104/undeniable-reality-why-china-should-be-wary-us-focus-global-maritime-chokepoints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351104/undeniable-reality-why-china-should-be-wary-us-focus-global-maritime-chokepoints?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysia’s durian growers say they are in “survival mode” as an early bumper harvest collides with a surge in fuel and freight costs, squeezing an export trade built around getting premium fruit into China fast. Hot weather has brought harvests forward, swelling supply just as exporters face higher packaging, energy and transport costs, with the Iran war disrupting fuel supplies and making cargo more expensive. The strain is exposing the vulnerability of Malaysia’s durian industry, which has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351176/malaysias-durian-growers-survival-mode-early-glut-and-iran-war-hit-export-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351176/malaysias-durian-growers-survival-mode-early-glut-and-iran-war-hit-export-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:59:38 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Iran war has done in two months what years of climate policy could not: make green hydrogen look economically viable. Soaring oil and gas prices since February’s outbreak of hostilities have narrowed the cost gap between the zero-emission fuel and its fossil rivals, paving the way for wider uptake across Asia. The eight-week US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex have sent Asian fuel... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:33:00 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof The ruler of one of Malaysia’s nine royal states said on Thursday that the government should continue to function “as usual”, using a speech to project calm after four powerful traditional chiefs claimed they had removed him in one of the country’s strangest palace disputes in years. The row began on Sunday, when the four chiefs publicly declared that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, had been deposed over alleged “misconduct”, without providing details for their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351123/malaysia-tussle-over-negeri-sembilans-ruler-highlights-unique-state-monarchy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351123/malaysia-tussle-over-negeri-sembilans-ruler-highlights-unique-state-monarchy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:45:46 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Mainland China’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) – those with assets exceeding US$30 million – has grown by 23 per cent over the past five years to 121,677, and is projected to expand a further 18.8 per cent to 144,602 by 2031, according to Knight Frank. Despite that growth, China’s share of global UHNWIs edged down by one percentage point to 17 per cent this year and was expected to fall further to 15 per cent by 2031, as rapid wealth creation in the United States... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351114/mainland-chinas-ultra-wealthy-numbers-rise-hong-kong-tipped-faster-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:03 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysia’s king said he would select a new anti-corruption chief, the first official confirmation that current head Azam Baki’s term will not be renewed when it ends next month. “I will determine who is the best candidate to lead the MACC from now on,” Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor, the current monarch, said in a social media post on Thursday, referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He added that “there is no need for any party to politicise the matter”. Representatives for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351092/malaysias-king-pick-best-candidate-head-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351092/malaysias-king-pick-best-candidate-head-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:58:43 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Southeast Asia’s tourism sector takes a hit from the Iran war, a pivot to serving as alternative flight hubs may help to save the industry. The region’s major airlines are seeing rising demand for European routes as travellers avoid Middle Eastern hubs amid disruptive drone and missile attacks, according to Reuters. Singapore Airlines has joined other major Asian carriers, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Qantas Airways, in posting strong performances on Europe flights in March. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:55:40 +0000 The Star The Star For more than three years, the numbers on their screens told a convincing story. Steady gains, smooth withdrawals and returns of up to 5 per cent every fortnight. Encouraged by the early outcome, many doubled down, pumping in more of their hard-earned savings into a scheme they thought was the answer to luxury and a comfy retirement. Then, almost overnight, the kill switch was flicked and they lost it all to a scheme that swindled ­victims across the globe of close to 100 billion ringgit (US$25... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351077/hundreds-left-broke-after-alleged-malaysian-scammer-vanishes-us25-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351077/hundreds-left-broke-after-alleged-malaysian-scammer-vanishes-us25-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:34:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters The US military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran’s trade by sea while ‌Iran has fired on ships to prevent them sailing through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the entrance to the Middle East Gulf. Nearly two months after the US and Israel began their war on Iran, there is little sign... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351069/us-intercepts-3-iranian-tankers-near-india-malaysia-sri-lanka-amid-hormuz-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351069/us-intercepts-3-iranian-tankers-near-india-malaysia-sri-lanka-amid-hormuz-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:20:59 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The bourse operators of Hong Kong and Malaysia are exploring a range of collaborations, from dual listings and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to Islamic finance, to forge closer ties between the city and the Southeast Asian country. