https://www.scmp.com/rss/510607/feed Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed as Malaysia's ninth prime minister following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin on August 16. A lawyer by training, Ismail Sabri's ascendancy will reclaim the position for his party, Umno, three years after a shock election loss. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s king has issued a blunt warning to officials, saying his “hunt for the corrupt” will reach all levels as the country reels from a corruption scandal inside the armed forces that has implicated senior ranks. A former army chief and dozens of other officers and civilians have been arrested in recent weeks as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) seized 52 million ringgit (US$12.8 million) in cash, gold, cars and luxury watches. The anti-corruption body also froze 80 bank... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340423/malaysias-king-vows-wider-hunt-corrupt-military-scandal-engulfs-top-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340423/malaysias-king-vows-wider-hunt-corrupt-military-scandal-engulfs-top-ranks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Zuraidah Ibrahim Zuraidah Ibrahim Tengku Zafrul Aziz is rarely seen without his signature gleaming white smile and well-tailored suit over a trim physique and flat tummy, evidence of a strict exercise regimen. Malaysia’s minister of investment, trade and industry jokes that he is often mistaken for a Singaporean politician when abroad, perhaps because of his lean appearance and – this part is unspoken – his technocratic background. But there is one difference: “You can ask me anything on stage and I’ll try to answer.” Despite... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334566/malaysias-tengku-zafrul-us-trade-deal-umno-and-looking-singapore-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334566/malaysias-tengku-zafrul-us-trade-deal-umno-and-looking-singapore-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A senior official in Malaysia’s northern state of Kedah has defended the use of Chinese characters on a foundation stone for a tyre plant, after the inscription drew criticism in a country where public displays of Chinese text can become flashpoints over national identity and political loyalty. The controversy began after photos circulated of a foundation stone bearing Chinese characters at the groundbreaking ceremony for Prinx Tire Malaysia, the local subsidiary of Chinese tyre maker Prinx... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333678/malaysias-kedah-chinese-text-factory-event-sparks-double-standard-accusation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333678/malaysias-kedah-chinese-text-factory-event-sparks-double-standard-accusation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:12:08 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Depending on who you ask, Anwar Ibrahim is either on a mission to liberate Malaysia from decades of corruption or settling old political scores under the guise of reform. The latest target of the prime minister’s anti-graft investigators? His 100-year-old arch rival and former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recently disclosed that British authorities were assisting with its more than year-long investigation into assets allegedly linked to Mahathir, who twice... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326155/anwar-vs-mahathir-malaysias-corruption-showdown-comes-full-circle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326155/anwar-vs-mahathir-malaysias-corruption-showdown-comes-full-circle?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:11 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi The bankruptcy of high-profile fashion designer Jovian Mandagie, the former son-in-law of Malaysia’s ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has brought renewed attention to the growing scandals surrounding the former leader’s family. Jovian, once a household name in Malaysian and Indonesian fashion circles, was declared bankrupt by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Thursday for failing to repay a US$1.25 million loan to an engineering firm. The court ruling comes amid ongoing investigations by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317023/ex-malaysian-pm-ismail-sabris-family-hit-scandal-former-son-law-declared-bankrupt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317023/ex-malaysian-pm-ismail-sabris-family-hit-scandal-former-son-law-declared-bankrupt?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:29:45 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is pushing for sweeping new powers to strike deals with suspects and recover illicit funds before they can vanish overseas – a move officials say could help plug billions of dollars lost to money laundering and organised crime. Criminal syndicates are increasingly using Malaysia to launder money, authorities warn, while the country is also a key transshipment hub for drugs, illegal cigarettes, protected wildlife and other contraband. The Malaysian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3308658/malaysias-anti-corruption-agency-proposes-powers-claw-back-billions-illicit-funds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3308658/malaysias-anti-corruption-agency-proposes-powers-claw-back-billions-illicit-funds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2025 06:33:18 +0000 Former Malaysian prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met anti-graft officials on Thursday, after multiple delays in a multimillion-dollar corruption investigation that has outraged residents worn down by the cascade of such allegations involving senior politicians. Ismail Sabri is the latest former leader to be hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which has gone after prominent politicians and tycoons since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came to power in 2022. The country’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302195/former-malaysian-pm-ismail-sabri-finally-meets-anti-corruption-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302195/former-malaysian-pm-ismail-sabri-finally-meets-anti-corruption-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:52:37 +0000 Shock reverberated around Malaysia when news broke earlier this week that former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was named a suspect in a corruption investigation linked to 170 million ringgit (US$38.6 million) in cash, gold and other items seized at alleged safe houses run by his senior aides. The uproar came not so much from Ismail Sabri being named a suspect, but the sheer amount of cash found along with 16 gold bars and luxury Hublot watches. The fact that Ismail Sabri was named a suspect... