Politics

22 September 2025
Traffic in Kuala Lumpur's business district: Under the fuel new scheme, Malaysian citizens will be entitled to 300 liters per month at the subsidized price, with exemptions for ride-hailing drivers
People play games at the Tokyo Game Show in Chiba prefecture on Sept. 26, 2024. This year's edition will feature over 1,100 exhibitors -- the largest number ever. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential race, ASEAN economy meeting, Tokyo Game Show

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

21 September 2025
Malaysian military personnel undergo training from Japanese counterparts in how to use drones that will be donated to the Southeast Asian nation as part of Tokyo's Official Security Assistance program 
Politics

Japan to donate ships, drones to Malaysia under security assistance program

Move is part of Tokyo's efforts to counter Chinese activity in South China Sea

15 September 2025
Supporters of Pakatan Harapan, a multi-ethnic coalition led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, shout slogans and wave flags during Malaysia's general election in 2022. The coalition has become a target of growing attacks from ethno-religious influencers. 
Politics

Ethnic friction spikes in Malaysia, casts shadow over politics

TikTok and Instagram 'dog whistle' videos cause trepidation as Anwar weighs elections

3 September 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during May's ASEAN summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Norman Goh)
International relations

Anwar looks to October ASEAN summit to emphasize Malaysia's global presence

Bloc's chair hopes meetings will be 'veritable assembly' of world powers

30 August 2025
Ships crowd in waters off Singapore, where piracy and armed robbery have surged this year. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Crime

Piracy and armed robbery quadruples in Strait of Malacca region

Congestion slows ships as Mideast tensions push more traffic through Southeast Asia chokepoint

20 August 2025
A supporter of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak holds a fan printed with Najib's image outside the Federal Court, where his case is being heard, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Aug. 13.
Politics

Malaysia's top court clears way for Najib to seek house arrest

Stage set for test of imprisoned former prime minister's royal order claim

14 August 2025
The franchisees of U.S. chains like Starbucks in Malaysia and Indonesia are emphasizing their local owners, workers and suppliers as they suffer losses from anti-Israel boycotts. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Consumer

Boycott-hit US brands in Malaysia and Indonesia scramble to reverse losses

Embattled local franchisees see some customers returning but face lasting effects

14 August 2025
Cambodian Defense Minister General Tea Seiha, left, and Thai Acting Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit speak to reporters separately after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the border dispute. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Thailand-Cambodia conflict

Thailand, Cambodia agree to let ASEAN teams monitor ceasefire

Southeast Asian neighbors conclude talks, with plan to hold next meeting within a month

7 August 2025
King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand inspects a guard of honor during a parade in Bangkok. Thai soldiers swear their oath of allegiance to the monarch rather than the government or the state.
Thailand-Cambodia conflict

Thailand and Cambodia: a tale of two armies

While coups are common in Thailand, Cambodia marches to a different beat

30 July 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announces cash handouts and other measures in a televised speech on July 23. (Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)
Politics

Malaysia's Anwar unveils $500m in aid to address cost-of-living concerns

Every adult to receive 100 ringgit; government also announces lower gas prices

23 July 2025
Stream article image
18 July 2025
Trump-supporting author Nick Adams, whom the U.S. president has nominated to be his next ambassador to Malaysia. His right-wing views have prompted criticism in the Southeast Asian nation.
International relations

Trump's pick for Malaysia envoy triggers controversy

Ex-Australian right-wing commentator Nick Adams has history of Islamophobia

15 July 2025
Soldiers patrol Tak Bai town in Narathiwat province in Thailand's deep south region. Independent monitors say over 7,700 people have been killed in separatist-related violence since 2004. (Photo by Getty Images)
International relations

Violence in Thailand's deep south likely to escalate, separatist warns

Suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra makes talks hard to convene

15 July 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, meets with Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Philippines' Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro at a trilateral meeting during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur on July 10. The bloc attracted numerous high-level diplomats to its annual forum. 
International relations

