Page 6 - Malaysia

Malaysia charges ex-min for not declaring assets in corruption probe

Malaysia charged a former minister on Monday with failing to declare assets, the latest step in a corruption probe that's targeting several people connected to a former prime minister. Former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, who left office more than 20 years ago, is a key ally of ex-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. Both argue that the probe is politically motivated and that prosecutors have ignored potential corruption among allies of the current government. A frail Daim, 85, who was just discharged from hospital, turned up in court in a wheelchair. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to declare 71 assets ranging from luxury cars to a raft of companies, properties and land. He faces up to five years in jail and a fine if found guilty. After his court hearing, Daim called Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim a wolf in sheep's clothing who cried reforms but instead abused government institutions to pursue his political foes. He pointed to the case of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zah

Malaysia's Khazanah in talks to lead Oyo's $400 million fund raise

The once-high-flying company, founded by Ritesh Agarwal, filed for an initial public offering for the second time in March, after slashing the target amount to be raised by about two-thirds

India's Dec palm oil imports hit 4-month high as sun oil doubles-dealers

Higher purchases by the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils could help lower palm oil stocks in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia and support benchmark futures

Asian buyers struggle with high price of onions after India's export ban

The world's biggest exporter of onions banned shipments on Dec. 8 after domestic prices more than doubled in three months following a drop in production.

Japan, ASEAN bolster ties at summit focused on security amid China tensions

Leaders from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, marking their 50th anniversary of friendship, were meeting at a special summit on Sunday and expected to adopt a joint vision that emphasises security cooperation amid growing tensions with China in regional seas. Ties between Japan and ASEAN used to be largely based on Japanese assistance to the developing economies, in part due to lingering bitterness over Japan's wartime actions. But in recent years the ties have focused more on security amid China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, while Japan's postwar pacifist stance and trust-building efforts have fostered friendlier relations. Based on our strong relationship of trust, it is our hope that Japan and ASEAN will bring together their strengths and find solutions in an era of compound crises that are difficult for any one country to solve, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a speech on Saturday night at the State Guest House in Tokyo. As we co-creat

More visa-free travel for Indians beneficial for Goa tourism as well

Visa-free entry is a carrot to expand $28 billion that 27 million Indians spent overseas in 2019. Those numbers had swelled eightfold and sixfold, respectively, in the two decades before the pandemic

Rahul Gandhi to visit Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam from December 9

According to the sources, Rahul Gandhi will meet the Indian diaspora in Singapore and Malaysia while in Indonesia he will be meeting the diplomats

Malaysia joins Thailand, Sri Lanka in granting visa-free entry for Indians

Malaysia will grant a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian and Chinese citizens from December 1, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced, joining Thailand and Sri Lanka in recent weeks to offer such a facility to foreigners to promote tourism. Ibrahim said the waiver was an additional facility to the existing visa exemptions currently enjoyed by Gulf nations and other West Asian countries, including Turkiye and Jordan. However, Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister of the country, said the visa exemption was subject to top security screening, the official Bernama news agency reported. "Initial screenings will be conducted for all tourists and visitors to Malaysia. Security is a different matter. If there are criminal records or the risk of terrorism, they will not be allowed to enter," the prime minister said. "That comes under the authority of the security forces and immigration," the premier said. The 30-day visa-free entry is also currently enjoyed by eight ASEAN countries

Malaysia joins Thailand, Sri Lanka to allow visa-free entry to Indians

Under this new policy, Chinese and Indian nationals will enjoy a visa-free stay of up to 30 days, subject to security screening, said the Malaysian Prime Minister

India-Malaysia trade set to soar to $25 bn in next 3 years: Indian envoy

The Indian High Commissioner expressed optimism about the growing relationship, emphasising political understanding between the two governments

China to allow visa-free entry to five European countries and Malaysia

China announced on Friday that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism. Starting December 1, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. The trial programme will be in effect for one year. The aim is to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing. China's strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early this year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the ...

Jaishankar discusses key issues at 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission meet

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Zambry Abdul Kadir in New Delhi on Tuesday.The meeting was focused on the security, trade and finance sectors, as well as maritime cooperation between the two countries.Additionally, both leaders exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, West Asia and other regional and global issues.Taking to X, EAM Jaishankar shared about the meeting saying, "Co-chaired along with FM @ZambryOfficial the 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi. Reviewed progress on our political, defence & security, trade and finance, health, energy, education, maritime cooperation, culture, tourism and people-to-people cooperation. Also shared perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, West Asia and other regional and global issues."Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the Malaysian counterpart Zambry Abdul Kadir ahead of the India-Malaysia 6th .

