DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Malaysia cuts prison sentence of disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Malaysia has cut former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 12-year prison sentence for corruption in half, according to authorities in the Southeast Asian country. Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was found guilty of money laundering, abuse of power and other charges in 2020 related to the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money embezzled out of Malaysia. In a statement Friday, the country’s Federal Territories Pardon Board said the former leader’s application to shorten his prison sentence to six years had been approved. The 1MDB fund was created soon after Najib took office in 2009. Goldman Sachs, which underwrote much of the 1MDB fund and was facing a host of criminal and regulatory proceedings in Malaysia, agreed to a $3.9 billion settlement with the country’s government in 2020.

Persons: Najib Razak’s, Najib, 1MDB, Goldman Sachs Organizations: CNN, United Locations: Malaysia, Territories, United States

☆ Malaysia Pardons Board Halves Jail Sentence of Jailed Ex-Pm Najib
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian pardons board on Friday said it has decided to halve the jail sentence of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft and money laundering related to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail term, will be released in August 2028 and fines imposed on him reduced to 50 million ringgit ($10.59 million) from 210 million ringgit, the board's secretariat said in a statement. Najib was jailed for graft linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), from which U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate $4.5 billion was stolen and more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to the former premier. ($1 = 4.7220 ringgit)(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty)

Persons: Najib Razak, Najib, Rozanna Latiff, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Malaysian, 1Malaysia Development Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

☆ Malaysia halves jail sentence of ex-prime minister Najib
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Najib Razak, Malaysia's former prime minister, gestures as he leaves the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Malaysia, on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. The board, chaired by Malaysia's king, did not give a reason for halving Najib's sentence. It said if Najib failed to pay the fine given, an additional year would be imposed on his jail term. Malaysia's king plays a largely ceremonial role but can pardon convicted people among discretionary powers granted by the federal constitution. The pardons board, which advises the king, includes the attorney-general and government officials.

Persons: Najib Razak, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Najib, Malaysia's, Jho Low, Al, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, Sultan Abdullah, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Organizations: United National Malays Organisation, 1Malaysia Development, Saudi Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Johor .

☆ Malaysia Cabinet Discusses Najib Pardon Bid, but Won't Announce Outcome - Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

It will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on immigration and labour issues, which was packed with media seeking news on Najib's clemency bid. Najib requested a royal pardon shortly after beginning his sentence in 2022 and after exhausting all other appeals. Najib's lawyer and representatives, as well as Malaysia's attorney-general, a member of the pardons board, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. "Let us not jump the gun, let us wait for an official statement to be made," Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said at a separate press briefing. U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate around $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to Najib.

Persons: Danial Azhar, Najib Razak, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Najib, Prime Minister's Department Zaliha Mustafa, Najib's, Fahmi Fadzil, Jho Low, Nooryana Najwa Najib, pensively, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, 1Malaysia Development, Prime Minister's Department, Communications, Saudi Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

Hadri and Umar on Thursday began their defence after being accused of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Sirul was arrested on an Interpol notice and has been held in an Australian immigration detention centre since January 2015, after fleeing Malaysia shortly before the verdict was handed down. His release comes just days after a landmark ruling by Australia's High Court that outlawed indefinite immigration detention, leading to the release of dozens of asylum seekers. Malaysia's top police official Razarudin Husain confirmed news of Sirul's release from Australian detention and said police would discuss with the Attorney-General and the courts the possibility of seeking extradition. Sirul was serving as a member of Najib’s personal security detail at the time of the murder.

Persons: Azilah Hadri, Sirul Azhar Umar, Hadri, Umar, Bazuki Muhammad, Najib Razak, Sirul, Razarudin Husain, Sirul’s, Najib, Praveen Menon, Rozanna, Lincoln Organizations: Thursday, Mongolian, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Attorney, Thomson Locations: Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian, Australia, Malaysia, Canberra, Malaysia’s, Sydney

☆ Jailed Malaysia ex-PM Najib discharged from hospital after testing negative for COVID-19 - spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to journalists outside the Federal Court during a court break, in Putrajaya, Malaysia August 23, 2022. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been discharged from hospital and returned to prison after testing negative for COVID-19, a spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. Najib, 70, is serving a 12-year prison sentence after being found guilty of graft and money laundering in a case related to a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal. He was admitted to hospital last week after testing positive for COVID-19. Reporting by Rozanna LatiffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Najib Razak, Lai Seng, Najib, Rozanna Organizations: Malaysian, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Putrajaya, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian

☆ Jailed former Malaysian PM Najib in hospital with COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak attends a news conference at the Federal Court in Putrajaya, Malaysia August 16, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Malaysia's jailed former prime minister Najib Razak has been admitted to a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, his spokesperson said on Thursday. Najib, 70, is in stable condition and is undergoing quarantine and treatment at the hospital, his aide, Muhamad Mukhlis Maghribi, said. U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate some $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB - co-founded by Najib during his first year as prime minister in 2009 - and that more than $1 billion went to accounts linked to Najib. Since then, Najib has been in and out of hospital for several issues, including stomach ulcers and high blood pressure.

