So if you’ve been searching for “glamping near me,” “glamping Selangor,” “glamping Janda Baik” or just “what to do on weekend,” here are 10 of the best glamping spots you can reach easily from Kuala Lumpur.

1. Tiarasa Escapes, Janda Baik, Bentong (Muslim friendly)

Probably the most well-known glamping spot in Janda Baik. It sits in a misty rainforest about 40 to 45 minutes from KL, with safari-style tents and lovely treetop villas.

• What’s inside: Tents and treehouses come with king-sized beds, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi and private verandahs. There’s an outdoor wading pool, riverside picnic spots, jungle treks with a ranger, fishing, outdoor movie nights and nightly bonfires for roasting marshmallows.
• Price: From around RM700 to RM1,500+ per night. Breakfast is included, and the nasi lemak gets a lot of love from guests.
• Operating hours: Open 24 hours daily. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out 12:00 PM.
• Website: tiarasaescapes.com | 012-887 7777

2. Tadom Hill Resorts, Banting, Selangor (Muslim friendly)

A one-of-a-kind bamboo village right beside a gorgeous turquoise lake. It’s also the closest option to KLIA, only about 12 to 15 minutes away.

• What’s inside: Lake swimming, go-karts, ATV, pickleball and plenty of team-building games. You’ll also find a 5-metre bamboo diving platform, Tarzan swing, water swing and water slide, plus volleyball, basketball, ping pong and giant Jenga. Flying fox zipline, archery and paintball cost a bit extra, and there’s a bamboo playground for the kids.
• Price: From around RM65 per night for budget options, going up to premium bamboo chalets. There’s an on-site bistro, though meals aren’t always bundled.
• Operating hours: Open 24 hours daily. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out 12:00 PM.
• Website: tadomhillresorts.com | 012-522 5728

3. The Sticks, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor

An off-grid, solar-powered eco-retreat about an hour from KL. Great if you actually want to switch off your phone for a bit.

• What’s inside: Solar-powered “tendok” houses with comfy beds and hot-water showers. You can go river tubing, take a nature walk, or just stargaze from the verandah. There’s a central dining area with home-cooked meals, and the shallow part of the river is safe for kids to splash around in.
• Price: From RM342 per night with half board (dinner and breakfast) included. Kids aged 10 and below get RM65 off.
• Operating hours: Reception runs 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM daily. Overnight stays carry on through the night, of course.
• Website: thesticks.my

4. Dusun Bonda, Batang Kali, Selangor (Muslim friendly, Muslim-owned)

A privately-owned orchard glamping site next to a river, with its own man-made waterfall and pool. It’s a real favourite for families.

• What’s inside: Studio villas and glam bell tents dotted around a fruit orchard, with a peaceful river, waterfall and swimming pool. It’s very kid-friendly. You can also do a guided jungle trek to a waterfall, and there’s a natural hot spring just 3 minutes away by car plus a fishing pond nearby.
• Price: River-view studio villas from around RM750 to RM850 per night, and premium bell tents at around RM700.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Earliest check-in is 2:30 PM, check-out at 12:00 noon. Early check-in isn’t usually possible, but you’re welcome to come after 12:30 PM to swim and shower while you wait for your unit.
• Website: dusunbonda.com | 012-663 3667

5. Nur Laman Bestari Eco Resort, Sungai Buloh, Selangor (Muslim friendly, Muslim-owned)

The closest option to the city, and the friendliest on the wallet if you’re travelling in a big group.

• What’s inside: Glamping tents that fit five guests, each with mattresses, a fan and air-con, fresh linen, and a BBQ grill with cutlery. There are also chalets and riverside cottages if you prefer, all set in a quiet nature retreat.
• Price: From RM199 per night for 5 guests. Breakfast and dinner can be arranged at RM25 per person.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out at 12:00 PM (best to confirm when you book).
• Contact: 03-6151 8095
• Website: nurecoresort.com

6. Glow Glamping, Putrajaya Wetlands Park (Muslim friendly)

The easiest quick escape on this list, only about 30 minutes from KL and right next to IOI City Mall.

• What’s inside: Dome and bell tents with a good range of activities, set inside the scenic Putrajaya Wetlands. It’s a nice spot for cycling, water activities and easy family outings.
• Price: Around RM250 to RM600 per night depending on the tent. You can book through Klook.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM (confirm when booking).
• Website: glowputrajaya.com

7. Caravan Serai, Bentong, Pahang (Muslim friendly)

A striking Moroccan-themed retreat set on a hillside orchard near Bentong. It really stands out from everything else here.

• What’s inside: Middle-Eastern-styled villas and tents with a distinctive, very Instagrammable look. There’s an on-site restaurant, hillside orchard grounds and quiet garden spaces to unwind in.
• Price: Mid to high range, from around RM500+ per night.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM (confirm when booking).
• Contact: 03-7972 3655

8. Glamz @ Genting Highlands, Gohtong Jaya, Pahang

Bubble domes under the stars, with cool highland weather and no need to head all the way up to the peak.

• What’s inside: Transparent dome tents in a few different sizes for small or large groups, set in cool highland surroundings with an outdoor campfire area. It’s lovely for stargazing and photos.
• Price: From around RM500 per night.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM (confirm when booking).

9. Hammocks By The River, Hulu Langat, Selangor

A laid-back riverside spot very close to KL, ideal for a group of friends or family.

• What’s inside: Riverside tents and cabins along Sungai Makau in Hulu Langat, with BBQ facilities and direct river access for swimming and lazing about. Simple and chilled out.
• Price: Around RM200 to RM400 per night.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM (confirm when booking).

10. A’moss Farmstay, Cameron Highlands, Pahang

A bit further to drive, but plenty of KL folks make the trip for the cool weather and slower pace.

• What’s inside: Dome-shaped tents that sleep up to 4, with one transparent side so you get an unblocked view of the mountains and night sky. It’s a relaxed farmstay setting surrounded by highland scenery.
• Price: Mid-range, with meals arranged on-site.
• Operating hours: Open daily. Check-in from around 3:00 PM, check-out around 12:00 PM (confirm when booking).

What To Prepare Before You Go

Glamping means most of the big stuff is already sorted, but a few things from home will make your trip a lot smoother:

• Clothes: Comfortable outfits, a swimsuit, a light jacket for cool nights (especially in the highlands), and sandals or water shoes for the river.
• Toiletries: Your own toothbrush, towel (some sites provide, some don’t), sunscreen and a good mosquito repellent. This one is a must.
• Handy gear: A power bank, a small torch or headlamp, and a reusable water bottle. Phone signal can be weak, so download maps and playlists beforehand.
• Personal items: Any medication you need, a basic first-aid kit, and wet wipes or hand sanitiser.
• Snacks and drinks: Extra water, snacks and BBQ food if meals aren’t included. Do check first, as some places don’t allow outside food.
• For Muslim travellers: Bring a travel prayer mat, telekung and a compass or Qibla app, just in case a surau isn’t available on-site.
• Extras: A portable speaker, board games or a deck of cards, and a camera to capture the views.

