2025 ASEAN foreign ministers' key takeaways

China’s Xi Jinping at 2025 Asean summit?

Catchier name for Johor-Singapore SEZ

Pain points of business between JB and SG

 Made in Singapore or made in Johor? 

Impacts of Najib's request for house arrest

Why Najib continues to fight

Malaysian policement to be fit for duty

Insights on Asean's beachside pow wow, the Johor-Spore economic zone and ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid.

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.

For January, hosts Lim Ai Leen and Tan Tam Mei kick off with ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh, based in Kuala Lumpur.

There are high expectations for Malaysia as it assumes the Asean chairmanship in 2025. But there are hard questions too. How will it navigate economic turbulence? And tackle Asean’s tricky issues from disputes in the South China Sea to unrest in Myanmar?

Meanwhile, excitement over the freshly-signed agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone continues to buzz among business folk on both sides of the Causeway. But what will make it work? 

Teoh also lists the JSSEZ’s ingredients for success, and suggests a snappier acronym for it. He also tells us what’s in store if ex-PM Najib Razak wins his fight to serve the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:21 Takeaways from the Asean foreign minister’s meeting, the first major gathering of 2025 

7:00 A possible appearance by China’s Xi Jinping at this year’s Asean summit?

8:42 A catchier name for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

11:52 Solving the pain points of doing business between Johor and Singapore

22:00 Made in Singapore or made in Johor? 

25:08 What happens if former PM Najib gets his request for house arrest? 

30:38 Why Najib continues to fight for house arrest 

32:45 Fit for duty: Malaysia’s policemen must get in shape to get promoted

Read more:

https://str.sg/EQBu 

https://str.sg/nkbG

https://str.sg/i7Se   

Read Lim Ai Leen’s articles: https://str.sg/MKsE 

Read Tan Tam Mei’s articles: https://str.sg/iJxJ 

Read Shannon Teoh's articles: https://str.sg/wzyK 

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters 

Hosts: Lim Ai Leen (limal@sph.com.sg) & Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg)  

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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#STAsianInsider

Insights on Asean's beachside pow wow, the Johor-Spore economic zone and ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid.
Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.
For January, hosts Lim Ai Leen and Tan Tam Mei kick off with ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh, based in Kuala Lumpur.
There are high expectations for Malaysia as it assumes the Asean chairmanship in 2025. But there are hard questions too. How will it navigate economic turbulence? And tackle Asean&rsquo;s tricky issues from disputes in the South China Sea to unrest in Myanmar?
Meanwhile, excitement over the freshly-signed agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone continues to buzz among business folk on both sides of the Causeway. But what will make it work?&nbsp;
Teoh also lists the JSSEZ&rsquo;s ingredients for success, and suggests a snappier acronym for it. He also tells us what&rsquo;s in store if ex-PM Najib Razak wins his fight to serve the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:21 Takeaways from the Asean foreign minister&rsquo;s meeting, the first major gathering of 2025&nbsp;
7:00 A possible appearance by China&rsquo;s Xi Jinping at this year&rsquo;s Asean summit?
8:42 A catchier name for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
11:52 Solving the pain points of doing business between Johor and Singapore
22:00 Made in Singapore or made in Johor?&nbsp;
25:08 What happens if former PM Najib gets his request for house arrest?&nbsp;
30:38 Why Najib continues to fight for house arrest&nbsp;
32:45 Fit for duty: Malaysia&rsquo;s policemen must get in shape to get promoted
Read more:
<a href="https://str.sg/EQBu">https://str.sg/EQBu</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://str.sg/nkbG">https://str.sg/nkbG</a>
<a href="https://str.sg/i7Se">https://str.sg/i7Se</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Read Lim Ai Leen&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/MKsE">https://str.sg/MKsE</a>&nbsp;
Read Tan Tam Mei&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iJxJ">https://str.sg/iJxJ</a>&nbsp;
Read Shannon Teoh's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/wzyK">https://str.sg/wzyK</a>&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter:<a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters"> https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;
Hosts: Lim Ai Leen (<a href="mailto:limal@sph.com.sg">limal@sph.com.sg</a>) &amp; Tan Tam Mei (<a href="mailto:tammei@sph.com.sg">tammei@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7"> https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8"> https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX"> https://str.sg/JWaX</a>&nbsp;
Website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
ST Podcast website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>&nbsp;
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#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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