Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has approximately 2,000 Chevening alumni, including former ministers, senior civil servants and leaders across finance, healthcare, climate policy, academia and civil society. Alumni continue to support UK-Malaysia engagement and cooperation in priority sectors including semiconductors, AI and digital technology, education and skills, life sciences, climate and clean growth. The UK-Malaysia relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The Chevening programme is assessed through its results framework and regular surveys of scholars and alumni, including on leadership and influence, connections with the UK, trade, investment and development activity. The Chevening alumni network in Malaysia is actively managed to ensure its strong delivery in support of national and UK interest. Independent evaluation has found that the Chevening programme delivers economic benefits to the UK in excess of the original investment and 47 per cent of Chevening alumni have recommended the UK as a place to do business. For the 2026/27 academic year, 9 of the 19 Malaysian Chevening scholarship awards are co-funded through partnerships, helping to reduce costs to the UK taxpayer.

Malaysia has a rapidly expanding digital economy and a strong trading relationship with the UK in digitally delivered services, worth over £1 billion in 2023. Negotiations on a UK-Malaysia Digital Trade Agreement present an opportunity to reduce barriers and ensure UK firms can compete and thrive in fast‑growing, tech‑driven markets. This could unlock further benefits for a wide range of UK businesses, including fintech firms. We will continue to engage closely with industry as negotiations progress.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response provided on 10 February to Question 110802.

The UK is a strong supporter of international efforts to assist Rohingya refugees and to work towards a safe, sustainable and dignified solution to their displacement.

The UK regularly raises the Myanmar crisis and the need to assist Rohingya and other refugees with Malaysia and other neighbouring countries. Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention but runs its asylum and refugee process in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

In January 2026, the Malaysian government introduced a centralised biometric registration system for refugees and asylum seekers. The UK is working with international partners to encourage Malaysia to build appropriate safeguards into its registration system and broader asylum and refugee process.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is reshaping its overseas footprint to maximise UK economic growth in line with the Trade, Industrial and Small Business Strategies. Our future network will focus on priority markets and growth driving sectors across DBT objectives in trade policy, inward investment, tackling market access barriers, and supporting UK exporters.

DBT staff overseas work flexibly across trade (trade policy, market access barriers and export promotion), inward investment, economic security and wider HMG objectives. As a result, we do not hold export promotion specific resources allocated separately by country or market. The total DBT overseas resource for the markets in questions will be roughly 470 FTE at the end of March 2026 reducing to a forecast roughly 420 FTE by March 2029. There are no forecasts beyond this point.

We deploy our domestic trade resources flexibly, with delivery aligned to His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) geographic regions. As of January 2026, DBT has 1,396 FTE working on trade domestically (Trade Group and Economic Security and Trade Relations resource) reducing to 1,140 by March 2029.

Planned headcount reductions in domestic staff over the Spending Review period will be managed through rigorous prioritisation; they do not translate into fixed, market-specific staffing levels.

We regularly engage with the Government of Malaysia on a range of international matters, including human rights and humanitarian issues. We continue to encourage all countries to ensure that the rights and safety of vulnerable populations, including the Rohingya, are respected and protected. In July 2025, the previous Foreign Secretary raised Myanmar with the Malaysian Prime Minister.