Zi Liang Wee
Hailing from the island of Penang, Zi Liang studied political economy at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a BA in 2014. He went on to earn the Master of Economic Management from Universiti Sains Malaysia. As a proud disciple of Daisaku Ikeda, Zi Liang firmly believes in the critical role of ASEAN and other multilateral organizations in advancing world peace and prosperity.
Indonesia’s Jokowi sworn in for 2nd term amid heightened security
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was sworn in on Sunday for a second five-year term at a heavily guarded ceremony in the capital Jakarta – days after Islamist militants tried to assassinate his top security minister.Foreign heads of state, lawmakers, and political rivals witnessed...
Singapore eases monetary policy for first time in 3.5 years
Singapore’s central bank loosened monetary policy for the first time in three-and-a-half years on Monday, while the trade-reliant economy narrowly dodged recession in the third quarter.Singapore, like other trade-dependent Asian economies, has been hit hard by the US-China trade war and a broader global...
Singapore dethrones the US as the world’s most competitive economy
Singapore is now the world’s most competitive economy after overtaking the United States, which was last year’s number one, in the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Global Competitiveness Index (GCI).The annual GCI ranks 141 economies through 103 indicators organized into 12 pillars: institutions, infrastructure, information...
Endangered elephant shot 70 times, tusks removed
Malaysian officials on Monday said an endangered Borneo pygmy elephant was found dead in the state of Sabah last week with about 70 gunshot wounds and tusks hacked off.Last Thursday, a group of anglers found the adult male elephant’s mutilated carcass floating half-submerged in...
Malaysia’s Armed Forces Fund Board declares lowest-ever dividend of 2%
The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) of Malaysia has yesterday announced its lowest-ever dividend of 2%, compared with a minimum of 6% paid over the past four and a half decades. The announcement was made following alleged irregularities within the board including overpayments under...
Malaysia maintains policy rate
Backed by a resilient economy, Malaysia’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for a second straight meeting, even as other central banks in the ASEAN region have been slashing their key rates recently.The central bank of Malaysia maintained the overnight policy...
As haze worsens, Malaysia looking into cloud seeding
Malaysia is studying the feasibility of cloud seeding to induce rain in areas that are currently affected by the haze.Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail underscored on Saturday (September 7) that the Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia) would have to consider the...
Singapore revamps its digital banking industry
Singapore is about to overhaul its banking industry for the first time in two decades as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently launched the application process for digital bank licenses.The highly-anticipated move finally came two months after MAS chairman and Senior Minister Tharman...
Airlines seeking compensation from Malaysian airport operator
Airlines will be seeking compensation from airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) after more than four days of delays and disruptions due to a network failure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The technical glitch at the airport has resulted in tens of...
Malaysian police ban controversial preacher Zakir Naik from speaking on all media
The Royal Malaysia Police have barred Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik from speaking on all media, citing national security concerns.The Head of Corporate Communications of the police force Asmawati Ahmad said the order was issued as programs involving Zakir may jeopardize the harmony of...
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Indonesia’s Jokowi sworn in for 2nd term amid heightened security
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was sworn in on Sunday for a second five-year term at a heavily guarded ceremony in the capital Jakarta...
A bumpy ride for Grab in Malaysia
Two out of every three dollars of venture capital funding in Southeast Asia went to e-commerce and ride-hailing startups from 2016 to H1 2019.According...
Singapore hands out first jail term for terror financing
Singapore has jailed its first suspect for terror financing amid a steady stream of arrests related to support for Islamic extremism.The Singaporean authorities...