Malaysias opposition is in open civil war, with a power struggle threatening to split the main bloc against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just two years out from the next general election. Bersatu, or the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, sits at the core of Perikatan Nasional (PN), a conservative alliance whose appeal surged in the 2022 polls and became the biggest opposition after a hung parliament produced a unity government led by Anwar. A succession fight between party chief and former...

Australia has summoned the Laotian ambassador to protest against what a victims family described as an absolute injustice after 10 people linked to a deadly methanol poisoning case received suspended sentences and fines equivalent to US$130. The case stems from a fatal incident in the riverside town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist destination in Laos, in November 2024. Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, died after drinking methanol-tainted alcohol at Nana...

Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB) has been asked to explore ways to ensure goods and food sold at airports are priced reasonably, according to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing. Tiong added his ministry had received complaints from the public over the steep prices of items such as chocolates, food and alcohol at the airport shops compared to the prices outside. Visitors at the airport have mentioned that items sold at duty-free shops are expensive and that it is cheaper to ..

A man who posed as a teenager online to talk to underage girls was sentenced to 11 years jail and 10 strokes of the cane on Tuesday. The Singaporean, now aged 25, who cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the identity of two victims, pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape, one count of sexual grooming of a minor and one count of sexual penetration of a minor. Another 14 charges were taken into consideration for sentencing. The court heard that the offender held various jobs ..

Economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is set to deepen despite bloc members advancing trade deals with the United States, Beijings ambassador to Asean has said. At a forum in Indonesias Jakarta on Tuesday, Wang Qing urged both sides to remain committed to shared economic success and to oppose external interference, underscoring the importance of ties amid growing protectionism and unilateralism. Wang delivered a speech at the South China Morning...

The biggest threat to middle powers in the artificial intelligence era is digital colonisation from expensive and proprietary AI stacks, an Indonesian telecoms executive has said, adding that Chinas open-source sales pitch offers better protection for local sovereignty. The emphasis on localisation and digital sovereignty comes as major Chinese AI cloud providers look to compete with US rivals in fast-growing Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia. The world is moving out of proprietary...

Indonesia is on track for 10 per cent economic growth by 2029, beyond the 8 per cent target set by President Prabowo Subianto, his climate and energy envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo has insisted. Hailing multiple projects in the works such as social housing and the development of boarding schools for low- income families, Hashim told a forum in Jakarta on Tuesday that his elder brother Prabowo had to go up against a quagmire of bureaucratic inertia and resistance after winning the top job in the...

Asean faces a challenge to remain relevant in light of an increasingly transactional United States under the Donald Trump administration, observers warn, even as they hail the blocs large inflows of trade from global superpowers. At the South China Morning Posts China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday, chairman of Malaysian Investment Development Authority Tengku Zafrul Aziz said that Association of Southeast Asian Nations members presented a united front in handling...

Indonesias economy stands to gain from its partnership with mainland China and Hong Kong through increased investments and lessons learned from improving capital markets, industry insiders and observers have said. Shinta Kamdani, coordinating vice-chairwoman for human development, culture and sustainable development at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), on Tuesday pointed to financial hub Hong Kong as being able to provide Indonesia access to the sprawling mainland ..

Indonesia, home to one of the worlds largest unbanked and underbanked populations, is pushing to enhance financial inclusion. In Indonesia, the role of digitalisation is essential, said Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, chairman of the board and president commissioner at PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia, at the China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia is the oldest bank in the country and has made expanding financial inclusion in the Southeast Asian nation a top...

The United States decision to lift key arms-export restrictions on Cambodia signals a thaw in long-strained defence ties, but Phnom Penh is likely to make only modest purchases and remain heavily reliant on Chinese weaponry for the foreseeable future, analysts say. In what Cambodian media described as a landmark move, the US Department of Commerce last week removed Cambodia from Country Group D:5 a classification that had effectively barred most US arms exports according to a notice...

As sovereign wealth funds are increasingly deployed as geopolitical tools, Indonesias new state-backed vehicle is setting itself apart by operating with transparency and professional discipline, according to one of its top executives. Pandu Sjahrir, chief investment officer of Danantara Indonesia, said the sovereign wealth fund was being run for profit rather than politics, even as governments around the world tapped heavily into such stashes to pursue strategic goals. In the new geopolitical...

A six-year-old Indonesian girl killed in a traffic accident while visiting Singapore with her family has been laid to rest in her hometown of Jakarta. Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani and her family were visiting the popular tourist area of Chinatown late on Friday morning when the accident happened. A car struck Sheyna and her mother, Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, as the family of four were crossing South Bridge Road near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinese- language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao ..

Malaysian police recently engaged in a dramatic confrontation with a Singapore-registered car that was driving against the flow of traffic at the Johor Bahru land checkpoint, with an officer drawing his gun to stop the errant motorist from fleeing. Dashcam footage related to the incident, which occurred on January 10, circulating on social media showed the vehicle travelling the wrong way through the Sultan Iskandar Building immigration complex near Malaysias border with the city state. A...

