The first sustained rain after a season of haze brings relief that needs no explanation. Windows reopen. Distant hills return. Parents worry a little less about the air their children are breathing.

Opinion: Beyond the haze: What the rain cannot fix

There was a time when a young planter learnt much of his profession simply by following an older planter around an estate.

Opinion: The planter who never graduates

The prime minister’s pre-Budget 2027 remarks have put practical support for smallholders and agro-commodity businesses in the spotlight. The government is considering RM425.65 million for agro-commodity initiatives, including RM280.03 million for oil palm smallholder replanting, RM100 million for farm roads, RM28.57 million for disaster and disease control, and RM17.05 million for downstream agro-commodity entrepreneurs. These are proposals under consideration, not confirmed Budget allocations.

Opinion: Budgeting beyond the harvest

On Sept 28, Malaysia said goodbye to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

Opinion: The quiet place beside history — Remembering Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, 1926–2026

Risk, it seems, likes neat boxes. Low. Standard. High. Three categories, three colours, three levels of comfort for regulators. Malaysia, under the European Union Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR, sits in the middle as a standard-risk country.

Tek Talks: When the EUDR risk label lags the landscape

Over the past two years, I have occasionally written about some of the people I regard as role models in Malaysia's plantation and palm oil journey — Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Tun Raja Muhammad Alias Raja Muhammad Ali, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock, Datuk Boon Weng Siew, fondly remembered as “Uncle Boon”, MR Chandran and Mahbob Abdullah, among others.

Opinion: Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian — the planter, the steward and the next row

As we mark Malaysia Day, the country pauses to remember what holds us together. Flags appear, speeches turn to unity, and attention returns to Sept 16, 1963, when different territories, histories and peoples came together to form Malaysia. Yet perhaps the deeper story lies not only in how the federation was formed, but in how Malaysians have learnt to live together ever since.

Opinion: Muhibbah moves the chair

PARTS 1 and 2 of this three-part article looked at who sits around Malaysia’s palm oil table and how those many voices might work together more effectively. But coordination alone is not enough.

Opinion: The long game of palm oil: Part 3

In Part 1 of this three-part article, titled ‘Malaysia’s palm oil alphabet soup’, we mapped some of the Malaysian palm oil family: growers, smallholders, nurseries, millers, refiners, biodiesel and biomass players, professional institutions, academia, government agencies, certification systems and enough acronyms to keep a Scrabble player occupied for an afternoon.

Opinion: Many voices, one palm oil industry: Part 2

ONE of the questions I am asked surprisingly often — especially by people trying to find their way around the Malaysian oil palm industry — is: who is who, who does what, and which association or agency should I speak to?

Opinion: Malaysia’s palm oil alphabet soup: Part 1

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an allocation of RM1 million to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) to coordinate assistance for associations, hawkers and small traders to boost their income.

PM announces RM1m allocation to aid hawkers, small traders 

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has yet to pay his RM50 million fine, according to the latest information received by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC).

No deadline set for Najib to pay RM50m fine, says AG 

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, said it would resume withdrawals on Sunday after covering 95% of the US$6.3 billion (RM25.6 billion) in tokens stolen from its platform in the world's largest digital heist, which the FBI has tied to North Korea.

Binance to resume withdrawals after covering bulk of stolen US$6.3b

Malaysia Airlines said on Sunday that some customer information may have been affected by a cybersecurity incident involving Amadeus, its reservation-technology provider.

Malaysia Airlines says customers may be affected by Amadeus breach

As the global monetary order becomes increasingly fragmented, the European Union has a rare opportunity to shape the emerging system and bolster the euro’s international role. But for the euro to become genuinely global, it must first become more European.

The dollar’s share of global f...

The Frontiers of Growth:  A Global Euro Must First Win Over Europe

Long dubbed an "air-conditioned nation", Singapore is experimenting with cooling alternatives from chilled beams to "passive displacement" to curb its thirst for energy-guzzling air conditioning.

'Air-con nation' Singapore eyes alternatives to cool down

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has appointed four individuals, including former attorney general Tan Sri Idrus Harun, as members of the Judicial Appointments Commission for a two-year term, effective Sunday.