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting and Bursa Malaysia CEO Dato Fad’l Mohamed unveiled their joint development plans in a media briefing in Hong Kong on Wednesday as HKEX hosted the 40th Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation (AOSEF)... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:30:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau The geopolitical fallout from the Strait of Hormuz chokehold in the Middle East is just a “dry run”, with the Pacific being where the real action will occur if superpowers were to clash, Singapore’s top diplomat has warned. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also revealed on Wednesday that Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia shared an interest in keeping the Strait of Malacca open, even under the spectre of tolls being imposed on the strategic Southeast Asian waterway. His stance however... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350983/singapores-balakrishnan-warns-hormuz-just-dry-run-if-us-china-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350983/singapores-balakrishnan-warns-hormuz-just-dry-run-if-us-china-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:45:45 +0000 Reuters Reuters Malaysia’s Karex, the world’s ⁠top condom producer, plans ⁠to raise prices by 20 per cent to ⁠30 per cent and possibly further if supply chain disruptions drag on due to the Iran war, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Karex is also seeing a surge in condom demand as rising freight costs and shipping delays have left ‌many of its customers with lower stockpiles than usual, CEO Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters in an interview. “The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive … We have... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350909/worlds-top-condom-maker-raise-prices-30-over-iran-war-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350909/worlds-top-condom-maker-raise-prices-30-over-iran-war-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:13:35 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A Malaysian NGO is demanding more accountability in project approvals in Cameron Highlands after a two-hour downpour on Monday resulted in a “river of mud” gushing through the main road of a town in the popular hill resort. A 15-second clip shows waist-high muddy waters, which social media users likened to teh tarik, surging through Ringlet, swallowing the main road and pushing against cars. Cameron Highlands police chief Azri Ramli said the flood was caused by a heavy downpour that began at 2pm... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350880/river-mud-malaysias-cameron-highlands-prompts-accountability-calls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350880/river-mud-malaysias-cameron-highlands-prompts-accountability-calls?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:24:02 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Singapore balances national interest with rising anti-US sentiment In a rare public protest in Singapore, hundreds gathered in Hong Lim Park over the weekend to denounce the “US war machine”. They brandished placards and banners, including one with horns drawn on US... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3350808/singapores-us-interest-balancing-act-viral-songkran-clash-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3350808/singapores-us-interest-balancing-act-viral-songkran-clash-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:15:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are working closely together to keep vessels moving safely through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Tuesday, stressing the three countries’ shared responsibility for keeping the waterways open and secure. “The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are used for international navigation, and therefore the rights of transit passage similarly apply,” said Gan, who is also trade and industry minister, speaking on the opening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350838/singapore-malaysia-indonesia-unite-secure-safe-passage-crucial-straits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350838/singapore-malaysia-indonesia-unite-secure-safe-passage-crucial-straits?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:59:40 +0000 The Star The Star The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has affected every Asean nation, with a crisis looming, according to Malaysia’s Sultan Nazrin Shah. The Perak ruler said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East would directly affect the economies of countries in the region. “The surging prices of energy, fertilisers and transport are driving up food prices, increasing production and distribution costs, and fuelling inflation. The worst affected are countries with low energy reserves,” he said in his keynote... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350823/malaysian-sultan-warns-asean-staring-economic-crisis-over-hormuz-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350823/malaysian-sultan-warns-asean-staring-economic-crisis-over-hormuz-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:15:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Governments across Southeast Asia have been banking on work-from-home arrangements for civil servants to ease the sting of soaring energy costs triggered by the Iran war, but analysts say the maths is messier than it may first appear. Indonesia estimates its Friday work-from-home policy, introduced on April 1, will save around 6.2 trillion rupiah (US$361.5 million) in state fuel subsidies and nearly 10 times that amount in total consumption. The Philippines has similarly introduced a four-day... