The Sulu Sultanate leased Sabah to a British company in 1878 and the Borneo state was later absorbed into Malaysia. Photo: ShutterstockMalaysia has classified one of the self-styled descendants of the sultanate of Sulu as a terrorist, as part of measures to safeguard national sovereignty amid a territorial dispute between the two parties.The home ministry gazetted Muhammad Fuad Abdullah Kiram as a terrorist under the country’s anti-money-laundering and terrorism laws, Khairul Dzaimee Daud, director general in the law ministry, told reporters on Tuesday.The person is one of the Sulu group’s eight members claiming to be the heirs of the Sulu sultan, Khairul said.
This Week in Asia / Economics
Will Asia’s economy weather the coming storm as dark clouds gather on the horizon?Malaysia and Vietnam enjoyed bumper growth last year. But momentum in both countries is slowing, and in Thailand tooFalling demand, rising interest rates, slowing exports and recession fears loom large – yet China’s reopening still offers a bright spot
A container ship is seen docked at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. Falling exports are constricting in growth in much of Asia. Photo: Bloomberg
Nadhra Fauzi had a good year last year. Or at least, that’s how it began.The Malaysian entrepreneur’s e-commerce fulfilment business TresGo, based in Subang Jaya, chalked up bumper sales during the year’s big online shopping festivals.On these “discount days” her customers “go all out”, she said, snapping up everyday items like nappies, wet wipes and other “cheaper supplies” – three months’ worth at times – as they seek out savings amid a ballooning cost of living crisis.
Asia / Southeast Asia
31 dead as passengers forced to jump from burning ferry in PhilippinesThe Lady Mary Joy 3, carrying about 250 passengers, was travelling from the southern port city of Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu province when the fire broke outMost of the victims drowned or died in the blaze and were recovered at sea with seven people still missingThe burnt passenger ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 after it was towed to the shores of the southern Philippines. Photo: AFP
The burnt passenger ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 after it was towed to the shores of the southern Philippines. Photo: AFP
A ferry carrying about 250 passengers and crew caught fire in the southern Philippines and 31 people drowned or died in the blaze and were discovered later, a provincial governor said on Thursday.Many of those rescued had jumped off the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 in panic at the height of the fire and were plucked from the sea by the coastguard, navy, another ferry and local fishermen, said governor Jim Hataman of the southern island province of Basilan.