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☆ 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.

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☆ The CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail, went from selling snacks as a child to running a fleet of airplanes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Captain Izham Ismail started flying for Malaysia Airlines in 1979 and became its CEO in 2017. Yet despite coming from such a modest background, Ismail went on to become a pilot and then run Malaysia Airlines, one of the world's oldest carriers. Ismail started flying for Malaysia Airlines in 1979, became a captain and a decade later was selected for its senior management training scheme. After running one of its regional carriers and becoming group chief operating officer, Ismail was elevated to CEO of Malaysia Airlines in 2017. Malaysia Airlines has 11,000 staff, down from 35,000 two decades ago, and flies to almost 50 destinations, mostly in Asia, with 106 aircraft that are all leased.

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KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia plans to introduce a second 5G network from next year, four sources told Reuters, in the latest policy shake-up aimed at dismantling monopolies and promoting competition by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's six-month-old administration. A recommendation by major carriers for a second 5G provider was rejected by the previous government in March last year. Fahmi also said last week 5G network coverage had reached 55% in populated areas. It was not clear how the proposal for a second 5G network would affect DNB's existing agreements with its development partner Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson (ERICb.ST), and other mobile operators. U Mobile later joined other telco firms in signing up to access DNB's 5G network.

BATU PAHAT, Malaysia, March 4 (Reuters) - Flooding resulting from days of torrential rain has forced almost 40,000 people to flee their homes in Malaysia's southern Johor state, bordering Singapore, and at least four people have died during the past week, officials said on Saturday. Authorities have set up more than 200 relief shelters for people displaced by the floods, the national disaster management agency said. Floods in Malaysia are common during the annual monsoon season between October and March, but the downpour this week left many Johor residents scrambling to find shelter. While Johor was worst-hit, there was flooding in other states too that displaced hundreds of people. The meteorological department warned of more rain in coming days, mostly in the southern states.

☆ Most Gulf markets open lower on weak oil prices, rate-hike bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf markets opened lower on Monday, tracking Asian peers and weaker oil prices, as fears of further rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve dampened investors' risk appetite. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index (.TASI) fell 0.2%, extending losses to a seventh consecutive session. The Qatari Stock index (.QSI) eased 0.1%, dragged down by losses in financial stocks. Bucking the trend, Dubai's benchmark index (.DFMGI) rose 0.4%, lifted by gains in property and banking shares. ($1 = 3.7519 riyals)Reporting by Shamsuddin Mohd in Bengaluru; editing by Eileen SorengOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Banks, real estate shares weigh on Saudi; insurer lifts Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Major stock markets in the Gulf ended mixed on Sunday, with Saudi Arabia's index pressured by real estate and banking shares, but a 10% surge in Qatar Insurance (QINS.QA) lifted the Qatari index. Among other stocks, Saudi Tadawul Group fell 4.7% after its annual profit declined more than 27% to 424.6 million riyals ($113.17 million). Middle East Healthcare (4009.SE) jumped 10% after its annual profit soared more than 300% compared to a year earlier. The Qatari Stock index (.QSI) rose 0.7%, ending three consecutive sessions of losses, buoyed by its financial stocks. The insurer on Wednesday hit a more than 13-year low after reporting a consolidated net loss of 637 million riyals ($174.14 million) for fiscal year 2022, compared to a profit of 630 million riyals ($172.23 million) a year earlier.

☆ Malaysia Q4 GDP up 7% on year earlier, above forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Malaysia's economy in the fourth quarter grew 7% from a year earlier on continued expansion in domestic demand and resilient demand for electrical and electronics goods, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said on Friday. Gross domestic product (GDP) for all of 2022 had been 8.7% higher than in 2021, she said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the central bank to report October-December GDP 6.6% higher than in the same period of 2021, slowing from the 14.2% annual growth seen in the third quarter. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Malaysia posts stronger-than-expected GDP in fourth quarter; global slowdown clouds outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The headquarters of Bank Negara Malaysia, the nation's central bank, stand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, March 4, 2010. The central bank has said it expects growth in full-year GDP to moderate to between 4% and 5% in 2023, amid a global slowdown. It added that did not discount the possibility of growth in 2023 being higher than expected, despite downside risks. "Malaysia will not go into a recession," Nor Shamsiah told reporters, adding that income was growing and investment numbers remained strong. The bank expected that over the course of 2023 headline and core inflation would moderate but remain elevated, she said.

☆ Malaysia central bank to hike rates to 3.00% on Thursday: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Sujith Pai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) became in May last year one of the first Asian central banks to hike rates in the current cycle and has added a cumulative 100 basis points. Median forecasts in the poll showed inflation to average 3.0% this year, an upgrade from the 2.8% predicted in October. All but one of 27 economists in the Jan. 10-16 Reuters poll forecast the central bank to hike its overnight policy rate (MYINTR=ECI) to 3.00%, where it was before the pandemic, at its meeting on Jan. 19. While a slim majority of respondents, 13 of 24, expected rates to still be 3.00% at end-March, 10 of them had a 3.25% forecast. Nearly 60% of economists, 14 of 24, expected rates to reach 3.25% or above by end-June, a quarter point higher from a November poll.

