On a scorching Friday afternoon when the faithful pour into mosques and _suraus_, I found myself navigating the narrow, twisting ramps of Menara Chou Fook On, heading up to the visitors parking lots on the fourth level. My driving skills were being testedone tiny slip would leave a scratch on my cars pristine paint. I switched off the engine; I had passed the test. Inside this ageing building, located on Jalan Yong Shook Lin, stood a polished sanctuary of order and care; spotless tiled floors ..

Are we in a cyclical or structural point of inflection in what is happening in financial markets? The cyclical view is that in the short-term we are going up or down a stock market bubble. The structural view is that there are deep structural issues that are changing contextually the whole environment of financial markets, driven by real factors such globalization (or de- globalization), technology, demographics, climate change and confusing local and geo-politics. The simple answer is that we ..

Major culling of crocs needed to ensure safety of riverine villagers Not a week passes by without reports of fatal crocodile attacks in Sabah and Sarawak. The situation has become so bad that last week alone three deaths were reported. It is time for the state government to consider a major culling of crocodiles as their number have increased drastically, and this can be witnessed in the large number of fatal killings by crocodiles on riverine folk in the two states. What are the state ..

The latest stimulus package, unveiled by the government last week, is the third this year. It contains a wild mix of efforts targetingboth supply and demand sides of the economy, which makes it different from the preceding two, and maybe better. The first package, launched at the beginning of the year, was meant to alleviate the pain of a value-added tax hike, even though the latter was eventually watered down to almost nothing. It included tax cuts on flour, sugar and cooking oil, food aid for ..

When I grew up, one of the most fascinating films on time travel was _Back to the Future. _ I thought about this film as Malaysia finished hosting the Economic Ministers from ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners, for the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings. Imagine this: the year is 2045. Many youths are gainfully employed in high-tech industries or high-value services within ASEANa globally respected economic powerhouse that became the worlds fourth largest economy by 2030. ..

US President Trumps snide barbs against his appointee, US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Jerome Powell, have revived support for central bank independencelong abused by powerful finance interests against growth and equity. Independent central banks are supposed to improve the quality, equity, and growth impact of monetary policy. Instead, they have primarily served powerful financial interests, with contractionary and regressive effects leading to slower, unequal growth. Central banks were ..

Tragedy struck early on January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, 2025. At 6.20 am at km 7.2 along the road heading towards Donggongon town, Ho was mown down by a drunk driver in a Honda City. She was only 45 years old, a dedicated marathon runner and single mother. She never stood a chance. The impact of being hit from behind caused severe head injuries, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, by paramedics. Friends and family portrayed her as a kind, gentle spirit whose lives touched ..

The stories Malaysian journalism still cannot tell On September 28, the world commemorates World News Day, a global reminder that journalism is the lifeblood of democracy. Across the world, journalists showcase stories that mattered, such as investigations that exposed corruption, reports that defended human rights, and accounts that amplified voices otherwise silenced. These are reminders that journalism is not only about documenting events; it is about speaking truth to power. In Malaysia, ..

Geoeconomics of a $25 trillion alliance: Implications for ASEAN and Malaysias strategic opportunities In mid-2025, discussions have emerged describing a massive economic bloc, sometimes called a $25 trillion alliance, involving China, ASEAN, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Whether as an informal strategic geometry or a newer configuration of trade, investment and diplomatic alignment, such an alliance spotlights the shifting balance of global power, especially in trade, supply chains ..

Will national and state elections be held next year? Pakatan has the upper hand Kedah Menteri Besar from PAS, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor predicted at the partys annual general assembly that parliament would be dissolved after December 2026 to pave way for the next general election. Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said he supported holding the 16th general election together with state elections. Lokes proposal further strengthens the possibility of elections being held next ..

Today, Sept. 21, a date long stained by the memory of dictatorship, Filipinos will again pour into the streets, not to topple a regime but to demand an end to the plunder and pillage of their future. This time, the target is not a single president, but the scourge of corruption itself, which has thrived under every administration before and after the Edsa People Power Revolution, under presidents clad in red or yellow, and back again. Irony has a funny sense of timing, for on the day the ..

At the memorial service of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the United States, his widow Erika stood before tens of thousands grieving the murder of her husband, and startled many with the words: I forgive the young man who killed my husband. She also said the answer to hate is not hateit is always love, to love our enemies. Forgiveness often comes before love. It is the first step in softening our hearts towards those who have wronged us. Without it, the call to love our enemies as ..

Begin with character in the classroom for Malaysias greater journey When former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli recently declared in FMT, The future of the country begins in the classroom, his words struck a deep chord. He was speaking not only of education policy, but of something more profound: schools are the cradle of Malaysias soul. Rafizi is right to highlight the divisions in our education system. Too many children grow up in separate streams, rarely engaging with peers of different ..

Unveiling Malaysias secret: Why Sabah and Sarawak need 35% seats to break The demand for Sabah and Sarawak to hold 35 percent of Malaysias parliamentary seats is not merely a political proposition; it is a clarion call for justice, rooted in the historical political understanding that formed Malaysia and fueled by decades of systemic marginalization. The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which formalized the federation of Malaysia, promised Sabah and Sarawak equal partnership with Malaya, with ..

