Are We OK?

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Lua Bo Feng, known online as Bo Borak Moto, a car enthusiast and content creator who has built a huge following talking about Malaysia's auto industry. We get his honest take on why he thinks MITI is controlling the EV and car market too much, from setting minimum prices to blocking certain brands from selling freely.

We break down his biggest complaints, including why he calls some of MITI's decisions "banana republic" level policymaking, how the B40 group ends up paying more for cars because of these rules, and the real story behind why BYD faced sudden restrictions this year. We also talk about the lack of transparency in how the government decides which car companies get special incentives.

Finally, we zoom out to ask a bigger question. Should Malaysia keep protecting local car companies at the expense of everyday buyers, or is it time to let the market compete freely so prices can come down for the people who need it most.

00:00 - Teaser

00:48 - Meet Bo Borak Moto: From Classic Cars to Viral TikTok

02:14 - How Bo Started His Channel During MCO

06:15 - Did MITI Ever Reach Out to Bo Directly?

07:18 - Bo's First Gripe: MITI "Mothering" the Car Industry

08:34 - Why B40 Buyers End Up Subsidizing the Industry

13:45 - The EV Dilemma: Are Electric Cars Really Saving You Money

17:28 - The Lack of Transparency in MITI's Incentive Framework

21:17 - What Is ABDC and Why Its Rules Are Kept Secret

25:31 - Was the BYD Restriction a Communications Issue or Something Deeper?

29:46 - Breaking Down MITI's May EV Policy Announcement

32:12 - Did the Pressure on BYD Come From Higher Up?

37:17 - Taking Off the MITI Hat: A National Cost Perspective

40:07 - What Should MITI's Real Job Actually Be?

#AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #BoBorakMoto #MITI #EVMalaysia #AutomotivePolicy #PodcastMalaysia #Proton #Perodua #BYD #MalaysianEconomy #PublicPolicy #CarReviewMY

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming finally opens up about why he resigned from DAP after 14 years, choosing Merdeka Day to make it official. He explains the three real reasons behind his decision, from his pledge to help Khairy Jamaluddin campaign to his concerns over where DAP is heading next.

We also dive into Secretary General Anthony Loke's pointed "habis madu, sepah dibuang" remark, widely seen as aimed at Dr Ong, and give him the chance to respond directly and explain his side. From there, the conversation turns to who might replace Anthony Loke as Secretary General, and what that could mean for DAP's future direction and image.

Finally, Dr Ong and Peter talk about the bigger shift happening in Malaysian politics, where individual leaders are starting to matter more than party loyalty, and whether DAP is still able to attract fresh talent heading into GE16.

00:00 - Teaser

02:02 - Why Dr Ong Chose Merdeka Day

03:05 - The Media Reaction

04:30 - Anthony Loke's "Madu" Remark

06:36 - Was The Remark Fair?

10:52 - Three Reasons Behind The Resignation

11:03 - Reason 1: Why Campaigning For Khairy Was a Sackable Offence

12:49 - Reason 2: Where DAP Is Heading

15:35 - Who Replaces Anthony Loke?

16:50 - What DAP Looks Like Under Nga Kor Ming

19:28 - Telling Friends Before Going Public

20:58 - Reason 3: Why Politicians Journey Alone

29:35 - Addressing The "Madu" Accusation Directly

34:30 - Did Dr Ong Really Benefit From The Party?

37:42 - What Political Parties Owe Their Alumni

39:28 - Why DAP Might Struggle to Attract Young Professionals in the Future

46:22 - Balancing Merit And Loyalty In Politics

48:57 - Final Thoughts

#AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #DAP #OngKianMing #AnthonyLoke #KhairyJamaluddin #GE16 #PodcastMalaysia

Most Malaysians know Bukit Kayu Hitam as a quiet border town you drive through on your way to Thailand for a holiday or food trip. But what if it's quietly becoming one of Malaysia's most important digital and economic gateways?

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Razwin Sulairee (CEO of Northern Gateway) and Wong Weng Yew (MD of Open DC) to find out how this border town is turning into Malaysia's newest data center and business hub, Delapan.

We find out how a quiet checkpoint is becoming a billion ringgit trade and tech zone, why your gaming lag might be linked to something called "boomerang traffic," and how Delapan plans to bring in manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, and jobs for the local community in Kedah.

Timestamps 

00:00 - Teaser

00:46 - Welcome & Introduction

04:14 - What is Northern Gateway & Why Is It Called "Delapan"?

