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Top 5 at 5: Trump's Venezuela Gambit

Binoy Kampmark, Senior Lecturer in Global Affairs, RMIT University

05-Jan-26 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Trump's Venezuela Gambit

The sudden abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has escalated tensions worldwide, with the leader facing charges in New York for narco-terrorism and weapons offences. We speak to Binoy Kampmark about the international implications of such unilateral action. (Starts at 21.05)

• Malaysia calls for Maduro’s release: Following the U.S. operation in Venezuela, Malaysia has condemned the abduction as a violation of international law. We speak to former diplomat, Ilango Karuppannan to understand the country's stance. (Starts at 16.44)

• Anwar unveils 2026 reforms and relief measures: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim outlined reforms and cost-of-living support for 2026, including separation of powers for the Attorney General, Freedom of Information, and Ombudsman bills. He also confirmed term limits for the prime minister and announced financial aid programs. We discuss. (Starts at 11.54)

• UMNO Youth joins push to revive Muafakat Nasional: UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has called for the party to leave the unity government and reunite with PAS, reviving the old Muafakat Nasional pact. Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor of Political Science at IIUM, explains the political context and challenges this proposal faces under the current government. (Starts at 5.09)

• Sleep deprivation in Malaysia: Public health experts warn that most Malaysian adults aren’t getting enough sleep, leading to stress, fatigue, and health complications. We discuss whether we've been getting enough sleep. (Starts at 0.23)

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sharaad Kuttan, Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Alia Zefri, Dashran Yohan, Juliet Jacobs, Sudais Ferhard, Sneha Harikannan, Sharaad Kuttan


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Categories:  politicsgovernmentinternationalcontroversieswellness

Tags:  malaysian foreign policymadani reformsnicolas madurovenezuelaanwar ibrahimterm limitsmuafakat nasionalumnopasperikatansleep deprivation





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