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☆ Polls open as Malaysia begins decisive state elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsPolls open as Malaysia begins decisive state electionsPostedPolling stations on Saturday (August 12) opened in Malaysia’s Selangor, one of six states to undergo crucial regional polls, and the first major test of public support for prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration since it took power last year.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim's Organizations: Malaysia Locations: Malaysia’s Selangor

☆ Jho Low could create a new world of 1MDB pain: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The fugitive at the centre of Malaysia’s sovereign fund scandal, is in China. In this Exchange podcast Billion Dollar Whale co-author Bradley Hope explains why Beijing may soon give him up and how his return could be difficult for all involved, from global banks to celebrities. Listen to the podcastFollow @ugalani on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews' podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Pranav KiranOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Bradley Hope, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, China, Beijing

☆ The 1975: Malaysia's LGBTQ community slams Matty Healy's onstage kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But for many in Malaysia’s LGBTQ community, it was quite the opposite. Advocates say Islamic laws have increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s LGBTQ community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing. Participants in a Womens Day March asking for greater rights in gender equality and recognition of the LGBTQ community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 12, 2023. Just last year, Rose had helped organize a Halloween party attended by many members of the LGBTQ community – which was raided by the police, who detained a number of participants, she said. That’s not to say international musicians can’t speak up about LGBTQ rights in Malaysia.

Persons: Matty Healy, Ross MacDonald, Healy’s, Healy, MacDonald, ”, Carmen Rose, “, he’s, Thilaga Sulathireh, Rose, Zahim Mohd, NurPhoto, Sulathireh, That’s, can’t, Talitha Tan, “ Malaysia’s, ” Rose, Selena Gomez Organizations: CNN, ” CNN, Sisters, Womens, Coldplay, Malaysian Islamic Locations: British, Malaysia, Kuala, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian, Indonesia, Taiwan, Jakarta, Taipei, ”, Rose, Asia

☆ Singapore’s clean reputation gets a timely test
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, July 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Singapore could turn a governance crisis into an opportunity. Its transport minister S. Iswaran and Ong Beng Seng, the property billionaire credited with bringing Formula One to the city, were arrested and released on bail last week. The rare high-profile probe involving a public official by the hub’s anti-graft agency is a timely test of the Asian centre’s willingness to act tough on corruption. It's been six days since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed the investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the exact details remain unclear. S. Iswaran and businessman Ong Beng Seng were arrested on July 11 and subsequently released on bail, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said.

Persons: Ong Beng Seng, It's, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, Ong, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Formula, Practices, Beijing, DBS, Hotel Properties, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Asia, Hong Kong, COMO

☆ Malaysia to take legal action against Meta over ‘undesirable’ content
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Malaysia said Friday it would take legal action against Facebook parent company Meta for failing to remove “undesirable” posts, the strongest measure the country has taken to date over such content. It also said Meta had failed to take sufficient action despite the body’s repeated requests and that legal action was necessary to promote accountability for cybersecurity and protect consumers. The commission also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what legal action might be taken. Facebook is Malaysia’s biggest social media platform, with an estimated 60% of its population of 33 million having a registered account. Globally, big social media firms that include Meta, Google’s (GOOGL) YouTube, and TikTok are often under regulatory scrutiny over content posted on their platforms.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim’s, ”, Meta Organizations: Facebook, Meta, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Malay Muslim, YouTube Locations: Malaysia, Malay, Vietnam, Indonesia

☆ Malaysia investigating possible looting of World War II British shipwrecks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Police, the Malaysian Marine Department and the National Heritage Department would investigate to see if the shells are from World War II, according to the report. Authorities are investigating whether shells found on the ship are from World War II, Malaysian state media said. Murky lawSalvaging of sunken World War II wrecks around the Pacific is not a new problem. In 2017, Dutch, British and US authorities reported that naval vessels sunk in the World War II Battle of the Java Sea had been salvaged without permission. Steel from World War II shipwrecks can have special value because it is was produced before the first nuclear explosions on Earth.

☆ How a deadly bat virus found new ways to infect people
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

Scientists found bats with Nipah virus roosting near Sabith’s home. A search of the neighborhood led to a colony, near their house, of flying foxes, a common fruit bat. NETTING NIPAH: Researchers in Bangladesh use nets to catch bats and collect samples to find the Nipah virus in the wild. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainWhether Sabith ate contaminated fruit or somehow came into direct contact with a bat, the virus entered his cells. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainA year later, Chua’s team found the same strain of Nipah virus in flying foxes.

