The COVID-19 virus, which first emerged in Wuhan, China has now infected over 20.8 million people worldwide, with over 700,000 fatalities related to the disease. Unfortunately, the coronavirus isn’t merely a health crisis.
Malaysia's ex-finance minister, now a key opposition figure, was charged with corruption Friday over a US$1.5 billion construction project, the latest government critic to be targeted since a scandal-plagued party returned to power.Lim Guan Eng is the highest-profile figure yet to face a criminal probe in a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the new administration, and says the case against him is politically motivated.A crowd of journalists and supporters, including fellow MPs, w
Malaysian authorities raided Al Jazeera's Kuala Lumpur office Tuesday and seized computers as part of an investigation into a documentary about migrants that angered the government, drawing condemnation from the broadcaster. Police launched the probe into the Qatar-based news network's programme last month, adding to concerns about worsening media freedom in Malaysia.The documentary - "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown" - looked at the detention of undocumente
Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in jail on corruption charges linked to the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal that led to the downfall of his government two years ago. The ex-prime minister was also fined almost US$50 million after being convicted on all seven charges in the first of several trials related to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund. The 67-year-old is challenging the verdict and will likely
One of the first industries to feel the pinch from the coronavirus crisis has been the tourism sector.
Malaysia's ex-leader Najib Razak was found guilty Tuesday in his first trial over the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, two years after the fraud contributed to the downfall of his long-ruling government.The former prime minister could now face decades in jail after being convicted on all charges in the case related to the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.Billions of dollars were stolen from the investment vehicle and spent on everything from high-end real e
A Malaysian court will hand down its verdict in Najib Razak's first corruption trial on Tuesday, nearly 16 months after it began probing the former prime minister's role in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal.Najib and his inner circle are accused of plundering sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad in a mind-boggling fraud that stretched around the world.Stolen cash was allegedly used to bankroll Hollywood hit "The Wolf of Wall Street", starring Leonardo DiC
As China continues its incursions into Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, there is a need for the latter to display firm resolve by leaving no doubt that it is prepared to use force in the extreme of circumstances, given the recurrent blatant and flagrant violations of its territorial sovereignty and integrity by China.At the same time, Malaysia must continue to pursue diplomatic recourse and channels – both bilateral as well as multilateral – to try to find an a
Malaysia reached a US$3.9 billion settlement with Goldman Sachs on Friday over the Wall Street titan's role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal in exchange for the country ending all criminal proceedings against the bank. Billions of dollars were looted from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in a fraud that allegedly involved former prime minister Najib Razak and his cronies. The cash plundered from state coffers bankrolled a global spending spree, and was spent
Last June, former Miss Universe Malaysia, Samantha Katie James posted a series of opinions on the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States (US). She wrote a message to “the black people” on her social media platform Instagram, advising them to “Relax, take it as a challenge, makes you stronger.” “You chose to be born as a ‘coloured’ person in America for a reason.
The US has banned the import of surgical gloves from two subsidiaries of Malaysia's Top Glove - the world's biggest manufacturer of the product - over forced labour concerns, despite soaring demand during the coronavirus pandemic.Countries worldwide have been scrambling to stock up on protective gear, from gloves to faces masks, since the pandemic began earlier this year.But US Customs and Border Protection said it decided to impose the ban on Top Glove "based on reasonable evi
Malaysia's prime minister narrowly won a vote to remove the parliament speaker during a rowdy session of the legislature Monday, a key test of support for the embattled leader.The Southeast Asian nation has been gripped by turmoil since a reformist government collapsed in February and Muhyiddin Yassin became premier, at the head of a coalition backed by a scandal-plagued party.He took power without an election, and there had been speculation he did not have sufficient support from MPs to
