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Alpharabius Consultants LLP, D-07-09, Capital 4, Oasis Square, 2, Jalan PJU 1A/7, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya (2026)

01/06/2026

UPU 2026: HOPE, OPPORTUNITY & A GROWING PARADOX

On 22 May 2026, 169,803 students received their UPUOnline offers. For many families, it was a day filled with relief, pride & optimism about the future.

Out of 235,480 applications submitted by SPM leavers, 72.1% of students secured places in public universities, polytechnics, community colleges and MARA institutions.

Yet beneath these encouraging numbers lies a growing paradox.

Malaysia now has almost 6 million graduates in its workforce & continues producing more than 300K graduates annually.

Yet skill-related underemployment reached approximately 1.93 million people in Q1 2026. Various studies estimate that more than 70% of employed graduates are working in semi skilled or low skilled occupations. Youth unemployment for those aged 15 to 24 remains above 10%.

I am reminded of a quote delivered by Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) in Tulsa King:

"The whole point of a college degree is to show a potential employer that you showed up someplace four years in a row, completed a series of tasks reasonably well and on time."

The quote is intentionally provocative, but it raises an important question about the true purpose of higher education. Is a university merely a pathway to employment, or is it a place where individuals learn how to think, challenge assumptions, solve problems and create value in a rapidly changing world?

Graduates say they cannot find suitable jobs, while employers insist they cannot find suitable talent. Both statements are true at the same time.

That is the paradox. What Malaysia increasingly faces is a mismatch between the skills being supplied and the skills being demanded.

And just as we are trying to solve this challenge, Artificial Intelligence is changing the landscape.

The students receiving offers today will likely graduate between 2029 and 2031. By then, AI will be deeply embedded across the economy and workplace. Many routine tasks currently performed by fresh graduates will be automated, augmented or fundamentally redesigned. Some jobs will disappear, many jobs will evolve, and entirely new jobs will emerge.

The AI economy will need people who can think critically, solve complex problems, exercise judgement, connect ideas and adapt continuously.

Perhaps the real value of a university education is not to produce graduates who are ready for a job, but to produce graduates who can think critically, solve problems and create value wherever life takes them.

To all the students receiving their offers last week, congratulations.

As you begin the next chapter of your journey, do not just focus on obtaining a degree. Focus on changing the way you think.

It is no longer about what degree you are taking. It is about your ability to question assumptions, solve problems, adapt to change and create opportunities.

This is your opportunity to change not only your own future, but the future of your family for generations to come.

That's just my humble 2 cents; you decide what it's worth, and keep questioning the rest

09/05/2026

FROM GLOBAL CONFLICT TO MALAYSIAN HOUSEHOLDS

Malaysia is about 6,000 km away from Iran, yet geopolitical conflict in one part of the world can send shockwaves through economies, supply chains and eventually Malaysian households.

Earlier, I wrote about how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could eventually affect Malaysian grocery bills through higher oil prices, shipping costs and global food inflation. I also wrote about rising retrenchments in Malaysia and the growing pressure faced by workers and families trying to navigate an increasingly uncertain economy.

Now, another warning signal is emerging; According to a recent FMM survey, 28% of manufacturers in Malaysia are considering job cuts as global uncertainty continues to disrupt trade, supply chains and operating costs. The Electrical and Electronics sector appears the most exposed at 51%, followed by machinery and equipment at 34%.

The middle east crisis create an energy shocks and disruptions to global trade routes. Almost 20% of global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade chokepoints. Oil prices rise. Shipping and logistics costs increase. Raw materials become more expensive. Business margins tighten. Eventually, businesses begin reducing jobs.

Malaysia is especially vulnerable because trade exceeds 120% of GDP, making us highly exposed to external shocks and supply chain disruptions.

At the same time, Malaysia is already experiencing labour market stress. In Q1 2026, Malaysia recorded about 24,100 retrenchments, a 47% increase compared to the same period last year. Manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and information and communication remain among the most affected sectors.

As of February 2026, Malaysia’s labour force stands at 17.3 million, with 16.8 million employed. Close to 10% of the workforce is now in gig work.

Many retrenched workers quickly re enter the workforce through gig work, E-hailing, delivery services or contract arrangements. Technically, they remain employed, but E-hailing and gig based jobs often lack long term job stability and retirement security.

Many affected workers are between 30 and 45 years old, part of the sandwich generation supporting both children and ageing parents.

Bank Negara Malaysia previously reported that only 37% of Malaysians could sustain more than 3 months of expenses if income suddenly stopped.

Because behind every layoff statistic is not just a number, but a family quietly trying to hold everything together.

