Malaysia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, talks with Tesla founder Elon Musk in Texas in 2022: Jakarta has been on a drive to attract carmakers to build EVs in the country. (Handout via Reuters)
Opinion

Tesla's move into Malaysia should be a wake-up call for Indonesia

If Jakarta does not show enough flexibility, rivals will win away investments

1 August 2023
Malaysia’s Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, center, and others pose for a photo at a launch event of the National Energy Transition Roadmap in Kuala Lumpur on July 27. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Environment

Malaysia wants to be 'regional renewable powerhouse'

Experts say 'complementary regulations' needed to accelerate energy shift

31 July 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at a joint press conference on July 26. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia's Prime Minister Office) 
Myanmar Crisis

Anwar, Marcos discuss 'giving flexibility' to Myanmar approach

Leaders touch on possible engagement 'without sacrificing human rights issues'

26 July 2023
Marcus Lim of Penang's Ombak Potehi troupe operates a puppet used in a joint performance with Japanese group Team ITO. (Courtesy of Yew Kok Hong)
Arts

Pioneering puppeteers revamp 'Journey to the West'

Japanese-Malaysian production rewrites the script in unique adaptation of Chinese classic

25 July 2023
Isabel Fan, center, Tesla's regional director, poses with dignitaries at the company's launch in Malaysia on July 20 in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Automobiles

Tesla becomes latest EV company to see promise in Malaysia

U.S. automaker plays catch-up with official launch in Southeast Asian country

20 July 2023
Steakholder sees similarities between Jewish kosher and Muslim halal dietary requirements. (Photo courtesy of company)
Food & Beverage

Israel's food tech upstarts eye ASEAN's Muslim countries

Indonesia, Malaysia offer halal gateway for Jewish state's companies

19 July 2023
MYArline CEO Rayner Teo: "I've been given an aggressive target." (Photo by Norman Goh)
Transportation

Malaysia's MYAirline targets IPO within three years: CEO

Country's newest LCC aims to hit 2 million passenger mark by early 2024

19 July 2023
Malaysia should seek to attract Japanese retirees with engineering or technical expertise as many played key roles in their country's postwar economic miracle.
Opinion

Japanese retirees can boost Malaysia's industrial advance

Build Look East 2.0 on country's 'soft' advantages over Southeast Asian rivals

19 July 2023
Antler and Khazanah are poised to provide access for Malaysian startups to tap into Antler's global platform and network. (Screenshot from Antler and Khazanah Nasional Berhad websites) 
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia newest market for Antler in partnership with Khazanah

Global early-stage venture capital firm operates in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam

14 July 2023
The 1MDB scandal rocked Malaysia's political and financial worlds. (File photo by AP)  
Crime

Malaysia arrests key 1MDB suspect linked to Jho Low

Jasmine Loo, wanted under Interpol red notice, was close associate of fugitive

12 July 2023
To achieve a clear victory in upcoming state elections, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his allies will have to secure Malay support.
Opinion

Malaysian state elections will test Anwar's balancing skill

Prime minister needs to show Malay support to keep reform on course

10 July 2023
A woman leaves the trading floor of RHB Bank in Kuala Lumpur on July 4. Investors pushed Malaysian stocks 7% lower in the first half of this year. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Markets

Malaysian stocks under pressure after 7% first-half decline

Rising interest rates, weak currency, state elections cast shadows

5 July 2023
The author leaves Bangkok by train, beginning his 1,800-kilometer journey to Singapore. (All photos by Andrew Benfield)
Tea Leaves

Can Europe's 'flight shaming' movement work in Asia?

It may be (much) slower but train travel gives a lot more back

5 July 2023
Container terminals in Singapore. The city-state's economy is highly sensitive to external economic conditions. 
Economy

Singapore, Indonesia outlook downgraded on weak China: JCER

Political instability emerges as top concern in Thailand post-election

2 July 2023
Florika Fink-Hooijer, European Commission's director general for environment, speaks during an interview in Kuala Lumpur on June 28. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

EU, Malaysia, Indonesia create task force over deforestation rule

First meeting set for August amid lingering worries among palm oil farmers

30 June 2023
Speakers at Energy Asia 2023 included, left to right, OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Energy

Despite renewables optimism, oil and gas remain vital: Yergin

OPEC chief tells Energy Asia event all resources needed for energy security

26 June 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gives the keynote address as party president during the People's Justice Party national congress in March 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Politics

Malaysia PM Anwar faces first test in state elections

Ruling camp fights for votes as opposition plays up ethnic, religious identity

26 June 2023
Weakness in the Malaysian ringgit has become a headache for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government. (Source photos by Reuters)
Currencies

Malaysian ringgit wobbles in face of political uncertainty, China woes

Currency struggles for traction amid expected state elections, falling exports

23 June 2023
Scorching conditions from the El Nino weather pattern are expected to crimp production at palm oil plantations like this one in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province. 
Economy

From Indonesia to Vietnam, El Nino fans fears of fires and drought

Returning climate pattern set to hit key crops as well as industrial sector

23 June 2023
The 2023 Women's Day march in Kuala Lumpur: LGBTQ+ Malaysians simply want to be free from discrimination.
Opinion

Malaysia cannot pretend anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination does not exist

Failure to ensure equal rights likely to be criticized by U.N. council

22 June 2023
Carsome started with vehicle inspection, ownership transfer and car financing before offering services for car buyers and dealers. (Source photo by Reuters and logo from Carsome's website)
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia's Carsome raises funds, including debt, from EvolutionX

ASEAN used car marketplace says group's liquidity now $200m

20 June 2023
Kuala Lumpur's skyline. Malaysia is keen to attract digital tech talent from overseas.
Work

Malaysia revamps visa process to draw skilled workers

Processing time for core sector professionals shortened to five days

16 June 2023
Lazada’s estimated gross merchandise value fell from $21 billion in 2021 to to $20.1 billion last year, according to a report by the consultancy Momentum Works.
Retail

TikTok rises, Alibaba's Lazada falters in ASEAN e-commerce

ByteDance-owned platform grows in Southeast Asia but still lags behind rivals

15 June 2023
Tao Bin vending machines in Thailand offer a variety of affordable, customizable drinks. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Consumer

Cashless smart vending machines take China and Thailand by storm

Devices in Singapore and Malaysia serve up medicine and supplements

13 June 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia on June 8. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia Prime Minister's Office)
International relations

Malaysia, Indonesia to fight EU palm oil 'discrimination'

Jokowi says collaboration should be 'strengthened' to protect commodities

8 June 2023