KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 20 -- Several Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers in Malaysia have shut down or reduced operations due to US tariff hikes, Singapore's Straits Times (ST) reported, citing industry sources.

The report said among the affected companies are Jinko Solar Co, Risen Energy Co, and JA Solar Technology Co, which together account for nearly 40 per cent of Malaysia's total solar production capacity.

"Many of these firms initially invested in Malaysia to target the US market," Chin Soo Mau, adviser to the Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association, was quoted saying.

"With higher scrutiny over the ownership of companies exporting solar panels to the US, and potential higher tariffs by Trump, their products will no longer be c...