Nothing hard here.
For the most part it was see clue, write answer. I was held up by 23d since there was no wordplay to workout which was the right answer, but I’m sure one of you will enlighten me. Thanks SAYANG for the puzzle.
All definitions in clues marked like this.
* anagram, + charade, – deletion, E Easy, DD double definition, CD cryptic definition, H hidden, ~ homophone, D by E Definition by example
ACROSS
1,5 MAIL FROM KUALA LUMPUR? (7,7) CAPITAL LETTERS [D by E]
9 This organisation services institutes (5) NAAFI [E]
10 Utter masculine sound for message depository (5,4) VOICE MAIL [utter=VOICE + ~masculine=MALE]
11 Setter to press note now (9) IMMEDIATE [setter=I’M + press=MEDIA + note=TE] now=adverb and immediate=adjective, so now=immediately?
12 Search among the Mirkwood Elves (5) DELVE [H]
13 Boil // soup (4) STEW [DD]
15 Draw close to residence chosen by old neighbours, initially (4,2,2) HOME IN ON [residence=HOME + chosen=IN + Old Neighbours]
18 Glass // vessel (8) SCHOONER [DD]
19 Throw the last bit of ear (4) LOBE [throw=LOB + thE]
22 The priest did not start the fire (5) ARSON [pARSON] Isn’t arson the act of setting fire rather than fire?
24 The first person is the most important – a mega icon in another way (9) EGOMANIAC [A MEGA ICON]*
26 Millions stolen by oriental bully in internet trading (1-8) E-COMMERCE [millions=MM inside oriental=E + bully=COERCE]
27 An audience for The Stones? No, just one (5) AGATE [an audience=A GATE]
28,29 A great president and patriarch of county town (7,7) ABRAHAM LINCOLN [patriarch=ABRAHAM + county town=LINCOLN] Can’t see how ‘of’ works as a connector between wordplay components
DOWN
1,20 Hilarious television programme “Drama with Candice” (6,6) CANDID CAMERA [DRAMA CANDICE]* Where is the anagram indicator?
2 Practical paper in the afternoon sounds a nuisance (9) PRAGMATIC [paper=RAG inside afternoon=PM + ~ a nuisance=A TICK]
3 Gang starts to terrorise retailers in Abu Dhabi (5) TRIAD [Acrostic]
4 Biblical monster wrecked in the lava (9) LEVIATHAN [IN THE LAVA]*
5 One’s into learning continental flower (5) LOIRE [1 inside learning=LORE]
6 Step on plant – what drudgery! (9) TREADMILL [step on=TREAD + plant=MILL]
7 Melia encrypted the message (1-4) E-MAIL [MELIA]*
8,21 Hollywood serves nicer cocktail with a touch of lime (6,6) SILVER SCREEN [SERVES NICER Lime]*
14 “Wild Thyme On Top” not title adapted for a flyer (9) WOODNYMPH [WILD THYME ON TOP – TITLE]*
16 Women’s Institute overlooked in fabrication of war memorial made of marble (9) MARMOREAL [WAR MEMORIAL – Women’s Institute]*
17 Compulsory musical direction (9) OBBLIGATO [E]
20 See 1 down
21 See 8
23 Formidable // battle (5) STOUR/STOOR [DD] Both fit and I’m not sure what was intended by the setter
24 IT program Mr Poe tweaked (5) EPROM [MR POE]*
25 Turkish commander elected the second time (5) AGAIN [Turkish commander=AGA + elected=IN]
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