Malaysian Swiss Association -

Malaysia reports 150 new infections, highest daily increase in two weeks

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> New Covid-19 infections in Malaysia reached a two-week high of 150 cases today, bringing the total to 10,919. A total of 146 cases were infections by local transmission, while four were imported cases. The local cases involved 124 citizens and 22 non-citizens, while the imported cases involved three citizens and one non-citizen. The number of […]

28 September 2020 | 7:30 am

South China Sea: does one-on-one mean a one-sided deal for Malaysia?

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> When Malaysia agreed last year to one-on-one talks with rival claimant China over the South China Sea, it caught observers by surprise. While Kuala Lumpur was not the most vocal opponent of Beijing’s claims in the area, it had long been reluctant to engage in such negotiations. Instead it has sought to chart a course […]

28 September 2020 | 4:36 am

Mahathir won’t contest in next GE report

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> After his stunning rise and fall following the last general election, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly said he would not be contesting in the next polls. However, this does not mean the 95-year-old would be retiring from politics, as he will still be fighting corruption from his new party Pejuang. “I want to […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

More Umno MPs deny backing Anwar, and 9 news you may have missed

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> KINI ROUNDUP | Key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief. 1. Several Umno MPs have denied being among those supporting opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to become prime minister. 2. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said his party will not cooperate with an Umno that is under the leadership of Umno president Ahmad Zahid […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia’s embattled PM wins crucial state polls

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s 7-month-old ruling alliance triumphed Saturday in its first electoral test in eastern Sabah state, a major victory for embattled prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin amid challenges to his leadership. Sabah was ruled by the opposition and the state poll was seen as a referendum for Muhyiddin’s unelected government. Analysts said the victory could push Muhyiddin […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Sabah election: Malaysia’s Muhyiddin faces key test in state poll

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Ballot counting is under way in Malaysia’s eastern Sabah state, in a vote seen as a referendum for embattled prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s seven-month-old unelected government. The outcome of Saturday’s state election will not directly alter the balance of power at a national level, where Muhyiddin’s coalition commands a razor-thin majority, but serves as a […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia reports 82 new COVID-19 cases, to screen domestic travellers from case raging areas

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia reported 82 new COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said on Saturday, bringing the national total to 10,769. Health Ministry director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that three of the new cases are imported and 79 are local transmissions, mostly reported from the northern Borneo state of Sabah where a number of […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Tourism Malaysia targets Q1 2021 for ‘green travel bubbles’ with Asean neighbours

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Tourism Malaysia is considering travel bubbles as a means to bolster the floundering local tourism industry badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. During an interview with RTM’s Bicara Naratif last night, its director-general Datuk Musa Yusof stated that he is hopeful that cross-border travel for leisure will begin in stages sometime in the first quarter […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysian PM wins crucial victory in state polls

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s embattled prime minster on Saturday passed his biggest political test since taking office with a narrow victory in key state elections, which could help strengthen his tenuous hold on power. Analysts had warned defeat in eastern Sabah state for prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin could have meant the end of his fractious coalition government, which […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Capital flight fear continues as Malaysia stays on bond watchlist

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> ALMOST 18 months have passed since FTSE Russell added Malaysian government bonds to its watchlist, but there is yet no conclusive decision on whether the country will be removed from the World government Bond Index (WGBI). The continued delay on Malaysia’s status leaves concerns on the risk of capital flight as well as its impact […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Mahathir says he will not contest Malaysia’s 2023 general election

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday (Sep 26) that he will not contest in the next general election if it is held according to schedule, as he would be 98 years old then. He added that he will instead offer advice and share his experiences with members of his party, Pejuang. Malaysia’s […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

EPF: Over 50pct contributors above 54 have savings of below RM50,000

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> As many as 54 per cent of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors aged 54 have savings of less than RM50,000 for retirement. EPF Operations Division deputy Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Mohd Naim Daruwish said in total, only 34 percent of EPF active contributors reached the level of basic savings by age. To date the EPF […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Is Malaysia heading for ‘BorneoExit’? Why some in East Malaysia are advocating for secession

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Unity is a common theme every year on Malaysia Day, the holiday celebrated last week that marks the day Malaysia became a federation in 1963. That year, Britain agreed to relinquish control of most of its remaining colonies in Southeast Asia Singapore, North Borneo (now called Sabah) and Sarawak. They then joined with Malaya, which […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia’s ruling coalition wins first electoral test in boost for PM Muhyiddin

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s ruling coalition won a key state election on Saturday, in a vote that was widely seen as a referendum on his seven-month-old administration. The victory in Sabah state in Borneo is likely to strengthen Muhyiddin’s position as he faces a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who said this […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Voting slow but moving, Bung confident of high turnout in Lamag

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> SABAH POLLS | Blazing heat and stricter Covid-19 prevention protocols marked the start of polling at N58 Lamag and many other polling stations in 73 seats across Sabah today. Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, however, expressed confidence that all eligible voters will be able to exercise their rights at the ballot box. “Although the […]

28 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Kit Siang: Sabah polls will also decide Malaysia’s future PM

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang urged Sabahans to vote wisely in the state election today as the outcome will also decide who will be the future prime minister of the country. “The voters of Sabah go to the polls today to decide not only who will be the Chief minister of Sabah but the future […]

26 September 2020 | 7:23 am

With Sabah polls in full swing, Dr Noor Hisham announces medical reinforcement from peninsula

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> With the 16th Sabah state election in full swing, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced the ministry has mobilised additional medical personnel to the state to reinforce pandemic response efforts. Taking to Facebook, Dr Noor Hisham said the medical personnel five health department workers from Selangor and another five from Negri Sembilan […]

26 September 2020 | 7:22 am

Yes to Anwar or no? Here’s what the Umno MPs accused of ditching Muhyiddin have to say

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed on Wednesday he had the majority support from MPs to form a new government, some of them coming from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. Following these revelations, Barisan Nasional-linked blog The Coverage revealed the 19 names of MPs from Umno who it claimed have jumped ship to support Anwar in […]

26 September 2020 | 7:18 am

Malaysian PM faces major test in state polls

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s embattled leader faces state elections Saturday that are his biggest political test since taking office, with analysts saying he desperately needs a win to strengthen his tenuous hold on power. A defeat for prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s allies in Sabah state on Borneo will erode support among his seven-month-old government’s coalition partners, increasing pressure […]

26 September 2020 | 7:03 am

Shafie declares Sabah polling day tomorrow a state public holiday

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The Sabah government has declared tomorrow a public holiday to enable voters to go out and exercise their rights in the 16th state election. Caretaker Chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal in a statement today said the declaration of the public holiday was based on Section 9 of the Sabah Public Holiday Ordinance. “I urge […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Azmin slams Warisan after old video of him stumping for it surfaces ahead of Sabah polling

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Perikatan Nasional (PN) Information Chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said today the act of “certain parties” playing up old video clips of his speech supporting Parti Warisan Sabah is a desperate act to gain votes. He said the video was taken for a speech in Kimanis during its by-election in January 2020 to help […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Finance Ministry says stimulus measures to add 3.7-4pct to 2020 GDP

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s finance ministry said today that economic stimulus measures worth RM305 billion are expected to add 3.7 per cent-4 per cent to the nation’s 2020 gross domestic product (GDP). The finance ministry said in a statement an additional stimulus package worth RM10 billion to help industries and citizens badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic is […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Nur Jazlan defends Zahid’s ‘many Umno MPs back Anwar’ statement

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Johor Umno leader Nur Jazlan Mohamed defended party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday, where the latter said the party cannot stop its MPs from supporting PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government. Jazlan, who is the state Umno deputy chief, reportedly said that Zahid wanted to appease party grassroots who were unhappy […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Companies found abusing wage subsidy will be blacklisted, says minister

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Stern action, including blacklisting, will be taken against companies and employers who abuse the Wage Subsidy Programme. Human Resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said this is following the complaints received against employers who fail to pay the wage subsidy to their employees. He said apart from blacklisting, employers found to be using fake documents […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysian PM banks on victory in Borneo poll after Anwar challenge

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Locked in a power struggle with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin needs a solid victory in a state election on the island of Borneo on Saturday to stop support within his coalition parties melting away, analysts say. Anwar ignited political fireworks on Wednesday with the bold claim that he had the […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Najib gets 30-day extension to file petition of appeal in SRC case

