In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has commended Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayyeb for his role in advancing religious tolerance and moderation on the world stage, highlighting the institution's influence across Muslim-majority nations.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will visit Indonesia on August 3–4 for high-level talks with President Prabowo Subianto, marking the first official Thai PM visit in 15 years and signalling renewed focus on deepening strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has invited Indian historian Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, to visit Malaysia in early 2025 to deliver lectures on democracy, peace and values-based leadership.
Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn will visit Malaysia from August 3 for the 3rd Cambodia–Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation meeting in Kuala Lumpur, seeking to strengthen the countries' multifaceted partnership.
Malaysia's Home Ministry has initiated a formal identification and screening programme for Rohingya refugees, aiming to repatriate 5,000 Myanmar nationals following a bilateral agreement. The process involves security vetting and status verification at immigration detention facilities.
Pakistan and Jordan have initiated diplomatic coordination to address escalating tensions in Palestine, with plans for a broader Arab and Islamic nations meeting to align responses to Israeli military operations and settler activities.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa have reaffirmed their countries' commitment to deepening cooperation during a telephone conversation.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has asked the Philippines to support Dhaka's application for ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status, during bilateral talks in Manila centred on deepening economic and social cooperation.
Asean has called for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with foreign ministers expressing deep concern about the Middle East conflict's ripple effects on regional economies, energy supplies and maritime security across Asia-Pacific.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan's Ishaq Dar met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to underscore their shared interest in de-escalation and dialogue, as regional tensions mount following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement.
ASEAN and China are advancing negotiations on a South China Sea code of conduct, with both sides expressing commitment to finalizing the agreement by year-end. Negotiators are focusing on resolving four key issues including legal binding status and geographical scope.
Indonesia's foreign minister has challenged Asean to fulfil its commitments and demonstrate credibility as the bloc grapples with escalating geopolitical tensions, including fallout from the Middle East conflict and the stalled South China Sea code of conduct.
Asean's annual foreign ministers meeting opens in Manila with top diplomats from China, Russia, and the United States attending. The gathering comes amid mounting geopolitical pressures and the continuing Myanmar political deadlock.
The Philippines will host ASEAN foreign ministers next week to chart the bloc's next moves on Myanmar, building on recent in-person talks held in Thailand—the first such meeting since 2021.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on his 80th birthday, expressing hopes for strengthened cooperation between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
Bangladesh has signalled its commitment to strengthening ties with Malaysia, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman choosing the country for his first official bilateral visit. Both nations are accelerating free trade agreement negotiations and exploring broader cooperation.
Singapore and Malaysia have pledged to deepen cooperation in food security, energy, climate adaptation and technical education. The commitment emerged during President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's inaugural state visit to Malaysia this week.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, acting as ASEAN chair's special envoy, will lead a humanitarian mission to Myanmar by end-2026 to expand aid access in conflict zones.
Cambodia and Thailand's prime ministers will meet Chinese leaders at a Shanghai conference in July, raising hopes that Beijing might pressure both nations to resume stalled border negotiations that have deadlocked since December.
ASEAN has doubled down on its Five-Point Consensus framework for Myanmar, emphasizing humanitarian aid, violence reduction, and political dialogue. The bloc held its first in-person meeting with Myanmar's foreign minister since 2021, signalling calibrated engagement despite parliamentary rejection.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is visiting Jakarta on July 6 for an annual leaders' retreat with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on deepening bilateral ties across trade, defence, climate and technology sectors.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will visit Malaysia on July 9 and 10 for discussions with PM Anwar Ibrahim, focusing on cross-border security challenges and deepening bilateral trade ties.
Iran and Oman have convened the first meeting of their Joint Hormuz Committee to coordinate management of the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor, with discussions centred on sovereignty rights and future governance frameworks.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says ASEAN is pursuing new strategies to reinvigorate implementation of the Five-Point Consensus framework aimed at resolving Myanmar's ongoing crisis.