05:16 - From Kota Perdana to Delapan: The Rebrand Story

06:15 - Turning a Border Checkpoint Into a Business Opportunity

08:19 - Exact Location: Bukit Kayu Hitam & How Big Is Delapan?

10:49 - RM60 Billion in Trade: The Scale of Border Traffic

11:45 - Meet Open DC & Extreme Broadband

14:23 - How Open DC First Got Involved With Delapan

16:51 - Discovering Delapan's Hidden Potential

18:28 - Being the First Data Center Player in Northern Malaysia

19:07 - Why Your Internet Lags (And How Delapan Can Fix It)

22:39 - Learning From Johor: A Smarter Data Center Policy

25:12 - The Game Plan: Utilities First, Then Manufacturing

28:19 - Why Kedah Is Perfect for Solar & Renewable Energy

29:12 - Working With Federal and State Governments

32:40 - Plans for Shops, Hotels & Homes in Delapan

33:45 - Millions of Malaysians & Thais Cross This Border Every Year

35:08 - Building Local Talent for the Future

36:56 - Job Opportunities at Open DC

#AreWeOK #Delapan #NorthernGateway #OpenDC #BukitKayuHitam #DataCenterMalaysia #BorderEconomy #Kedah #MalaysiaThailand #PodcastMalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming and Peter break down what really happened in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, and why Kian Ming's election predictions, made months in advance, turned out to be almost exactly right. They also go behind the scenes of DAP's Special Congress, where party delegates just voted on whether to stay in or resign from the Madani government, and unpack the self-interest calculations different DAP leaders are making.Finally, they look ahead to when Malaysia's next general election (GE16) might actually happen, walking through the political dominoes, from the Melaka state election to pressure building within UMNO, that could speed up or delay the vote.00:00 - Teaser00:38 - Welcome Back & Life Updates04:34 - Predicting Johor & Negeri Sembilan: How Kian Ming Got It Right07:02 - On the Ground Vibes in Johor11:58 - The Collapse of Malay Support for Pakatan Harapan13:46 - The Leader Who Divides Chinese and Malay Voters18:51 - Why Voter Turnout Matters More Than You Think22:22 - The Backlash Against Accurate Predictions23:50 - When Politicians Mock the Numbers (And Get It Wrong)29:24 - The Help DAP Leaders Turned Down34:40 - DAP's Special Congress: Stay or Resign?35:35 - What's Actually at Stake for DAP Delegates41:22 - Behind the Curtain: Why Each Leader Wants a Different Outcome48:44 - DAP's Last Card Against Anwar56:44 - The Delegate Votes That Decide Careers1:01:15 - When Will GE16 Happen?1:04:16 - The Melaka Election & Pressure on Umno1:07:28 - Predicted GE16 Timeline: Early Next Year1:13:07 - The Worst-Case Scenario for DAP1:15:53 - Final Thoughts & Open Invitation to Political Leaders#AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #DAP #GE16 #JohorElection #NegeriSembilanElection #PakatanHarapan #PodcastMalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Malaysian comedian Douglas Lim to talk about making jokes, staying out of trouble, and whether political comedy is still safe in Malaysia today! From big news stories like the Rosmah lawsuit to viral jokes about 1MDB and Najib, Douglas shares what it is really like to be a comedian in our country.

We talk about whether comedians are actually getting into trouble with the government, how political humor has changed over the years, and why so many Malaysians love using laughter to deal with stressful news.

Besides that, Douglas opens up about his real-life struggles when he joined a local townhall meeting to stop a big development project in Ampang. He also shares why he believes speaking up matters, whether it is through comedy or community action.

Timestamps

00:00: Teaser

00:50: Welcome Douglas Lim, Malaysian Stand-Up Comedian & Actor

05:06: How Douglas reads Malaysian politics through comedy

10:20: The Harith Iskander defamation letter & where the line is

18:45: Has the space for political comedy narrowed since 2018?

23:41: Tony Pua, Facebook activism & being "tone deaf"

29:27: First comedian to perform at the MPO

34:12: Why Malaysians Use Jokes to Deal with Crazy News

40:50: Performing On Big Stages versus Local Comedy Clubs

45:45: Getting personal in Vital Stats

50:07: Fighting for His Neighborhood at the Ampang Townhall

1:02:20: Would Douglas ever run for office?

