Japan to offer patrol planes to Malaysia: report

Japan plans to donate retired military patrol aircraft to Malaysia, a report said Friday, as alliances strengthen in response to China's maritime claims. Beijing insists it has sovereign rights to almost all of the South China Sea -- strategically vital waters, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims. Responding to a request by Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo plans to offer decomissioned P-3C patrol aircraft, the Nikkei business daily said, quoting an unnamed official at the defence ministry.

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IGP confirms third Turkish man’s arrest

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The police have confirmed that Turkish academic Ismet Ozcelik was arrested yesterday in connection to activities threatening Malaysia’s security. Inspector-General of...

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Malaysia's clogged oil shipping lanes underscore failure to reduce glut

By Henning Gloystein and Florence Tan SINGAPORE/DUBAI (Reuters) - Oil industry leaders meeting in Malaysia next week to discuss extending production cuts won't have to look far for evidence the market remains awash in supply. While not on the official agenda at the bi-annual Asia Oil and Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur from Sunday to Tuesday, the attendance of top oil executives and policy makers including Saudi Arabian energy minister Khalid Al-Falih, ensures the production cut will be a major talking point. Crude prices languishing near 2017 lows are also keeping the over-supply issue to the fore.

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IGP confirms Turks not abducted, detained under SOSMA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Two Turkish men allegedly abducted Monday are under police custody instead for posing a threat to Malaysia’s security, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar...

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High alert after report IS suspect fled to Thailand

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday instructed relevant agencies to be on alert after Malaysia revealed that a suspect linked to the Islamic State (IS), Muhammad Muzaffa Arieff Junaidi, had possibly fled to Thailand's deep South.

Muhammad, 27, from Malaysia's Kelantan state, is believed to have been running an IS cell. Six suspects linked to that cell were arrested in March in several Malaysian states.

"He managed to escape to southern Thailand with an M4 Carbine rifle and a pistol on March 22. He is also involved in smuggling weapons from southern Thailand," Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said.

Prayut said Thai authorities were ready to co-operate with Malaysia on a joint investigation and extradition of the suspect, but he urged the media not to play up the issue.

"Please don't play up the security matter. It's dangerous," Prayut said.

The Thai Army has contacted Malaysia for more information, Fourth Army Region Commander Lt-General Piyawat Nakwanich said.

There is no active IS movement in the deep South, he said, adding that border control authorities are very strict on cross-border movements.

There have been no reports of Muhammad entering the Kingdom, chief of Thai Immigration Bureau Natthorn Prausoonthorn said.

More than 6,800 people have been killed in the ongoing violence in Thailand's deep South since 2004. Authorities in Bangkok have said the situation in the predominantly Muslim region is a domestic affair.

In Malaysia, four men and two women, aged between 26 and 41, were picked up by Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division following raids in five states, according to The Star newspaper.

The first arrests involved two men in Kelantan on March 24 and 25, Khalid said.

"We believe they were involved in smuggling weapons from southern Thailand for the terror group," he said yesterday.

A 26-year-old student was picked up at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on April 4 after she went to Turkey on August 29 last year with the intention of going to Syria to join IS, Khalid said.

"However, while waiting for further instructions from militant Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, the suspect was detained by Turkish authorities on February 5," he said.

Two more arrests were made - of a 41-year-old jobless man, and a 32-year-old woman who worked as a factory technician - in Malacca and Johor respectively, Khalid said.

"We believe they were actively promoting IS propaganda via the Google Plus app," he said.

The sixth arrest was of a 41-year-old man in Penang state on April 25. He is believed to have promoted the IS struggle via 15 Facebook accounts since 2014.

It is believed he was also planning to attack Shi'ite mosques in Penang, Khalid said.

Asia

Thursday, May 4, 2017 - 16:09

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China warships to call on Penang port

GEORGE TOWN, May 4 — In a historic act, three Chinese warships will call on a Penang port next Friday to improve bilateral and military relations between China and Malaysia, an official from...

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‘Negaraku’ soars the skies with Malaysia Airlines

PUTRAJAYA, May 4 — Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) has pledged its support for the “Negaraku” initiative, a nationwide movement aimed at fostering unity in the spirit of patriotism. In...

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Teach for Malaysia co-founder: Pay teachers well so we can get better students

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — How do we get better students? How about paying teachers better for a start, said Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) ambassador Dzameer Dzulkifli. The Teach for Malaysia...

