On May 11, a boat carrying 37 undocumented migrants from Indonesia sank near Pangkor Island while travelling towards several destinations in Malaysia. As of May 15, search and rescue teams had recovered 11 bodies about 5.6 nautical miles from the island.
Category: Malaysia
Malaysia to restrict EV imports from July 2026
Malaysia will curb electric vehicle (EV) imports starting July 2026 to protect local carmakers, declared the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) in a statement on May 6.
Female Otherness and Social Expectations in Malaysian Film Tiger Stripes
Tiger Stripes is a 2023 Malaysian body horror and coming-of-age picture. Directed by first-feature-director Amanda Nell Eu, the story revolves around an 11-years-old Zaffan who is faced with bodily change as she goes through puberty. The film received several accolades, most notably the 2023 Cannes’ Critics Week Grand Prize which made Amanda the first female Malaysian filmmaker to ever win the award. Tiger Stripes was also invited to the 29th Busan International Film Festival and served as the closing film for 2023 Jakarta Film Week.
Malaysia condemns Israeli interception of Gaza flotilla
Malaysia strongly condemned the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0—a multinational humanitarian convoy of 70 ships—in international waterways by Israeli authorities on April 29, reaffirming the mission’s primary aims to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza to deliver food and medical supplies.
Taiwan’s TECO pledges US$12 million busway manufacturing plant in Malaysia
Taiwan’s TECO Electric & Machinery—a major global industrial conglomerate specialising in electromechanical engineering, automation and green energy solutions—has expanded into the Southeast Asian market with a 12 million million US dollar investment pledge in Malaysia.
Malaysia prepares for 1447H Hajj season with safety measures
On April 15, Pilgrims Fund Board of Malaysia (Tabung Haji) has assured Malaysian pilgrims that preparations for the 1447H/2026M Hajj remain firmly on schedule, while it continues to monitor developments to ensure a safe and well-organised pilgrimage season.
Singapore rejects talks with Iran over shipping route
On April 7, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated that Singapore would not negotiate with Iran concerning the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Malaysia PM urges critics to recognise diplomatic efforts on Iran and Gaza
The government’s diplomatic efforts, saying Malaysia’s firm stance on conflicts involving Iran and Gaza has strengthened the country’s international standing and facilitated access for Malaysian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Malaysia announces WFH scheme to ease fuel consumption
Malaysia will introduce work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for government institutions from April 15 as part of efforts to conserve fuel and safeguard national energy supplies, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on April 3.
Indonesia strengthens trade ties with Singapore and Malaysia
On March 15, Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti held bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong of Singapore and Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Sim Tze Tzin of Malaysia to strengthen regional trade and investment cooperation.