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Malaysia
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Malaysia

Malaysia
Malaysia
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Malaysia, covering politics, economy, society and the Asean member-nation’s relationships with China, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries.
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Head of State
Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar
Head of Government
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
A United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) flag waves outside the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysian politics

Between hope and reality – Umno’s plan to go solo a test of political waters

The party says a solo bid can help it win up to 60 seats in the next election and give it leverage to decide on coalition partners.

Yuan

How China is quietly reshaping Southeast Asia’s payments beyond the US dollar

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Japan

Japan’s FamilyMart gives old clothes new lease of life to reduce textile waste

Anwar Ibrahim

In Malaysia, Anwar’s former ally Rafizi Ramli grilled over Arm chip deal

The MACC is investigating power abuse claims and irregularities linked to the alliance between the economy ministry and the UK chip designer.

Rafizi Ramli (centre) speaks to reporters during a protest on April 25. Photo: Facebook/Rafizi Ramli

Crowd disarms knife-wielding woman at Malaysia water festival

The suspect was later arrested at the Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur.

International Property

Singapore’s safe-haven status draws more Chinese property investment

Mainland firms’ investments in Singapore fixed assets zoomed to 21 per cent of the total in 2025 from 2.5 per cent a year earlier.

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Anwar Ibrahim

From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test

Anwar’s government has tilted to the right in recent years in a move to win the support of Malay voters, analysts say.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Putrajaya earlier in April. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP/dpa
Asean

Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies

Southeast Asian countries outdid larger economies in the 178-nation Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025.

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Hong Kong society

Online sales of e-cigarettes persist in Hong Kong despite ban

Platforms still shipping products to city despite ban, prompting authorities to boost inspections and digital surveillance.

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Viral stories

Elephants never forget? Malaysians demand Japan return ‘homesick’ trio

One video shows Dara, Amoi and Kelat responding to their names in Malay while another reportedly reveals one of the elephants ‘weeping’.

The three Malaysian elephants stand in their enclosure at the Tennoji Zoo in Osaka. Photo: Facebook/The Patriot Studio
Anwar Ibrahim

‘Moral harm’: Malaysia’s culture war brigade tries to hose down water festival

Kuala Lumpur’s Rain Rave Water Music Festival faces backlash from critics who argue that such vulgar imports hurt conservative values.

Malaysian Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing sprays water as girl group Dolla performs at the Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Instagram/dolla.official
Singapore

‘Easy pickings’: Singapore jails 3 Chinese nationals over burglary spree

They were part of a group of men who travelled to Singapore from Malaysia multiple times to try breaking into homes to steal valuables.

Crime

Malaysian woman jailed 2 years for throwing baby daughter from 38-floor flat

The woman, who was convicted of infanticide for causing the death of her newborn, did not tell her family about her pregnancy.

Crime

Malaysian man who was married 9 times faces wife assault case again

The man, who is accused of attacking his pregnant wife until she miscarried, would ‘seek partners with stable jobs’, a police chief says.

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A file photo to illustrate domestic abuse. Rosmaini Abd Raof is accused of assaulting his pregnant wife in Malaysia while facing a separate appeal over a similar offence. Photo: Shutterstock
US, Israel war on Iran

Crisis surge or lasting shift? China’s solar exports double in a month

Countries respond to massive economic pain with accelerating demand for Chinese PV products but will they maintain the pace?

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The US-Israel war on Iran has disrupted energy supplies and hastened the adoption of solar technology, with China leading the field. Photo: AFP
Japan

Malaysia seeks return of elephants as Japan climate, welfare concerns grow

One of the pachyderms reportedly suffered a damaged tusk at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka.

Scams and swindles

Video | Why Malaysian-Indians are less likely to be scammed

Arrested scammers told police in Penang that Malaysian-Indians were toughest to deceive.

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Climate change

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

Researchers warn that fires fuelled by climate change are a dangerous new normal and could reverse gains made in tackling deforestation.

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An aerial picture shows iron ore mines at the foot of Mount Leuser National Park - a cornerstone of rainforest - in Aceh, Indonesia on April 9. Photo: EPA
Scams and swindles

‘Barrage of questions’: Malaysian Indians least likely to be scammed, police say

Despite all races being equally targeted, ethnic Indians lost the least because they would keep questioning until the scammers gave up.

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Thailand

Bridge too far? Hormuz crisis revives Thailand’s controversial plan

While the plan to bypass the Malacca Strait is popular with Anutin’s government, economists and environmentalists say it is not realistic.

Asean

Why Malacca Strait tolls are unlikely despite Indonesia’s maritime push

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are united in upholding the principle of free passage but this must be ‘actively maintained’, analysts say.

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A worker walks past a liquefied natural gas tanker in the Malacca Strait on April 15. Photo: EPA

Pricier than gold: why thieves in Malaysia want your catalytic converter

Catalytic converter thefts surge in Malaysia due to high demand for rare metals like rhodium, fetching lucrative prices.

According to a used auto parts dealer in Malaysia, the increase in catalytic converter theft was closely linked to global price movements. Photo: The Star
Anwar Ibrahim

State-level rebellion in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan tests Anwar’s coalition

Umno-led Barisan Nasional claims to have a simple majority after teaming up with opposition lawmakers amid an attempt to overthrow the ruler.

Thailand

‘Hard to breathe’: Southeast Asia’s workers reel from warmer offices, heatwave

‘The canteen and even the 7-Eleven downstairs are cooler than our office, which is why people end up gathering there,’ a Thai worker says.

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Crime in Hong Kong

2 tourists held after hotpot night turns violent at Hong Kong serviced apartment

Insider says police were alerted after dispute over ‘trivial matters’ between Malaysian man and mainland Chinese woman escalated into a brawl.

The force was alerted to the incident at K11 Artus at 11.47pm on Monday. Photo: Jelly Tse
Asean

Will Asean’s oil scramble mean Russia builds lasting stronghold in region?

Southeast Asia’s pivot may be for economic reasons, but some analysts warn Moscow could seek to build lasting influence in the region.

A man refuels the tank of a motorcycle at a petrol station in Manila, the Philippines, on April 7. The Strait of Hormuz blockade has resulted in energy shortages in Asia. Photo: AFP
Najib Razak

Malaysia’s Najib ends house-arrest appeal over 1MDB-linked prison sentence

The withdrawal ends the former prime minister’s attempt to serve out his SRC sentence at home after his jail term was halved in 2024.

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Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysian state in political crisis after Umno pulls support for chief minister

The Negeri Sembilan spat has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar’s coalition government.

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