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3301330/malaysias-corruption-carousel-here-we-go-again-ismail-sabri-third-ex-pm-implicated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3301330/malaysias-corruption-carousel-here-we-go-again-ismail-sabri-third-ex-pm-implicated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Mar 2025 01:30:17 +0000 Stacks of cash, gold bars, Hublot watches, and another former prime minister in the crosshairs of an anti-corruption investigation – it is Groundhog Day for many Malaysians in a country where politics often comes with a price tag. On Monday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) named Ismail Sabri Yaakob as a suspect in a corruption case which has also implicated four of his lieutenants after nearly US$38 million worth of euros, yen and dollars were found stacked in plastic-wrapped... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300993/malaysians-appalled-another-corruption-probe-involving-ex-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300993/malaysians-appalled-another-corruption-probe-involving-ex-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:30:10 +0000 Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was on Monday named as a suspect in a corruption case involving almost US$40 million in cash and gold bars seized from alleged safe houses across the capital. Ismail Sabri, the nation’s shortest-serving prime minister at just 15 months between August 2021 to November 2022, is the third leader to be implicated in corruption while in office following his predecessors Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Razak, who were charged and convicted... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300839/malaysian-ex-pm-ismail-sabri-now-suspect-corruption-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300839/malaysian-ex-pm-ismail-sabri-now-suspect-corruption-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:22:18 +0000 Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has declared his wealth to authorities as part of an ongoing corruption and money-laundering probe, the anti-corruption agency said on Sunday, following the seizure of nearly US$40 million in assets allegedly linked to him. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said its investigation is focused on government publicity expenditure and procurement during the premiership of Ismail Sabri, who served as prime minister from August 2021 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3300742/malaysias-ex-pm-ismail-declares-wealth-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3300742/malaysias-ex-pm-ismail-declares-wealth-anti-corruption-agency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2025 11:54:41 +0000 Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency said it is ready to charge former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s son-in-law – who has been wanted by authorities since last year – for graft once he returns to the country. The investigation against Muhammad Adlan Berhan has been completed and “we are ready to prosecute” upon his return to the country, Azam Baki, Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. Adlan faces several charges for criminal breach of trust, he... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3252832/malaysia-charge-ex-pm-muhyiddins-son-law-graft-anwar-continues-corruption-purge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3252832/malaysia-charge-ex-pm-muhyiddins-son-law-graft-anwar-continues-corruption-purge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:10:08 +0000 Former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin was a successful businessman even before he joined the government in 1984 and is now persecuted for his success, with claims that he is corrupt, his wife said on Wednesday. Naimah Khalid, who was questioned by anti-corruption investigators on Wednesday, said her husband, who was twice finance minister, was already widely referred to as a tycoon in the media and a multimillionaire before taking public office 40 years ago. “His success has now been... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248004/daim-zainuddins-wife-says-malaysia-targeting-ex-finance-minister-corruption-probe-because-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248004/daim-zainuddins-wife-says-malaysia-targeting-ex-finance-minister-corruption-probe-because-his?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2024 02:02:44 +0000 A purge by Umno leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed Malaysia’s former Covid tsar Khairy Jamaluddin as its highest-profile casualty late Friday, as recriminations tear at a party once seen as the natural steward of Malaysian power following its poor showing in November’s elections. Umno’s infighting injects a fresh complication into Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s attempts to move on from caustic divides at the heart of Malaysia’s politics and focus on policy, just two months since he took... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208300/malaysias-umno-purges-khairy-hishammuddin-party-leader-ahmad-zahid-fends-rebellion-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208300/malaysias-umno-purges-khairy-hishammuddin-party-leader-ahmad-zahid-fends-rebellion-now?