Topic
22 articles
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged to do everything possible to reintegrate Myanmar into ASEAN after talks with President Min Aung Hlaing during his first foreign trip since taking office in April. The two leaders also discussed the repatriation of Myanmar nationals, though Anwar faces criticism from rights groups over the returns and over legitimizing Min Aung Hlaing's presidency.
Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing has arrived in Malaysia for talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as Kuala Lumpur pushes to repatriate thousands of Myanmar nationals despite warnings from the UN and human rights groups. The two-day visit is his first to Malaysia since the 2021 coup.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament that about 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been deported since January, despite safety warnings from human rights groups and UNHCR. He also confirmed Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing will visit Kuala Lumpur in the coming days as rights monitors raise alarm over the returns.
Malaysia has deported nearly 1,500 Myanmar refugees and migrants back to their conflict-ridden homeland despite UN warnings that conditions are unsafe and that returnees could not be verified as going voluntarily. The move is part of a phased repatriation of 5,000 people, with more than 10,300 others still held in Malaysian immigration detention centres.
Malaysia's Hungry Ghost Festival, held during the seventh lunar month starting mid-August, is a time when the living prepare offerings and spaces for ancestral spirits. Communal rituals, opera performances, and traditional arts honor the dead while strengthening community ties.
Malaysia will begin the first phase of a voluntary repatriation program for at least 1,500 Myanmar refugees on September 29, despite safety warnings from human rights groups. The move follows an agreement with Myanmar's military junta to accept 5,000 Rohingya, amid growing tensions in Malaysian communities.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been charged with failing to fully declare assets, marking him as the third former premier to face criminal charges after leaving office. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of 300,000 ringgit, with the case adjourned until September 29.
Malaysia is intensifying its drive to attract both domestic and foreign investment in data centers, leveraging surging global demand driven by the rise of artificial intelligence. With favorable geography, improved telecom infrastructure, and supportive policies, the country aims to emerge as a key Southeast Asian hub and rival regional leaders like Singapore.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's remarks describing Taiwan as part of China have sparked debate about whether the country is shifting away from its traditional neutral stance. While Beijing praised the comments, Taiwan warned of negative impacts on business confidence. Analysts suggest the remarks may be more about domestic defense concerns and diplomatic pragmatism than a strategic pivot.