☆ EU, US warn Malaysia of security risk in Huawei's bid for 5G role - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - The European Union and U.S. have warned Malaysia over risks to national security and foreign investment as it finalises a review of its 5G rollout that could allow China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to bid for a role in its telecoms infrastructure, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Huawei had long been seen as the frontrunner for the contract, with the government having previously dismissed security concerns raised by the United States. "Allowing untrusted suppliers in any part of the network also subjects Malaysia’s infrastructure to national security risks." Huawei, the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the EU delegation to Malaysia and the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Digital did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. ($1 = 4.4570 ringgit)Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Palm oil prices have fallen some 49% from last year's record, but the tight supply means they are expected to stay above pre-pandemic levels. Another palm oil giant, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLKK.KL), told Reuters it plans to replant 10,000 hectares this year, up from a lower-than-usual 6,000 hectares in 2022. The scheme targeted replanting of 2.4 million hectares but only managed to replant around 278,000 hectares by February, partly due to land legality issues. We are ageing faster than we are replanting," Malaysia Palm Oil Association chief executive Joseph Tek told Reuters. In Malaysia, replanting costs doubled to around $4,500 per hectare after the pandemic inflated prices of fertiliser and labour.

☆ Temasek hospital deal channels its Dr Resilience
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, April 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Temasek is picking a good time to focus on health. The sovereign investor is taking control of Indian hospital operator Manipal for $2 billion. Others are on an Indian health drive too. Follow @anshumandaga on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSSingapore’s Temasek will buy an additional 41% stake in Manipal Health Enterprises, the unlisted Indian hospital chain said on April 10. After the deal closes, the Pai family’s Manipal Group will hold about 30% of Manipal Health.

☆ Around the world, charges are no barrier to high office
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Caolán Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But charges have often not been a barrier to holding political office. Israel’s Benjamin NetanyahuIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin, March 16, 2023. The prime minister is also currently facing a corruption trial, on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Lula has called the charges a “farce,” claiming the charges were politically motivated. Angelo Carconi/Associated PressThe flamboyant Italian tycoon was a serial prime minister until standing down in 2011.

Persons: Donald Trump, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sean Gallup, Netanyahu, Israel’s, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, Ulysses Guimarães, Andressa Anholete, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Argentina’s Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Luis Robayo, Fernández de Kirchner, ”, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim Malaysia's, Anwar Ibrahim, Arif Kartono, Anwar, –, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi, Angelo Carconi, Berlusconi Organizations: CNN, Trump, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Brazilian, Centro de, Petrobras, Getty, Alliance of Hope, Associated, Italy’s Senate Locations: Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli, Berlin, Brasilia, Brazil, America, La Plata, Argentina, AFP, Permatang, Malaysia's Penang, Malaysian, Malaysia, Rome, Italy, Italy’s

☆ Boao Forum: Li Qiang says China 'confident and capable' of hitting 2023 growth targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The forum often promotes itself as “Asian Davos” and Li is tasked with reviving the world’s second largest economy at a time of sluggish growth. China, he said, will roll out new measures to boost domestic consumption and increase market access for foreign business while ensuring the stability of the financial sector. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) Stringer/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Boao Forum for Asia has been held annually since 2001, but was suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic. But the problems have been exacerbated by the Communist Party’s erratic and draconian zero-Covid policy, which ended late last year, and a sweeping crackdown on private business. To boost business confidence, China’s new economic leadership is trying to reassure both foreign business and the domestic private sector.

☆ Middle East pivot to Asia is strategic this time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Xi Jinping has brokered a deal the United States would have found hard to secure, despite its traditional military influence in the Middle East. The Middle East has trained its financial sights on Asia before. At current rates of growth, emerging Asia will become the top trade partner for the Gulf countries by 2028, per Asia House, surpassing advanced economies. As U.S.-China relations continue to sour, the Asian financial centre is looking to the Middle East to find new foreign companies to trade in the territory. Delegations from the two Middle East countries held talks in Beijing between March 6 and 10, the statement added.

☆ 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.

☆ Gautam Adani’s woes were in banks' plain sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

MUMBAI, Feb 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Gautam Adani’s recent woes have vindicated persistent doubts in India about the tycoon’s rise. The Indian group dismisses those claims as a “malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations”. By contrast, other big Indian groups like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (DBKGn.DE) and those carrying the Tata name are more popular with institutional investors. Fee-hungry international banks were much less picky. Deutsche, Barclays and StanChart pocketed $57 million of the $260 million of investment banking revenue generated by the Adani group since Dealogic records began.

☆ Adani’s buy now, pay later fundraise could sting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG, Jan 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Gautam Adani is on a mission to win public acceptance for his eponymous group. The first stage of a $2.4 billion stock sale by his flagship Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) entity has won over anchor investors, including the well-regarded Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. They are picking up roughly $734 million of stock in India’s largest follow-on issue of new shares by a private sector company. But those of other Adani group companies including Adani Transmission (ADAI.NS) and some U.S. dollar bonds at Adani Green Energy (ADNA.NS) and Adani Ports (APSE.NS) sold off sharply. For Adani investors, buy now, pay later could take on an awkward new meaning.

☆ Ship sinks between South Korea and Japan; 9 remain unconscious
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

South Korean officials said nine of them remain unconscious, but they did not immediately confirm any deaths. They said the crew members would be airlifted to Japan for treatment. AFP - Getty ImagesAccording to South Korean and Japanese officials, 14 crew members are Chinese and eight are from Myanmar. South Korean officials didn’t immediately say whether the nine who were unconscious were likely to survive their injuries if they weren’t already dead. The Japanese coast guard said the water in the area remained rough and its temperature was around 14 degrees Celsius.