Persons: Najib Razak, Hasnoor Hussain, Malaysia's, Najib, Muhamad Mukhlis Maghribi, Rozanna Latiff, Robert Birsel Organizations: Malaysian, Federal, REUTERS, 1Malaysia Development, Thomson Locations: Putrajaya, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR

☆ Malaysia does not agree with Western pressure to condemn Hamas - PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he delivers his speech during his visit at the Malacanang palace, in Manila, Philippines, March 1, 2023. Aaron Favila/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia does not agree with Western pressure to condemn Palestinian militant group Hamas, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday, amid widespread outrage over this month's deadly attack on southern Israel. Western and European countries have repeatedly asked Malaysia to condemn Hamas in meetings, Anwar said, without providing details. "As such, we don't agree with their pressuring attitude, as Hamas too won in Gaza freely through elections and Gazans chose them to lead." Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2013 defied Israel's blockade on Gaza, crossing into the Palestinian enclave following an invitation from Hamas.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Aaron Favila, Anwar, Gazans, Najib Razak, Rozanna Latiff, Martin Petty Organizations: Malaysian, Hamas, Israel, Former Malaysian, Israel's, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Israel, Gaza

☆ Explainer: Goldman Sachs and its role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The logo for Goldman Sachs is seen on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. 1MDB was a sovereign fund set up in 2009 with the help of Malaysian financier Jho Low to promote economic development. The United States has said the 1MDB case was its largest ever kleptocracy investigation. Low, a fugitive, has been charged in Malaysia and the United States over his central role in the case. Goldman has been investigated by regulators in at least 14 countries for its role in underwriting the 1MDB bond issues.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Andrew Kelly, Najib Razak, Goldman, 1MDB, Jho Low, Najib, Low, GOLDMAN, Tim Leissner, Roger Ng, Goldman's, Anwar Ibrahim, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Goldman Sachs, Malaysia, Malaysian, 1Malaysia, U.S . Department of Justice, The United, DoJ, United Malays National Organisation, GOLDMAN, London Court, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, KUALA LUMPUR, The United States, Malaysia, United States, China, Beijing, MALAYSIA, Malaysian

☆ Goldman Sachs sues Malaysia as discord over 1MDB settlement escalates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Men walk past a 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the funds flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur March 1, 2015. REUTERS/Olivia Harris/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 11 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group (GS.N) is suing Malaysia in a UK court, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as tensions escalate over a settlement linked to its role in the 1MDB investment-fund scandal. The arbitration has been filed with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the source said. In 2020, Goldman Sachs had agreed to pay $3.9 billion to settle Malaysia's criminal probe over the U.S. investment bank's role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. The United States has been returning funds it has recovered from seized assets that were allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB money.

Persons: Olivia Harris, Goldman Sachs, Najib Razak, Goldman, Samrhitha, Shinjini Organizations: Malaysia Development Berhad, Tun, Exchange, REUTERS, Goldman Sachs, London Court, International, Government, Reuters, Malaysian, Prosecutors, United, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, U.S, United States, Bengaluru

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends the 26th ASEAN-China Summit at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 6, 2023. Hassan Karim, a lawmaker from Anwar's People's Justice Party, said he felt "let down" by the premier, whom he described as a close friend. The AGC has said it dropped charges against Ahmad Zahid to review new evidence, and reiterated that its decisions were made independently. On Saturday, around 1,000 people turned up at a protest in Kuala Lumpur organised by Malaysia's opposition, calling for Ahmad Zahid to be prosecuted and chanting "reforms are dead." Najib has sought a royal pardon over his conviction and requested other charges that he faces to be reviewed.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Yasuyoshi, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Najib Razak, Hassan Karim, Ahmad Zahid, Najib, MUDA, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Ahmad Zahid's, Wong Chin Huat, Wong, Rozanna Latiff, Danial Azhar, Hasnoor Hussain, Kim Coghill Organizations: Malaysia's, China, ASEAN Summit, 1Malaysia Development, People's Justice Party, Reuters, United Malays National Organisation, Malaysia's Sunway University, Thomson Locations: ASEAN, Jakarta, Indonesia, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Malaysia fails to appeal ex-PM Najib's acquittal in 1MDB audit tampering case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to journalists outside the Federal Court during a court break, in Putrajaya, Malaysia August 23, 2022. Najib, 70, is serving a 12-year jail sentence for another corruption case linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The attorney-general's chambers was expected to appeal Najib's acquittal earlier this year of a charge of abusing his position as prime minister to amend a government audit into 1MDB . But Najib's lawyers at Shafee & Co said in a statement, "the prosecution evidently found no grounds for appeal" and did not file the petition. Anwar has maintained that the move to drop the case, which triggered a widespread public backlash, was made without his interference.

