A special fruit to Malaysians

The closure of Lee’s Pineapple Juice

The rise of data centres

Johor to SG: Pineapple connection

But Malaysians’ love affair with the fruit persists.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

Talk about what’s new with Johor nowadays and one usually ends up with a five-letter acronym - JSSEZ, or the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. 

But all the excitement about rising opportunities has also hastened the demise of what traditionally has juiced up Johor’s economy - pineapple farms. Land packed with the hardy, spiky fruits is making way for more profitable oil palm plantations, data centres as well as other commercial and industrial activities.

Malaysia is not giving up on pineapples though, as it's the No 2 export fruit after the mighty durian. Sarawak has earmarked 20,000 hectares just for growing the fruit. 

In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with Malaysia correspondent Lu Wei Hoong about his love affair with pineapples and why it means so much to Malaysians.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:56 A special fruit to Malaysians

5:00 The closure of Lee’s Pineapple Juice

7:03 The rise of data centres

12:42 From Johor to Singapore: The pineapple connection

Read Lu Wei Hoong’s article here: https://str.sg/zby2 

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR 

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x 

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

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) 

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

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 Podcasts 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:

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#STAsianInsider

But Malaysians&rsquo; love affair with the fruit persists.
Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.
Talk about what&rsquo;s new with Johor nowadays and one usually ends up with a five-letter acronym - JSSEZ, or the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.&nbsp;
But all the excitement about rising opportunities has also hastened the demise of what traditionally has juiced up Johor&rsquo;s economy - pineapple farms. Land packed with the hardy, spiky fruits is making way for more profitable oil palm plantations, data centres as well as other commercial and industrial activities.
Malaysia is not giving up on pineapples though, as it's the No 2 export fruit after the mighty durian. Sarawak has earmarked 20,000 hectares just for growing the fruit.&nbsp;
In this episode, ST&rsquo;s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with Malaysia correspondent Lu Wei Hoong about his love affair with pineapples and why it means so much to Malaysians.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:56 A special fruit to Malaysians
5:00 The closure of Lee&rsquo;s Pineapple Juice
7:03 The rise of data centres
12:42 From Johor to Singapore: The pineapple connection
Read Lu Wei Hoong&rsquo;s article here:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/zby2">https://str.sg/zby2</a>&nbsp;
Read Li Xueying&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iqmR">https://str.sg/iqmR</a>&nbsp;
Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/ip4x">https://str.sg/ip4x</a>&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters">https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;
Host: Li Xueying (<a href="mailto:xueying@sph.com.sg">xueying@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider 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;
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;&nbsp;&nbsp;
ST Podcasts 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;
&mdash;
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;
---
#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.