Buy Now Pay Later transactions in Malaysia surged to RM7.1 billion in the second half of 2024. While Bank Negara says risks remain contained, concerns over consumer debt persist. The upcoming Consumer Credit Bill 2025 aims to tighten oversight and boost protection. We get some perspective from Shereen Hazirah Hishamudin, Senior Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute.

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Indonesia’s parliament has recently ratified a law allowing members of the military to hold more government roles. This has prompted protests over what is perceived as a threat to democracy. Erin Cook, a journalist for Southeast Asian Affairs, talks to us about what these revisions actually mean.

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Bank Negara has just released its 2024 annual, alongside the Economic & Monetary Review which showed Malaysia's economy demonstrating strong resilience, exceeding initial projections. Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB breaks down some of the findings of the report and what we can expect for the rest of 2025.

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Japan, China, and South Korea met in Tokyo for their first economic talks in years, calling it a potential “turning point.” With global trade shifting and US-China tensions rising, the hope is to revive a stalled trilateral free trade deal. Is this real progress or just symbolic diplomacy? William Pesek, Columnist at Nikkei Asia joins us to share his insights and the broader implications.

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The arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has sparked protests across Turkey. Some claim it is politically motivated, seeing his arrest as a move by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to silence his strongest rival. We unpack this with Dr. James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

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Malaysia is expected to become an ‘aged nation’ much sooner than previous estimates, posing critical challenges not only to economic activity but also to the capital market. Ng Zhu Hann, CEO & Founder, Tradeview Capital explains why this is an issue and suggestions on how it rectified.

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PM Anwar Ibrahim urges closure of unprofitable GLCs, citing unsustainable practices and calling for stricter monitoring. While acknowledging GLCs' non-profit goals like the Bumiputera agenda, he stresses profitability. Past reforms, sought improvements, but questions remain on ensuring GLC performance and avoiding losses. P Gunasegaram offers insights.

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The Securities Commission issued the Annual Report for 2024 showing that capital markets are in the pink of health. That however cannot be said for their financials. We speak to Pankaj C. Kumar, a business commentator if it’s time to relook at their fees and levies and what should be included in the new capital master plan.

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The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia or FINAS Act 1981 is being revised to adapt to the changing film industry. The updates aim to modernize regulations, strengthen worker protections, and foster industry growth. We discuss the amendments needed with Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of FINAS.

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Malaysia’s ‘Sekolah Angkat Madani’ initiative aims to have corporate and GLC partners adopt 500 public schools, guided by the Ministry of Education. As stakeholders push for clear frameworks that balance values and expertise, Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services, shares her insights on its potential impact.

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