Accelerate RCEP under ASEAN leadership: Lead the revival of free trade and regional unity through the 2027 general review By distancing itself from free trade and multilateralism, as well as by imposing reciprocal tariffs, the United States is undermining the free trade system that has driven Asias growth. Asian countries have historically achieved export-led growth by building supply chains throughout the region under the free trade system. Amid growing global protectionist trends, Asia must ..

Budget 2026 and the squeezed middle: How to rebuild confidence without breaking the budget The so-called M40 is no longer the secure, upwardly mobile core of society that official classifications suggest. Instead, it is a squeezed, stretched, and anxious middle, caught between rising living costs, stagnant wages, and thinning buffers of savings. That piece proposed a recalibration of Malaysias household classification from B40M40T20 to B70M20T10, reflecting post-Covid realities and the ..

Rebooting rural Malaysia: The digital future of rural enterprise Imagine walking into a Tokyo department store and discovering a sleek, eco-friendly soap brand proudly made in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, or stumbling upon a viral TikTok showcasing a beautifully handcrafted _tengkolok_ from a Kelantan artisan. This is not a fantasyits the untapped potential of Malaysias rural entrepreneurship waiting for a purposeful revival. Over two decades ago, Malaysia introduced the _One District One Industry ..

Every Malaysian who breathes football today must express profound regret and outrage over the FIFA verdict that exposed one of the darkest chapters in our sporting history. This is not just a football controversy; it is a national disgrace that demands the voices of 34 million Malaysians roar across every newspaper, every online media portal, every corner of the nation. The deepest betrayal has come from the very officials entrusted to safeguard our sports integritythe Football Association of ..

Budget 2026: From B40 to B70, redefining Malaysia's middle class Budget 2026 will be one of the most closely watched in recent years. It comes at a moment when Malaysia must reconcile two competing imperatives: fiscal discipline and social protection. The government faces the hard arithmetic of slowing global growth, elevated debt, and a subsidy system under strainyet it must also preserve the moral center of the Madani agenda, which is to protect households from falling behind. Public debt is ..

The hypocrisy is just too rich. Nobodys forcing Muslims to gamble or drinksame way no one poured whisky down your throat when you studied overseas. Is our faith so fragile that someone elses glass of wine or a jackpot ticket can shatter it? Meanwhile, in those so-called holy states, bribery, abuse of power, and a touch of haram entertainment are apparently halal by silence. I am glad that not all Muslims in the country are unnecessarily oversensitive with food and drink served at our public or ..

No African development from Western trade policies _Accelerated Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Plan for Action_by Professor Elliot Berg blamed government interventions for blocking post-colonial African economic progress. Removing distortions caused by marketing boards and other state interventions and institutions was supposed to unleash export-led growth for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) producers. However, despite the supposed comparative advantage and trade preferences, African ..

Japans schools build democratic citizens by giving kids responsibilities in special activities Children begin developing the skills necessary to become members of society from an early age. In Japanese schools, this process is supported by special activities in which children work together to improve their daily school lives, thereby learning cooperation and other essential qualities, growing into builders of a healthy democratic society. Special activities include classroom activities, student ..

Stateless people wait years for citizenship to be approved, but foreign footballers get them overnight Malaysias recent football citizenship scandal has reopened old wounds for thousands of stateless Malaysians. On 26 September, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced that it had punished the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players for breaches of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) on forgery and falsification. The seven foreign-born ..

Affordable healthcare for senior citizens much expected in Budget 2026 Budget 2026 is going to be tabled on October 10 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who also doubles as the finance minister. Most Malaysians are anticipating that proactive and positive socio-economic measures will be announced in Budget 2026. Various groups of Malaysians are facing hardship due to the escalating general prices that burden the people with a higher cost of living. Both the B40 and the M40 are affected ..

PAS exploits alcohol controversy for political gain The controversy erupted when alcoholic drinks were served at the Global Travel Meet 2025 gala dinner. The biggest question was whether the dinner was organised by Tourism Malaysia. If it was actually a celebration dinner managed by the private sector, then politicians are merely stirring up unnecessary drama. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing clarified that the dinner was not fully organised by his ministry, as ..

No stage for a genocide enabler Trump at the ASEAN summit Malaysia is preparing to host the ASEAN Summit, a gathering meant to showcase Southeast Asias unity, resilience, and shared vision for peace. Yet one development threatens to overshadow this spirit: the planned attendance of United States President Donald J. Trump. This is no ordinary diplomatic visit. To welcome Trump with open arms would be to legitimize a leader whose policies and rhetoric have actively enabled genocide and emboldened ..

Artificial intelligence not only profoundly reshapes human lifestyle but also wields far-reaching influences on the running of businesses. Put it this way, no onean individual or a business entitycan evade this trend, and AI experts have already warned that while AI will never replace humans, it will eliminate AI-illiterates through those well-versed in it! While learning and grasping AI skills has definitely become an irrevocable trend nowadays, its potential risks and possibly destructive ..

Malaysias RON95 reform: A high-stakes national stress test The governments new BUDI95 program is not a minor policy tweak. It is a high-stakes national stress test. On the surface, it is about fuel pricing. At a deeper level, it touches every nerve of Malaysias governance system: fiscal stability, cost of living, political legitimacy, and the integrity of national data infrastructure. How this policy unfolds will be a defining measure of whether Madani governance can move beyond rhetoric into ..

Kelantan police chief has the right to give 'personal view' I must say "syabas" to Kelantan Police Chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat for sticking to his guns, a week after he made his controversial suggestion. On Sept 29, Yusoff rejected calls to retract his suggestion for girls in statutory rape cases to be charged alongside the adult male perpetrator. The police chief said it was unnecessary to withdraw the statement as it was his personal opinion. Yes, Yusoff made the right call. He should be entitled ..

In a classroom in Malaysia, a boy with autism sits quietly, avoiding eye contact and struggling to participate in group activities. Yet when a drum is placed in his hands, his face lights up. He begins to tap out a steady rhythm, and soon his classmates join in. For the first time, he feels connected to the group, not through words but through music. As Malaysia advances its commitment to inclusive education under Budget 2026, inclusion must be understood as not only about access, but ensuring ..

He draws from Malaysias struggle, where democratic backsliding is a lived reality. His call to defend democracy is vital, yet incomplete without critical scrutiny of the United States. With just 5 percent of the worlds population but outsized wealth and influence, America is on a perpetual military crusade with its Western allies, ostensibly to shape the world to its image. However, when democracy is weaponized abroad, the chief beneficiary is the military-industrial complex. Democracy also ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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. ..

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 ..

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, ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..

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 ..