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350816/work-home-may-not-save-much-energy-southeast-asia-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350816/work-home-may-not-save-much-energy-southeast-asia-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:35:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Rohingya refugee Rahila Begum spent two days adrift ⁠in the Andaman Sea this month, clinging to a wooden shard after her ⁠overcrowded boat capsized, one of the few survivors of a disaster that left 250 missing and feared dead. She was among the thousands of Rohingya Muslims who brave hunger and accidents on rickety boats each year to flee desperate conditions in camps in southeastern Bangladesh for countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Hundreds die en route from hunger or accidents at sea,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350814/why-more-rohingya-risk-sea-escapes-malaysia-indonesia-some-make-it-some-die?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350814/why-more-rohingya-risk-sea-escapes-malaysia-indonesia-some-make-it-some-die?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:58:07 +0000 The Star The Star He was your friendly neighbourhood uncle, polite and pleasant. He even brought fruits and vegetables from his orchard for people in the area. So, when the 71-year-old Malaysian man was arrested for shooting three people dead, it came as a shock for many in Taman Kota Jaya, Johor. Hamzah Kamat, who runs a restaurant in front of the food court where the incident took place, said the man used to go there, and sometimes even brought fruits from his orchard. “He is a nice uncle who never caused any... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350800/neighbours-shocked-after-nice-uncle-arrested-malaysia-gunning-down-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350800/neighbours-shocked-after-nice-uncle-arrested-malaysia-gunning-down-3?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:39:53 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang First, it was the Panama Canal, then came the Strait of Hormuz. What could be next? America’s actions in the two major shipping channels have grabbed headlines, and global attention is shifting to the strategic importance and potential risks of other critical trade waterways. Some of the chokepoints were examined in a US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) investigation in March last year of unfavourable shipping conditions, signalling America’s heightened focus on international routes and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350772/beyond-panama-and-hormuz-8-critical-waterways-under-global-microscope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350772/beyond-panama-and-hormuz-8-critical-waterways-under-global-microscope?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysia’s busiest container port has started refusing Middle East-bound cargo unless shipping lines can guarantee prompt pickup, in one of the clearest signs yet that the Gulf crisis is working its way past oil and into the everyday trade that moves across Asia. Longer transit times, missed sailings and sharply higher insurance premiums are now rippling across the region’s logistics chain, with wine, spirits and other time-sensitive goods acting as an early indicator of disruption that analysts... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350711/delays-rising-costs-hit-asias-trade-gulf-crisis-spills-beyond-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350711/delays-rising-costs-hit-asias-trade-gulf-crisis-spills-beyond-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:36:22 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s trade with Iran and Gulf countries fell sharply in March as restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz tightened amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Newly released data by Chinese customs showed imports from Iran plunged 48 per cent year on year last month, while exports to the country dropped 90 per cent. Across the broader Middle East, exports to eight Persian Gulf economies – including Saudi Arabia and Qatar – fell by 57 per cent, while imports declined by nearly 33 per cent. The disruption... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350703/chinas-trade-iran-gulf-states-plunges-strait-hormuz-crisis-hits-energy-flows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350703/chinas-trade-iran-gulf-states-plunges-strait-hormuz-crisis-hits-energy-flows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:06:21 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Any “mischief” in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger “a chain-reaction response” in more critical shipping lanes, including the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia, an adviser to the Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has warned. The warning from Ali Akbar Velayati, international affairs adviser to Khamenei, came hours after Iran declared another full closure of Hormuz – days before a fragile ceasefire with the US was due to expire. “The era of imposing security from across the oceans has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350691/malacca-strait-risk-hormuz-chain-reaction-after-warning-iranian-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350691/malacca-strait-risk-hormuz-chain-reaction-after-warning-iranian-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:10 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Ciao UFO, a sci‑fi drama inspired by a local urban legend of mysterious lights over a public housing estate, clinched the top honours at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, winning best film and best director for Patrick Leung Pak‑kin. The dystopian crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night emerged as the biggest winner, taking home eight prizes out of 12 nominations. Among those sharing the limelight at the ceremony in the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui was veteran Tony Leung Ka‑fai,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350651/ciao-ufo-takes-top-prizes-hong-kong-film-awards-sons-neon-night-glows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350651/ciao-ufo-takes-top-prizes-hong-kong-film-awards-sons-neon-night-glows?