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Malaysia arrests 2 Turks suspected of threatening national security

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police have arrested two Turks, including the head of an international school, suspected of activities threatening national security, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said.

The men, school head Turgay Karaman and businessman Ihsan Aslan, were arrested on Tuesday under a section of the penal code related to "terrorist acts", he said in a Tweet.

No further details of their alleged activities in Muslim-majority Malaysia were immediately available.

The police confirmation came after Karaman was seen on CCTV recordings circulated on social media being forced into an unmarked car by five unknown men at a carpark in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur.

A police report was filed on Karaman's disappearance by a friend on Tuesday night.

Aslan was also reported missing by his wife on Tuesday night after she failed to hear from him for more than a day.

Karaman's lawyer, Rosli Dahlan, told Reuters that the disappearances bore similarities to a case in October when two Turks were reported missing and later discovered to have been deported to Turkey.

He denied speculation that the men were supporters of U.S-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is being blamed by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for orchestrating a failed coup last year.

Gulen denies any involvement in the failed coup in which more than 230 people were killed. "They are academics.

They have not been charged for any Gulen activities," Rosli said.

Turkey has applied pressure to other countries that are home to institutions backed by Gulen, whose Hizmet movement runs about 2,000 educational establishments around the world.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said the two men should not be forcibly sent to Turkey, and called for an urgent investigation.

"There is little doubt that if they are returned to Turkey, they will face torture in detention, and if charged with crimes there, be subjected to a trial that will fall far short of fair trial standards,"

Malaysia, Asia

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 17:14

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Malaysia police arrest Turks over 'security threat'

Two Turkish nationals who went missing in Malaysia have been arrested as a security threat, the police chief announced on Wednesday, but a rights group raised concerns of possible pressure from Ankara for the detentions. National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar tweeted that Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan were arrested "because they threatened the security of Malaysia." No further details were provided by authorities and the Turkish embassy refused to comment. Another Turkish national Suheyl Ozcelik on Tuesday lodged a police report saying he had seen CCTV footage of five men abducting Karaman, a physics teacher, at a Kuala Lumpur carpark.

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Runners from 28 countries to take part in extreme marathon on Mount Rinjani

Malaysia Airlines reaches settlement with family over MH17

Malaysia Airlines announced Tuesday it has an Australian family who lost four family members on Flight MH17. Perth couple Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris lost their children Evie, 10, Mo, 12, and Otis, 8, along with their grandfather on the Boeing 777 which was shot down over Ukraine in 2014. The airline said in a statement it has reached "an amicable and confidential settlement with the Maslin family and therefore the suit has been withdrawn".

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Girl barred from Malaysia chess competition over 'seductive' dress

A 12-year-old girl was barred from a Malaysian chess tournament over her "seductive" dress, her coach has claimed, igniting public outrage against the organisers of the competition in the Muslim-majority nation. The Malaysian Chess Federation on Tuesday said it would investigate and denied that religious sensitivities had prompted the decision to exclude the young player, as it seeks to curb the public backlash. In a widely-shared Facebook post, trainer Kaushal Khandhar said his pupil felt "harassed and humiliated" after being forced to withdraw in the middle of the the National Scholastic Chess Championship on April 14.

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Girl barred from Malaysia chess competition over 'seductive' dress

A 12-year-old girl was barred from a Malaysian chess tournament over her "seductive" dress, her coach has claimed, igniting public outrage against the organisers of the competition in the Muslim-majority nation. The Malaysian Chess Federation on Tuesday said it would investigate and denied that religious sensitivities had prompted the decision to exclude the young player, as it seeks to curb the public backlash. In a widely-shared Facebook post, trainer Kaushal Khandhar said his pupil felt "harassed and humiliated" after being forced to withdraw in the middle of the the National Scholastic Chess Championship on April 14.

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Cosplay with hijabs showcased in Malaysia

Muslim women dressed as superheroes, princesses, and mighty sword-wielding warriors took part in a hijab cosplay event in Malaysia Saturday, where the role-playing craze continues to grow. Around 20 women showcased their love for anime with elaborate make-up and costumes while still wearing their traditional hijab -- the headscarf worn by many Muslim women in Malaysia -- at the event at a mall on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Many participants took photos with each other, mingled and networked, sharing costume and make-up tips.

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No tie-up with ‘directionless’ PPBM, says Hadi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today his party will not partner with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), claiming the newest Umno offshoot to be...

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Hadi: Parties opposing Islam’s growth biggest threat to religious freedom

ALOR SETAR, April 29 — Political parties opposing the growth of Islam in Malaysia are the country’s "biggest threat" to religious freedom, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today....