☆ Saudi, Qatar ends higher as China scraps COVID curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Saudi and Qatari stock markets finished higher on Sunday after China scrapped COVID curbs, bolstering expectations of a demand recovery in the world's second-largest economy, while Egypt and UAE markets were closed. Meanwhile world's top crude exporter, Saudi Arabia, lowered prices for the Arab light crude it sells to Asia to its lowest since November 2021 amid the global pressures hitting oil. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) edged up 0.1% led by a 2.6% jump in state-owned mining company Saudi Arabian Mining Co(Ma'aden) (1211.SE). The benchmark stock index in Qatar (.QSI) gained 1.4%, supported by its Industrial and financial stocks as petrochemical maker Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) jumped 3.1% while lender Masraf Al Rayan (MARK.QA) was up 2.5%. ($1 = 3.6580 Qatar riyals)($1 = 3.7580 riyals)Reporting by Shamsuddin Mohd in Bengaluru, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Most major Gulf stock markets fall on hawkish Fed, Egypt extends rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index (.TASI) closed flat, as losses in energy and financial shares were capped by gains in real estate stocks. In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index (.FTFADGI) declined 0.3%, as the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD) eased 0.6% while fertiliser maker Fertiglobe (FERTIGLOBE.AD) tumbled 2.4%. Alpha Dhabi (ALPHADHABI.AD) and Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment plan to deploy up to 9 billion dirhams ($2.45 billion) in credit markets through a new joint venture, the companies said. Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Thursday it would allocate $15 billion to decarbonisation projects by 2030. The benchmark stock index in Qatar (.QSI) jumped 2.8% to close the week with a gain of 4.3%.

☆ Gulf equities ring in new year on mixed note as oil, recession worries weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Major Gulf stock markets were mixed on Monday, coming off gains in 2022 for most, as investors braced for the new year with worries about a potential recession, crude demand and the U.S. Fed hiking rates further. A Reuters poll showed on Friday that of 30 economists and analysts forecast Brent crude would average $89.37 a barrel in 2023, about 4.6% lower than the $93.65 consensus in a November survey. Abu Dhabi's index (.FTFADGI) added 0.3%, bolstered by a 1.6% increase in AD Ports Group (ADPORTS.AD) and a 2.4% hike in Multiply Group (MULTIPLY.AD). The benchmark was 2022's best performer among the other peers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries finishing the year with a more than 20% gain, after hitting an all-time high in early November in 2022. In Qatar, the benchmark (.QSI) was also up 0.3%, supported by its financial stocks but Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) retreated 0.2% with Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) falling 0.8% and oil behemoth and index heavyweight Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) easing 0.5%.

☆ Gulf shares start new year in upbeat mood, Egypt outperforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf equities got off to a good 2023 start on Monday, with Egypt outperforming regional peers, as investors shrugged off concerns about a potential recession, crude oil demand and the U.S. Fed hiking rates further. Crude prices, which are highly correlated with Gulf financial markets, swung wildly in 2022 and are expected to remain under pressure in 2023. Abu Dhabi's index (.FTFADGI) advanced 0.4% on Monday, bolstered by a 0.6% increase in the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD). The Qatari index last year posted its first annual loss since 2017, dropping 8.1% in 2022. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) closed 2.5% higher, with Commercial International Bank Egypt (COMI.CA) climbing 3.1% while Abu Qir Fertilizers And Chemical Industries (ABUK.CA) was up 5.2%.

☆ Saudi shares make positive start to 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market rose on Sunday, starting 2023 on a positive note in line with the country's economic forecast, while region's other major markets were closed and many investors absent because of year-end holidays. The kingdom approved a 1.114 trillion riyal ($296.39 billion)- budget for 2023, forecasting a surplus at 0.4% of gross domestic product, down from an expected 2.6% in 2022. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) rose 0.7%, with oil behemoth and index heavyweight Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) increasing 0.9% and Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services (4013.SE) advancing 1%. In Oman, the stock index (.MSX30) gained 0.8% as Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) (ALBH.BH) jumped 3.8% while Bahrain Telecommunications (Batelco) (BTEL.BH) was up 3.2%. read more($1 = 3.7585 riyals)Reporting by Shamsuddin Mohd in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Of the 94 people caught in the landslide, 61 were safe and nine still missing, the Selangor state fire and rescue department said. Hulu Selangor police chief Suffian Abdullah said police have questioned the operator and two workers of the campsite at Father's Organic Farm. [1/2] A rescuer crew member pats a sniffer dog being used to aid in the search for victims of the landslide in Batang Kali, Selangor, Malaysia, December 17, 2022. Flooding is also common, with about 21,000 people displaced last year by torrential rain in seven states. Reporting by Mei Mei Chu amd Yuddy Cahya Budiman; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Most Gulf markets retreat on Fed rate woes, oil price slump
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 11 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf equities eased on Sunday on falling oil prices amid supply woes and uncertainty over a price cap on Russian oil, while the Egypt index fell on price corrections. "Also oil prices could witness further downtrend this week as recession fears may fuel demand concerns, with European price cap on Russian oil remaining a source of uncertainty," added Mourad. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell 1.1%, with oil behemoth and index heavyweight Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) sliding 1.8% and Luxury real estate developer Retal Urban Development Company (4322.SE) losing 0.7%. However, Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) and ACWA Power (2082.SE) jumped 2% and 4.4% respectively. (IQCD.QA)Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) also eased 1.7%, ending eight straight days of gains.

