Stories from Malaysia

Jailed former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has withdrawn his appeal against a court ruling that denied his request to serve his sentence at home. Razak has been imprisoned since 2022 following convictions for graft, abuse of power, and money laundering. These offenses were linked to the theft of billions of dollars from a sovereign wealth fund established during his tenure.

Australian company Lynas Rare Earths has begun extracting heavy rare earths at its facility in Kuantan, Malaysia. This production marks a development as heavy rare earths are a category currently dominated by China. The facility is one of the few outside China capable of producing separated heavy rare earth elements.

A high-level delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, led by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, is participating in the 19th Asia Defense and National Security Exhibition in Malaysia. The delegation met with various international defense ministers, including the Turkish Defense Minister, to discuss international cooperation in the defense industry. The mission aims to strengthen strategic ties and promote mutual cooperation based on equality and international law. The delegation said Vietnam's commitment to enhancing defense industry cooperation through international exchanges. Datuk Sri Muhammad Hassan attended the Hajj delegation, with the war described as becoming more difficult.

The Sabah State Railway department plans to modernize its ticketing system by introducing cashless payment options. Official Muhammad Safri Abdul Habi stated the initiative is part of a broader digitalization effort to improve efficiency for daily commuters. The new payment system is expected to be operational by June this year. This move aims to provide faster and more convenient services for passengers in the state. A new cashless payment system for daily passengers is expected to be completed by June 2026 in Sabah, Malaysia. The rollout follows recent travel experiences in areas like Tenom.

The Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources aims to facilitate 200,000 job placements this year through expanded national programs. The 'My Future Jobs' carnival initiative is offering over 10,000 opportunities with monthly salaries ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 ringgit. The program is designed to enhance nationwide employability and economic participation.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) officially announced at its 87th Annual General Meeting that the 21-point scoring system will be discontinued. The decision was officially confirmed during the 87th BWF Annual General Meeting held on April 25, 2026.

Protesters marched toward Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur to protest alleged government double standards regarding an anti-corruption commission probe into chief Azam Bakki. Fireworks exploded in several directions during the demonstration, causing participants to disperse and seek shelter. Police increased their presence at the scene, though no injuries have been reported. The protest follows allegations of misconduct involving the commission chief.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and various overseas Vietnamese associations organized ceremonies to commemorate Hung Vuong Ancestor Commemoration Day. These events serve to remember the nation's origins and reinforce the responsibility to preserve national values. The ceremonies said unity and the promotion of national identity. Similar events were held by expatriate communities from Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces in Malaysia. The Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia acknowledged the active participation of community groups.

Protesters in Malaysia are demanding that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) be made directly accountable to Parliament. The demonstrations include prominent government lawmakers such as former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. The MACC currently holds wide-ranging powers to investigate, search, seize, and arrest suspects. Ramli has hinted at the potential formation of a new political party ahead of the next general election. The movement seeks a complete overhaul of the institution. Protesters seek to reform the MACC's wide-ranging powers regarding investigations, searches, seizures, and arrests. The demonstrators are also calling for a royal commission of inquiry to investigate alleged corporate mafia activities within enforcement agencies. This comes despite the announcement that a new MACC chief will take over from Abdul Bakki next month.

Malaysian cyclist Datuk Azizul Hasni won the Kirin gold event. He defeated world champion Harry Lev Resen of the Netherlands, who took second place. Trinidad and Tobago's Nikolas Powell finished in third place. This marks Hasni's second victory in the current World Cup series following an opening win in Australia last month.