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:12:07 +0000 Nikola Mikovic Nikola Mikovic Since America launched its “major combat operation” against Iran, several Nato allies have distanced themselves from Washington. Now America also risks losing ground in strategically important Southeast Asia to China. Could it face an erosion of influence similar to that suffered by Russia in Central Asia as a result of its “special military operation” in Ukraine? Soon after US President Donald Trump launched massive air and missile strikes on Iran on February 28, it became clear Washington... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3350148/can-iran-fiasco-help-china-edge-out-us-key-arena-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3350148/can-iran-fiasco-help-china-edge-out-us-key-arena-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Thousands ⁠of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed around 1,000 homes in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island ‌on Sunday, the fire department said. Authorities were notified of the fire in Sandakan district at around 1.32am, the district’s fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said in a statement. “Strong winds and ⁠the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to ‌spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open ‌water... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350629/blaze-malaysias-sabah-destroys-1000-homes-displaces-over-9000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350629/blaze-malaysias-sabah-destroys-1000-homes-displaces-over-9000?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:59:56 +0000 The Star The Star A single father has refused to accept any more donations from Malaysians following a viral video that appeared to show him having difficulty finding money to pay a mechanic after his motorcycle broke down in Kuala Lumpur. According to Sinar Harian, the man known as Dicky Yau was touched by the concern shown by social media users who had offered to extend financial help to him after seeing the situation he was in. “I would like to thank everyone who sent private messages to offer help. However, I... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350607/struggling-single-dad-and-kind-bike-mechanic-inspire-malaysias-generosity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350607/struggling-single-dad-and-kind-bike-mechanic-inspire-malaysias-generosity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:53:30 +0000 Kolette Lim,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Kolette Lim,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian comedian Rizal van Geyzel keeps his three children – aged six, 14 and 15 – off social media. He calls it a “gateway drug” to fake news, pornography, stalkers and doom-scrolling. “Do I risk them resenting me? Sure, but these are the sacrifices of parents for their children’s mental health and physical safety,” the 43-year-old said. Across Southeast Asia, governments are increasingly siding with parents like him. Indonesia last month became the first country in the region to bar... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350487/southeast-asia-wants-children-social-media-will-it-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350487/southeast-asia-wants-children-social-media-will-it-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof On Monday afternoon, amid the heat and chaos of Thailand’s Songkran festival, Gavin Chow was crowned Mr Bear International 2026 – the first Malaysian to win the title at a pageant that has quickly become part of Thailand’s growing queer festival circuit. Back in Chow’s home country, the climate is very different. Malaysia criminalises same-sex intimacy under federal law, LGBTQ gatherings have faced police raids and the 34-year-old activist’s own national qualifier earlier this year struggled to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350517/bangkok-malaysias-first-mr-bear-winner-finds-spotlight-queer-life-rarely-gets-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350517/bangkok-malaysias-first-mr-bear-winner-finds-spotlight-queer-life-rarely-gets-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Rubber glove makers have raised prices and warned of production cuts as the Iran war chokes supplies of key inputs, raising concerns for the healthcare sector. Glove makers have already hiked the average price of synthetic rubber gloves by around 40 per cent to as high as US$29 for a box ‌of 1,000, according to Oong Chun Sung, an equity research analyst at CIMB Securities. Sustained disruption to supply chains from the conflict could lead to glove shortages by late May, analysts at Malaysia’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350554/hospitals-face-glove-shortage-malaysian-makers-hike-prices-40?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350554/hospitals-face-glove-shortage-malaysian-makers-hike-prices-40?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:47:52 +0000 dpa dpa While many Europeans are considering putting long-haul flying on the back burner as jet fuel costs and airfares climb, those with a trip already booked for Malaysia may need to watch out if ambling around with a camera slung across a shoulder. Following an early April warning about unlicensed street photography, city authorities in Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital, have confiscated equipment from six people, five of them non-Malaysians, pending payment of fines levied under street hawking... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350550/malaysia-unlicensed-street-photography-becomes-focus-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350550/malaysia-unlicensed-street-photography-becomes-focus-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:39:31 +0000 Aidan Jones,Biman Mukherji Aidan Jones,Biman Mukherji The age of cheap oil is over and Thailand’s rooftops are reflecting that fact. Across homes, garages and warehouses in the sun-drenched kingdom, the blue-black sheen of solar panels is spreading, as the Iran war has done what years of climate summits could not: turn solar power into a necessity. Demand for solar panels has swamped companies like Wayso, whose managing director is colouring in Thailand’s rooftops as fast as he can find technicians to do it. “We can’t hire quickly enough,” Suwat... