Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Wednesday (May 21, 2025)
Malaysia
* No Cabinet reshuffle after PKR polls, but won't stop anyone from their 'ambitions', says PM
* Former bank officer among five nabbed by MACC over graft involving RM11.3mil loan
* Penang confirms third bridge being considered as alternative to undersea tunnel
* Nga's flippant 'tea' invite to MACC chief demeans national institutions
* Sabah needs steady hands at the helm, not those that grab for power, says GRS leader
* JPJ introduces new driving licence card with enhanced security features
* First day of road closure dry-run goes smoothly, says KL traffic cops
* Rafizi shares list of aligned candidates ahead of PKR polls
* Three suspects in Bachok acid attack identified through CCTV footage
* Allow workers affected by road closures to WFH, Fahmi urges private sector
* 300,000 hit by unscheduled water cut in JB
* Appeals court acquits man of drug trafficking charge, possession conviction upheld
* Villagers told not to let livestock roam freely after tiger attack on cows in Gerik
* PETRONAS, Petros to work hand-in-hand to elevate O&G industry, says Anwar
* Penang's tuna landing industry surged sharply last year, says exco man
* Negri govt to decide on vape ban soon
* Tengku Zafrul: Miti to unveil new incentives to boost Malaysia's semiconductor industry
* Beware of wildlife when driving on East-West Highway at night, Perhilitan warns
* Clerk loses nearly RM650,000 to investment scam
* Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
* Family questions MACC's early summons of Pamela Ling Yueh
* MASwings buy to be completed end-2025, says Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister
* Warisan confirms solo contest in Sabah state election
* Rafizi doubts retaining PKR deputy president post
Singapore
* Ex-cop in Singapore who was on the run for nearly 17 years admits obtaining S$47,700 in bribes
* 500 Yale-NUS books in Singapore disposed of, remaining 8,500 to be given away at book fairs
* Five key takeaways from Singapore PM Lawrence Wong's Cabinet reshuffle
* Singapore PM sticks with 'experienced hands' in cabinet reshuffle
* 'It's devastating': Otters in Singapore eat Bright Hill resident's koi valued at under S$10,000
* American pop star Lady Gaga spices things up at Singapore's Maxwell Food Centre
* NUS apologises for 'operational lapse' in disposal of Yale-NUS library books, promises review
* Special grant formula among top priorities in MA63 talks, S'wak assembly told
* MCA Youth reports MyKiosk 2.0 project to MACC
* MEF urges careful rollout of WFH during Asean Summit
* Malaysia to boost maritime security with advanced surveillance tech
* Seven-year-old girl dies after falling from Puchong condo
* SQ321 incident: One year on, passengers recall how extreme turbulence upended their lives
* 30 rescued after boat capsized
Indonesia
* Reform era draws to a close in Indonesia
* Indonesia central bank cuts rates, as expected
* House speaker Puan warns Indonesian govt against whitewashing history
Thailand
* Thai gemstone exports face uncertainty amid US tariff hike, risk losing ground to Vietnam and Sri Lanka
* Man releases snakes in Bangkok condo to protest against neighbour's noisy dog
* Strong 6.5 magnitude quake strikes Papua New Guinea; small tremors detected in Thailand and Myanmar
* Bangkok named a top city for tourist scams, Mastercard report reveals
Philippines
* Filipino mayor and wife arrested for killing of vice-mayor
* Filipino green card holder detained at Seattle airport after Philippine vacation
* Filipino reality TV star Lady Gagita meets Lady Gaga at singer's Singapore concert
* Philippines, US hold joint maritime drills in South China Sea
Vietnam
* Vietnam jails 23 people over rare earths exploitation
* Former Vietnamese president Tran Duc Luong passes away
* Vietnam approves new airline Sun PhuQuoc Airways
* Hanoi honoured as top cultural and artistic destination in Asia
* Vietnam minister meets Lockheed Martin, SpaceX on US visit for tariff talks
* Dozens of deals on the table as Macron visits next week
* 'Prepare for surge of Covid-19'
Myanmar
* Asean to dedicate two meetings to Myanmar conflict next week, chief says
* Myanmar deports 31 foreign nationals involved in telecom fraud and online crimes
Cambodia
* Cambodia Environment Minister to polluters: 'I have a sword, I will strike, with no exceptions'
* Cambodia calls for deeper Asean unity to tackle natural disasters
* Remembering Khmer Rouge atrocities
Laos
* No treasures found yet in search for buried Buddha statues in Bokeo, Laos
* New Lao-Thai Mekong bridge to open soon, promising economic lift for region
Brunei
* University in Brunei marks World Book Day
* Young Brunei royals part of musical production inspired by magical world of Harry Potter
Aseanplus
* KL Declaration will set tone for Asean's future in governance, digital transformation, says PM
* Malaysia wants to lead Asean in becoming cohesive, values-driven force, says PM
* Japan PM sacks Agriculture Minister Taku Eto over rice gaffe, Shinjiro Koizumi named ahead of key polls
* Tokyo to waive basic water bills to combat extreme heat
* Indian professor who was jailed for comments on women military officer is released on bail
* UK pledges over US$5mil in aid to Gaza
