Malaysia

Indonesians and Malaysians are being brought closer together by an ASEAN initiative that makes cross-border payments easier and cheaper. (Source photos by Getty Images and logo from ASEAN BAC INDONESIA's website)
Finance

Indonesia-Malaysia QR code payments get started under ASEAN system

Cross border scheme could cut transaction costs by 30%, offer exchange rate buffer

6 June 2023
Cleosent Randing, founder and CEO of digital insurer PasarPolis, has ambitions both at home and abroad. (Source photo by Nana Shibata and Getty Images)
Startups

Indonesian digital insurer PasarPolis eyes Malaysia, Philippines

Tech company also pins hopes on vast home market demand, despite low penetration

31 May 2023
Mahathir Mohamad in Tokyo on May 26: Malaysia's former prime minister says U.S. sanctions on Russia have given his country the opportunity to abandon the dollar in its trading with Russia. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
The Future of Asia 2023

Mahathir Q&A: Auto industry 'will have to go to hydrogen'

Longtime prime minister talks EVs, Malaysian politics, role of Global South

30 May 2023
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gives a speech at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on May 26. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
The Future of Asia 2023

Mahathir's message: World must promote 'peace and stability'

Former leader, now 97, warns that war won't solve problems

30 May 2023
Foreigner nationals, especially from China, have shown unwavering interest in Singapore's residential property market. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Market Spotlight

Singapore property market heats up, squeezing expat renters

Chinese investors may shrug off higher stamp duty imposed on foreign buyers

29 May 2023
In "Tiger Stripes" 12-year-old girl Zaffan, played by Zafreen Zairizal, goes through carefree puberty until she discovers that her body is morphing in terrifying ways. (Courtesy of Ghost Grrrl Pictures)
Arts

New generation of Malaysian filmmakers wins accolades abroad

Cannes award for 'Tiger Stripes' follows victories at Udine for 'Abang Adik'

27 May 2023
Fadillah Yusof, center, and Airlangga Hartarto, right: The two will make Malaysia and Indonesia's case against Europe's anti-deforestation law on May 30-31. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Environment

Malaysia, Indonesia to send palm oil mission to EU next week

Delegation to make case for small farmers in crosshairs of deforestation rule

27 May 2023
Kenichiro Sasae, center, president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, and Park Joon-woo, South Korea's former senior secretary to the president for political affairs, discuss regional issues at Nikkei's Future of Asia forum. (Photo by Yuki Nakao) 
The Future of Asia 2023

Japan, South Korea should pursue new joint declaration: panelists

At Nikkei forum, Malaysia's Mahathir and Laos' Thongloun warn of world war risk

26 May 2023
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad speaks about the Ukraine war and the "Global South" at the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 26. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
26 May 2023
Mahathir says the United Nations should be replaced with a new organization that can better serve the "Global South." (Photo by Shinya Sawai) 
The Future of Asia 2023

Former Malaysia PM Mahathir calls for ASEAN action, U.N. revamp

Says Southeast Asian group should drop noninterference policy to tackle Myanmar

26 May 2023
Singtel operates data centers with a total capacity of 60 megawatts and projects under development will more than double this number.
Telecommunication

Singtel embarks on data center push in Indonesia, Thailand and beyond

Singapore telecom leader also eyes sites in Malaysia and Vietnam with local partners

26 May 2023
Malaysia is rolling out 5G networks but the Southeast Asian country is seen as vulnerable to cyber threats. (Source photos by Hakimie Amrie)
Technology

Malaysia's rapid 5G adoption highlights cyber vulnerabilities

Hacks, data leaks at businesses, government agencies raise alarm

24 May 2023
Muslims shop for food to break their fast at a bazaar during Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur on April 15.
Economy

Malaysia GDP up 5.6% in Q1, topping forecasts as inflation settles

Domestic demand powering growth amid global headwinds, central bank says

12 May 2023
Ads for the Singapore bank UOB at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Finance

Singapore's UOB bets on Thailand, Vietnam in ASEAN growth surge

Lender wins 2 million clients from Citi buyout but economic headwinds pose risks

11 May 2023
Leaders of ASEAN countries pose for photos during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10.
Economy

ASEAN's patchy economic growth suggests long road to recovery

At regional summit, leaders discuss how to push bloc past COVID pains

10 May 2023
Local workers at a freshly opened Honda Motor factory in Malacca, Malaysia in 2003: The country's economy received a tremendous boost from Japanese foreign direct investment.
Opinion

A new era of 'Look East' would boost both Japan and Malaysia

Two nations can build on legacy of historic foreign policy shift

10 May 2023
The Philippines and the U.S. are expanding maritime cooperation, including joint patrols, with one analyst saying Manila's newfound assertiveness could "encourage other Southeast Asian claimants to be more confident in protecting their rights in the South China Sea."
Asia Insight

Philippines' Marcos muscles up ASEAN's South China Sea posture

China tensions loom over bloc summit as Malaysia asserts gas rights, Vietnam hones defense

9 May 2023
Peter Murray, head of Malaysia and ASEAN Emerging Markets for Amazon Web Services, says listening to customers is key to its strategy. (Photo courtesy of Amazon Web Services)
Technology

Amazon Web Services sees accelerating ASEAN cloud adoption

Malaysia-based executive says company focuses on 'what customers are telling us'

6 May 2023
Migrant workers replace a billboard without any safety equipment in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. "The Visible Invisibles: Stories of Migrant Workers in Asia" shines a light on the harsh working and living conditions that such laborers often have to endure.  
Books

Book review: Exploring the lives of Asia's 'visible invisibles'

Authors pay tribute to migrant workers who keep regional economies running

4 May 2023
Malaysia says that a second 5G network will reduce the risk of disruption from a failure in either.
Telecommunication

Malaysia to roll out second 5G network to end state monopoly

Move comes as West presses Kuala Lumpur to keep Huawei out of operation

3 May 2023
Capital A maintenance subsidiary ADE plans a new hangar at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and now receives orders from airlines beyond AirAsia.
Transportation

Capital A aircraft maintenance unit expands on $100m investment

Malaysian company plans new work hangar as it expands services beyond AirAsia

27 April 2023
A robotic assembly line for Proton cars in Tanjung Malim, Malaysia in 2019: The government needs to put more focus on targeting high value-added manufacturing.
Opinion

Malaysia needs to get smarter about foreign investment

Government should pursue high-end projects to boost upgrading of economy

26 April 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the government house in Bangkok on Feb 9. 
Economy

Asian Monetary Fund idea revived amid U.S.-China row

Malaysia's Anwar cites need to make ASEAN less dependent on IMF, dollar

20 April 2023
True became Thailand's largest wireless carrier after a merger with DTAC.
Telecommunication

5G sparks wave of mergers by Southeast Asian telecoms

Consumer advocates say oligopolies could undermine quality of service

19 April 2023
Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh says in an interview in Kuala Lumpur that there are lots of Asian stories to be told. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Arts

Michelle Yeoh says Malaysia's diversity made her 'open, accepting'

Oscar winner wants to help Asians tell their stories

18 April 2023