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Top 5 at 5: Public Unis a "Cesspool of Corruption"

08-Jan-26 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Public Unis a "Cesspool of Corruption"

Student groups from several public universities have called on MACC and the Higher Education Ministry to probe what they describe as systemic corruption in university procurement systems. Citing findings from the Auditor-General’s report and past controversies at institutions including UKM, UiTM, UMS and USM, they warn that weak oversight and opaque tender processes may be widespread. We unpack it all with Brendon Gan of HARAM. (Starts at 23:33)

• US withdraws from 66 international bodies: US President Donald Trump has suspended American support for dozens of international organisations, many linked to the United Nations and focused on climate change, labour and migration. We discuss the geopolitical implications with Adrian Ang, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. (Starts at 17:35)

• Older ICs facing issues with Budi95 claims: Nearly four months after the rollout of the Budi95 fuel subsidy, confusion has emerged over eligibility rules, particularly for MyKad holders whose ICs were issued before 2008. We unpack what went wrong and what affected users should expect next. (Starts at 10:54)

• Illegal weight-loss medications on the market: The rising popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications has fuelled a surge in unregulated and potentially counterfeit products being sold on e-commerce platforms. Endocrinologist Dr Lim Quan Hziung explains why these drugs cannot be sold freely and the risks consumers may be exposing themselves to. (Starts at 5:52)

• Do you overshare with HR?: A Reddit discussion has sparked debate over how much employees should disclose when applying for annual leave and whether oversharing has become the norm. We discuss the lines between professional courtesy and personal privacy. (Starts at 0:23)

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Sneha Harikannan, Alia Zefri, Lim Sue Ann, Susan Tam

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan, Susan Tam


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Categories:  the workplaceeducationcontroversiesLaw/Activismcorruptioninternationalgovernmentpoliticshealth policywellness

Tags:  University corruption MalaysiaMACC university probeHigher education procurement MalaysiaAuditor-General report universitiesStudent activism MalaysiaUS withdrawal from international organisationsBudi95 fuel subsidy MalaysiaMyKad IC issues MalaysiaIllegal weight loss drugs MalaysiaWorkplace privacy and HR





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