Your weekly briefing on politics, economy & society
Edition 1 | Week of 3-8 March 2026 | TNS News
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Malaysia This Week – a Saturday briefing that cuts through the noise to bring you the stories that truly mattered across politics, economy, and society over the past seven days. All facts reported here are attributed to named sources and verified reporting.
POLITICS
PN’S PM CANDIDATE QUESTION: Samsuri Says Muhyiddin Is No Longer In The Running
A public dispute over the leadership direction of Perikatan Nasional broke into the open this week, with newly appointed PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin trading barbs over who should be the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate for GE16.
Muhyiddin triggered the row on 4 March when he told reporters that Samsuri’s appointment as PN chairman on 22 February did not automatically make him the coalition’s PM candidate. Samsuri – who took over the chairmanship after Muhyiddin’s resignation from the post effective 1 January 2026 – fired back in a Facebook post on 5 March. ‘What is certain is that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is no longer the prime ministerial candidate,’ he wrote, though he added that the coalition’s current focus should be on strengthening PN ahead of the coming election, not on candidate selection.
Sources: Free Malaysia Today, The Star, The Sun, The Vibes – 4-6 March 2026
Muhyiddin subsequently released a video saying Samsuri ‘deserves a chance’ as PN’s PM candidate despite ‘lacking experience’, and that it was PAS that insisted on Samsuri’s appointment as chairman. Political analysts have called on PN to resolve the matter through an internal ballot rather than public disagreement. ‘If PN allows this squabble to continue, it will only cause further internal fractures and tarnish PN’s credibility as an alternative bloc,’ said political analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad of Global Asia Consulting, as quoted by FMT on 6 March.
Source: Free Malaysia Today – 6 March 2026
‘Whoever the candidate may be, our priority now is to strengthen PN and reinforce unity across the country.’ – Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Facebook post, 5 March 2026 (as reported by The Star and FMT)
PKR, 1MDB AND THE WASHINGTON EMAILS: A 2016 CAMPAIGN RESURFACES
A decade-old political episode returned to the headlines this week after MalaysiaNow published a detailed report on 2 March citing email correspondence from 2016 that it said showed senior PKR leaders, including Nurul Izzah Anwar, collaborating with a Washington-based lobbying firm to build US political pressure on the then-Najib Razak government amid the 1MDB scandal.
According to MalaysiaNow, the emails involved Perseus Strategies – a US law firm led by lawyer Jared Genser – and were aimed at, among other things, persuading the Obama administration to apply pressure on Kuala Lumpur and to secure Anwar Ibrahim’s release from prison. Nurul Izzah has not publicly disputed the existence of the emails. The disclosure has
drawn calls from Bersatu Youth and other parties for police to investigate under the Penal Code, pointing to what they describe as double standards given a concurrent investigation into former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s widow over separate allegations of engaging a foreign PR firm.
Editor’s note: This column reports the allegation as published by MalaysiaNow. The events described occurred in 2016. No charges have been filed as of publication date. Readers should note this remains an unresolved matter.
Source: MalaysiaNow – 2 March 2026; MalaysiaNow – 6 March 2026
ECONOMY
FUEL PRICES UP: Global Oil Surge Filters Down To Malaysian Pumps
The government raised retail fuel prices this week under its Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM), reflecting a sharp surge in global crude oil markets driven by the escalating US-Iran military conflict. For the period 5-11 March 2026, the Ministry of Finance set RON97 at RM3.25 per litre, unsubsidised RON95 at RM2.67 per litre (up 8 sen), and diesel in Peninsular Malaysia at RM3.12 per litre. Diesel prices in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan remain at RM2.15 per litre.
Source: Ministry of Finance press release, 5 March 2026
The increases come against a backdrop of extraordinary volatility in global oil markets. Brent crude settled at US$92.69 per barrel on Friday 6 March – a gain of 8.52% or US$7.28 on the day – while Brent posted a weekly rise of approximately 28%, its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, according to CNBC. The market surge was driven by fears of supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz and production cuts in Iraq and Kuwait.
Source: CNBC – 6 March 2026; Ministry of Finance – 5 March 2026
RINGGIT RESILIENT AMID REGIONAL TURBULENCE
Despite risk-off sentiment sweeping Asian markets over the Middle East conflict, the ringgit opened firmer on Monday 3 March, trading at 3.9210-3.9340 against the US dollar, compared with the previous close of 3.9225-3.9295. Bank Muamalat Malaysia chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid attributed the ringgit’s resilience partly to the elevated oil price environment offering Malaysia some fiscal upside as a net oil producer, though he cautioned that global inflation risks and subdued growth in major export markets remain concerns.
Source: Media Selangor/Bernama – 3 March 2026
The ringgit has risen approximately 3% year-to-date in 2026, following a 10% gain in 2025. Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has said the currency ‘still has potential’ as growth remains intact, with Malaysia targeting a fiscal deficit of 3.5% of GDP in 2026, down from 3.8% in 2025.
