Malaysia’s national oil company, Petronas, is reportedly contemplating a retrenchment exercise involving up to 5,000 employees amid global energy transitions, revenue pressures, and internal restructuring plans. If confirmed, such a move would be the most extensive layoff by Petronas since the 2016 oil downturn. Yet, in a time when state-linked enterprises are expected to lead…
BY: ARNOLD PUYOK Musa Aman, Sabah’s former chief minister, was appointed the state’s governor in December 2024. At the time, public reaction was mixed but leaned largely negative. His appointment has changed the chessboard of Sabah politics. He is also expected to take a more neutral stance and provide the stability that the state needs….
BY: FADHILAH RAIHAN LOKMAN Since its launch in 2002 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Day Against Child Labour has reminded us that millions of children globally are still being denied their rights. Despite decades of advocacy, this issue remains prevalent, particularly in Southeast Asia, where children from rural, marginalised, and low-income communities…
BY: DR ABDUL RAHMAN YAACOB While recent international headlines have focused on Malaysia’s supposed alignment with China, even in the face of Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, the Southeast Asian state has quietly adopted a different strategy on the ground. Beneath the radar, Malaysia is quietly strengthening its military presence in the Malaysian…
BY: ADIB ZALKAPLI Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has gone through another change in its leadership line-up following intense internal party elections on May 24. With the party’s top leaders in place, PKR has quite a hill to climb in retaining influence in the unity government and keeping the country’s top political job. The anchor party…
Dr Ong Ai Ling Malaysia is transitioning into an aging society. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), by 2030, 15% of the population will be aged 60 and above, officially classifying the country as an “aged nation”. As of 2024, over 10% of the population falls into this category, with those above 70…
SUFIAN JUSOH & JOANNE LIN The ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit, set to take place in Kuala Lumpur on 27 May, under the Malaysian Chairmanship of ASEAN, marks a significant diplomatic first. It will bring together leaders from ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates),…
BY: Dr. Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri The Curious Case of the Deputy Presidential Contest: Where Did 60% of the Votes Disappear? The recent PKR party elections have left political observers with more questions than answers, particularly regarding the deputy presidential race. The most glaring anomaly: the mysterious disappearance of over 60% of potential votes….
Lee Hwok-Aun As trade negotiations with the US continue, Malaysia needs to trot out relief measures and pro-growth measures to mitigate the impact of Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs. Malaysia made decent progress in the first 30 days of US President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on his “Liberation Day” tariffs. The country’s delegation to Washington, led…
By Dr Julia Roknifard The United States (U.S.) persistent efforts to maintain its fading unipolar dominance – through tariffs, sanctions, military presence, and dollar hegemony – have sparked a global pushback, prompting nations to seek refuge in multilateral alliances. Among the most notable is the BRICS organisation, which has grown in prominence. However, this is…
