Malaysia

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, right, hosts his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on Jan. 30.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar tightens Singapore ties in ASEAN travel rush

New PM focuses on economic cooperation on third visit to a neighbor in a month

30 January 2023
Founded in 2020, Jumppoint offers a one-stop platform for warehousing, order fulfillment and cross-border logistics services. (Source image from Jumppoint website)
DealStreetAsia

Mindworks Capital leads Hong Kong-based Jumppoint's $6.5m funding

Logistics provider sets sights on Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia expansion

13 January 2023
Singapore-based Welovesupermom has a presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. (Source photo from Supermom website)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore parenting platform Welovesupermom bags $6m in funding

Company offers price comparisons and hosts parent communities

11 January 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo wave to journalists during their meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, Indonesia, on Jan. 9.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar makes diplomacy debut in 1st Indonesia trip

New PM aligns with Jokowi on Myanmar crisis, new Nusantara capital

9 January 2023
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sets off this week on a weeklong trip to meet counterparts in France, Italy, the U.K., Canada and the U.S. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Your Week in Asia

Biden-Kishida summit, India motor show, China inflation data

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

8 January 2023
Conveyor-belt sushi chain Sushiro plans more openings abroad this year than in Japan. (Photo courtesy of Food & Life Companies)
Food & Beverage

Japan's sushi chains want bigger bite of overseas markets

Sushiro plans up to 60 new locations abroad in 2023, more than in Japan

4 January 2023
An electric bus runs in central Bangkok on Dec. 24.
Climate Change

Southeast Asian public transportation advances decarbonization

Bangkok transit authority plans to introduce 3,200 electric buses by 2025

3 January 2023
Anwar Ibrahim arrives at National Place in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 24: The new prime minister must show resolve, not reticence, on the ethnic preferential policies.
Opinion

'Replacing' Malaysia's race-based policies will get Anwar nowhere

Prime minister should focus on making system more equitable and effective

2 January 2023
Women browse shops for Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in Jakarta on Dec. 12. Economists say robust household spending will support Indonesia's economic growth in 2023.
Economy

Malaysia, Indonesia 2023 GDPs revised up on firm spending: JCER

Economist consensus shows 5 ASEAN countries to expand 4.3%, India 5.6%

26 December 2022
Rohingya refugees on a navy vessel headed to the Bangladeshi island of Bhasan Char in 2020.
Myanmar Crisis

At least 180 Rohingya feared dead: U.N. refugee agency

'Unseaworthy' boat that left Bangladesh has likely sunk, UNHCR says

26 December 2022
Japan's JGC was involved in building this floating LNG production facility for Malaysia's Petronas. (Photo courtesy of JGC)
Engineering & Construction

Japan's JGC wins 2nd floating LNG order from Malaysia's Petronas

Engineering group to partner with Samsung Heavy on latest project

24 December 2022
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, are greeted by staff as they arrive at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 19.
Politics

Malaysian PM Anwar wins confidence vote but faces reform roadblocks

Sudden move against corruption could imperil unity government: experts

19 December 2022
Anwar Ibrahim announces his cabinet in Putrajaya on Dec. 2: He will face a series of obstacles as the Pakatan Harapan coalition returns to power.
Opinion

Anwar must not waste Malaysia's chance for democratic reforms

New government's unusual makeup raises potential for completing unfinished agenda

19 December 2022
The Malaysian parliament opens for the first time after last month's general elections that created a new government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Your Week in Asia

Malaysia parliament convenes, Japan approves draft budget, Nio Day

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

18 December 2022
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, sits with his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, following a swearing-in ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 3.
Malaysia election

Malaysia's new deputy premier Ahmad Zahid feeds off adversity

Will Anwar's coalition partner leader help unify multiethnic nation or rend it?

17 December 2022
Recent novels by Malaysian female authors Karina Robles Bahrin and Preeta Samarasan both reflect on issues of race and identity in the multiethnic, predominantly Islamic Southeast Asian nation. (Nikkei Montage/photos courtesy of the authors)
Books

Books: Female novelists investigate Malaysia's ethnic puzzle

Two new novels explore identity and race issues unsettled since independence

16 December 2022
The biorefinery will be located at the Pengerang Integrated Complex, which is owned by Petronas. (Photo courtesy of Petronas)
Climate Change

Japan's Euglena eyes biorefinery in Malaysia for sustainable fuels

Biotech startup teams with Petronas, Eni in hope to use waste oil and microbes

15 December 2022
Top Glove has been operating factories at 30% capacity due to a sharp global drop in demand.
Companies

Top Glove bleeds red ink for 2nd straight quarter amid supply glut

Market leader sees stock price plunge 90% from peak as chairman predicts more losses

15 December 2022
Singapore Airlines and India's Tata Sons announced the merger of Air India and Vistara, with the city-state's flagship carrier investing $250 million in Air India.
Transportation

From Singapore to Japan, Asian airlines rush to ramp up routes

SIA inks deals as rivals like JAL and AirAsia expand flights despite risks

13 December 2022
Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's longest-serving former prime minister, says Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo "is much stronger" than other recent leaders. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Malaysia election

Malaysia lags Indonesia due to political instability: Mahathir

Jokowi's efficient government has attracted investors, says ex-prime minister

13 December 2022
A factory of Malaysian national automaker Proton. Vietnamese rival VinFast has moved ahead in electric-vehicle production.
Economy

Malaysia's 'middle power' ambition faces rivals in own backyard

New PM Anwar Ibrahim seeks opportunity in U.S.-China rivalry but competition abounds

11 December 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meets supporters during his first public appearance in Putrajaya on Nov. 25.
Malaysia election

Anwar faces fight to pull Malaysia out of middle-income trap

New government wrestles with old problem of brain drain fueled by Malay preference policy

6 December 2022
Thailand's newly introduced high-skilled worker visa program has drawn more than 1,600 applicants so far. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Economy

Americans, Chinese snap up Thai 'talent visas,' official says

Manufacturing hubs seek industrial upgrade amid supply-chain shift

3 December 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced his lean maiden cabinet in Putrajaya on Dec. 2.
Malaysia election

Malaysia's Anwar names cabinet, returns as finance minister

Smaller slate meant to promote unity as PM seeks investor confidence

2 December 2022
A Thai AirAsia aircraft sits at Bangkok's Don Muang International Airport. The carrier will be acquired by AirAsia X.
Transportation

AirAsia carriers seek to merge in Capital A shake-up

Southeast Asian airline group scrambles to avoid delisting

1 December 2022