With the national budget approaching, we take a closer look at the health sector and how it should be prioritized. Members of the medical fraternity are urging the government to increase public healthcare spending to 5% of Malaysia’s GDP. Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, President of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), shares his insights on this crucial issue.

Other stories we covered today:

· Unpaid PTPTN loans: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir revealed that 430,000 borrowers collectively owe the government RM6 billion in unpaid PTPTN loans. Many of these borrowers are employed but have yet to start repayments, putting immense pressure on PTPTN’s resources. We revisit two conversations we've had about this, one with Dr Amirul Rafiq, a research associate from the Khazanah Research Institute and another conversation with economist Dr. Geoffrey Williams.

· Chinese Tourists At All Time High: Between January and August, Malaysia welcomed over 1.8 million visitors from China, according to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. We get insights from Hannah Pearson, founder of Pear Anderson, on what’s driving this tourism boom. Then, we hear from Nigel Wong, President of the MATTA about where these tourists are going.

· Bigger Budget For Petaling Jaya: Bukit Gasing ADUN Rajiv Rishyakaran is advocating for a larger 2025 budget for the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). His proposals include more funding for tree pruning, playground upgrades, abandoned vehicle depots, and new software to streamline council services online. Rajiv explains why these improvements are necessary.

· Australia's Social Media Ban: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to restrict social media access for minors, following growing concerns from parents about its impact on children. We speak to Aleesha Rodriguez, a tech-sociologist from Queensland University of Technology, about the potential implications of this move.

Image Credit: Nanausop, Shutterstock

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