In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defence ties with Malaysia, with US Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim emphasizing the partnership during the 37th Annual Military Law and Operations Conference held in Kuala Lumpur this week.
Indian authorities are pursuing West Bengal businessman Tulu Mondal after raids on his residences uncovered alleged smuggling operations. Police believe he fled to Dubai with family members before state elections.
West Bengal police have arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of links to Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Investigators allege he sought to infiltrate the security detail of the state's Chief Minister.
Malaysia and Thailand have pledged to deepen defence ties and coordinate on regional security challenges. The commitment was sealed during high-level talks between their defence ministers at Subang Air Base.
Perry Warjiyo stepped down as Bank Indonesia governor as the region grapples with US trade pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. Southeast Asian leaders are prioritizing regional cooperation and security measures.
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. positioned ASEAN as his nation's most reliable partner during a fifth State of the Nation Address, emphasizing concrete regional initiatives in food security, digital economy, and energy resilience as bulwarks against global uncertainty.
ASEAN and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with foreign ministers discussing maritime cooperation, trade connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges during Manila talks.
Donald Trump has escalated rhetoric against Iran, declaring the US will destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for each attack on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, despite a June ceasefire framework.
Thailand's Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, reaffirming bilateral ties and discussing security cooperation, trade negotiations, and Myanmar's role in Asean.
China summoned the Philippine ambassador following a confrontation involving the coast guard at a disputed reef, drawing criticism from the US and regional allies over escalating tensions in contested waters.
Tensions in the South China Sea threaten to overshadow an ASEAN meeting in Manila, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi will both attend. A recent clash between Philippine and Chinese sailors has further complicated regional dynamics.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has arrived in Manila to lead the Malaysian delegation at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The gathering will address regional challenges including the Myanmar crisis and West Asia situation.
Police have connected a 23-year-old Malaysian detained in Sri Lanka with cocaine worth RM1.1 million to an organised international drug trafficking syndicate, marking fresh concerns over cross-border narcotics smuggling.
Southeast Asia's foreign ministers convene in Manila this week amid growing alarm over Middle East hostilities, Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict and South China Sea territorial tensions, with top officials from the US, China and Russia attending.
The Philippines is hosting the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting from July 20-24, bringing together regional and dialogue partners to discuss security, human rights, and geopolitical tensions affecting Southeast Asia and beyond.
Southeast Asian governments tackle diverse challenges from school enrollment declines to cross-border security threats, while digital adoption surges across the region.
Thailand's concerns about Cambodian tank acquisitions expose a troubling inconsistency: Bangkok portrays its own advanced fighters and military exercises as routine defence while depicting Cambodia's modest equipment purchases as strategic threats.
The US conducted its eighth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran after two American military personnel were killed in Jordan. The escalation marks a dangerous intensification since a ceasefire agreement collapsed last week.
Iraq is advancing plans for a Mediterranean pipeline to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz amid prolonged regional tensions. The project would link major oil fields to Turkish and Syrian ports, with potential extension to Jordan.
Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has called for public debate on nuclear weapons, marking a significant shift in Tokyo's security posture as the government prepares sweeping revisions to national defence policy.
Six Israeli military vehicles crossed into Syria's Quneitra province on Saturday, advancing toward the Kudna Dam as drone operations continued overhead. The incursion marks an intensification of Israeli activity since Assad's regime collapsed in December.
Thailand and Cambodia are establishing a five-member UN conciliation commission to resolve competing maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, but remain split on whether talks should address offshore energy resources worth an estimated $300 billion.
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei has condemned the United States for breaching a peace memorandum signed by President Trump and Iran's President Pezeshkian in June, describing the US as fundamentally untrustworthy and warning of severe consequences.
The United States has instructed its citizens to refrain from travelling to Lebanon and northern Israel, citing elevated security concerns and potential for unpredictable conflict escalation in the volatile West Asia region.
