Top 5 at 5: Is Malaysia's RM2.3 Billion War on Drugs Worth It?

Malaysia spent over RM2.3 billion on drug-related enforcement, rehab, and incarceration. We discuss the costs and challenges of the government's security-first approach as well as policy alternatives with Palani Narayanan, Director of Drug Policy Program Malaysia.

Other stories we covered today:

· Pakatan Harapan's Shift on Lynas Explained: PKR Deputy President Rafizi Ramli recently explained why Pakatan Harapan reversed its stance on Lynas, allowing the rare earths firm to continue operations under strict environmental conditions. We hear thoughts on this from Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas.

· MACC Turning to Polygraph Tests: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is introducing polygraph tests to boost corruption investigations, claiming a 97% accuracy rate. We discuss the reliability of these tests in court with criminologist Dr. Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid.

· Life Expectancy Disparities Across Malaysian States: Selangor leads in life expectancy at 78 years, while Terengganu falls behind at 72 years. District-level data reveals even wider gaps, with Kuala Penyu at 63 years and Petaling at 80. Dr. Rahimah Ibrahim explains national trends post-pandemicAssociate Professor Dr. Rahimah Ibrahim, Director of the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, explains national trends post-pandemic.

· Measuring Poverty via Net Disposable Income: The Malaysian government will now use net disposable income to better identify those needing aid, ensuring fairer resource distribution based on essential living expenses. We discuss this new method with Dr. Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff, MBA Programme Director at Putra Business School.

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