Recent debates about the quality of our legislative branch of government, have focused on the quality of written parliamentary replies. A study by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research suggests that ministries often provide evasive answers, particularly when responding to more detailed questions from MPs. At the same time, MPs’ absenteeism from parliamentary sittings continues to draw public scrutiny, raising questions about whether stricter disciplinary measures should be introduced. With the Madani government having entered office on a reform agenda and the next general election gradually coming into view, we take a closer look at the challenges that remain unresolved.

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Malaysia's consumer sector remains resilient, supported by low unemployment and steady retail sales growth. However, spending momentum is slowing as households become more cautious amid higher living costs and persistent inflation pressures. With companies facing rising costs across energy, logistics, and raw materials, investors are increasingly focused on which businesses can protect margins and adapt to changing consumer behaviour in a more challenging environment.

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With the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran just signed, a new set of issues will have to be resolved. The 14-point agreement is aimed at ending hostilities and allows the established a framework for further negotiations to commence. The deal signals some commitments including sanctions relief, access to frozen Iranian assets, commitments on nuclear activities. The agreement has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters viewing it as a diplomatic breakthrough while critics argue Washington conceded too much.

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Following an approval from the Magistrate’s Court the condominium that toppled in 1993 is set to be demolished before the end of the year. This ends a tragedy that began 11 December that year, as one of the three blocks collapsed after a landslide triggered by continuous heavy rain, killing 48 people. The case is still widely cited in Malaysia’s construction and planning circles, especially when it comes to hillside development and risk management. Since then stronger regulation and constant monitoring have restored confidence in hill-side development. But with the challenges of climate change, what more do all stakeholders have to do?

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With economic growth at 4.4% in the first quarter of 2026, April industrial production rising to 8.2% year-on-year, wholesale and retail trade sales increasing to 4.7% and total trade numbers hitting a record RM3.1 trillion ringgit last year, but May's manufacturing PMI slipping into contraction territory, what can be said about the direction of the economy.

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The G7 Summit in France was intended to focus on long-term challenges such as AI governance, critical minerals, and economic resilience. Instead, attention shifted almost immediately to the surprise US-Iran peace breakthrough, which dominated discussions and reshaped the summit's agenda. While leaders still reached agreements on a range of strategic issues, the gathering raised a broader question: can the G7 continue to shape the global economic agenda, or is it increasingly being forced into crisis-management mode by a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape?

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Buy Now, Pay Later services have become a mainstream part of consumer spending in Malaysia, prompting regulators to introduce new safeguards aimed at improving transparency, affordability checks, and consumer protection. While the industry argues that repayment rates remain strong, concerns persist over rising household debt, credit risk, and the growing role of BNPL in everyday borrowing. Will tighter regulation be enough to keep the sector growing responsibly while protecting consumers from taking on more debt than they can manage?

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Emergency department overcrowding remains a chronic problem in Malaysia's public hospitals, driven by rising patient volumes, staffing shortages, and capacity constraints. The Health Ministry has now directed hospitals to develop plans to improve patient flow and reduce congestion within three months. As pressure on the healthcare system grows, what is causing these persistent bottlenecks, and what will it take to ease them?

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Brent crude oil prices slumped on the news of an imminent ceasefire deal between the US and Iran as markets cheered the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. How soon can vessel traffic and oil supply normalise to pre-war levels? We discuss the outlook for global oil markets with Muyu Xu of Kpler.

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In Malaysian politics, one day you’re in, another day you’re out - but one can always stage a comeback, as Dato’ Hamzah Zainuddin, the MP for Larut has done. Nearly four months after he was expelled from Bersatu, he has emerged as the founder of a new party, Parti Wawasan Negara and reinstated as the Opposition Leader under Perikatan Nasional. We discuss what these developments mean for the political dynamics of Malaysia with Ben Suffian of the Merdeka Centre.

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