Source: Free Malaysia Today / The Star, citing Bloomberg TV interview – 5 February 2026
MALAYSIA’S ECONOMIC EXPOSURE TO THE HORMUZ CRISIS
A Monash University analysis published this week outlined the key channels through which the US-Iran conflict poses economic risk for Malaysia. The piece highlighted that the Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20% of global oil shipments, and that any disruption raises maritime insurance and shipping costs – a direct concern for Malaysia’s trade-dependent economy. The analysts noted that while higher oil prices benefit Petronas revenues in the short term, sustained conflict could weaken demand in key export markets including the US, Europe, and China, with Malaysia’s electronics and electrical manufacturing sector most exposed on the export side.
Source: Monash University Lens – 2 March 2026
MALAYSIA & THE WORLD
PM ANWAR ON US-IRAN WAR: ‘Diplomacy, Not Escalation’
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on both the United States and Iran to pursue diplomatic solutions rather than further military escalation, warning that the conflict risks bringing the Middle East to catastrophe. The PM also expressed sympathy and support for Qatar and Bahrain, affirming the safety of Malaysians in the region and calling for regional restraint to preserve stability.
Sources: Al Jazeera English (as cited by The Sun Malaysia); The Sun Malaysia – week of 3-6 March 2026
MALAYSIA WILL NOT JOIN BOARD OF PEACE FOR PALESTINE
Malaysia will not join the Board of Peace for Palestine, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed this week in a written parliamentary reply. The Foreign Minister said it remained unclear whether the Board would move decisively to address the fundamental causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict – specifically, what he described as Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and ongoing violations of international law. While several ASEAN member states, including Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, have opted to participate, the Foreign Minister said their decisions were made on the basis of their own national considerations. Malaysia’s position is that lasting peace can only be achieved through an inclusive, comprehensive solution grounded in international law, pursued through recognised multilateral platforms such as the United Nations.
Sources: The Vibes, 3 March 2026; New Straits Times, 2 March 2026; Bernama (Dewan Negara reply)
MALAYSIA AIRLINES: FLIGHTS RESUME, THEN REMAIN UNDER REVIEW
Malaysia Airlines temporarily resumed services to Jeddah and Madinah from 4-8 March 2026, following a suspension of services from 28 February due to airspace closures over parts of the Middle East. Flights to Doha remained suspended until 7 March as Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) continued to assess the security situation. London and Paris services continued operating via alternative routings. MAG advised affected passengers to update contact details via the airline’s My Booking portal for timely updates.
Sources: Bernama, 3 March 2026; The Star, 3 March 2026; Malay Mail, 4 March 2026
SOCIETY & ENTERTAINMENT
VIU MALAYSIA MAPS OUT EIGHT ORIGINALS FOR 2026
Streaming platform Viu Malaysia announced an ambitious content slate for 2026 at its Together Gather & Iftar event on 4 March, revealing eight original series and a new micro-drama format. The announcement came on the back of strong early-year momentum: its drama Kelas Belakang has been the platform’s No.1 show for eight consecutive weeks since its January debut. The 2026 lineup includes psychological thriller Cela (starring Hun Haqeem and Nabila Huda), revenge drama Setia Yang Terluka, and the return of fan favourite Mira Filzah in Aku Pilih Pelangi, due in April.
Viu is also pursuing regional co-productions, including Bidadari Tanpa Syurga, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Osman Ali, as a collaboration with Viu Indonesia. The platform’s earlier series Bidaah has accumulated more than 2.5 billion views on TikTok.
Source: Malay Mail – 5 March 2026
CABLE THIEVES HIT PUTRAJAYA LINE: Weekend Disruptions For Commuters
Rapid Rail adjusted the last-train schedule on the Putrajaya Line on 7-8 March to carry out emergency repairs following cable theft. Feeder buses and alternative routes were deployed for affected passengers. The incident is the latest in an ongoing series of infrastructure cable theft cases affecting Malaysia’s urban rail network.
Source: The Sun Malaysia – 7 March 2026
NUMBERS TO NOTE THIS WEEK
US$92.69 – Brent crude closing price on Friday 6 March, up 8.52% on the day (Source: CNBC)
~28% – Brent crude’s weekly gain for the week of 3-7 March, its biggest since April 2020 (Source: CNBC)
RM3.9210 – Ringgit opening rate against the US dollar on Monday 3 March (Source: Bernama)
RM3.25 / RM2.67 – New RON97 / unsubsidised RON95 pump prices from 5-11 March (Source: Ministry of Finance)
3.5% of GDP – Malaysia’s 2026 fiscal deficit target, narrowing from 3.8% in 2025 (Source: Ministry of Finance / FMT)
2.5 billion – TikTok views for Viu Malaysia’s Bidaah series (Source: Malay Mail)
- TNS NEWS
EDITORIAL NOTE ON SOURCING
All facts reported in this edition are attributed to named, published sources as indicated. Opinions and analyst statements are attributed to the individuals quoted. Allegations are clearly identified as such. This column does not reproduce copyrighted text verbatim. Where public statements are referenced, they are paraphrased with source attribution.
Malaysia This Week | TNS News | Published every Saturday
Compiled by the TNS News editorial team