Key Factors Shaping US Foreign Policy in the Middle East
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Key Factors Shaping US Foreign Policy in the Middle East

BY: KHALDOON ABDULLA The foreign policy of the United States (US) towards the Middle East involves a complex mix of strategic and ideological factors. On one level, US policy is shaped by traditional geopolitical considerations, including the pursuit of hegemony through control of strategic passages, the promotion of the liberal international order, and the containment…

Malaysia and BRICS: Balancing Global Opportunities and Challenges
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Malaysia and BRICS: Balancing Global Opportunities and Challenges

Dr Paul Anthony Mariadas and Dr Uma Murthy Malaysia, a fast-growing Southeast Asian nation, has often sought to strike a balance between maintaining good relations with Western nations while also fostering deeper connections with emerging economies. One avenue Malaysia is considering is closer engagement with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), a bloc…

Balancing Growth and Fiscal Responsibility: An Overview of Malaysia’s Budget 2025
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Balancing Growth and Fiscal Responsibility: An Overview of Malaysia’s Budget 2025

BY: DR PAUL ANTHONY MARIA DAS The Malaysian Budget 2025, unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 18, 2024, marks a significant turning point in the nation’s economic strategy. With an unprecedented allocation of RM421 billion, this budget is not only the largest in Malaysia’s history but also encapsulates a vision for…

Justifying Wee’s appointment as investment adviser for companies from China
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Justifying Wee’s appointment as investment adviser for companies from China

Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong was appointed as investment adviser for nationals and companies from China in Malaysia by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday. The appointment was made when Ahmad Zahid officiated MCA’s annual general assembly at the San Choon Hall, Wisma MCA. While many on…

A nine percent increase for MOH, focus on the Health White Paper
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A nine percent increase for MOH, focus on the Health White Paper

BY: Dr A Lingeshwaran The overall budget for Ministry of Health (MOH) saw an increase of 9% compared to this year. However, the increase is at a much lower pace compared to Budget 2024 and also far from the 5% GDP that was the benchmark for upper middle income country. Hence, the MOH should focus…

Belanjawan 2025 breathes new soul into the life of KL
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Belanjawan 2025 breathes new soul into the life of KL

Guided by the ‘MADANI Economy framework’ and three focus areas of ‘Reinvigorating the Economy, Driving Reforms, Prospering the Rakyat’, Belanjawan 2025 incorporates right measures to breath new life into the ‘soul’ of Kuala Lumpur (KL). This involves a combination of allocations designed to climate-proof, preserve culture and heritage, develop talent capacity, as well as improve…

Defining the Core Identity of a 21st-Century Islamic University
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Defining the Core Identity of a 21st-Century Islamic University

BY: PROFESSOR OSMAN BAKAR In the post-colonial Muslim world, especially since the 1980s following the historic First World Conference on Muslim Education in 1978 held in Mecca, universities and colleges carrying the label “Muslim” or “Islamic” in their names have rapidly increased in number. These institutions are either public or private and are either national…

Former lawmakers, MPs in the limelight because PN is not functioning
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Former lawmakers, MPs in the limelight because PN is not functioning

Former DAP lawmaker Dr Ong Kian Ming came under fire for criticising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who hit out at Malaysian elites who preferred English over the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. In AMANAH, ex-Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin has constantly taken the government to task over a myriad of issues. Both Ong and Hanipa…