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jan 2023 08:00:17 +0000 Just two months after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took power, one of his most important coalition allies is facing an internal showdown that risks upending Malaysia’s new-found stability. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of Umno, will use a general assembly starting on Wednesday to fend off challenges to his leadership, laying the groundwork for party polls due in May. He’s also looking to protect his position as deputy prime minister in Anwar’s government. “The goal of uniting the party as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3206369/anwars-staying-power-malaysia-pm-stake-umnos-general-assembly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3206369/anwars-staying-power-malaysia-pm-stake-umnos-general-assembly?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:03:09 +0000 Anwar Ibrahim rose to the prime minister’s office after Malaysia’s inconclusive general election, but barely a month into his tenure he is poised to put his fragile authority on the line with a confidence test which seeks to cement his legitimacy to govern – and stifle the squabbling which ultimately undid his predecessors. Monday’s vote is a political high-wire act, experts say, which challenges lawmakers to decisively back his administration and reset Malaysia’s fractious politics just as dark... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3203433/whats-stake-malaysia-anwar-ibrahims-confidence-vote-and-can-he-survive-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3203433/whats-stake-malaysia-anwar-ibrahims-confidence-vote-and-can-he-survive-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Dec 2022 00:30:12 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Malaysia’s king convened a special meeting between the heads of the nation’s nine royal houses on Thursday, on day five of a post-election political impasse. Saturday’s polls led to a hung parliament, although the reformist long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance and the Malay-Muslim Perikatan Nasional (PH) coalition led by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200790/malaysia-election-2022-decision-anwar-or-muhyiddin-pm-nears-sultans-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200790/malaysia-election-2022-decision-anwar-or-muhyiddin-pm-nears-sultans-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Nov 2022 01:43:50 +0000 Weariness began to set in among Malaysians on Wednesday as the country’s post-election political impasse lingered, though there were positive signs for those backing reformist opposition Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister. King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s convening of a special meeting with the nation’s other hereditary sultans suggested a resolution was in sight and he was ready to seek their consensus to endorse a prime ministerial nominee. Following meetings with Anwar and rival... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200729/malaysia-election-2022-hope-anwar-king-remains-firm-unity-plan-rejected-muhyiddin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200729/malaysia-election-2022-hope-anwar-king-remains-firm-unity-plan-rejected-muhyiddin?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:47:49 +0000 Malaysia’s political parties must each present the name of a lawmaker it thinks has the majority support in the lower house of parliament, the palace said on Sunday after no coalition secured a majority in Saturday’s general election. The parties must submit names before 2pm (0600 GMT) on Monday, the palace said in a statement, adding that the king’s decision on the new government and appointment of the premier will be final, in line with the constitution. The ruler has the discretion to name... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3200278/malaysia-election-2022-tight-race-indicates-hung-parliament-first-time-ever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3200278/malaysia-election-2022-tight-race-indicates-hung-parliament-first-time-ever?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Nov 2022 01:30:12 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Updates to this rolling story has now ended. Follow our liveblog for the latest on the vote count from 6pm. Millions of Malaysians cast their ballots on Saturday to choose who will earn the right to lead the country over the next five years, in a stiff contest that was called ahead of time amid concerns of rising living costs tied to surging inflation and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200186/malaysia-election-2022-polls-open-tightest-contest-independence-turnout-crucial-deciding-victory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200186/malaysia-election-2022-polls-open-tightest-contest-independence-turnout-crucial-deciding-victory?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Nov 2022 23:59:08 +0000 After months of anticipation, Malaysia’s November 19 election is now days away with almost 1,000 candidates fighting it out to win a place in the country’s 222-seat parliament. The snap election was only announced in October, after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament following months of pressure from his ruling nationalist Umno party vying for a return to power. This will be Malaysia’s 15th general election and is likely to be the most hotly contested that the country has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3199685/malaysia-election-2022-quick-guide-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3199685/malaysia-election-2022-quick-guide-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:30:17 +0000 Umno is seeking a return to power in Malaysia this week, four years after being booted out in 2018’s historic general election – and the stakes could not be higher, amid high-profile corruption cases that threaten to decimate the party’s top ranks. Umno, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that it leads, are leaning on their six decades of experience leading the nation to offer voters “stability and progress” that they say will strengthen the economy and put an end to the persistent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3199283/malaysia-election-2022-pakatan-harapans-lose-or-umnos-route-back-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3199283/malaysia-election-2022-pakatan-harapans-lose-or-umnos-route-back-power?