Over the weekend, UMNO decided on continuity for party by electing Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as President. The competitive three-horse race saw Zahid up against Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Khairy Jamaluddin. Disappointment in the results saw one MP and former Puteri Wing chief leave the party and declare herself an independent. Today we explore the options before one the country’s oldest party, UMNO.

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Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski discusses the way forward for Malaysia-Australia trade and business links in a new era of a Pakatan Harapan government. H.E. Goledzinowski also discusses a much-speculated criminal extradition of convicted murderer Sirul Azhar in a possible re-opening of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case. He also talks about the ever-evolving rapprochement with its (and Malaysia’s) biggest trading partner, China, as well as much-needed closure to the tragic disappearance of MAS flight MH370.

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On July 1, US trade tariffs targeting rivals begin, some observers fear the kick-off to a much feared “trade war”. Coming after the failed G7 meet in Canada earlier this month when the US refused to sign of on a joint statement of a rules-based trading system, question are being asked about the future of globalisation. Today we explore some of the main issues in global trade and well as the regional outlook.

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Alpha REIT is Malaysia's first and only real estate investment trust dedicated to education-related properties. Can such a niche product thrive in a Malaysian-sized market?

Having made the REIT's first acquisitions last year, Dato Labrooy shares the yet-to-be-listed REIT's strategy for portfolio expansion while outlining the growth prospects for the domestic private education industry.

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UMNO veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, or better known as Ku Li, has thrown his hat into the ring in the race for the UMNO presidency. Ahead of the party’s polls to elect its Supreme Council on 30 June 2018, Ku Li shares his vision for Umno and his plans for reform, should he take the helm.

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Today we speak to the newly minted Minister on the many challenges facing both his Ministry as well as the government as a whole. We explore the balance of forensic analysis of the previous Administration - rife with allegations of corruption and sweetheart deals - and developing plans for the future. From the promise (and cost) of Peduli Sihat, to the building new hospitals in rural Malaysia (nine are pending) to conservatism in the health service.

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Tim Harford is an economist, Financial Times columnist, and best-selling author of 'The Undercover Economist' and 'Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy'. He joins us on the Breakfast Grille to discuss the growing "crisis of confidence" in statistical data, and why he thinks IKEA’s Billy bookcase helped make the modern economy. 

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 A self-described economic libertarian, Bryan Caplan's latest book, The Case Against Education argues that public education is a waste of time and money and that we should stop investing in it.

Caplan believes that the primary function of education (especially higher education) is not to enhance students' skill but to certify their intelligence, work ethic, and conformity—in other words, to signal the qualities of a good employee.

We speak to him about why, after decades of growing access to education, we are not experiencing better jobs for the average worker .

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On World Refugee Day, Richard Towle, Representative for UNHCR Malaysia, discusses his work safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers worldwide, and specifically in Malaysia, where some 180 thousand registered and unregistered refugees, mainly Myanmar Rohingyas, are struggling to find work, habitable living conditions, healthcare and a modicum of self-respect.

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BNP Paribas was one of the five foreign banks awarded the full commercial banking licence to operate in Malaysia 7 years ago in 2011. Philippe Aroyo shares the group's Malaysian journey thus far and business plans here.

The overall banking landscape has changed, especially so in the past couple of years and many traditional banks have been impacted, including  BNP Paribas.

We discuss the evolving business model for banks with non-banks entering the scene and the new operating environment in the New Malaysia.

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