Thailand and Cambodia's pledge to pursue peaceful resolution of their border dispute, brokered at May's ASEAN summit in Cebu, remains intact, the Philippine foreign ministry confirmed this week.
Prime Ministers Hun Manet and Anutin Chanvirakul will attend the World AI Conference 2026 in Shanghai on July 17, invited by President Xi Jinping. The visit raises questions about China's potential role in resolving their countries' stalled border negotiations.
Three oil tankers were struck in separate incidents off Oman on Tuesday, with three crew members missing and six injured. The incidents heighten concerns about maritime security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Southeast Asian nations intensify efforts to combat transnational crime and boost economic resilience, with Cambodia applauded for scam crackdowns, Indonesia blocking millions of gambling sites, and Thailand revamping visa policies amid regional development initiatives.
Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin affirmed Malaysia's commitment to working with Thailand's newly appointed Peace Dialogue Panel chief to strengthen peace efforts in southern Thailand, during a bilateral defence meeting.
Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin met Thailand's newly appointed Defence Minister Lieutenant General Adul Boonthumjaroen to reinforce bilateral defence partnerships and regional stability efforts.
Malaysian lawmakers will examine the progress of the Malaysia-Thailand Border Economic Zone and address the ripple effects of the Strait of Hormuz crisis on regional commerce and shipping routes during parliamentary proceedings today.
A coalition of 14 countries, led by the Philippines, commemorated ten years since a pivotal arbitration tribunal invalidated China's expansive South China Sea claims, emphasizing the ruling's binding status under international law.
Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia's Sunda Strait erupted on July 7, ejecting ash plumes 100 metres high. The Geological Agency raised its alert status to Level III (Watch), establishing a three-kilometre exclusion zone as daily tremors exceed 97 events.
The United Arab Emirates reported successfully intercepting Iranian missiles and drones early Sunday, while Qatar and Bahrain activated emergency safety measures. The strikes came after Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed retaliation against US military positions.
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned an alleged Iran-linked financial network, including individuals connected to Iran's Supreme Leader and several Tehran-based exchange houses, following recent maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reaffirmed that resolving violence in Thailand's southern border provinces remains a governmental priority, emphasising sustained Malaysia-Thailand cooperation on regional security and development initiatives.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to resolving the Myanmar crisis through dialogue, positioning Thailand as a crucial regional partner in advancing peace efforts during bilateral talks with Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul.
Iran's military has declared all US military bases across the region as legitimate targets for drone strikes, accusing Washington of repeatedly violating ceasefire agreements and attacking civilian areas.
Japan's coast guard successfully expelled two Chinese coast guard ships from waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands on Tuesday, citing a violation of international law and territorial sovereignty in a tense maritime confrontation.
China has promoted two senior military officers to general rank as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign that has removed several top commanders. The moves signal potential restructuring of the military's highest decision-making body.
High-ranking Iranian and international officials gathered in Tehran on Friday to honour the country's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a solemn tribute ceremony, marking a pivotal moment in Iran's political transition.
China's seven-month campaign of economic pressure against Japan over Prime Minister Takaichi's Taiwan remarks has exposed tensions between Washington and Tokyo, with analysts attributing Trump's tepid response to his transactional worldview and competing priorities.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's dedication to bolstering ASEAN as a unified, inclusive bloc capable of serving its people's interests during discussions with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected predictions of inevitable conflict in the South China Sea, arguing that dialogue, mutual trust and respect for international law provide the foundation for regional stability.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5d6wg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5d6wp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ETwo%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has arrested two brothers following the seizure of drugs valued at RM6.95 million near Tanjung Piai, marking another significant success in maritime enforcement operations.
Southeast Asian nations are advancing security cooperation frameworks, infrastructure investment, and bilateral trade agreements. Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam prioritize border development while Indonesia plans 39 new airports and Philippines extends visa-free access.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly defended Iran's right to possess ballistic missiles during a high-level visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, asserting that missile capabilities were never part of the recent US-Iran understanding.