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It’s been back-to-back action for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, having rushed back from a divisive party election in Johor, to host the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur that concludes with an economic forum today.
His daughter Nurul Izzah beat incumbent Rafizi Ramli for the deputy presidency, with the latter’s slate of candidates also failing to capture more than a handful of seats in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat national leadership. But the victory has come at the cost of wide accusations of nepotism and electoral fraud.
The Asean Summit was a tamer affair, with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong calling Malaysia an “energetic and effective” chair of the regional grouping. But while there were high points such as the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council-China and Timor-Leste’s membership, key issues including the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and disputes in the South China Sea saw little progress.
And to highlight how careful South-east Asian nations are having to tread between the US and China amid current tensions, Malaysia backtracked on the purported use of Huawei’s AI chips just before the Asean Summit.
Follow ST’s coverage as we continue to bring you the latest developments.
After a substantive Asean Summit, PM Anwar eyes real change
Some milestone agreements notwithstanding, limits remain on what Asean and its chair can achieve.
Anwar bullish on Asean grid and Myanmar conflict
Grouping has built consensus on various issues, including trade, US tariffs, he said.
Anwar and daughter now have to get their hands dirty to restore PKR’s shine
For new deputy president Nurul Izzah, who secured nearly three-quarters of the vote, the real battle begins now.
More Malaysians choosing skills over degrees; vocational training gets boost from Beijing
Key areas such as automation, EVs and smart manufacturing have seen a steady rise in enrolment numbers.
Malaysia stirs ‘hotpot diplomacy’ with palm-based fat for China
Malaysia backtracks on Huawei chips project amid US-China AI rivalry
S’porean man and wife nabbed in Malaysia for peddling drug-laced vape liquids to schoolkids