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:30:14 +0000 Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional coalition promised cash aid to households with monthly incomes of less than 2,208 ringgit (US$466) if it were to win this month’s election, as it seeks to address the rising cost of living that has emerged as a hot-button issue with voters. Barisan Nasional said it would introduce “Assistive Basic Income”, in which household incomes that fall below the pledged minimum of 2,208 ringgit would automatically be topped up, according to the alliance’s manifesto... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198842/malaysia-election-barisan-nasional-dangles-cash-handouts-bid-win-over-voters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198842/malaysia-election-barisan-nasional-dangles-cash-handouts-bid-win-over-voters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Nov 2022 07:41:09 +0000 Malaysia’s general election will witness more than 210 multi-cornered contests for parliamentary seats, raising the possibility that fresh alliances would be needed to form a new government. More than 940 candidates will vie for 222 seats in the November 19 vote, with only nine one-to-one contests, according to data from the Election Commission. Several constituencies will see five-cornered fights, with the urban seat of Batu in Kuala Lumpur is set for a contest between 10 contenders, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198692/malaysia-election-umno-unlikely-win-clear-majority-glut-candidates-risks-splitting-vote-pollster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198692/malaysia-election-umno-unlikely-win-clear-majority-glut-candidates-risks-splitting-vote-pollster?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:08:06 +0000 Malaysia’s ruling party dropped several key allies of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from its election candidate list, signalling an emerging power struggle within the leadership ahead of a national poll this month. Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi left out eight ministers and deputy ministers from the candidate list of the Barisan Nasional coalition that the party leads. The coalition is contesting 166 of the 222 seats in federal parliament for the November 19 elections. The removal of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198108/malaysias-umno-drops-pm-ismail-sabris-allies-ahead-november-19-polls-power-struggle-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3198108/malaysias-umno-drops-pm-ismail-sabris-allies-ahead-november-19-polls-power-struggle-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Nov 2022 06:32:10 +0000 At a Kuala Lumpur tea stall, Kamal, a civil servant in his mid-40s, said his vote this time would be driven by “disgust” over the politicking and infighting that has riddled Malaysia since its last election in 2018. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government collapsed less than two years into a five-year mandate given by that election victory, which had unseated the powerful Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition after 60 years and left ousted leader Najib Razak vulnerable to charges of corruption... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196764/malaysians-still-angry-over-2018-election-set-vote-amid-political-strife-rocky-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196764/malaysians-still-angry-over-2018-election-set-vote-amid-political-strife-rocky-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Oct 2022 05:00:09 +0000 Ninety-seven years old, walking without a cane and as whip-sharp with a sound bite as any of his rivals, two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad insists he has the energy for one “last effort” in the bear pit of Malaysian politics as he prepares for his 11th general election. One of the world’s oldest politicians, Mahathir says his supporters cajoled him into contesting the November 19 polls as the head of a new party in order to right the wrongs of his previous United Malays National... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196811/i-am-still-functional-i-can-still-move-around-make-speeches-mahathir-mohamad-97-why-malaysia-still?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196811/i-am-still-functional-i-can-still-move-around-make-speeches-mahathir-mohamad-97-why-malaysia-still?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Oct 2022 04:30:09 +0000 Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim has been named as the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s prime minister candidate, as the Southeast Asian nation gears up for a general election next month. The long-time opposition leader is the second politician to offer himself as premier in the national vote that will be held on November 19. The move pits Anwar, 75, against caretaker premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob, 62, who was endorsed by the ruling United Malays National Organisation in April. Anwar, who is an incumbent MP... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196720/malaysia-election-2022-anwar-ibrahim-named-pakatan-harapan-pm-candidate-polls-near?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196720/malaysia-election-2022-anwar-ibrahim-named-pakatan-harapan-pm-candidate-polls-near?