https://www.scmp.com/rss/503127/feed The latest news on Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian politician and Prime Minister of Malaysia, including Malaysian political news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian police have arrested 51 men in a drug raid at a luxury Kuala Lumpur hotel, describing the scene as a “gay party” with “immoral activities” committed. The language has drawn scrutiny from lawyers and rights advocates who say the terms risked prejudicing suspects and stigmatising LGBTQ people. Bukit Aman narcotics chief Hussein Omar Khan said four raids were carried out between 2.35am and 5am on Sunday after police received intelligence about what they described as a “drug party” and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354933/malaysia-polices-gay-party-label-sparks-debate-after-hotel-drug-raid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354933/malaysia-polices-gay-party-label-sparks-debate-after-hotel-drug-raid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 12:25:57 +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. Did US restrictions sink Malaysia’s US$147 million Norway missile deal? Norway’s revocation of export licences for a naval missile system sold to Malaysia has thrust into sharp relief the United States’ ability to kill an arms deal between two other sovereign nations... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3354832/singha-beer-dynasty-scandal-malaysias-sunken-missile-deal-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3354832/singha-beer-dynasty-scandal-malaysias-sunken-missile-deal-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 05:15:05 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A dispute over where churches and temples can operate in Malaysia’s richest state has become an awkward political test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition, which came to power promising to protect the country’s multiracial and multi-faith society. The row centres on planning guidelines in Selangor, a wealthy and densely populated state surrounding Kuala Lumpur, that critics say could restrict non-Islamic places of worship in commercial areas, where many religious groups have long... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354741/malaysias-ruling-coalition-faces-test-over-selangor-non-muslim-worship-house-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354741/malaysias-ruling-coalition-faces-test-over-selangor-non-muslim-worship-house-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 07:09:28 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Former Malaysian economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s breakaway gamble is unlikely to bring down Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on its own, analysts say, but it could still wound the ruling coalition by peeling away reformist voters who helped Pakatan Harapan (PH) take power in 2022. Rafizi and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced on Sunday that they would quit Anwar’s People Justice Party (PKR), vacate their parliamentary seats and take over... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354510/why-rafizis-party-bigger-threat-malaysias-anwar-opposition-coalition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354510/why-rafizis-party-bigger-threat-malaysias-anwar-opposition-coalition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 08:16:18 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s internet regulator issued a statutory demand to TikTok on Thursday after a fake account allegedly used artificial intelligence to insult the country’s king, including posts falsely claiming he ate pork and manipulated images pairing his face with animal bodies. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said in a statement that TikTok had failed to take “sufficient and timely action” against offensive and defamatory content targeting the country’s royal... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3354360/malaysia-demands-tiktok-explain-failure-block-fake-account-using-ai-insult-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3354360/malaysia-demands-tiktok-explain-failure-block-fake-account-using-ai-insult-king?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 08:54:10 +0000 Bloomberg,The Star Bloomberg,The Star Malaysia’s unity government will remain intact until the end of its term amid speculation of snap elections, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. “Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Gabungan Parti Sarawak have given their commitment that they will support this government till the end of its term,” Fahmi said on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting. “This commitment reflects the priority given to the interests of the people and the country, while enabling the government to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3354256/malaysias-ruling-coalition-committed-staying-united-until-end-its-term-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3354256/malaysias-ruling-coalition-committed-staying-united-until-end-its-term-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 10:22:53 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Norway’s revocation of export licences for a naval missile system sold to Malaysia has thrust into sharp relief the United States’ ability to kill an arms deal between two other sovereign nations simply by restricting components its own industries supplied. Analysts suspect a gyroscope used in the guidance system of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s Naval Strike Missile and other US-made components are the reason Malaysia’s navy will not be receiving the weapons it contracted for – and paid nearly... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354174/us-suspected-forcing-norway-cancel-malaysias-us147-million-missile-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354174/us-suspected-forcing-norway-cancel-malaysias-us147-million-missile-order?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 03:57:21 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is considering calling a snap election before a mounting fuel subsidy crisis forces him to make spending cuts that would strip him of the conditions needed to win one. A national vote is not due until early 2028, but the political logic of going early is becoming harder to dismiss. Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance is fraying at the edges, coalition partner Barisan Nasional has announced it will contest the coming Johor state poll alone, and two of his... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354065/malaysias-anwar-eyes-snap-poll-fuel-subsidy-crunch-truly-bites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3354065/malaysias-anwar-eyes-snap-poll-fuel-subsidy-crunch-truly-bites?