Deadly border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand have prompted emergency peace talks in Putrajaya. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chaired the meeting, joined by Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, with U.S. and Chinese envoys in attendance. The negotiations follow mounting international pressure and aim to halt a conflict that has already claimed over 30 lives. We speak to Dato Ilango Karuppannan, former Malaysian Ambassador about what to expect from this meeting.

Other stories we covered:

• Turun Anwar Rally: Thousands rallied at Dataran Merdeka demanding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s resignation, in a protest led by Perikatan Nasional and punctuated by fiery speeches from opposition heavyweights including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. We hear some thoughts from Professor Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head of Strategy at the Asia Headquarters of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• Wildlife crime or cultural display: A Kuala Lumpur museum owner has been fined for illegally possessing parts of protected species, including orangutan and elephant remains, raising questions about enforcement and cultural loopholes. Elizabeth John, Communications Manager at TRAFFIC Southeast Asia joins us to speak about this.
• Housemanship rotations revamped: The Health Ministry has introduced a new rotation system that allows hospitals to assign house officers based on departmental needs, replacing the rigid first-year structure. Dr Sean Thum from MMA SCHOMOS joins us to assess whether this flexibility streamlines training or strains hospital coordination.
• Zoonotic threats on the rise: Sabah’s rich ecosystems are becoming a breeding ground for zoonotic diseases, with experts warning of increased spillover risks from macaques, bats, and rodents due to human encroachment and habitat loss. Professor Dr Vijay Kumar from Universiti Malaysia Sabah joins us to explain why the state may be Southeast Asia’s next infectious disease hotspot and how a stronger One Health framework could help avert it.

Image Credit: Anwar Ibrahim Facebook

Produced by: Sharaad Kuttan, Sudais Ferhard, Juliet Jacobs, Sneha Harikannan, Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Sharaad Kuttan

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Categories:  government,  international,  politics,  environment,  Law/Activism,  controversies

Tags:  sabah,  zoonotic diseases,  housemanship,  malaysian medical association,  wildlife,  wildlife protection,  'Turun Anwar' rally,  anwar ibrahim,  protest,  thailand,  cambodia,  border conflict,