Final Tips Before You Book

• Book early. The good spots in Selangor and Janda Baik get snapped up fast on weekends and school holidays.
• Check what’s included. Some rates come with meals, and some activities cost extra on top of your room.
• For Muslim travellers, it’s worth calling ahead to check on surau or prayer space, wudu facilities and whether alcohol is served.
• Prices and hours change with the season, so treat everything here as a guide and confirm the latest details before you go.

Ready to trade the city for a night under the stars? Pick your spot, pack light, and enjoy the weekend.

The post Top 10 Best Glamping Malaysia in Janda Baik & Selangor 2026 appeared first on Malaysian Review.

This guide covers the basics properly: what ASNB is, how ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 differ, what they have paid out over the past few years, and the practical stuff like which apps let you buy units and how old you need to be to open an account.

What is ASNB?

ASNB stands for Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad. It is the unit trust management company wholly owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), and it has been around since 22 May 1979.

The distinction matters because people mix the two up. PNB is the investment institution that owns and sponsors the funds. ASNB is the arm that issues the units, sells them to you, and administers your account. When you read a dividend announcement, it is usually PNB issuing the statement about a fund that ASNB manages.

ASNB currently manages 18 unit trust funds with roughly 280 billion units in circulation across more than 15 million accounts. It runs 32 branch offices and works with over 2,600 agents nationwide, including Affin Bank, AmBank, Bank Islam, Bank Muamalat, Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Maybank, RHB Bank and Pos Malaysia.

Fixed price versus variable price

Every ASNB fund falls into one of two camps, and this is the single most useful thing to understand before you invest anything.

Fixed price funds are permanently priced at RM1.00 per unit. You buy at RM1.00 and you redeem at RM1.00. The unit price does not move with the market, so your entire return comes from the annual income distribution, which gets reinvested as extra units unless you withdraw it. There are six of these: ASB, ASB 2 and ASB 3 Didik for Bumiputera investors, and ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 for all Malaysians.

Variable price funds are the ASN series. Their price moves daily based on the fund’s net asset value, they carry a sales charge, and your capital can go down as well as up. They are ordinary unit trusts in the way most people understand the term.

Worth saying plainly: the fixed price funds have held RM1.00 since they launched, but the prospectus states they are not capital guaranteed or capital protected. That track record is not a legal promise. Treat it as a very strong history rather than a guarantee.

Amanah Saham Malaysia: ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3

The ASM series is open to every Malaysian citizen regardless of race. This is the practical alternative for non-Bumiputera investors who cannot buy into the ASB funds.

All three work the same way. RM1.00 per unit, no sales charge, minimum initial investment of RM10, distributions reinvested automatically. Under the hood they are mixed asset funds that can hold up to 90% in equities, with at least 5% kept in cash or liquid assets.

So why three funds? Mostly history, and the fact that demand kept outrunning supply.

ASM is the original and the largest of the three. As at March 2026 it had 786,088 unitholders holding 31.22 billion units.

ASM 2 Wawasan started life in 1996 as Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020, the fund tied to the old Vision 2020 branding. It was renamed in October 2018 when ASNB tidied up its fund names. It is aimed at investors who want regular income distributions, and as at August 2025 it had 983,505 unitholders across 25.5 billion units, making it the most widely held of the three by account count.

ASM 3 was launched in August 2009 as Amanah Saham 1Malaysia, and was renamed alongside ASM 2 Wawasan in 2018. It leans towards steady income while preserving capital over a longer horizon. As at September 2025 it had 717,446 unitholders and 19.16 billion units.

If you are wondering which one to pick, the honest answer is that the differences are small. The staggered financial year ends are the one genuinely useful distinction. Spread money across all three and you receive a distribution in April, September and October instead of once a year, which helps if you like seeing income arrive more than once.

ASM dividend rates and payout dates

Distributions are quoted in sen per unit. Because the unit price is always RM1.00, 5.00 sen per unit works out to a 5.00% return for that financial year.

The pattern is easy to read. Rates dropped sharply in 2020 and bottomed out around 2022, then climbed back. ASM has recovered furthest, holding 5.00 sen for two years running.

For the financial year ended 31 March 2026, ASNB declared 5.00 sen per unit for ASM, a total payout of RM1.54 billion to 786,088 unitholders. That beat the Maybank 12-month fixed deposit benchmark of 2.18% by 282 basis points.

ASM 2 Wawasan paid 4.75 sen per unit for the year ended 31 August 2025, RM1.18 billion in total, beating the 2.46% average 12-month fixed deposit rate by 229 basis points.

ASM 3 paid 4.75 sen per unit for the year ended 30 September 2025, a payout of RM896.01 million, beating its 2.40% fixed deposit benchmark by 235 basis points.

When the money lands

Each fund follows its own financial year, so the payouts are staggered:

ASM closes its books on 31 March. The declaration usually comes in the last week of March and the units are credited on 1 April.

ASM 2 Wawasan closes on 31 August, with the announcement in late August and units credited on 1 September.

ASM 3 closes on 30 September, announced in the last days of September and credited on 1 October.

Expect a short blackout around each of those dates. ASNB suspends transactions on the relevant fund for a few days while it runs the calculation. For ASM in 2026, transactions were frozen from 27 to 31 March and resumed on 1 April. For ASM 2 Wawasan in 2025, the freeze ran 30 to 31 August, with myASNB reopening on 1 September and branches on 2 September.

How your dividend is actually calculated

This trips up a lot of people. The distribution is not based on your closing balance. It is calculated on your average minimum monthly balance across the fund’s financial year.

In practice that means money you put in early in the financial year earns for more months than money you dump in the week before the year ends. If you deposit RM10,000 in February for a fund whose year closes on 31 March, most of your balance only counted for one or two months out of twelve. The distribution will reflect that, and every year a fresh batch of investors is surprised by it.

The other half of the rule is the reverse: pulling money out mid month drags down that month’s minimum, which drags down the average. Frequent in and out withdrawals quietly cost you.

Class A and Class B: the 2026 zakat change

This one is new enough that most guides have not caught up yet. Effective 25 May 2026, ASNB restructured all six fixed price funds into a multi class format.

Every existing unitholder, Muslim and non-Muslim, was automatically placed in Class A. Class A receives the income distribution in full with no zakat deducted, exactly as before, so if you did nothing, nothing changed for you.