* Indian Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joins Tamil Nadu CM Stalin to condemn Centre of 'misusing' Governors to 'stifle' elected governments
* Clock is ticking, but demographic crisis gets drowned out in South Korean presidential race
* Boxing-'I'm back': Pacquiao coming out of retirement to face Barrios in title fight
* WHO supports Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, says Dzulkefly
* Chinese actress Zhu Yuanyuan dies of cancer at 51, just 16 days after wrapping final drama
* Soccer-Euro 2028 co-hosts must qualify but with safety net
* China's youth unemployment rate falls ahead of crunch graduation season
* Motor racing-McLaren ready to regain momentum in Monaco
* 'Despicable' Chinese shop owner adopts stray dogs only to kill, cook and eat them
* Eleanor Lee's former assistant admits to doctoring audio recording that landed Singaporean actress in trouble
* Indian professor who was jailed for comments on women military officer is released on bail
* Pope Leo calls for 'sufficient humanitarian aid' into Gaza
* Ringgit ends higher against greenback on concerns over US fiscal health
* India's lion population rises by a third
* Local government in Japan mulls whether to charge for cost of Mt Fuji helicopter rescues
* Beloved strongman: Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict
* Police run security simulation as 46th Asean Summit begins May 23
* Alibaba and DeepSeek's home province launches AI spending spree to become innovation hub
* MAHB ready to welcome delegations for 46th Asean Summit
* Marriage registration in China becomes easier, more romantic than ever
* China, ASEAN complete negotiations on upgraded free trade deal
* Chinese smartphone exports to US plunge to lowest since 2011
* Malaysian gem Mirabel is first Asian to win golf's prestigious Annika award
* Four children killed over 30 injured in school bus bomb attack in SW Pakistan: Officials
* Flood victims stranded on roofs as downpours lash eastern Australia
* Korean children starting day care earlier, staying longer: Survey
* Quick rescue saves 30 Indonesians after boat capsizes in Malaysian waters
* Suicide bomber kills five on school bus in Pakistan's Balochistan
* South Koreans in Malaysia cast early votes ahead of June 3 poll
* Japan's JIC says JSR's weak financials do not affect chipmaking consolidation goal
* Timor-Leste: A young nation forged in resilience celebrates its independence
* Oil prices jump on report of Israel prepping Iran strike
* South Korea vote: Who will run Asia's fourth largest economy?
* Flash floods cut off inland Australian towns, residents flee to rooftops
* Asian stocks edge up as US trade deals, fiscal health in focus
* Japan agriculture minister resigns over free rice gaffe
* China slams US 'bullying' over new chip warnings
* Border control agency probing four officers for 'counter setting' at KLIA
* Unlicensed doctor among six foreigners nabbed in Klang Valley Immigration raids
* Mild bounce on Bursa Malaysia amid subdued trading
* Cheated by ex-husband who embezzled her assets, divorced actress becomes taxi driver to raise daughter
* Japan's 7-Eleven trials autonomous delivery robots
* Ringgit opens higher against greenback on weaker US economic outlook, tariff concerns
* 11 'Pakistan spies' nabbed
* PM slams minister's free rice claim
* Three killed, 12 hurt after car hits group outside school
* Police seek journalist arrest over martial law 'fake report'
* Drone strike kills four kids
* EU proposes allowing deportation of asylum seekers to third countries
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24 Evacuated From Iran Arrive Safely In Malaysia
SEPANG, June 22 (Bernama) -- A total of 24 individuals, including 17 Malaysians, who were evacuated from Iran following escalating conflict in the country, have safely returned home. Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 carrying the evacuees landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 11.03 pm. They were welcomed by the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs), Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. The group comprised 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens, and one Singaporean national. Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who led the group, told the media they had to travel by land for about 1,000 kilometres to exit Tehran. 'We chose a route away from the source of the attacks, which were coming from the west, so we headed east. Alhamdulillah, we received strong cooperation from the Turkmenistan government, which allowed foreign nationals to cross the border,' he said. He added that around 12 Malaysians were still in Iran and Wisma Putra was closely monitoring their situation to ensure their safety and well-being. According to a statement from Wisma Putra, all 24 individuals crossed the Iran–Turkmenistan border on June 21, 2025, and boarded a Turkmenistan Airlines flight T5 647 on June 22, 2025, to Bangkok, Thailand, before continuing their journey on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 to Kuala Lumpur. The evacuation, coordinated by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran, involved a 1,120-kilometre land journey to the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The Malaysian embassies in Ashgabat and Bangkok also facilitated flight arrangements from Ashgabat to Malaysia.
