Two leading Malaysian opposition parties formed an alliance Saturday aiming to win major support from the country's Muslim majority and threaten the young reformist government. 

Malaysia's ex-prime minister Najib Razak played a pivotal role in plundering state fund 1MDB and hundreds of millions of dollars were illicitly channelled to his bank account, a prosecutor said Wednesday at the opening of his biggest graft trial.

Malaysia will lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the European Union's plan to phase out the use of palm oil in biofuels, a minister said Tuesday.

Malaysian officials are disguising themselves as cooks and waiters to catch Muslims who don't fast during Ramadan, with a rights group Thursday blasting the "disgraceful act of spying".

Malaysia's disgraced former leader Najib Razak pleaded not guilty to all charges against him at the start of his trial Wednesday over a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal that sent shockwaves around the world. 

Malaysia has become a member of the International Criminal Court, a minister said Tuesday, in a boost for the beleaguered institution at a time it faces growing criticism.

A multi-billion dollar China-backed rail project in Malaysia has been scrapped, government officials said Saturday, adding that the cost of building it was too high. 

Thousands of banner-waving Muslims dressed in white rallied in the Malaysian capital Saturday demanding protection of their rights, at a time of growing racial tensions in the multi-ethnic country.

Big crowds gathered in downtown Kuala Lumpur, chanting "God is great" and waving banners that read "Long live the Malays", an AFP reporter said. Large numbers of police were on the streets and major roads were closed.

Malaysia's ex-leader Najib Razak arrived in court Thursday to face a barrage of charges relating to $681 million of state funds that allegedly ended up in his personal bank account.

Hope of finding flight MH370's final resting place is "fading" and the massive three-nation search for the doomed jet will be suspended if nothing turns up in the suspected crash zone, Malaysia, Australia and China said Friday.