Class B is optional and only open to Muslim unitholders. Under Class B, ASNB deducts zakat from your income distribution and pays it to the relevant state zakat centre on your behalf, within five working days of the fund’s financial year end. As of mid 2026 only three state centres were live for this: PPZ-MAIWP for Wilayah Persekutuan, MAIDAM for Terengganu and PKZ Pahang.

One detail deserves attention before anyone opts in. The switch is one way. Once you move into Class B, you cannot revert to Class A.

The myASNB app and ASNB online

myASNB is the digital platform for everything ASNB related, available as a mobile app and as a web portal at myasnb.com.my. It replaced the old passbook system, which is why nobody hands you a little book anymore.

Through myASNB you can register a new account, check your balance, buy additional units, redeem units, view your dividend history and update your details. There is no platform fee to register.

For ASNB login, you need an active account registered with myASNB, your user ID and password, and access to your registered mobile number for the OTP. If you are getting locked out, the usual culprits are an outdated app, an expired TAC or a phone number that was never updated after you changed it. The last one has to be fixed at a branch or agent counter.

The app also supports push authentication, which is more reliable than waiting for an SMS that may never arrive.

Which apps and banks can you buy ASM units from?

You are not limited to the myASNB app. Several banks and one e-wallet have integrated ASNB investment features, which is handy when units are released and everyone piles onto the same platform at once.

Internet and mobile banking channels include Maybank2u and the MAE app, CIMB Clicks, RHB Now, AffinOnline and HLB Connect. Maybank’s ASNB transfer service operates from 2.00am to 9.00pm daily, so it is not a true 24 hour channel.

On the e-wallet side, Touch ‘n Go eWallet supports ASNB investment. The minimum additional investment through TnG is RM10, slightly higher than the RM1 minimum on most other channels.

Over the counter, you can transact at any of the 32 ASNB branches, at agent bank branches, or at Pos Malaysia outlets.

One practical note. When a fresh batch of units is released, availability is first come first served and the myASNB app is usually the fastest route. Bank apps sometimes lag behind by a few minutes, which is enough to matter when a popular fund reopens.

How to open an ASNB account

For adults, the whole thing is done from your phone in about fifteen minutes.

Download the myASNB app from the App Store, Google Play or AppGallery, then choose to register a new account. Fill in your personal details, making sure your name and IC number match your MyKad exactly. You will then run through eKYC: scan the front and back of your MyKad with your phone camera, then take a selfie in decent lighting so the system can match your face to your IC photo.

An OTP goes to your mobile number for verification. After that you set your user ID, password and security questions, link a bank account in your own name for FPX transfers, and make your first purchase. The minimum initial investment is RM10.

If you would rather do it in person, bring your MyKad to any ASNB branch or agent bank counter. Some situations still require a counter visit, such as updating a mobile number you no longer have access to.

What age can you open an ASNB account?

For your own account, you must be a Malaysian citizen aged 18 or above. That is the threshold for an adult account and for registering directly on myASNB.

Children under 18 can still hold units, but the account is opened and managed by a parent or legal guardian who is themselves 18 or older. You will need the child’s MyKid or birth certificate, or their MyKad if they are 12 or above, plus the guardian’s MyKad. The minimum initial investment is the same RM10.

These minor accounts fall under ASNB Bijak, the programme aimed at young investors, which gives access to ASB or ASM 3 depending on eligibility along with campaign rewards. ASM 3 units were made available again for ASNB Bijak accounts from 12 May 2026, which is worth knowing because minor accounts sometimes have allocation when adult accounts do not.

Finding an ASNB branch near you

If you are searching for an ASNB branch near me, the branch locator on asnb.com.my is the reliable source. There are 32 ASNB branches, with the larger states covered by multiple offices in places like Shah Alam, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Seremban, Melaka, Alor Setar, Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu.

Beyond the branches, the agent network is far wider. Any Maybank, CIMB, RHB, Affin Bank, AmBank, Bank Islam, Bank Muamalat, Bank Simpanan Nasional or Hong Leong Bank branch acting as an ASNB agent can handle most transactions, as can Pos Malaysia counters. For a straightforward withdrawal or balance check, your nearest bank branch is usually faster than travelling to an ASNB office.

The catch nobody mentions in the ads

ASM units are frequently unavailable, and this is the most common frustration among non-Bumiputera investors.

Non-Bumiputera purchases in the ASM funds run on an allocation system. When that allocation is exhausted, units only become available again when existing holders redeem or when ASNB releases a fresh tranche. So you can have the money ready, an active account, and still be told there are no units to buy.

Releases do happen, and they are worth watching for. In July 2025 ASNB released 1.18 billion units across ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 with no subscription limit. There have also been campaigns targeted at newcomers, including an allocation of ASM 3 units set aside for new customers registering through the myASNB app, capped at RM10,000 per person.

The practical advice is simple. Open your account before you need it, keep a bank account linked and ready, and follow ASNB’s official social media channels so you hear about a release on day one rather than day three.

Frequently asked questions

Is ASM the same as ASB?

No. Both are fixed price funds at RM1.00 per unit managed by ASNB, but ASB, ASB 2 and ASB 3 Didik are restricted to Bumiputera investors. ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 are open to all Malaysian citizens.

Can non-Bumiputera Malaysians invest in ASM?

Yes. All three ASM funds accept any Malaysian citizen regardless of race. The limitation is unit availability rather than eligibility.

What is the difference between ASM, ASM 2 and ASM 3?

They share the same fixed RM1.00 price, the same RM10 minimum and a similar investment approach. The clearest difference is the financial year end, which determines when you get paid: 31 March for ASM, 31 August for ASM 2 Wawasan and 30 September for ASM 3.

When is the ASM dividend paid?

ASM distributions are credited on 1 April, ASM 2 Wawasan on 1 September and ASM 3 on 1 October. The rate is announced in the final week of the preceding month, and transactions on that fund are suspended for a few days beforehand.

Do I need to pay tax on ASNB dividends?

No. Income distributions from ASNB unit trust funds are tax exempt and do not need to be declared in your LHDN e-Filing.

Can I lose money in ASM?

The unit price has been held at RM1.00 since launch, but the prospectus states clearly that these funds are not capital guaranteed or capital protected. The distribution rate is also not guaranteed and has ranged from 3.75 sen to 5.50 sen over the past eight years.

How much do I need to start?

RM10 for your first investment. After that, additional investments can be as low as RM1 on most channels, or RM10 through Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Can I withdraw anytime?

Yes, there is no lock in period and no cooling off restriction. The minimum redemption is RM100 per transaction, and online redemptions are capped at 2,000 units per month, so larger withdrawals need to go through a branch or agent.

