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 Starbucks outlet in Kuala Lumpur. The operator of the coffee chain in Malaysia has been hit by a revenue decline due to a pro-Palestinian consumer boycott. Photo: Azneal Ishak
Starbucks

Malaysians trust media more while consumer boycott hits confidence survey

Local companies dominate the most trusted brands across the sectors, according to the Ipsos survey.

Trending in China

Shock as Malaysia teacher tells pupil struggling with dialect to ‘go back to China’

South China Sea

As Hegseth visits Manila, Beijing warns against meddling in South China Sea

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Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia arrests Muslim preacher as temple relocation row rages on

Controversy refuses to die down even as PM Anwar declared ‘victory’ after laying foundation stone for a mosque to be built on temple site.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the groundbreaking ceremony for Masjid Madani in Kuala Lumpur on March 27. Photo: Facebook/anwaribrahimofficial
Education

My Take | Flags on Malaysian school uniforms a badge of honour or a burden to parents?

The onus to keep flags ‘clean and not faded’ falls on the parents, some of whom are already struggling with day-to-day expenses.

Singapore

Alamak! 12 words in Malaysia, Singapore enter Oxford dictionary

Food names form the bulk of additions, but other notables include the Malay expression ‘alamak’ and a colloquial meaning for the word ‘terror’.

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Asean

Name your ‘wish’: Johor-Singapore special zone dangles more investor perks

Malaysian official reveals more benefits on sidelines of Korea-Asean Business Forum in Seoul, as UOB bank rolls out support for Korean firms eyeing the region.

Vehicles at the causeway coming from Malaysia’s state of Johor to enter Singapore. Photo: AFP
Malaysian politics

Malaysians question flag on school uniforms rule – pupils ‘do not care’

The education ministry says the rule is in line with the goal of schools to ‘foster the spirit of patriotism among the younger generation’.

Drugs

Malaysia’s sewage reveals hidden drug labs with fentanyl traces detected

Police use new test kit and waste water analysis to speed up drug detection and boost enforcement efforts.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Why the US could lose more ground in Southeast Asia

While the US remains Asean’s biggest investor, its investment in core infrastructure is limited. Meanwhile, China makes its presence felt.

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Passengers take selfies during a Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail ride in Indonesia in 2023. China’s focus on infrastructure and regional connectivity in Southeast Asia has had a profound impact. Photo: Xinhua
Semiconductors

Will Malaysia’s chip rules satisfy US concerns over Nvidia diversions to China?

Malaysia is enhancing semiconductor tracking to reassure the US amid investigations into alleged Nvidia chip diversions to China.

A smartphone with a displayed Nvidia logo is placed on a computer motherboard. Photo: Reuters
Anwar Ibrahim

Relocation of Hindu temple in Malaysia fuels accusations of special privileges

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to lay the foundation stone for a new mosque on the current site of the Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Hong Kong transport

Explainer | Power banks on flights: which airlines and regions have tightened rules?

Hong Kong is restricting the use of power banks on flights. Here’s how other jurisdictions and carriers are dealing with the devices following recent incidents.

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Anwar Ibrahim

‘No way’: Malaysia’s PM refuses US$10 million ransom demand after cyberattack

Officials said the weekend cyberattack had affected certain computer systems at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he refused to provide a ransom to hackers over a cyberattack at the Kuala Lumpur airport. Photo: Reuters
Thailand

Malaysia’s Perlis port vows faster halal deliveries to China, but Thai support key

Malaysia’s Perlis mega-port aims to revolutionise halal cargo delivery to China, contingent on Thai rail agreements and regional stability.

A container truck leaves the Padang Besar Container Terminal in Perlis, Malaysia. The northern state bordering Thailand is a key transit point for exports from the kingdom’s southern provinces. Photo: Joseph Sipalan
Disease

Malaysian minister’s claim of ‘Yolo’ mindset driving HIV cases draws ridicule

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni says the ‘you only live once’ mindset encourages individuals ‘to try something new’.

SCMP Highlights

Thais reject ‘dark skin’ stigma, Singapore payouts: 7 Asia highlights

From Singapore offering unemployment payouts to a slap heard around Malaysia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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Religion

Bid to relocate Hindu temple for mosque in Malaysia’s capital stirs debate

The government land on which the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple sat was sold to Jakel in 2014.

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Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman devotees are hoping to save the temple in central Kuala Lumpur from eviction. Photo: Facebook/Tang Ah Chai
Artificial intelligence

Malaysia’s police urged to undergo robust AI training to combat crime

The call comes after Malaysia reported a sharp rise in commercial crime cases, especially online fraud.

Thailand

Thailand’s trillion-baht plan to bypass the Malacca Strait moves ahead

Thailand aims to complete a 100km project bisecting the country’s southern peninsula with a new highway and rail line by 2030.

Artificial intelligence

AI boom drives record loans for data centres in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has become a data-centre hotspot as tech multinationals diversify beyond China amid geopolitical tensions.

A view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in Malaysia. Photo: Reuters
Food and Drinks

In Malaysia, one chef’s daily grind preserves Melaka Peranakan food traditions

Sharon Ann De Souza’s mission is to preserve Malacca Peranakan cuisine, by embracing traditional methods in a modern world.

The ubiquitous Peranakan style udang masak lemak nenas, or prawn and pineapple stewed in a delectable coconut curry, paired with a flavour-packed nasi ulam or rice mixed with raw herbs. Photo: Joseph Sipalan
Thailand

Chinese couple linked to cryptocurrency scam, kidnapping arrested in Thailand

Thai police arrested a Chinese woman in connection to the scam, while discovering her fugitive boyfriend was wanted for kidnapping in China.

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Ramadan

Slap heard around Malaysia: viral Ramadan altercation sparks memes, debate

Social media users are poking fun at the absurdity of the viral video of an elderly Malay man confronting a non-Muslim for not fasting.

Social media

Malaysian ‘budgie smuggler’ caught on camera stuffing Labubu toys down his shorts

A Malaysian shoplifter, dubbed the “blind box bandit”, was filmed smuggling Labubu toys down his trousers at a Kuala Lumpur megamall.

A Labubu key-chain collection from Pop Mart. Photo: Shutterstock
Ramadan

Fast fashion: food waste from Malaysian Ramadan bazaars hits the runway

A food waste-reduction group collected over 46,000kg of unsold food over the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, but said the actual wastage was likely to be much higher.

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Volunteer models wearing suits filled with discarded food hold up placards urging the public to reduce food wastage during the launch of MySaveFood’s #BazirRamadan campaign in Kuala Lumpur last week. Photo: MySaveFood
Anwar Ibrahim

Call by Malaysia’s DAP for 2-term limit for prime minister draws PAS’ rebuke

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the cabinet to study the Democratic Action Party’s proposal for a two-term limit.

Crime

Malaysian man beaten, robbed of US$15,000 after dating app meet-up goes wrong

Police arrested five students behind multiple similar incidents in the country.

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