Persons: Najib Razak, Lai Seng, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Najib, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, REUTERS, 1Malaysia Development, Shafee, U.S . Justice Department, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, Thomson Locations: Putrajaya, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, 1MDB

Najib is serving a 12-year prison sentence for graft linked to the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB and faces more bribery charges. Ahmad Zahid had pleaded not guilty to all charges, and UMNO said he was a victim of political persecution. Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, a lawyer for Ahmad Zahid, said his team will ask the court for a full acquittal. The UMNO was voted out for power for the first time in Malaysia's history in 2018 due to widespread anger over corruption allegations against Najib and Ahmad Zahid. Despite the corruption charges, Anwar appointed Ahmad Zahid to the second-highest office in the country.

Persons: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Ahmad Zahid's, Najib Razak, Najib, Ahmad Zahid, General's Chambers, Bernama, Zahid, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Rozanna Latiff, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Ahmad Zahid's United Malays National Organisation, UMNO, Court, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR

☆ Malaysia PM vows to recover Goldman Sachs 1MDB settlement, warns of possible lawsuits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesMalaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to recover the money Malaysians are owed from the 1MDB money laundering scandal, and says he hasn't ruled out the possibility of a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs. Anwar said Malaysian agencies were still in talks with Goldman Sachs, though ongoing discussions are "a bit complex." Asked to comment on Anwar's interview, Goldman Sachs referred CNBC to its second quarter earnings statement. It remains to be seen what would come out of the standoff between Malaysia and Goldman Sachs. "No one can deny the fact that Goldman Sachs was used, and partly used the authorities," Anwar said in his interview.

Persons: Malaysia's, Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's King, hasn't, Goldman Sachs, Anwar, CNBC's Martin Soong, Goldman, Muhyiddin Yassin, I've, —, Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Malaysia's, Anwar's Pakatan, Najib Razak, Muhyiddin, Islam that's Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Malaysia's, 1Malaysia, Malaysia, CNBC, of, Malaysian, Barisan Nasional, Barisan, Perikatan Nasional coalition, Islamic, Malay Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malaysia, Malaysian, Anwar Ibrahim Malaysia, U.S, of Malaysia, United States, Malay, Federal

☆ Ex-aide to 1MDB fugitive Jho Low dies weeks after questioning
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Reuters) - A former aide to Malaysian fugitive Jho Low - wanted for his central role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB corruption scandal - has died weeks after being questioned by Malaysian authorities on Low's whereabouts, his lawyers said on Wednesday. He was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on arrival and had his house searched, media reported. Malaysian authorities have previously said Low was believed to be in China, though Beijing has denied that. Low has been charged in Malaysia and the United States for allegedly masterminding the theft of $4.5 billion from now-defunct fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who co-founded 1MDB, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last year for graft linked to the scandal.

Persons: Jho, Kee Kok Thiam, Valen, Kee, Al Jazeera, Al, Low, Najib Razak, Hasnoor Hussain, Rozanna Latiff, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Partners, Malaysian Anti, Corruption, 1Malaysia Development, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian, U.S, Malaysia, Macau, 1MDB, China, Al Jazeera, Beijing, United States

☆ Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib loses final bid to review graft conviction
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Reuters) - Malaysia's top court on Friday dismissed a bid by jailed former prime minister Najib Razak to review his corruption conviction over the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, ending Najib's judicial efforts to challenge the guilty verdict. Najib was jailed last year after Malaysia's Federal Court upheld a guilty verdict and 12-year prison sentence handed down to him by a lower court. Federal Court Judge Vernon Ong said a five-member panel voted 4-1 to dismiss Najib's application to review the conviction. Najib faces three other trials related to graft at 1MDB and other government agencies. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Jailed former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak loses final bid to review graft conviction
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak (C) greets supporters as he walks out during a break in the trial during an appeal against his corruption conviction over the 1MDB financial scandal, at the federal court in Putrajaya, on Aug. 23, 2022. Malaysia's top court on Friday dismissed a bid by jailed former prime minister Najib Razak to review his corruption conviction over the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, ending Najib's judicial efforts to challenge the guilty verdict. Najib was jailed last year after Malaysia's Federal Court upheld a guilty verdict and 12-year prison sentence handed down to him by a lower court. Federal Court Judge Vernon Ong said a five-member panel voted 4-1 to dismiss Najib's application to review the conviction. "In the final analysis, and having regard to all circumstances, we are constrained to say that the applicant (Najib) was the author of his own misfortunes," Ong said.