Can I use my EPF savings to invest?

Partly. Under the EPF Members Investment Scheme, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 are eligible, along with ASB 2, ASB 3 Didik and several ASN funds. ASM itself is not on the EPF-MIS list, and neither is ASB. The amount you can transfer is calculated as your Account 1 balance minus Basic Savings, multiplied by 30%, with a typical minimum of RM1,000. You can do it through i-Invest in your EPF i-Akaun.

Why do the ASM units always show as unavailable?

Non-Bumiputera allocation in the ASM funds is capped. Once it fills up, no new units can be bought until existing investors redeem or ASNB releases a new tranche.

Can I open an ASNB account for my child?

Yes. A parent or legal guardian aged 18 or above can open a minor account for a child under 18 using the child’s MyKid or birth certificate. The account falls under the ASNB Bijak programme and the RM10 minimum applies.

How do I check the ASNB price today?

For fixed price funds there is nothing to check. ASB, ASB 2, ASB 3 Didik, ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3 are always RM1.00 per unit. Only the variable price ASN funds have a daily net asset value, which you can view on the myASNB portal or app.

Before you invest

The ASM funds are a reasonable place for money you want to keep stable while earning more than a fixed deposit. They are not going to make anyone rich, and the recovery from the 2022 low has been gradual rather than dramatic. Anyone treating a 5% distribution as a floor should look at the 2020 to 2022 stretch first.

Read the prospectus and the product highlights sheet on asnb.com.my before committing money. This article is general information, not financial advice, and past distribution rates say nothing definite about future ones.

The post Everything About ASNB: ASM Funds, Dividends & myASNB App appeared first on Malaysian Review.

KL is a compact city that punches well above what most people expect. Nearly everything below sits within forty minutes of the centre, and about half of it costs nothing to visit.

Here are ten places worth your time, with the hours, prices and stations for each.

1. Petronas Twin Towers

The obvious choice, and I still think the right one. The towers are 452 metres across 88 floors, designed by César Pelli, and they held the world’s-tallest title from 1998 to 2004. They are still the tallest twin structures anywhere.

Your ticket covers two stops. The Skybridge on levels 41 and 42, sitting 170 metres up, then a lift to the observation deck on level 86 at 370 metres. Budget 45 minutes to an hour and a half.

Three things trip people up. The towers close on most Mondays. There is a daily visitor cap and slots regularly sell out, so book online rather than turning up hopeful. And the dress code is real: collared shirt, long trousers or neat jeans, closed shoes. Bermuda shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless tops and sandals get turned away at check-in, which is a bleak way to lose a booking.

Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays
9am to 9pm (Open on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 9am to 8pm)
Around RM98 for foreign adults, roughly half that for MyKad holders, less for children and seniors.
Book at petronastwintowers.com.my KLCC station.

2. KLCC Park and Suria KLCC

Most guides treat this as an afterthought, which I have never understood. The 50-acre park at the base of the towers is where you get the photograph everyone actually wants: both towers reflected in the wading pool, with lawn in the foreground and no ticket required.

Go around seven in the evening. The tower lights come on while there is still colour in the sky, and you can stay for the Lake Symphony fountain show afterwards. It is unashamedly cheesy and I enjoy it every time.

Suria KLCC is the mall in the podium. Six floors, a good food court up top, and Aquaria KLCC next door in the convention centre if you are travelling with kids who have run out of patience for architecture.

Park open daily
Lake Symphony light and sound shows at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm; light-only shows at 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Suria KLCC 10am to 10pm.
Free

3. Batu Caves

Thirteen kilometres north of the city, and if you only see one thing in Kuala Lumpur, make it this. A 42.7-metre gold statue of Lord Murugan, the tallest anywhere, stands at the base. Behind it, 272 rainbow-painted steps climb into a limestone hill roughly 400 million years old. Temple Cave at the top opens into a chamber with a ceiling high enough to have its own weather.

Go early. Not “reasonably early” but properly early, before nine. The complex opens around seven, the climb is steep, the humidity is unforgiving by mid-morning, and the tour coaches start rolling in at about half nine.

The dress code is enforced at the foot of the stairs and it applies to men too. Shoulders and knees covered. Sarongs are sold on site for about RM15 if you get caught out. Bring water but leave the snacks: the macaques on the staircase are practised thieves and will take a bag straight from your hand.

One date to check. Thaipusam falls in January or February and draws well over a million people. It is one of the most extraordinary religious events in Asia and it is impossible to visit casually. Pick which trip you are taking.

Open daily
7am to 9pm.
Free, Ramayana Cave costs about RM15

4. Merdeka 118

At 678.9 metres this is the tallest building in Southeast Asia and the second tallest in the world after the Burj Khalifa. It opened in January 2024 and takes its name from Stadium Merdeka next door, where Tunku Abdul Rahman declared independence in 1957.

Now the part other guides gloss over. The View at 118, the observation deck on levels 115 and 116, has had its public opening pushed back more than once. As of writing there was still no confirmed date or ticketing information. The Park Hyatt in the upper floors opened in August 2025, and the 118 Mall at the base has been tied to the same shifting timeline. Check before you build an afternoon around it.

The tower is still worth seeing. The best free angle is from Merdeka Square looking south, and the facade runs a light show after dark.

Exterior viewing is free and always available. Observation deck opening not confirmed; check merdeka118.com Merdeka station on the Kajang line, directly in front.

5. KL Tower

Menara Kuala Lumpur is 421 metres of communications tower built on top of Bukit Nanas, which means its decks end up at a similar altitude to the Petronas deck despite the tower itself being shorter. The enclosed observation deck sits at 276 metres. The open-air Sky Deck is at 300 metres, and the Sky Box is a glass cube that juts out from it.

There is a decent argument for choosing this over Petronas rather than doing both. From KL Tower you can actually see the Twin Towers, which you obviously cannot do from inside them. Tickets are also far easier to get at short notice.

The tower sits inside Bukit Nanas Forest Eco Park, a patch of genuine rainforest in the middle of the city. The walk up from the road is short but steep, and there is a free shuttle from the gate. The revolving restaurant has been closed for some time, so do not plan dinner here.

Open daily
9am to 10pm
Observation deck around RM33 for foreign visitors, RM20 for Malaysians. Sky Deck and Sky Box combined around RM78 and RM47.50 respectively. The Sky Box can be added on site for about RM10. Bukit Nanas or Dang Wangi station, then a 10 to 12 minute uphill walk.

6. Merdeka Square and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Dataran Merdeka is the field where the Union flag came down and the Malayan flag went up at midnight on 31 August 1957. The flagpole at the southern end is around 95 metres, one of the tallest in the world.

