Budget 2026 is the first under the period of the 13th Malaysia Plan that runs until 2030 and which has the lofty goal of redesigning national development. How well does this budget reflect the transformational aims of RMK13? We peel the layers of Budget 2026 with Dato’ Johan Mahmood Merican, the Secretary General of the Treasury.

Budget 2026 is the first under the period of the 13th Malaysia Plan that runs until 2030 and which has the lofty goal of redesigning national development. How well does this budget reflect the transformational aims of RMK13? We peel the layers of Budget 2026 with Dato’ Johan Mahmood Merican, the Secretary General of the Treasury.

Sharper and stronger than a double espresso. The Morning Run stretches your mind and braces you for the business day. It's your fast track into work where you can hit the ground running. From 6am to 10am weekdays, the Morning Run brings you the biggest stories and must-listen-to interviews. Stay enlightened, make educated business and investment decisions.

The Breakfast Grille

Featuring the cream-of-the-crop as well as the controversial, the Breakfast Grille is the flagship show of BFM. Expect no-holds-barred interviews to get to the truth and into the minds of business leaders, policymakers and changemakers.

 Budget 2026: Fiscally Prudent But Soft on Growth?

Malaysia's hospitality sector is enjoying strong tourism growth, but hotel operators are also navigating rising labour costs, wage pressures, and intensifying competition. Marriott International continues to expand aggressively across both established and emerging destinations, raising questions about brand positioning, operational efficiency, and the long-term potential of secondary cities. As the industry evolves, how is Marriott balancing growth with profitability in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-changing hotel markets?

Malaysia's hospitality sector is enjoying strong tourism growth, but hotel operators are also navigating rising labour costs, wage pressures, and intensifying competition. Marriott International continues to expand aggressively across both established and emerging destinations, raising questions about brand positioning, operational efficiency, and the long-term potential of secondary cities. As the industry evolves, how is Marriott balancing growth with profitability in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-changing hotel markets?

Can Marriott Stay Ahead in Malaysia?

With the Johor state assembly around the corner there is increased jostling between political parties, even those which are formally in alliances. And there has been quite a bit of chatter about wanting youth voices and with many parties claiming that their candidates reflect a mix of veterans and new faces, experience and youthful idealism. But what’s really at stake in the political contest and can our political leaders speak from a different script? We talk about the history of youth wings, cooperation during the Madani period, UMNO Supreme Council Puad Zarkashi's shock resignation and if Bersama is eating any party’s proverbial lunch.

With the Johor state assembly around the corner there is increased jostling between political parties, even those which are formally in alliances. And there has been quite a bit of chatter about wanting youth voices and with many parties claiming that their candidates reflect a mix of veterans and new faces, experience and youthful idealism. But what’s really at stake in the political contest and can our political leaders speak from a different script? We talk about the history of youth wings, cooperation during the Madani period, UMNO Supreme Council Puad Zarkashi's shock resignation and if Bersama is eating any party’s proverbial lunch.

Generational Politics: PKR vs UMNO

The US-China geopolitical rivalry and President Donald Trump's mercurial policies have upended the established multilateral order, to the detriment of countries like Malaysia that base development strategies on the rules-based system. Can multilateralism survive these geopolitical shifts and what role do smaller countries play in reshaping multilateralism for the future? We discuss these themes with Danny Quah, the Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the National University of Singapore.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

The US-China geopolitical rivalry and President Donald Trump's mercurial policies have upended the established multilateral order, to the detriment of countries like Malaysia that base development strategies on the rules-based system.&nbsp;Can multilateralism survive these geopolitical shifts and what role do smaller countries play in&nbsp;reshaping multilateralism&nbsp;for the future? We discuss these themes with Danny Quah, the Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the National University of Singapore. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Budget 2026: Fiscally Prudent But Soft on Growth?

In 1 playlist(s)

The Breakfast Grille

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips