Asian Insider: Malaysia Edition helps you connect the dots on the biggest stories playing out in Malaysia every week. Sign up here to get the newsletter in your inbox.
This week we highlight the tough commercial decisions facing Malaysia’s government, including those relating to the nationwide 5G network roll-out and the controversial Lynas mining project.
Funding for the existing state-led 5G wholesale network could be stalled as telco players eye a lucrative second network, the commercial terms for which have yet to be outlined by the government. Lending further uncertainty to the issue, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has made public statements which lean towards backing the involvement of Chinese technology equipment giant Huawei.
Despite environmental concerns, Kuala Lumpur has handed rare earths miner Lynas a lifeline to continue importing raw materials that produce waste which have long raised fears of radiation pollution, as the Australian firm works on commercialising a method to extract the radioactive material.
Meanwhile, PM Anwar has in recent weeks focused on championing the cause of Palestinians amid the brutal conflict of the Israel-Hamas war, even headlining a stadium rally that drew a crowd of about 20,000 on Tuesday.
Follow ST’s coverage as we continue to bring you the latest developments and thank you for reading The Straits Times.
Malaysia’s 5G future in choppy waters as geopolitics, commercial interests collide
Major telcos are jostling over a second network while the prime minister backs Huawei to be equipment provider.
Thousands of Malaysians gather in KL in solidarity with Palestine
The organisers had stressed that the gathering must be non-offensive and non-provocative.
School toilets get refit after decades of neglect
Food truck phenomenon draws Malaysia’s hipster foodies and entrepreneurs
Many jobless Malaysians turned to the food truck industry during the pandemic as a way to stay afloat.
Stop-work order issued for planned toll project in Genting Highlands
Royal Selangor Club finally scraps Long Bar’s no-women policy after holding out for 139 years
Eight members wanted the rule to stay, but everyone else said it’s time to let go and move on.
