Malaysia

AirAsia Group founder Tony Fernandes is urging Southeast Asian leaders to open up international travel in a safe way. (Source photo by Yuki Nakao) 
Travel & Leisure

AirAsia founder says more job cuts likely unless borders reopen

Tony Fernandes calls on leaders to 'bravely' restart travel as losses mount

27 August 2020
Malaysian Tourism Minister Nancy Shukri assumed her role just a week before the government imposed a lockdown. (Photo by Wong Ying Xian)
Most read in 2020

Malaysia likely to remain closed to tourists into 2021: minister

Nancy Shukri says COVID surges in hitherto 'safe' countries have forced rethink

26 August 2020
AirAsia pioneered the cut-rate airline model in Southeast Asia with a determination to keep seats filled and its jets in the sky, but new restrictions will likely test this business model.
Transportation

AirAsia and its LCC rivals seek post-COVID rebirth

Malaysia-based budget airline suffers record quarterly loss of $237m

25 August 2020
A doctor attends to a patient at Kuala Lumpur Hospital in Malaysia on May 23.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia's Sunway plans to raise $300m for health care expansion

Diversified group will increase hospital capacity to 2,500 beds by 2025

25 August 2020
Malaysia's state energy company Petronas is hoping to tap growing demand for nitrile gloves used in the health care industry.
Business deals

Malaysia's Petronas and LG Chem to build glove material plant

State energy firm moves into nitrile as COVID-19 spurs demand for protective gear

24 August 2020
The view overlooking Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's gross domestic product plummeted 17.1% on the year in the April-June period.
Economy

Malaysian GDP plunge fuels talk of post-COVID economic remodeling

Experts call for investor-friendly regulations without political 'flip-flops'

22 August 2020
An aerial view of an FGV palm oil plantation. The company drew investment from thousands of the country's small farmers in its 2012 initial public offering.(Photo courtesy of FGV)
Business Spotlight

'F should mean food': Malaysia's FGV looks beyond palm oil

Plantation owner has struggled since stock market debut but CEO wants to diversify

21 August 2020
The World Dream is part of Genting's fleet of cruise ships. The business has fallen on tough times due to the pandemic.
Travel & Leisure

Investors abandon Genting cruise unit after debt freeze

Hong Kong-listed business misses finance payment for new ship

20 August 2020
A medical personnel uses a bag-mask valve at an isolation facility in Metro Manila on May 1: few problems are insurmountable when collaborative science rise to the occasion.
Opinion

Reimagining Asia's response to COVID-19

Purpose-driven leadership, digital transformation and collective effort are critical

19 August 2020
The Subi Reef, a part of the Spratly Islands, pictured in May 2018: China has intensified its attempts to strengthen its claims to the South China Sea.
Opinion

Southeast Asia stands to gain as US hardens South China Sea stance

Region welcomes US support for UN tribunal ruling rejecting China's maritime claims

17 August 2020
Workers who crossed into Singapore from Malaysia on Aug. 17 board a bus prepared by their employer to take them to quarantine locations. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Coronavirus

Singapore-Malaysia border reopening restores economic lifeline

Crossing quota filled as workers and employers rush to undo COVID damage

17 August 2020
Malaysia's central bank still expects the full-year GDP to fall between 0.5% growth and a 2% contraction.
Economy

Malaysia GDP plunges record 17.1% in Q2 under pandemic pressure

Worse-than-expected contraction reflects lengthy coronavirus lockdown

14 August 2020
An Indian woman drinks cow urine during an event organized by a Hindu religious group to promote its consumption as a cure for the novel coronavirus in New Delhi in March.
Coronavirus

Cow urine and gasoline: Asia's curious COVID cure claims

Politicians and officials across region have proposed some suspect treatments

12 August 2020
George Town's upscale Eastern & Oriental Hotel has started pairing spicy local Baba Nyonya food with sparkling Franciacorta rose. (Photo by Kit Yeng Chan)
Life

Malaysian foodies develop taste for Italian wine

Paired with local dishes, signature labels make inroads into an improbable market

12 August 2020
Workers who live in Malaysia but hold jobs in Singapore will soon be able to cross the border for the first time since March.
Coronavirus

Singapore-Malaysia border crossings to resume: 5 things to know

Interdependent neighbors seek economic relief with dual travel programs

10 August 2020
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, center, announces that he is forming a new party with his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, left, on Aug. 7. (Photo by P Prem Kumar)
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's Mahathir forms new party to take on Muhyiddin

At 95, former PM declares 'third force' ahead of rumored snap election

7 August 2020
Malaysia's former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, center, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug. 7 to face a corruption charge.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysian ex-minister Lim denies graft amid 'persecution' claims

Key Mahathir aide faces up to 20 years in jail as allies blast PM Muhyiddin

7 August 2020
Many ethnic Malays view Najib as a necessary bulwark against minority rule.
Opinion

It is way too early to celebrate Najib's historic corruption sentence

Former PM's court appeal raises fears that convictions could be overturned

6 August 2020
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison on charges connected to the 1MDB scandal.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's ruling parties split by guilty verdict on Najib

Ex-leader's UMNO party touches on withdrawal in power struggle with current PM

4 August 2020
Port Klang is a key shipping point linking East Asia with the Middle East.
Companies

Japan's Sankyu to build logistics center on Malacca Straits

Facility targets Japanese companies looking for fast access to Southeast Asia

1 August 2020
A helicopter takes off from the U.S. Navy's USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier in the South China Sea on July 17.
South China Sea

Malaysia says China's maritime claims have no legal basis

Country uses language similar to US and Australia over South China Sea

31 July 2020
Malaysia controls Sabah, but the Philippines has staked a claim to it since 1961.
International relations

Philippines and Malaysia diplomatic row heats up over Sabah

Envoys from both countries to be summoned to explain territorial claims

31 July 2020
Front row, from left: Muhyiddin Yassin, Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz Mahathir are seen in 2018, when they were still on the same side.
Interview

Mahathir eyes new party as Malaysia snap polls loom, son says

Mukhriz Mahathir argues Najib conviction 'doesn't benefit' PM Muhyiddin

30 July 2020
Commuters take the Woodlands Causeway to Singapore from Johor a day before Malaysia imposes a lockdown on travel in Singapore on March 17.
International relations

Malaysia and Singapore greenlight rail link delayed by Mahathir

Muhyiddin and Lee kick off $2.4bn project with meeting across border demarcation

30 July 2020
Muhyiddin's biggest challenge will be taking on the vested interests blocking structural change.
Opinion

Malaysia must use Najib verdict to end corruption once and for all

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin must not squander chance to reboot his leadership

30 July 2020