General

It's becoming clearer that there are connections between democracy and climate change - climate change is impacting democratic governance with its effects on food security, migration and water scarcity. As Malaysia pushes to recover from the pandemic and get back on track to becoming a developed nation, how will we adopt policies to adapt to the climate crisis, reduce our carbon footprint, and ensure our future stability? How must leaders, especially the freshly minted Malaysian Cabinet, incorporate policies to fight climate change?  Ahead of Merdeka, we speak to two youth climate activists from MyHutan, Sarvagjnaa Divya and Sheikh Syaqil, about what the youth are pushing for in this next chapter of our growth.

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In conjunction with Merdeka which is happening tomorrow, we’re joined by three young activists in different fields, namely youth advocacy, education and women’s rights, to discuss how far we’ve come as a nation and what they hope to see in the future.

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UOB Malaysia and The FinLab have launched an initiative called JomX to assist SMEs embark on their digitalising efforts. This is due to a study done by UOB, Accenture and Dun & Bradstreet that discovered that many are relying on technology to help them survive due to the impact of COVID-19. SMEs interested may register here.

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Several hotel operators affected by poor business due to the Covid-19 pandemic have put creativity to good use by way of getting customers to come to their hotels.

Diners can now savour their meals in the privacy of hotel rooms.

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The hairdressing industry in Phase 1 states was given a lifeline two weeks ago when they were allowed to resume operations. However, business has been off to a slow-ish start, with many customers opting to wait it out… and businesses themselves taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach amidst a worsening health crisis.

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Most human beings wear masks; in addition to the physical masks we wear because of the pandemic, we also wear metaphorical masks for different situations and the different people we meet. Some people put on so many masks, they lose a true sense of who they are and become totally inauthentic. Why is authenticity important in the first place, especially in the people we look up to? Human Equation founder Sheila Singam shares her take on authentic leadership: what it is, how we can achieve it, and why it’s the way forward.

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As part of our 64th Merdeka Day celebrations, we’re taking a look this week at Malaysia: The Next Chapter - companies and people who exemplify the potential in Malaysia’s future. We speak with Harith, the Green Carpenter about KL’s greenest manufacturing facility, The Green Factory, and how he’s turned his family’s near 3-decade old traditional carpentry business into one that lives, breathes and advocates for sustainability at its core.

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Around 44% of the Malaysian population is fully vaccinated - but there is a segment of society that remains hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine. What drives vaccine perceptions in the country, and how should we tackle the concerns of the vaccine hesitant? We discuss the findings of a recent Ipsos survey on this issue with Prof. Mahendhiran Nair of Sunway University and Lars Erik Lie of Ipsos Malaysia.

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Dr. James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania helps us unpack the political implications of the new cabinet line up announced last Friday by the Prime Minister Ismail Sabri as the new leadership bench has given each of them 100 days to tackle the health crisis and heal the economy.

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The political turmoil of the past few years have left many feeling cynical about the state of Malaysian democracy. But there are reasons to stay hopeful for the future of the country. On the eve of the 64th National Day, we discuss the narratives that have emerged from the pandemic and political crisis, the rise of the youth vanguard as well as the reforms needed for a better Malaysia.

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