Page 2 - Malaysia

Campaigning formally kicks off for Malaysia's general elections

Campaigning for Malaysia's general elections formally started Saturday, in a highly competitive race that will see the world's longest-serving coalition seeking to regain its dominance four years after a shocking electoral loss. The Nov. 19 election will determine if Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front coalition, can make a strong comeback or whether political reformers can secure another surprise win that will see their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, achieve a long-held dream of becoming prime minister. Led by the United Malays National Organization, BN has ruled since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957. But anger over government corruption led to its defeat in 2018 polls to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope. The election victory sparked hopes of reforms as once-powerful UMNO leaders were jailed or hauled to court for graft, but it was short lived after defections caused the PH government to crumble in early 2020 and brought UMNO back to power. Scores of ...

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim appeals for poll victory

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim appealed to voters on Wednesday for another surprise victory when Malaysia goes to the polls later this month, as he faces challenges from a resurgence of ethnic Malay support for rival parties. Anwar's Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope, won a stunning victory in 2018 and aims to repeat its success on November 19. The victory was short lived after defections caused the government to collapse in early 2020 and brought back to power the Barisan Nasional coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation. Speaking at the launch of his alliance's election manifesto, Anwar said PH is more united now after being purged of members who were not committed to its reform agenda. To save this country from endless political turmoil and corruption, I appeal to the people to give their support so that PH can emerge with a clear majority in the upcoming election," he said. Anwar didn't participate in the 2018 vote because he was in prison on a sodomy .

Malaysia election set for November 19 amid fear of heavy rains, floods

Malaysia's Election Commission said on Thursday that national elections will be held on November 19, amid concerns that heavy rain and floods during the year-end monsoon season may deter voters. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on October 10 for early polls, ignoring protests from his government allies and the opposition for holding a vote in the monsoon season. Parliament's term expires in July 2023, but his United Malays National Organisation is feuding with allies in the ruling coalition and believes early voting is in its favour. UMNO is banking on a strong win on its own based on a return of support from ethnic Malays and a fragmented opposition before an expected economic softening next year. Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination date for candidates would be November 5, kicking off two weeks of official campaigning. He said 21.17 million voters will be casting their ballots. Three states will also hold local polls on Novem

In first election since 2018, will Malaysia's young voters use their power?

The dramatic ousting of the UMNO-led coalition, Barisan Nasional, four years ago was supposed to draw the line under identity politics and end the Malay nationalist par

At 97, Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad to contest in elections

Malaysia's 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad announced Tuesday he will defend his seat in the general elections expected next month, though he wouldn't say whether he would be prime minister a third time if his political alliance wins. We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only relevant if we win, Mahathir told a news conference. Though unlikely, he would be the oldest ever candidate for the post, which has a five-year term. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on Monday for snap polls, caving in to pressure from his United Malays National Organization party, which is hoping for a big win on its own amid feuds with allies in the ruling coalition. The Election Commission is due to fix a date within the week for a vote, which must be held within 60 days of Parliament's dissolution. Despite his nonagenarian status and a health scare this year, Mahathir said he will defend his parliamentary seat in Langkawi ..

Indian-origin banker issued prohibition in 1MDB scandal of ex-Malaysian PM

An Indian-origin banker has been issued a 10-year prohibition order and a 24-month conditional warning for his failure to report a suspicious transaction involving the jailed Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's infamous company 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Raj Sriram, the former deputy CEO and head of private banking of BSI Bank Limited's Singapore branch (BSIS), was issued the prohibition and warned on Monday to report the suspicious transaction, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement. The prohibition order, which took effect on Monday, was issued by MAS, while the conditional warning was given by the SPF's Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), reported Channel News Asia. The prohibition order bans Sriram from "providing any financial advisory service or taking part in the management of, acting as a director of, or becoming a substantial shareholder of any financial advisory firm under the Financial Advisers Act"

Malaysian PM Ismail Yaakob dissolves Parliament, calls for early elections

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Parliament will be dissolved on Monday, paving the way for general elections that are expected to be held in early November. The elections would come nine months before Parliament's term expires, following calls for early polls from Ismail's United Malays National Organisation. UMNO, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was feuding with its allies and is aiming for a big win on its own. The Election Commission is expected to meet within the week to announce a date for the vote, which is likely to be held before the year-end monsoon season that often brings devastating floods.

