Rafizi out, Nurul in, Khairy may be back: What now for Malaysia? Rumors are swirling again: Khairy Jamaluddin may be making a return to Umno, the very party that expelled him in 2023. Rafizi Ramli has stepped down from his ministerial role after losing in PKRs internal polls recently. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, once a rising star of environmental reform, has also resigned from his cabinet post. Just a few years ago, these were the faces many Malaysians pinned their hopes on: young, articulate, ..

Macrons efforts to project France as a great power can still flounder French President Emmanuel Macrons foray into Southeast Asia, including his high- profile visits to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, is emblematic of Frances ambition to reclaim its stature as a globalindeed, Indo-Pacificpower. In rhetoric and gesture, Macron has tried to position France not as a peripheral actor, but as a resident stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific, which spans two oceans and encompasses 60 percent of the ..

With two-fifths of the world economy, East Asia can inspire others by creatively responding to the US Presidents tariff challenge by promoting fair, dynamic and peaceful regional cooperation. Trumps Liberation Day tariff announcement on April 2nd poses a common challenge that everyone needs to take seriously. Dismissing it as crazy or stupid for rejecting conventional policy wisdom is useless. Politics and economics have been said to be war by other means. This old insight helps make sense of ..

Some Malaysians know the story from Grimms Fairy Tales called 'The Frog Prince' in which a frog changes back into a handsome prince after it was kissed by a beautiful princess. She was initially reluctant to kiss the ugly frog but when she finally did, she successfully broke the spell of a wicked witch on the frog prince. There is no beautiful princess, broken spells or happy ever after finale of prince and princess walking hand-in-hand into the sunset. Malaysians know from experience that ..

Honors not for sale, value them with pride and dignity I am writing this on June 2, the official birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and I am very happy to hear His Majesty touching on the subject of federal honors. The King did the right thing to remind the people that federal honors cannot be bought or lobbied for, saying that these awards are reserved only for those who have truly served the nation. Delivering his royal address at the investiture ceremony at Istana Negara in ..

Rafizi: Political marvel or a tragedy in the making For more than two weeks, Malaysians witnessed an intense political duelthe contest for the post of PKR deputy president between the partys two most prominent figures. The incumbent was Rafizi Ramli, and the challenger was none other than Nurul Izzah, daughter of the partys president and Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. It became a political drama that drew widespread public attention. Turning an internal party election into a national spectacle ..

Laporan OPS GASAK: Asas hala tuju penambahbaikan kepada PPKB (Pindaan) 2021 Semua pertimbangan ini dan syor serta pandangan pelbagai pihak akan diambil kira dalam menentukan keperluan untuk pindaan kepada PPKB (Pindaan) 2021 yang sedang berkuat kuasa. Sekiranya pindaan adalah jawapan, perlu ditentukan bentuk parameter pindaan tersebut. Maka, laporan OPS GASAK adalah penting sebagai asas hala tuju penambahbaikan kepada PPKB (Pindaan) 2021. Operasi Gas Memasak (OPS GASAK) sedang berlangsung dari ..

An ASEAN that has to say no to Hegseths demands for higher defense spending At the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a message wrapped in strategic urgency but sounding more like a blunt ultimatum: Americas Indo-Pacific allies must raise their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP to counter the threat of China. It was a headline-grabbing soundbite. But for ASEAN, the appropriate response is clear, deliberate, and principled: No. This is not the ..

Will Trump bring normalization of diplomatic relations with North Korea to the entrance of negotiations? Since late February 2025, North Korea has criticized the second Trump administration. The head of the Public Relations Office of the North Korean Ministry of National Defense issued a statement saying, [North Korea] will counter the strategic threat of enemies with strategic means. After Trump was reelected, North Korean media avoided mentioning his name, even when criticizing the United ..

ASEAN needs Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea more than ever As ASEAN charts its course toward 2045, the region faces a profound question: Can it remain cohesive, credible, and competitive without including its immediate neighbors, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea (PNG)? The recent show of support from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for both countries future membership is more than symbolic. It represents a bold recalibration of ASEANs strategic imaginationone that the bloc should embrace ..

