Economy

Local officials stand near a community quarantine checkpoint in Metro Manila in February. Surging coronavirus cases prompted further lockdown measures.
Economy

Philippines and Malaysia log GDP falls as COVID waves blur outlook

Manila reports 4.2% contraction while neighbor's decline slows to 0.5%

11 May 2021
A police officer checks documents at a roadblock in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, on May 10.
Coronavirus

Malaysia imposes new nationwide COVID lockdown to curb surge

Muhyiddin announces gathering ban and other rules, warning of 'national crisis'

10 May 2021
Malaysia's central bank hopes the move will improve the country's position in global supply chains and attract foreign direct investment. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Economy

Malaysia eases currency protections as ASEAN vies for investment

Region's economies embrace deregulation to capitalize on US-China tensions

15 April 2021
Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. Analysts revised up Indonesia's economic growth for 2021.
Economy

Vaccines seen helping Singapore and Indonesia rebound: survey

Economists cut 2021 growth forecasts for Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand

6 April 2021
Malaysia's central bank expects a rebound in growth in 2021.
Economy

Malaysia GDP to rebound up to 7.5% in 2021, central bank predicts

Economy to regain pre-pandemic level by midyear as vaccines accelerate

31 March 2021
A rubber duck pictured among various plastic trash on a garbage-filled shore on Freedom Island, off the coast of Manila in the Philippines.
Opinion

Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution

29 March 2021
Singapore's Changi Airport in January: ASEAN economic ministers have discussed the possibility of a shared digital vaccine certificate that could open up travel.
Economy

ASEAN eyes digital vaccine certificate for post-COVID travel

Economic ministers discuss following EU in move toward immunity 'passports'

3 March 2021
As Malaysia aspires to join the club of high-income nations, some experts argue closing the gap between rich and poor is more important. 
Economy

Malaysia to renew push for high-income goal by 2030 despite COVID

Minister talks up development target as Muhyiddin borrows from Mahathir playbook

26 February 2021
Many countries have declared a state of national emergency to galvanize resources to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Malaysia is no exception. (Photo courtesy of Department of Information Malaysia)
Opinion

Malaysia: Emergency necessary to curb COVID-19 pandemic

Country's ambassador to Japan responds to Nikkei Asia editorial

19 February 2021
The coronavirus continues to hamper Malaysia's economy after a contraction in 2020.
Economy

Malaysia's GDP shrinks 5.6% in COVID-marred 2020

After economy contracts 3.4% in Q4, central bank warns of ongoing jobs weakness

11 February 2021
Singapore's Changi Airport Terminal 2 was virtually empty the day before its closure last April as part of measures to shut out the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Coronavirus

Singapore suspends Malaysia business 'bubble' for 3 months

Schemes with South Korea and Germany also affected by global COVID rise

30 January 2021
A soldier wearing a face mask enforces coronavirus restrictions in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 13.
Economy

Malaysia holds key interest rate steady despite COVID lockdown

Some economists expected a cut to ease economic pressure as infections surge

20 January 2021
A local vendor prepares food in downtown Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 11: the real transgression may be against an ailing economy.
Opinion

Malaysians are aghast at Muhyiddin's craven 'not a coup' moment

Decision to delay elections augurs poorly for nation's economy

14 January 2021
A medical worker holds a swab sample at a coronavirus testing station in Klang, Malaysia.
Coronavirus

Malaysia doubles Pfizer COVID vaccine order as it locks down anew

Extra 12.2m doses in bag but Kuala Lumpur and 5 states face rule tightening

11 January 2021
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, left, shakes hands with then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Putrajaya, Malaysia, after the two countries signed an agreement on the now-terminated Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project in December 2016.
International relations

Singapore and Malaysia terminate high-speed rail project

Governments fail to agree proposed changes to the suspended plan

1 January 2021
A worker holds a palm oil fruit bunch at a factory in Tanjung Karang, Malaysia.
Trade

US blocks palm oil imports from Malaysia's Sime Darby

Forced labor allegations follow those against FGV and Top Glove

1 January 2021
A doctor collects a swab sample from a man in Shah Alam, Malaysia on Dec. 10: building the capacity to test, trace and isolate cases will remain critical.
Opinion

How Asia Pacific can turn COVID crisis into an opportunity

Bold policies needed to boost economic recovery and improve social stability

30 December 2020
A bedding factory in Hanoi: Vietnam has succeeded in curbing both the health and economic impact of COVID-19.
Economy

Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia seen fully recovering in 2021

IMF unveils mixed economic forecasts for Southeast Asia

29 December 2020
Stream article image
Asia Insight

Cities after COVID: How Manila and others can 'build back better'

For Asian metropolises, crisis offers chance to emerge cleaner, greener and safer

8 December 2020
Internet giants are the target of efforts to tighten the tax net for digital services.
Economy

From Thailand to Indonesia, taxes tighten for digital businesses

E-commerce has boomed in Asia during pandemic but new levies challenge profits

27 November 2020
Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, center, carries the 2021 budget to submit it to parliament in early November.
Interview

Malaysia's COVID recovery hinges on budget vote: finance minister

Lawmakers poised to decide on $78bn plan -- and PM Muhyiddin's fate

25 November 2020
In the famous cover engraving of Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan," the state is embodied in an authority-bearing figure presiding over a serene European landscape. But as the world tries to reimagine the state in the aftermath of COVID-19, it makes sense to look toward governments like South Korea and Taiwan, which have mixed high state capacity with plenty of technological innovation.
The Big Story

Coronavirus: Asia embraces big government to battle recession

Lavish spending, deep debt, high-tech surveillance. Is this the end of the small state tradition?

25 November 2020
The Chang'e 5 lunar probe completes vertical transport in Wenchang, Hainan, China on Nov. 17.
Your Week in Asia

China's moonshot, Xiaomi results, and India GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

22 November 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump, bottom right, and other heads of government hold up a declaration at the first virtual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 20.
International relations

APEC chiefs, including Trump, agree on free and fair trade

US, China and other members pledge to refrain from protectionist measures

21 November 2020
The APEC logo is displayed on a screen: The coronavirus has forced Malaysia to settle for hosting the event virtually.
International relations

APEC in the COVID age: What to watch at Malaysia's online summit

Muhyiddin aims to avoid repeat of US-China deadlock at 2018 forum

19 November 2020