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The school holidays are around the corner, along with a string of long weekends and public holidays, which means many Malaysians are probably already planning road trips and quick getaways. And with all the recent conversation around fuel subsidy rationalisation and rising travel costs, suddenly that nearby nature escape is sounding a lot more attractive. Luckily, Malaysia is full of ecotourism gems worth discovering, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, so today, we're taking a road trip around Peninsular Malaysia, exploring nature-based destinations to the north, south, east, and west of Kuala Lumpur, with some help from Andrew Sebastian, CEO of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY).Image Credit: Shutterstock, Visit Johor 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the announcement by the Health Minister that the government will no longer award pharmaceutical procurement contracts to just one company, we speak to Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy whether this will be the much needed panacea to our sustained supply of affordable drugs?Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The government is mulling a proposal to introduce a code of conduct for athletes, especially regarding social media use to enforce better discipline and balance between training and personal lives. Would this be an effective solution? We discuss the challenges of implementation and broader issues on Malaysian sports' performance with Haresh Deol, Editor with the news portal Twentytwo13.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

In the final weeks of his term, US President Joe Biden has given the greenlight for Ukraine to use American-made long-range missiles on Russian targets. How will this impact the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and will a Trump presidency change the dynamics? We discuss the latest developments with Dr. Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The National Assembly of Vietnam approved the government's 2025 economic plan with total central budget revenue being set at over US$39.4 billion, with the goal of of helping one of Asia's fastest growing economies to hit 7-7.5% growth. However, is incoming President Donald Trump with his tariff plans an obstacle to this goal and how should the Vietnamese government navigate this new world order? Dr Nguyen Khac Giang, Visiting Fellow, Vietnam Studies Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute gives us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Education Ministry is looking to improve the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) module to be implemented in 2027, in response to the rise in teen pregnancy. What would an effective and meaningful syllabus look like? Sex educator June Low weighs in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The biggest event on the climate change agenda, COP29, is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan over the next two weeks. What are the policy priorities that Malaysia is pushing for on this platform, and what international support is needed for us to achieve the national targets that we've set for ourselves? We hear from Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Body Shop is an iconic skincare, cosmetics and perfume brand that was synonymous with conservation and recycling even before ESG became mainstream. However it recently has gone into receivership and emerged with a new owner, Aurea Group. We speak to Mike Jatania, the new Executive Chairman of the Body Shop on their turnaround plans and why they see value in this company.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Malaysiakini has been reporting on an anonymous whistleblower who has video evidence allegedly showing discussions between a businessman and various state assemblymen about bribes for a project licence. The whistleblower has also asked for a written guarantee from the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission for immunity from prosecution. Ramkarpal Singh, the former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and the current MP for Bukit Gelugor, shares his thoughts on this development.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

US President-elect Donald Trump has wasted no time appointing his Cabinet with people to execute his “America First” policies. With less than 70 days to build out his team before Inauguration Day on January 20th, we examine those appointments with Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election brings with it potential shifts in how Asian fixed income markets will behave. For one, Trump's stance on fiscal expansion and trade protectionism could keep US interest rates higher for longer with a stronger dollar, creating pressure on regional debt. Jason Yu, Head of Multi Asset and Fixed Income Management, Asia at Schroders, shares his insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

China has announced a five-year package totaling CNY10 trillion to tackle local government debt problems, while signalling that more economic support would come next year and the year after that. Ho Woei Chen, an economist & senior vice president at UOB, shares her views on how effective Beijing's stimuli might be in the wake of slowing China growth and an impending Trump administration until 2028.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Following the death of an 18-year-old boy on a Penang express bus after being electrocuted while charging his phone, concerns have been raised over the safety of electrical components in public transport. What are the regulations that apply and could this be better enforced? We speak with Dr Law Teik Hua, Associate Professor at Road Safety Research Centre of Universiti Putra Malaysia for more insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Ringgit has been one of the best performing currencies in Asia this year although some of the earlier gains have been returned. We speak to Dr Cassey Lee, Senior Fellow and Coordinator, Regional Economic Studies Programme, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute to understand how the Ringgit can appreciate in a sustainable manner for the long term.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Republican candidate Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States. The 78-year-old pulled off a stunning political comeback in one of the most polarised contests for the White House in the country's history. Joining us to discuss the results of the 2024 US presidential election is John S. Jackson, Visiting Professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The US presidential race is going down to the wire, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump neck-and-neck in opinion polls. We catch up with Dhanya Nair of BFM News on the eve of voting to gauge the mood and expectations of the elections.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Madani Government is reviving the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 beginning January 2025 at a cost of RM50 million ringgit. Can the implementation of the national service programme truly improve nation building and unity among Malaysian youth? We speak with Syafiq Ridzwan, Chief of Information, Malaysian Youth Council for more insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Bersatu held party elections over the weekend, but the process was far from smooth sailing. Some 10 divisions were suspended at the eleventh hour while 15 division committee members, announced they quit the party. Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb, Political Scientist and Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia gives us a glimpse as to the reasons for this and what this means for their political future.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Is the media acting responsibly when they chase stories involving children or are there cases where their rights are ignored? We speak with Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, Children's Commissioner at SUHAKAM about the implementation of regulations under the Child Act 2001 related to media reporting on cases involving children.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The High Court will decide today whether or not there is a prima facie case against former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for 25 counts of abuse of power and who has been charged with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. Giving his thoughts on the matter is P. Gunasegaram, Independent Business Writer. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