Last week, at the launch of Memoir of Penang Han Xingites, I was sitting inside the lecture hall of Han Chiang University College of Communication, listening to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow sharing his relationship with the media. Chow mentioned that he typically received plenty of invitations each day, and his assistant would help filter the many invitations and arrange his routines, with the only exception of this one, which he insisted to attend personally. Sure enough this could have ..

Debt, deceit and delay: Malaysias hidden fiscal crisis Bank Negara Malaysias (BNM) latest update reveals the federal governments direct debt has reached RM1.277 trillion, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to around 66 percent and breaching the 65 percent statutory ceiling. Predictably, social media is lit up with politically charged claims. Many simplistically argue that Najibs debt was safer, citing lower ratios then. But they miss the real question: how much of that debt was simply hidden? The ..

Corruption is indeed a popular subject for media columnists and I think I must have written about it countless times over the years in various publications. Journalists are aware that corruption has widespread consequencesit undermines governance, damages economies, erodes public trust and negatively impacts the daily lives of ordinary citizens. Because of this, it resonates with a broad audience, making it a powerful and relatable topic for columnists to explore. Fifteen years ago, in 2010, I ..

Every now and then, the questions of What now? and Whats next for MCA? seem to pop up in the media and political market. But if you follow the social media, MCA is written off and supposedly irrelevant. This is the created perception in all social media comments planted by cybertroopers of a certain party. The truth is that the concern is not about MCA but more so about the future of Chinese Malaysians in a political ecosystem thats slowly marginalizing them after GE14, when the Pakatan ..

Teoh Beng Hock's family want truth, accountability A young man died but after several hours of investigation, court time, press conferences and testimonies from witnesses, pathologists and experts, no one was found guilty. Many Malaysians are left wondering, "Who is being protected in Teoh Beng Hock's homicide?" From the time Teoh's family demanded an investigation into his mysterious death in July 2009, several obstacles allegedly blocked their quest for justice. Sadly, many people may have ..

Malaysias childhood obesity crisis: We are into building hospitals rather than addressing the causes In Malaysia, childhood obesity is no longer a distant threatit is a rapidly escalating crisis. Recent data reveal that the obesity rate among children under five increased from 5.6 percent in 2019 to 6 percent in 2020. Among adolescents aged 13 to 17, the prevalence rose alarmingly from 28.5 percent in 2017 to 30.5 percent in 2022. This means that approximately one in three Malaysian children ..

Malaysias teen vape crisis: We are at risk of a new generation of addicts The Malaysian government has dilly-dallied on the need for a vape ban. Despite the many calls for a complete ban for health and social reasons, the government continues to focus on regulation and enforcement. The government appears to be concerned with the political impact if they issue a vape ban, as the vape industry in Malaysia is substantial, with a retail value estimated at nearly RM3.5 billion in 2023. The ..

Science and academic freedom under siege: Malaysia must not fall behind in global R&D; recalibration Humans are an incredible species, having achieved extraordinary featsespecially in the past century. We reached space just six decades after the first powered flight. Todays smartphone has thousands of times more computational power than the machine that sent a man to the moon. With techniques dating back to the 10th century, we eventually eradicated smallpox. To this day, vaccination remains the ..

The mutual visa-free policy between Malaysia and China has sparked ongoing discussion about the potential for China's "involution culture" known as _neijuan_ (a state where individuals or systems are trapped in a cycle of competition without real progress) to spread to Malaysia. I'd like to take this opportunity to share some thoughts on this culture in Johor Bahru. This isnt a critiquejust a perspective for readers to reflect on from different angles. Lets begin with a definition of ..

When civilizational pathways seek symmetry through market access first: Understanding the ASEAN, GCC and China Economic Summit In a world fractured by war, protectionism, and mutual distrust, civilizational dialogues are often reduced to symbolic gestures and hollow handshakes. But when such dialogues are embedded in trade, infrastructure, and investment flowsas seen in the upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit on May 2627 in Kuala Lumpurthey signal more than polite diplomacy. They reflect a ..

