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1 [1] (April 23, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetyw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Malaysia Updated April 23, 2026 Overview The Federation of Malaysia is a majority Muslim parliamentary democracy in Southeast Asia. It has an ethnically and religiously diverse population of 32.7 million, with an ethnic Malay majority and large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. Malaysia plays an active role in regional diplomacy and is a partner in numerous U.S. initiatives in Asia, including trade and security programs as well as efforts to combat terrorism and religious extremism. Malaysia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and served as ASEAN's chair in 2025, when it mediated conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia. It sees itself as both a regional leader and a moderate voice within the Islamic world. Despite generally cooperative bilateral relations, some issues constrain closer U.S.-Malaysia ties, including Malaysian opposition to much of U.S. policy in the Middle East. Malaysia has been sharply critical of Israel's approach to Gaza and the March 2026 U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, strongly condemning what the foreign ministry called violations of international law and the UN Charter. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim maintains outreach to groups in the Middle East, including Hamas. At the same time, U.S. concerns over some Malaysian economic and human-rights policies also has limited some elements of bilateral ties. Congress has overseen Malaysia policy, including trade negotiations in the 2000s and 2010s, as well as U.S.- Malaysia cooperation on security and counterterrorism issues. Some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about human rights issues in the country including Malaysia's record in combatting human trafficking- Malaysia was listed on the Tier 2 Watchlist in the State Department's 2025 Trafficking in Persons report-and its treatment of refugees from Burma (Myanmar). Dernocracy and Politics in Maasia Malaysia was led by a single governing coalition from its independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 until 2018. That coalition, known as the Barisan Nasional (BN), was led from 1973 by the United Malays Nasional Organisation (UMNO), a Malay-nationalist party. During its lengthy period in power, UMNO enacted a series of economic and social preferences for the majority bumiputera (ethnic Malays and indigenous peoples), and the party derived much of its appeal from issues of ethnic identity. Prime Minister Anwar was UMNO's deputy chairman until 1998, when he broke with longtime UMNO leader Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar was later convicted and imprisoned for five years on charges many consider politically motivated, and he became an opposition leader upon his release. Malaysia has undergone significant political upheaval since 2018, as national elections in 2018 and 2022 resulted in weak coalition governments marked by internal rivalries that have struggled to govern effectively. The current government is headed by Anwar. After another three years in prison in the 2010s, Anwar came to power in November 2022 following elections in which no party gained a clear majority of parliamentary seats. His political coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), joined its longtime rival, UNMO, to form a government, but the two groups remain deeply divided on many issues. Malaysia's next general election is due to be held no later than February 2028. Figure I. Malavsia Source: CIA World Factbook (2025); World Bank. U.S.-Malasia Relations The relationship between the United States and Malaysia is complex. In the 1980s and 1990s, under former Prime Minister Mahathir, Malaysia was one of the leading voices behind the East Asia Economic Caucus and other Asia- only regional institutions that excluded the United States and other Western countries. Since the early 2010s, Malaysia generally has welcomed a broader U.S. role in the region. Bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2014. Malaysia's political upheaval and changes in U.S. Indo-Pacific policy have led to uncertainties about the future of the relationship. Many observers argue that Malaysian sensitivities about aligning with the United States constrain the establishment of a deeper strategic relationship. U.S.-Malaysia security cooperation includes 14 recurring bilateral and multilateral military exercises, ship visits, and military education exchanges, as well as counterterrorism activities aimed at terrorist networks operating in Southeast Asia and maritime security activities in the South China Sea. The U.S. and Malaysian navies have cooperated as part of multilateral efforts to combat piracy near the Malacca