Ex-AG Idrus Harun among quartet appointed to Judicial Appointments Commission

Asia’s AI-heavy stock markets face a new US policy wildcard in the mid-term elections, with the outcome potentially reshaping the tech trade and sectors from clean energy to defence.

An Asian stock trader’s guide ahead of the US mid-term elections

South Korea's exports nearly doubled in October from a year earlier, beating market expectations and marking the sharpest jump in more than 50 years, trade data showed on Sunday.

South Korea exports nearly double in October, strongest growth since 1974

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain's historical role in slavery, before attending next week's Commonwealth summit at which he is likely to face demands for financial reparations.

UK PM Burnham says 'open' to formal apology for slavery, but rules out reparations

Controversial businessman Victor Chin Boon Long has once again applied to testify remotely from China in a RM49.85 million lawsuit over the management and control of an air cargo venture, citing medical grounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Victor Chin renews bid to testify remotely in M Jets lawsuit, citing medical reasons

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has appointed four individuals, including former attorney general Tan Sri Idrus Harun, as members of the Judicial Appointments Commission for a two-year term, effective Sunday.

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, said it would resume withdrawals on Sunday after covering 95% of the US$6.3 billion (RM25.6 billion) in tokens stolen from its platform in the world's largest digital heist, which the FBI has tied to North Korea.

Hooded rioters looted stores in Frankfurt late on Saturday after tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Germany's biggest cities to demand better education and lower living costs.

Rioters loot stores in Frankfurt as Gen Z-led protests in Germany turn violent

Malaysia Airlines said on Sunday that some customer information may have been affected by a cybersecurity incident involving Amadeus, its reservation-technology provider.

Asia’s AI-heavy stock markets face a new US policy wildcard in the mid-term elections, with the outcome potentially reshaping the tech trade and sectors from clean energy to defence.

Long dubbed an "air-conditioned nation", Singapore is experimenting with cooling alternatives from chilled beams to "passive displacement" to curb its thirst for energy-guzzling air conditioning.

With the recent unveiling of the Muara Arts Gallery and upcoming opening of the Muara Arts Theatre, it is apparent that a major urban heritage conservation movement is steadily transforming the Medan Pasar area in Kuala Lumpur. In this week’s cover story, Brahmal Vasudevan, CEO of private equity firm Creador, together with his wife Shanthi Kandiah, founding partner of SK Chambers, take us through their mission to restore and rejuvenate the old market square into a cultural hub for locals and tourists alike.&nbsp;

Square one

Borsa Istanbul chief executive officer Korkmaz Ergun was detained as part of an investigation into Türkiye’s investment fund crisis, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.

Borsa Istanbul CEO detained in funds probe — report

Jobs week lies ahead for the US, which means a heavy slate of data ahead of the capstone monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

US jobs pickup may keep Fed on track to hike rates again

This week, we spoke to OSK Property’s new CEO Chu Wai Lune on how the developer creates value for buyers.&nbsp; He believes that rather than competing on size or amenities alone, thoughtful design, functionality, future-ready homes and community can make a meaningful difference to buyers.&nbsp;

Making the ordinary extraordinary

Foreign ministers from the US, Australia, India and Japan on Saturday pledged to work on building reliable global supply chains and expressed grave concerns about what they called "economic coercion" through export restrictions and non-market practices, but stopped short of calling out China.

Indo-Pacific Quad ministers work on supply chains, denounce arbitrary export restrictions

South Korea's exports nearly doubled in October from a year earlier, beating market expectations and marking the sharpest jump in more than 50 years, trade data showed on Sunday.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain's historical role in slavery, before attending next week's Commonwealth summit at which he is likely to face demands for financial reparations.

As the global monetary order becomes increasingly fragmented, the European Union has a rare opportunity to shape the emerging system and bolster the euro’s international role. But for the euro to become genuinely global, it must first become more European.

The dollar’s share of global f...

President Donald Trump's second attempt to sue the Wall Street Journal was dismissed with prejudice on Saturday, ending his pursuit of a defamation lawsuit over the news outlet's reporting on his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Judge ends Trump's attempts to sue Wall Street Journal over Epstein reporting

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has yet to pay his RM50 million fine, according to the latest information received by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an allocation of RM1 million to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) to coordinate assistance for associations, hawkers and small traders to boost their income.

Joseph Tek

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Joseph Tek

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