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Three things about: Malaysia’s (private/ state-funded) Islamic schools

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — The spotlight on Islamic schools intensified this week after a student at one of them died following abuse. These schools — whether private or state-funded — are...

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Malaysia PM warns uneven growth could fuel extremism, instability in SE Asia

MANILA - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday warned that Southeast Asian countries needed to ensure their economic growth was inclusive, or risk marginalised

opulations turning to violent extremism or even overturning political systems.

Speaking at an event for entrepreneurs during the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, Najib said the region was posting strong growth that could see ASEAN become the world's fourth-largest economy, but that growth needed to be equitable.

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Malaysia PM warns uneven growth could fuel extremism, instability in SE Asia

By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday warned that Southeast Asian countries needed to ensure their economic growth was inclusive, or risk marginalized populations turning to violent extremism or even overturning political systems. Speaking at an event for entrepreneurs during the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, Najib said the region was posting strong growth that could see ASEAN become the world's fourth-largest economy, but that growth needed to be equitable. "We know that those who see no hope in their own societies are more prone to the siren calls of terrorists who can and exploit their vulnerability and fill them with their lies." Islamist extremism is expected to be high on the agenda during this week's meetings, with fears for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about piracy and the rising threat of Islamic State.

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When Malaysian school authorities use the rod… and physically harm children

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — An assistant hostel warden’s beating of an Islamic religious student which resulted in the amputation of the 11-year-old’s legs and his subsequent death on Wednesday...

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Hishammuddin: Malaysia to sign tripartite sea patrol next month

KOTA KINABALU, April 27 — The much anticipated signing for a joint patrol of the Sulu and Sulawesi seas involving Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines has been rescheduled to May, Defence...

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Leave if you are unhappy, Dr M tells PPBM members

PETALING JAYA, April, 26 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members who are uncomfortable with its leadership are free to leave the opposition party. The...

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Leanne Goh appointed chair of Asia News Network

The Star's editor-in-chief Leanne Goh of Malaysia has been appointed the Asia News Network chairperson for the period 2017/2018. The appointment was made by the Executive Board of ANN, an alliance of 22 media from 21 countries over the weekend.

She succeeds Zaffar Abbas, Editor of Dawn from Pakistan.

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Malaysia's 1MDB reaches settlement deal with Abu Dhabi's IPIC

Malaysia's state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) said on Monday it had reached an agreement with Abu Dhabi state fund IPIC on the settlement of arbitration proceedings at the London Court of International Arbitration. The statement followed an announcement by International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) on the London Stock Exchange confirming a debt deal had been reached.

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Abu Dhabi, Malaysia conditionally agree 1MDB debt deal

ABU DHABI/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi and Malaysia have reached a conditional agreement under which Malaysian state fund 1MDB will pay $1.2 billion to settle a debt dispute that had led to arbitration proceedings in London.     Separately, 1MDB and Malaysia's Ministry of Finance will assume responsibility for all future interest and principal payments under two bonds issued by 1MDB Group companies that are guaranteed by the Malaysian state fund and Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC), IPIC said in a filing in London. ...

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When man bites dog: Times Malaysia witnessed animal cruelty

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 ― The animal abuse case involving Terry Yee drew outrage and cost him portions of his business. The case is under investigation by the police and Department of Veterinary...

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The case for extending Malaysia’s retirement past age 60

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 ― As Malaysians live longer, there have been calls to raise the retirement age past the current 60 to at least 65. Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)...

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China Mobile, others approached for buying into Singapore telco M1: sources

By Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Top shareholders in Singapore telecoms company M1 Ltd have approached potential buyers China Mobile <0941.HK> and global private equity firms, among others, to sell their combined majority stake in the firm, sources familiar with the matter said. The three main shareholders of Singapore's smallest listed telecoms player, who own a combined 61 percent, flagged a strategic review of their investments last month, and jointly appointed Morgan Stanley as their financial adviser. The sources said the three shareholders - Malaysia's Axiata Group , Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation - had also reached out to other telecoms firms, cash-rich business groups in China and Japanese tech firms to gauge their interest.

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MH370 'mostly likely' lies north of search zone: experts

Missing flight MH370 "most likely" lies north of a former search zone in the remote Indian Ocean, Australian authorities said Friday, in a new report that offers hope the plane may one day be found. A vast underwater hunt for the Malaysia Airlines jet off Australia's west coast was halted in January when no trace was found of the plane, which disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing three years ago carrying 239 people. The Australian-led undersea search -- the most expensive ever of its kind -- operated on the assumption that MH370 went down somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, based on satellite data.

