In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
Malaysia's housing ministry is drafting four new laws and implementing big data analytics to address market mismatches under its National Housing Policy 2026–2035, tailoring affordable housing definitions to regional income levels.
South Korea's prohibition on breeding and slaughtering dogs for meat begins in February 2027, marking the end of a centuries-old practice. Over 80% of dog meat farms have already ceased operations.
The 9th ASEAN Children's Forum has called on member states to enhance child protection through stronger laws, better reporting mechanisms, and anti-bullying enforcement. Recommendations address violence in homes, schools, online spaces and communities.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara has wound up its second meeting with 12 bills passed after a 10-day parliamentary session. The upper house also debated motions on cross-border e-commerce threats and voting rights for auxiliary police.
Singapore is strengthening its anti-scam framework through new legislation that expands police powers, enables information sharing with service providers, and imposes hefty penalties on digital platforms that fail to prevent fraud.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara has concluded its second meeting of the fifth parliamentary session, successfully passing the National Trust Fund Bill 2026 and Statistics Bill 2026. The 10-day sitting prioritized economic governance and fiscal sustainability.
Malaysia's Religious Affairs Ministry is conducting stakeholder consultations on proposed amendments to the Tabung Haji Act 1995, following recommendations from a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the pilgrimage fund's management.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara has passed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, creating a regulatory framework for social workers and establishing a council with cross-sector representation to standardise professional practice.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara has passed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, creating a regulatory framework to professionalize social work services. The legislation establishes the Malaysian Social Work Profession Council to set competency standards and protect public welfare.
Malaysia's Statistics Bill 2026, approved by Parliament in July, will be formally gazetted by year-end. The landmark legislation modernises the nation's statistical framework after six decades.
Malaysia's upper house has approved legislation broadening the country's authority to prosecute child sexual offenders who operate across international borders, responding to a sharp rise in cases involving foreign perpetrators.
Malaysia's Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduces one-off assistance for participants exiting the programme, including housing and relocation support. The measure addresses a gap in current legislation.
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has warned of escalating online fraud threats to Malaysia, citing over 8,000 recorded charges this year. The government is advancing the Cyber Crime Bill 2026 to strengthen protections.
Malaysia's upper house has approved the Cyber Security Bill 2026, a comprehensive legislative overhaul replacing the 27-year-old Computer Crimes Act 1997. The new framework aims to address modern cyber threats while maintaining international cooperation standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid warns of escalating online fraud threat, revealing 8,014 charges recorded by May 2026, already surpassing last year's total. The government is advancing comprehensive cybercrime legislation.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia is intensifying preparations to roll out the Statistics Bill 2026, recently passed by Parliament. The overhaul modernises the country's 60-year-old statistical framework through inter-agency coordination and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Malaysia's Cabinet has endorsed proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 allowing courts to impose compensation on road offenders for victims' losses, alongside existing penalties like fines and imprisonment.
Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat concluded its Second Meeting of the Fifth Term after 16 days, having passed 13 bills covering transport, cybercrime, child safety, and communications reforms.
Malaysia's parliament has passed the Statistics Bill 2026, replacing the outdated 1965 Statistics Act with modern legislation designed to support data-driven policymaking across social, economic and environmental sectors.
Malaysia's parliament has passed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, formally recognising social work as a regulated profession. The legislation establishes the Malaysian Social Work Profession Council to oversee practitioner credentials and professional standards.
Malaysia's parliament has endorsed amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act, introducing national security measures into the Universal Service Provision initiative without additional user costs.
Malaysia has tabled the Social Work Profession Bill 2026 in Parliament, marking a significant step towards professionalising the social work sector. The legislation will establish a regulatory council and register to oversee practitioners and trainees.
Malaysia's Media Council has endorsed the government's decision to refer the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 to a Parliamentary Select Committee, calling the move essential for thorough democratic scrutiny of legislation that will define state-public relations.
Malaysia has taken a landmark step by tabling the Social Work Profession Bill 2026 in Parliament, formally recognising the social work profession and strengthening the nation's social protection framework after years of advocacy.
Malaysia's parliament has approved amendments to strengthen food security and combat smuggling in the rice industry, imposing substantially higher penalties for violations following 32 years without regulatory updates.
Benjamin Netanyahu's government is fast-tracking a slate of disputed bills through parliament before dissolution, with elections scheduled roughly four months away. The legislative push has drawn sharp opposition criticism.
Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat advanced two competition amendment bills and tabled rice industry regulations during its third sitting week, while MPs debated press freedom, MSME financing, and 1MDB's RM51.4 billion liabilities.