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☆ Malaysia seeks proposals to revive high-speed rail project with Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia on Tuesday said it was seeking proposals from private firms to develop a high-speed railway between its capital Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring Singapore, reviving a multi-billion-dollar project called off more than two years ago. Malaysia and Singapore had cancelled a plan to build a 350-kilometre (217-mile) rail line connecting the two countries after they failed to agree on several proposed changes to the project. MyHSR invited local and international firms and consortia to submit proposals. Singapore indicated last year the country is open to fresh proposals from Malaysia on the project, according to media. Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi in Kuala Lumpur, Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: MyHSR, Chen Lin, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: MyHSR Corp, Speed, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Europe, Malaysian

☆ Malaysia to take legal action against Meta over harmful content
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Friday it will take legal action against Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O) for failing to remove "undesirable" posts, the strongest measure the country has taken to date over such content. It said Meta had failed to take sufficient action despite its repeated requests and that legal action was necessary to promote accountability for cybersecurity and to protect consumers. Asked what legal action it might take, the commission said in an emailed statement on Saturday that allowing abuse of network facilities or application services can be offences under Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Facebook is Malaysia's biggest social media platform, with an estimated 60% of the country's 33 million people having a registered account. Globally, big social media firms that include Meta, Google's YouTube and TikTok are often under regulatory scrutiny over content posted on their platforms.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim's, Meta, Miyoung Kim, Edwina Gibbs, William Mallard Organizations: Facebook, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Malaysia's Communications, Multimedia, Malay Muslim, Meta, YouTube, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Malay, Vietnam, Indonesia

☆ Malaysia to take legal action against Meta, says harmful content not removed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities said on Friday they will take legal action against Facebook parent company Meta Platforms (META.O) for failing to remove "undesirable" content on the social media platform. Facebook has recently seen a significant volume of undesirable content relating to race, royalty, religion, defamation, impersonation, online gambling and scam advertisements, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said in a statement. It also said Meta had failed to take sufficient action despite its repeated requests and that legal action was necessary to promote "accountability for cybersecurity" and for "enhancing consumer protection". The commission also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what legal action might be taken. Big social media firms such as Meta, Google's YouTube and TikTok are often under regulatory scrutiny over content posted on their platforms.

Persons: Meta, Kim, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Facebook, Meta, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, YouTube, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Vietnam, Indonesia

☆ Malaysia wins appeal against partial award in $15 bln claim by sultan's heirs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The win for Malaysia implies the final award will be annulled and the descendants' efforts to seize Malaysian assets will end, the government said. The Filipino heirs of the last Sultan of Sulu won a $14.9-billion award in a French arbitration court last year in a long-running dispute over the deal, after a partial award was first issued in May 2020. The Paris Court of Appeal found the case arbitrator had wrongly upheld his jurisdiction, Malaysia said on Tuesday. The heirs say they were not involved in the incursion and sought arbitration over the suspension of payments. In recent months, Malaysia has stepped up efforts to protect itself from the arbitration award, including filing police complaints against one of the claimants' lawyers.

Persons: Azalina Othman Said, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Malaysia, Appeal, United, Independent Malaysia, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sulu, France, United Nations, Philippines, Borneo

☆ 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

"These workers are at high risk of forced labour and severe destitution," said independent labour activist Andy Hall, whose team has been in contact with the migrant workers. The International Labour Organisation ranks deception, along with debt bondage stemming from the large recruitment fee, and passport seizure among its indicators of 'forced labour'. Two of Sivakumar's aides were arrested by anti-graft authorities this month over an investigation into recruitment of foreign workers. Malaysia has faced accusations of forced labour in manufacturing and palm oil production over the years, including some by the United States, which banned imports from several of its firms for such practices. A Bangladeshi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters there were a "few hundred" of its citizens stuck in Malaysia without jobs.

☆ Malaysia slams 'unjust' EU deforestation law for blocking palm oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia on Thursday said it was disappointed over a European Union law banning imports of commodities linked to deforestation, fearing a hit to its exports of palm oil to the bloc. The law will apply to soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, rubber, charcoal, and derived products including leather, chocolate and furniture. Malaysia said the law was a "deliberate effort" to increase costs and barriers for its palm oil sector -- a key source of export revenue for the Southeast Asian country. Smallholders account for 26%, or around 1.5 million hectares of oil palm planted area in Malaysia. Globally, more than seven million smallholders cultivate palm oil for a living and rely on the commodity to escape poverty.

