A Financial Dispute Takes a Different Turn What began as a dispute over financial administration between the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) took a different turn when Deputy Prime Minister and Rural Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi raised concerns about projects in Sabah and Sarawak. This article does not seek to examine the technicalities of government financial procedures, procurement or contract administration. Those are matters best left to professionals and practitioners familiar with the industry. The purpose here is to examine the arguments presented in Parliament, the issues brought to light and their implications for rural development and public accountability. The original issue concerned KKDW's budget allocations, expenditure commitments and unpaid contractors. MOF had questioned how commitments could exceed the original allocations, while Zahid maintained that expenditure should be viewed against the revised al...

Beyond Budget Announcements: Addressing the Structural Issues Behind Malaysia’s Cost-of-Living and Fiscal Challenges “A budget is like Panadol: it may relieve the symptoms for a while, but it does not provide a long-term cure.” This was the memorable analogy raised by moderator Tuan Haji Nazri Kahar when recalling Professor Tan Sri Dr. Nor Azlan Ghazali’s assessment of Budget 2027. It captures the central question confronting Malaysia: can the government ease today’s cost-of-living pressures while addressing the structural weaknesses that keep households financially vulnerable and constrain the nation’s fiscal capacity? The UKM forum brought together three perspectives: Nor Azlan’s concern over fiscal sustainability, Dr. Mohamad Afzan Nizam Abdul Rashid’s emphasis on economic and financial stability, and Dr. Mohamad Abdul Khalid’s focus on inequality and the welfare of ordinary people.  Their arguments differ in emphasis, but together they raise a question more important than the ...

Three Years of Exposés Must Not Be Forgotten M Shanmugam’s column in The Edge Weekly dated October 26, 2026, “ What happens after the corporate mafia probe is crucial ”, raises a fundamental question: will the investigation expose the alleged Corporate Mafia in its entirety, or merely produce a report that leaves its principal operators and institutional connections untouched? Another Brick in the Wall began writing about the corporate controversy surrounding Revenue Group Berhad in 2023, following the boardroom struggle and allegations of a forced corporate takeover. This was three years before Rafizi Ramli suddenly emerged as a prominent commentator on the Corporate Mafia, drawing on Bloomberg’s reporting on older cases and more recent developments. He should have investigated who the new owner of Revenue IF Berhad. Nevertheless, Rafizi is entitled to raise these matters, but his recent interventions must not eclipse the work of those who have followed the controversy since its begin...

Wall Street’s technology sell-off has raised an uncomfortable question — Is the artificial intelligence (AI) boom approaching a financial reckoning?  For Malaysia, the consequences extend beyond share prices. The country is increasingly integrated into global AI supply chains through semiconductors, electronics and data-centre investments. If the boom falters, Malaysia could face weaker exports, delayed investments and underutilised infrastructure. The central risk is not necessarily that AI will fail. It is that investors may have committed too much capital in anticipation of returns that could take years to materialise.

Budget 2027 has generally been well received, particularly for its social measures. Yet some  commentators have described its financial and economic impact as neutral and some viewed as lacklustre, questioning whether it comparably offers enough to households than before. .  Both perspectives deserve consideration. Public expectations are understandably high, but a budget must also contend with the government's revenue constraints, rising expenditure commitments and the need to reduce the fiscal deficit. A long wishlist cannot be fulfilled simply by increasing allocations without regard to how they are financed. Against this backdrop, one aspect of Budget 2027 deserves greater recognition is the tax reform. While cash assistance through Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) attracts public attention, tax relief offers another form of support to households while stronger revenue collection helps finance public services and sustain fiscal consolidation. R...

“The purpose of propaganda is not to make you believe something. It is to make you believe nothing, so that you no longer think, and then power can do what it wants.” — Attributed to George Orwell I have developed a deep disgust for propaganda—not because I fail to appreciate the power of persuasion, but precisely because I understand how it works.  Having familiarised myself with its techniques and how they are deployed to shape public perception, I have become acutely sensitive to the moment a message crosses the line from persuasion into manipulation. Once I smell propaganda, my trust in the narrative immediately diminishes. I begin to question not just what is being said, but why the messenger feels the need to resort to such tactics in the first place. What I find particularly disturbing is the apparent belief among some politicians, government communicators and media practitioners that the end justifies the means. If the objective is deemed important enough, they seem to thin...

Malaysia's diversified economic structure has helped it withstand external shocks. Its next phase of development should build on this foundation to strengthen domestic capabilities, productivity and prosperity. Resilience in a turbulent world In a CNBC interview on 15 October 2026, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan highlighted Malaysia's diversified economy as a key reason the country could weather economic shocks. His remarks came amid geopolitical tensions, volatile energy prices and disruptions to global supply chains. Malaysia's economic performance provides useful context. GDP grew by an estimated 5.3% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, moderating from 6.0% in the second quarter. The government projects growth of 4.8%–5.3% for 2026 and 4.2%–5.2% for 2027. Although growth is expected to moderate, these remain comparatively healthy rates. Malaysia's performance reflects an economic structure developed over decades. Diversification has broadene...