Malaysia

Malaysian social media have reacted negatively to the impending return of Chinese visitors, with the public considering the possibilities of a revival of Covid-19 – fueled by potential new varieties – undermining the fragile economic recovery. Since China abandoned its zero-Covid policy in December, the virus has spread throughout the country’s vast population, whose vaccination rates are inconsistent. On Sunday, …

At his first news conference as Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim pledged to protect the constitutionally mandated special rights of the Malay majority and the status of Islam. Upon being confirmed as prime minister during the May 2018 elections, Mahathir Mohamad also pledged to preserve Malay and Muslim interests. Despite their stark contrasts, the two Malay political heroes followed a …

Malaysia announced on Friday that it will check all incoming tourists for fever and test the wastewater from planes arriving from China for COVID-19 as part of new steps to avoid an epidemic in response to China’s decision to relax its zero-tolerance COVID policy. Minister Zaliha Mustafa stated in a statement that the Ministry of Health is implementing precautionary measures …

Anthony Loke, Malaysia’s Transport Minister, has asked domestic airlines to fix or lower their costs for the approaching holiday season in order to better serve the public. Wednesday (Dec. 28) at an event at the AirAsia headquarters, the budget airline said that it will operate additional flights at fixed rates to accommodate rising demand during the forthcoming holiday season. From …

As we go towards 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will encounter formidable obstacles as he navigates the country’s economy. With his vast expertise and intelligence, Anwar is the ideal choice to guide us through the obstacles that will arise when the world economy enters challenging times. The forecasts for the coming year are not favorable. According to the International Monetary …

Donald Pang, a camping aficionado, had intended to go camping in Johor this month with three friends, but postponed the trip due to Malaysia’s continuing monsoon season, which has caused devastating floods and landslides in several regions. The 59-year-old marketing professional told CNA on Wednesday, “If you’re on high ground, you might not be flooded, but you might have landslides.” …

The confidence motion of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was carried by parliament on Monday, December 19, securing essential support for his government after last month’s election produced an unprecedented hung parliament. Anwar called parliament to demonstrate his majority when Muhyiddin Yassin, his opponent and former prime minister, cast doubt on his support. The confidence motion was approved by a …

The search for the remaining 12 campers buried by a catastrophic landslide in Malaysia on Friday, December 16, at an unregistered campground resumed for a second day, but heavy nighttime rains hindered the effort, officials said. At least 21 people, including five children, were killed when a landslide tore down tents in Batang Kali, a popular highland location approximately 50 …

After a landslide struck a campground in Selangor state early on Friday morning, the Malaysian fire service reported that two persons had killed and 51 were still missing. Search operations are underway. The landslide in Selangor state, on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, occurred at around 3 a.m. (1900 GMT) on the side of a road near a …

With worries that some of the Rohingya have already passed away from starvation and dehydration, calls are growing for Malaysia’s authorities to permit the safe disembarkation of those who are stranded on a boat within its waters. On November 25, a boat leaving from Cox’s Bazar in southeast Bangladesh carried 160 individuals, including 120 women and children. Since Bangladesh welcomed …