Your Asian mom

 It started with an angry phone call and ended with a sheepish apology. But the rage I felt exposed a massive crack in our modern, tech-driven gig economy. It’s 7:30 PM. You’re hungry, you’re tired, and you just want the pad thai you ordered forty-five minutes ago. You watch the little GPS motorcycle icon turning onto your street. You anticipate the doorbell. Instead, your phone rings. I picked up, expecting a standard "I'm outside." Instead, I was met with an aggressive, booming male voice on the other end. He sounded older—perhaps in his late 50s or early 60s—and he was immediately hostile. "Hello? Where are you? You didn't put the house number!" he barked. "How am I supposed to find you if you don't put the number? You people always do this." My adrenaline spiked. Not because of fear, but because of instant, defensive rage. I am obsessive about checking my delivery details. I knew my house number was there. It’s saved in the app. I use it ...

There are days when being “the most reliable person” at work feels less like a compliment and more like a curse. At my company’s headquarters, I’ve somehow become the one person they depend on for everything — and because of that, I’m constantly stretched thin, treated like a machine rather than a human being with limits. Recently, the company pushed a massive project worth at least RM1 million , expecting everyone to give their all. But while others work a single shift a day with two off days a week, my reality is very different.  I’m alone, handling the workload of multiple people, and answering to at least three different bosses every single day. None of them coordinate with each other. None of them ask if I’m coping, sleeping, or even functioning. Most nights, I’ve worked until midnight, only to wake up and continue first thing in the morning. And still — not a single word of concern. Not even once. When I finally got my off days, I thought I could breathe… but no. My boss dec...

The 2026 Budget signals a stronger commitment by the Federal Government to honour the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), with allocations that stand out both in scale and symbolism. For the first time in recent years, Sabah and Sarawak are placed firmly at the centre of national development priorities, backed by a surge in infrastructure and connectivity funding. Yet as with all ambitious plans, the real challenge lies not in announcement but execution. Sabah’s development allocation has risen to RM6.9 billion, from RM4.4 billion in 2022, while Sarawak’s jumps to RM6 billion from RM2.9 billion. The Special Grant for both states doubles to RM600 million, a significant fiscal gesture toward equitable distribution. Beyond these numbers are tangible projects: the Southern Link Transmission Line (RM765 million) to strengthen Sabah’s power grid, RM1 billion in water infrastructure, and the continuation of the Pan Borneo Highway and Sarawak–Sabah Link Road . These are high-vi...

Retirees Are Returning to Work in Malaysia — But Not Everyone Is Happy About It They were supposed to be enjoying their golden years — tending to gardens, not gossip, playing with grandchildren, not power games. Yet many retirees in Malaysia are returning to the workforce, driven by rising living costs , depleted savings, and a desire to stay relevant. According to the Department of Statistics , the number of Malaysians aged 50 and above in the workforce has increased from 1.9 million in 2011 to 2.6 million in 2023 , now accounting for nearly 16% of total employment . With over 10% of the population already aged 60 and above , and projections showing 15% by 2030 , the trend of post-retirement employment is accelerating. Why Older Workers Are Returning to the Workforce For many retirees, the decision isn’t about passion — it’s about survival. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) reports that only one in three active members meets the minimum savings target of RM240,000 by age 55...