opinions

Challenges, realities, and pathways forward for Malaysia in a changing world economy By Professor Dato Dr Ahmad Ibrahim The global economy is at an inflection point. It is driven by technological disruption, environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and rising geopolitical tensions. No nation is insulated from these forces — and Malaysia, as an open, resource-dependent, and […]

By Nahrizul Adib Kadri I think I’ve lived long enough to see both progress and heartbreak in this country. And I’m still here. Still holding the same red passport. Still standing up when the Negaraku plays, wherever and whenever. Still quietly hopeful, even when things don’t go the way I wish they would. Loving Malaysia,

How a homegrown AI tool from UM is changing the game in malaria diagnosis across rural Malaysia In a modest side room at Hospital Kapit, Sarawak, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It’s not the kind that makes headlines or starts global trends — but the kind that saves lives, one pixel at a time. Here,

By Amir Rashad Mustaffa According to William Shakespeare, “what is past is prologue”. This serves as a poignant reminder that history lays the foundation for what lies ahead. Just as students around the world study Shakespeare and Chaucer to understand the evolution of English thought, culture, and language, so too should Malaysians turn to the

Manoeuvring Malaysia’s circular economy crossroads By Professor Dato Dr Ahmad Ibrahim The global drumbeat for the circular economy grows louder, fuelled by the twin crises of resource scarcity and climate chaos. Where extraction and disposal once defined progress, the new paradigm demands regeneration: keeping materials in use, designing out waste, and restoring natural systems. For

By Sophia Nur Aurora Izzat Muazzam In an era dominated by global media giants, Malaysia faces the pressing challenge of preserving its own cinematic heritage—a vital cultural treasure that is currently at risk of fading into obscurity. Early cinema in Malaya, spanning from the 1930s through the golden years of the 1940s to 1970s, played

By Professor Dato Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Malaysia’s National Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, launched recently, is undoubtedly a policy born of necessity and ambition. It recognises a fundamental truth: the linear “take-make-dispose” model is economically and environmentally bankrupt for a resource-hungry nation. The vision – transforming Malaysia into a regional leader in sustainable, high-value manufacturing

By Nazrul Anuar Nayan They are the architects of our nation’s future, dedicating their lives to research and the education of the next generation. But behind the lecture halls and library stacks, many of Malaysia’s academics are facing a silent, personal crisis. A case study tracking a group of male lecturers between the ages of

Why businesses can no longer afford the linear model   By: Professor Dato Dr Ahmad Ibrahim For centuries, the linear economic model – “take, make, waste” – reigned supreme. Businesses extracted raw materials, transformed them into products, sold them to consumers, and discarded the waste, viewing resources as infinite and landfills as bottomless. This model fuelled