Malaysia

AirAsia has been working to overcome the harsh financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic by cutting costs, raising operating capital and hasten its expansion of non-airline businesses.
Transportation

AirAsia records worst-ever earnings, but sees brighter year ahead

CEO Fernandes 'very optimistic' for restart of global air travel in second half

29 March 2021
A rubber duck pictured among various plastic trash on a garbage-filled shore on Freedom Island, off the coast of Manila in the Philippines.
Opinion

Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution

29 March 2021
A poster of United Malays National Organisation President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi: He declared UMNO will not work with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's party "because of their dishonesty and trickery."
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's UMNO dumps Muhyiddin-led coalition ahead of polls

President of largest party blasts PM's Bersatu as 'dishonest'

28 March 2021
Gardeners wearing masks work at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, in February. Vietnam is targeting 6% to 6.5% growth on a recovery in tourism, textiles and other pandemic-hit sectors.
Your Week in Asia

Vietnam GDP, Huawei results, Hong Kong election overhaul

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

28 March 2021
The United Malays National Organisation emblem: Malaysia's largest party is shaking the foundations of the current government and gearing up for an election fight.
Malaysia in transition

Knives out for Muhyiddin as Malaysia's largest party UMNO gathers

After grudgingly propping up PM, top political force braces for election fight

27 March 2021
The $16 billion Pengerang Integrated Complex joint venture between Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals Group and Saudi Aramco in the southern state of Johor. (Photo courtesy of Petronas Chemicals Group)
Energy

Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals pins hopes on Saudi Aramco JV

Petrochemical and refinery project in Johor expected to boost output and profits

25 March 2021
Loading up a coronavirus vaccine dose in Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia and Singapore intend to work toward accepting each other's immunization certificates.
COVID vaccines

Malaysia and Singapore push mutual vaccine certificate recognition

Foreign ministers discuss Myanmar but leave it out of COVID-focused statement

23 March 2021
Police officers patrol outside the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on March 19.
International relations

Malaysia gives North Korea's embassy staff 48 hours to leave

Kuala Lumpur blasts Pyongyang for cutting ties after support 'during difficult times'

19 March 2021
A health worker collects a swab sample to test a child for COVID-19 in Mumbai in November, 2020.
Coronavirus

COVID and Asia's kids: Overlooked victims suffer stress or worse

Catching the virus is just one risk to children, who are last in line for shots

18 March 2021
MDV's CEO, Nizam Mohamed Nadzri, says internet-only banks and fintech companies in Malaysia have tremendous growth potential.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia Debt Ventures and Kenanga set up $73m fintech fund

Vehicle to enhance fintech companies at various stages, up to pre-IPO

16 March 2021
China's aviation market is a great opportunity for a budget carrier, says an important new investor in Malaysia-based AirAsia. (Source photos by Reuters)
Transportation

AirAsia's China dream gets strong backing from new investor

Amateur poker player Stanley Choi keen to bet on huge market after COVID

12 March 2021
The sound and the fury: "We were young and idealistic and wanted to make a difference," says Soundscape Records founder Mak Wai Hoo of the early days of the Chinese Malaysian rock movement that he helped create. (Courtesy of Mak Wai Hoo/Soundscape Records)
Arts

Ethnic-Chinese Malaysian label keeps 'pop rebels' ablaze

Two decades on, Soundscape Records rocks on in Malaysia, despite COVID-19

12 March 2021
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, right, speaks during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur last August as his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, looks on.
Interview

Mahathir keeps Malaysia, rivals and family guessing on next election

Son Mukhriz admits 95-year-old's decision on whether to run is a worry

10 March 2021
AirAsia is ready to furlough more workers unless domestic coronavirus travel curbs end next month, its president says. (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara)
Transportation

AirAsia sees more layoffs if April domestic flights stay grounded

COVID speeds non-airline business expansion by loss-hit budget carrier

10 March 2021
A worker leaves a Top Glove factory after his shift in Klang, Malaysia, on Dec. 7, 2020.
Health Care

Top Glove profits and sales soar on COVID-19 demand

Malaysian manufacturer confident of resilient orders despite vaccine rollout

9 March 2021
Tony Fernandes is taking things to new extremes by making the odd bicycle food delivery. (Photo courtesy of AirAsia Food) 
Opinion

How AirAsia's Tony Fernandes smashed a COVID-19 home run

Harvard MBAs have got nothing on Southeast Asia's most dynamic entrepreneur

9 March 2021
A 1MDB billboard in 2015: The scandal surrounding the Malaysian fund is still making waves.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia settles old 1MDB scores as scandal dragnet widens

Ex-central banker's family faces probe on heels of Deloitte and AmBank deals

8 March 2021
Vietnam is expected to expand its use of solar power and other renewable energy sources.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysian Tenaga unit to buy stake in 5 solar projects in Vietnam

State-owned energy producer to expand overseas operations

7 March 2021
Singapore's Changi Airport in January: ASEAN economic ministers have discussed the possibility of a shared digital vaccine certificate that could open up travel.
Economy

ASEAN eyes digital vaccine certificate for post-COVID travel

Economic ministers discuss following EU in move toward immunity 'passports'

3 March 2021
Philippine peso bills are seen at a money changer in Manila. Among 16 major banks in Southeast Asia, the fastest increase in nonperforming loans was recorded at Philippine banks.
Finance

Philippine banks' bad loans swell far faster than ASEAN peers'

Southeast Asian lenders face worsening asset quality and profitability on COVID

3 March 2021
After explosive growth in orders in 2020, Malaysia's Top Glove is looking to raise money for further expansion in a Hong Kong share listing.
Companies

Malaysia's Top Glove applies to list in Hong Kong

Glove maker confident demand will remain strong even after pandemic

26 February 2021
As Malaysia aspires to join the club of high-income nations, some experts argue closing the gap between rich and poor is more important. 
Economy

Malaysia to renew push for high-income goal by 2030 despite COVID

Minister talks up development target as Muhyiddin borrows from Mahathir playbook

26 February 2021
Top Glove says demand for medical gloves will remain intact even with the rollout of vaccines because immunization procedures require them.
Coronavirus

Investors cool on Malaysian gloves stocks on vaccine drive

Top Glove and rivals' share prices fall further despite good results

26 February 2021
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin receives the country's first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Putrajaya on Feb. 24.
Coronavirus

Malaysia starts COVID vaccines in crucial week for Asian jabs

Thailand and Vietnam take deliveries while South Korea prepares first shots

24 February 2021
Kuala Lumpur-based band Margasatwa repurposes the golden age of Malay and Indonesian Western-inspired rock music of the 1960s and 1970s, infusing it with a profound ethnic awareness. (Courtesy of Levi's Music Project)
Arts

Innovative music takes off in Maritime Southeast Asia

Musicians are returning to their roots to create a new regional genre

24 February 2021