Across the road stands the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, finished in 1897. Copper domes, horseshoe arches, a clock tower in the middle. It is the best piece of architecture in the city that nobody queues for, and I would take it over any observation deck for photographs. Late afternoon, when the light hits the western facade, is the moment.

The building itself houses government offices, so you are looking from outside. That is fine. Outside is the point.

Open square
Accessible at any hour
Free

7. Masjid Negara and Masjid Jamek

Two mosques, two completely different propositions.

Masjid Negara, the National Mosque, opened in 1965. It is modernist concrete with a folded eighteen-point roof, one point for each of the thirteen states and the five pillars of Islam, and a single 73-metre minaret. It looks nothing like what most first-time visitors expect a mosque to look like, and the reflecting pools around it are genuinely calming on a hot afternoon.

Masjid Jamek sits at the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers, which is the exact spot the city is named after: the muddy confluence. It opened in 1909, designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, and the palm trees around it make it look older and further from a capital city than it has any right to.

Both are free and both lend robes at the door. Neither admits non-Muslim visitors during prayers, so the timing matters more than at any other stop on this list.

Masjid Negara:
Non-Muslim visiting hours Saturday to Thursday
9am to 12pm, 3pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 6.30pm; Friday afternoons only
Free

Masjid Jamek:
Closed to visitors on Fridays
8.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Free

8. Thean Hou Temple

Six tiers of red pillars and dragon-tipped roofs on a hill in Robson Heights, dedicated to Mazu, the sea goddess. It was completed in 1987 and opened in 1989, so it is not old and does not pretend to be. What it has is the terrace, which looks straight out over the southern half of the city, and several hundred red lanterns strung across the courtyards.

It is a working temple with a marriage registry attached, so at weekends you will often walk into somebody’s wedding. Nobody minds. Just stay out of the photographer’s shot.

Awkward to reach by train. Take a Grab. It is about fifteen minutes from Chinatown and costs very little.

Free, donations welcome. Listings vary between 8am to 8pm and 9am to 6pm, so do not leave it until late afternoon. Nearest stations are KL Sentral or Bangsar, then a short taxi ride.

9. Petaling Street and Central Market

Petaling Street is KL’s Chinatown market: a covered lane of watches, bags, phone cases and a great deal of confident counterfeiting. Haggling is expected and starting around half the asking price is normal. It is touristy and entirely aware of it, but the streets around it are the real reward. Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in the city, is two minutes away, and the old shophouses along Jalan Sultan have been filling up with good coffee bars.

Central Market, a few minutes north, began life as an 1888 wet market and became an art deco handicraft hall. Batik, pewter, woodcarving. Fixed prices and air conditioning, which after an hour on Petaling Street is its own reward. Kasturi Walk down the side is a covered lane of food stalls.

Petaling Street:
DailyShops from about 10am, market stalls from mid-afternoon until late.
Free

Central Market:
Daily
10am to 9.30pm.
Free

10. Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor

This is where to go in KL once it gets dark. Bukit Bintang is the shopping and nightlife district. Jalan Alor is the street running behind it, a few hundred metres of hawker stalls that put plastic tables across the road every evening and do not pack up for a long time.

Order grilled chicken wings, satay, char kway teow, and whatever the stall with the longest queue is selling. The sellers are pushy in a good-natured way and you will struggle to spend RM30 a head.

Free to walk. Stalls set up from late afternoon and run past midnight. Bukit Bintang monorail or MRT station.

Getting around

Buy a Touch ‘n Go card at any station. It covers the LRT, MRT, monorail and KTM Komuter, and saves you queueing at a ticket machine every single time. Grab fills the gaps for about RM10 to RM20 across the city centre. The free GOKL bus loops through Bukit Bintang, KLCC and Chinatown, and it is slow in traffic but it costs nothing.

When to go

There is no dry season worth planning around. It rains most afternoons all year, usually hard and usually briefly. Mornings are more reliable than afternoons, which is another reason to do Batu Caves early and save malls, markets and observation decks for later in the day.

Two periods genuinely change the city. During Ramadan the bazaars are excellent and daytime restaurant hours shift. Around Chinese New Year, Chinatown is at its best and a good half of the shops close.

Is Kuala Lumpur worth visiting, and for how long?

Yes, though it rewards a different traveller than Bangkok or Singapore does.

KL is less polished than Singapore and less relentless than Bangkok, and people who arrive expecting either usually spend the first day slightly confused. What it has instead is range. Malay, Chinese and Indian culture are layered into a fairly small area, and you can move between a Hindu cave temple, a modernist mosque and a Chinese temple in a single morning without any of it feeling staged for visitors. The food is among the best in Asia and costs a fraction of what it does further south. English is widely spoken. The rail network is clean and cheap. A week here costs roughly what three days would in Singapore.

The honest caveat: KL is not a beautiful city in the way Georgetown or Melaka are. The centre is patchy, the pavements are inconsistent, and the traffic is bad. If you want an old town to wander aimlessly, this is not it.

Three days is the number I give people. Day one for KLCC and the towers. Day two for Batu Caves in the morning and the historic centre around Merdeka Square in the afternoon. Day three for Chinatown, the temples and Bukit Bintang after dark.

Two days works if you move quickly and accept you will skip the temples. Four gives you room for a day trip, and Melaka is the one I would pick.

If you have only one day, do Batu Caves in the morning and KLCC Park at sunset. That pairing gets you the two images that define the city, and leaves enough of a gap in the middle to eat properly.

The post 10 Top Things to See in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia appeared first on Malaysian Review.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (Aug 18), the ministry said a total of 420,879 candidates will take the examination at 3,334 centres nationwide — a slight increase from the roughly 413,000 who sat the paper in the previous cohort.

The post SPM Schedule 2026: Oral, Practical & Written Exam Dates appeared first on Malaysian Review.

• Rating: 4.5 / 5
• Price: From $699.99 / £619 / AU$1,049.99 (Standard bundle); $799.99 Essentials
• Malaysia price: RM2,899 (Standard) / RM3,199 (Essentials)
• Released: August 12, 2026
• Best for: Creators who want one camera that covers 360, gimbal-style single-lens, and serious color grading
• Watch out for: Buggy launch app that needs an iPhone 15 or newer to run smoothly

The post Insta360 X6 Review: Specs, Price Malaysia & X5 Upgrade appeared first on Malaysian Review.

At an event today unveiling the Comprehensive Inspection Train and officially launching System Integration Testing (SIT) and the Fault-Free Run (FFR), Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the ministry has ordered a review of the testing procedures for the Kota Bharu–Gombak stretch, with the goal of moving the launch up from January 2027 to before the end of this year. He framed it as a direct challenge to Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) and the Chinese contractor building the line, tying the push to December’s school holidays and pointing out there are only about three months left to make it happen.

