Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 31 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia’s population is expected to grow 2.1 percent, this year, led by international migration, official data showed today.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that, the total population of Malaysia in 2023 is estimated at 33.4 million, as compared to 32.7 million in 2022.

According to the DOSM, the increase in population growth rate is due to the higher number of non-citizens, which is likely to increase from 2.5 million in 2022 to three million this year.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore conducted its first execution of a woman in 19 years on Friday and its second hanging this week for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to cease capital punishment for drug-related crimes.

Activists said another execution is planned next week.

Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of diamorphine, or pure heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau said. It said the amount was “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week.”

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (NNN-Bernama) — The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest rate announcement. 

As the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise interest rates by another 25 basis points, investors are looking forward to the accompanying statement to gauge the future outlook for rates.

At 9 am, the local note fell to 4.5705/5740 against the greenback compared with 4.5640/5690 at Monday’s close.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) is set to take delivery of its first brand new Boeing 737-8 aircraft in August 2023.

In a statement Wednesday, the national carrier said it will gradually grow its 737-8 fleet to 25 by 2026.

“The introduction of our new 737-8 aircraft in August 2023 sets a new standard in air travel.

BATU PAHAT (Johor, Malaysia), July 19 (NNN-Bernama) — Three Myanmar nationals were found dead in a car parked at the Yong Peng rest and relax (R&R) southbound near Batu Pahat in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor on Tuesday.

Acting Batu Pahat OCPD Supt Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the car was locked, with its windows wound up and engine and air-conditioning running when the incident happened.

Police were alerted to the incident by members of the public at about 9.15 pm.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Reuters) - Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group (UHR.S) has filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government for confiscating rainbow-coloured watches that celebrate LGBT rights, in an act the company says has damaged its reputation.

Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and rights groups have warned of growing intolerance against the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the collaboration between the Malaysian Government and the founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Inc and SpaceX, Elon Musk, will create tens of thousands of skilled job opportunities in the country.

He said this comes after Musk agreed to make significant investments in Malaysia, including setting up Tesla headquarters in Cyberjaya.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has retained its position as the fifth largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2022, after Australia, the United States, Qatar and Russia.

According to the International Gas Union’s 14th annual World LNG Report 2023 released on July 12, LNG exports from Malaysia in 2022 stood at 27.3 million tonnes (MT), an increase from 24.9 MT in 2021, which constitutes about seven per cent of the total LNG traded globally.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia is seeking concept proposals from local and international firms and consortiums to reactivate its Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (KL-SG HSR) project.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia and India reaffirmed commitments to further enhance defence cooperation, particularly in military-to-military cooperation and defence science, technology and industry.

This was achieved during the meeting between Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan and his visiting counterpart from India, Shri Rajnath Singh at the Ministry of Defence, here Monday.

Shri Rajnath Singh arrived Sunday for a four-day introductory visit to Malaysia.