02/05/2026

EDUCATION PARTICIPATION IS DRIVING MALAYSIA’S INCOME GAP

1.6 million Malaysians are now in the gig economy. Many started right after SPM.
According to recent reports by Astro Awani and Sinar Harian, Pertubuhan Lestari Ekonomi Aktivis Digital Malaysia has raised concerns over the growing number of school leavers choosing p hailing as their primary source of income without a clear career plan. This signals a structural shift in the labour market. As of February 2026, Malaysia’s labour force stands at 17.3 million, with 16.8 million employed. Close to 10% of the workforce is now in gig work. This is alarming, as e hailing lacks long term job stability and retirement security.

At the same time, the government is placing strong emphasis on TVET. According to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, more than half of SPM graduates are now opting for this pathway. In 2025, a total of 413,299 students sat for SPM. If over 50% enter TVET, we are building a large pipeline of semi skilled workers.

We have seen this before. Past policies that promoted biotechnology and IT created an oversupply of graduates without sufficient industry absorption. The risk of repeating this cycle remains if education pathways are not aligned with actual economic demand.

When a large portion of Bumiputera students are concentrated in this pathway, with lower participation in high professional programmes and STEM fields, it raises concerns about representation in high income sectors.

The reality is that income gaps persist. Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia shows median monthly household income at RM8,167 for Chinese households, RM6,627 for Indian households, and RM5,793 for Bumiputera households. These reflect differences in access to education, industry participation, and entry into higher value careers.

Malaysia’s income gap is not created in the workforce. It starts the moment SPM students decide what they want to do after SPM.
What we are seeing today appears to be a short term solution to reduce unemployment.

Channeling young Malaysians into TVET or the gig economy may improve employment statistics, but it does not build a high income economy.

Malaysia must focus on building a strong pipeline of high value professionals. If Malaysia is serious about becoming a high income nation, the focus must shift from employability to developing talent that creates value.

Otherwise, we are creating a future of economic dependency that will undermine long term stability.

28/04/2026

LABOUR DAY REFLECTIONS ON WORK AND LIFE IN MALAYSIA

As we prepare to observe the Labour Day holiday at the end of the week, some will celebrate without job security.

In the first quarter of 2026, about 24,100 workers were retrenched in Malaysia, a 47% increase compared to the same period last year. January alone recorded 10,700 job losses, followed by 7,500 in February and 5,900 in March.

For many, Labour Day is not just a day of rest. It is a reminder to be grateful for the work we have and the stability we often take for granted.
Labour Day in Malaysia honours the people who keep the economy moving, from those who wake before sunrise to those who return home long after dark.

Malaysia officially recognised Labour Day in 1972, when the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman declared 1 May a public holiday. But its roots go further back, inspired by the Eight Hour Day Movement. 8 hours for work, 8 for rest, 8 for life.
More than a century later, that balance still feels distant.

In Malaysia, the Employment Act 1955 sets working hours at not more than 45 hours a week. Yet reality is often heavier. Commutes, unpaid overtime, and constant connectivity stretch work far beyond office hours.

On average, Malaysians already work about 44.8 hours a week, based on Labour Force Survey data by the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Add 1 to 2 hours of daily commuting, and the real cost of work extends far beyond what is recorded.

Add side hustles and after hours expectations, and the line between working and living starts to blur. Time for family, rest, and personal growth is slowly traded away.

At the same time, salary growth has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. The median monthly salary is about RM2.6K, while living costs in urban areas can range between RM2.5K to RM3.5K. While wages have increased, costs have risen faster, eroding purchasing power. Data from Bank Negara Malaysia and Department of Statistics Malaysia shows many workers remain underpaid relative to productivity.

For many, the gap is no longer just numbers. It is felt at the end of the month. The increase in minimum wage to RM1.7K from February 2025 was necessary, but dignity at work cannot stop there.

It must also mean fair pay, safe workplaces, reasonable hours, career mobility, reskilling, and stronger protection during economic transitions.

This Labour Day, it is worth asking whether the system is working for the very people who sustain it.

A strong economy is not built by exhausted and anxious people. It is built by people who are respected, protected, fairly paid, and given enough time and security to live the life they are working to support.

18/04/2026

BEHIND EVERY LAYOFF NUMBER IS A FAMILY TRYING TO HOLD ON

In March alone, 5,900 workers were laid off, with Selangor and Kuala Lumpur accounting for 29.3% and 25.6% of total retrenchments, based on Loss of Employment data from PERKESO and analysis by Hong Leong Investment Bank.

In Q1 2026, Malaysia recorded 24,100 retrenchments, a 47% increase from about 16,500 in Q1 2025. January peaked at 10,658 cases, followed by 7,500 in February and 5,900 in March, yet at first glance, the labour market still appears stable.