☆ Explainer: Why Malaysia is considering a ban on palm oil exports to the European Union
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Mei Mei Chu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It is not clear whether Malaysia is considering a direct ban on exports to the European Union or enacting tariffs. WHAT ABOUT MALAYSIAN PALM OIL EXPORTS TO EUROPE? Malaysian Palm Oil Board data indicates that exports to the 27-member bloc have been declining since 2015. WHERE ELSE CAN MALAYSIA PALM OIL EXPORTS GO? Several publicly-listed Malaysian palm oil companies, however, have established refineries in Europe and an export ban would disrupt their operations.

☆ Two dead, 51 missing after landslide hits campsite in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Two people died and 51 others were feared buried after a landslide hit a campsite outside Kuala Lumpur early Friday, Malaysia’s fire department said. A fire department official in central Selangor said 79 people were believed to have been at the campsite in Batang Kali, around 31 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, when the incident occurred. Three people were injured while rescuers were searching for the estimated 51 missing people, the official said. The scene of a landslide at a campsite in Malaysia. According to its website, there are three camping sites with facilities at the farm popular with locals and that people can bring their own tents and equipment or rent them from the farm.

☆ Macau Finally Draws a Winning Hand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Jacky Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

So far, the pandemic has mainly dealt Macau bad hands and really bad hands. But the latest shuffle of the deck has finally given the gambling hub some strong cards. Over the weekend, the Macau government granted the city’s six incumbent casino operators provisional licenses which would allow them to keep running their businesses for the next 10 years. An affiliate of Malaysia’s Genting Group unexpectedly joined the bidding for licenses in September but its last-minute gambit lost out eventually. Genting Group was always a long shot but the incumbents will breathe a sigh of relief now.

☆ Malaysia’s king names Anwar Ibrahim prime minister after inconclusive election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, capping a three-decade political journey from a protégé of veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad to protest leader, a prisoner convicted of sodomy and opposition leader. His appointment ends five days of unprecedented post-election crisis, but could usher in a new instability with his rival, former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, challenging him to prove his majority in Parliament. Both men failed to win a majority in a Saturday election, but the constitutional monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, appointed Anwar after speaking to several lawmakers. Anwar, 75, has time and again been denied the premiership despite getting within striking distance over the years: He was deputy prime minister in the 1990s and the official prime minister-in-waiting in 2018. Anwar’s coalition, known as Pakatan Harapan, won the most seats in Saturday’s vote with 82, while Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional bloc won 73.

☆ Anwar Ibrahim Becomes Malaysia’s Prime Minister After Tumultuous Political Journey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Feliz Solomon | Ying Xian Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister, capping his decadeslong quest for the top job and ending a scramble by opposing political coalitions to shore up support after elections last week failed to produce a clear winner. Mr. Anwar’s rise to the premiership comes after a tumultuous career in which he was imprisoned twice, then came close to the role a few years ago after teaming up with his mentor-turned-nemesis. His government will now have to contend with a divided electorate, a fragile economic recovery and the rise of an ultraconservative Islamist movement that allied with his rivals during the election.

☆ Anwar Ibrahim Appointed Malaysia’s Prime Minister After Tumultuous Political Journey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Feliz Solomon | Ying Xian Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is due to be sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister, capping his decadeslong quest for the top job and ending a scramble by opposing political coalitions to shore up support after elections last week failed to produce a clear winner. Mr. Anwar’s rise to the premiership comes after a tumultuous career in which he was imprisoned twice, then came close to the role a few years ago after teaming up with his mentor-turned-nemesis. His government will now have to contend with a divided electorate, a fragile economic recovery and the rise of an ultraconservative Islamist movement that allied with his rivals during the election.

☆ Malaysia’s Anwar becomes prime minister, ending decades-long wait
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, capping a three-decade political journey from a protege of veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad to protest leader, a prisoner convicted of sodomy, and opposition leader. Both men failed to win a majority in a Saturday election, but the constitutional monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, appointed Anwar after speaking to several lawmakers. Anwar was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister on Thursday, ending a political impasse. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesMalaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (right) appointed Anwar (left) after consulting with lawmakers. The decision on the prime minister came down to King Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, after both Anwar and Muhyiddin missed his Tuesday afternoon deadline to put together a ruling alliance.

☆ Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar seen leading tight race
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Malaysian Caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob stands in a line to vote during Malaysia's 15th general election in Bera, Pahang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan coalition and another bloc led by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin are other leading contenders. Muhyiddin’s alliance was a junior partner in Ismail’s coalition government, and the two could come together again to block Anwar. That was on par with turnout at the same time in the previous election in 2018, reflecting the increase in voters, political analyst Bridget Welsh told Reuters. Anwar was the top choice for prime minister at 33%, followed by Muhyiddin at 26% and Ismail at 17% in the Merdeka survey.

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