Permadu Malaysia

MALAYSIA's HIDDEN DEBT TRAP: WHEN BORROWING BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE Household debt has climbed relentlessly over the decades, now sitting at around 84–85 per cent of GDP as of mid-2025, placing the country perilously close to Thailand’s regional high of roughly 87 per cent Malaysia’s economy continues to post respectable GDP growth figures, yet beneath the surface lies a deepening structural crisis that official statistics barely acknowledge. Household debt has climbed relentlessly over the decades, now sitting at around 84–85 per cent of GDP as of mid-2025, placing the country perilously close to Thailand’s regional high of roughly 87 per cent. What began as access to housing and vehicle financing has morphed into something more insidious: a debt culture that is quietly reshaping family survival, business viability, and national resilience. This is not mere leverage. It is a form of invisible poverty. From roughly 40–60 per cent of GDP in the early 2000s, household borrowing has bal...

Puad Zarkashi (left) responds to Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s claims that the former’s resignation was linked to his son not being selected as a candidate for the Johor polls. Former Rengit assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has defended himself after UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki suggested that his resignation from the party was driven by dissatisfaction over his son not being selected as a candidate in the upcoming Johor polls. In a Facebook post, FMT said Puad admitted that he had recommended his son for consideration but said there was nothing wrong with the move as his son had already been trained to contest in elections. “Is it wrong for me to nominate him? Why is that an issue? “If it is not allowed, why was the daughter of the Ledang division chief allowed to contest in Serom?” he asked, referring to Nadhirah Afiqah Abdull Rahim. Puad stressed that his departure was driven by dissatisfaction with the Johor candidate selection, which he alleged was taint...

Agensi berita rasmi Malaysia Bernama melaporkan Polis Kontinjen Johor mengesahkan telah menerima 153 laporan polis di seluruh negara setakat petang ini berhubung kenyataan Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi mendakwa terdapat campur tangan pihak Istana dalam pembubaran Dewan Negeri Johor. 153 laporan polis terhadap Puad lepas dakwa 'UMNO boneka istana' Ketua Polis Johor, CP Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad (gambar atas sekali) berkata, laporan tersebut diterima daripada pelbagai pihak termasuk bekas Exco Kerajaan Negeri Johor dan Setiausaha Politik kepada Menteri Besar Johor. "Setakat jam 3.00 petang, sebanyak 153 laporan polis telah diterima di seluruh Malaysia dan pihak polis menjangkakan jumlah laporan ini akan terus meningkat. "Siasatan sedang dijalankan di bawah beberapa peruntukan undang-undang iaitu Seksyen 4(1) Akta Hasutan 1948, Seksyen 505(b) Kanun Keseksaan dan Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini. Beliau berkata bagi...