Malaysia is moving to revamp its navys ageing strike capacity as it seeks to restore credible deterrence after years of procurement delays amid mounting pressures in the South China Sea. The modernisation push follows repeated Malaysian protests about Chinese coastguard vessels patrolling near offshore oil and gas assets. Malaysias navy is set to receive Norwegian-made anti-ship and land-attack missiles next month, according to the defence ministry, with deliveries of Turkeys Atmaca anti-ship...

Criminals in Southeast Asia are harnessing inexpensive AI tools to target bigger pools of potential victims at high speed, keeping scam centres humming even as governments try to crack down, senior officials at Interpol say. Previously, some scams were easy to spot from poor quality online ads luring people to work in such centres to the scams themselves, typically designed to make people part with their money through the promise of romance or investment returns. Now, scammers are using ..

Nationalism, a deep network of local patronage and a promise to safeguard Thailands faltering economy catapulted Anutin Charnvirakul back into the prime ministers office. By his own admission, the win exceeded expectations. His Bhumjaithai Party secured 193 of the 500 parliamentary seats, according to early unofficial tallies late on Monday even more than I asked for, Anutin told reporters albeit from what looks likely to be one of Thailands lowest voter turnouts in decades. Analysts...

Malaysian authorities are investigating a case involving a man dressed as Spider-Man who allegedly brought a seven-year-old girl from Terengganu state to solicit money from tourists in Melaka. Melaka women, family and community development committee chief Kalsom Noordin said the 50-year-old security guard claimed the child was his niece when he was intercepted by Melaka Welfare Department officers at a petrol kiosk in Cheng at about 6pm on Sunday. The girl was also made to wear a Spider-Man...

Indonesia is ready to build on its strong relationship with mainland China, its top economic minister has said, while Beijing is committed to upholding fairness and stability amid global uncertainty, according to Hong Kongs former leader Leung Chun-ying. Airlangga Hartarto and Leung were speaking on Tuesday at the South China Morning Posts China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026, held in Jakarta. Leung, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative...

A man was arrested for masturbating in public at a lecture hall during a seminar for secondary school students in Malaysia. Cheras Assistant Commissioner Mohd Rosdi Daud said that a report of the matter was lodged on Saturday following the incident at a university in Cheras, a suburb in Kuala Lumpur. The suspect, a male in his mid-20s, was subsequently arrested by Cheras police in the Sri Petaling area on Monday, he said in a statement. The motive for the incident is still under...

Transnational online crime is one of the most serious security challenges facing the global community. It drives human trafficking and forced labour, enables large-scale fraud, destabilises economies and erodes public trust in digital financial systems. No country is immune, and no country can confront this threat alone. In Cambodia, we are confronting this challenge directly. Prime Minister Hun Manet has made cyber-enabled crime, including online scams, trafficking and digital fraud, a ..

Russian oil tankers are increasingly listing Singapore as their official destination, signalling a shift in export flows from India to China and growing concerns over Western sanctions, traders said and LSEG shipping data shows. LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) data shows tankers carrying about 1.4 million metric tons of Russian crude departed for Singapore in January, the highest monthly volume in recent years. Singapore does not import Russian oil amid sanction risks but its nearby waters...

More than three dozen former lawmakers of a pro-democracy party in Thailand face a lifetime ban from politics after the nations anti-corruption agency found them in breach of ethical standards over a failed bid to amend the royal insult law. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said on Monday that 44 former lawmakers from the now-dissolved Move Forward Party had failed to uphold and maintain the democratic system of government with the king as head of state by submitting a petition...

The Philippines will consider an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his proposed Board of Peace, Manilas envoy to Washington said, a move that has drawn scepticism from critics who warn Manila could be embarrassed by signing up to what they see as a volatile, personality-driven initiative. Trump had personally invited President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to be part of the board, but the Philippine leader had not yet decided whether to accept, Jose Manuel Romualdez said. While...

The median monthly household income in Singapore rose to S$12,446 (US$9,250) last year, up from S$11,558 the year before, an increase of 6.8 per cent after adjusting for inflation. After accounting for household size, the median monthly household income per household member rose by 7.5 per cent in real terms, from S$3,837 in 2024 to S$4,160 in 2025. The figures were released on Monday in the Key Household Income Trends 2025 paper by the Singapore Department of Statistics (Singstat). In a ..

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against allowing disputes over illegal houses of worship to spill into communal confrontation, after police detained 19 people linked to a planned rally in central Kuala Lumpur that authorities said risked inflaming racial and religious tensions. The Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship rally had been scheduled for around 8pm on Saturday near Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, close to the Sogo shopping complex. Police denied permission on security...

Abandoned for months on their fishing boat off West Africa, Indonesian sailor Surono and his shipmates face a dilemma: return home without almost a years wages or stay on the docked vessel. He is among a growing number of migrant workers abandoned by shipowners, who flout their obligations and desert crews without paying the salaries owed. My family cries because I cant get any money. My children and wife need money to eat, Surono, 47, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said from...