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:45:11 +0000 Malaysia’s coming general election will be held on November 19, the Election Commission said on Thursday, setting the stage for a fierce battle for power with the political landscape more splintered than ever. Candidates have to be nominated on November 5, meaning a 14-day campaign period, three days longer than the 2018 polls. Some 21.1 million people are eligible to vote, election commission officials said during a press conference. Those eligible for early voting will be able to do so on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196580/malaysia-hold-general-election-november-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3196580/malaysia-hold-general-election-november-19?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:27:22 +0000 Malaysian caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition must work “very hard” to secure the overwhelming majority it needs to form a strong government in the coming general election, Bernama reported. Gone were the days when the coalition could field a songkok – the black cap traditionally worn by Muslim males in the Southeast Asian nation – and still win, Ismail Sabri told reporters on Tuesday night in Perak, a state in the northwest of Peninsular... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196324/malaysia-election-pm-ismail-sabri-says-days-expecting-easy-wins-are-gone-tells-barisan-nasional-buck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196324/malaysia-election-pm-ismail-sabri-says-days-expecting-easy-wins-are-gone-tells-barisan-nasional-buck?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:19:48 +0000 Malaysia’s ringgit, languishing at a 24-year low against the dollar, is poised to weaken further on concern a national election may reignite political risk and threaten the government’s ability to push through a deficit-busting budget. The ringgit breached a support level around 4.50 per US dollar last month as hawkish moves by the US Federal Reserve fuelled a rally in the American dollar. The Malaysian currency now faces fresh headwinds after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196197/malaysia-election-ringgit-set-fall-further-vote-adds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3196197/malaysia-election-ringgit-set-fall-further-vote-adds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:00:15 +0000 Two-time former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has thrown his hat in the ring yet again, as he banks on his newly formed coalition to scuttle plans of his former party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), to reclaim power in snap elections that will be held in weeks. Mahathir on Tuesday announced his decision to defend his parliamentary seat on the holiday island of Langkawi, surrounded by supporters who turned out in force at his office in the administrative capital of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195595/malaysias-mahathir-mohamad-97-contest-election-save-country-umno?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195595/malaysias-mahathir-mohamad-97-contest-election-save-country-umno?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Oct 2022 11:03:45 +0000 As Malaysians head to the polls later this year after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday dissolved parliament, political analysts have their eyes on the fight for Malay and youth votes. Malaysia’s Election Commission is expected to meet this week to decide on the polling date, which must be within 60 days from the day parliament is dissolved. The 15th national election comes four years after voters, fed-up over entrenched corruption and rising living costs, unseated Barisan Nasional, a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195468/malaysia-election-umno-faces-fierce-fight-malay-bloc-youth-vote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195468/malaysia-election-umno-faces-fierce-fight-malay-bloc-youth-vote?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:53:08 +0000 Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday announced the dissolution of parliament, setting the stage for a general election this year amid criticism over the timing as the country braces for possible floods caused by the monsoon season. “In line with Article 40 (20)(b) and Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution, His Royal Highness the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, exercised his prerogative and granted my request for the 14th Parliament to be dissolved today,” Ismail Sabri said in a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195418/malaysia-pm-dissolves-parliament-paving-way-snap-election-during?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195418/malaysia-pm-dissolves-parliament-paving-way-snap-election-during?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Oct 2022 07:14:29 +0000 Malaysia on Friday presented a smaller budget for 2023 compared to this year, on expectations of a decline in revenue and efforts to restructure public spending ahead of a projected global slowdown, amid talk of parliament being dissolved soon to pave the way for an early general election. