The government recently said it will abolish the death penalty and stop all executions, in a move cautiously welcomed by rights groups as a rare step forward on the issue in the region

In a recycling competition in Negeri Sembilan, students collected over 166 tons of recyclable items, raising about RM80,000 (around $16,800) to boost environmental awareness; the initiative saw increased participation, with top schools winning cash awards

Universiti Malaysia Sabah has launched the Center for Blue Economy and Maritime Security Research; on Borneo Island, bordering South China Sea, it focuses on sustainable use of ocean resources to support economic growth, jobs, and ecosystem health

Sarawak, Borneo, will launch a digital residency program with special advantages to attract digital nomads; this initiative aims to enhance the digital ecosystem and make local basic economy less dependent on tourism flows

The budget for 2025 will include changes to subsidies for sugar, domestically produced white rice and RON95 petrol, and will likely introduce further cuts in subsidies and new taxes to strengthen the fiscal position ahead of declining government revenues