1:02:10: Is Political Comedy Safe in Malaysia Today? Final Thoughts

1:08:34: His advice to voters ahead of GE16

#areweok #douglaslim #malaysianstandup #politicalsatire #rosmahlawsuit #1mdb #malaysianpolitics #freespeech #podcastmalaysia #comedymalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Datuk Seri Dr. Michael Tio, Founder and Group CEO of PKT Logistics, to unpack how he built one of Malaysia's biggest logistics companies from a RM2,000 starting salary. We go behind the story of his iconic warehouses — The Ship, The Wave, and The Lighthouse — and how a simple idea sketched on cardboard turned into a nationwide logistics empire.

We also dive into the bigger picture: why logistics companies are leaving Singapore for Malaysia, how our ports are catching up fast, and why Michael believes Malaysia is sitting on a RM90 billion opportunity between now and 2030. From the automotive boom to semiconductor warehousing in Penang, to his ambitious new inland port project at the Thai border, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build Malaysia into the next big logistics hub in ASEAN.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - Intro & The Unconventional Approach to Logistics

01:25 - The Underdog Hustle: Making Millions Before Turning 21

05:58 - Life Lessons & Why EQ Matters More Than Grades

07:42 - Giving Up a Lucrative Used Car Business for a RM2,000 Salary

10:05 - How a Partnership with Japan Saved the Business in the 1998 Crisis

13:14 - Moving from Big Projects to Stable Automotive Logistics

17:11 - The Hidden Business Trick to Keeping Shipping Money in Malaysia

18:38 - The Masterplan: Building Four Logistics Hubs in Malaysia

28:13 - Peninsula College: Putting a College Campus Inside a Warehouse

33:11 - What Happens to a Warehouse When Workers Suddenly Quit?

34:00 - Riding the Semiconductor Boom in Penang35:13 - The Northern Gateway: Designing the "Blackwood Complex" at the Border

39:08 - The Trick to Turning a Border Town into a Successful Hub

42:30 - Helping Thailand Ship Faster Through Malaysia

43:58 - Partnering with UUM to Give Students Real Work Experience

47:30 - The Diesel Crisis: How Fleet Cards & Cash Flow Traps Affected Transporters

51:11 - Why Logistics Companies Are Leaving Singapore for Malaysia

53:25 - The RM90 Billion Wave: Why Daiso & IKEA are Choosing Malaysia Over Singapore

54:59 - Why PKT Chose to Bypassed Johor and Avoid Turf Wars

56:55 - Will PKT Logistics Ever List on Bursa Malaysia?

58:28 - Michael Tio's Vision for PKT by 2030

#areweok #michaeltio #pktlogistics #malaysianlogistics #malaysiavssingapore #aseanhub #logisticsindustry #malaysianeconomy #businessmalaysia #supplychain #portklang #penangsemiconductor #podcastmalaysia #malaysianbusiness #fdimalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Dr Ong Kian Ming (former Deputy Minister of MITI, DAP) and Shahril Hamdan (co-host of Keluar Sekejap) for a fireside chat at the Affin Market Outlook Conference 2026. Two former politicians from opposite sides of the aisle — break down where Malaysia really stands as an investment destination, and whether the country is ready for what's coming next.

The discussion examines whether Malaysia has become too FDI-built — chasing headline foreign investment numbers without translating them into long-term, higher-income jobs at home. We unpack EPF's mandate and who it really serves, the stalemate at the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, and why the Mr DIY success story ended up with its profits parked in Singapore.

Finally, we look ahead to GE16: the likely timeline, the scenarios that could play out, and what each outcome could mean for the economy and for everyday Malaysians.

#AreWeOK #GE16 #MalaysiaEconomy #MalaysiaFDI #AffinMarketOutlook #InvestInMalaysia #MalaysianPolitics #PodcastMalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with two young leaders, Lee Ting Han and Nor Zulaila binti Abdul Ghani (Lily), to talk about the massive changes happening in Johor right now. We take an honest look behind the scenes at what it’s really like to work in state government, how the multi-billion ringgit business boom affects everyday jobs, and why the current election is creating sudden tension between state and federal politicians. Timestamps00:00 - Teaser 00:30 - Meet Lee Ting Han: From Corporate Lawyer to Johor Leader 03:54 - The Reality Behind Johor’s Multi-Billion Ringgit Boom 12:20 - Fixing the Talent Drain & Helping Young Workers Succeed 16:48 - Can Federal and State Leaders Cooperate During Elections? 20:20 - Reviving Johor's Forgotten Towns & Bringing Jobs Back 33:07 - What It’s Really Like to Work in State Government 34:54 - Will Rival Parties Team Up to Form a New Government? 37:21 - The Big Question: Is History Repeating Itself? 47:10 - Meet Saudari Lily: Moving from Community Helper to Candidate 49:25 - Clean Politics: Saving Our Environment & Fighting Online Toxicity 55:41 - The Election Challenge: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone 57:33 - Handling Complaints, Cutting Red Tape & Making Tough Decisions 62:01 - Facing Harsh Labels & Serving the People Win or Lose 66:34 - Changing the Future: Lily’s Final Message #AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #PRNJohor #JohorSEZ #LeeTingHan #DAPLily #BarisanNasional #DAP #MCA #OnnHafizGhazi #PodcastMalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, former Principal Private Secretary Dato' Dr. Marzuki opens up about the massive internal fractures shaking Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional. We dive into the behind-the-scenes drama of Tan Sri Muhyiddin's camp.