Worth being clear on what this is: a stated target, not a locked-in date. Loke was upfront that regulators (APAD) still have to sign off, and that nothing about safety gets compromised to hit a deadline. “If there’s any risk, I’m more worried than anyone,” he said, according to the announcement. So December 2026 is now the goal, January 2027 remains the fallback if testing runs long.

What’s actually happening on the tracks right now

Three testing phases are running in sequence:

System Integration Testing (SIT). Started this August, SIT checks signalling, communications, power supply and the overhead catenary system together rather than in isolation to making sure a railway that works component-by-component also works as one coordinated system.

The Fault-Free Run (FFR). Kicks off in September and runs each EMU and freight E-Loco through up to 8,000km of testing, supervised by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). It’s a real operational run, full speed, full route and just without passengers on board. Loke has noted these procedures usually take two to three months, and the ministry wants to trim that where it can without cutting corners on safety.

The Comprehensive Inspection Train (CIT). A 6-car electric multiple unit built by CRRC Dalian (model CR200J), the CIT finished factory acceptance testing and is due to arrive in Malaysia this Sunday. It’ll run the full 665km line recording track geometry, checking the signalling system, and inspecting the overhead catenary. It’s also fitted out with a control room, meeting room, prayer room, dining area, business-class seating and a media room, a working lab on rails, not just a diagnostic tool.

The route, for anyone still catching up

Phase 1 connects Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak in Selangor. That’s the stretch going through SIT and FFR right now. It’s designed to cut the drive between Kota Bharu and KL from around 7 hours to about 4 by rail. Phase 2, extending from Gombak to Port Klang, is targeted for completion in December 2027 with operations following in January 2028. For the full alignment, see the ECRL route.

As of July 2026, overall construction across Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor had reached 95.08% complete, and all ten traction substations along the Kota Bharu–Gombak section are now powered on. That’s part of why the ministry feels comfortable pushing the testing timeline and the heavy civil and electrification work is essentially finished, and what’s left is proving the system works end to end.

Ten train sets are planned in total. Five have arrived in Malaysia so far, with the rest coming in over the next few months.

So…December 2026 or January 2027?

Both dates are live right now, and it depends which one you’re asking about. December 2026 is Loke’s newly stated target, announced today, for actually opening to passengers. January 2027 was the original plan and is still the fallback if SIT, FFR or final certification take longer than hoped. Nothing here is set in stone yet. It hinges on how testing goes over the next three months.

For now, ECRL Malaysia is worth watching closely: this is the stretch where “under construction” turns into “open for business,” and the next few weeks of testing results will likely determine which date actually holds.

The post ECRL Malaysia May Open December 2026 as Loke Pushes Testing appeared first on Malaysian Review.

Here’s the honest breakdown of every zone, from the grandest seat in the house to the best cheap thrill — plus the one factor most first-timers forget until it’s soaking them. (If you haven’t locked in your days yet, our F1 Sepang Schedule has the full weekend timetable.)

The pinnacle: F1 Paddock Club

If money is no object and you want the experience, this is the top of the mountain. The Paddock Club is Formula 1’s premium hospitality product, positioned above the team garages with an elevated view over the pit lane and starting grid that no grandstand can replicate.

You’re paying for more than the view: high-end hospitality with open bars, gourmet catering, and exclusive extras like daily pit-lane walks and driver appearances — the closest a paying fan gets to the heart of the sport. Expect it to run in the region of US$6,000–8,000 for three-day access, though Sepang’s own 2026 figure isn’t published and rates vary by race. Be warned, too, that much of this tier never hits the open market — a large share goes to sponsors, and with PETRONAS on home soil, expect plenty tied up in corporate hands early.

Best for: once-in-a-lifetime splurges, corporate hosting, and fans who want pit-lane access and open-bar luxury over everything else.

The classic: Main Grandstand

For most fans this is the sweet spot — the classic F1 experience without hospitality pricing. The Main Grandstand runs along the main straight, directly opposite the start-finish line, putting you front-row for the start, pit action and the chequered flag. It’s covered, it faces the big screen, and it’s split into north and south sections by the Mall area. At Sepang the roof isn’t a luxury — it’s the reason to book here.

Best for: first-timers, families, and anyone who wants the iconic start-finish view, the big screen and a guaranteed roof over their head.

The connoisseur’s pick: F Grandstand

Here’s the one seasoned fans quietly recommend. Grandstand F sits on the outside of the hairpin opposite the tower, seats around 18,500, and offers panoramic views down both the main and back straights — roughly Turns 6 to 8 and Turn 15. In practice you get over half the lap in view from a single seat, more track than anywhere else on the property. If you came to watch racing — follow strategy, see overtakes actually develop — this is the thinking fan’s seat.

Best for: hardcore fans who want to follow strategy and see overtakes develop across the most track visible from any single seat.

First-corner drama: K1 Grandstand and the Twin Towers

Positioned right at Turns 1 and 2, K1 gives you the best view of the race start and first-corner overtakes — where opening-lap chaos and race-winning moves so often happen. Nearby, Sepang’s signature Twin Towers are two large grandstands near the grid offering panoramic views and another strong covered option close to the start line.

Best for: fans who live for the launch off the line and first-lap chaos, and want a covered seat near the grid.

Budget and atmosphere: C2 and K2 Hillstands

Don’t write off the grass banks — for a certain kind of fan they’re the most fun place to watch. C2 sits on the south side over Turns 9–11; both are grassy elevated banks with wide panoramas, casual and cheap, though C2 has some shelter. The official circuit lists K2 as overlooking Turns 3 and 4 — and worth noting for local fans, it’s designated for MyKad holders only.

These are natural grass amphitheatres with unreserved seating, so arrive early — as early as 8am — to claim a prime spot. Amenities are thin, but the airhorns, camaraderie and low entry price more than make up for it. Bring a mat, sunscreen, a poncho and a good attitude.

Best for: budget-conscious fans and groups who prioritise atmosphere and value over comfort, and don’t mind the weather (locals, for K2’s MyKad-only bank).

The post Sepang Circuit Seating Guide: Every Stand for F1 2026 appeared first on Malaysian Review.

His message was straightforward. During the recent Negeri Sembilan campaign, some leaders preferred to highlight the hibah paid to depositors and the continuation of haj subsidies while insisting there was no outright theft. KJ said he understood that approach in the heat of an election. But the votes are counted. Now is the time for honesty.

