Alliance Bank, Malaysia's smallest bank by asset size is halfway through its Acceler8 2027 strategy to diversify its core business and strengthen market leadership in the SME segment. Despite achieving record earnings in 2025, could global economic uncertainty decelerate its progress? We get updates from Kellee Kam, CEO of Alliance Bank.

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Karcher is renowned for its professional cleaning solutions, helping homes and businesses stay spotless with innovative products and services. Philip See speaks with William Kew, Managing Director of Karcher Malaysia, about the company’s growth, market strategies, and vision for the cleaning industry in the country.

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Nearly half of Malaysia’s workforce facing high exposure to artificial intelligence, with women and younger workers most at risk. What does this mean for inequality, education, and the country’s social protection systems? Calvin Cheng, the economics programme director at ISIS Malaysia and Dr Matthew Dornan, a Senior Economist at the World Bank, talk about their new report on this subject.

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The global geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House proving a wildcard in ongoing efforts to find a resolution. How does this affect the foreign policy calculations for Kyiv and how is it strengthening alliances beyond the Western sphere? We discuss this with Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko.

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The UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is adjusting its foreign policy to global challenges amid changing geopolitical dynamics. How is the government balancing US-China tensions while pursuing new opportunities with ASEAN? We discuss this with H.E. Ajay Sharma, British High Commissioner to Malaysia.

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Increasingly more companies are required to have internal auditors but what role do they play ? Anthony Pugliese, President & CEO, The Global Institute of Internal Auditors tell us and if AI benefits this profession or threatens it.

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Malaysia is one of just 20 countries that has not yet ratified the UN Convention against Torture, despite expressing commitment to do so over the years. What are the obstacles to signing the treaty and how does Malaysia stand to benefit from taking a legally-backed anti-torture stance?  We build a case for Malaysia’s accession to the treaty with our expert panel.

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We speak with Professor Joseph Cherian, CEO of the Asia School of Business (ASB), about the pressures facing U.S. higher education institutions as the Trump administration pulls funding — and what this could mean for ASB. He also shares his views on ASB’s growth potential, key revenue drivers, and whether pursuing further education remains worthwhile for professionals.

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As technology transforms the way we learn reading and writing skills, how can we better navigate the changing dimensions of literacy in the digital age? To mark International Literacy Day, we discuss themes in literacy and education with Dr Tara Béteille of the World Bank.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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We speak to Dato' Dr Kenneth Pereira, founder and managing director of Hibiscus Petroleum, on how the company keeps cutting costs and extending the life of its oil fields despite weak oil prices and how it continues to reward shareholders in this challenging environment.

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