3 h. ago Why China may be better placed than US in tussle for rare earths

During his Southeast Asia trip in October, US President Donald Trump sealed deals with Malaysia and Thailand on the same day – both aimed at securing and diversifying America’s supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed to step up cooperation on building and expanding critical minerals supply chains, according to a White House statement. They also agreed to strengthen the security of critical minerals and rare earths supplies in...

Politics

38 h. ago ‘No longer contentious’: Malaysia to weigh Singapore’s water project plan

Malaysia said on Thursday that it would consider a proposal by Singapore to jointly develop water infrastructure in southern Johor, signalling the intention of both sides to move beyond decades of rancour over the vital resource. The two countries have for years disagreed over various issues related to water supply, ranging from prices to the interpretation of the 1962 water agreement signed by them. Malaysia has argued that Johor’s water is sold too cheaply to Singapore. With Johor experiencing...

Politics

3 d. ago Malaysia’s Anwar vows ‘no protection’ for close aides in corruption probes

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday vowed not to interfere in corruption investigations into his own political appointees, after a slew of allegations were levelled at close government aides. Last week, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, a senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, was implicated in a mining scandal in the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. Shamsul, who resigned from his post just hours after the revelation last Tuesday, is currently being held on remand by the...

Events

3 d. ago ‘Unconstitutional’: Mahathir reports PM Anwar to police over Trump trade deal

Mahathir Mohamad has lodged a police report against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) between Malaysia and the United States. According to Sinar Harian, the former prime minister claimed that Anwar’s actions were taken without the full mandate of the entities meant to represent the Federation of Malaysia. “The agreement is not valid because he [Anwar] is not the sole representative of the Federation. Such agreements should require the consent of four...

Events

4 d. ago Why Anwar faces uphill task to win back voters after Sabah election trouncing

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces a more complex political landscape ahead after his coalition was routed in Sabah’s polls, as analysts warn he would need to craft a compelling narrative to win over voters ahead of the next general election. Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition won a single seat of the 73 up for grabs in Saturday’s election, from his own Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a stinging rebuke to a government perceived to have failed to fix Sabah’s perennial problems, ranging from...

Politics

4 d. ago Anwar says Malaysia has clarified US pact to Beijing, stresses China remains ‘very important’ trading partner

Anwar says Malaysia has clarified US pact to Beijing, stresses China remains ‘very important’ trading partner  Malay Mail

Events

6 d. ago Malaysia’s Sabah begins voting as Anwar faces test over coalition’s performance

Voters in Sabah began casting their ballots on Saturday, in a state election seen as a referendum on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership midway into his first term. Anwar, who came to office in 2022 after pulling together a rag-tag coalition of former political rivals, depends on Sabah to prop up his parliamentary supermajority. His coalition has so far fended off the challenge of a Malay-nationalist opposition bloc and pushed through unpopular measures, including subsidy cuts to...

Events

6 d. ago Malaysia’s Sabah votes as Anwar faces test over coalition’s performance

Voters in Sabah are casting their ballots on Saturday, in a state election seen as a referendum on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership midway into his first term. Anwar, who came to office in 2022 after pulling together a rag-tag coalition of former political rivals, depends on Sabah to prop up his parliamentary supermajority. His coalition has so far fended off the challenge of a Malay-nationalist opposition bloc and pushed through unpopular measures, including subsidy cuts to...

Politics

6 d. ago Sabah election: uncertainty in Malaysian state as Anwar’s allies await results

Uncertainty hangs thick in the air in Malaysia’s Sabah state, as hundreds of candidates anxiously wait to find out if they made the cut in a fiercely fought state election that could determine the political future of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Saturday’s polls are widely seen as a decisive contest that could set the political trajectory for Anwar’s federal administration over the remainder of his term. Anything less than a strong mandate for his allies in the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led...

Politics

6 d. ago Sabah election: blow for Malaysian PM Anwar as key ally concedes defeat

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal coalition was dealt a disastrous blow in Malaysia’s Sabah state, where a key partner was completely wiped out in a state election seen as a referendum on his leadership. Saturday’s polls are widely seen as a decisive contest that could set the political trajectory for Anwar’s federal administration with just two years before a national election must be called by early 2028 at the latest. But even before the Election Commission...

Politics

6 d. ago Sabah polls: blow for Anwar as partner party shines, but key ally is wiped out

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal coalition was dealt a disastrous blow in Malaysia’s Sabah state, where a key partner was completely wiped out in a state election seen as a referendum on his leadership. Saturday’s polls were widely seen as a decisive contest that could set the political trajectory for Anwar’s federal administration with just two years before a national election must be called by early 2028 at the latest. Early on Sunday, the Election Commission...

Events

9 d. ago Malaysian PM’s war on corruption hits snag as top political secretary quits

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s war on corruption has suffered a setback after a senior aide resigned over graft claims, sparking a fresh crisis for the country’s leader, who is already facing accusations of power abuse that threaten to split his ruling party. Anti-corruption authorities have previously launched a high-profile crackdown against two-time former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, his family and close associates – all once seen as untouchables – as part of Anwar’s pledge to...

Events

2 w. ago Malaysia’s poorest state prepares a poll shock for the prime minister

A gentle breeze stirs the wooden houses of Sarang, a sleepy fishing village on Sabah’s northern coast, its tranquillity seemingly at odds with the mounting troubles facing the resource-rich yet persistently impoverished Malaysian state. For years, Sabahans have endured water shortages, power cuts and some of the lowest wages in the country. Each time the taps run dry or the lights flicker out, local fisherman Johan Toikin is reminded of the central government’s failure to fulfil the commitments...

Politics

3 w. ago Malaysia’s Anwar faces a tough fight as bellwether state Sabah closes ranks

Malaysia’s election season kicks into full gear this weekend, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration forced to juggle national interests and aspirations of autonomy in make-or-break state Sabah as sentiments of “Sabah for Sabahans” quickly gain ground. The November 29 election in Sabah, one of two states on Malaysian Borneo, is widely seen as a gauge of Anwar’s popularity beyond his strongholds in the peninsula and a potential indicator of how well he could do in his presumed...

Events