International rice prices have dropped following India's decision to resume exports of non-basmati rice for the first time in 14 months. With adverse climate conditions and volatile rice prices becoming the norm, how can the industry adapt to ensure food security? We speak to Dr. Paul Teng, Professor & Adjunct Senior Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies for insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

3REN Bhd is a soon-to-be-listed automation solutions and engineering services provider, primarily focusing on the semiconductor, electronics, and manufacturing sectors. Koh Dim Kuan, its executive director and CEO, shares the company's future plans following its listing to raise some RM31 million to expand its operations and to enhance its R&D capabilities.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living is looking to review commission fees imposed by e-commerce platforms on sellers. Eng Kin Hoong, President of Malaysia Cross Border E-Commerce Association discusses whether the government should indeed step in to regulate the commission e-commerce platforms take from sellers.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Budget 2025's focus on Malaysia's real estate sector included a RM10 billion ringgit allocation for the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme as well as tax relief and RM900 million ringgit for affordable home initiatives. Datuk Chang Kim Loong, Honorary Secretary-General of the National House Buyers Association shares his thoughts on the budget announcement.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Big Tech earnings are in the spotlight as 5 of the 7 Magnificents report their third quarter results, amid a focus on the AI revolution and how the upcoming US presidential elections might impact future performances. Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities, shares his views.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

There have been a spate of human trafficking cases reported of late, most prominently stemming from the GISB probe. How robust is Malaysia's anti-trafficking regime and what are the gaps that need to be addressed? We discuss the situation with Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, criminologist at Universiti Malaya.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Budget 2025 is Malaysia's largest ever budget at RM421 billion and comes with plans to increase the minimum wage as well as the possibility of the removal of RON95 petrol subsidies, among others. Dr Afif Bahardin, Secretary of Perikatan Nasional Selangor, shares his views on where the plans for next year's spending met the mark and where they failed and what could have been done better.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Education received the highest allocation in Budget 2025 of RM64 billion. Are the budget initiatives put forth as ambitious as the headline figure suggests? We discuss how far Budget 2025 goes in advancing quality education with Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim of the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Is Hong Kong's housing market showing signs of recovery, especially in the luxury sector, after a prolonged downturn? Especially after Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., the city's largest developer, asold over 200 apartments in one day, and used home sales surged by 60% in early October. Questions we pose to Patrick Wong, Head of Bloomberg Intelligence Hong Kong & Senior Analyst - Asia Pacific Real Estate, Bloomberg Intelligence whilst asking which listed companies stand to benefit.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

In recent months, oil prices have been trading in a wide range between USD68 to USD85 bbl on the back of geopolitical tensions in the middle east and the expectations of improving demand from China. We speak to Vandana Hari, Founder & CEO, Vanda Insights for her views on how oil prices will trade for the last quarter of 2024 and even 2025.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Despite the SME sector receiving a financing boost of RM40 billion ringgit and a RM3.2 billion ringgit micro-loans support for small traders, the introduction of more sales / sugar taxes, a higher minimum wage and a 2% dividend tax raises concerns about increased financial pressure on consumers and businesses. Chin Chee Seong, National President of SME Association of Malaysia shares his perspectives on why Budget 2025 was off the mark for MSMEs.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Malaysia's F&B sector recorded RM229 billion in revenue last year and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8% until 2027. Dato' Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, President of Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (PRESMA), shares his wishlist and addresses issues facing the industry, from subsidy cuts to the introduction of new taxes amongst market participants.Brought to you By Man Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The theme of this year's national budget is MADANI Economy: Prosperous Nation, Well-being of the People. It is the third budget by the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Will it deliver the much needed reforms to improve our fiscal position yet be expansionary? Professor Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Pro Vice Chancellor for External Engagement at Taylor's University and former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry tells us.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

