Politics

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told Nikkei Asia that voters will rally behind him because of his handling of the pandemic. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Interview

Malaysia's COVID-era PM Muhyiddin eyes return to power in polls

Leader hopeful voters will see lockdowns he imposed as being 'for their benefit'

11 November 2022
Anwar Ibrahim, left, leader of the Hope Pact opposition coalition and UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are both fighting for seats in the Malaysian state of Perak. (Source photos by AP)
Malaysia election

Malaysia's Perak becomes key election battleground for PM hopefuls

Big players like Anwar and Zahid running in the northern state

10 November 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob insists his party will not form a coalition with Anwar Ibrahim's Hope Pact. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Interview

Malaysia's Ismail Sabri optimistic on remaining prime minister

Nation's leader appears locked in political battle with his party's leader

9 November 2022
Supporters of the National Front coalition rally outside a nomination center in the Bera district of Malaysia's Pahang state on Nov. 5.
Malaysia election

Malaysian political parties see young voters as decisive in polls

Almost a third of voters eligible for the Nov. 19 national polls are under 30

7 November 2022
Anwar Ibrahim leader of the Hope Pact, second from left, waves to photographers on Nov. 5, after filing his nomination papers in Meru, Perak, Malaysia. (Photo by P Prem Kumar)
Malaysia election

Malaysian parties in complex tussle for parliament seats

Major political parties, coalitions prepare for tough election

5 November 2022
Malaysian ruling party UMNO's leader, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, waves to his supporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Malaysia election

Malaysia ruling party drops PM loyalists as candidates ahead of polls

UMNO chief's seeks to outmaneuver Ismail Sabri amid infighting

2 November 2022
Shahril Sufian Hamdan, the ruling United Malays National Organization's information chief, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Interview

Malaysia's ruling UMNO aims for 'simple majority' in parliament

Official says party relies not on Najib but on 'grassroots network' in Nov. 19 election

1 November 2022
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who lost an appeal of his conviction on embezzlement charges in August, remains politically popular. 
Comment

Najib's resurgence likely key to Malaysia's general election

Will scandal-ridden ex-PM's growing appeal with young help ruling UMNO?

31 October 2022
Screens in a Kuala Lumpur store show a live broadcast of Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's announcement of early elections on Oct. 10: Voters are less interested in grand political narratives.
Opinion

Malaysian politicians must reckon with a more demanding electorate

Youth and other new voters will determine direction of the country

23 October 2022
The prime minister's office in Malaysia. General elections are set for Nov. 19, the results of which are expected to calm political instability in the country.
Malaysia election

Malaysians to vote on Nov. 19 for next government

Ismail Sabri's UMNO is expected to lead as Anwar and Muhyiddin mount challenges

20 October 2022
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad holds a news conference in Putrajaya on Oct. 11.
Malaysia election

Mahathir, 97, confirms candidacy in Malaysia's upcoming election

Veteran leader says he won't seek PM job, considers this his last race

11 October 2022
A shopper watches a live broadcast of Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announcing the dissolution of parliament for a general election in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 10.
Malaysia election

Malaysia PM dissolves parliament, paving way for election

Ismail Sabri announces move after months of pressure from his own party

10 October 2022
Malaysia's Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz presents the 2023 budget to parliament on Oct. 7.
Economy

Malaysia's 2023 budget dangles cash aid, tax cut as election looms

Government compiles record 372bn ringgit plan but nods to fiscal sustainability

7 October 2022
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks with Nikkei Asia at his office in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Malaysia election

Mahathir predicts UMNO triumph in Malaysia's next election

Former PM considers fresh run at age 97, expects Najib to wield influence from jail

7 October 2022
Malaysia accounted for 13.6% of Japan's LNG imports in 2021. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Energy

Japan reaches deal on emergency LNG supplies from Petronas

Economy ministry seeks out fuel from Southeast Asia to prepare for winter crunch

30 September 2022
Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says a unified pandemic playbook would allow ASEAN countries to avoid "second-guessing" one another. (Photo by P Prem Kumar)
Coronavirus

Malaysia's health minister urges ASEAN pandemic 'playbook'

Khairy Jamaluddin says bloc could avoid border closures, improve vaccine access

25 September 2022
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia's former deputy prime minister and current president of the ruling UMNO, has been cleared of 40 charges, though he still faces dozens more.
Politics

Malaysia's ruling party chief Zahid cleared in bribery case

Acquittal could loosen PM Ismail Sabri's grip on candidacy in next election

23 September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II passes onlookers in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 23, 1972.
International relations

Queen Elizabeth's soft power in Asia went beyond the Commonwealth

New U.K. King Charles III faces struggle to match mother's ties in region

13 September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at a civic ceremony in New Delhi during the Royal Tour of India, circa January 1961.
International relations

Legacy of decency: Asian leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Monarch was frequent visitor to region during her 70-year reign

9 September 2022
Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Sep. 1. "Have some compassion," she asked the judge.
Malaysia in transition

Wife of Malaysia's Najib Razak sentenced to 10 years in jail

Rosmah Mansor also fined $216m for soliciting and accepting bribes

1 September 2022
Petronas President and Group CEOTengku Muhammad Taufik, third from left, says elevated energy prices are likely to slowly ease from early next year. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Energy

Malaysia's Petronas sees energy price declines ahead as profit soars

State oil and gas company's top executive says outlook depends on war in Ukraine

30 August 2022
Inflation is forcing many households in Pakistan to cut back on meals. 
Your Week in Asia

IMF decision on Pakistan, China PMI, Macao junket king's trial

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

28 August 2022
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at the Federal Court in Putrajaya on Aug. 23.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's Najib headed to jail after losing final 1MDB appeal

Former PM complains of 'unfair judicial machinery' before 12-year sentence upheld

23 August 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob speaks with Nikkei Asia and selected media outlets at his office on Aug. 22. (Courtesy of Malaysian Prime Minister's Office)
Interview

Malaysia PM reckons economic risks may spur election this year

Ismail Sabri says waiting until 2023 could 'backfire' on government

22 August 2022
Malaysia last held a general house election in 2018.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's parties jockey for position as election talk ramps up

Members of ruling UMNO pushes for snap vote this year; ex-PM Najib's son could seek seat

20 August 2022