Layoffs are concentrated in manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and information and communication, sectors most exposed to global demand shifts and cost pressures.

Unemployment remains low at 2.9%, with total employment rising to 16.79 million and job vacancies rebounding to around 107,000.
But this is where the numbers begin to hide the truth, as some retrenched workers re enter the workforce quickly, often in the gig economy as e hailing drivers, delivery riders, or contract workers, and by definition, they are still considered employed.

But job security is no longer the same. There is no sick leave, no EPF, and no insurance.

In January 2026, 53.7% of retrenchments involved high skilled roles, while the largest group affected was those aged 30 to 45, many part of the sandwich generation supporting ageing parents while raising their own families.
A household suddenly loses its main income, yet expenses do not stop, and for urban poor households, limited savings and higher living costs mean even a short disruption can immediately affect their ability to afford food, rent, and transportation.

Bank Negara Malaysia report found that only 37% of Malaysians can sustain more than 3 months of expenses if income is disrupted.

At the same time, EPF data shows a deeper concern, with many members not meeting basic retirement adequacy levels and millions having less than RM10K in their accounts.

When income is disrupted, the margin for error disappears almost immediately, and the pressure quickly turns into a domino effect.

Families begin to cut essentials. Nutrition is affected. Children may not receive the same quality of meals, especially in households supporting both children and ageing parents.

External pressures are building at the same time, as tensions in the Middle East disrupt global energy and supply chains, raising fuel, shipping, and logistics costs that flow into higher prices for daily essentials.

This means households are dealing with income shocks and rising living costs at the same time.
Over time, this strain becomes more than financial, as prolonged stress affects mental wellbeing, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.

And behind every layoff number is a family quietly adjusting and carrying forward, because they have no choice.

To every breadwinner out there, doing your best and holding everything together, just remember this.

Kita usahakan lagi (OST Papa Zola)

05/04/2026

SPM RESULTS AND THE QUESTION OF QUALITY?

Last week, the government announced SPM results and claimed that national performance has improved. But is it true?
Firstly, congratulations to all students who received their results. Strong outcomes reflect years of discipline, effort and resilience, supported by parents and teachers.

SPM 2025 does show progress. Straight A+ students increased from 352 to 376. Students achieving at least one credit rose from 22.73% to 23.76%, while those who failed all subjects declined from 1,789 to 1,631.

On the surface, the numbers are encouraging. However, the core issue remains unchanged. Around 30.6% of students still fail at least one subject, nearly 1 in 3. Mathematics remains among the subjects with the highest failure rates, at 23.2% in 2023 and 22.4% in 2024, with 2025 subject-level data yet to be fully disclosed.

Even as international assessments such as PISA show gradual improvement in functional skills, Malaysia’s PISA 2022 results improved to 409 in Mathematics and Science and 388 in Reading, but remain below the OECD average. This suggests progress in basic competencies, but gaps in higher order thinking and academic mastery remain.

At the same time, the absence of centralised assessments such as UPSR and PMR makes early identification of learning gaps more challenging. By the time students reach SPM, it may already be too late to intervene meaningfully.

This leads to a deeper concern about how performance is being achieved. If grades are adjusted to meet targets, rather than reflecting true capability, we risk misrepresenting the real state of student learning.

SPM results may be improving. But if learning quality is not, then we are only improving the numbers. The quality of SPM today will define the quality of our workforce tomorrow and ultimately the strength of the nation’s economy.

Are we benchmarking the right outcomes?

14/03/2026

BALIK KAMPUNG SHOULD NEVER BECOME A JOURNEY OF TRAGEDY

Every festive season in Malaysia brings a familiar ritual. Families prepare baju raya, bake kuih raya, and plan the long awaited journey home. The tradition of balik kampung is deeply embedded in Malaysian culture, especially during Aidilfitri, when millions travel back to their hometowns to reunite with loved ones.

This year alone, highway operators expect about 2.3 mil vehicles to travel across major highways during the festive period, significantly increasing traffic nationwide.

But behind this cherished tradition lies a troubling reality.Malaysia records about 6,000 road deaths every year on average. That means one life is lost roughly every 2 hours on our roads. Even more alarming, a road accident occurs approximately every 50 seconds.

During festive periods, these numbers often surge as millions of vehicles travel simultaneously across highways and federal roads.

In 2025, accidents during the Hari Raya travel window ranged between 1,313 and 2,040 daily cases, with fatalities recorded almost every day.