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Datuk Seri Najib Razak has obtained a 30-day extension to file his petition of appeal in his SRC international Sdn Bhd case. A Court of Appeal three-man panel comprising Justices Datuk Has Zanah Mehat, Datuk Lee Swee Seng and Datuk Nordin Hassan allowed Najib’s application for time to be extended to enable him to file […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Anwar Move: Amanah gives full support, DAP will say yes, if…

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Amanah has declared its full support for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government. Meanwhile, DAP also declared their support for Anwar, but only if he can actually take Putrajaya. In a statement, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said all 11 of the party’s MPs are supporting the PKR president. “Amanah fully supports Anwar’s […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Stateless woman loses court battle to get Malaysian citizenship

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> A stateless woman today failed to obtain a High Court declaration that she is a Malaysian citizen. High Court judge Mariana Yahya dismissed Tan Soo Yin’s lawsuit seeking citizenship on grounds that she had failed to prove that her biological parents were Malaysians, as required under Section 1(e) in the Second Schedule of the Federal […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Vivy Yusof files defamation suit against social media user over B40, M40 remark

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> FashionValet and Duck Group founder Vivy Yusof has filed a defamation suit against a netisen, for allegedly slandering her on the issue of the government helping the B40 and M40 groups affected by Covid-19 outbreak. The suit was filed by Vivy, 33, or her real name Vivy Sofinas Yusof through Messrs Foong Cheng Leong & […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia power struggle set to drag on as king recuperates in hospital

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah will not be granting an audience to anyone for a week as he is under observation at a hospital, a palace official said on Friday, as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim seeks a meeting with him to form a new government.Anwar said this week he has secured a “strong, formidable” majority from […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Dr Noor Hisham: D614G mutation found in more Covid-19 test samples, likely all from same source

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The test results of 32 Covid-19 positive individuals all contain the D614G mutation, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed today. In a Facebook posting, he said virology research undertaken by Malaysia’s Institute for Medical Research (IMR) indicated that the virus found in the 32 samples mirrored that found in the Tawar and […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Slim chance for Malaysia’s Anwar to form government: Analysts

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has “small chance” of becoming prime minister as the current government has strong presence and support, according to a political analyst. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Azmi Hassan, a political expert from Malaysian University of Technology, said the National Alliance, the ruling conservative and nationalist political coalition, had declared its support […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysian property agents prepare wish list to revive sliding home sales, diminishing interest from HK buyers

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Home sales in Malaysia are sliding and foreign investors are making fewer trips as an investment-for-visa programme is suspended, while a topsy-turvy political environment has given the nation poor publicity overseas. Malaysian real property agents, facing one of the toughest lockdowns during the pandemic, are now clamouring for an overhaul in market policies to revive […]

26 September 2020 | 1:02 am

World Bank report: Malaysia’s anti-graft efforts got major boost in 2018 when Pakatan voted into power

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia’s anti-corruption efforts improved significantly after Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 general election and formed the government, a new World Bank report concluded. The “Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Transparency: The Fight Against Corruption” report said Malaysia’s performance on international indicators and rankings on governance, accountability and transparency all rose as a result of ensuing reforms […]

25 September 2020 | 4:49 am

Health Ministry records 71 new Covid-19 cases, 64 recoveries, no deaths

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The health ministry has recorded 71 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases in Malaysia to 10,576, said its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. He said the number of active cases now stands at 777. Of the 71 cases today, two are imported cases in which the infection occurred abroad, […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia recorded approved investments totalling RM64.8b in 1H20-MIDA

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia recorded a total of RM64.8 billion worth of investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors in the first six months of 2020 (6M20) despite multiple headwinds on the global front, said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). In a joint statement with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), it said the […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Putrajaya allocates RM120.5m for Rural Electricity Supply Programme in Sabah

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The government has allocated RM120.5 million for the implementation of Rural Electricity Supply Programme with grid connection in three zones in Sabah, said Rural Development minister Datuk Abd Latiff Ahmad. “With this initiative, the villages will glow like urban areas,” he said in a statement on the launching of the project in Kudat, Sabah today. […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Banks assure Malaysians their creditworthiness won’t be affected if they seek help for loan repayments