“If we acknowledge there were weaknesses and failures in governance and tatakelola at Tabung Haji, people will at least say UMNO has the seeds of change to bring recovery, because they admitted it,” he stated. Continuing to defend every past decision, he argued, does far less for public confidence than simply owning the mistakes. The RCI findings go beyond the question of “sakau.” They expose deeper issues of integrity, accounting standards, and political influence over an institution that millions of Malaysians trust with their savings for the pilgrimage.

The Core Findings That Cannot Be Ignored

The RCI report, declassified at the end of July 2026, confirmed a stark reality. In 2017 Tabung Haji announced a RM3.4 billion profit. Under proper Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards the true position was a net loss of RM1.4 billion. The gap of nearly RM4.8 billion stemmed from the use of realisable asset value instead of audited figures, delayed impairments, and the continued payment of high hibah even when liabilities exceeded assets.

These practices were not accidental. They were driven by the pressure to maintain attractive returns and political confidence. Bank Negara had issued warnings. The National Audit Department still issued clean opinions for a period. The result was a gradual erosion of reserves at an institution whose primary purpose is to help ordinary Muslims fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam.

Today, many depositors manage their savings through Tabung Haji Online, checking balances, viewing hibah, and performing transactions digitally. This digital transformation has made the fund more accessible, yet it also raises the stakes for transparency — because when ordinary people can monitor their accounts in real time, any past gap between reported figures and actual financial health becomes harder to overlook.

From Report to Real Consequences

The findings are no longer confined to a document. Since the report’s release, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has moved quickly. A special task force was formed. Arrests have followed.

A design company director was detained over alleged bribes of RM300,000 in home renovations linked to projects worth about RM8 million. A former plantation manager faces investigation over a rubber seedling contract of similar value. Three more individuals from a property subsidiary were remanded in connection with the alleged misappropriation of penalty charges amounting to RM450,000.

Most significantly, the former chief executive officer and former chief financial officer of a company owned by a statutory body were detained on suspicion of abusing their power in the acquisition of shares in two plantation companies valued at RM370 million. The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act. Both were released on health grounds but required to return for further statements.

These remain early stages of investigation. No charges have been filed and all individuals are presumed innocent. Yet the direction is clear: the RCI is translating into concrete scrutiny of specific transactions and decisions.

Why Admission Matters Now

Khairy’s intervention carries weight precisely because he is speaking from within UMNO after recently returning to the party. External criticism is easily dismissed. An internal call for ownership is harder to ignore, especially after BN-PN’s strong performance in Negeri Sembilan and with the next party general assembly approaching.

There is a practical logic to his stance. The RCI recommended stronger safeguards, including barring active politicians from the Tabung Haji board and requiring profit distributions to be based strictly on audited accounts. Acknowledging past failures makes it easier to support these reforms rather than resist them. It also signals to the public that the party is capable of learning rather than simply defending its record at all costs.

Tabung Haji is not an ordinary government-linked company. It holds the hopes of countless families preparing for haj. When its financial position is managed through creative accounting to serve short-term popularity, the damage reaches far beyond balance sheets. It undermines trust in an institution that should stand above political cycles.

Khairy is not demanding endless self-criticism. He is asking for a mature form of accountability: recognise the weaknesses, accept the lessons, and strengthen the rules so the same problems cannot easily recur. In a political culture that often prefers total defence or total attack, that measured path remains rare.

Whether UMNO responds to the call remains to be seen. What is already clear is that the RCI report, the ongoing investigations, and KJ’s public stance have placed the issue of governance at Tabung Haji firmly in the open. For an institution of this importance, genuine accountability and meaningful reform are the only sustainable way forward.

The post Khairy Jamaluddin Urges UMNO Admit Tabung Haji Failures appeared first on Malaysian Review.

That is the story now gripping both Malaysia and Indonesia.

What Happened at Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta

On the night of Tuesday, 28 July 2026, at around 11.30pm local time, a 39-year-old Malaysia Airlines pilot, Mohd Saufi bin Othman, landed at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on flight MH727 from Kuala Lumpur.

He had just flown the aircraft himself.

Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) officers monitoring the international passenger X-ray spotted a suspicious image inside a silver-white suitcase. When the bag was collected from the conveyor belt, its owner turned out to be a pilot — still in full uniform.

What they found stunned everyone:

• 70,114 ecstasy pills with a net weight of 25.19 kilograms
• Methamphetamine (syabu) — 14 large packages and one small package hidden inside the suitcase
• A bottle of someone else’s urine, believed to be prepared for cheating a drug test

The urine bottle is the detail that says everything. He came ready to pass a drug screening. Officers took a real sample anyway — and it came back positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine, all at once.

Not His First Run

The Bareskrim Polri investigation revealed something more troubling: this was not Saufi’s first attempt.

According to Indonesian authorities, he had already succeeded twice before — smuggling meth into Sabah, and 7 kilograms of meth into Jakarta. He was taking instructions from a syndicate handler believed to be based in Malaysia, and the drugs were meant to be collected by someone at his hotel.

The head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs called the case “unique and unexpected” — an international drug syndicate had managed to infiltrate the aviation profession itself.

How Much Does a Malaysia Airlines Pilot Actually Earn?

This is where the story stops making sense.

A First Officer at Malaysia Airlines in 2026 earns a base annual salary of between RM120,000 and RM220,000. Add flight-hour pay, international layover allowances and duty incentives, and total gross earnings typically reach RM230,000 to RM320,000 a year.

At 39, Saufi was most likely an experienced First Officer — putting his probable monthly income somewhere in the range of RM12,000 to RM20,000, or RM150,000 to RM250,000 a year. Comfortably within the top few percent of Malaysian earners.

The Math That Makes No Sense

The syndicate’s promised fee: RM50,000 for one trip.

That is roughly 2.5 to 4 months of his own salary. For a flight he was already rostered to operate as his day job.

The risk? Indonesia imposes the death penalty for drug trafficking — and the quantity threshold sits far, far below 25 kilograms. Foreign nationals caught with a fraction of this amount have faced the firing squad.

RM50,000 in exchange for your life. No rational person makes that trade — and perhaps that is exactly the point. His urine testing positive for three different drugs suggests Saufi was himself a user. Whether it was debt, addiction, or syndicate coercion, his true motive remains under investigation.

The Big Question: How Did It Clear KLIA?

For Malaysians, this is the most unsettling part.

The Director-General of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, confirmed that Saufi went through all mandatory security screening at KLIA before boarding on 28 July. The scanners flagged nothing.

Twenty-six kilograms of drugs. Straight through.

AKPS is now waiting on input from Indonesian police to work out how the bag slipped past screening — whether it was a scanner limitation, a sophisticated concealment method, or the darker possibility: inside help.

Malaysia Airlines, in a statement to Bernama, said it takes the allegations seriously and will cooperate fully with Indonesian authorities, declining further comment while the investigation is ongoing.

