Trade between Malaysia and China is on an upward trajectory but the prominent role played by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia's private sector contributes to social tensions in the Southeast Asian nation. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Shinya Sawai and Reuters)

Malaysia's ethnic Chinese walk delicate business tightrope

Chamber of commerce chief stresses need for trust to build domestic and overseas ties

AMY CHEW, Contributing writer

December 17, 2024 06:00 JST

KUALA LUMPUR -- When the lighting broke at one of the Tomei jewellery shops in Malaysia's northern Kedah state, company managing director Ng Yih Pyng, who is based in the capital Kuala Lumpur, knew no one who could fix it. So he turned to a Plan B.

"I called up the Chinese chamber of commerce over in Kedah, and they sent someone over to help," he said.