Category: Opinion

AS the cost of living continues to rise in Malaysia, driven in part by the Sales and Service Tax (SST), more families will find it harder to put nutritious food on the table. While SST may not apply to all food products, its indirect effect through higher transport, service and business operation costs will push… Continue reading The high cost of eating well

IT is commendable that Malaysia has taken a major step towards educational equality by awarding scholarships and guaranteeing matriculation placement to all students – regardless of race or background – who achieve grades of A, A+ or A- in 10 subjects in the SPM examination. This significant move towards levelling the playing field for all… Continue reading Inclusive matriculation policy key to progress

THE latest Western media coverage has been agog with the Trump administration’s use of hard power. This follows the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan – despite the fact that Iran has never tested a nuclear device, has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran… Continue reading Strings of power behind Iran strikes

THE recent incidents – from a near-miss during a solo dive off Tioman to the tragic boat capsize off Pulau Perhentian – underscore a critical need for heightened safety in Malaysia’s tourism sector. These incidents, primarily impacting marine recreation, are symptomatic of a broader issue that extends across land-based resorts, transport and all adventure activities.… Continue reading Making tourism safer for everyone

A TOTAL of 5,272 youths aged 34 and under have been declared bankrupt between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 14.94% of all bankruptcy cases in the country. According to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, 5,189 of them were between the ages of 25 and 34 while 83 were under 25. Based on these statistics,… Continue reading Costly cycle of buy now, pay later

HUMANS are an incredible species, having achieved extraordinary feats, especially in the past century. We reached space just six decades after the first powered flight. Today’s smartphone has thousands of times more computational power than the machine that sent a man to the moon. With techniques dating back to the 10th century, we eventually eradicated… Continue reading Academic freedom under siege

SO you want a holiday, huh? But not just any holiday. No. You don’t want the usual makan-makan, tidur (sleeping at) hotel, selfie depan (in front of) the Petronas towers. You want something edgy, something spooky, something to make your ancestors raise their eyebrows and ask: “Anak ni tak cukup kasih sayang ke (This child… Continue reading Malaysia’s haunted holidays

WHEN we think of healthcare, doctors and nurses often come to mind. However, there is another group of professionals working tirelessly behind the scenes, the allied health professionals (AHP). These experts play a pivotal role in delivering patient-centred care, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive services, from diagnosis to recovery and rehabilitation. Who Are AHP? AHP… Continue reading Recognising unsung care heroes

ON June 17, the United States Senate passed the Genius Act – short for Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins – with a decisive 68 to 30 bipartisan vote. Once passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Donald Trump, this legislation will establish a federal framework to regulate… Continue reading Who controls world’s digital money?

IT began, again, with a tweet. Donald Trump, from his digital podium, declared that Iran and Israel had “come to him” asking for peace and that he was promising a future of “love, peace and prosperity”. The post went viral. Commentators scrambled. Headlines reframed. But beneath the performance lay the more troubling reality: real peace… Continue reading From tweets to tectonics