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Malaysia doesn’t need Zakir Naik, MIC president says

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 ― Controversial Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik has no place in Malaysia, said Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam yesterday. The MIC president said this to ethnic Indian...

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Najib: Bumi agenda not ‘zero-sum’, won’t sideline others

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — The federal government's blueprint to uplift the Bumiputera community is not at the expense of Malaysia’s remaining ethnic groups, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak...

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The Telugus of Malaysia: Rediscovering their voices with the government’s help

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 ― Short on both political and economic power, the Telugus in Malaysia ― as recently as a decade ago ― were facing an uphill battle to keep the Telugu language alive....

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Selling properties below market price not necessarily bad, industry players say

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 ― The property market has bottomed out lower than it did last year but according to experts, this may not be a bad thing as there are still willing buyers for discounted...

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Luxury property owners taking up to 30pc cut just to seal the deal

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — A growing glut in the luxury property segment here is pushing some owners to shave nearly a third off their asking prices in order to secure a sale or rental. According...

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Banana leaf restaurant gives refugees new meaning to life

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — After spending years moving around from one refugee camp to another in Malaysia, ten refugees have now found employment at a banana leaf restaurant at a high-end township...

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Najib: All races must be fluent in BM

BANGI, April 15 ― All races in the country especially the younger generation should be fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today. “The new generation, be it...

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Old people must not be ‘loose cannons’, Najib says

BANGI, April 15 ― Old people must not be loose cannons (mulut celupar), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today in an apparent jibe at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Speaking at the National...

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DPM: Political satire misunderstood in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — The media should stay away from so-called "intellectual egoism" on matters like religion which may offend the sensitivities of others, the deputy prime minister said...

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Malaysia central bank to support agencies probing flow of funds to North Korea

Malaysia's central bank said on Thursday it will support law enforcement agencies investigating the possible flow of funds to North Korea, after Reuters reported the North Korean head of a Malaysian firm had for years sent money to Pyongyang's leadership. Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had for two decades funneled funds to the central committee of Pyongyang's ruling Workers' Party. MKP is also under investigation by the United Nations for the possible violation of sanctions on North Korea.

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Moderation is also liberal, IDEAS tells PM’s religious adviser

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 ― Growing intolerance in the establishment was fuelling radicalisation in Malaysia, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) told the prime minister’s...

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North Korean murder suspects wear bullet-proof vests to court

Two women accused of killing the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader made their second court appearance on Thursday wearing bullet-proof vests, but the hearing into the Kuala Lumpur airport assassination was postponed until May. Siti Aishah, 25, from Jakarta, Indonesia, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from rural northern Vietnam, face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kim Jong Nam. The two women allegedly smeared Kim's face with the toxic VX nerve agent, a chemical described by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb. 13.

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Penang Port must dredge channels, CM insists

GEORGE TOWN, April 12 — Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) must carry out capital dredging works in Penang's waterways to allow bigger ships to enter, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. He said...

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Cops say probe on 1MDB done, over to AGC

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 ― The police said today its investigation on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has been completed, and the relevant documents on the case have been handed over the...

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Who executes the most? Malaysia ranks 10th globally in death penalty

PETALING JAYA, April 11 ― Malaysia was placed 10th in a ranking of world’s top executioners after carrying out nine death sentences last year, human rights watchdog Amnesty International...

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Malaysian minister urges probe of fund transfers to North Korea

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia should investigate the possible transfer of funds to North Korea's leadership, the deputy home minister said on Tuesday, after Reuters reported that the head of a Malaysian conglomerate had for years funneled cash to Pyongyang.

Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the North Korean founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had funneled money to Pyongyang's leadership, the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party, for the past two decades.

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Malaysian minister urges probe of fund transfers to North Korea

Malaysia should investigate the possible transfer of funds to North Korea's leadership, the deputy home minister said on Tuesday, after Reuters reported that the head of a Malaysian conglomerate had for years funneled cash to Pyongyang. Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the North Korean founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had funneled money to Pyongyang's leadership, the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party, for the past two decades. MKP's bank subsidiary in Pyongyang is also under investigation by the United Nations for possible violations of sanctions barring foreign companies from setting up joint ventures with, or taking an ownership interest in, North Korean banks.