ASEAN asserts global role as internal rifts cloud regional unity

Major powers rally around bloc but challenges present credibility tests

14 July 2025
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, left, talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' Post-Ministerial Conference in Kuala Lumpur on July 10. (Photo by Norman Goh)
International relations

ASEAN, China deepen relations amid US tariffs and global trade tensions

New pact cements Beijing ties as Washington seeks to bolster regional links

10 July 2025
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during an interview in Tokyo on May 30. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Politics

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir turns 100

Country's longest-serving PM says milestone birthday is just a 'normal day'

10 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on July 8: Rubio will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur on July 10.
International relations

Rubio to meet Russia's Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur, US official says

Foreign ministers will talk over Ukraine war as Trump frustrated by Putin

10 July 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 9. (Photo by Norman Goh)
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar warns tariffs now used to 'pressure, isolate' others

He says levies become 'sharpened instruments of rivalry' at ASEAN meeting

9 July 2025
Six ASEAN economies were among the first 14 countries named by U.S. President Donald Trump to face high "reciprocal" tariffs. (Source photo by Reuters and 123rf)
Trump tariffs

ASEAN countries reel from Trump's fresh tariff threats

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia face renewed US trade levies on Aug. 1

8 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy is set to be a key agenda item during ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings this week. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
International relations

ASEAN hosts key regional meetings as Trump announces new tariffs

Rubio to make first Asia trip as foreign ministers discuss critical issues

8 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump released the first batch of letters on July 7 informing countries of the tariff rates their exports to the U.S. will face, starting Aug. 1.
Trump tariffs

Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia

Myanmar and Laos see 40% rate, among slew of levies to take effect Aug. 1

8 July 2025
Used in food products ranging from cooking oil to margarine to instant noodles, palm oil is the most consumed vegetable oil and remains particularly popular in Asian markets such as Indonesia, India and China.
Trading Asia

Palm oil markets roiled by biofuel rules and geopolitical shocks

Indonesia's domestic use tightens supply; Malaysia seeks new markets in response to volatility

7 July 2025
 Melexis opened its largest wafer testing site worldwide in Kuching, in the east Malaysian state of Sarawak, covering around 4,500 sq. meters. (Photo courtesy of Melexis)
Technology

Chipmaker Melexis bets on Malaysia's 'neutrality' to power China growth

Building parallel supply chains in China and Malaysia to hedge geopolitical risk

24 June 2025
A Japanese Mogami-class frigate. Tokyo is set to increase its budget for defense assistance. (Photo by Shinnosuke Nagatomi)
Defense

Japan doubles security aid recipients, adding Sri Lanka, Thailand

5 Indo-Pacific nations to join eligibility list as China concerns grow

21 June 2025
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto makes a point during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on June 19.
International relations

Indonesia, Malaysia seek engagement with Russia as Putin eyes allies

Prabowo and Anwar have both visited Russia as part of a multi-polar foreign policy

20 June 2025
Indonesia has approved a $1.5 billion economic aid package that will provide cash handouts and rice.
Economy

Indonesia to hand out cash, rice as Southeast Asia girds for US tariffs

Thailand and Malaysia also ready assistance as 90-day pause is set to expire

11 June 2025
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called China a "threat" at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31. The Chinese defense chief skipped the event but the foreign ministry accused Washington of "stoking flames."
Indo-Pacific

US pushes Asian allies, China defense chief absent: 5 Shangri-La takeaways

Hegseth urges bigger military spending, but Southeast Asia questions Trump's tariffs

2 June 2025
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad discusses China's power, U.S. tariffs and other issues at the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 30. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
The Future of Asia 2025

Mahathir says China will be 'No. 1 country in the world'

Malaysia's 99-year-old former PM predicts Trump will drop enemy-making tariffs

30 May 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures during a news conference after the inaugural ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council-China summit in Kuala Lumpur this week. (Photo by Norman Goh)
International relations

Analysts query impact as ASEAN-Gulf-China summit breaks new ground

Region weighs symbolism against strategy in world of shifting alliances

29 May 2025