Are We OK?

Budget 2027: Election Play? | Is Anwar a True Reformer? | Petrol Subsidy, Minimum Wage, GST | EP 109

28K views · 1w ago · 1:04:22

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming and Peter (Mr. Money) sit down to break down the government's recent Budget announcement. Is it a real plan to fix the country's problems, or a budget made to win votes before the next election? We look at it from every angle in simple words.

Topics: The Elephant in the Room: RM40 Billion Petrol Subsidy · A Smarter Way to Do Petrol Subsidy: Tiered Pricing · The Risks Ahead: Slower Growth and Data Centres · Will the Budget Win Votes? Melaka Election and Beyond · Equal Funding for MPs: Is Anwar a True Reformer? · Outstanding Questions: Minimum Wage Increase, Who Will Be Affected?

"Banana Republic" Policymaking? | Bo Borak Moto vs MITI's EV Rules | EP 108

85K views · 1mo ago · 46:41

Guest: Lua Bo Feng

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Lua Bo Feng, known online as Bo Borak Moto, a car enthusiast and content creator who has built a huge following talking about Malaysia's auto industry. We get his honest take on why he thinks MITI is controlling the EV and car market too much, from setting minimum prices to blocking certain brands from selling freely.

Topics: How Bo Started His Channel During MCO · Did MITI Ever Reach Out to Bo Directly? · Bo's First Gripe: MITI "Mothering" the Car Industry · Why B40 Buyers End Up Subsidizing the Industry · The EV Dilemma: Are Electric Cars Really Saving You Money · The Lack of Transparency in MITI's Incentive Framework

"Why I Quit DAP On Merdeka Day" | Anthony Loke's "Madu" Remark, Explained | EP 107

43K views · 1mo ago · 50:08

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming finally opens up about why he resigned from DAP after 14 years, choosing Merdeka Day to make it official. He explains the three real reasons behind his decision, from his pledge to help Khairy Jamaluddin campaign to his concerns over where DAP is heading next.

Topics: Why Dr Ong Chose Merdeka Day · The Media Reaction · Anthony Loke's "Madu" Remark · Was The Remark Fair? · Three Reasons Behind The Resignation · Reason 1: Why Campaigning For Khairy Was a Sackable Offence

Can Bukit Kayu Hitam Become Malaysia's Tech Hub? | Delapan | EP 106

13K views · 2mo ago · 39:33

Guest: Razwin Sulairee

Most Malaysians know Bukit Kayu Hitam as a quiet border town you drive through on your way to Thailand for a holiday or food trip. But what if it's quietly becoming one of Malaysia's most important digital and economic gateways?

Topics: Welcome & Introduction · What is Northern Gateway & Why Is It Called "Delapan"? · From Kota Perdana to Delapan: The Rebrand Story · Turning a Border Checkpoint Into a Business Opportunity · Exact Location: Bukit Kayu Hitam & How Big Is Delapan? · RM60 Billion in Trade: The Scale of Border Traffic

Why DAP Vote to Stay in Cabinet | PH Losing Power? | GE16: Sooner or Later? EP 105

82K views · 2mo ago · 1:18:24

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming and Peter break down what really happened in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, and why Kian Ming's election predictions, made months in advance, turned out to be almost exactly right. They also go behind the scenes of DAP's Special Congress, where party delegates just voted on whether to stay in or resign from the Madani government, and unpack the self-interest calculations different DAP leaders are making.

Topics: Welcome Back & Life Updates · Predicting Johor & Negeri Sembilan: How Kian Ming Got It Right · On the Ground Vibes in Johor · The Collapse of Malay Support for Pakatan Harapan · The Leader Who Divides Chinese and Malay Voters · Why Voter Turnout Matters More Than You Think

Douglas Lim on the Rosmah Backlash, 1MDB Jokes | Is Political Comedy Safe in Malaysia? | EP104

107K views · 2mo ago · 1:12:14

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Malaysian comedian Douglas Lim to talk about making jokes, staying out of trouble, and whether political comedy is still safe in Malaysia today! From big news stories like the Rosmah lawsuit to viral jokes about 1MDB and Najib, Douglas shares what it is really like to be a comedian in our country.

Topics: Welcome Douglas Lim, Malaysian Stand-Up Comedian & Actor · How Douglas reads Malaysian politics through comedy · The Harith Iskander defamation letter & where the line is · Has the space for political comedy narrowed since 2018? · First comedian to perform at the MPO · Why Malaysians Use Jokes to Deal with Crazy News

RM90 Billion Up For Grabs | Malaysia vs Singapore in Logistics | Michael Tio's Masterplan | EP 103

26K views · 3mo ago · 1:00:48

Guest: Dato' Seri

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Dato' Seri (Dr.) Michael Tio, Group Chief Executive & Managing Director, PKT Logistics Group S/B, to unpack how he built one of Malaysia's biggest logistics companies from a RM2,000 starting salary. We go behind the story of his iconic warehouses, The Ship, The Wave, and The Lighthouse, and how a simple idea sketched on cardboard turned into a nationwide logistics empire.

