Nuclear energy in Malaysia?

• Malaysia has a serious affordability issue
• Former Philippines President Duterte has been arrested
• FA-50 fighter jets are grounded in the Philippines

IN Malaysia

Does Malaysia have an affordability problem?

Based on a study by the University of Malaya, it takes a minimum wage worker in Malaysia to work four times longer compared to its counterpart in Australia, in order to afford 1kg of chicken. To add more salt to the pain, it takes a Malaysian worker who earns less than USD500 (minimum wage in Malaysia), 130 minutes to buy the chicken vs 28 minutes for an Australian worker earning USD2,500 (minimum wage in Australia). According to the study, food affordability in Malaysia is increasingly shaped by urbanisation, wage structures and market dynamics. With nearly 80% of Malaysians now residing in urban areas, access to food is no longer determined by availability but by affordability. Diving down to the core issue of the lack of affordability, the study zeroed down to our minimum wages, which are lower than those of peer countries. So, to whoever opposes a minimum wage increase, suruh them to work for more than two hours to bring home the chicken. After that, either they support any minimum wage increases or they just turn vegan.

Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/747586

In related news, in order to strike a balance between rising insurance premiums and a crippling public health sector, Putrajaya has announced a plan to develop basic health insurance and takaful products in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Ministry of Health and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). However, no further details were divulged. We suspect that this may be the start of the end of cheap healthcare at public hospitals as Putrajaya has been itching to revamp the national health sector to ensure access to more sustainable medical treatment. Do you know that BNM did released a similar product back in 2022 called Perlindungan Tenang, which cost RM75 per year and on a voluntary basis. However, the uptake rate is low, so unless Putrajaya makes the new product to be auto-subscribed, then we may see a repeat of the outcomes.

Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/747487

Okay, to sum up the news above, gaji sikit and barang mahal (including insurance). So, how does the consumer solve the issue? Of course lah buy now, pay later (BNPL). Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan told the Parliament that local BNPL transactions for 2H2024 have increased by almost 45% compared to 1H2024, from RM4.9 bil to an astonishing RM7.1 bil. As of December 2024, there were 5.1 mil active BNPL users, the majority aged 21 to 45 and earning less than RM5,000 per month. Despite the alarming increase in BNPL, Amir Hamzah stated that the BNPL loans are still manageable, constituting only 0.2% of the total household debt and merely 2.9% of the BNPL credit is still outstanding.

Source: https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/03/11/putrajaya-buy-now-pay-later-use-shot-up-45pc-to-rm7b-in-just-six-months-last-year/169245

Nuclear energy, here we go but before that

Science and Technology Minister Chang Lih Kang told the Parliament before the Government can coy the idea of exploring the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation, Putrajaya needs to sign at least eight (8) important protocols or conventions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), such as The Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; The Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident; and The Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. Putrajaya is expediating the gazette of the Atomic Energy Licensing Amendment Bill 2025 to pave the way for the signature of those treaties.

Source: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/10/mosti-malaysia-must-sign-at-least-eight-protocols-to-use-nuclear-energy/169148#google_vignette

While we still have a long way to go before we start seeing nuclear chimneys spring up to power our TVs and air purifiers, Malaysia will be prepared if and when the Government decides to move ahead with the nuclearification of Malaysia. Chang added that our country aims to collaborate, share knowledge, and acquire technology transfer from China and India in the use of thorium as nuclear fuel. Additionally, Chang revealed that Nuklear Malaysia (the Malaysian Nuclear Agency), has established a pilot plant for the extraction and purification of thorium from local minerals such as monazite, exploring its potential role in future fuel supply chains. But, before we start normalising nuclear energy, let’s tepuk dada and muhasabah diri sendiri whether we are ready to maintain a nuclear energy plant. Last time I checked, we are good at building something, but maintenance is a whole different question.

Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/746862

Around the S.E.A.

What is happening in the Philippines?

• Former president arrested - The police, acting on the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), have arrested the former Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, for crime against humanity in relation to his iron fist policies against drugs during his presidency. ICC stated that although the Phillippines quit the international court in 2019 on Duterte’s instructions, the ICC maintained that it retains the jurisdictions over the killings that happened before the pullout, especially during Duterte’s tenures as the mayor of Davao City, years before his presidency. However, some factions believed that Duterte’s arrest was politically motivated as the Philippines is not obligated to act upon ICC’s warrant given that the country is no longer a member. However, due to the collapse of the relationship between the current President Marcos Jr and his VP Sara Duterte, Duterte’s daughter, the President seems to have pulled all the stops to bring down the Duterte dynasty.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/why-has-the-philippines-arrested-ex-president-duterte-on-icc-warrant

• Grounds all FA-50 fighter jets - After an FA-50 fighter jet crashed in the mountains in Southern Mindanao, the Philippine Air Force decided to put a ban on the flight of its entire fleet of 11 remaining FA-50s, awaiting the results of the accident investigation and further development before returning to flying status for the time being. The FA-50s were built by South Korea’s KAI Aerospace between 2014 to 2017. This FA-50 is the same fighter jet that Malaysia has forked out RM4 bil to acquire 18 units. Is it too late to relook our purchase decision? I bet there is a ‘cancel order’ button that we could press on.

Source: https://www.overtdefense.com/2025/03/10/philippine-air-force-grounds-fa-50-fleet-after-crash/

For your EYES only

Manchester United has announced the plan to construct a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace the 120-year-old Old Trafford stadium. However, fans and non-fans alike are not digesting the design of the new stadium well.