Malaysias ringgit may have rebounded against the Singapore dollar, but its recent strengthening has done little to deter cross-border shoppers from flocking across the causeway for Lunar New Year bargains. Traders at festive markets across Johor Bahru have reported brisk business from Singapore-based visitors, with many expecting sales to climb further as celebrations draw nearer. Kenny Ng, 29, who sells traditional Malaysian Chinese snacks at the Johor Jaya Lunar New Year market, said more...

Australia has emerged as an alternate defence partner to long-time US ally the Philippines amid mounting uncertainty over American commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific. Canberras evolving ties with Manila hinge on its own strategic interests that may now align more closely with the Southeast Asian countrys than even those of Washington, observers say. Australia has committed to building eight infrastructure projects this year at five military bases in Luzon. Canberra will lead the...

China has almost finished building the US$10 billion Pinglu Canal to deepen trade ties between its southwestern provinces and Southeast Asia. Now, it is considering an even more ambitious and expensive project further inland. The Xianggui Canal would be a 300km (186 mile) waterway that effectively acts as an extension of the new Pinglu Canal, giving cities right at the heart of the Chinese interior direct access to the Gulf of Tonkin, known in China as the Beibu Gulf. Like the earlier...

The rapid increase in data centres in Malaysia came under the microscope on Saturday, with the AI-driven build-out drawing its first public protest in the Southeast Asian country. More than 50 people gathered in front of a data centre construction site close to a residential area in the southern state of Johor, demanding an end to dust pollution and compensation for any negative impact that the project might have on their health. The protesters also expressed concern that the facility will...

A woman was told to leave after turning up in a skirt and a low-cut top at the RXZ Forever Legend motorcycling gathering in Kota Baru, Malaysias Kelantan state. At the same time, another 30 women were given headscarves to wear after they were found not to be properly covered under the organisers dress code guidelines, Sinar Harian reported. RXZ Forever Legend programme director Muhamad Huzaifah Abdul Halim said personnel had been stationed at the entrance to monitor visitors. The woman that...

Thais began voting on Sunday in an election pitting the reformist Peoples Party against the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, with expectations of a tight race among a divided public craving an end to the countrys long economic drift and political instability. Around 53 million Thais are eligible to vote for 500 lower house lawmakers, 400 directly from their constituencies and the remaining 100 decided on a proportional basis from the number of votes each party gets. Barring a shock last minute...

A sign hanging from a rusty shipping container installed by Thai forces on what they say is the border with Cambodia proclaims: Cambodian citizens are strictly prohibited from entering this area. On opposite sides of the makeshift barricade, fronted by coils of barbed wire, Cambodians lamented their lost homes and livelihoods as Thailands military showed off its gains. Thai forces took control of several patches of disputed land along the border during fighting last year, which could amount...

Hashim Djojohadikusumo is smiling almost beatifically, but the trademark feistiness is unmistakable. We are sitting down for a chat amid the turmoil gripping Indonesias capital markets and he says emphatically that its good, its good that it happened. This unvarnished answer is one of several he gives as we talk about his country, nearly two years after his elder brother, Prabowo Subianto, won the presidential election by a wide margin, securing 58.6 per cent of the votes on his third...

In a Cambodian compound with rooms designed to look like Singaporean and Australian police offices, papers were strewn across desks and floors: the detritus of a fraud factory abandoned in haste. Among the documents were profiles of a 73-year-old Japanese retiree, complete with his phone number and bank account balance, and an American woman who disclosed that she was a victim of domestic abuse. Nearby were scripts to commit love scams and impersonate police, as well as a room set up to ..

As commercial aviation giants converge in Singapore this week for a biennial air show, the regions robust aviation growth and supply chain delays remain top of mind for the sector. Experts and industry insiders at the air show told This Week in Asia that bottlenecks remained a bane for commercial aviation giants Boeing and Airbus, with airlines in the region eager for more supply to tap the regions potential. According to Reuters, the Asia-Pacific region is the worlds fastest-growing region...

Thailands rival parties held final rallies late on Friday in a last-ditch push to win over undecided voters among a public craving change but still deeply split over the remedy for years of ulcerous political and economic decline. The Peoples Party and Pheu Thai packed out their respective stadium venues in Bangkok on Friday, pumping music to encourage supporters as leaders delivered appeals for every last vote. In contrast, the Bhumjaithai Partys rally in a convention centre in the capital,...

If anyone anywhere this week spares a thought for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, it will almost certainly be linked to the Apec leaders meeting set for Shenzhen in November. But this is to miss the massive value and purpose of the 21-member grouping inaugurated in Canberra in 1989. To witness Apecs unique and distinguishing value, you should have been in Guangzhou this week, where over 1,000 have gathered without pomp or fanfare for the first senior officials meeting (SOM1). I...

Asian investors should brace for more volatility in the gold and silver markets in the near term following a plunge in prices of the two metals after a record-breaking surge, with demand expected to rise again ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. The outlook for gold remains strong over the long term, even as investors turned their focus to the US dollar in recent trading sessions, according to analysts. Gold typically has an inverse correlation with the US dollar. Investors have shifted ..