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UTM eyes top 50 in global rankings by 2020

JOHOR BARU, April 11 — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is on track to realise its aspiration to be recognised as a world-class centre of academic and technological excellence....

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Malaysia seizes big shipment of rhino horns at airport

Enforcement officials in Malaysia have seized 18 rhinoceros horns imported from Mozambique, weighing 51.4 kg and worth 13.7 million ringgit ($3.1 million), a senior customs official said Monday. Airport customs director Hamzah Sundang said officials acting on a tip-off discovered the horns in a wooden crate at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport cargo terminal last Friday. The haul is the latest indication that Malaysia has become an Asian transit hub for the illicit ivory and rhino horn trade.

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Malaysia seizes $3.1 million worth of rhino horns at airport

Malaysian authorities have seized about $3.1 million worth of rhinoceros horns flown in from Mozambique via Qatar, the latest seizure in Asia of products from endangered species to feed demand for traditional remedies, officials said on Monday. Malaysia is a major transit point for the trade in endangered species to other Asian countries although a customs official told Reuters Malaysia was believed to have been the final destination of the 18 horns. Customs officials at Kuala Lumpur International Airport found the more than 51 kg (112 lb) of horns on Friday, after a tip-off, packed in wooden crates in a cargo warehouse, airport customs director Hamzah Sundang told a news conference.

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Batam cell leader 'helped 2 Uighurs flee from Malaysia'

The Batam terrorist cell accused of planning to fire a rocket at Marina Bay had allegedly tried to help two Uighurs flee to Indonesia from Malaysia, in an operation also involving a Malaysian militant cell.

Gigih Rahmat Dewa, the alleged leader of the Batam-based Katibah Gonggong Rebus terror cell, got US$3,900 (S$5,476) from a Muslim separatist group in Xinjiang, China, to help the duo, a police source told The Straits Times yesterday.

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Exclusive: 'Dollars and euros': How a Malaysian firm helped fund N.Korea's leadership

By James Pearson, Tom Allard and Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Over the past two decades, North Korean-born Han Hun Il, the founding chief executive of a Malaysian conglomerate, funnelled money to the leadership in Pyongyang, a North Korean defector, speaking out for the first time, told Reuters. Han’s conglomerate, Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), worked in partnership with Jang Song Thaek, according to Lee Chol Ho, who worked as a trader for Han for nine years until he defected to Seoul in 2010. Jang, the uncle of North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un, was considered one of North Korea's most powerful men until he was executed for treason in 2013.  Reuters was unable to independently confirm Lee's account of Han's relationship with North Korea's leadership, including his assertion that money was funnelled to North Korea's leadership body, the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party.

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Batam terror cell planned to help Uighur duo flee Malaysia

JAKARTA: The Batam terrorist cell accused of planning to fire a rocket at Marina Bay had allegedly tried to help two Uighurs flee to Indonesia from Malaysia in an operation also involving a Malaysian militant cell.

Gigih Rahmat Dewa, the alleged leader of the Batam-based Katibah Gonggong Rebus terror cell, received US$3,900 (S$5,480) from a Muslim separatist group in Xinjiang, China, to help the duo, a police source told The Straits Times yesterday.

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Parliament credibility tarnished after Shariah Bill twist, Pakatan MPs say

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — Parliament’s credibility has been affected in the chain of events that led to the deferment of debates on the private member’s bill to increase Shariah Court...

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Penalty for China buyers who seek to cancel home purchase

More questions have been raised about Malaysia's Forest City project for buyers from China, following Beijing's introduction of tighter rules to stem the flight of capital from the country.

The developer, Country Garden, had reportedly agreed to refund buyers from China caught out by the new capital controls, but a statement from the company late last night appeared to rule that out.

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Developing Asia to fuel global growth but risks ahead: ADB

Developing Asian countries will drive the world economy in the next two years, the Asian Development Bank said Thursday, but it warned of uncertainties from the United States and Europe. Its flagship Asian Development Outlook said India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam will be behind an expected 5.7 percent increase in Asia-Pacific gross domestic product, with China's expansion seen moderating. "Developing Asia continues to drive the global economy even as the region adjusts to a more consumption-driven economy in the People's Republic of China," ADB's chief economist, Yasuyuki Sawada, said in a statement published Thursday.

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Shariah lawyer: Consent needed for rapists to marry victims, child marriages

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — Marriages of rape victims to their rapists and child marriages that are approved by Shariah courts should be by consent and never by compulsion, Shariah lawyer Musa Awang...

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