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysian borrowers who ask banks for help to work out new arrangements to pay their existing loans amid the Covid-19 pandemic will not be blacklisted or see their ability to take on new loans affected, the local banking industry has said. Local banks assured borrowers that their credit profile or credit report in the Central […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Hishammuddin tells Umno members not to be fooled by Anwar’s ‘propaganda’

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Umno members should not pay any heed to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claims that he has majority support to form a new government, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. He said the announcement was a tactic to confuse the public as well as stir unrest as the Sabah elections draw ever closer. “Personally, Umno should not […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Explainer: Malaysia’s political maneuvering, next episode

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> A year of Malaysian political maneuvering has taken another turn with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim saying he now has enough support in parliament to be able to form a government and replace prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. DOES THIS MEAN ANWAR BECOMES PRIME MINISTER? No. It’s far from certain Anwar will take the position he has […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Banks: 30pct of 1.4 million Malaysia’s borrowers contacted took up loan repayment help, the rest said ‘doing OK’

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> More than 380,000 of the 1.4 million borrowers that spoke to banks in Malaysia said they would still need help with repaying their loans after the nationwide moratorium on loans expires on September 30, the local banking industry said. In other words, only around 30 per cent of these borrowers took up the banks’ offer […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Aspirasi launches election manifesto, promises RM500 monthly income for all adult Sarawakians

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Every adult Sarawakian will be guaranteed a basic monthly income of RM500 if the Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) and its partners in Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Gasak) can form the state government in the next election that must be called by next year. Aspirasi president Lina Soo made the promise today while launching her party’s […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Parti Sarawak Bersatu says it is staying independent as rumours fly over support for Anwar

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) today said it will remain independent and will not join any alliance or coalition as speculations grow over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim to have the majority in parliament to be the next prime minister. The party secretariat said in a statement that PSB has been consistent and steadfast in its […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Dr Mahathir says main issue is Muhyiddin’s majority, who becomes next PM is secondary

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it has become essential for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to prove he still commanded the majority support needed to remain the prime minister. The former PM said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim of securing the support needed to be the next prime minister was an ancillary issue, which […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

IGP: Police to ramp up compliance monitoring following rise in Covid-19 cases

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The police will ramp up compliance monitoring of standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the recovery movement control order (RMCO) following the increase in Covid-19 cases in the country, says Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador. He said he had instructed the compliance teams to detain or compound those who violated the SOP without […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Court fixes January next year to hear Sarawak govt’s defamation suit against state DAP chair

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The High Court has fixed the hearing for the state government and State Financial Authority (SFA)’s defamation suit against DAP Sarawak chair Chong Chieng Jen over the allegation of missing RM11 billion from the state coffers on January next year. Judicial commissioner Alexander Siew today shifted the hearing dates from October 12 to 16, 2020 […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

MP SPEAKS | Political events in the country are changing rapidly

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> I was visiting the Sabah political shrine of Tambunan in Sabah when Anwar Ibrahim had his noon media conference in Kuala Lumpur, announcing that he had the numbers to become the prime minister of Malaysia. I last met Anwar before I came to Sabah to campaign for Warisan Plus candidates in the Sabah state election […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Analysts split over Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and what it means for national politics

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The fractious nature of politics which saw Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component members challenge its allies in almost a quarter of the 73 seats up for grabs in the state election has led analysts to take a closer look to see if this bodes ill for the rest of the nation when the 15th general […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Minister: No intention to postpone, cancel academic session at universities despite rise in Covid-19 cases

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) said today it has no intention to postpone or cancel academic sessions at public universities and institutes of higher learning nationwide following the increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases especially in Sabah. Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad said this was because the MoHE had issued the standard operating […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

AirAsia Group launches digital platform to diversify business amid Covid-19

<a href="https://www.intellasia.net/">Intellasia East Asia News</a> Malaysia-based AirAsia Group introduced today a new application dubbed AirAsia Digital to connect its growing business with customers. AirAsia Group chief executive Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the “super app” is an all-in-one platform covering cashless payments, food delivery, shopping, entertainment and travel and hopes it will promote the conglomerate as more than just an […]

25 September 2020 | 1:02 am

Malaysia News