Are We OK?

Is RM1.99 Petrol Over? | Why Malaysia Wins FDI | Billionaires Eye GE16

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Yun Liu, Senior ASEAN Economist at HSBC, to discuss why Malaysia is Asia’s "quiet overachiever". We break down the hard fiscal truths behind Malaysia's massive petrol subsidies as global oil prices surge past $100 , and examine what international investors are looking for ahead of the upcoming GE16 election. We also dive into "durian economics" explaining how Vietnam rapidly captured China's massive market over Malaysia —and look at the structural hurdles and shifting supply chains shaping the future of ASEAN. 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ] - Trailer 00:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=26s] - Intro & Guest Introduction: Meeting HSBC's Yun Liu 01:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=105s] - From the IMF to Hong Kong: Yun Liu's Global Background 12:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=757s] - Mapping the ASEAN Economy: Who is Leading the Race? 14:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=871s] - The Massive Footprint of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia 16:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=977s] - What Does an Economist Actually Do? 21:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=1317s] - Durian Economics: Why Vietnam is Crushing Malaysia in Exports 31:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=1864s] - Diversity in ASEAN & Penang as the Silicon Valley of the East 34:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=2050s] - Deep Dive into Vietnam's Rapid Economic Rise & Energy Risks 41:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=2470s] - Malaysia: Asia's Quiet Overachiever? 43:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=2603s] - The Ticking Fiscal Cost of RM1.99 Petrol 48:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=2912s] - Prediction Time: What Global Investors Expect From GE16 52:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1eRFqfIWQ&t=3137s] - Outro: Ipoh Dreams & Unforgettable Malaysian Hospitality #AreWeOK [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/areweok] #MalaysiaEconomy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/malaysiaeconomy] #GE16 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ge16] #HSBC [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hsbc] #YunLiu [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/yinliu] #DurianEconomics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/durianeconomics] #MusangKing [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/musangking] #Subsidies [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/subsidies] #ASEAN [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/asean] #FDI [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fdi] #PenangSiliconValley [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/penangsiliconvalley] #VietnamEconomy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/vietnameconomy] #MalaysianPolitics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/malaysianpolitics] #FiscalReform [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fiscalreform]

Why We Left Anwar’s Cabinet | Inside The PKR Drama | Bersama Takes Off | EP 97

In this episode of Are We OK, former minister Nik Nazmi opens up about the massive internal fractures shaking the government and PKR. We dive into the behind-the-scenes drama.We also break down the high-stakes launch of Bersama, the brand-new political party founded by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi. Why did these long-time reformists abandon the party they spent 20 years building? Finally, we discuss the heavy policy battles that defined his time in office including the shift away from blanket subsidies and how Malaysia's rare earth minerals are getting caught in a global US-China Cold War. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:20 - The Launch of Bersama: A Political Startup 10:45 - Reality of Power: Missing the Cabinet Cut in 2018 23:30 - Breaking Stigmas: Mental Health in Malaysian Politics 48:20 - Rare Earths & Geopolitics: Navigating US vs. China 58:08 - Losing Anwar’s Inner Circle & Splitting the Ministry 1:01:20 - "Fixed" Party Polls & Resigning From Cabinet 1:20:32 - Fantasy Politics: Could KJ Ever Join Bersama? 1:34:10 - Defensive Strategies & The Battle for Pandan #AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #NikNazmi #RafiziRamli #AnwarIbrahim #Bersama #PKR #UnityGovernment #RareEarthMinerals #CabinetDrama #MalaysiaNews

Tony Pua Said What?! | Rafizi’s New Party Drama | Early Election? | EP 96

In this episode of Are We OK?, things get real. We’re diving straight into a massive political bombshell: Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi have officially resigned as MPs to start a brand-new political party. Is this a bold move for change, or a chaotic play that will tear the government apart? Next, we look at the sudden uproar surrounding Tony Pua. Finally, the battle lines are being drawn for an explosive election season. We talk about the tense situation on the ground in Johor , why the usual political attacks aren't working anymore , and our exact timeline for when we head back to the ballot box. 00:00 - Teaser 03:34 - The Resignation Shockwave: Rafizi’s Huge Gamble 12:01 - Tony Pua’s Post: Did He Just Cross the Line? 20:58 - Johor PH Convention: Why the Strategy is Backfiring 31:09 - Prediction Time: The Secret Election Timeline 34:02 - Outro & Next Guest Announcement #AreWeOK #MalaysianPolitics #RafiziRamli #NikNazmi #TonyPua #PakatanHarapan #BarisanNasional #JohorElections #MalaysiaNews

Rafizi - The Next Leader? | Opposition vs Insider | Policy, Tax & Economy Breakdown | EP 95

In this episode of Are We OK, we break down the growing political speculation surrounding Rafizi Ramli and whether a high-stakes contest in Bandar Tun Razak could signal deeper tensions within the government. Is this a real political battle or just noise?We also examine Rafizi’s evolving role as a political figure: Is he more effective as an opposition voice rather than an insider within the system? The discussion expands into broader questions about governance, political strategy, and whether personality-driven politics is overshadowing real policy debates. Finally, we explore key economic and policy issues shaping Malaysia today from taxation and fiscal decisions to the wider economic direction of the country and what it means for everyday Malaysians.

General Election | Anwar vs Rafizi | UMNO Superstar Return | Bangun KL | Medical Brain Drain | EP 94

In this episode of Are We OK, we dive into the high-stakes world of Malaysian politics and pressing social issues. We debate the strategic timing of the next General Election, analyzing whether a "sooner rather than later" approach favors Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim amidst global economic instability. We also explore the impact of political "superstar" return to UMNO and the shifting dynamics between major political coalitions. Finally, the conversation shifts to public policy, addressing the controversial "coffee fiasco" and the critical brain drain crisis currently hollowing out Malaysia’s medical sector.