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 06:38:18 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Chances of Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim winning a fresh mandate look increasingly fraught, according to experts, as the unravelling of his coalition government gathered pace over the weekend amid threats of all-out war between allies and the defection of former stalwarts to a rival party. Anwar has presided over a period of relative political stability since his appointment as prime minister in November 2022 by then king Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, on condition that he included both allies and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353955/election-war-drums-beat-malaysias-ruling-coalition-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353955/election-war-drums-beat-malaysias-ruling-coalition-done?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 08:19:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Two prominent ⁠former Malaysian ministers said on ⁠Sunday they would vacate their parliamentary seats ⁠and resign from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition party to join a small party that they would take over. The move by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who resigned from cabinet last year after losing leadership posts in internal party elections, ‌could create a challenge for Anwar, amid speculation of an early election this year. The next general election is not due until... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353896/malaysian-ex-ministers-resign-anwars-party-snap-election-rumoured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353896/malaysian-ex-ministers-resign-anwars-party-snap-election-rumoured?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 13:24:19 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling alliance will doubtless try to project a united front this weekend, but two former ministers from his own party are threatening to pull attention back to the fractures inside the reformist camp. Pakatan Harapan (PH), the reformist coalition led by Anwar, holds its first convention in four years in the southern state of Johor on Sunday. That same day, former economy minister Rafizi Ramli and former natural resources and environmental sustainability... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353688/malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-wants-project-strength-his-former-ministers-wont-let-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353688/malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-wants-project-strength-his-former-ministers-wont-let-him?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 07:51:15 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysia will not support any pardon for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who described the matter as a “non-issue” for Putrajaya. The prime minister said any decision on a possible pardon application rested entirely with US authorities and was not something Malaysia intended to pursue. “There is no issue. We are not going to consider that. No issue,” he told reporters in Negri Sembilan yesterday when asked about reports surrounding... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353663/1mdb-scandal-anwar-says-malaysia-wont-oppose-jho-lows-trump-pardon-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353663/1mdb-scandal-anwar-says-malaysia-wont-oppose-jho-lows-trump-pardon-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 06:10:05 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Fugitive financier Jho Low’s request for a pardon from US President Donald Trump has reopened a central question left by Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal: whether the man alleged to have helped orchestrate one of the world’s biggest financial frauds will ever face trial. Analysts say the request appears unlikely to succeed because Low has never appeared in a US court, stood trial or accepted responsibility – and a pardon cannot erase charges he faces in Malaysia and Singapore. But the attempt has still... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353531/how-low-can-jho-go-chances-trump-pardon-malaysian-1mdb-scandal-below-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353531/how-low-can-jho-go-chances-trump-pardon-malaysian-1mdb-scandal-below-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 07:05:27 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia said on Wednesday it was weighing legal action after Norway blocked the export of missiles ordered for its navy, in a last-minute decision that has dealt a fresh blow to one of the country’s most troubled defence projects. The row centres on the Naval Strike Missile, ordered from Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace for Malaysia’s long-delayed littoral combat ship programme. Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had raised the matter with his Norwegian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353441/malaysia-weighs-legal-action-after-norway-blocks-missile-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353441/malaysia-weighs-legal-action-after-norway-blocks-missile-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:03:14 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency got a new chief on Wednesday with the arrival of Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge handed the task of steadying an institution that has spent years chasing political heavyweights while struggling to shake questions over its own independence. The 69-year-old took over as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after Azam Baki ended a six-year tenure marked by headline arrests, asset recoveries and repeated political... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353365/who-abdul-halim-aman-malaysias-new-anti-corruption-enforcer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353365/who-abdul-halim-aman-malaysias-new-anti-corruption-enforcer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 04:30:25 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof On his last morning in charge of Malaysia’s anti-corruption watchdog, Azam Baki did what he had always done – talked tough and walked away on his own terms. But the man who spent the past six years making the country’s powerful sweat left behind a question he never satisfactorily answered: what do you do when the anti-corruption chief becomes the story? Analysts say Azam’s exit puts Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who stood by him throughout, in a difficult position ahead of the next general... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353238/azam-baki-steps-down-macc-chief-leaving-malaysias-pm-anwar-face-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353238/azam-baki-steps-down-macc-chief-leaving-malaysias-pm-anwar-face-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 06:29:43 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan In the Johor palace where Malaysia’s once-dominant ruling party was born, Umno’s leaders posed on Monday with the country’s king in a carefully staged reminder of the power they commanded for six decades – and the influence they now hope to reclaim. The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the Malay nationalist party that led Malaysia from independence until its shock election defeat eight years ago, marked its 80th anniversary in its birthplace with a grand show of unity as it sought to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353175/malaysias-umno-marks-80th-anniversary-show-malay-political-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353175/malaysias-umno-marks-80th-anniversary-show-malay-political-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 12:45:30 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s plan to stop wealthier drivers from enjoying cheap subsidised petrol has left Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim facing a politically fraught question: how to define “rich” without punishing households already squeezed by higher living costs. The issue has sharpened as the Middle East energy shock strains government finances, forcing authorities to weigh fiscal discipline against the risk of angering middle-class voters in a car-dependent country. Anwar said the government had agreed in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353139/malaysias-fuel-subsidy-headache-leaves-anwar-scrambling-solution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353139/malaysias-fuel-subsidy-headache-leaves-anwar-scrambling-solution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 08:35:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country’s “rice bowl” north, where a drought has delayed planting of the staple crop and raised supply fears. “This year ... has been affected by prolonged dry weather, low rainfall and reduced dam water levels,” said Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu. The conditions mean farmers have missed two of the three usual planting phases for so-called “wet direct seeding” of rice, a technique that... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352974/malaysia-resorts-cloud-seeding-save-rice-crop-drought?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352974/malaysia-resorts-cloud-seeding-save-rice-crop-drought?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 04:13:47 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Deeper economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hinge on whether a code can be laid down to govern maritime territory and activity in the South China Sea, Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has said. “We cannot institutionalise any of those things until the code of conduct is finalised,” he told a press conference on Friday at the close of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu, when asked about aspects that held the most potential in relations between... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352954/asean-step-push-south-china-sea-code-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352954/asean-step-push-south-china-sea-code-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 14:22:40 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof An AI-powered database tracking corruption cases against Malaysia’s politicians was independently launched on Friday, putting fresh scrutiny on the status and outcomes of the country’s biggest graft prosecutions across administrations. The Prosecutorial Accountability Watch (PAW), built by civil society group Projek SAMA and hosted with news outlet Malaysiakini, tracks 33 high-profile cases involving current and former elected representatives – from ex-prime minister Najib Razak’s 1MDB-linked... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352885/new-database-tracks-shifting-outcomes-malaysias-political-corruption-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352885/new-database-tracks-shifting-outcomes-malaysias-political-corruption-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 08:47:02 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar arrived in Moscow on Thursday for a high-profile visit that comes as Kuala Lumpur looks for alternative oil sources amid a fuel crisis linked to the Iran war. Sultan Ibrahim landed at Vnukovo-2 International Airport at 4.20pm local time on Thursday, according to Malaysian reports, and was received by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, senior protocol officials and Malaysia’s ambassador to Russia, Cheong Loon Lai. The king is attending Russia’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352696/malaysian-kings-visit-russia-expected-smooth-path-oil-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352696/malaysian-kings-visit-russia-expected-smooth-path-oil-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 03:48:18 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele The death of a runner from heatstroke after a Penang hill run event has put a spotlight on the rising risks of soaring temperatures in Malaysia, as authorities report a spike in heat-related illnesses and are seeding clouds to trigger rains in the country’s drought-hit northern region. The death of the 41-year-old, the island’s first-ever confirmed heatstroke fatality linked to a sporting event, comes as temperatures in Malaysia soar to the mid-30s degrees Celsius. The man from Tampin, Negeri... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352468/malaysia-warns-health-risks-heatwave-2-related-deaths-recorded-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352468/malaysia-warns-health-risks-heatwave-2-related-deaths-recorded-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 07:06:03 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s Umno is making a heady gamble by planning to strike out on its own, experts say, as the former ruling party looks to rally support from among the country’s Malay-Muslim majority in preparation for national polls that must be called in less than two years from now. Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sunday said the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that the party led was “almost certain” of standing alone in the coming general election, after more than three years as a junior partner... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352362/can-malaysias-umno-reclaim-role-pillar-malay-political-power-solo-election-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352362/can-malaysias-umno-reclaim-role-pillar-malay-political-power-solo-election-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:45 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency on Monday questioned former economy minister Rafizi Ramli over a billion-ringgit semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, escalating a politically sensitive inquiry that has swept up ministers, senior officials and one of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s most outspoken former allies. Rafizi, the Pandan MP and a former senior figure in Anwar’s reformist People’s Justice Party, arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3352310/malaysia-anwars-former-ally-rafizi-ramli-grilled-over-us278-million-arm-chip-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 03:23:53 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof When Malaysia’s government announced a ban on two books in mid-April, the move raised eyebrows, with some questioning the intent of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration and his reformist credentials. The home affairs ministry on April 16 declared that the books – one of which was a memoir of the grandmother to an ally of Anwar – were a danger to national security for containing communist elements and ideologies. The decision triggered immediate pushback, predictably from civil society... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352174/malaysias-book-bans-iran-war-anwars-reform-agenda-faces-sternest-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352174/malaysias-book-bans-iran-war-anwars-reform-agenda-faces-sternest-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A government-backed water rave in Kuala Lumpur has earned the wrath of Malaysia’s culture war brigade, pitting religious objections against tourism goals, as critics decry the vulgar import amid growing conservatism. The uproar over the three-day Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Bukit Bintang comes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government tries to promote the country as a youthful, experience-led travel destination, even as it manages a traditionalist pushback against concerts, pop culture... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352115/malaysias-angry-culture-war-brigade-tries-dampen-water-festival-over-moral-harm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3352115/malaysias-angry-culture-war-brigade-tries-dampen-water-festival-over-moral-harm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 05:09:14 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state was pushed deeper into crisis after Barisan Nasional (BN), a key ally in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government, declared it had secured a simple majority to form a new state administration with the opposition. The move turns an extraordinary palace dispute into the sharpest state-level test yet of Anwar’s fragile ruling alliance, ahead of a national poll due in less than two years. BN, the former ruling coalition led by Umno that ruled Malaysia for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351637/malay-parties-unite-malaysias-negeri-sembilan-test-anwars-fragile-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351637/malay-parties-unite-malaysias-negeri-sembilan-test-anwars-fragile-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:41:40 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Across Southeast Asia, governments are seeking Russian oil and gas to ease fuel shortages triggered by the continuing chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a crisis that has sent energy prices higher and forced import-dependent countries to look beyond their usual suppliers. But analysts say the scramble for Russian fuel also raises a bigger question for the region: whether Moscow can turn a short-term role as an emergency energy supplier into longer-term influence there. Member states of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351613/will-aseans-scramble-russian-oil-fuel-shift-regional-alliances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351613/will-aseans-scramble-russian-oil-fuel-shift-regional-alliances?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan The ruling administration of Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state is on the brink of collapse after a key ally withdrew support on Monday in a spat that has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government. Anwar has been facing growing pushback from allies and critics alike in recent months, ahead of national polls due in less than two years. Parties across the aisle are doubling down on contentious issues to bolster support from their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351528/malaysian-state-crisis-after-umno-pulls-support-chief-minister-royal-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351528/malaysian-state-crisis-after-umno-pulls-support-chief-minister-royal-row?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:39:20 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia on Saturday appointed a former judge as its new anti-corruption chief in an unprecedented move, as the government seeks to calm months of political turbulence over alleged misconduct linked to the watchdog’s outgoing head. Allies and opponents have hit out against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since February following reports claiming that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) boss Azam Baki was involved in a share ownership scandal and the agency’s officers were allegedly working... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351404/malaysia-gets-new-anti-corruption-chief-protests-mount-against-outgoing-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351404/malaysia-gets-new-anti-corruption-chief-protests-mount-against-outgoing-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:51:51 +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 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 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 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 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 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 The Star The Star Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for an end to allegations of diesel being supplied to the Philippines, stating that the claim is untrue. Anwar said the recent shipment of diesel was not from national oil company Petronas but from a foreign commodity company, Vitol. “They [Vitol] have an agreement to transport oil and sell it to the Philippines. It is not us [Petronas] supplying it to the Philippines,” he said. “But we are not stopping it. We are giving passage. The oil belongs... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349983/malaysias-anwar-douses-row-over-diesel-supplied-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349983/malaysias-anwar-douses-row-over-diesel-supplied-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:50:21 +0000 The Star The Star Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s independent foreign policy stance, saying that while the nation prioritises maintaining strong ties with its neighbours, it remains firm in its refusal to overlook the causes of current regional instability. Responding to recent remarks by Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who stated that the republic would not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Anwar said Malaysia’s diplomatic approach is guided... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349684/malaysias-anwar-singapores-hormuz-stance-thats-their-affair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349684/malaysias-anwar-singapores-hormuz-stance-thats-their-affair?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:07:56 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A Malaysian association has come under fire after warning that wider work-from-home arrangements would hurt urban businesses, with critics accusing it of prioritising city-centre takings over the government’s effort to cut fuel use across the country and rein in soaring subsidy costs. The backlash comes days before Malaysia begins a phased work-from-home roll-out for eligible civil servants on April 15, part of a wider effort to cut fuel use and manage rising costs tied to disruptions caused by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349636/malaysian-business-lobby-says-working-home-will-hurt-city-profits-faces-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349636/malaysian-business-lobby-says-working-home-will-hurt-city-profits-faces-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:33:35 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Singapore’s pushback against negotiating with Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a backlash from Malaysian politicians, who saw its statements as “lecturing” them on how best to secure safe passage through the vital waterway. For the past month, Tehran had all but shut access to the strait – which handles about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, bound mostly for Asia – in retaliation for deadly strikes by the US and Israel since they launched a war on Iran on February... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349464/malaysia-wont-be-lectured-singapores-refusal-negotiate-over-hormuz-creates-waves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349464/malaysia-wont-be-lectured-singapores-refusal-negotiate-over-hormuz-creates-waves?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:23:33 +0000 Agencies Agencies President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran that will see Tehran temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz brought welcome relief to Asian markets on Wednesday. With Trump’s deadline approaching for the Islamic Republic to reopen the waterway or face obliteration, he announced a halt to attacks for two weeks and said he had received a “workable” 10-point proposal. Iran later said it had agreed to safe passage in the strait, through which a fifth of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349331/cautious-optimism-asia-after-us-iran-agree-ceasefire-reopen-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3349331/cautious-optimism-asia-after-us-iran-agree-ceasefire-reopen-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:52:07 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan A Malaysian court has granted an application by anti-corruption officials to issue an arrest warrant for two sons of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, after they failed to comply with repeated requests to turn up for questioning over their family’s wealth. Daim and his clan have been at the centre of a years-long probe into alleged abuse of power and corruption by the country’s elites, who critics have accused of colluding with two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to enrich themselves... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349326/malaysian-corruption-watchdog-secures-arrest-warrant-tycoon-daims-sons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349326/malaysian-corruption-watchdog-secures-arrest-warrant-tycoon-daims-sons?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:16:14 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Tehran’s decision to let Malaysia-linked vessels through the Strait of Hormuz highlighted Iran’s growing use of access to the strategic waterway as leverage, analysts said, with only a limited number of ships now able to pass and access increasingly determined by political ties rather than treated as a neutral commercial right. For Malaysia, the move drew attention not only to Tehran’s close ties with Putrajaya but also to scrutiny surrounding sanction-sensitive oil trade and ship-to-ship... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349284/iran-does-not-forget-its-friends-malaysia-ships-pass-hormuz-amid-selective-access?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349284/iran-does-not-forget-its-friends-malaysia-ships-pass-hormuz-amid-selective-access?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:52:57 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A daughter of Malaysia’s late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin was charged in a Kuala Lumpur court on Tuesday over allegations that she failed to declare shareholdings to anti-corruption investigators, in the latest escalation of a long-running probe into the wealth of one of the country’s most prominent political families. The case against Asnida Abdul Daim is part of the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into assets linked to her father, a two-time finance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349239/malaysias-op-godfather-probe-reaches-daims-daughter-asnida-pleads-not-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349239/malaysias-op-godfather-probe-reaches-daims-daughter-asnida-pleads-not-guilty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:10:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia X said on Monday it was raising ticket prices by as much as 40 per cent and cutting routes to cushion the impact of the war on Iran, but stressed demand for flights remained high. The Malaysia-based no-frills airline said about 10 per cent of its overall flights had been cut so far. It has raised fuel surcharges by about 20 per cent, while fare prices have increased between 31 per cent and 40 per cent. Average jet fuel costs have soared to about... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:41:39 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia has so far been spared the worst of the regional energy crunch, but experts say the government needs to move quickly and take more aggressive measures to prevent a worsening economic crisis if the Iran war becomes a drawn-out conflict. Much of Southeast Asia has been hit hard by the energy crisis, with thousands of motorists ditching their vehicles over the lack of fuel and governments burning through billions of dollars and scrambling to find alternative fuel sources to rein in prices... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348948/malaysia-urged-take-more-aggressive-action-tackle-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348948/malaysia-urged-take-more-aggressive-action-tackle-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:16 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Indonesia and Malaysia have ordered civil servants to work from home to save fuel amid the Iran war but with digital surveillance measures far stricter than those used during the pandemic. Civil servants in Indonesia must activate location tracking and respond to work communications within five minutes. Their Malaysian counterparts must log into a geolocation monitoring system every hour. Those who fail to comply face escalating sanctions. The work-from-home policies, announced within days of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348946/work-home-were-watching-indonesia-malaysia-geo-track-remote-civil-servants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348946/work-home-were-watching-indonesia-malaysia-geo-track-remote-civil-servants?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:44:40 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Asean’s neutrality in the Iran conflict is key to granting access to the coveted Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran likely seeking to win global opinion amid its war with the United States and Israel. Amid boiling tensions in the Gulf, Iran has wielded its control of the strategic channel to choke global oil supplies, especially to the US and its allies. Many countries – including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – have turned to diplomatic efforts to secure safe passage for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:41:08 +0000