☆ Malaysia says it will protect its rights in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Saturday it was firmly committed to protecting its sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea after China expressed concern about Malaysian energy projects in a part of the sea that China also claims. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday China was worried about activity by the state energy firm Petronas in a part of the South China Sea that Malaysia says is its territory. "The government of Malaysia is unequivocally and firmly committed to protecting Malaysia's sovereignty, sovereign rights and interests in its maritime areas in the South China Sea," the ministry said. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually. Anwar said this week Petronas would continue its activities in the South China Sea.

☆ Malaysia says Beijing concerned about its energy projects in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday said Beijing has expressed concerns about energy activities by Malaysian state firm Petronas in the South China Sea, even though Kuala Lumpur believes the projects are in its territory. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually. China was worried that "Petronas has carried out a major activity at an area that is also claimed by China," Anwar said, responding to a parliamentary question about his discussions on the South China Sea during his visit to China last week. China claims its territory via a "nine-dash line" on its maps, which cuts into the EEZs of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Malaysia's foreign ministry will issue a protest note if there were "collisions" between Malaysian and Chinese vessels there, Anwar said.

☆ 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.

☆ Malaysia says its banks have limited exposure to Silicon Valley Bank crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Reuters) - Malaysia's government on Wednesday said the country's banks have limited exposure to Silicon Valley Bank that collapsed last week in the United States, triggering fear of contagion. "Based on an assessment by authorities in Malaysia, the exposure of local banks to this crisis in the United States is minimal and limited," Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim said in parliament. Regular stress tests are carried out within the banking system to ensure Malaysia is prepared to withstand any market pressure, Sim said. Silicon Valley Bank collapsed on Friday in the biggest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Ed Davies and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin charged with abuse of power, money laundering
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Reuters) - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged on Friday with abuse of power and money laundering over projects launched under his premiership, accusations that he said were politically motivated. Muhyuddin, who led the country for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, becomes the second Malaysian leader to be charged with crimes after losing power. At a Kuala Lumpur sessions court, the former premier was charged with four counts of abuse of power involving 232.5 million ringgit ($51.40 million), and two counts of money laundering involving 195 million ringgitMuhyiddin pleaded not guilty to all six charges and has previously said the charges were "political persecution" of the opposition. The former premier faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty on the money laundering charge, and up to 20 years for the abuse of power charge. Prime Minister Anwar said he has not interfered in graft investigations involving Muhyiddin and left it to law enforcement agencies.

☆ Malaysia's ex-PM Muhyiddin summoned to anti-graft agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Reuters) - Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he has been summoned to appear the offices of the country's anti-graft agency on Thursday. In a Facebook post, Muhyiddin also denied a news report that he was arrested on Wednesday. Muhyiddin did not say why he has been called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Muhyiddin was prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021. Muhyiddin has denied the accusations, describing them as political vendetta.

☆ Exclusive: After $15 billion award, sultan's heirs target Malaysian properties in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Paris properties are only the third set of Malaysian assets that the heirs have publicly acknowledged going after. On Monday, French bailiffs attempted to evaluate the three properties in preparation of a sale, the lawyers said. A Malaysian law ministry spokesperson said the bailiffs appeared at the Malaysian embassy in Paris but were turned away. "To the extent that Malaysians blocked entry to the bailiffs, they are in open defiance of a French court order," Cohen said. The Malaysian government and the French court, the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Electric vehicle maker Tesla to open office in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowKUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Reuters) - Malaysia on Wednesday said electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) will open an office in the Southeast Asian country and establish a network of charging stations for its cars. Tesla's application to import battery-run EVs into Malaysia has been approved, and the company will also open showrooms and services centres, Malaysia's trade ministry said in a statement. The U.S. firm's presence in Malaysia is expected to create skilled jobs and increase participation of local companies in the Tesla ecosystem, the ministry said. Malaysia did not say when Tesla would open an office. Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Malaysia's Anwar eyes smaller deficit in first budget, tightens spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Anwar, in the report, said he will launch measures to strengthen the governance of public finances, and gradually reduce Malaysia's debt. Malaysia had earlier forecast 2023 growth at 4%-5%. Government expenditure this year is expected to total 386.1 billion ringgit ($87.11 billion), lower than last year's preliminary spending estimate of 395.2 billion ringgit. Revenue is expected to drop to 291.5 billion ringgit from 294.4 billion ringgit. State oil company Petronas (PETR.UL) is expected to pay the government a dividend of 40 billion ringgit, higher than the previous government's projection of 35 billion ringgit.

