Fresh off tabling Budget 2026, Malaysia is set to host world’s superpowers during the Asean Summit in KL starting Oct 26.For our October episode, ST’s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Tony Pua, an ex-member of Parliament from DAP, and previously a political secretary for former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just tabled his latest budget for 2026, and will now have to juggle domestic and international impressions over the visit of US President Donald Trump during the Asean Summit starting Oct 26.Highlights (click/tap above):0:00 Intro1:03 What Tony Pua has been up to since leaving office1:57 Was the RM470b allocation in Budget 2026 a creative fiscal feat?5:09 Financial reforms are hard - how successful has Anwar been in pushing for them?8:39 Is the allocation for Sabah and Sarawak a political move ahead of the state election?11:18 Can Malaysia afford not to have Trump attend the Asean Summit?13:31 Will Malaysia have to one day choose between the US and China?15:37 Why Malaysians’ anger over the Palestinian cause is real19:38 News nugget: How to celebrate an F1 win without alcohol Read more:Demystifying Budget 2026 tabled by PM Anwar https://str.sg/mpP6Is Budget 2026 a political strategy for Sabah state polls? https://str.sg/wJ76gMalaysians are unhappy with Trump’s visit to KL https://str.sg/DBc3Petronas CEO under fire for champagne celebration at Singapore GP https://str.sg/7HoB Read Zurairi A.R.’s articles: https://str.sg/DCfr Read Shannon Teoh's articles: https://str.sg/wzyK Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Hosts: Zurairi A.R. (zurairi@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Fa’izah SaniExecutive producer: Ernest LuisFollow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg ---Follow more ST podcast channels:All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Follow The Straits Times on YouTube: https://str.sg/ytsubTurn on notifications 🔔 to stay updated.--------------------WEBSITE ➤ https://www.straitstimes.comWHATSAPP ➤ https://str.sg/whatsappTIKTOK ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@straitstimesINSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/straits_timesFACEBOOK ➤ https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimesTWITTER ➤ https://twitter.com/straits_timesTELEGRAM ➤ https://t.me/TheStraitsTimesPODCASTS ➤ https://str.sg/stpodcasts#straitstimes