Enterprise Explores

Malaysia’s Ministry of Education has recently announced plans to introduce a co-teaching model by 2027, pairing two teachers in every classroom and weaving moral education into the weekly curriculum. The goal: more engaging lessons, stronger values, and future-ready graduates.But can this approach deliver real change or will it strain an already stretched system?Janice Chong, Co-Founder and Programme Director of Edvolution, shares what it will take for the co-teaching model to work: retraining teachers, preparing schools, and ensuring graduates emerge ready for the modern workplace.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysians aren't just online shoppers; they're among the world's most confident and frequent cross-border consumers. A new study by Airwallex and Statista found 94% of Malaysians are confident in buying from international merchants, and 72% do so at least once a month, far outpacing global averages.Aren Yip, Malaysia Country Manager at Airwallex, joins us to unpack what's driving this borderless shopping culture. He discusses the outsized role of influencers, the critical importance of localised payments, and the ‘mental hurdles’ local SMEs must overcome to seize this massive international opportunity.We discuss:Why Malaysians are more confident and frequent cross-border shoppers than the global average.The three drivers of this trend: global media, sales promotions, and trust.The outsized role of influencers, with 76% of Malaysians swayed by them.The critical importance of localised payments (like FPX and e-wallets) for conversion.The opportunities and ‘mental hurdles’ for Malaysian SMEs looking to export.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you one of the 76% of Malaysian consumers thinking about switching car brands? A new report from Deloitte reveals a shift in the automotive market, with brand loyalty at a regional low as a flood of new players enters the scene.Kevin Ohkohchi, Consumer Leader at Deloitte Malaysia, joins us to unpack the findings from their 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Survey. We discuss:Why 76% of Malaysians plan to switch brands for their next vehicle.The shift in preference back to hybrids over pure EVs.The top criteria for Malaysian buyers: performance over price.The key barriers to EV adoption: charging, time, and cost premiums.How the end of CBU tax exemptions will likely shift the market to local assembly (CKD).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent broadcast error, where several regional leaders were misidentified on air, has sparked questions about how such mistakes happen in an era where automation and AI are increasingly woven into production workflows.We don’t know whether technology played a role in that specific case, but it’s prompted a broader conversation: as organisations rely more on automation to handle information at speed, are we creating new risks when it comes to accuracy and accountability?We discuss and explore this with technologist, writer, and host of Mattsplained, Matt Armitage from Kulturpop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 97% of all international data travels through a vast, invisible network of subsea cables. As Malaysia invests billions in its AI ambitions and data center boom, this undersea infrastructure is no longer just a utility, it's a critical strategic asset.Martyna Sucharzewska, a Technology Analyst at BMI, joins us to explore this new global race. She discusses why the explosive demand from AI is fueling new investment, how tech giants like Google and Meta are shifting the balance of power by owning these digital highways, and the growing geopolitical risks in contested areas like the South China Sea.We discuss:Why subsea cables are the critical backbone of the AI-powered economy.How AI and cloud services are driving a surge in new cable investments.The fundamental shift as tech giants (not telcos) build their own private cables.Why these cables are now strategic assets and geopolitical flashpoints.Malaysia's strategic position to become a regional digital infrastructure hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to The Global Data Center Report 2025, Singapore today has one of the highest compute capacities in the world — about 8,000 people per megawatt of compute power. In Vietnam, that number jumps to 1.7 million. This growing gap isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about who gets to build, train, and benefit from the next generation of AI.We sit down with Tim Lin, Partner and Co-Founder of The Digital Infrastructure Collective (Asia), to explore one of the most overlooked inequalities of the digital age — the compute divide.Tim shares how regions like the Johor–Singapore nexus could anchor a more inclusive model for digital growth in Asia, combining policy foresight, private investment, and cross-border collaboration.From data sovereignty to AI accessibility, it’s a conversation about the unseen power structures shaping our digital future — and what it will take to make the AI economy truly equitable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As businesses move to the cloud, they are no longer buying software, they are subscribing to a service. This critical shift from ownership to access is governed by Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements, and many leaders are signing them without understanding the significant risks.Lawyers Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi (of Halim Hong & Quek) join us to decode these complex contracts. They explain the common pitfalls, from ambiguous Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and data ownership clauses to the new IP concerns being raised by generative AI.We discuss:The shift from software "ownership" to "access" and what it means for your rights.Why the Service Level Agreement (SLA) is the most critical clause for B2B.Data ownership: who really owns your data, and can your provider use it to train AI?The crucial components of an exit strategy to ensure data portability.Red flags to watch for in auto-renewal and price increase clauses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are Malaysia’s 7.7 million Gen Zs, the first generation to grow up entirely online and the next to redefine how we live, work, and spend. Visa Malaysia’s latest Gen Z Decoded study reveals how this cohort blends family values with digital-first lifestyles, managing money through apps while seeking meaning and flexibility at work. We speak with Previn Pillay, Country Manager at Visa Malaysia, about how their financial habits, trust in technology, and views on identity are reshaping the modern workplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, a Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG, and Dr. Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Centre for Market Education, dive into Malaysia's tax landscape. They explore how tax predictability fuels business confidence and foreign investment. The duo highlights the paradox of Budget 2026's high spending juxtaposed with a low deficit target and stresses the need for accountability in government spending. They advocate for a long-term tax calendar to mitigate fiscal uncertainty, urging a systematic approach to tax policy design.

Five teenagers from a Felda settlement in Pahang are defying expectations, and geography, to represent Malaysia at the FIRST Global Challenge in Panama City, the world’s biggest youth robotics competition. Guided by mentors from Lam Research and Roboticist Malaysia, these students from Sekolah Menengah Islam Al-Maarif have become the first team from Felda, Pahang, and an Islamic school to qualify. We explore how access, mentorship and belief can transform students with no robotics background into world-class innovators, and what their journey says about the future of Malaysian talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.