New Straits Times
21 minutes ago
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12 Malaysians still in Iran, Wisma Putra monitoring closely
SEPANG: At least 12 Malaysians are still in Iran and are being closely monitored by Malaysian authorities following the successful evacuation of its citizens and their dependents over the weekend. Malaysian Ambassador to Iran Khairi Omar, who led the evacuation mission, said the remaining individuals include students and Malaysians married to Iranian nationals, currently residing in various parts of the country including Tehran and Shiraz. "We are keeping track of their whereabouts and ensuring they are safe. "Should the situation permit and they choose to leave, we will assist them," he said during a press conference at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) late Sunday night. Khairi had accompanied 24 evacuees, comprising 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents, and a Singaporean, who arrived safely in Kuala Lumpur after a gruelling 1,000km overland journey from Tehran to the Turkmenistan border. He said the group spent the night at the border before flying out of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and transiting in Thailand en route to Malaysia. "We were on the road for over 24 hours. It was a long and challenging journey, but Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly," he said. Khairi said they decided to use an eastern land route was made to avoid areas of conflict in the west, following heightened tensions due to Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. This, he said, as the evacuation involved multiple checkpoints and long delays due to the high number of foreign nationals also attempting to leave the country, but praised the cooperation from the Iranian and Turkmen authorities in facilitating the border crossing. He added that communication with Malaysians in Iran remained difficult, with roaming services restricted and messaging apps like WhatsApp heavily affected during the conflict. "We made do with old-school SMS messaging, which still worked locally. It wasn't easy, but we managed to stay in contact," he said. Reflecting on the initial days of the conflict, Khairi said the embassy had not anticipated the intensity or speed of the escalation. "Many were caught off guard. The nights were tense with retaliatory strikes, but during the day there seemed to be a pattern of restraint," he said. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan ordered the temporary closure of the Malaysian embassy in Iran, directing embassy staff in the country to return home immediately. Mohamad said that many other foreign missions have done the same following the latest developments in the Middle East involving Israel. The United States announced its entry into the Iran-Israel conflict earlier, stating that it has carried out attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow.
New Straits Times
36 minutes ago
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Malaysian evacuees from Iran arrive safely at KLIA
SEPANG: Twenty-four people, including 17 Malaysians, have safely arrived in the country following an evacuation operation coordinated by the government from Iran. The group, which also included six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens and a Singaporean, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.03pm on Sunday aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH781. The evacuees were greeted by their loved ones at the arrival hall, with smiles and sighs of relief as families reunited after their arduous journey across borders and multiple countries. Accompanying the group was Malaysian Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who was received at the airport by the Foreign Ministry's deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs), Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. Wisma Putra, in a statement, said the evacuation involved a 1,120km overland journey from Tehran to the Iran–Turkmenistan border, which was completed on Saturday. "From there, the evacuees boarded a Turkmenistan Airlines flight the following day, transiting in Bangkok before flying into Malaysia. "The operation was spearheaded by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran and supported by the Malaysian embassies in Ashgabat and Bangkok, which facilitated the subsequent flight arrangements," it said. Wisma Putra, on behalf of the government, also expressed its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkmenistan and Thailand for their close cooperation, which enabled the smooth and safe repatriation of the evacuees. "In a show of regional solidarity, Malaysia also extended assistance to a Singaporean during the operation, while the Malaysian Embassy in Ashgabat had earlier helped arrange travel for Brunei citizens returning from Turkmenistan," it said. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan ordered the temporary closure of the Malaysian Embassy in Iran, directing embassy staff in the country to return home immediately. Mohamad said many other foreign missions had done the same following recent developments in the Middle East involving Israel. The United States had earlier announced its entry into the Iran-Israel conflict, stating that it had carried out attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. Now entering its second week, the conflict was sparked by Israel's 'preemptive' airstrikes on several strategic sites in Iran, including nuclear facilities, missile bases and military command centres, followed by retaliation from the Gulf state.