Malaysia gives nod to Lynas to process rare earths until March 2026

Malaysia's government said on Tuesday it will allow Lynas Rare Earth to continue to import and process rare earths until March 2026, after the Australian miner proposed a new technology to extract radioactive elements from the waste it produces. The Lynas refinery in Malaysia, its first outside China producing minerals that are crucial to high-tech manufacturing, has been operating in central Pahang state since 2012. But the company has been embroiled in a dispute over radiation from waste accumulating at the plant. The government had ordered Lynas to move its leaching and cracking processes which produce the radioactive waste from Australian ore out of the country by the year's end. It also was not allowed to import raw materials with radioactive elements into the country. Science Minister Chang Lih Kang said the two conditions for renewing Lynas' license had been met after the company proposed a way to extract thorium, the radioactive element, from the raw rare earths it imports

Official action indicated for Biocon arm's unit in Malaysia after FDA probe

Biocon Ltd on Wednesday said the US health regulator has classified as 'official action indicated' for the manufacturing facility of group firm Biocon Sdn Bhd at Johor, Malaysia following an inspection. The OAI (official action indicated) status may cause delay and/or withholding of pending product approvals or supplements from the facility, Biocon Ltd said in a regulatory filing. "Biocon Sdn Bhd, a step-down subsidiary of Biocon Biologics Ltd, has received a communication from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pursuant to its July 2023 cGMP inspection at its insulins manufacturing facility at Johor, Malaysia," a company spokesperson said in the filing. The USFDA has "determined the inspection classification as 'OAI' (Official Action Indicated). The OAI status may cause delay and/or withholding of pending product approvals or supplements from the facility", the spokesperson added. As per the USFDA, OAI implies that the regulator may withhold approval of any pending product

1MDB corruption scandal: Goldman Sachs sues Malaysia in a UK court

The arbitration has been filed with the London Court of International Arbitration, a source told Reuters. The lawsuit was earlier reported by Bloomberg News

Malaysian carrier MyAirline abruptly suspends ops, passengers stranded

Malaysian budget carrier MyAirline abruptly suspended operations Thursday, citing financial pressures less than 11 months after it took to the skies. The unexpected announcement on social media caught many by surprise and left angry passengers stranded at the airport. The airline apologised for the extremely painful decision but said significant financial pressures made it necessary to temporarily halt operations pending shareholder restructuring and recapitalisation of the company. We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have left us with no alternative but to take this decision, its board of directors said in the statement. The move came just days after the airline said it was in advanced stages of finalising a strategic partnership. Local media reported that the suspension signalled that those talks may have collapsed. The airline began flights last December with a fle

'Malaysia, Korea are preferred to India as global clinical trial sites'

There is intense competition to have these studies on advanced or complex unmet medical needs in a country

Malaysia to discuss rice export curbs with India to find 'best solution'

State-run Malaysian rice importer Bernas will also be negotiating with other suppliers like Vietnam, Thailand And Cambodia, he said

Hundreds protest against Malaysian govt after dy premier's charges dropped

Hundreds of people staged an anti-government rally Saturday in the Malaysian capital, accusing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of helping his key ally escape prosecution in exchange for political support. Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sept 4, late in the process of his trail. The court approved the application for dismissal but refused to grant Zahid a full acquittal, which means he can be recharged. Speakers addressing the crowd Saturday in Kuala Lumpur accused Anwar's government of interfering with the case to let Zahid off the hook in return for political support. Some protesters in the opposition-backed rally wore white shirts emblazoned with the words Fight Corruption. They marched in the city centre chanting, Charge Zahid, Reform is dead and Down with Anwar. Protester Muhamed Yahya said there was a hidden hand at work that led to the charges against Zahid being dropped. They used the back door, he ...

Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan join India to reject China's new map

Governments in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan on Thursday joined India in rejecting China's new national map, issuing strongly worded statements accusing Beijing of claiming their territory. China published a new version of its national map on Monday to correct what Beijing has in the past referred to as problematic maps that it claims misrepresent its territorial borders. India on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with China over its so-called "standard map" laying claim over Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin, and asserted that such steps only complicate the resolution of the boundary question. The External Affairs Ministry also rejected China's claims as having "no basis". "Just making absurd claims does not make other people's territories yours," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said while reacting to the Chinese move. The Philippine government on Thursday slammed China's 2023 edition of its so-called standard map that still shows swaths of Philippine feat