NEW YORK, March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday ordered former Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) banker Roger Ng to forfeit $35.1 million, after sentencing him to 10 years in prison for helping loot billions of dollars from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Jho Low, a Malaysian financier and suspected mastermind of the scheme, was also indicted but remains at large. Goldman settled with authorities in October 2020, agreeing to pay $2.9 billion and having its Malaysian unit plead guilty to a corruption charge. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is serving a 12-year prison sentence after being convicted in a Malaysian court of receiving $10 million from a former 1MDB unit. Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ex-Goldman banker sentenced to 10 years prison in 1MDB corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak is serving a 12-year prison sentence after being convicted by a Malaysian court of receiving $10 million from a former 1MDB unit. He spent six months in a Malaysian prison before waiving his right to contest extradition to the United States in 2018. He pleaded guilty and testified against Ng as part of a cooperation agreement. Malaysian officials have said Low is in China, which Beijing denies. In October 2020, Goldman agreed to pay $2.9 billion and its Malaysian unit pleaded guilty to a corruption charge.

☆ Ex-Goldman banker Ng sentenced to 10 years prison in 1MDB corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Former Malaysia PM Najib cleared of audit tampering in 1MDB graft scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - A Malaysian court on Friday acquitted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak of audit tampering in one of the many cases he faces over a multi-billion corruption scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The acquittal comes amid renewed scrutiny on government graft under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose administration had to partner with Najib's corruption-tainted party to form a government late last year. Friday's acquittal was on a charge of abusing his position as prime minister to amend a government audit into 1MDB. The fund's former chief executive Arul Kandasamy was charged with abetting Najib and was also cleared and both had pleaded not guilty. Najib faces three more cases related to corruption at various government entities and 1MDB, a fund he co-founded in 2009.

☆ Prison was 'brutal and distressing' says ex-Goldman Sachs banker who was locked up in Malaysia over the 1MDB scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US authorities convicted an ex-Goldman Sachs banker of bribery and money laundering in the 1MDB scandal. Ng, who also spent time in a Malaysian prison, said conditions were "brutal and distressing." "Six months in the Malaysian prison had a devastating effect mentally and physically," Ng wrote in his letter. The Malaysian Prison Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. In 2020, the former leader was sentenced to 12 years in prison for breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering in connection with 1MDB.

☆ Abu Dhabi's IPIC and Aabar to pay Malaysia $1.8 bln to settle 1MDB dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) and its unit Aabar Investments PJS have agreed to pay $1.8 billion to settle a legal dispute over the scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB, Malaysia's finance ministry said on Monday. Malaysia in 2018 had filed a challenge in a London court against a settlement agreement between 1MDB and IPIC that had been negotiated a year earlier during the premiership of former leader Najib Razak. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail last year after being found guilty in a 1MDB-related corruption case. In its challenge, Malaysia had argued that the 2017 settlement was procured by fraud. Malaysia's 1MDB is the subject of corruption and money-laundering investigations in at least six countries.

☆ Analysis: Gains for Malaysia's hardline Islamist party a challenge for new PM Anwar
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] A pillion waves a Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) flag on the eve of Malaysia's general election at Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia November 18, 2022. Anwar, who is ethnic Malay and Muslim, addressed race and religion in his first news conference as prime minister, promising to uphold Islam as the official religion of the country and the rights of the ethnic Malay majority, while also safeguarding the rights of all. Race and religion are thorny issues in Malaysia, where Muslim ethnic Malays form a majority in a country with significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities, most of them Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. As the biggest party in parliament, PAS could push for Islamisation and more affirmative action for Malays - a long-standing policy that Anwar has opposed, analysts said. "They see PAS as a clean party and its political leaders have no integrity problems," said Mohd Izani.

☆ Reformist Anwar finally becomes Malaysia's prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tambun, Perak, Malaysia November 4, 2022. The political uncertainty came to an end on Thursday, as Malaysia's king appointed Anwar, 75, to be prime minister. His strained relationship with the veteran leader shaped Anwar's own career, as well as Malaysia's political landscape, for nearly three decades. FRIEND & FOEAnwar started off as a firebrand Islamic youth leader before joining the prime minister Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the Barisan Nasional alliance. With the people's vote and the king's choice, he finally became prime minister.

Search resuls for: "Najib Razak"

25 mentions found