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, 97, hospitalised with Covid-19

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 97, was hospitalised on Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19, his office said. Mahathir has been admitted to the National Heart Institute for observation for a few days as advised by the medical team, it said in a statement. It didn't provide further details on his condition. Mahathir, who was Malaysia's prime minister for two different periods, once was the world's oldest leader. He has had two coronary bypass surgeries but remains robust and sharp witted. He was admitted several times to the same hospital earlier this year. Mahathir later said he was hospitalised after experiencing shortness of breath due to a shortage of red blood cells. He later had a pacemaker implanted but acquired an infection during the surgery. He has said he thought he was dying at that point but somehow made a recovery. Mahathir ruled Malaysia initially for 22 years until his retirement in 2003. Spurred by anger over government corruption, he l

Malaysia attracts $27.5 bn investment in first half of 2022: Authorities

Foreign direct investment (FDI) remained the major contributor, accounting for 70.9 per cent of the approved investments with 87.4 billion ringgit ($19.5 billion)

Malaysia's former first lady Rosmah Mansor guilty, week after Najib jailed

Malaysia's former first lady Rosmah Mansor was convicted on Thursday of soliciting and receiving bribes during her husband's corruption-tainted administration on Thursday, a week after her husband was imprisoned over the massive looting of the 1MDB state fund. Rosmah was found guilty on three charges of soliciting bribes and receiving 6.5 million ringgit (USD 1.5 million) between 2016 and 2017 to help a company secure a project to provide solar energy panels to schools on Borneo island. She is expected to remain out on bail for her appeal to higher courts. High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said prosecutors proved beyond reasonable doubt that Rosmah corruptly solicited bribes and received money as a reward for herself. He said her defense was a bare denial. Najib began a 12-year prison term last week after losing his final appeal in one of the five graft cases against him involving the multibillion-dollar pilfering of 1MDB. Before the verdict, the court heard Rosmah's applicatio

Malaysia ex-PM Najib Razak's wife seeks to remove judge ahead of verdict

The wife of jailed Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak has sought to remove the judge set to deliver a verdict in her graft trial on Thursday, citing a loss of confidence after an alleged guilty judgment was leaked online. Rosmah Mansor faces three charges of soliciting bribes and receiving 6.5 million ringgit (USD 1.5 million) between 2016 and 2017 to help a company secure a 1.25 billion ringgit (USD 279 million) project to provide solar energy panels to schools on Borneo island. The verdict comes a week after Najib began his 12-year prison term after losing his final appeal in one of the five graft cases against him involving the pilfering of the 1MDB state fund. In her application filed on Tuesday, Rosmah cited a 71-page document posted last Friday on a website that allegedly contained a guilty judgment against her. She said she was shocked to read it was not written by the judge himself but by unknown people in the court's research unit". As such, Rosmah said she was not .

24 foreign firms show interest in petroleum business in Sri Lanka: Minister

Twenty-four companies from India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the US, China, Russia, the UK, Malaysia, Norway, and the Philippines are interested in the petroleum business in Sri Lanka

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Razak returns to court for second corruption trial

Jailed Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to court Thursday for a second corruption trial over the pilfering of the 1MDB state fund, two days after he began a 12-year prison term for graft. Najib, 69, became Malaysia's first leader to be imprisoned Tuesday after the country's top court rejected his final appeal in his first graft case linked to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund. His incarceration comes four years after his election ouster over the scandal and was celebrated by many citizens as justice served. Wearing a dark blue suit, red tie and face mask, Najib sat impassively in the dock without handcuffs as the hearing began. He was earlier brought into the court complex in a tinted police vehicle under heavy security to avoid a crowd of media waiting to catch a glimpse of him. The current trial began in August 2019 and is the most significant as it ties Najib directly to the 1MDB scandal that has prompted investigations in the U.S. and several .

Asia Pacific Group removes Russia's observer status over Ukraine war

The decision to remove Russia's status was taken last month in Malaysia during the annual meeting of the APG

1MDB scandal: Malaysia top court upholds ex-PM Najib's graft conviction

The five-member Federal Court panel said it unanimously found the high court judge was right in his judgment and that Najib's appeal was "devoid of any merits"

Malaysia's Mahathir sees 50-50 chance of Najib Razak getting 1MDB pardon

Mahathir Mohamad, who was prime minister twice, said Malaysia's king could extend a pardon to Najib in the same way current opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was given

HAL signs agreement establishing footprint in Malaysia to export weaponry

Aerospace giant preparing for likely success in exporting Indian Tejas Mark 1A fighter

HAL to open office in Kuala Lumpur to support Malaysian Defence Forces

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has signed an MoU for establishing an office in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The office in Malaysia will help HAL in tapping the new business opportunities for Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) LCA and other requirements of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) like Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrades, the Bengaluru-headquartered company said in a statement on Thursday. "It will reinforce commitment of India in supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia", it said. HAL had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Malaysia, during October 2021 for supply of 18 FLIT LCAs against a global tender issued by RMAF. "The final winner of the tender is expected to be declared soon by Malaysian authorities. LCA Tejas stands a fair chance of selection in the bid as it meets all the parameters sought by RMAF," according to HAL. Further, being one of the largest producers of Russian origin Su-30 ...

Hope players can channel anger after defeat from Malaysia: Indian Coach

India lost to Malaysia in the final and settled for the silver medal, but the doubles team's coach Mathias Boe hoped the defeat will trigger their "hunger" for gold in individual events.

Pelosi, on Asia trip, leaves Malaysia, tensions rise over Taiwan visit

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Malaysia on Tuesday and was expected to visit Taiwan, escalating tensions with Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory.