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Tengku Zafrul Aziz

Tengku Zafrul Aziz
The latest news and top stories on Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysian Trade Minister. Known for his background in finance and banking, he previously served as Minister of Finance, where he spearheaded economic stimulus packages and the National Recovery Plan during the pandemic, contributing to significant GDP growth. As Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, he focuses on attracting investments, boosting trade and promoting environmental social and governance initiatives. He was formerly Group CEO of CIMB Group and held senior positions in various financial institutions, demonstrating expertise in investment banking, sustainable finance and policy execution.
Mohamed Amersi (centre) and Bernardino Moningka Vega (right) take part in a plenary panel hosted by SCMP Executive Editor Zuraidah Ibrahim at the China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP
China Conference: Southeast Asia

Asean urged to rewrite trade rule book as US turns transactional

The US and China are the top two trading partners for Asean but it is questionable how long that status quo will last, observers say.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar reshuffles cabinet to focus on ‘stronger growth’

Malaysia

‘Unconstitutional’: Mahathir reports PM Anwar to police over Trump trade deal

Malaysia

Tengku Zafrul on US trade deal, Umno and looking like a Singapore minister

As he vacates his post, the minister dubbed ‘hot property’ opens up about negotiating with the US and China, and why he swapped Umno for PKR.

Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz in Hong Kong on November 6. Photo: Jonathan Wong
China trade

Explainer | Tripwire clauses: why is China alarmed by Malaysia’s new trade deal with the US?

Controversial wording seen as a geopolitical trap designed to force neutral countries to uphold Western containment strategies.

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Family offices

Hong Kong leader John Lee to speak at family business summit

Third annual event curated by the Post and Blue Pool Capital, presented by UBS, features speakers from governments to Wall Street to the NBA.

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US-Asean relations

America’s ‘concerning’ lust for rare earths rocks Southeast Asia

Hastily signed rare earths pacts with Thailand and Malaysia have raised alarm about the environmental and economic fallout.

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Thai demonstrators step on a mock memorandum of understanding during a protest outside the US embassy in Bangkok on Thursday against a Thai-US agreement on rare earth cooperation. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Malaysia no ‘puppet’ of America, Anwar says, as critics slam trade deal

The prime minister denies Malaysia will be forced to follow Washington’s lead on sanctions against third countries under the new deal.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s ‘2 kitchens’: an appetising solution to the US-China trade war?

Malaysia’s trade minister says companies will inevitably need to build two supply chains to cater to both US and Chinese demands.

Asean

‘Master of its own house’: Malaysia’s trade chief defends slow-moving Asean

‘Where others retreat, Asean responds, and when others collide, Asean connects’, Tengku Zafrul Aziz tells a summit in Singapore.

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Malaysian trade minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz speaks at the Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore on October 2, 2025. Photo: Jean Iau
Asean

US to Southeast Asian chipmakers: move production to America or face tariffs

Trump trade envoy Jamieson Greer stressed the importance of bringing chip supply chains ‘back to the US’ for national security reasons.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attends the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Durian diplomacy: Malaysia’s Anwar offers Asean guests ‘king of fruits’ at gala

The Malaysian prime minister encouraged Asean’s economic ministers to try the divisive delicacy, likening its strong taste to blue cheese.

Asean

US urges Asean to commit to ‘fair and balanced trade’ amid tariff concerns

Growth in Asean economies is expected to slow to 4.5 per cent on average in 2025 due to the impact of US tariffs, according to S&P.

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China trade

Malaysia flexes rare earth muscle as mineral-hungry US seeks non-Chinese sources

Kuala Lumpur’s new ban on exports of unprocessed rare earth metals reflects how Malaysia is carving out its own path in the rare earth supply chain.

The Lynas rare earth processing plant in Pahang, Malaysia, processes 12 to 15 per cent of the world’s rare earth elements, but China still dominates the process of separating and purifying rare earth ores that are mined. Photo: Handout
China technology

Opinion | China is the US’ target, but Trump’s chip policies miss the mark

Improvisation masquerading as strategy does nothing to strengthen the US and only makes trade negotiations more difficult.

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US President Donald Trump holds up a chart of “reciprocal tariffs” while speaking during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on April 2. Photo: Getty Images
Malaysia

AI chip smuggling in Malaysia? No sign of it, minister says

Malaysia is under pressure to staunch the flow of high-performance chips to China to avoid Trump’s tariff threats.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar to confront Rubio over US tariffs amid fears about 25% levy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending an Asean summit – his first official visit to the region since Donald Trump’s return.

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