https://www.scmp.com/rss/515419/feed Khairy Jamaluddin is a visiting senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Previously, he served as Malaysia’s minister of youth and sports; minister of science and technology; and minister of health. He was also the coordinating minister for the Covid-19 immunisation programme. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Khairy Jamaluddin Khairy Jamaluddin Malaysia’s political system is not a presidential one and is instead based on the Westminster model; but there is an increasing tendency for its parties to want to name a presidential-style “poster boy”. This is partly due to the charismatic personality of the incumbent prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, which makes political contests in Malaysia a battle of personalities rather than policies. But beyond that, it also speaks to the internal jockeying that is taking place within the different... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3327824/malaysias-politics-becoming-ageing-poster-boy-personality-contest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3327824/malaysias-politics-becoming-ageing-poster-boy-personality-contest?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 04:00:15 +0000 Malaysia is currently undergoing a severe heatwave. Scorching temperatures are sending people indoors to crank up their air conditioning and fans, but it is not only the air temperature that is on the rise. The heat around political and social issues has come dangerously close to a boiling point during the normally calm, quiet month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast and try to commit to deep reflection and self-improvement. The present furore began with the discovery of socks bearing the word... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3257262/amid-tensions-over-malaysias-allah-socks-scandal-pm-anwar-ibrahims-silence-speaks-volumes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3257262/amid-tensions-over-malaysias-allah-socks-scandal-pm-anwar-ibrahims-silence-speaks-volumes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Mar 2024 03:00:26 +0000 Having consolidated his position as Malaysia’s prime minister with the passing of his maiden budget in parliament, Anwar Ibrahim now has an added spring in his step following a well-received visit to China. While he failed to secure meetings with top Saudi Arabian leaders on an earlier trip, he delivered in China. In addition to meetings with President Xi Jinping and new Premier Li Qiang, Anwar secured 170 billion ringgit (US$38.6 billion) worth of investment deals. In essence, he was able to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3217032/can-malaysias-anwar-navigate-dangerous-undercurrents-ahead-key-state-elections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3217032/can-malaysias-anwar-navigate-dangerous-undercurrents-ahead-key-state-elections?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:30:10 +0000