Malaysia: Latest News and Updates | South China Morning Post (2025)

Malaysia

Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Malaysia, covering politics, economy, society and the Asean member-nation’s relationships with China, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Head of State

Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar

Head of Government

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Hong Kong economy

Head of Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong expected to move into new roleGan Khai Choon, who has led business lobby since its inception in 2014, says he may switch to less hands-on role.

23 Jun 2025 - 11:59PM

Singapore

Warship diplomacy: UK carrier makes a splash in Singapore

23 Jun 2025 - 6:00PM

Crime

Fear grips Malaysia after 4 gangland-style killings in 8 days in Kuala Lumpur

23 Jun 2025 - 3:48PMvideocam

Iran

Asian shippers fear spiralling costs as Iran threatens Strait of Hormuz closureApart from soaring oil prices, Asian economies have to factor in a surge in insurance premiums and potential supply disruptions.

23 Jun 2025 - 3:33PMvideocam

Style Edit

Style Edit: Find tranquillity with Pañpuri’s Thai wellness philosophyFounder Vorravit Siripark explored Thailand’s ancient traditions to create products that are ‘quiet, grounding and deeply sensorial’, including a new fragrance evoking the beauty of the Andaman Sea.

23 Jun 2025 - 10:00AM

China-Africa relations

The growing risks for Chinese companies in conflict-ridden African nationsChinese firms admit their very survival could be threatened by geopolitical risks, unrest and security threats in unstable African countries.

23 Jun 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Food and agriculture

Can ‘Mygyu’ satisfy Malaysia’s growing appetite for premium beef?Forget expensive imports, Mygyu is quickly becoming a local favourite, proving premium beef can have a Malaysian identity.

23 Jun 2025 - 8:38AM

Viral stories

Malaysian woman claims boss demands live location during leave as proof of holidaySuperior at company says if ‘new rule’ not adhered to, staff will be marked ‘absent’, location details also required for sick, unpaid leave.

22 Jun 2025 - 2:00PM

China travel

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-gridA growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

22 Jun 2025 - 11:00AM

Diplomacy

Macroscope | A retreating US opens door to wider Asian economic integrationBuffeted by Trump’s disruptive policies, Asia should seize the chance to reassert the need for regional integration as the US retreats.

21 Jun 2025 - 5:52PMvideocam

Singapore

Spike in armed robberies in Straits of Malacca and Singapore ‘concerning’There have already been 72 reported incidents this year, surpassing the 62 recorded in all of last year.

21 Jun 2025 - 3:11PMvideocam

US-Asean relations

Crisis calculations: Trump’s America has Southeast Asia in a spinPunitive tariffs and severe aid cuts are shaking the foundations of the US relationship with Asean, deepening a sense of ‘unreliability’.

23 Jun 2025 - 12:44PM

Asean

Asean credibility at stake as Thailand-Cambodia tensions escalate: analystsDiplomatic rift raises fresh questions over Asean unity and bloc’s ability to mediate conflicts between member states, observers say.

20 Jun 2025 - 7:31PMvideocam

Najib Razak

Malaysia’s Najib discharged over US$6.3 million money laundering caseThe ruling comes after the former prime minister was also given a legal reprieve last year in a separate 1MDB-related embezzlement case.

20 Jun 2025 - 3:13PMvideocam

Double tragedy in Malaysia as father dies in sleep, smothers babyThe three-month-old infant was found with his face pinned under his dead father’s arm.

20 Jun 2025 - 1:11PM

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s Anwar flip-flops on petrol subsidy cuts: ‘no means yes’?Malaysians have taken to social media to question the prime minister’s shifting positions on the planned cuts.

20 Jun 2025 - 11:41AM

Trade

My Take | Caught in the chip war, Malaysia must rethink its US–China balancing actAllegations of Chinese chip access via Malaysia highlight the growing costs of staying neutral.

20 Jun 2025 - 10:30AMvideocam

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s Anwar: nobody can dictate how friendly we should be to US or ChinaThe prime minister said that trade-reliant Malaysia was ‘pragmatic’ in its policies and open to all.

19 Jun 2025 - 5:51PMvideocam

Corruption in Asia

Malaysian corruption scandal: are whistle-blowers truly protected?Sabah-based businessman Albert Tei had secretly filmed senior state politicians allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes.

19 Jun 2025 - 3:26PMvideocam

Aviation

Jetstar Asia is gone, but its rivals are aiming to soar higher with more planesCarriers like VietJet and AirAsia embark on aggressive expansion plans despite rising costs and fierce competition in the region.

19 Jun 2025 - 12:14PMvideocam

Cryptocurrency

Letters | How Asia can define the era of stablecoinsReaders discuss policy momentum for stablecoins, the Israel-Iran war, and pro-baby policies.

19 Jun 2025 - 11:30AM

Semiconductors

Malaysia ‘stands firm’ on US chip curbs after alleged breach by Chinese companyChinese engineers rented Malaysian data centres packed with high-end Nvidia chips to train their AI model, a newspaper report has alleged.

19 Jun 2025 - 3:41PMvideocam

Israel

Southeast Asia scrambles to get citizens out as Israel-Iran conflict escalatesThailand, which has 40,000 citizens living in Israel and 300 in Iran, has mobilised military planes to bring them home.

18 Jun 2025 - 5:27PMvideocam

Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | Pavane for an Infant: Fish Liew in absorbing Malaysian ‘baby hatch’ dramaFish Liew and Natalie Hsu star in Chong Keat Aun’s film about a centre for abandoned babies in Malaysia that draws violent criticism.

17 Jun 2025 - 7:45PMvideocam

Crime

Malaysia’s second fatal shooting in 4 days sparks fears of gang menaceThe targeted killing of two men outside a Kuala Lumpur shopping centre on Tuesday was similar to another incident in a restaurant on Friday.

17 Jun 2025 - 5:40PM

Hong Kong property

Michelin-listed Ancient Moon shuts during Hong Kong’s dining upheavalThe last day of operation of Ancient Moon in North Point is on July 19, according to its Instagram post.

17 Jun 2025 - 4:33PM

Sexual harassment and assault

Malaysian singer Naim ‘committed to clear name’ after sexual assault chargeThe 28-year-old pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at a hotel in Petaling Jaya.

17 Jun 2025 - 3:33PM

SCMP Highlights

Philippines’ ‘mole people’, 1 survivor in Air India crash: 7 Asia highlightsFrom plight of homeless living underground to man walking away from Air India crash, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

17 Jun 2025 - 12:17PM

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