Malaysia’s rising household debt is more than just a financial issue — it’s a symptom of a deeper economic shift As stable, well-paying industrial jobs give way to more precarious service roles, many Malaysians are leaning on credit just to keep up with the cost of living.

We speak with Dr Paul Anthony, Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University, about how deindustrialisation is chipping away at income stability, why household debt has become a ticking time bomb, and what Malaysia can do to rebuild economic resilience.