Politics

A worker loads harvested palm fruits in Malaysia. Major exporters Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing new uses for the tropical oil in the face of market headwinds.
Market Spotlight

Indonesia, Malaysia push biofuel to offset palm oil price downturn

Falling prices hurt companies; risks loom from El Nino and EU deforestation law

4 September 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, center in light blue, unveils the National Industrialization Master Plan 2030 in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 1. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Economy

Malaysia unveils $20bn master plan to transform industry by 2030

Anwar government to foot 10% of bill to enhance supply chains and jobs

1 September 2023
Beijing this week published the 2023 edition of its "standard map" of China. (Screenshot from the Ministry of Natural Resources of China's website)
International relations

Malaysia, India and Taiwan reject China's new territorial map

Indian state and some Malaysian waters now inside 'nine-dash line'

31 August 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim waves to the press in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 12: The election reaffirmed that Malaysians want better governance.
Opinion

Anwar must listen to Malaysia's voters

After election rebuke, prime minister must attend to structural issues

16 August 2023
Opposition supporters at a campaign rally in July. Many observers point to rising nationalism and religiosity among ethnic Malays for a rightward shift in the country's politics. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Politics

Conservative opposition's rise in Malaysia pressures Anwar

State election results deal heavy blow to governing coalition

14 August 2023
 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, center, calls on all sides to "cool off" after an intense competition state elections. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Politics

Anwar coalition holds on to power in three states in Malaysia polls

Opposition gains seats in all six elections in warning sign to ruling parties

13 August 2023
Motorcyclists pass by campaign flags ahead of the state election in Selangor, Malaysia on Aug. 9.
Politics

Malaysia holds key state elections: 5 things to know

About 10 million voters will cast ballots on Saturday in six states

11 August 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also chairman of the ruling Pakatan Harapan alliance, speaks to around 5,000 supporters at a rally in Selangor on Aug. 6. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Politics

Malaysia's industrial heartland holds key to election battle

PM Anwar, opposition court young in Selangor ahead of Saturday state-level vote

8 August 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at a joint press conference on July 26. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia's Prime Minister Office) 
Myanmar Crisis

Anwar, Marcos discuss 'giving flexibility' to Myanmar approach

Leaders touch on possible engagement 'without sacrificing human rights issues'

26 July 2023
Steakholder sees similarities between Jewish kosher and Muslim halal dietary requirements. (Photo courtesy of company)
Food & Beverage

Israel's food tech upstarts eye ASEAN's Muslim countries

Indonesia, Malaysia offer halal gateway for Jewish state's companies

19 July 2023
The 1MDB scandal rocked Malaysia's political and financial worlds. (File photo by AP)  
Crime

Malaysia arrests key 1MDB suspect linked to Jho Low

Jasmine Loo, wanted under Interpol red notice, was close associate of fugitive

12 July 2023
To achieve a clear victory in upcoming state elections, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his allies will have to secure Malay support.
Opinion

Malaysian state elections will test Anwar's balancing skill

Prime minister needs to show Malay support to keep reform on course

10 July 2023
A woman leaves the trading floor of RHB Bank in Kuala Lumpur on July 4. Investors pushed Malaysian stocks 7% lower in the first half of this year. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Markets

Malaysian stocks under pressure after 7% first-half decline

Rising interest rates, weak currency, state elections cast shadows

5 July 2023
Florika Fink-Hooijer, European Commission's director general for environment, speaks during an interview in Kuala Lumpur on June 28. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

EU, Malaysia, Indonesia create task force over deforestation rule

First meeting set for August amid lingering worries among palm oil farmers

30 June 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gives the keynote address as party president during the People's Justice Party national congress in March 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Politics

Malaysia PM Anwar faces first test in state elections

Ruling camp fights for votes as opposition plays up ethnic, religious identity

26 June 2023
Weakness in the Malaysian ringgit has become a headache for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government. (Source photos by Reuters)
Currencies

Malaysian ringgit wobbles in face of political uncertainty, China woes

Currency struggles for traction amid expected state elections, falling exports

23 June 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia on June 8. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia Prime Minister's Office)
International relations

Malaysia, Indonesia to fight EU palm oil 'discrimination'

Jokowi says collaboration should be 'strengthened' to protect commodities

8 June 2023
Indonesians and Malaysians are being brought closer together by an ASEAN initiative that makes cross-border payments easier and cheaper. (Source photos by Getty Images and logo from ASEAN BAC INDONESIA's website)
Finance

Indonesia-Malaysia QR code payments get started under ASEAN system

Cross border scheme could cut transaction costs by 30%, offer exchange rate buffer

6 June 2023
Mahathir Mohamad in Tokyo on May 26: Malaysia's former prime minister says U.S. sanctions on Russia have given his country the opportunity to abandon the dollar in its trading with Russia. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
The Future of Asia 2023

Mahathir Q&A: Auto industry 'will have to go to hydrogen'

Longtime prime minister talks EVs, Malaysian politics, role of Global South

30 May 2023
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gives a speech at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on May 26. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
The Future of Asia 2023

Mahathir's message: World must promote 'peace and stability'

Former leader, now 97, warns that war won't solve problems

30 May 2023
Fadillah Yusof, center, and Airlangga Hartarto, right: The two will make Malaysia and Indonesia's case against Europe's anti-deforestation law on May 30-31. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Environment

Malaysia, Indonesia to send palm oil mission to EU next week

Delegation to make case for small farmers in crosshairs of deforestation rule

27 May 2023
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad speaks about the Ukraine war and the "Global South" at the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 26. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
26 May 2023
Mahathir says the United Nations should be replaced with a new organization that can better serve the "Global South." (Photo by Shinya Sawai) 
The Future of Asia 2023

Former Malaysia PM Mahathir calls for ASEAN action, U.N. revamp

Says Southeast Asian group should drop noninterference policy to tackle Myanmar

26 May 2023
Leaders of ASEAN countries pose for photos during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10.
Economy

ASEAN's patchy economic growth suggests long road to recovery

At regional summit, leaders discuss how to push bloc past COVID pains

10 May 2023
Local workers at a freshly opened Honda Motor factory in Malacca, Malaysia in 2003: The country's economy received a tremendous boost from Japanese foreign direct investment.
Opinion

A new era of 'Look East' would boost both Japan and Malaysia

Two nations can build on legacy of historic foreign policy shift

10 May 2023