Budget 2026 was tabled last Friday, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has allocated the highest amount to the Ministry of Education, much like previous years. This year, the MOE received RM66.2 billion that will go to the upgrading of dilapidated schools and boosting TVET programmes, among others. But, does the budget address the longstanding structural issues that have plagued education in Malaysia? We discuss this with Chan Soon Seng, CEO of Teach for Malaysia.

Other stories we covered:

• Bersatu's ongoing leadership scuffles: Bersatu kicked out one of its most outspoken members Tasik Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, along with four other division chiefs. The party also suspended Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal for one term. This follows months of internal fighting between members over party leadership. But will these shakeups to the party's leadership stabilise Bersatu as they head into the general elections? We hear from Syaza Shukri, professor of Political Science at IIUM and Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.

• Israel and Hamas exchange hostages: This was following a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump who signed the official peace document in a global summit with fellow mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye. And while the 20-point peace plan has begun relatively smoothly, there are many points of contention within the agreement that remain unsolved. So to unpack this, we hear from Ferooze Ali, Senior Fellow at the Asia Middle East Centre.

• Air pollution is increasing the spread of infectious diseases: And the worst part? The diseases are antibiotic-resistant. Scientists researching this are discovering that air pollution could drive the development, dissemination, and persistence of antimicrobial resistant genes. So to better understand this phenomenon and how we can protect ourselves, we reached out to Dr Benedict Sim, infectious disease consultant.

• Inside plans to make KL walkable: ThinkCity is collaborating with DBKL to implement the Green Corridor Network Plan which aims to connect the city's creative and cultural district with some of KL's most historic landmarks to make one continuous route. We discuss this.

This BFM Budget 2026 Special is brought to you by Mah Sing — Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan, Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Dashran Yohan

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Categories:  Cars/Motoring,  managing disease,  wellness,  politics,  international,  Law/Activism,  government,  controversies,  education

Tags:  walkable cities,  kl,  air pollution,  infectious disease,  antibiotic resistant,  israel-hamas,  hostage,  bersatu,  Budget2026,  Budget-2026-Mahsing,  Belanjawan 2026,