China’s 15th five-year plan: What it means for Asia’s next decade
AS China prepares to implement its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), policymakers and economists across Asia are closely watching its implications for regional growth.
Asean’s next chapter: From aspiration to action
At today's inaugural Asean Inclusive Growth Summit organised by Mastercard in Kuala Lumpur, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah set a tone both reflective and forward-looking.
Whither Trumpmania in Malaysia?
Despite public indignation, Malaysia is preparing to welcome a figure whose legacy is written not in diplomacy, but in destruction.
Budget 2026: From fiscal prudence to productive debt stewardship
BUDGET 2026 was tabled with the reassuring confidence of prudence. It promises a narrower deficit of 3.5% of GDP, an allocation of RM421.2bil, and a renewed commitment to fiscal responsibility under the Madani framework. The message is clear: tightening its belt while sustaining welfare.
All a society in jitters needs is the courage to slow down
Are our schools still a place we can entrust our children to? That has been a question Malaysians have persistently asked ever since the tragic killing of Yap Shing Xuen.
Budget 2026 and the squeezed middle: How to rebuild confidence without breaking the budget
IN OUR earlier commentary, Budget 2026: From B40 to B70, Redefining Malaysia's Middle Class, EMIR Research argued that Malaysia's deepest fiscal challenge lies not merely in managing debt but in recognising the erosion of its true middle class.
China sees substantial increase in women's education level, says white paper
KUALA LUMPUR: China has made tremendous efforts to ensure women's equitable access to education of all categories and levels and women's right to education has been effectively guaranteed, says a white paper released on Friday (Sept 19).
What we want our leader-managers to lead and manage
IN POLITICS, government, business and social institutions, leader-managers must be able to lead and manage in four key areas.
No one should endure abuse to earn a living
IN 2020, Malaysia ranked second in Asia for cyberbullying among youth - a stark reminder of how serious the issue has become. The rise of social media has turned online spaces into breeding grounds for insults, identity misuse and harassment. Over the years, the workplace has undergone a major shift, both legally and culturally. Behaviours that were once regarded as "normal office culture" or just a "management style" are now being taken more seriously.
Debt as destiny: Turning Malaysia’s liabilities into sovereign assets
MALAYSIA'S debt debate remains trapped in numbers: 64% of GDP, RM1.304 trillion, the statutory ceiling. Yet ceilings are political constructs, often gamed by guarantees and off-budget tricks (see "Debt, Deceit and Delay" by EMIR Research). The more vital question is not how high the ceiling sits, but how strong the floor is. What real fiscal space does Malaysia have once interest costs, rollover obligations, and household burdens are counted? And, crucially, what do we gain in return for every ringgit borrowed?
The contribution of the Soviet and Chinese peoples to victory in World War II: Remember history and build better future
On Sept 3, the whole world celebrates the day of the end of World War II, the most destructive and violent conflict in human history.
China’s parade shows the world a strong force for stability in a turbulent era
On September 3, Beijing will stage a grand military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World War II.
