Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.
For March, hosts Lim Ai Leen and Tan Tam Mei kick off with ST’s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh, and special guest Dr Ong Kian Ming, both based in Kuala Lumpur.
It’s easy to settle down in multicultural Malaysia, as thousands of mainland Chinese on the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa scheme have discovered. Affordable property, international schools, local food and a relaxed lifestyle are all draws, but are there drawbacks? As it is, signage in the Chinese language has already sparked off a war of words between politicians.
Speaking of politics, the recent Democratic Action Party (DAP) election saw the Lim family influence diminished. Former deputy minister and party insider Dr Ong gives us the lowdown on what happened on March 16, and his predictions for the DAP’s future.
Highlights (click/tap above):
01:21 MM2H: Why is it so popular with mainland Chinese?
06:43 Cultural shift, retail landscape change from influx of Chinese
11:19 How Chinese brands are adapting to local market
14:57 Furore over Chinese signage
19:43 DAP election: How the party’s evolved in Malaysian politics
26:56 Will DAP turn into MCA 2.0
30:49 Mood at party polls
38:02 Lim Guan Eng’s future role and influence
42:38 News nugget: What’s your desert island Malaysian snack
Read more:
MM2H scheme - https://str.sg/bsDx
Malaysia’s DAP election - https://str.sg/Kiqx
Heated exchange Malaysia’s MCA and DAP - https://str.sg/FS6T
Dr Ong Kian Ming’s Are We OK? podcast - https://str.sg/63jG
Read Lim Ai Leen’s articles: https://str.sg/MKsE
Read Tan Tam Mei’s articles: https://str.sg/iJxJ
Read Shannon Teoh’s articles: https://str.sg/wzyK
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters
Hosts: Lim Ai Leen (limal@sph.com.sg) & Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
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