We also break down the high-stakes "purge" within Bersatu and the plot led by Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin. Why did PAS President Hadi Awang unilaterally sever ties, and what does this mean for the future of the coalition?

Finally, we discuss the heavy constitutional battles that defined Muhyiddin's time in office, including the untold secrets of the Sheraton Move, his sudden resignation, and the surprising origins of the historic Anti-Hopping Law.

Timestamps

00:00 - Teaser

00:52 - Meet Dato’ Dr. Marzuki: Inside Muhyiddin’s Camp

06:05 - The Real Job of a Political Secretary

10:10 - Bersatu Dynamics & The Sheraton Move Secrets

17:35 - Governing During a Crisis: Muhyiddin’s COVID-19 Era

20:19 - Zahid Hamidi, UMNO & Political Instability

22:20 - The Resignation & Why Bersatu Backed Ismail Sabri

32:30 - Behind Closed Doors: CSA & Anti-Hopping Law Origins

39:20 - GE15, the Hung Parliament & "Power Sharing" Rejected

45:45 - The Bersatu "Purge": Hamzah’s Move & Disciplinary Action55:30 - PAS Cuts Ties: Hadi Awang’s Masterplan Exposed

1:02:53 - The Future of PN, GE16 & Final Thoughts

#AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #MuhyiddinYassin #Bersatu #HamzahZainudin #PerikatanNasional #SheratonMove #PodcastMalaysia

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with YB Ng Sze Han (Selangor Exco for Investment, Trade, and Mobility) and Yong Kai Ping (CEO of SIDEC) to unpack Selangor's aggressive transformation into a regional high-tech powerhouse. We explore how the state is moving rapidly into high-value sectors, from aerospace manufacturing and autonomous transport to setting up groundbreaking tech hubs.

We dive deep into the success behind Selangor's IC Design Park and the Advanced Semiconductor College of Malaysia (ASCM), detailing the massive resource investments required to train top-tier chip engineers. Finally, our guests share exclusive details on major upcoming initiatives for 2026. They break down the upcoming launch of the Rancangan Selangor Kedua (RS2) five-year plan, the expansion of the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) to Bandung, Indonesia, and Selangor's strict new 30% local content requirement and industrial water conditions for incoming data centers.

Chapter Marker:

00:00 - Intro

05:07 - Selangor’s Economic Mindset: "Continuity with Evolution"

07:01 - Building an Ecosystem for the Selangor Aerospace Industry

08:10 - Yong Kai Ping & SIDEC: Driving E-Commerce & Startups to Global Standards

11:09 - The Semiconductor Leap: Scaling Fresh IC Design Engineers

12:13 - Shifting from AI Nusantara to the Advanced Semiconductor College of Malaysia (ASCM)

17:53 - Complementing Penang & Executing the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS)

23:38 - Silicon Valley Mission & Leveraging Overseas Malaysian Professionals

25:28 - MB Amirrudin Shari's Visionary Leadership & "Selangor Speed" Execution

29:20 - Testing Autonomous Transport, Robot Trucks & Drone Tech

33:04 - Preparing for the Aging Society & the Care Economy via Rancangan Selangor Kedua (RS2)

35:53 - SIBS 2026: Scaling the ASEAN Talent Hub & Expanding to Bandung

40:52 - Managing Data Centers: Water Reserve Strategies & 30% Local Content (LED) Policy

45:50 - Cheap GPU Tokens & Training SMEs with the Vira AI Program

47:26 - Combating Negative Viral News Through Direct Youth Engagement

51:28 - Re-strategizing Selangor's Economy for Global Resilience with Financial Experts

#AreWeOK #SelangorEconomy #YBNgSzeHan #YongKaiPing #SIDEC #ICDesign #SemiconductorMalaysia #DataCenters #MalaysianPolitics #RancanganSelangor #RS2 #SIBS2026 #AutonomousTransport #DigitalEconomy #MalaysiaTech #AmirrudinShari