The Sentence He Faces

Indonesian investigators have now confirmed the exact charges. Saufi is being prosecuted under Article 113(2) juncto Article 114(2), Article 132(1), subsidiary Article 127(1)(a) of Indonesia’s Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics — a layered set of charges covering possession, trafficking, and criminal conspiracy, with the personal-use article added on account of his positive drug test.

Under Articles 113(2) and 114(2), the maximum penalty is death or life imprisonment. Where the sentence lands will depend on what prosecutors prove at trial — but the factors stacked against him are severe:

• Quantity: 26kg of ecstasy, against legal thresholds measured in grams
• Repeat offending: investigators say this was his third successful smuggling run into Indonesia
• Syndicate involvement: police have classified him as part of an international drug network, not a one-off mule

Each of those is precisely what pushes Indonesian courts toward the top of the sentencing range.

For context, Indonesia last carried out drug-related executions in 2016. An effective moratorium has held since, meaning foreign traffickers in recent years have typically received death sentences that remain unexecuted, or life and long fixed terms. Two British nationals were sentenced to 9 and 11 years in March for smuggling cocaine into Bali — but that case involved a fraction of the quantity Saufi is accused of carrying.

The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has confirmed it is providing consular access, adding that it respects Indonesia’s legal process. He is currently held at the Bareskrim Polri detention centre.

What Happens Next

CCTV footage of the arrest — a uniformed pilot collecting his suitcase at the conveyor belt, unaware officers were already waiting — went viral after being posted by Bea Cukai Soekarno-Hatta’s official account on 3 August.

Saufi now faces charges under Indonesia’s narcotics laws, which carry a maximum sentence of death. The joint Malaysia-Indonesia investigation is expected to focus on the syndicate network in Malaysia, the KLIA screening failure, and whether more flight crew are involved.

One thing is already certain: the assumption that a pilot’s uniform is a green lane through any airport is over — for the syndicates, and unfortunately, for every honest pilot too.

The post Malaysia Pilot Saufi Othman Faces Death Penalty for 26kg Ecstasy appeared first on Malaysian Review.

Here’s what most of the coverage isn’t telling you. This isn’t a routine annual adjustment. The current Axia has worn the same four price tags since it launched in February 2023, which means the Perodua Axia price 2025 was identical to 2024, and to 2023. Nothing moved for three and a half years. Until now.

Perodua Axia price 2025 vs 2026: the full price list

All prices are on-the-road without insurance.

Peninsular Malaysia

Sabah & Sarawak

The cuts aren’t spread evenly, and that’s the interesting part. The 1.0G alone accounts for almost two-thirds of the RM7,700 that came off the range. Move up to the AV and you’re saving RM500, which is barely a rounding error on a RM49,000 car.

East Malaysia keeps its usual RM2,000 premium on the entry variant, so Sabah and Sarawak buyers get the same saving in ringgit terms.

One variant didn’t budge: the RM22,000 Axia 1.0E manual. It’s still the cheapest new car you can buy in Malaysia, though it’s worth remembering it isn’t really the same car. The E is a first-generation model Perodua kept in production as a budget option, which is why buyers call it the Axia Rahmah. What the new pricing does is shrink the gap between the E and the 1.0G from RM16,600 to RM11,900. Make of that what you will, given how long people have been predicting the E’s retirement.

Nothing on the car has changed

If you’re wondering whether Perodua quietly stripped something out to get here, it didn’t. The company says specifications and quality standards are untouched, and that the savings came from process improvements and operational efficiency.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad framed the move as an effort to “ease the cost pressures currently faced by Malaysians”, crediting long-running improvement work with local suppliers and partners across the automotive ecosystem.

So you’re getting exactly the same car:

• • 1.0-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine
  • 67 hp and 91 Nm, driving the front wheels through a D-CVT
  • 25.3 km/L for the G and X; up to 27.4 km/L on the SE and AV with Eco Idle
  • Road tax of RM20 a year
  • 265-litre boot
  • Five-year or 150,000 km warranty
  • Four-star ASEAN NCAP rating

What RM33,900 actually means for your wallet

Run it through a nine-year loan with 10% down at a 3.0% flat rate and the 1.0G lands around RM359 a month, against roughly RM409 before. Call it RM50 a month, or a shade under RM5,400 across the full term once interest is in. Ballpark figures, not quotes — your bank, deposit and tenure will all shift them.

The competitive maths is where it gets dramatic. The Axia 1.0G and the Proton Saga Standard used to sit RM390 apart. Now it’s RM5,090, because the Saga hasn’t moved from RM38,990. The Saga still has the better hardware on paper: 118 hp, 150 Nm and a 420-litre boot against the Axia’s 265. But the Axia hits back with RM20 road tax to the Saga’s RM90, better fuel economy, cheaper servicing, and now a five-figure head start on price.

Then there’s the awkward one. Perodua’s own Bezza starts at RM34,580. Last year that made the Bezza RM4,020 cheaper than the entry Axia. Today the Axia 1.0G undercuts Perodua’s best-selling model by RM680. Someone in Rawang has clearly done the sums and decided that trade is worth making.

Worth saying plainly, though: if you bought a 1.0G in June, RM4,700 just evaporated off your car’s book value. Cuts this size are great news for buyers and rough on the people who signed last month.

Why Perodua cut Axia prices now

The registration numbers tell most of the story. Through the first half of 2026, the Bezza held onto top spot with 11.6% of registrations. But the Proton Saga climbed two places to second on 10.8%, up 42.8% year-on-year, and the Axia slipped to third on 9%, down 9%. Zoom out and Perodua fell 4.7% to 158,295 units while Proton jumped 40.5% to 98,010 — the tightest the two national brands have been since 2013.

This also isn’t a one-off. Perodua dropped QV-E pricing to RM69,999 with its Battery-as-a-Service package in mid-June, then cut service parts and labour by an average of 10% from 19 June across every model. The Axia makes three pricing moves in seven weeks, which starts to look like a strategy rather than a reaction.

The timing is sharp for another reason. The OMV excise revision — the one that would fold marketing, administration and profit into the taxable value of locally assembled cars — has been pushed back again, this time to January 2027. MAA had estimated it could add at least 10% to CKD prices. So Perodua is cutting into a window where the rest of the industry was bracing for increases.

If you’ve had an Axia sitting on your shortlist and kept putting it off, the timing doesn’t get much better than this.

Prices quoted are on-the-road without insurance and may vary by state, promotion and dealer. Confirm current pricing with an authorised Perodua sales advisor before booking.

Download: Perodua Axia Brochure 

The post Perodua Axia Price 2026: Now From RM33,900 (Save RM4,700) appeared first on Malaysian Review.