Is there a way forward for Malaysias social security? In conjunction with the World Social Security Forum 2025 taking place in Kuala Lumpur from September 29 to October 3, Malaysia faces a critical moment to reassess and confront pressing social security challenges. Malaysias aging population is growing rapidly, urban social issues such as beggars and vagrants in city centers are increasingly visible, public hospitals are overwhelmed, EPF retirement savings are alarmingly depleted for the ..

Of late, many with some degree of political sensitivity have started to sense an impending storm brewing, and have privately consulted me for my take on the current political climate. My reply is: If a storm were to descend, it would start from Sabah! As for any perceivable federal or national changes, things will only clear up after the dissolution of parliament. That being said, the gust is blowing, and indeed continues to show its effects. A spate of unusual political movesbe they in ..

In April 2025, when families across the country were celebrating Aidilfitri, life in Putra Heights was shattered in ways none of us could have imagined. The gas blast and fire that raged for close to eight hours tore through our neighborhood, reducing houses to rubble, damaging many others, including my parents home, and leaving behind scars that went far beyond the physical. Even for those whose properties were untouched, the sense of safety in our own community was destroyed overnight. In the ..

When Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged Malaysians to show their patriotism by flying the Jalur Gemilang all-year round because this was a "symbol of national identity and unity," many Malaysians were aghast. They said that it was too shallow and wrong of the minister to equate patriotism with the length of time one flies the flag. Patriotism they said is about one's love for the nation and supporting it during both good and bad times. Patriotism is about one's love for their fellow ..

Every move by the MIC is now being watched closely and there have been reports of the party seeking the advice of former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak as to whether to stay or leave the BN. The party is overwhelmed with fears and worries about its future and the reactions as well as political fallout among Indians and others. The MIC leadership has to resolve whether it needs to evolve or dissolve at this crucial juncture of the party's existence. Over the decades the party gradually began to lose ..

Indias foreign policy dilemma: A reaction to global pressures The recent vote by India in favor of Palestine at the United Nations, amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, has sparked a debate about Indias foreign policy stance. India on Friday voted in favor of a resolution in the UN General Assembly that endorses the New York Declaration on peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and implementation of the two-state solution. The resolution, introduced by France, was adopted with an ..

A dear friend and former media colleague, K Parkaran, wrote an interesting piece in his Free Malaysia Today column a few days ago. Titled Doctors grouse over why MPs get so much more money, the article highlighted the disparity in allowances paid to doctors in public service and legislators. The article was prompted by a Health Ministry statement on doctors' allowances with two doctors' groups picking out the difference, with MPs getting RM400 for a few hours while doctors get RM200 for a ..

A lash on Indonesia and Nepals governance: Ideologies clash and violence splash The recent upheavals in Indonesia and Nepal land like a lash on governance itself. Citizens, especially the young, are no longer content to remain silent. Their frustrations, fueled by economic uncertainty, political decisions, and restrictions on freedom, have erupted in protests that turned from hope into hostility. I am not a fan of such protests, particularly when they spiral into violence. Yet I see them as ..

The American author Mark Twain quipped that history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. With European economies promising to up their defense expenditure to 5 percent of GDP, are we repeating the 1930s, when the Western powers all used defense spending to pull themselves out of the Great Depression? The inter-war years were dominated by Western (including Japan) powers, with the rest of the world under colonial yoke. The First World War between the European powers did not settle old ..

Malaysia Day a day to reckon our strength and empower our youths Malaysia must move beyond rhetoric to safeguard its peace, unity, and prosperity amid a shifting global landscape in 2025. With the world destabilized by economic battles and geopolitical power plays between the US, Russia, China, India, and the rising BRICS coalition, ordinary people everywhereincluding my young Malaysian nephew facing job loss in the USfeel the direct impact of policies shaped by unpredictable and polarizing ..

I believe that even if the University of Malaya (UM) does not admit Edward Wong Yi Xian, there will be other universities, especially private ones, willing to accept himperhaps even offering him a scholarship to study his first-choice course in accounting. Offering Wong a scholarship to study in other universities may solve Wongs personal problem, but it doesnt solve the bigger issuethe problem with STPM. There have been many similar cases in the past, and there will be many more in the future. ..

The real threat to our nation isnt stateless children, its betrayal of trust When news broke of five high-ranking army officers being arrested for smuggling and drug-related offenses, Malaysians were shocked. The very individuals sworn to protect our borders allegedly leaked intelligence and facilitated syndicates that raked in millions from contraband and narcotics. This betrayal cuts deep. Soldiers are entrusted with the nations security, yet some allegedly chose wealth over duty. It shows us ..

Why must we still tick race and religion after 62 years? Every Malaysian knows the drill. Whether it is a school registration form, a university application, a government scholarship, or even a simple survey, the first questions often demand the same information: race and religion. For decades, these boxes have been quietly filled in by millions of Malaysians. To be fair, there are contexts where such information is necessary. For example, in population censuses, for targeted health data, or ..

