Malaysia Edition: No early Budget, for now | Singdollar to ringgit hits all-time high

Asian Insider: Malaysian Insider 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.


Malaysia's budget for 2023 is still scheduled to be tabled at the end of October, according to Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, amid growing speculation that Parliament could be dissolved by then to pave the way for a general election in November.

Ahead of the impending national polls, which must be held by September next year, the political temperature has been rising.

A stunning US$15 billion arbitration award against Malaysia to claimed heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate based in the Philippines has ignited a blame game, instead of uniting Malaysians against what Kuala Lumpur insists is an illegal decision.

Meanwhile Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has issued a report accusing Malaysian police of operating “troll farms” made up of hundreds of fake social media accounts supporting Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government.

The government is also pushing ahead this week to finalise its agreement with local telcos on taking up stakes in Malaysia's wholesale 5G network provider, despite misgivings from two big industry players Maxis and U Mobile.

On the Covid-19 front, Malaysia is seeing a low takeup of Covid-19 booster jabs, despite daily infections still breaching 5,000.

Zafrul denies early Budget to allow early election

The finance minister said Budget 2023 remains "to his knowledge" scheduled for Oct 28.

READ MORE HERE


Political blame game over US$15 billion award for Sulu heirs

Various political players have denied culpability or knowledge of the government's actions in what authorities claim is an illegal award.

READ MORE HERE


KL ends 5G negotiations; two Big Four telcos could miss out

Maxis and U Mobile have outstanding concerns over governance of Digital Nasional Berhad as the sole vehicle to roll out 5G.

READ MORE HERE


Malaysian police linked to Facebook 'troll farm'

Meta said over 600 accounts linked to the police posted memes supporting the current government and attempted to paint critics as corrupt.

READ MORE HERE


Low take-up of Covid-19 booster shots

Just under half of Malaysians have taken their third dose of the vaccine.

READ MORE HERE


Singdollar exchange rate for ringgit hits record high

A money changer has been selling out his supply of ringgit almost daily since the Singapore-Malaysia land borders reopened in April.

READ MORE HERE


Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.