Malaysia’s economy continues to show resilience, with GDP growth holding firm at 4.4% in the second quarter of 2025. Can this momentum be sustained amid weaker exports and global uncertainties? We speak with Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB, for her outlook on what lies ahead for Malaysia’s economy.

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Under the first budget by President Prabowo Subianto,  the Indonesian government is set to spend USD $234 billion in 2026. The plan aims to boost the economy by 5.4% while keeping the fiscal deficit at 2.48% of GDP. Lionel Priyadi, Head of Research, PT Mega Capital Sekuritas gives us his impressions of this budget and what it means for the domestic equity market.

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According to recent figures from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), civil servants make up the largest group arrested for accepting bribes, with nearly 3,000 cases recorded between 2015 and mid-2025. Pushpan Murugiah, CEO, the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) gives us his assessment of the anti-corruption measures in Malaysia, and what more needs to be done to strengthen public service integrity.

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What does the outcome of the U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska mean for Ukraine’s future? Joseph Camilleri, Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, offers his analysis of the meeting and its implications.

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Teenage pregnancy continues to challenge Malaysia, with over 6,000 cases recorded between 2023 and March 2025. How effective are current programs in supporting at-risk teens, and what more needs to be done? We speak with Hafiza Abdul Samath, Advocacy Officer, Women Aid Organization (WAO) on policy interventions needed.

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What are the implications of Trump’s unprecedented interventions in the US tech sector? George Chen, partner and co-chair of the Digital Practice at The Asia Group shares his take if the US's government's cut from semiconductor chip sales to China and investment in Intel will support or hinder growth of this hot industry?

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The interim government in Bangladesh has announced elections in February 2026, almost two years after the student-led protests brought down the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We discuss the political developments in Bangladesh in the year since the revolution with Dr. Amit Rajan of NUS.

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Homelessness is a challenge faced by many countries, and the reality is that it can happen to anyone, at any time. Dr. Nur Fareza Mustapha, Research Associate at the Khazanah Research Institute, discusses potential solutions to this chronic issue and why tackling it requires collective responsibility.

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Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be closer to serving his prison sentence at home after the Federal Court dismissed the prosecution’s appeal in his judicial review over a royal addendum. What does this mean for his chances of house arrest? We speak with criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee to explain the implications of this ruling.

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Gold prices have been on a remarkable run this year, rising over 27% to hover near record highs, but recently bullion markets were thrown into brief turmoil after a surprise US Customs ruling suggested gold imports could face hefty tariffs. Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC will be telling us how this has impacted gold prices, and whether its rally so far will continue for the rest of 2025.

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