Topics: The Underdog Hustle: Making Millions Before Turning 21 · Life Lessons & Why EQ Matters More Than Grades · Giving Up a Lucrative Used Car Business for a RM2,000 Salary · How a Partnership with Japan Saved the Business in the 1998 Crisis · Moving from Big Projects to Stable Automotive Logistics · The Hidden Business Trick to Keeping Shipping Money in Malaysia

Is Malaysia Ready? | DAP Meets Ex-UMNO | FDI, Reform & GE16 | EP 102

48K views · 3mo ago · 1:18:56

Guest: Dr Ong Kian Ming

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Dr Ong Kian Ming (former Deputy Minister of MITI, DAP) and Shahril Hamdan (co-host of Keluar Sekejap) for a fireside chat at the Affin Market Outlook Conference 2026. Two former politicians from opposite sides of the aisle — break down where Malaysia really stands as an investment destination, and whether the country is ready for what's coming next.

Topics: Lucky, or well-managed? What's driving the boom · Chasing FDI vs building lasting prosperity · An honest conversation: the goals that actually matter · One thing to tell the PM: AI & data · Can our GLICs be brave? Patient capital and the courage to fail · Time to go global: helping Malaysian firms expand

The Fight for Johor | The Johor Economic Boom | The Reality of Clean Politics | EP 101

13K views · 3mo ago · 1:08:34

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with two young leaders, Lee Ting Han and Nor Zulaila binti Abdul Ghani (Lily), to talk about the massive changes happening in Johor right now. We take an honest look behind the scenes at what it’s really like to work in state government, how the multi-billion ringgit business boom affects everyday jobs, and why the current election is creating sudden tension between state and federal politicians.

Topics: Meet Lee Ting Han: From Corporate Lawyer to Johor Leader · The Reality Behind Johor’s Multi-Billion Ringgit Boom · Fixing the Talent Drain & Helping Young Workers Succeed · Can Federal and State Leaders Cooperate During Elections? · Reviving Johor's Forgotten Towns & Bringing Jobs Back · What It’s Really Like to Work Under MB Onn Hafiz

The Plot To Oust Muhyiddin | Hamzah & Hadi's Masterplan | Inside The Bersatu Purge | EP 100

39K views · 4mo ago · 1:10:43

In this episode of Are We OK, former Principal Private Secretary Dato' Dr. Marzuki opens up about the massive internal fractures shaking Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional. We dive into the behind-the-scenes drama of Tan Sri Muhyiddin's camp.

Topics: Meet Dato’ Dr. Marzuki: Inside Muhyiddin’s Camp · The Real Job of a Political Secretary · Bersatu Dynamics & The Sheraton Move Secrets · Governing During a Crisis: Muhyiddin’s COVID-19 Era · Zahid Hamidi, UMNO & Political Instability · The Resignation & Why Bersatu Backed Ismail Sabri

How Selangor Is Building Southeast Asia's Chip Corridor | Beyond the Data Center Hype | EP 99

16K views · 4mo ago · 52:34

Guest: YB Ng Sze Han

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with YB Ng Sze Han (Selangor Exco for Investment, Trade, and Mobility) and Yong Kai Ping (CEO of SIDEC) to unpack Selangor's aggressive transformation into a regional high-tech powerhouse. We explore how the state is moving rapidly into high-value sectors, from aerospace manufacturing and autonomous transport to setting up groundbreaking tech hubs.

Topics: Selangor’s Economic Mindset: "Continuity with Evolution" · Building an Ecosystem for the Selangor Aerospace Industry · Yong Kai Ping & SIDEC: Driving E-Commerce & Startups to Global Standards · The Semiconductor Leap: Scaling Fresh IC Design Engineers · Complementing Penang & Executing the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) · Silicon Valley Mission & Leveraging Overseas Malaysian Professionals

Is RM1.99 Petrol Over? | Why Malaysia Wins FDI | Billionaires Eye GE16

28K views · 4mo ago · 58:56

Guest: Yun Liu

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Yun Liu, Senior ASEAN Economist at HSBC, to discuss why Malaysia is Asia’s "quiet overachiever". We break down the hard fiscal truths behind Malaysia's massive petrol subsidies as global oil prices surge past $100 , and examine what international investors are looking for ahead of the upcoming GE16 election.

Topics: From the IMF to Hong Kong: Yun Liu's Global Background · Mapping the ASEAN Economy: Who is Leading the Race? · The Massive Footprint of Chinese FDI in Southeast Asia · What Does an Economist Actually Do? · Durian Economics: Why Vietnam is Crushing Malaysia in Exports · Diversity in ASEAN & Penang as the Silicon Valley of the East

Why We Left Anwar’s Cabinet | Inside The PKR Drama | Bersama Takes Off | EP 97

111K views · 5mo ago · 1:39:44

In this episode of Are We OK, former minister Nik Nazmi opens up about the massive internal fractures shaking the government and PKR. We dive into the behind-the-scenes drama. We also break down the high-stakes launch of Bersama, the brand-new political party founded by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi. Why did these long-time reformists abandon the party they spent 20 years building?

Topics: The Launch of Bersama: A Political Startup · Reality of Power: Missing the Cabinet Cut in 2018 · Breaking Stigmas: Mental Health in Malaysian Politics · Rare Earths & Geopolitics: Navigating US vs. China · Losing Anwar’s Inner Circle & Splitting the Ministry · "Fixed" Party Polls & Resigning From Cabinet