Tony Pua since leaving office

RM470b allocation in Budget 2026

PM Anwar's push for financial reforms

Sabah and Sarawak - political move?

Can Malaysia afford Trump missing Asean?

M'sia choosing between US and China

M'sians reaction to the Palestinian cause

News nugget: No alcohol for F1 win

Fresh off tabling Budget 2026, Malaysia is set to host world’s superpowers during the Asean Summit in KL starting Oct 26.

For our October episode, ST’s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Tony Pua, an ex-member of Parliament from DAP, and previously a political secretary for former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just tabled his latest budget for 2026, and will now have to juggle domestic and international impressions over the visit of US President Donald Trump during the Asean Summit starting Oct 26.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:57 Was the RM470b allocation in Budget 2026 a creative fiscal feat?

5:09 How successful has Anwar been in pushing for financial reforms?

8:39 Is the allocation for Sabah and Sarawak a political move ahead of the state election?

11:18 Can Malaysia afford to have Trump miss the Asean Summit?

13:31 Will Malaysia have to one day choose between the US and China?

15:37 Why Malaysians’ anger on the Palestinian cause is real 

19:38 How to celebrate an F1 win without alcoholic champagne

Read more:

Demystifying Budget 2026 tabled by PM Anwar https://str.sg/mpP6

Is Budget 2026 a political strategy for Sabah state polls? https://str.sg/wJ76g

Malaysians are unhappy with Trump’s visit to KL https://str.sg/DBc3

Petronas CEO under fire for champagne celebration at Singapore GP https://str.sg/7HoB 

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

Hosts: 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 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg 

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

The Usual Place Podcast 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

Fresh off tabling Budget 2026, Malaysia is set to host world&rsquo;s superpowers during the Asean Summit in KL starting Oct 26.
For our October episode, ST&rsquo;s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Tony Pua, an ex-member of Parliament from DAP, and previously a political secretary for former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just tabled his latest budget for 2026, and will now have to juggle domestic and international impressions over the visit of US President Donald Trump during the Asean Summit starting Oct 26.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:57 Was the RM470b allocation in Budget 2026 a creative fiscal feat? 5:09 How successful has Anwar been in pushing for financial reforms? 8:39 Is the allocation for Sabah and Sarawak a political move ahead of the state election? 11:18 Can Malaysia afford to have Trump miss the Asean Summit? 13:31 Will Malaysia have to one day choose between the US and China? 15:37 Why Malaysians&rsquo; anger on the Palestinian cause is real&nbsp; 19:38 How to celebrate an F1 win without alcoholic champagne
Read more:
Demystifying Budget 2026 tabled by PM Anwar <a href="https://str.sg/mpP6">https://str.sg/mpP6</a>
Is Budget 2026 a political strategy for Sabah state polls? <a href="https://str.sg/wJ76g">https://str.sg/wJ76g</a>
Malaysians are unhappy with Trump&rsquo;s visit to KL <a href="https://str.sg/DBc3">https://str.sg/DBc3</a>
Petronas CEO under fire for champagne celebration at Singapore GP <a href="https://str.sg/7HoB">https://str.sg/7HoB</a>&nbsp;
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:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/sfpz" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/sfpz&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761283512653000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2HGACNISVrdCkOj3ZHBbFw">https://str.sg/sfpz</a>
Hosts: 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;
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;
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.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>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
The Usual Place Podcast 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>
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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