China's property sector has been experiencing a prolonged downturn since its 2021 peak, prompting Beijing to come up with various stimuli to address the issues. Kristy Hung, the senior industry analyst of Asia real estate at Bloomberg Intelligence analyses the impact of these measures and whether or not more could be done.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Tourism and hospitality players are hoping for an RM85 million allocation when Budget 2025 is tabled, to improve Malaysia's tourism industry. This comes as Malaysia achieved 60% of its full-year target of 27.3 million international tourists for 2024. Nigel Wong, President at Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), shares his insights.Brought to you By Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Beijing held a long-awaited press conference last Saturday to reveal some details on the fiscal stimulus such as the issuing of special bonds and making it easier for local governments to borrow money, though no figures have been revealed yet. We speak to Brock Silvers, CIO of Kaiyuan Capital to get his input on whether the latest stimulus package will indeed help boost China's floundering economy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently announced several reforms to the agri-food sector, including the potential removal of egg subsidies and the consolidation of enforcement agencies. How effective will these measures be in strengthening Malaysia's agricultural productivity and food security? We discuss the issues at play with food security expert Prof. Dr. Fatimah Arshad.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

A viral video of Palestinian refugees expressing frustration after being denied permission to leave their accommodations has prompted discussions among Malaysians about the country's stance on the cause. Although this incident underscores that the actions of a few do not represent the entire community, it does highlight the need for better policies and support systems to address the holistic needs of refugees. Dr. Melati Nungsari, Associate Professor of Economics, Asia School of Business shares her insights on the essential changes required to tackle these challenges.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Yesterday marked the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. Regional leaders, including our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, have arrived to participate in the discussions. This year's summit tagline is “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” Bunn Nagara, Director and Senior Fellow at the BRI Caucus for Asia-Pacific, will join us to share his perspective on the summit. He is also the Honorary Fellow at Perak Academy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

In an effort to elevate Malaysia's rankings in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the government has formed a Special Task Force, which met for the first time last week. We speak to Dr Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia who is a part of the task force, for more information on the group's mandate and the initiatives needed to boost Malaysia's CPI ranking.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Control of Cigarette Products Act, effective 1 October, aims to safeguard children and teenagers by regulating the sale of tobacco and vape products while prohibiting smoking in 28 locations. The government has introduced a two-phase plan for implementation that includes immediate enforcement alongside an educational campaign. Roslizawati Mohd Ali, Executive Board Member, Malaysian Council of Tobacco Control shares her insights on the effectiveness of these new regulations.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has earned both flowers and brickbats in his interactions with foreign leaders, most recently with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. How is Malaysia's foreign policy shaping up under the Madani Government? We discuss the developments and policy signals with our panel of experts.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Sarawak has come a long way since 1963 and is charting a seemingly independent economic future that hinges on greater autonomy from the federal government. What is the pathway to shared development and prosperity for Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole, in line with the Dayak phrase “segulai, sejalai” or onward together? We discuss this to mark Sarawak Day on 22 July.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Lawrence Wong officially takes over as Prime Minister of Singapore. We take a critical look at the challenges he inherits and if his leadership will be very different from that of his predecessor. Dr. Michael Barr, Associate Professor, Flinders University and Author of “The Ruling Elite of Singapore gives us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The government will be rolling back petrol and diesel subsidies. What impact will this have on petrol stations and does the increasing proliferation of EVs also mean that this is sunset business. Dato' Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz, President, Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia tells us how the business model is changing to meet these headwinds.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

It has been increasingly more challenging to navigate the intersection between corporate responsibility and ethical footing. Alison Taylor, author of "Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World" joins Philip See to share her insights on the topic and how businesses can help build trust.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Malaysians continue to call for better remuneration as the cost of living continues to accelerate. This comes as the current minimum wage remains markedly below what Bank Negara categorises as a living wage, an income level needed for a household to afford a minimum acceptable living standard. Dr Bawani Lelchumanan, a senior lecturer with the Department of Economics & Finance at Sunway Business School as well as J Solomon, the secretary-general of the National Union of Bank Employees discuss the issues.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The World Bank recently released Part 1 of the Malaysia Economic Monitor (MEM). Lead economist for Malaysia, Dr Apurva Sanghi discusses with us the health of the Malaysian economy, the importance of fiscal reform and why communication is so important in the roll out of any government policy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Tomorrow is Chinese Language day, UN Celebrated event as it's one of the 6 official languages used. We look at how Chinese education and language is weaponized and politicised in this country when diversity should be celebrated instead. Or is there merit that Chinese education prevents a national identity? Ngan Teng Ye, president of the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tells us.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Velesto is the the largest owner and operator of jack up rigs in South East Asia but how does this company intend to navigate an extremely cyclical industry and has it learnt the lessons of the past where high debts almost crippled it? Questions we pose to their President, Megat Zariman. We also ask if there is still upside to its share price after the recent run up.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com