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has come under pressure from his United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party to dissolve parliament after its leaders pushed him to meet the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3195217/malaysia-cuts-spending-touts-careful-and-flexible-stance-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3195217/malaysia-cuts-spending-touts-careful-and-flexible-stance-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:35:25 +0000 As Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob prepares his re-election bid, his administration’s final budget on Friday offers him a rare opportunity to win over voters with spending proposals that many expect will be heavy on feel-good factor and light on new taxes. Ismail, who is under pressure from his United Malays National Organisation party to call elections before the year is out, needs to get the budget maths right before the vote. For that, he must reconcile the goal of narrowing the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3194879/malaysia-gears-election-friendly-budget-smaller-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3194879/malaysia-gears-election-friendly-budget-smaller-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:51:08 +0000 The recent months have seen a flurry of activity from Malaysian authorities, who have been busy clamping down on perceived attacks on conservative values as the country gears up for what could be its most divisive national polls that are expected to be called soon. Earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company withdrew two of its summer blockbuster films – Lightyear and Thor: Love and Thunder – from local cinemas after Malaysia asked it to delete scenes viewed as promoting homosexuality, which is a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3194275/election-fever-heats-malaysia-so-do-censorship-and-conservatism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3194275/election-fever-heats-malaysia-so-do-censorship-and-conservatism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:30:11 +0000 The leader of Malaysia’s United Malays National Organisation (Umno), also a former deputy premier and ally of former leader Najib Razak, was on Friday acquitted in one of the two corruption trials he is facing, marking a rare legal respite for Umno politicians ahead of possible early elections. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail term for his involvement in the scandal-tainted state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), are part of a wider group of Umno politicians... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3193601/malaysias-court-cluster-gets-respite-umno-boss-zahid-acquitted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3193601/malaysias-court-cluster-gets-respite-umno-boss-zahid-acquitted?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:10:01 +0000 Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday he believes his three-party alliance has a “fair chance” of winning a general election that could be called as early as November. Anwar leads the Hope Alliance, which earlier teamed up with an ethnic Malay party led by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad for a historic win in 2018 elections. Anger over corruption led to the shocking defeat of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which had ruled Malaysia since its... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3193455/malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-says-opposition-has-fair-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3193455/malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-says-opposition-has-fair-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Sep 2022 01:15:13 +0000 Malaysia’s government has said it will set up a committee dedicated to rescuing citizens who have fallen victim to job scam networks across Southeast Asia’s Mekong region amid continued national attention over the issue. The illegal enterprises – which are widely seen as an emerging form of human trafficking – have come into focus after reports last week about the death of a Malaysian man in one such scam. Hundreds of Malaysians are believed to have fallen victim to false offers of lucrative... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3193355/malaysia-sets-hong-kong-style-special-committee-rescue-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3193355/malaysia-sets-hong-kong-style-special-committee-rescue-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:30:09 +0000 Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob faces the prospect of having to weather more than one storm, as he continues mulling calls for a general election even as his administration braces for devastating floods that the year-end monsoon season is likely to bring. Ismail Sabri, who was named the nation’s ninth leader just over a year ago, is in the precarious position of being the first prime minister who is not the head of a political party – leaving him vulnerable to pressure from the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192749/will-malaysias-umno-wash-out-its-chances-victory-if-it-holds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192749/will-malaysias-umno-wash-out-its-chances-victory-if-it-holds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:30:08 +0000 Malaysia expressed its commitment to prepare for seasonal floods in the coming months, in what is set to be a test for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob ahead of an election that is widely expected to be held before the September 2023 deadline. In Kuala Lumpur alone, the government is rolling out a flood mitigation project worth 300 million ringgit (US$66 million) that is 60 per cent completed, Environment Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. “I hope this project... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3192537/malaysia-braces-damaging-floods-test-prime-minister-ismail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3192537/malaysia-braces-damaging-floods-test-prime-minister-ismail?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:52:32 +0000 Malaysia’s trade chief recommended giving the Southeast Asian economy more time to recover from the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic before holding a general election in order to prioritise helping its citizens. An early election has yet to be brought up in Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cabinet, but aides had discussions and want to emphasise to the leader the need for more time before a national vote, according to Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali. Polls currently aren’t scheduled... