Malaysia

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets Malaysian Trade Minister Azmin Ali on the final leg of her Asia tour on Nov. 18. (Photo courtesy of Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry)
Biden's Asia policy

U.S. aims for 'flexible and inclusive' Indo-Pacific framework

Commerce chief Gina Raimondo in Asia to reset economic ties to counter China

18 November 2021
An AirAsia flight takes off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The Malaysian carrier has faced fierce competition in India.
Transportation

AirAsia in final talks with Tata Group to exit India: sources

Malaysian budget carrier winding down presence amid market challenges, COVID

18 November 2021
Langkawi ahead of its domestic tourism reopening in September: The island destination is now open to fully vaccinated international travelers.
Coronavirus

Malaysia's first foreign tourism bubble opens with limited buzz

Langkawi hoteliers report subdued demand as globetrotters await wider reopening

15 November 2021
AirAsia X will have to pay back less than a penny on the dollar on $8.1 billion in liabilities.
Transportation

AirAsia X creditors agree to take 99.5% haircut

Long-haul carrier wins approval for drastic debt restructuring plan

12 November 2021
Malaysia hopes to spur economic growth now that its severe coronavirus outbreak has eased.
Economy

Malaysia GDP slips back into contraction at -4.5% for Q3

COVID holds economy below forecasts but central bank sees rebound ahead

12 November 2021
Malaysian audiences can do their part by boycotting obnoxious films and challenging media content that normalizes rape culture.
Opinion

Malaysia's insidious 'rape culture' must be eradicated

Urgent action needed to end sexual abuse of women in Malay language media

11 November 2021
A Malaysia Airlines crew member directs the first batch of tourists upon their arrival at the airport as Malaysia's Langkawi reopens to domestic tourists in September. 
Coronavirus

Indonesia, Malaysia to reopen borders for vaccinated travelers

Ismail Sabri expresses interest in Widodo's new capital city plan

10 November 2021
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes wants Southeast Asian countries to speed up the reopening of their borders to spur demand for travel.
Transportation

AirAsia's Fernandes sees financial recovery in nine months

Carrier names ex-Adidas executive to lead growth of digital businesses

10 November 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has added further fuel to Southeast Asia's rapidly growing digital economy. (Source photo by AP)
Business trends

ASEAN's digital economy projected to hit $1tn by 2030

Google-led report says retail and finance to fuel growth as internet use surges

10 November 2021
Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes at Singapore's Changi Airport in 2019: The international route between the city-state and Kuala Lumpur was one of the world's busiest before the pandemic.
Coronavirus

Singapore, Malaysia to restart quarantine-free air travel link

Vaccinated passengers can fly between Kuala Lumpur and city-state from Nov. 29

8 November 2021
Workers collect rubber gloves at a Top Glove factory outside Kuala Lumpur. Multiple glove makers in Malaysia have been punished by the U.S. over labor issues.
Trade

Malaysia's Smart Glove hit with U.S. import ban over labor issues

Action follows similar orders against Top Glove and Supermax

6 November 2021
Malaysian director Edmund Yeo's cinematic interpretation of Banana Yoshimoto's 1986 novella "Moonlight Shadow" tells of a young woman's post-traumatic recovery. (© Moonlight Shadow Production Committee)
Arts

Banana Yoshimoto brings youthful bereavement to screen

Helmed by rising Chinese Malaysian director, 'Moonlight Shadow' delights Japanese audiences 35 years later

5 November 2021
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in late October: He wants ASEAN to call a meeting to discuss next steps on Myanmar.
International relations

Malaysia urges ASEAN talks on Myanmar, 'non-indifference' policy

Foreign minister says fresh meeting needed to reconfirm Brunei special envoy

1 November 2021
A construction site in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 15: Malaysia's government hopes its hefty budget will help bring down unemployment.
Economy

Malaysia unveils record $80bn budget to kick-start COVID recovery

Ismail Sabri government turns on taps to restore jobs under 'endemic' virus

29 October 2021
Malaysia's Finance Ministry says the 2022 budget will emphasize strengthening the health system, enhancing digital infrastructure and promoting high-productivity industries with job creation.
Economy

Malaysia's Ismail Sabri readies 1st budget of 'endemic COVID' era

Pact with opposition expected to smooth passage as job creation turns crucial

27 October 2021
Four of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' members -- Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei -- belong to the CPTPP trade pact.
International relations

China courts Vietnam and Malaysia for support on CPTPP bid

Outreach to ASEAN members key to groundwork for trade negotiations

27 October 2021
Tourism Minister Nancy Shukri, right, says strict safety protocols would be in place for the reopening. (File photo by Wong Ying Xian and Reuters)
Interview

Malaysia eyes allowing tourists from 10 nations next month: minister

Nancy Shukri says island haven Langkawi, Johor targeted for quarantine-free visits

22 October 2021
The South Beach mixed-use development in Singapore secured a five-year green loan worth SG$1.22 billion.
Finance

ASEAN's largest banks go big on green real estate

Undaunted by Evergrande, lenders in Singapore, Malaysia embrace ESG loans

20 October 2021
A Malaysia Airlines plane carrying domestic tourists: The country's neighbors are slow to welcome its travelers despite a high vaccination rate.
Coronavirus

Malaysia struggles to shake COVID stigma as ASEAN restarts tourism

Government urged to do more to persuade neighbors to welcome vaccinated citizens

20 October 2021
Researchers found that the U.S. share of average monthly global hashrate -- the computational power used to mint new bitcoin and process transactions -- grew to 35.4% in August from 16.9% in April.
Cryptocurrencies

U.S. overtakes China in bitcoin mining after Beijing clampdown

Cambridge report shows Kazakhstan, Russia and Malaysia rising in rankings

13 October 2021
AirAsia is ready to spread its wings again as Malaysia ends restrictions on domestic travel.
Interview

AirAsia to reopen all Malaysian routes, push for overseas flights

Carrier president says service to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Maldives possible soon

12 October 2021
A Chinese vessel anchored in the South China Sea is observed by the Philippine Coast Guard in April 2021. Malaysia has also complained about alleged encroachment by Chinese ships. (File photo by Philippine Coast Guard/AFP/Jiji) 
South China Sea

Malaysia summons Chinese ambassador over South China Sea vessels

Ismail Sabri government wades into dispute, vowing to defend sovereignty

5 October 2021
A port in Bangkok in 2016. Thailand's growth prospect was the lowest in the latest survey.
Economy

Thailand and Indonesia growth dips below forecasts: survey

U.S. monetary policy and Chinese economy pose uncertainties

4 October 2021
Rivals Skeletor, left, and He-Man from the "Masters of the Universe" comic-book and animation series are reimagined as wayang kulit traditional Malay shadow puppet characters by the Fusion Wayang Kulit puppeteer group. (Courtesy of Fusion Wayang Kulit)
Arts

He-Man joins fight to save Malay shadow puppets

Western and Japanese characters take traditional art form into 21st century and beyond

29 September 2021
A Kuala Lumpur mall in early September: The Malaysian government continues to battle the pandemic but hopes to rev up the economy.
Coronavirus

Malaysia aims to unshackle economy as adult vaccinations near 90%

Daily cases dropping but breakthrough infection concerns persist

28 September 2021