Politics

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
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 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
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
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
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
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, arrives in court on June 1. Najib faces verdicts on 1MDB-related charges next month.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia drops Najib-era graft cases spearheaded by Mahathir

Dismissed charges raise concerns country is turning soft on corruption

25 June 2020
China is planning massive military exercises as early as this summer.
International relations

Southeast Asia's defense cuts create opening for China

ASEAN's focus on pandemic fight risks sowing discord with US

20 June 2020
A wooden boat carries suspected Rohingya migrants detained in Malaysian territorial waters off the island of Langkawi on Apr. 5: their ordeal has lasted months and shows no sign of ending.
Opinion

COVID-19 is no excuse for rejecting Rohingya migrants

Asia must use the Bali Process to treat those fleeing on boats humanely

20 June 2020
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is said to be looking to strengthen his tenuous grip on power and "straighten the messy political scene."
Malaysia in transition

Muhyiddin eyes unprecedented snap election to vanquish Mahathir

Sources see Malaysian polls by March 2021, while coronavirus stimulus is fresh

17 June 2020
Travelers wearing face masks are seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thailand wants to create "travel corridors" or "travel bubbles" with certain countries, including China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Thailand fights to revive reputation as top tourist destination

COVID-19 tracing measures and troubled Thai Airways' cloud tourism revival

15 June 2020
A Malaysian health worker helps a migrant worker fill out a declaration form before a COVID-19 test in May. The authorities rounded up undocumented immigrants amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Coronavirus

Malaysia reopens as virus rips through migrant detention centers

Rights group says warnings about 'perfect hotbeds' went unheeded

9 June 2020
Outgoing Petronas CEO Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin will take the chairman's seat at Malaysia Airlines next month.
Companies

Petronas chief heads to Malaysia Airlines in state-sector shake-up

Oil industry veteran Wan Zulkiflee tasked with turning around troubled carrier

6 June 2020
A couple wear protective masks in a shopping area in downtown Kuala Lumpur in late May, as the Malaysian economy began to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.
Coronavirus

Malaysia details $8.2bn plan for post-pandemic economic reboot

Muhyiddin's latest package aimed at boosting employment and foreign investment

5 June 2020
Malaysia's government created a public uproar by quietly allocating 5G spectrum to five telcos, including a small player with little experience in the sector but ties to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. (Nikkei Montage/AP)
4 June 2020
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is now on his third attempt at ousting a sitting head of government. (Photo by Ying Xian Wong)
Comment

Malaysia's ex-PM Mahathir gears up for one last fight

94-year-old politician joins hands with rival to oust Muhyiddin

4 June 2020
Temperature screening at Singapore's Changi Airport before the ban on short-term visits: The city-state is working to set up safe travel links with multiple countries.
Coronavirus

Singapore and China set strict rules for airtight 'travel bubble'

Business flyers will need visas, virus tests, contact tracing apps and more

3 June 2020
Singapore's Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysia's Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali shake hands during a news conference after a High-Speed Rail signing ceremony at Putrajaya, Malaysia September 5, 2018
31 May 2020
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a news conference in Putrajaya earlier in May.
Malaysia in transition

Mahathir rejects termination by party led by Malaysia's Muhyiddin

Former leader vows to push motion to remove current PM as Bersatu president

29 May 2020
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been ousted from the party he co-founded and led to victory in the 2018 election. 
Malaysia in transition

Mahathir axed from party he founded with Malaysian PM Muhyiddin

Former leader's son, Mukhriz Mahathir, and three others also ousted from Bersatu

28 May 2020
Muhyiddin Yassin gestures after his cabinet announcement on Mar. 9: during the jockeying, the opportunity costs add up.
Opinion

Malaysia must stop political squabbling and boost economic stimulus

Muhyiddin Yassin is wasting valuable time because he does not want to be ousted

21 May 2020
Stream article image
International relations

Vietnam city fines Bayer chief for South China Sea 'nine-dash' map

Ho Chi Minh authorities say local CEO spread 'illegal images'

21 May 2020