Budget 2027 allocations for Borneo states

Sarawak's push for financial autonomy

Securing the Borneo vote for Budget 2027

Sarawak assertiveness and autonomy

Putrajaya-East Malaysia resource dynamics

Personalistic politics in Borneo

Syed Saddiq & Bella Astillah's betrothal gifts

East Malaysia’s assertiveness and fiscal demands are growing. This is reshaping its federal relationship with Putrajaya.

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the hottest political and trending talking points in Malaysia.

For our October episode, ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Dr Arnold Puyok, deputy director at the Institute of Borneo Studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and visiting fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.

Highlights (click/tap above):

03:50: Budget 2027 allocations for Sabah and Sarawak and whether funds bridge development gaps

08:20: Changing expectations in Sarawak: Moving from federal funding amounts to financial autonomy and decision-making

13:25: Political calculus of Budget 2027: Securing the Borneo vote bloc ahead of general elections

21:30: Sarawak's regional assertiveness, and the question of effective autonomy amid secession call

30:30: Federal establishment and Putrajaya's uneasy dynamic with East Malaysian resource push

34:10: Personalistic politics in Borneo: Why individual leadership matters more than party brands

38:50: News nugget: Syed Saddiq and Bella Astillah's viral future-focused betrothal gifts

Read more:

In the final lap, Malaysia’s PM Anwar returns to base with reformist budget: https://str.sg/EpEu 

From colonial-era crests to its own airline, a founding partner redraws its place in Malaysia: https://str.sg/dDuM 

Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq and singer-actress Bella Astillah tie the knot: https://str.sg/AUTN

Read Zurairi A.R.’s articles: https://str.sg/DCfr 

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

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz 

Host: Zurairi A.R. (zurairi@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 

YouTube: https://str.sg/rF3qR 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

---

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

---

#STAsianInsider

East Malaysia&rsquo;s assertiveness and fiscal demands are growing. This is reshaping its federal relationship with Putrajaya.
Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the hottest political and trending talking points in Malaysia.
For our October episode, ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Dr Arnold Puyok, deputy director at the Institute of Borneo Studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and visiting fellow at the ISEAS&ndash;Yusof Ishak Institute.
Highlights (click/tap above):
03:50: Budget 2027 allocations for Sabah and Sarawak and whether funds bridge development gaps
08:20: Changing expectations in Sarawak: Moving from federal funding amounts to financial autonomy and decision-making
13:25: Political calculus of Budget 2027: Securing the Borneo vote bloc ahead of general elections
21:30: Sarawak's regional assertiveness, and the question of effective autonomy amid secession call
30:30: Federal establishment and Putrajaya's uneasy dynamic with East Malaysian resource push
34:10: Personalistic politics in Borneo: Why individual leadership matters more than party brands
38:50: News nugget: Syed Saddiq and Bella Astillah's viral future-focused betrothal gifts
Read more:
In the final lap, Malaysia&rsquo;s PM Anwar returns to base with reformist budget: <a href="https://str.sg/EpEu">https://str.sg/EpEu</a>&nbsp;
From colonial-era crests to its own airline, a founding partner redraws its place in Malaysia: <a href="https://str.sg/dDuM">https://str.sg/dDuM</a>&nbsp;
Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq and singer-actress Bella Astillah tie the knot: <a href="https://str.sg/AUTN">https://str.sg/AUTN</a>
Read Zurairi A.R.&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/DCfr">https://str.sg/DCfr</a>&nbsp;
Read Shannon Teoh's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/wzyK">https://str.sg/wzyK</a>&nbsp;
Sign up for ST&rsquo;s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/sfpz">https://str.sg/sfpz</a>&nbsp;
Host: Zurairi A.R. (<a href="mailto:zurairi@sph.com.sg">zurairi@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;
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/rF3qR">https://str.sg/rF3qR</a>&nbsp;
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
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>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#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.