☆ Egypt's index outperforms regional peers; Saudi extends losses
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Egypt's blue-chip index outperformed regional peers to close higher on Sunday, while Saudi and Qatari stocks slipped on weakness in the financial and petrochemical sectors. They could fall further this week after OPEC+ agreed to stick to its oil output targets on Sunday but volatility is likely to continue after G7 countries and Australia also agreed a price cap on Russian oil. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell 0.9%, with Sabic Agri-Nutrients (2020.SE) down 4.2% and Sulaiman al-Habib Medical Services (4013.SE) 1.2% lower. Separately, Saudi oil behemoth Aramco's (2222.SE) base oil subsidiary Luberef announced its IPO price range between 91 and 99 riyals each. In Qatar, the index (.QSI) finished flat, as gains in energy stocks were partially offset by losses in financial stocks.

☆ Saudi, Qatar indexes extend losses on weak oil, Egypt up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Qatar stock markets closed lower on Sunday, as uncertainties in oil prices amid Chinese COVID-19 curbs and haggling over a cap on Russian oil prices, weighed on investors' sentiments, although Egypt rose, bucking the trend. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell 1.3%, with Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) retreating 1.2%, while Sabic Agri-Nutrients (2020.SE) was down 3.9%. Separately, Saudi oil behemoth Aramco's (2222.SE) base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has received the approval from the kingdom's stock market regulator for an initial public offering, the Capital Market Authority said on Thursday. The Qatari index (.QSI) also dropped 1.1%, extending losses from previous session, led by its financial stocks with Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) and Commercial Bank Qatar (COMB.QA) plunging 1.9% and 2.1% respectively. "Egyptian stock market, supported by the large trading volumes by local investors, continue to maintain its strong performance" added Takieddine.

☆ Malaysia's new prime minister Anwar Ibrahim vows to unify the country and fight corruption
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowNew prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to make "Malaysia for all Malaysians," fight corruption and reiterated that he won't be taking a salary as Malaysians battle rising costs of living. International relationsCongratulations poured in from leaders from all over the world including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim takes his first press conference after being appointed prime minister. Perikatan Nasional won 73 seats and was runner-up to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan which won 82 seats. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim swron in by Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Thursday Mohd Rasfan | Afp | Getty Images

☆ 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.

☆ 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.

☆ Gulf bourses slide on Fed rate hike prospects; Egypt edges up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf fell on Sunday with fears about sharp U.S. interest rate hikes and the prospect of weaker oil demand weighing on sentiment. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell 0.8%, pressured by banking stocks, with Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) down 1.2% and Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) dropping 1.7%. The Qatari index (.QSI) also dropped 0.8%, extending losses to five sessions in a row, with financials and industrial stocks leading the losses. Qatari conglomerate Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) lost 1.6% while Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA) was down 1.2%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) edged up 0.1% for a sixth session of gains, with Elsewedy Electric (SWDY.CA) advancing 2.7%.

☆ Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir loses seat in first election defeat in 53 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia's veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad suffered his first election defeat in 53 years on Saturday in a blow that could mark the end of a seven-decade political career. Mahathir, 97, who served as Malaysia's prime minister for more than two decades in two stints, failed to retain his parliamentary seat in the Langkawi island constituency, coming in fourth in a five-cornered fight. The seat was won by Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, a candidate from the Perikatan alliance, which is led by another former prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin. It was Mahathir's first election loss since 1969. Mahathir leads a coalition that has vowed to take down the incumbent Barisan Nasional government over corruption allegations.

☆ UAE equities rose On IPO plan, oil prices gain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Stock markets in United Arab Emirates closed higher on Friday as rising oil prices and IPO plan boosted investor sentiment in the region. UAE schools operator Taaleem Holdings priced its initial public offering at 3 dirhams ($0.8168) a share, the top end of a range announced last week. The market in neighbouring Abu Dhabi also been cheering as it got support from Middle East KFC operator Americana's IPO plan after it increased the offering size for UAE retail investors to 10% from 5%. Dubai's stock market could see some support from the successful IPOs which helped attract investors’ interest. The dynamic IPO scene could help keep the market around or above current levels, said Daniel Takieddine, CEO MENA at BDSwiss.

☆ Malaysia Q3 GDP up 14.2% y/y, beats forecast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia's economy grew 14.2% from a year earlier in the third quarter, boosted by rising domestic demand and robust exports, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said on Friday. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected gross domestic product to jump 11.7% in the July-September period, accelerating from the 8.9% annual growth seen in the second quarter. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da CostaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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