Kuala Lumpurs diplomatic gamble: ASEAN, China and the Gulf in one room The upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, to be hosted in Kuala Lumpur as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit, is no ordinary gathering. It marks a watershed moment in regional diplomacy; one that not only tests ASEANs much-touted centrality but also illustrates the broader recalibration underway in global politics. For the first time, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China will convene in a trilateral format. While ASEAN ..

She said that the clashes could lead to the partys downfall within five to 10 years; but isn't she underestimating the damage that has already been done? Nurul's warning about PKR's downfall is way off the mark. As it is, many Malaysians think that the party is doomed if it were to follow the current trajectory. They predict that PKR's collapse is only a heartbeat awaynot in five or 10 years but that PKR will fall by GE16. That is a mere two to three years time! Is Nurul prepared to acknowledge ..

PKR election is heating up, real test begins after the curtain falls As the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national congress and party elections are around the corner, the battle for deputy president is heating up, sparking concerns about internal unity. Many worry that this dramatic and intense contest might escalate into a crisis of division. In PKR secretary-general Fuziah Sallehs view, the battle for deputy presidency has always been the most fiercely contested part of PKR elections. From ..

With President Trumps efforts to end the Ukraine war, Europeans are now mainly responsible for prolonging it. Despite lame protestations of peace, Europe seems committed to fighting to the last Ukrainian. As Europe celebrated the end of the Nazi-initiated Second World War earlier in May, it does not seem to know how to sustain peace after war. After attending the Versailles palace negotiations following WW1, the young John Maynard Keynes _The Economic Consequences of the Peace_ warned the ..

Can Trump II deals first policy undermine the centrality of ASEAN? A definite yes The re-election of Donald J. Trump has unleashed a second wave of transactional foreign policy, whichtrue to formvalues bilateralism over multilateralism and "Deals First" over rules-based diplomacy. In Southeast Asia, this shift threatens the already fragile architecture of ASEAN Centrality. And the effects are becoming increasingly visible. Nowhere is this clearer than in the evolving tensions between Indonesia ..

For the people of Timor-Leste, May 20 is Independence Restoration Day: the day the United Nations officially handed over sovereignty after the Portuguese and Indonesian colonial periods, a time characterized by an enduring struggle for independence. As my memory recalls, I have never seen either the Indonesian public or officials celebrate the day the Netherlands officially transferred sovereignty to Indonesia, only the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on Aug. 17. Indonesias Independence ..

The official visit of Denmarks Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Lokke Rasmussen to China, from Saturday to Tuesday, and Chinas willingness to collaborate with France on multilateral international affairs, as expressed by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Thursday while co-chairing the 10th China- France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, highlight the enduring partnership between China and the European Union. The building of the bonds between China and the EU over the past five decades ..

I sent Dr Jeffrey Kitingan this short note after reading his May 12 statement: Bravo, Dr J. Well-articulated views. Continue speaking up for Sabah. My salute! This was after Jeffrey refuted Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's claim that slogans like "Sabah for Sabahans" are unconstitutional and could incite instability. The Sabah deputy chief minister has always been vocal when it comes to Sabahs rights, particularly those stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). I am proud to ..

Think big: Why Malaysias dialogue with Russia must go beyond diplomacy by trinkets When Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met President Vladimir Putin recently, he did not skirt around sensitive issues. He raised them, clearly and candidly. In response, President Putin extended his condolences to the victims families and reaffirmed Russias readiness for an honest, comprehensive investigation. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov went further: Russia has cooperated with international probes from ..

Anwar-Putin strategic diplomacy in a fluid geopolitical context In a media culture often captivated by superficial moments, a light-hearted exchange during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims official visit to Russia drew disproportionate media attention. But behind that fleeting soundbite was a **carefully calibrated state visit**one that underscored a profound and deliberate repositioning of Malaysias foreign policy in a changing world. From 13 to 16 May 2025, Prime Minister Anwar undertook his ..

