Top 5 at 5: President Xi Jinping Comes Amidst Trade Turmoil
Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow, Taihe Institute in Beijing, Chairman, Asian Narratives
14-Apr-25 17:00

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President Xi Jinping embarks on a three-day state visit to Malaysia, marking his first trip in 12 years. The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties, with heightened security measures in Kuala Lumpur and temporary road closures.
• PKR Selangor elections signal leadership shifts: Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari secured victories in their respective divisions, while Mohd Najwan Halimi's win in Shah Alam reflects grassroots demand for dynamic leadership. Transparency concerns arise as PJ MP Lee Chean Chung contests his narrow loss, raising questions about PKR's election process and future trajectory. Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, as well as Syaza Shukri, associate professor of political science at the International Islamic University of Malaysia shares their comments.
• Sabah's pygmy elephant crisis: A third decapitated Bornean pygmy elephant has been discovered in Sabah, intensifying concerns over enforcement failures in protected areas. Professor Dr Benoît Goossens weighs in on the urgent need for stronger tracking, enforcement changes, and actionable conservation strategies.
• Durian farm dispute sparks heated debate in Pahang: The Pahang government faces backlash after cutting down 1,000 durian trees, prompting protests and investigations into obstruction claims involving Raub MP Chow Yu Hui. While farmers petition for intervention, critics accuse them of illegal encroachment, highlighting polarizing views on land rights and governance. Yu Hui himself shares his views.
• Aaron-Wooi Yik triumph at Badminton Asia Championships: Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik claimed their first men’s doubles title at the BAC, defeating China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi. With guidance from new coach Herry IP, their historic win ended Malaysia’s 18-year drought in the Asian meet. We speak to Fabian Mark Peter, sports journalist for Scoop about this win.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Sharaad Kuttan, Sneha Harikannan, Juliet Jacobs, Dashran Yohan, Alia Zefri
Presented by: Sharaad Kuttan
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Categories: markets, economy, technology, managing, politics, government, international, environment, corruption, education, controversies, Law/Activism, culture, History/Heritage, sports
Tags: selangor elections, najwan halimi, lee chean chung, sabah biodiversity, bornean pygmy elephant, pahang government, durian trees, chow yu hui, mens doubles, herry ip, xi jinping, malaysia-china, china, asean, pkr, rafizi ramli, amirudin shari, wildlife conservation, land encroachment, land rights, farmers, aaron chia, soh wooi yik, badminton, bac,