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

Brics

Rio mounts major security operation for Brics summitAbout 20,000 military personnel to guard leaders, fighter jets to patrol skies.

4 hours ago

Asean

Can Rubio’s Asia tour ease region’s anxiety over looming US tariffs?

3 Jul 2025 - 5:02PMvideocam

Singapore

‘3 is better than 2’: could Indonesia have a role in Johor-Singapore trade zone?

3 Jul 2025 - 11:00PM

Indonesia

Tour bus collides with trucks in Malaysia, killing 2 IndonesiansSixteen people were also injured in the crash near the town of Ayer Hitam, Johor.

3 Jul 2025 - 1:02PM

Singapore

Sabah bribery scandal: Singapore firm comes under Malaysian scrutiny‘I’m just an anchovy. What about the sharks?’ whistle-blower Albert Tei asks after he is charged.

3 Jul 2025 - 3:37PM

Brics

Questions loom at Brics Rio summit about group’s effectivenessEmerging economy leaders gather amid geopolitical tensions, frayed Washington alliances under Trump trade policy.

3 Jul 2025 - 5:13AMvideocam

Indonesia

Indonesia and Malaysia set model for dispute resolution with Ambalat pactThe neighbours will jointly develop Ambalat despite their decades-long disagreement over ownership of the resource-rich sea block.

2 Jul 2025 - 6:00PM

Alibaba

Alibaba Cloud expands AI footprint with data centres in Malaysia, PhilippinesSoutheast Asia is a key market for China’s Big Tech firms and a battleground for US-China AI rivalry.

2 Jul 2025 - 2:16PM

Anwar Ibrahim

‘Something is rotten’: concerns mount over Malaysia’s judicial vacuumThe DAP, a key ruling party, has made a last-minute appeal to the prime minister to grant a six-month extension, citing public confidence.

2 Jul 2025 - 3:52PM

Asean

Opinion | Myanmar crisis demands Asean rethink on regional diplomacyAsean must match the people’s demands for justice, dignity and freedom with nothing less than bold, principled leadership.

2 Jul 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Singapore

Standard Chartered in Singapore faces US$2.7 billion lawsuit linked to 1MDBMalaysian liquidators are suing Standard Chartered in Singapore, claiming the bank ignored red flags and suspicious transfers, a claim the bank strongly denies.

1 Jul 2025 - 5:41PMvideocam

Australia

Australian politician may go blind in 1 eye after pro-Palestinian protestHannah Thomas was among about 60 people who had protested against an Australian company for supplying parts to Israel’s military.

1 Jul 2025 - 5:02PMvideocam

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia faces judicial void as chief justice set to retire without successorLegal experts warn that the leadership vacuum could erode judicial independence and public trust.

1 Jul 2025 - 3:29PMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore motorists face on-the-spot fines as Malaysia enforces permitsJohor’s transport officers have set up a roadblock at the immigration checkpoint and issued fines to errant motorists.

1 Jul 2025 - 3:37PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

India’s newlywed killer brides, Singapore’s NTU and AI: 7 Asia highlightsFrom Indian killer brides to Malaysia’s first ethnic Chinese lieutenant general, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

1 Jul 2025 - 1:11PM

US-China trade war

Why China sees US trade deals with partners as a threat – and how it could reactAs Washington’s deadline looms, Beijing warns nations not to cut deals that hurt its interests – but how will it respond if ignored?

1 Jul 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

Energy

Soft soil caused Malaysia’s huge gas pipeline fire: authoritiesA high-level special committee will be formed to ensure sufficient measures are in place to prevent the incident from recurring.

30 Jun 2025 - 7:56PMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand and Cambodia tensions escalate as Hun Sen targets PaetongtarnThe Cambodian strongman’s heated tirade is a ‘calculated’ move to boost local support while deflecting international scrutiny, analysts say.

30 Jun 2025 - 6:07PMvideocam

Chinese EV battery firm Eve eyes second Malaysia plantThe US$1.2 billion facility, revealed weeks after company’s Hong Kong listing plan, will make batteries for energy-storage systems.

30 Jun 2025 - 7:12PM

Corruption in Asia

Malaysian corruption scandal: Sabah lawmakers, whistle-blower plead not guiltyAssemblymen Yusof Yacob and Andi Suryady Bandy are charged with accepting bribes from businessman Albert Tei, who filmed their interactions.

30 Jun 2025 - 3:25PMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore’s green power hits record high – yet still under 3% of energy mixGas-fired power plants still account for roughly 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity generation, though renewable imports are rising.

30 Jun 2025 - 8:42AM

The Philippines

‘Small wins don’t hide the truth’: Philippine tourism slumps amid Asean’s boomFilipinos are lamenting their nation’s seventh-place regional tourism ranking, pointing fingers at poor infrastructure and inaccessibility.

30 Jun 2025 - 3:26PMvideocam

Asean

My Take | Southeast Asia increasingly finds China more reliable and predictableDespite increasing pressure from Washington and its Nato allies, Asean countries – even the fence-sitters – are not tilting back towards the West.

29 Jun 2025 - 9:00PM

India

After the crash, can Air India’s leadership shake-up rebuild trust?Tata Group’s Natarajan Chandrasekaran has personally assumed command of Air India, leading a Herculean effort to restore passenger confidence.

29 Jun 2025 - 3:30PMvideocam

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia chases US$1 billion in global assets linked to late tycoon DaimMalaysia’s anti-corruption agency said it will work with foreign authorities to obtain more information such as the source of funds.

29 Jun 2025 - 10:36AM

Censorship in China

Palace intrigue conquers global screens: has China cast its new soft power?As overseas fans binge on Chinese hit streaming shows, slick productions could boost country’s image on the global stage, experts say.

29 Jun 2025 - 6:36AMvideocam

Asean

Asian Angle | Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?The surprising truth behind the growing partnership lies in its people-to-people connections, remittances, the haj and financial mobility.

28 Jun 2025 - 12:00PMvideocam

Cambodia

Letters | Cambodia is committed to peace on the borderReaders discuss the rules-based order in Southeast Asia, how to build Asean’s power, and the Israel-Iran ceasefire.

28 Jun 2025 - 11:30AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

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

References