Trumps strategic reset on AI chips opens a window for ASEAN As President Donald Trump completed high-level meetings in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the global media spotlight rightly focused on energy security and arms sales. But an arguably more consequential development took place in the realm of advanced technologya domain increasingly defining the future of global power. The Trump administrations cancellation of the so-called AI diffusion rule marks not only a shift in American tech policy but ..

Jalur Gemilang incident: Our helplessness, option, and responsibility As the Jalur Gemilang gaffe now reaches its first full month, its follow-up developments couldnt have been more obvious! From the education ministry to PAS, polarized reactions kept streaming in following the incident, sending chills down the spines of many! The vileness of racism was beyond question, but the way the involved parties handled this thing was widely perceived as lopsided. We pride ourselves as a multiethnic, ..

Developing a thinking society: Shaping education for the greater good of the nation 1. Malaysias education system serves as the foundation for cultivating not just academic excellence but also character, shaping a society that thinks critically and acts ethically? 2.Embedding a holistic character development curriculum as a transformative approach to foster a more progressive and morally grounded nation? These were the two questions I raised at a compelling Roundtable Discussion organized by ..

As Malaysia celebrates Teachers Day, it is worth recognizing a group of educators who are often left out of the national conversation: teachers of refugees. Despite playing a central role in the education of displaced children, their contributions and challenges seldom receive the acknowledgement they deserve. These teachers work in community learning centers across the country, often run by refugee communities themselves. They are not assistants or temporary volunteersthey are full-fledged ..

Malaysias data center boom: Building for the future, or just hosting it? About RM184.7 billion of this has gone into cloud infrastructure and data center projects, making Malaysia one of the top locations in the world for hyperscale facilities and cloud computing services. All indicators suggest that Malaysia's digital economy is expanding to unprecedented levels, but the more important question is whether Malaysia is actually reaping the benefits of this infrastructure, or if we are just ..

When defiance delivers: How Xi Jinping outmaneuvered Trump on trade The image is unforgettable. Donald J. Trump, flanked by American flags and facing a national audience, concedesin tone and substanceto what amounts to most of Chinas core trade demands. The markets, of course, cheered. The S&P; 500 surged, and Asian bourses followed suit. But behind the numbers, a geopolitical tremor is rippling across the Pacific. Xi Jinpings defiance has paid offand spectacularly so. For the first time in ..

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has won the top position unopposed in the party election. However, the most anticipated contest is the deputy presidency battle between Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar. Bound by party rules that limit the presidency to three terms, Anwar must step down in three years. As such, this party election is widely seen as a battle to determine his successor. The winner will gain a significant advantage in the race to lead the partyand ..

Nothing could be more heartbreaking than the video clip of a mother elephant grieving over the death of her baby which had been run over by a container lorry on Mother's Day, last Sunday. The collision which happened along the East-West Highway near Gerik in Perak occurred in the early hours of the morning. Such was the force of the impact, that the baby elephant was pinned under the lorry. It was a tragic and sad scene, to observe how the adult elephant, believed to be the baby's mother, had ..

When silence dominates the sky: Chinas ascendance in South Asias aerial chessboard In the quiet stillness of 4:00 a.m., while most of the world slept, the regional balance of airpower over South Asia shiftedirreversibly. What the world witnessed was not merely a clash of fighter jets, but a doctrinal disintegration. India, long perceived as the aerospace hegemon of the subcontinent, found itself paralyzedby silence, by distance, and by a seamless Chinese-Pakistani aerial architecture. In 2019, ..

The tit-for-tat war of words between Bersatu and Umno, though not unusual, is interesting indeed. It is particularly so when leading the charge for Bersatu is its president, Muhyiddin Yassin himself, against some junior leaders in Umno. Is this an indication of the desperado in Muhyiddin? The sparring between Bersatu and Umno over which party should "close shop" reflects deepening tensions within the Malay political landscape in the country, and it could have significant consequences for both ..