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350479/shock-therapy-war-forces-oil-addicted-asia-finally-go-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350479/shock-therapy-war-forces-oil-addicted-asia-finally-go-green?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s leading LED chipmaker and its Malaysian partner have abandoned their US$239 million cash offer to purchase Dutch technology company Lumileds Holding after opposition from US authorities, marking the latest setback for Chinese tech investment overseas following the high-profile Nexperia saga. Sanan Optoelectronics, listed in Shanghai, said in a disclosure announcement on Friday that despite multiple rounds of discussions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350520/chinese-led-chipmakers-purchase-dutch-firm-collapses-after-us-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350520/chinese-led-chipmakers-purchase-dutch-firm-collapses-after-us-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Beijing and Hanoi have bolstered their commitment to demarcation talks over a contested stretch of water in the South China Sea, pledging to “better” navigate bilateral frictions in the area, according to a joint communique. The document also said the countries’ ruling communist parties had agreed to shore up each other’s leadership at home with the adoption of a new five-year action plan. Published on Friday as To Lam, Vietnam’s top leader, wrapped up his four-day visit to China, the communique... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350516/smoother-waters-china-and-vietnam-vow-better-navigate-south-china-sea-frictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350516/smoother-waters-china-and-vietnam-vow-better-navigate-south-china-sea-frictions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:12:52 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is usually seen in carefully choreographed meetings with presidents, kings and regional leaders in Putrajaya. So it was striking to see him instead riding through the city on a casual live stream with Sneako, the controversial 27-year-old American streamer and Muslim convert whose appeal to mainly young male audiences has made him an unlikely cultural figure. For more than an hour on Friday, the live stream gave Anwar a rare chance to sell Malaysia, his... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3350501/malaysias-anwar-chats-us-muslim-streamer-it-populist-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3350501/malaysias-anwar-chats-us-muslim-streamer-it-populist-move?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:21:23 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian airlines are cutting flights, raising fares and reshuffling networks as the Iran war sends jet fuel prices soaring, leaving carriers across the region scrambling to protect their margins and preserve key routes. The shock has hit Asia especially hard because many economies depend heavily on fuel flows from the Middle East, according to aviation analysts, and some regional carriers are less protected from sudden price spikes than their counterparts in Europe or the US. “The impact has been... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:49:33 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn As divorce rates continue to rise in Indonesia, more single mothers are bearing the brunt of financial hardship and struggling to collect court-ordered child support from former spouses. For some women, help comes from an initiative unique in the country: the East Java city of Surabaya bars men from accessing public services if they fail to pay court-ordered child support. First introduced in 2023, the scheme has been used to block administrative access to more than 8,000 men, according to Irvan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350439/indonesias-surabaya-bans-absentee-fathers-public-services-dodging-child-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350439/indonesias-surabaya-bans-absentee-fathers-public-services-dodging-child-support?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:30:21 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia and Australia pledged on Thursday to keep oil and gas flowing between them as the Iran war’s continuous squeeze on global fuel supplies compels regional countries to deepen energy trade cooperation. Across Asia, governments have been scrambling for alternatives after crude oil and gas shipments from the Middle East were disrupted following Tehran’s move to choke access to the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli strikes against Iran that began on February 28. The disruption has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:32:50 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia has deployed police to dozens of petrol stations along its borders as it moves to stop subsidised fuel from leaking out of the country, with the government linking the tougher enforcement to a global energy crunch triggered by the Iran war. The Southeast Asian nation shares borders with Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. Police said 36 petrol stations had been classified as “hotspots” and another 55 as high-risk locations. The deployments began at 6am on Wednesday across Perlis,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350253/malaysia-pumps-police-action-border-petrol-stations-curb-subsidised-fuel-leaks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350253/malaysia-pumps-police-action-border-petrol-stations-curb-subsidised-fuel-leaks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:48:01 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Balikatan, the flagship annual military exercise between Manila and Washington, begins in the Philippines this month without a single neighbouring Southeast Asian member taking part, despite the drills’ growing scale and multinational reach. Analysts say that hesitation helps explain Balikatan’s place in the region: for some Asean members, it is a reassuring sign of US commitment, but joining it risks looking like a strategic choice in the sharpening rivalry between Washington and Beijing. “To... