Malaysia

Johari Abdul Ghani, chairman of the 1MDB Asset Recovery Task Force, says Malaysia is mulling legal action against some foreign banks. (Source photos by AP and Hiroki Endo)
Finance

Malaysia considers suing foreign banks over 1MDB scandal

Task force eyes institutions it says facilitated 1MDB-related fund transfers

23 January 2024
Senheng operates 125 outlets across Malaysia, but says the future is increasingly online.
Retail

Malaysia's top electronics chain pivots to online growth strategy

Senheng chairman says company to stop new store launches from 2026

19 January 2024
Yamaha's push in India comes as children have had few opportunities until now to play musical instruments in public schools, where the emphasis is on academic studies. (Photo courtesy of Yamaha Corp.)
Business Spotlight

Yamaha taps school music lessons to score growth in India, Southeast Asia

World's top instrument maker offers recorders, classes in emerging markets as Japan sales slide

19 January 2024
Kinsus, a subsidiary of iPhone assembler Pegatron, has rented a plant in Malaysia as a first step to potentially expanding into the country. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by screenshot from Kinsus' website) 
Semiconductors

Taiwan's Kinsus mulls setting up chip substrate plant in Malaysia

Nvidia supplier would be first such Taiwanese maker to enter the ASEAN country

16 January 2024
A Tesla Model Y at a December 2022 event in Bangkok. Tesla lags behind BYD in electric-vehicle market share in Thailand.
Automobiles

Tesla EV plans spur 'Musk pilgrimages' from India and Southeast Asia

Geopolitics and growing rivals cause automaker to weigh presence outside China

16 January 2024
Malaysian Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli poses after an interview with Nikkei Asia in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 8. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

Malaysia wants to make Johor 'new engine of growth'

Economy minister hopes special economic zone with Singapore boosts tech, renewables

12 January 2024
Malaysian economy minister Rafizi Ramli, center right, and Singaporean trade minister Gan Kim Yong, center left, exchange documents in a signing ceremony in Johor on Jan. 11. (Photo by Norman Goh)
International relations

Singapore and Malaysia to launch QR code border clearance

Neighbors sign agreement on Johor economic zone to boost growth

11 January 2024
Capital A Chief Executive Tony Fernandes held a press conference in Sepang, Malaysia, on Jan. 8. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Transportation

Malaysia's Capital A aims to consolidate aviation businesses

Fernandes seeks way to help company emerge from stock market sanction

8 January 2024
With a population of 4 million, Johor has been trying to develop new areas of the economy over the past two decades. (Nikkei montage/Getty Images)
Market Spotlight

Johor projects push Malaysia's lesser-known stocks to new heights

Southern state's economic zone with Singapore boosts developers, tech companies

8 January 2024
Sime Darby Motors represents big automotive brands stretching from sales and servicing to assembly and distribution. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Automobiles

Sime Darby bets big on Malaysia's automotive sector

Conglomerate's healthcare exit part of strategy to focus on core businesses

7 January 2024
A supermarket in Singapore. This chain, Sheng Siong, will roll out a three-month discount in 2024 on most of its items to offset the additional goods and services tax. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Economy

Singapore, Malaysia to raise consumption tax amid inflation fears

Southeast Asia balances fiscal needs against uncertain economy in 2024

28 December 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim vows to focus on achieving faster growth. Left: Kuala Lumpur's new landmark, Merdeka 118, is a symbol of the country's growing affluence. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Hiroki Endo and Reuters)
Comment

How Malaysia is finding its way out of the middle-income trap

It has taken the slow but steady route while addressing an ethnic incongruity

24 December 2023
A crowd of shoppers gathered outside the main entrance of The Exchange TRX on opening day on Nov. 29. (Photo by Mayuko Tani)
Retail

Malaysia sees surge of megamalls with more to come

The Exchange TRX shopping complex joins Kuala Lumpur's mall frenzy

23 December 2023
Travelers walk through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Dec. 20. As the number of tourists surges across Southeast Asia, so too are COVID cases. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore put guard up as COVID cases surge

Southeast Asia asks public to mask up and get vaccinated as travel season begins

21 December 2023
Raymond Tong, president Vantage Data Centers' Asia-Pacific business, believes a surge in data center demand lies ahead in the region. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Tsubasa Suruga)
Technology

Vantage Data Centers readies for AI demand in Southeast Asia

U.S. operator's regional head confident about capacity targets in Malaysia

19 December 2023
An Eneos hydrogen fueling station in Japan. The oil company will ship hydrogen produced in Malaysia to Japan through a partnership with Sumitomo Corp. and SEDC Energy. (Photo by Memi Hiuchi)
Energy

Japan's Sumitomo and Eneos to produce green hydrogen in Malaysia

Hydroelectric-derived power will boost decarbonization drive

19 December 2023
Critical Holdings' strong market debut highlights investor confidence in the young company's growing business, which is benefiting from construction of new tech infrastructure like data centers and chip factories in Malaysia. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Critical Holdings)
IPO

Malaysia's Critical Holdings' shares close up 63% in market debut

Interest in engineering firm comes amid demand for data center, chip facilities

18 December 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during an interview with Nikkei Asia on Dec. 17 in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Interview

Malaysia's Anwar pushes for local currency transactions in trade

Country looks to 'gradually' reduce dollar dependency to avoid forex risks

18 December 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, pictured in Tokyo on Dec. 17, argues that some countries that promote democracy and human rights are engaging in "hypocrisy" when it comes to Gaza. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Interview

Malaysia's Anwar slams 'hypocrisy' over Gaza crisis

Prime minister reiterates call for humanitarian cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

17 December 2023
GoGet CEO Chia co-founded the firm in 2014. (Photo by Shigeru Seno)
Interview

Malaysia's GoGet aims to revamp gig work with pension, health benefits

CEO Francesca Chia outlines opt-in approach that put workers 'in control'

16 December 2023
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, pictured at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, has revamped his cabinet.
Politics

Malaysia launching digital ministry to drive AI and growth

Anwar announces major cabinet reshuffle after government's first anniversary

12 December 2023
Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says the government wants to convince the private sector to see decarbonization as a long-term strategy. (Photo by Sayumi Take)
COP28

Malaysia urges companies to go green with 'high-value economy' aim

Climate minister says upgrading grid for renewables is key to new energy plan

10 December 2023
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, center, arrives at a meeting with reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 8. He expressed "great confidence in Southeast Asia." (Photo by Norman Goh)
Semiconductors

Nvidia CEO sees potential in Southeast Asia as AI market

Jensen Huang says China remains important despite U.S. controls

8 December 2023
Workers at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur: Most workers in Malaysia are employed by small and medium size businesses.
Economy

Malaysia plans new wage scheme for low-income workers

'Progressive' model targets small business, but effectiveness questioned

7 December 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his allies have realized that it is best to try to work with members of the establishment bureaucracy.
Opinion

Surviving a year as PM, Anwar just might get through four more

Malaysia's unity government has to improve its messaging to keep public onside

6 December 2023