There’s a storm of controversy surrounding Malaysia’s recent rise as a major bauxite producer. Bauxite mining has become a very profitable industry for the struggling country, but the pollution it creates is poisoning Malaysian citizens and ecosystems. About RM750 million (US$170.6 mil) has so far been generated from bauxite mining…
A recent survey revealed that the majority of expats in Malaysia enjoy high salaries, great health benefits and a very pleasant work/life environment. It’s a good sign for Malaysia’s highrise economy, but these standards are in sharp contrast to the criminally low wages and human rights abuse common amongst migrant…
The European Union is one of the largest sources of foreign investment in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), and has been fueling a lot of big business especially in Malaysia. A huge byproduct of this investment is the enabling of environmental problems, but the EU hasn’t offered to lend a…
Two major airplane crashes, a rash of kidnappings and an earthquake in Malaysia last year saw tourism take a sharp nose dive. Malaysian flight MH370 went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. This awful mystery was followed by Flight MH17 being shot down over…
The annual CSR Asia Summit is coming to Kuala Lumpur this year, where businesses will discuss how they can contribute to social good, sustainable development and efforts to protect the environment surrounding them. Recognized as the most innovative and thought-provoking conference on CSR (corporate social responsibility) in Southeast Asia, the…
Malaysia and China have entered discussion about partnering to produce a car especially for Southeast Asia. Referred to as the ASEAN car, it would be produced within the region and lower the currently prohibitive cost of automobile purchase for nearby countries. Being the second most expensive place in the world to…
A research team at University Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has just developed the world’s first stable perovskite solar module. This might not mean much to the casual reader, but perovskite cells could be the future of solar power, and Malaysia has just found the key to unlocking their power. The reason…
As Malaysia’s flagship green technology conference and exhibition rolls onward, the disposition of all things green business are looking sunnier and sunnier for the country playing host. Aggressive green tech goals are being set, groundbreaking deals are being made and IGEM 2015’s theme of ‘Powering the Green Economy’ is being…
IGEM 2015 is in full swing, and the massive international convention of green businesses has seen Kuala Lumpur become a temporary mecca of all things high-tech and/or sustainable. This year’s event is the sixth of its kind. Together, the previous have generated RM6 billion ($1.4 billion) in green business leads,…
Air pollution in Malaysia, or haze, as it’s more commonly known, has been a problem for many years. Haze is a hazard to people and planet alike, and though it plagues much of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is one of the worst affected areas. Every few years Malaysia suffers a haze…
A one-stop online reference for assessing the potential for renewable energy in Malaysia is pointing sustainable prospectors in the direction of a bright green future. Malaysian innovation and technology firm SIRIM came up a few years ago with a fully interactive online map that keeps track of untapped renewable energy…
Flying camera drones are being used to monitor palm oil plantation activity, fighting illegal land clearing and deforestation in Malaysia. In order to identify protected areas, single out especially rich environments and effectively keep tabs on what’s going on in the jungle, Malaysia’s forests must be surveyed from above. Drones…
The various state governments of Malaysia have been advised to stake more official claim to their country’s minor, outlying and uninhabited islands. The advisement comes from the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry. All told, there are 535 Malaysian islands that aren’t officially claimed. Coral reefs, rocky reefs, atolls…
The rapid rise of green building in Malaysia is being exemplified by two large sustainable housing projects near Kuala Lumpur – Green Beverly Hills and Diamond City Providing low-density housing and some commercial development, these projects-in-progress are a response to Malaysia’s generous green technology incentives and rising demand for sustainable…
The largest sovereign wealth fund in the world has just excluded two Malaysian conglomerates from its investment portfolio due to risks of “severe environmental damage.” Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) dropped the two companies, construction firm IJM Corporation Berhad and multi-industry conglomerate Genting Berhad, on August 18 over their…
In a clear-cut case of industry over environment, plans for a highway that would cut through vital water catchments and raze protected forests that drain carbon pollution from already unhealthy air were approved by a regional council in the populous Malaysian state of Selangor on Thursday, August 20. Plans…