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350190/why-southeast-asian-nations-are-hesitant-join-major-us-philippine-balikatan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350190/why-southeast-asian-nations-are-hesitant-join-major-us-philippine-balikatan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof In Malaysia, artificial intelligence is already causing harm to content creators through deepfake nudes, cloned voices, scam advertisements and stolen likenesses, experts have warned. They shared the view at the Freedom Film Network’s second International Conference on Film & Society in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, where creators, researchers and advocates from across Southeast Asia gathered under the theme “Cultivating Artistic Freedom in a Volatile World”. Melissa Lim Shi Hui, a lawyer and legal... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350193/malaysias-content-creators-battle-ai-abuse-deepfakes-scam-ads-spread-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350193/malaysias-content-creators-battle-ai-abuse-deepfakes-scam-ads-spread-online?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:30:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Japan has said it will establish a financial framework worth about US$10 billion to help Asian countries procure energy resources and bolster their stockpiles ‌as Middle East tensions drive prices higher and disrupt supply chains. The support, aimed at preventing knock-on effects on Japan’s own supply chains, would be channelled mainly through state-backed financial institutions such as Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance. Announcing the plan on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350182/japan-plans-us10-billion-support-help-asia-secure-oil-we-are-mutually-dependent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350182/japan-plans-us10-billion-support-help-asia-secure-oil-we-are-mutually-dependent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:15:28 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In a rare public protest in Singapore, hundreds gathered in Hong Lim Park over the weekend to denounce the “US war machine”. They brandished placards and banners, including one with horns drawn on US presidents past and present captioned: “This is what terrorists look like.” The demonstration, which required organisers to get permission from the authorities, came as public sentiment across the region sours against Washington. Observers attribute this to the perception that the United States has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350160/are-us-singapore-relations-under-pressure-public-trust-declines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350160/are-us-singapore-relations-under-pressure-public-trust-declines?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 CNA CNA A man raped a domestic worker in an open field in Singapore’s Rochor and stole money from her shortly after witnessing another man allegedly sexually assault the woman. Malaysian Harvin Velanggany, 24, was sentenced on Monday to eight years’ jail and six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to one count of rape with a charge of theft taken into consideration. Court documents stated that the victim, a 32-year-old Filipino, was on her day off when she was sexually assaulted on May 26, 2024.... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350145/malaysian-man-jailed-singapore-raping-robbing-filipino-helper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350145/malaysian-man-jailed-singapore-raping-robbing-filipino-helper?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:19:06 +0000 The Star The Star Jewellery and cash worth hundreds of millions of ringgit were found in overfilled luggage bags stored in a luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur during a raid linked to the 1Malaysia Develop­ment Bhd (1MDB) investigation, the High Court heard. The police had found 71 ­luggage bags, a plastic box and more than 200 boxes during the operation at Pavilion Residences on May 17, 2018. Former Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Amar Singh Ishar Singh testified that the sheer amount... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350106/malaysian-police-recall-overflowing-cash-gems-1mdb-raid-najib-linked-condo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350106/malaysian-police-recall-overflowing-cash-gems-1mdb-raid-najib-linked-condo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:10:25 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Russia and China’s top envoys met in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss the Iran war, Ukraine and Taiwan as Beijing stepped up its Iran war diplomacy and tensions with Washington increased. In a jab at Washington and US President Donald Trump that did not mention either by name, a Chinese readout of the meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov noted that the world is increasingly marked by turmoil and instability. The two top diplomats also discussed plans... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350099/top-russian-and-chinese-envoys-meet-beijing-discuss-iran-ukraine-and-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350099/top-russian-and-chinese-envoys-meet-beijing-discuss-iran-ukraine-and-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:59:47 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s government has urged the public to be ready to tighten their belts over an extended period, with the full effects of the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war expected to kick in as soon as June after the country’s economic buffers run their course. Domestic gas production and costly fuel subsidies have so far shielded the country’s population of 34 million from most of the fallout from the war, which has choked supply for 25 per cent of global seaborne oil trade and nearly a fifth... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350078/malaysians-urged-tighten-their-belts-iran-war-fallout-starts-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350078/malaysians-urged-tighten-their-belts-iran-war-fallout-starts-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:38:51 +0000