President Joko Widodo has pulled out all the stops to convince CEO Elon Musk to manufacture electric vehicles or batteries in the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago. "The Indonesian government is building a whole value chain for servicing electric vehicle factories," said Victor Chin, principal consultant at metal consultancy firm CRU. Musk's goal is to sell 20 million electric vehicles in 2030, more than a 15-fold increase over the 1.3 million vehicles Tesla sold in 2022. Jokowi did not give a timeline for the exports growth but said Indonesia was aiming to establish an integrated supply chain for electric vehicle batteries by 2027. In other moves, Indonesia will also ban exports of copper ore and bauxite in June, both of which are used in electric vehicle production.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. customs authorities said palm oil products made by Sime Darby Plantation <SIPL.KL> were no longer produced with forced labour, in a sign that a two-year import ban on the Malaysian firm will soon be lifted. Goods made by Sime Darby Plantation, the world's largest palm oil company by land size, have been blocked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from entering the United States since December 2020 over suspected abusive labour practices. Sime Darby said it was aware of the U.S. notice. Shares of Sime Darby Plantation eased 0.5% on Friday morning. Sime Darby Plantation is among eight Malaysian firms that have been banned by the United States in the past four years over forced labour allegations.

To secure egg supplies as prices rose to record highs, Malaysia's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu visited Namakkal, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where several leading hatcheries are based. India shipped 5 million eggs to Malaysia in December, and will ship 10 million in January and up to 15 million in February, according Kumar. The imports from India have helped Malaysia bring prices down from the record highs seen in late December. Having suffered a shortfall of 157 million eggs in November, the market gap was down to just one million in December, the Malaysian minister said in a statement earlier this week. Meantime, prices in India have shot up to a record 565 rupees ($6.96) per 100 eggs.

☆ Malaysia surprises by holding rates as economic risks loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bank Negara Malaysia held the overnight policy rate at 2.75%. "Today's decision allows the monetary policy committee to assess the impact of the cumulative past overnight policy rate (OPR) adjustments, given the lag effects of monetary policy on the economy," Bank Negara Malaysia said in a statement. Future monetary policy moves would depend on both domestic inflation and the growth outlook, it said. The central bank has said growth in 2022 likely surpassed the government's 6.5%-7% forecast, but would drop to 4%-5% this year. Capital Economics said it now expects the Malaysian central bank to hold interest rates unchanged for the rest of the year, and begin cutting in 2024.

☆ Malaysia to review plans for 5G network - PM Anwar
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday his administration will review a plan for a state-owned 5G network introduced by a previous government, as it was not formulated transparently. Under the premiership of Muhyiddin Yassin in 2021, Malaysia unveiled a plan for a state-owned agency to own all 5G spectrum, with various carriers using the infrastructure to provide mobile services. The 5G plans will be evaluated to ensure they strictly followed procedures, Anwar said at a news conference following his first cabinet meeting. His government has defended the 5G plan, saying it will reduce costs, improve efficiency and accelerate infrastructure development. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ New PM Anwar says Malaysia to review plans for 5G network
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday his administration will review a plan for a state-owned 5G network introduced by a previous government, as it was not formulated transparently. The single-ownership of the 5G spectrum raised concerns from the country's major carriers over pricing, transparency and monopoly. Anwar said the 5G plans would be evaluated to ensure they strictly followed procedures, alleging that there had been "no proper tender process", without specifying details. Muhyiddin's government previously defended the 5G plan, saying it will reduce costs, improve efficiency and accelerate infrastructure development. Anwar was appointed premier by the king last month, after the election resulted in an unprecedented hung parliament.

☆ Malaysia PM Anwar eyes targeted subsidies for low-income groups
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Malaysia is reviewing its government subsidies programme, aiming to direct money toward low-income groups, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday, prioritising the rising cost of living as he takes office at a time of slowing growth. Government agencies have two weeks to review the implications of narrowing the subsidies, he told a news conference. Malaysia offers subsidies to all citizens, with fuel and cooking oil accounting for the biggest expense. Malaysia is estimated to spend a record 77.7 billion ringgit ($17.4 billion) this year on subsidies. Anwar said on Friday he would have a smaller cabinet than those of previous administrations.

☆ Malaysia's Anwar begins work as PM after polarising election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greets his supporters as he leaves his news conference in Sungai Long, Selangor, Malaysia November 24, 2022. Office of Anwar Ibrahim/Afiq Hambali/Handout via REUTERSKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim is expected to start discussions on forming his cabinet on Friday as he begins work as prime minister at a challenging time, with the economy slowing and the country deeply split after a close election. Anwar, who was appointed by Malaysia's king following an inconclusive election, said that the people of Malaysia had long been awaiting change. Both men's coalitions failed to win a majority in Saturday's election, but Malaysia's constitutional monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, appointed Anwar after speaking to several lawmakers. Markets surged on Thursday on the end of political deadlock, but investors will be monitoring how Anwar manages the aftermath of the election.

☆ 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.

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