Seven dead, more than 50,000 evacuated in Malaysia floods
At least seven people have died and more than 50,000 evacuated from their homes as Malaysia faced some of its worst floods for years, officials said on December 20.
Rescuers evacuate people from flooded areas in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia on December 19. (Photo: XINHUA/VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – At least seven people have died and more than 50,000 evacuated from their homes as Malaysia faced some of its worst floods for years, officials said on December 20.
A weekend of torrential rain caused rivers to overflow, flooding towns and villages and cutting off major roads, with many motorists left trapped in their vehicles for hours.
According to official data, the number of people displaced by floods has reached 51,000 with the worst-hit area being the eastern state of Pahang, where some 32,000 were forced to flee from their homes.
Selangor, Malaysia's most populous and wealthiest state, was also severely affected with seven deaths. The toll is likely to increase because some people are reported missing.
🔜 Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that a month's rainfall came down in one day in Selangor, adding that tens of thousands of emergency service and military personnel were deployed to aid rescue efforts.
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said it was concerned that the floods would result in heavy losses for firms in the affected areas. The losses could be in the millions of ringgit and companies are still assessing the damage after the floods subsided.
Dutch chipmaking equipment supplier BE Semiconductor lowered its fourth-quarter revenue outlook on December 20 due to flooding affecting its main production facility in Shah Alam. Malaysia's semiconductor assembly industry is an important part of the global high-tech supply chain and makes up a tenth of global trade in the sector.
✅ Malaysians are now able to go home after most of the rains have ended on December 20. After the water receded, the workers have returned to work and road repair is also underway./.
Malaysia's Department of Statistics (DOSM) has released a Malaysia Economic Statistics Review (MESR), which predicted that the country’s economy will become better despite negative impacts from restrictions due to COVID-19.
Malaysia's unemployment rate decreased to 4.3 percent in October, the lowest rate since April 2020, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Vietnamese-run enterprises have managed to keep business going in Malaysia despite COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, according to Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, Vice President of the Vietnam Malaysia Business Association (VMBIZ).
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Rescuers evacuate people from flooded areas in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia on December 19. (Photo: XINHUA/VNA) 