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3192180/malaysias-trade-chief-says-we-need-more-time-calling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3192180/malaysias-trade-chief-says-we-need-more-time-calling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:04:42 +0000 Malaysian politics for the last several decades have been largely dominated by the same figures, such as former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his one-time protégé Anwar Ibrahim, whose feud in 1998 continues to shape the governing landscape until today, almost 25 years later. These heavyweights remain deeply embedded in the nation’s politics, feeding a sense of cynicism among voters who until recently were hopeful of some change to the status quo after the makeshift Pakatan Harapan (PH)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3191921/mudas-syed-saddiq-pkrs-rafizi-ramli-figures-who-could-shake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3191921/mudas-syed-saddiq-pkrs-rafizi-ramli-figures-who-could-shake?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Sep 2022 03:00:20 +0000 Critics have thrown a fresh round of salvoes at Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration, which they claim has not done enough to contain inflation after the central bank announced its third straight hike to its key policy rate earlier this week. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on Thursday announced a 25 basis point rise to its overnight policy rate (OPR), as widely forecast, on expectations of continued economic growth propped up by private sector spending, positive labour... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3192005/malaysia-pm-ismail-sabri-yaakobs-inflation-jihad-plan-under?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3192005/malaysia-pm-ismail-sabri-yaakobs-inflation-jihad-plan-under?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:13:19 +0000 Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s visit to Malaysia this week is part of a bid to forge personal relationships with neighbours and key strategic partners before he succeeds Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, analysts say. Wong, 49, on Sunday made his first working trip to the city state’s northern neighbour since he was promoted in June, following a decision by the ruling People’s Action Party to designate him as the leader of its so-called fourth generation (4G) of ministers. Lee,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3191574/singapores-lawrence-wong-forges-personal-ties-malaysian-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3191574/singapores-lawrence-wong-forges-personal-ties-malaysian-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:21:52 +0000 The vigour of Malaysia’s economic rebound from the strictures of the coronavirus pandemic took many experts by surprise, but its durability may prove short-lived as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saps global growth and China remains tethered to zero-Covid. Growth over the second quarter came in at 8.9 per cent year on year, a faster clip than forecast by economists as Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy shakes off the impact of two years’ worth of pandemic disruptions to life and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3191110/malaysias-post-covid-economy-has-held-so-far-will-politics-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3191110/malaysias-post-covid-economy-has-held-so-far-will-politics-be?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Sep 2022 03:00:16 +0000 The head of Malaysia’s ruling party urged members to support a petition seeking a royal pardon for former prime minister Najib Razak, who was imprisoned last week for 12 years. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of Umno – the party Najib belongs to – made the call at a special meeting on Saturday. Najib began serving time in prison from Tuesday after Malaysia’s top court upheld his 2020 conviction for corruption in relation to 1MDB, a troubled state fund from which billions were siphoned. It is... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3190497/malaysias-umno-chief-declares-pandemic-over-call-najib?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3190497/malaysias-umno-chief-declares-pandemic-over-call-najib?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Aug 2022 01:12:04 +0000 Malaysia’s longest-serving leader Mahathir Mohamad saw a “50-50 chance” ex-prime minister Najib Razak will eventually receive a royal pardon in a case linked to 1MDB, the state fund that had billions of dollars siphoned and spread across the globe. Mahathir, who was prime minister twice, said Malaysia’s king could extend a pardon to Najib in the same way current opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was given one back in 2018. Mahathir sought a full royal pardon for his former ally after they joined... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3189823/1mdb-scandal-malaysias-mahathir-gives-najib-50-50-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3189823/1mdb-scandal-malaysias-mahathir-gives-najib-50-50-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Aug 2022 01:01:56 +0000 Malaysians have been in an uproar over the past couple of weeks after it was revealed that 6 billion ringgit (US$1.3 billion) had been paid for six naval ships that remain undelivered well past the deadline, adding to the crisis facing Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his nascent administration. Ismail Sabri, who was made prime minister barely a year ago, has been under constant pressure from his former ruling Umno party to call for early elections after strong showings at two state polls... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3189065/day-reckoning-ship-scandal-piles-pressure-malaysian-pm-ismail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3189065/day-reckoning-ship-scandal-piles-pressure-malaysian-pm-ismail?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:30:24 +0000