Inside Story

World Youth Skills Day aims to highlight the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship - issues that take on particular significance as we continue our socioeconomic recovery from the pandemic. To mark this year, we look at how to make technical and vocational education and training (TVET) inclusive and accessible to young women and people with disabilities.

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Abandoned properties of high value are becoming an increasing concern in densely populated spaces like Penang. We discuss this issue by first looking at why this has become such an issue. Then, we speak with the folks behind RexKL, to get their thoughts on how old buildings can be reused meaningfully.

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Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul recently highlighted the ongoing issues around providing subsidies, even as costs go up. And this, of course, relates to our debt levels, which is currently at RM1.3 billion. The Minister also said that the enacted Prosperity Tax would help to offer some financial buffer. So, in this episode of Inside Story, we look firstly at our debt levels, and what it actually means, especially compared to our neighbours. And then, how much of a dent is the income from the prosperity tax going to make in that?

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We mark this year's World Population Day with a discussion on what the statistics mean, now that we're reaching the 8 billion mark by the end of this year. Then, we look at how different countries are trying to boost or control their population numbers, and the effects that policies can have like this on a personal and societal level.

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Sources from the Prime Minister's Office have revealed to Malaysiakini that GE15 is likely to be held either in November this year, or March next year. First, we look at the political factors that inform this move, and how it may affect the parties involved. Then, we explore how this could affect our economy, in a time of uncertainty.

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The villagers in Baling are blaming durian plantations for the floods. We look into the impact these plantations have had on our environment and the issues behind the way forest land is parcelled out.

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It was recently reported that students in higher education have been struggling with rising prices, with some even skipping meals. We look at the possibility of providing free, or affordable meals to college and university students and how to address the specific impacts of poverty that affect them.

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Recently, a UPM expert said that going cashless can improve the country’s standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index. We look into that idea and how it would work, and what the takeup has been like when it comes to cashless payments in Malaysia.

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Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said that the reduced chicken subsidy was to enable the money to be channelled directly as cash aid to Malaysians, since previously the reduced price was benefitting not just Malaysians, but also foreign workers and refugees. First, we discuss whether 'Malaysian-only' policies might end up pushing away foreign workers, and whether Malaysia can survive without them. Next, we get into the kind of aid foreign workers have access to, and what needs to be done here.

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Digi and Celcom has been given the greenlight by MCMC to proceed with their proposed merger, which has come with pushback from several parties. We take a hard look at how this move will impact both the industry and consumers. And then, we discuss how issues like competitiveness, pricing and monopolies can be managed fairly when we talk about large mergers.

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