Malaysia: News & Insights

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

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left in back row, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right in back row, witness the signing of MOUs to enhance trade and economic cooperation in Beijing on April 1. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)

South China Sea

Anwar's Beijing trip highlights economic ties, South China Sea

Malaysian PM says country will continue offshore gas exploration in EEZ

5 April 2023

In an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia, AirAsia tycoon Tony Fernandes says he is leaving no stone unturned in his fight to keep the airline afloat in the post-pandemic era.

The Big Story

AirAsia's Tony Fernandes: Tourism is back, but fight to survive goes on

Co-founder of Malaysia's biggest airline reveals post-pandemic game plan in exclusive interview

5 April 2023

QR code payment services are popular in Southeast Asia, where many people do not have credit cards. (Photo by Fumika Sato)

Finance

Singapore and Malaysia link widely used QR code payment systems

Move simplifies cross-border in-person and online transactions

3 April 2023

Ramkarpal Singh, deputy minister of law and institutional reform, calls the abolition of the death penalty for 11 crimes in Malaysia a "considerably big development." (Photo by Norman Goh)

Society

Malaysia drops mandatory death penalty for 11 crimes

Kidnapping, drug offenses among those, as Anwar government reforms legal system

3 April 2023

Analysts point that out that the commercial real estate sector is particularly sensitive to rising rates, weighing on hopes for a revival in the market. (Source photo by AP)

Market Spotlight

From Hong Kong to Japan, commercial property sector faces chill in Asia

REITs could lose out as China reopening hopes fade and interest rates bite

3 April 2023

A truck transports a container at a port in Shandong province, China. Economists expect exports of goods and services to China to support ASEAN economies.

Economy

Thai, Malaysian outlooks improve on tourism, China recovery: JCER

Economists say U.S. bank fallouts emerge as new concern for Asia

2 April 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 31. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)

International relations

Malaysia's Anwar meets Xi, likely to seek China help for rail link

Despite pro-Western image, PM wants close Beijing ties to boost economy

31 March 2023

Container ships at the Port of Felixstowe in England. CPTPP members have agreed on Britain's entry into the grouping.

Trade

U.K. accepted as 12th member of CPTPP trade bloc

Group aims to finalize first nonfounding member's accession in July

31 March 2023

A Muslim man reads the Koran during the first day of Ramadan at the Islamic Centre of Thailand in Bangkok on March 23. A Ramadan cease-fire in Thailand's south could get peace talks moving.

Politics

Ramadan overture raises peace stakes in Thailand's troubled south

Lack of violence could be litmus test of sides' willingness for political deal

30 March 2023

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof: "Palm oil is a stable commodity which will contribute immensely to Malaysia's GDP." (Photo by Norman Goh)

Interview

Malaysia wants palm oil hubs in Egypt, Saudi Arabia: deputy PM

World's second-largest exporter eager to diversify markets amid row with EU

30 March 2023

Japan's NTT Corp. will invest $90 million in a third data center in Bangkok to cater to rising demand from cloud service providers. (Source photos by AP and courtesy of NTT)

Telecommunication

From Thailand to Indonesia, ASEAN leads cloud market growth

NTT expands data center capacity; AWS commits $6 billion in Malaysia

29 March 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim starts an official visit to China on March 28, where he is set to attend the Boao Forum in Hainan before visiting Beijing, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

Your Week in Asia

Tsai heads to U.S., China hosts Boao forum, Anwar visits Beijing

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

26 March 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 22, received by Jeddah's governor, Prince Saud bin Abdullah. (Photo by Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia)

International relations

Malaysia's Anwar seeks to mend Saudi ties cooled by 1MDB

PM aims to regain influence in Mideast, act as bridge to ASEAN, win Muslim voters

22 March 2023

Islamic State supporters are growing in some Southeast Asian countries.

Terrorism

IS-linked extremists infiltrate ASEAN, eyeing Indonesia 2024 polls

Islamic State sees Philippine groups as good conduits, uses Singapore social media

21 March 2023

Malaysia's national flag flutters at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, Malaysia has fallen behind giant neighbor Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment.

Economy

Malaysia trails Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment

Experts say reforms, political stability are essential for country to narrow gap

21 March 2023

The popular short-form video hosting app TikTok is under pressure in the U.S. amid concerns over consumer privacy and data security practices, its impact on children and the company's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.

Your Week in Asia

Xi-Putin summit, Thai House term ends, TikTok CEO testifies in U.S.

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

19 March 2023

Carved from a single piece of wood, "boat lutes" are plucked string instruments with hollowed bodies that look something like the dugout canoes used on Borneo's waterways by indigenous inhabitants. (Courtesy of Gindung Mc Feddy Simon)

Arts

Bringing Borneo's unique 'boat lutes' in tune with 21st century

Artists and researchers team up to save endangered musical tradition

17 March 2023

A worker holds palm oil fruit at a plantation in Slim River, Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur says new EU rules aimed at preventing deforestation discriminate against small producers of palm oil.

International relations

Malaysia says EU deforestation rule hurts its small farmers

Producer group presents petition demanding rollback of regulation

16 March 2023

A new Kaga Electronics factory in Malaysia. The company aims to triple sales there by 2027. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)

Semiconductors

Japan semiconductor distributors eye expansion in emerging markets

India, Malaysia and Turkey become targets as home demand shrinks

16 March 2023

An EHang flying car ferries passengers during a test flight in Japan. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)

Aerospace & Defense Industries

China's flying car developer eyes ASEAN aerial tour market

EHang CFO says prior certification at home eases regulatory process abroad

15 March 2023

Interview

Mahathir eyes new coalition to fight corruption in Malaysia

97-year-old former PM says Anwar's unity government 'not strong'

15 March 2023

Michelle Yeoh shows off her best actress Oscar in Beverly Hills, California, on March 13.

Arts

Michelle Yeoh's long journey to Academy Awards triumph

Ballet was Malaysian actress' first passion but injury forced change of direction

14 March 2023

Traveloka President Caesar Indra says interest is growing in sustainable tourism. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)

Travel & Leisure

Indonesia's Traveloka eyes sustainability demand as tourists return

Online booking unicorn seeks 'quality' partnerships for wider ASEAN market share

13 March 2023

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin speaks to supporters in Kuala Lumpur on March 9 after being released on bail. (Photo by Norman Goh)

Politics

Malaysia ex-PM Muhyiddin charged in $51m money scam

Opposition dealt huge blow in run-up to state elections in June

10 March 2023