Should Malaysia be part of my communications strategy?

If you’re doing business there, almost certainly.

Malaysia tends to get treated as a footnote. It does not have the financial cachet of Singapore, the scale of Indonesia or the economic narrative of Vietnam. The assumption, often unstated, is that whoever handles Singapore can handle Malaysia too.

Often, that’s the wrong move. Malaysia is a growth opportunity that deserves attention.

Its full-year GDP growth came in at 5.2% in 2025, ahead of the government's own forecast range, with Q4 clocking 6.3% — the strongest quarterly growth in three years. The ringgit was Asia's best-performing currency in 2025, gaining nearly 9% against the US dollar, driven by strong export performance, fiscal consolidation, and foreign direct investment flowing into data centres and the technology supply chain.

The digital economy already accounts for a quarter of GDP. Internet penetration sits at 98%, social media reaches 85% of the population, and Malaysians spend an average of three hours a day on social platforms, which is among the highest rates in the region.

The media landscape has shifted fast. Print usage has dropped from 45% to 18% of the population in under a decade, with online platforms now dominating a younger, tech-savvy market. The passing of the Media Council Act in early 2025 signals a genuine shift toward a more independent press. The environment for earned coverage is improving.

For a variety of reasons, Malaysia is genuinely complicated for organisations without local knowledge. It’s linguistic diversity is a key reason why. But also, broadcast brands carry significantly higher public trust than print. Online news is dominated by aggregators rather than mastheads. And TikTok plays a genuine role in how news spreads.

Majura has specialist communications partners across Asia who understand the landscape. If Malaysia is a market you operate in or are considering, the coverage opportunity is real.