The recently concluded SCO summit in Tianjin displayed Indias ability to balance ties with different groupings. Contrary to views, New Delhis attempts to resolve its differences with Beijing are not due to tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, though these are a factor, but a desire to restore normalcy along a vexed border. Since the Modi-Xi meeting at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, there has been steady mending of fences. Trumps tariffs were only a catalyst. National Security ..

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have risen over the last two centuries, with current and accumulated emissions per capita from rich nations greatly exceeding those of the Global South. The last six millennia have seen much higher carrying capacities, soil fertility, population densities, and urbanization in the tropics than in the temperate zone. Most of the worlds population lives in tropical and subtropical areas in developing nations, now increasingly threatened by planetary heating. ..

This is not the first-time dress, and not victory, became the focus When a Malaysian woman succeeds, the bigots will use emotional blackmail to belittle her efforts and try to put her down. Perhaps, they are envious of her achievements. It matters little that the woman is a Malay or a non-Malay. So, whilst the nation rejoices in the woman's success, the conservatives in our society will attack her appearance as well as her dress code, and belittle her victory. More often than not, they dismiss ..

Umno flexes its muscle as Urban Renewal Bill stalls The Urban Renewal Bill hit a sudden brake in parliament - debate and voting postponed until October, leaving behind a string of question marks. The bill was initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, led by Nga Kor Ming, with the DAP going all out to push it through. The bill carries politically correct justifications: it can spur urban development, improve residents quality of living, and even draws on successful models from ..

Nations have always watched one another. What happens in one becomes a mirror for the other. In that sense, peoples of different countries often see themselves through the lens of their neighbors experiences and actions. What they take from these mirror images, however, and how long it will take them to change the course of events in their own societies, cannot be predicted with certainty. The 1896 Philippine revolution and the 1898 declaration of independence from Spain showed Indonesians what ..

When the Jalur Gemilang was slowly raised during the 2025 BWF World Championships podium ceremony in Paris, I could see on the TV screen our triumphant mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei fighting hard to hold back tears while softly singing _Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku.._ standing on the podium. I was emotionally overwhelmed, feeling excessively elated and proud, as with millions of fellow Malaysians witnessing the historical moment live on their TV or device screens, the ..

Bersatu's future is restricted by its dependence on outdated leaders The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) general assembly held over the weekend went just as expected: leaders on stage portrayed the party as the savior of the nation, while chaos broke out among the delegates over who should be presidenta scene that ended up looking like a farce. Bersatu has long carried the image of a gathering place for disillusioned politicians looking for a new platform. Each paints himself as a ..

Handshake diplomacy: How Xi, Modi and Putin signal a new world order A photograph can sometimes reveal more than a summit communiqu or hours of diplomatic negotiations. This week, one such image ricocheted across global media: Chinas Xi Jinping, Indias Narendra Modi, and Russias Vladimir Putin standing shoulder to shoulder, smiling, clasping hands at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. For some, it was a fleeting tableau of diplomacy. For seasoned observers, it was a moment ..

Malaysian shuttlers Pearly and Thinaah are true icons of unity, not Akmal At a time when Malaysian politics feels increasingly divided, it is often difficult to find common ground. Yet on the night of August 31, one force reminded us that unity is still possiblesports. The National Day celebration this year was marred by the so-called upside-down flag controversy. Instead of celebrating, many Malaysians felt discouraged from even hanging the Jalur Gemilang. Opportunistic politicians like Dr ..

A healthy Muhyiddin is not healthy to lead Malaysia again Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin is in good health and is actively leading the party, party secretary-general Azmin Ali has claimed. Azmin said on Tuesday that he was communicating with his boss regularly, especially ahead of the partys annual general assembly this weekend. He said this in response to a Facebook post last week by former Selangor Bersatu secretary Hasnizam Adham that Muhyiddin had been hospitalized as he was reportedly ..

Will heads roll over this shocking incident? Or will it be business as usual? Malaysia has had its fair share of serious accidents (tourist coach crashes), major corruption cases (like in Felda), illegal deaths (like deaths in custody), and security failures (like MH370); but despite the seriousness of the situation and the tragedy of the incidents, we will find that no person of authority resigned or was sacked, after the investigation. Why are we so tolerant towards the lack of accountability ..

ByBernardus Agus Rukiyanto / The Jakarta Post / ANN From tragedy to reform: Rethinking democracy and public ethics in Indonesia ByBernardus Agus Rukiyanto / The Jakarta Post / ANN On the evening of Aug. 28, a young online motorcycle driver named Affan Kurniawan was killed by a tactical police vehicle during a demonstration in Jakarta. He was not a protester or a provocateur, just a gig worker trying to deliver food who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His death, tragic and avoidable, ..

Fat cats stir trouble, Indonesia in turmoil, a warning for Malaysia The protests in Indonesia, which have escalated to the point of blood being spilled on the streets, are not, strictly speaking, caused by the violence of the people, but by the misdeeds of the fat cats. The fat cats here are Indonesias 580 members of parliament. Not long ago, they orchestrated a move to grant themselves perks. The deputy speaker of parliament announced a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (about ..