Malaysia

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to reporters after being convicted on seven charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison on July 28.
Malaysia in transition

Najib and Goldman 1MDB twists pose risks and rewards for Muhyiddin

Landmark verdict and settlement flip narrative surrounding Malaysia's PM

29 July 2020
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's Najib to be jailed for 12 years after 1MDB conviction

Ex-PM found guilty on first 7 charges as nation braces for political fallout

28 July 2020
The Malaysian government and Goldman Sachs have reached an out-of-court settlement over funds related to bond issuances by scandal-ridden state fund 1MDB. (Nikkei Montage/Source photos by Reuters/Getty Images) 
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia and Goldman Sachs settle 1MDB case for $3.9bn

Deal over bank's fees for bond issuances includes $2.5bn in cash

24 July 2020
The 1MDB scandal in Malaysia has become a cloud over U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs. 
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia and Goldman Sachs seek elusive 1MDB settlement

Source says Muhyiddin government more 'flexible' than Mahathir's

23 July 2020
The Malaysian stock exchange has not had any new listings since March 23 and will have to wait until next year to see Loob.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysian bubble tea chain postpones IPO due to COVID

Loob CEO says company to remain private until 'mid-next year or later'

20 July 2020
A Top Glove factory: The company counts on the North American market for nearly a quarter of its sales. (Photo courtesy of Top Glove)
Companies

US bars imports of Malaysia's Top Glove over alleged labor abuse

Foreign worker issues are already resolved, top manufacturer says

16 July 2020
Lan Tay gas platform operated by Rosneft Vietnam in the South China Sea, pictured in April 2018: Malaysia pursues unilateral energy exploration activities in areas claimed by both China and Vietnam.
Opinion

Malaysia and Vietnam must unite against China, not fight each other

Beijing's brazen opportunism should unify ASEAN in South China Sea

16 July 2020
A durian party in Singapore in 2018. The spiky fruit is a celebrated summer delicacy in parts of Southeast Asia, with flavors that can range from creamy custard to bitter, boozy liquor. (Courtesy of 99 Old Trees)
Life

Southeast Asia celebrates durian at parties, festivals and buffets

Despite poor reputation in Western media, fruit pleases palates across region

15 July 2020
A view of the land link between Singapore and Malaysia under lockdown: The governments are preparing to restart business travel.
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore aim to open travel 'green lane' on Aug. 10

Plan will enable essential business and let workers in for 3-month stints

14 July 2020
Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin observes parliamentary proceedings on July 13.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia parliament speaker switch lifts Muhyiddin's survival odds

PM uses 'razor thin' majority to head off Mahathir's no-confidence motion

14 July 2020
A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER plane lands at Hong Kong airport.
Your Week in Asia

Cathay bailout vote, Nissan Ariya EV launch, TSMC results

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

12 July 2020
Tony Fernandes said he was confident AirAsia coud be profitable in 2021. (Photo by Yuki Nakao, File photo)
Transportation

AirAsia will rebound to profit in a year, vows CEO Tony Fernandes

Discount airline needs to raise $470m in next 6 months to be 'very comfortable'

9 July 2020
Muhyiddin Yassin is not opening the government's wallet sufficiently.
Opinion

Malaysia's economy has a serious political problem

Squabbling current and former prime ministers prevent meaningful reforms

9 July 2020
AirAsia on Monday reported a first-quarter loss of 804 million ringgit, reversing a 96 million ringgit profit for the year-earlier period. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Transportation

AirAsia shares suspended after auditor questions carrier's future

Ernst & Young cites 'material uncertainties' due to COVID-19 travel restrictions

8 July 2020
Transgender rocker Shika Corona, center, strikes a pose with her bandmates Yon, left, and Gemma in the Malaysian garage punk unit TingTongKetz. (Courtesy of TingTongKetz)
Life

Meet Malaysia's LGBTQ punk rockers

Lockdown threatens social progress, especially for trans performers

8 July 2020
Malaysia's central bank has been cutting rates to support the ailing economy.
Economy

Malaysia central bank cuts rate to record low to offset COVID pain

Policy board takes action at fourth straight meeting, dropping rate to 1.75%

7 July 2020
New residences on the rise in Forest City in Johor, in the south of Malaysia.
Property

Coronavirus slows China-funded $100bn city in Malaysia

Chinese and Singapore investors stay away as pandemic crisis persists

7 July 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Asian economies hard. Conditions in the ASEAN5 countries and India are still deteriorating, with trade and movement of people restricted in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. 
Economy

ASEAN and India sink into deep minus growth: JCER survey

Acceleration of digitization expected due to COVID-19 pandemic

7 July 2020
Southeast Asia's biggest low-cost airline, AirAsia registered a net loss of 803.85 million ringgit for the three months to March 31, compared to a net profit of 96.09 million ringgit for the same period last year. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara) 
Travel & Leisure

AirAsia suffers painful loss as COVID-19 crisis bites

Airline says travel restrictions collapsed demand for air travel

6 July 2020
Najib, pictured on Jan. 8 at Kuala Lumpur High Court, knows that his political dynasty hinges on being found not guilty in any of the 1MDB trials.
Opinion

Malaysia is rehabilitating Najib after 1MDB scandal

Former prime minister's prospects are looking up as related charges are dropped

3 July 2020
Top Glove is looking to increase annual output capacity to 140 billion gloves by 2026, up from 78.7 billion units. (Photo courtesy of Top Glove)
Companies

Top Glove makes automation push amid pandemic labor shortage

Travel restrictions and infection risks test limits of relying migrant workers

2 July 2020
A waitress wearing a protective face mask and gloves serves food to customers in Tokyo. The new coronavirus pandemic has lifted the shares of companies such as Malaysia's Top Glove, which makes medical gloves.
Markets

Glove makers and net stocks see COVID-19 boom in bear market

80% of Asia300 issues fell in first half of 2020, led by airlines and energy

1 July 2020
Japan is eager to reopen business travel to and from a number of territories, including Taiwan, Brunei, Myanmar and Singapore, but not China.
Coronavirus

Japan puts Taiwan and Brunei atop its business travel agenda

Myanmar also considered as Tokyo moves to undo coronavirus restraints

30 June 2020
IHH -- which operates over 15,000 beds in 80 hospitals across 10 countries -- has been expanding into developing economies such as India and China, where large population and rapidly rising income are driving demand for quality healthcare and advanced treatment.
Health Care

IHH Healthcare dragged down by goodwill impairment

Company records net first quarter loss of $75 million

29 June 2020
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad continues his fight against the man who replaced him, Muhyiddin Yassin.
Malaysia in transition

Mahathir ups ante on Muhyiddin with substitute pick for Malaysia PM

Nomination of Shafie Apdal hinges on support of Anwar and 37 PKR lawmakers

27 June 2020