We know the federal budget is a big deal - it plays a huge role in financial planning, and ultimately, the development of a country. But what goes into the drafting process, and are the procedures inclusive to accurately reflect the needs of the rakyat? Here’s a behind the scenes look at how the federal budget is prepared for you and me.

It’s that time again where the government will present to all Malaysians what they will be spending on and what goodies we will be getting. So what are your hopes for budget 2020 and what areas should the government be focusing on?

Squawking alone, Jeff Sandhu talks about a machine-learning model from Facebook’s AI research group suggest tweaks to your outfit, pointing a possible future of algorithm. Also, now it’s your chance to name a moon, 20 of them in fact, found orbiting Saturn.

Comic books. Alternative history. Space-age Malaysia. Open For Business gets geeky with Azlan Tahir and Adley Ariffin, creators of a comic book series called Unity Macroverse. Under the surface, Unity works as a collaborative platform for local (and regional) creatives. We speak to Azlan and Adley about the business of creative ventures, social messages in their stories, as well as community-building for local talent.

In 2015, Elaine Wong and her partner, Kevin, quit their corporate jobs to set up a co-living space in pursuit of their creative passions. Thus, The Hatchery Place was born and Elaine joins us to share insights on this burgeoning trend in the property sector.

Peck Boon Soon, Chief ASEAN Economist at RHB Research Institute, tells us what he expects from Budget 2020, in particular how the government intends to implement its Shared Prosperity Vision whilst looking at bigger problems the government faces today in light of the slowing global growth impacting trade flows and business sentiments.

Nicholas Khaw, Economist and Director of Research for Khazanah Nasional and Tai Lai Kok, Head of Tax for Malaysia at KPMG, share their views on reducing the wealth gap and further developing the country, in a special extended panel discussion on Budget 2020.

Malaysia's government is spoilt for choices where the fate of their highways are concerned: four takeover proposals and one to buy them over in totality. 

It's decision time -- but chief among all considerations should be the country's most important stakeholder: its people.

Geopolitical risks have thrown the global market into flux, as we enter the final quarter of 2019. So for some insights into whether we should ride out this storm, we speak to Stephen Dover, Executive Vice President & Head of Equities at Franklin Templeton, about recessions, changing investment landscapes, and what advice he has for global investors.

The October extended deadline for e-hailing drivers to obtain their Passenger Service Vehicle Licences ends tomorrow, with the government maintaining that no further extensions will be given. For some insights into the current state of the industry and what happens next, we speak to Daryl Chong, President of the Malaysian E-Hailing Drivers Association, about communication with the taxi industry, potential effects of the ruling, and fare regulation.