Malaysia

Writer Tunku Halim has often been called "the Malaysian Stephen King" for his dark tales, but he also writes on subjects as diverse as dieting, history and minimalist living. (Courtesy of the author)   
Arts

Malaysian horror writer screams from the shadows

Tunku Halim brings ancient demons to life in contemporary fiction

7 October 2020
MV Werften in Rostock. Owner Genting Hong Kong is receiving aid from Germany's government to tide the yard through a downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Business trends

Asia cruise giant Genting secures $227m in German aid

Hong Kong operator overcomes opposition to win interim help for shipyards

6 October 2020
Stacks of containers are seen at Tanjung Priok port amid the coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 3.
Economy

India and ASEAN set to return to growth in early 2021: JCER

Survey shows curbing COVID and income support keys to economic recovery

6 October 2020
Since Mr DIY opened its first location in 2005, the company has grown into Malaysia's largest home-improvement retailer, with 674 stores across the country and four locations in Brunei.
Markets

Malaysia's largest home-improvement retailer seeks $361m in IPO

Mr DIY's pandemic-delayed listing would be country's biggest in three years

6 October 2020
Indonesia is turning to the antiviral drug remdesivir as it struggles to cope with over 4,000 new COVID-19 patients per day. 
Coronavirus

Indonesia adopts remdesivir as Malaysia shops for COVID vaccines

Southeast Asian neighbors reveal their latest steps to tackle pandemic

1 October 2020
AirAsia Group is reassessing its businesses after performance deteriorated due to a drop in air travel demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Masayuki Terazawa)
Transportation

AirAsia approves shutting down Japan joint venture

AirAsia Japan hit by plunge in travel demand amid coronavirus pandemic

30 September 2020
People cast votes at a polling station during state elections in the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island on Sept. 26.
International relations

Malaysia's spat with Philippines over Sabah: Five things to know

Tensions add further complication to sovereignty issues in South China Sea

29 September 2020
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks in a pre-recorded message that was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22.
International relations

Asian leaders hedge bets at UN as Trump throws barbs at China

'When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled flat,' Duterte warns

28 September 2020
Anwar Ibrahim reckons his time has finally come.
Opinion

Malaysia's Mr. Yesterday the wrong man for tomorrow

Anwar Ibrahim should make way for a new generation of leaders

28 September 2020
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. His position was strengthened by his coalition's victory in the state of Sabah.
Politics

Malaysia's Muhyiddin wins crucial victory in Sabah state election

Result takes pressure off leadership challenge by Anwar Ibrahim

27 September 2020
 Malaysia opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim reacts during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia September 23, 2020.
Malaysia in transition

Anwar's leadership hopes hinge on Malaysia ruling party dissent

UMNO officials worry they will be convicted under Muhyiddin government

26 September 2020
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin waves before his cabinet announcement in Putrajaya, Malaysia on March 9, 2020. Local elections in the state of Sabah on Saturday are poised to affect his political future. (Source photos by Screenshot from Google map and Reuters)
Politics

Malaysian prime minister's fate hangs on Sabah election

Outcome of state legislative contest could lead to snap federal polls

25 September 2020
Trading boards at a private stock market gallery in Kuala Lumpur: governments must recognize that regulated and transparent short-selling supports efficient markets.
Opinion

Asia must rethink bans on short-selling

Being able to sell high and buy low a vital way of maintaining efficient markets

24 September 2020
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, left, faces a challenge from longtime leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim. (Source photos by AP and EPA/Jiji) 
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's Anwar claims 'majority' while PM Muhyiddin demands proof

King's response in focus as ex-leader Mahathir says 'wait and see'

23 September 2020
Merchantrade's purchase of Valyou increases its market share in cross-border remittance services, which are mainly used by migrant workers.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysian fintech company Merchantrade buys Telenor unit

Deal makes digital money service country's largest in remittance business

21 September 2020
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., pictured on Feb. 20: the Philippines' exact motivations are far from certain.
Opinion

Will the Philippines risk war with Malaysia over Sabah?

Manila's bombast more likely an attempt to deflect claims that it's weak on China

18 September 2020
A Top Glove factory in Malaysia. The company has been boosted by the coronavirus pandemic and predicts demand to keep soaring in the year ahead.
Health Care

Top Glove predicts further growth as profits soar amid pandemic

Malaysia maker of latex gloves expects growth even after COVID crisis abates

17 September 2020
Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal insists his state will remain in Malaysia during an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review. (Photo courtesy of the Sabah Chief Minister's Office)
Interview

Sabah chief looks to ASEAN to quash Philippine territorial claim

Shafie Apdal urges Malaysian government to resolve dispute 'once and for all'

17 September 2020
Rohingya refugees rest after the boat carrying them landed in Lhokseumawe, Aceh province, Indonesia, on Sep. 7: this is sadly nothing new.
Opinion

Rohingya are being left to die at sea. Does anyone care?

Asia's governments must put politics aside to protect the lives of desperate people

16 September 2020
Precision or personalized medicine based on analysis of patients' genomes is beginning to catch on in Southeast Asia. (Nikkei illustration)
Asia Insight

Cracking ASEAN's code: Inside the push for genomic medicine

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand doctors seek funds as COVID adds new hurdle

15 September 2020
Kinabatangan River winds its way through the forest in State of Sabah: Manila's claim over Sabah is centered on semantics and has no legal merit whatsoever.
Opinion

Manila's hostile Sabah grab is a page out of China's playbook

Philippine actions will encourage Beijing's unfounded South China Sea claims

10 September 2020
Workana Co-founder and CEO Tomas O’Farrell said he has seen a 50% spike in freelancers joining his jobs-matchmaking platform to earn additional income during the pandemic. (Screenshot of Workana website)
Startups

Malaysia-based jobs-matching startup rides remote wave

Argentina-founded Workana focuses on English-speaking markets first

8 September 2020
Petronas reported its first quarterly net loss since fourth quarter of 2015 in the April-to-June period.
Energy

Malaysia's Petronas reports $5bn net loss for April-to-June period

State energy company faces low oil prices and COVID lockdown-induced weak demand

4 September 2020
Singapore based PropertyGuru had clocked 24% year-on-year revenue growth and had a market share of 57% in Southeast Asia.
DealStreetAsia

Singapore online realtor raises $200m from US equity giants

PropertyGuru to accelerate growth strategy in key markets Malaysia and Vietnam

3 September 2020
Masks have been back in stock in Japanese stores for a while now, a situation that is allowing Unicharm to prepare to export its face coverings to other big Asian nations. (Photo by Kai Fujii) 
Consumer

Japan's Unicharm to export masks to India and Indonesia next year

Company wants to leverage 'Made in Japan' appeal for protective face covering

1 September 2020