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
The ringgit’s surge has boosted travel plans and currency exchanges in Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock
Currencies

‘I’m lucky’: Malaysians cash in as ringgit’s surge boosts travel budgets

Travellers capitalise on the favourable exchange rate for holidays after the currency hit a five-year high against the US dollar.

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Environment

Opinion | Forest conservation must be long-term priority for Southeast Asia

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Malaysian politics

Malaysia army chief on leave amid procurement scandal raids

Anwar Ibrahim

Najib’s new 1MDB verdict deepens Umno rifts, testing Malaysia’s unity government

The jail term for the former prime minister has reignited grass roots anger and raised questions over Umno’s future inside Anwar’s coalition.

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Supporters of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak gather outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on December 26, ahead of a High Court verdict in his 1MDB-linked corruption and money laundering case. Photo: Reuters
SCMP Highlights

Tariffs, truces and Trump: key developments in US-China trade war in 2025

From Trump’s stiff tariffs and China’s response to high-level trade talks, here’s a selection of SCMP stories covering the major milestones.

Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Can AI deliver the economic goods and high returns? Don’t count on it

The dash towards AI might become a rout as the public rebels against the environmental costs while investors worry about the returns.

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Singapore

How the Peranakan Chinese built one of Southeast Asia’s most powerful networks

Born of trade and migration, the Peranakan community has forged a distinct identity that has bridged China and Southeast Asia for centuries.

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The Khoo elders observe the Tung Chen prayer ceremony in the ancestral hall of the Long San Tong Khoo Kongsi on December 20. Photo: Ushar Daniele
Asean

Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025

The country hosts the region’s biggest event, sees a new twist in the 1MDB scandal and is at a critical political juncture.

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Chinese historical myths that are accepted as fact, and why they’ve endured

Like Singapore’s ‘ejection’ from Malaysia, Chinese history contains fallacies, including ones about Sun Yat-sen and Empress Dowager Cixi.

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s Perlis state in turmoil after chief minister’s shock resignation

Mohd Shukri Ramli resigned due to health reasons amid a withdrawal of support from eight PN state assemblymen.

Mohd Shukri Ramli resigned as chief minister of Perlis amid party sackings. Photo: Facebook/Mohd Shukri Ramli
Malaysia 1MDB scandal

Malaysia’s Najib sentenced to 15 years in jail for abuse of power in 1MDB saga

The ruling comes after a years-long trial in the financial fraud that saw more than US$4.5 billion plundered from the state fund.

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Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is escorted by prison guards at the Kuala Lumpur Court complex on Monday. Photo: Reuters
SCMP Highlights

China’s reusable rocket failure, PLA growth leaves US ‘vulnerable’: 7 highlights

From Hong Kong’s crowded border at Christmas to jailed ex-Malaysian PM’s request rejected, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Myanmar

Stay or go? Rohingya see no way out of predicament as Myanmar heads to poll

Myanmar’s phased election, set to start on Sunday, is likely to be steered by the same leaders responsible for driving the Rohingya out.

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Environment

‘Don’t embarrass Malaysia’: minister furious over public littering

Nga Kor Ming stressed that urban cleanliness was crucial for national image ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

A minister has urged Malaysians to keep the country’s cities clean as stricter fines loom for offenders from next month. Photo: X/NgaKorMing
Najib Razak

With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?

The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Malaysia on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Religion

Hair-raising: Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol

The pair are being investigated for causing religious disharmony and misusing social media.

Tourism

‘Nothing has changed’: safety gaps, old facilities hobble Malaysian tourism

‘We must clean this up. Tourists must feel safe and happy so they leave with good memories of Malaysia,’ Tourism Minister Tiong says.

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Najib Razak

Najib’s children lament Malaysian court ruling – ‘we thought he was coming home’

The ex-prime minister has lost his case to have his imprisonment commuted to house arrest based on a supposed royal decree.

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A supporter of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak wears a t-shirt displaying Razak’s face at the Federal Court in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in August. Photo: EPA
SCMP Highlights

BYD’s big plans in Brazil, Xpeng tries to go global: 7 EV reads

From EV battery giants in China venturing into shipbuilding to BYD’s ambitious plans in Brazil, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Fan Bingbing

How Fan Bingbing mastered ancient black magic for Malaysian film role

Director Chong Keat Aun’s father trained the actress to create a talisman to ward off curses in ‘Mother Bhumi’.

Malaysian politics

Why Malaysian court ruling against Najib is dividing Anwar’s coalition

A comment by a DAP member that is perceived as celebrating Najib’s legal setback has been slammed by Umno’s leaders.

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak escorted by prison officers on his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Complex on Monday. Photo: AP
Year in Review

SCMP Plus Year in Review 2025: China

As the year comes to a close, SCMP Plus highlights the biggest China-related stories of the year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a military parade in Beijing in September. Photo: AP
Extreme weather

Asia’s year in extreme weather and natural disasters, from earthquakes to floods

From the deadly earthquake in Myanmar to tropical cyclones in the Philippines, Asia went through its share of natural disasters in 2025.

SCMP Highlights

Philippines’ Chinese tourism woes, police officer goes viral: 7 Asia highlights

From India’s anxiety over US-Pakistan deals to South Korea’s visa policy debate, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

China economy

Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

China’s pivot to emerging markets has kept its export machine running. But frictions are growing and steel is the most visible flashpoint.

A worker stacks steel products meant for the export market at a factory in Binzhou, Shandong province, China on April 15. Photo: AFP
Education

Opinion | As UK universities lose prestige, Asian institutions stand to benefit

The decline of Britain’s universities and the challenges facing Western academia in general stem from education no longer being treated as a national investment.

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People walk past the Bridge of Sighs at Oxford University in Britain on December 5. Photo: Reuters
2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict

Malaysia: Cambodia, Thailand set for Christmas Eve truce talks after Asean push

The breakthrough was quickly threatened as Cambodia accused Thailand of bombing border provinces with F-16s just hours later.

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Law

Malaysian rapper Namewee acquitted of drug use charge after negative test

The 42-year-old still faces a drug possession charge and remains under investigation following the death of a Taiwanese influencer.

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