Recognising this recurring pattern, the police conduct special festive road safety operations known as "Ops Sikap", which literally means "Operation Attitude". The name itself reflects the core issue. Many accidents are not caused by poor roads or faulty vehicles, but by behaviour behind the wheel.

Police statistics continue to show that human behaviour remains the dominant cause of road accidents. In 2024 alone, careless driving recorded 854 cases, followed by dangerous driving with 142 cases, speeding with 142 cases, and following too closely with 118 cases.
Even in 2025 between January and September, the pattern remained the same. Careless driving recorded 701 cases, while speeding recorded 113 cases, dangerous driving 104 cases, and dangerous overtaking 80 cases.

It is undoubtedly ironic that despite the lessons learnt in Ramadan, especially with regard to virtues such as patience, caring and respect, many still drive dangerously, resulting in traffic accidents during the balik kampung season.

Studies indicate that 85% of road accidents in Malaysia are caused by human factors such as carelessness, impatience, fatigue and disregard for traffic rules.

The consequences go far beyond statistics. Families lose loved ones. Children lose parents. Communities lose young people who could have contributed to the nation’s future.

Most road accidents are preventable.Plan your journey and take breaks when necessary. Do not drive when tired. Respect speed limits. Be patient with other drivers & check your vehicle before travelling.

Sometimes, better late than never. Aidilfitri is meant to be a celebration of togetherness, forgiveness and joy. The journey home should reflect these values.

Because every balik kampung journey should end with happiness.

07/03/2026

LESSONS FROM "PATH TO WAR" MOVIE

Watching recent geopolitical tensions, I cannot help but think about the film Path to War, which portrays the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson during the escalation of the Vietnam War.

In the film, military leaders repeatedly assure the administration that the conflict can be concluded within a defined timeframe. Yet each escalation is accompanied by a familiar request: more budget, more troops, and more time.

The military leadership underestimated the complexity of the conflict. Instead of ending quickly, the Vietnam War stretched on for years. Opposing forces relied heavily on guerrilla tactics, including underground tunnels, ambushes, and concealed traps many designed not only to kill but to maim. As a result, numerous surviving veterans returned home with severe injuries, including the loss of limbs.

History offered another reminder in Iraq. When announcing military action following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush in the most appealing way:

''We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people.... Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder""

The removal of Saddam Hussein did not happen overnight. It unfolded across more than 12 years from the Gulf War in 1991 to the Iraq War in 2003, when his regime was finally removed.

History repeatedly shows that regime change is rarely straightforward. As the fictional organization Hydra famously states:“Cut off one head, two more shall take its place.”

Removing a leader does not necessarily dismantle the system behind it. Power structures adapt, reorganize, and often reappear in new forms.

In the current crisis, the dynamics increasingly resemble the strategy seen in the Survivor game format.The objective is not necessarily to win quickly through overwhelming strength but via OUTWIT through asymmetric tactics and unconventional warfare, OUTPLAY by widening the pressure across other regions and OUTLAST by stretching the conflict timeline until the political and economic costs become unsustainable.

History reminds us of a difficult truth. The real question is whether leaders truly understand how costly to end a war they started at first place.

28/02/2026

EPF ACCOUNT 3 DIVIDENDS REQUEST ARE SYMPTOMS OF A DEEPER STRUCTURAL PROBLEM.

Today, EPF will announces its annual dividend. The headline will focus on the percentage declared but the real story is not the rate but to which account it will be credited to.

Why are so many Malaysians immediately calculating how much can be withdrawn especially for Raya celebration?

When retirement dividends are viewed as short term cash relief, it signals financial strain. EPF Account 3 is increasingly treated as a lifeline fund. This is not behavioural weakness. It is structural pressure.

When salary growth fails to outpace the cost of living, savings become the adjustment variable. Housing remains expensive relative to income. Food, transport and healthcare costs steadily erode purchasing power. Disposable income tightens. Saving accumulation weakens. Malaysian has less then 2 months saving to survived.

The retirement data confirms this imbalance.
As of 2024, only about 36% of active formal members meet the Basic Savings benchmark of RM240K at age 55 under the Employees Provident Fund framework. Meanwhile, an estimated 6.3 million contributors below age 55 have less than RM10K in savings.

And Malaysia is going to aging country status by 2030, roughly 15% of Malaysia’s population will be aged 60 and above. Life expectancy stands at about 75 years.

Longer lives should be a national achievement.
But longevity without financial resilience compounds systemic risk.

That risk intensifies when weak savings intersect with rising medical exposure. More than half of Malaysian adults are overweight. Around 30% live with hypertension, over 30% with high cholesterol, about 15% with diabetes and roughly 15% with chronic kidney disease.

We might live longer but with chronic conditions. As ageing deepens, healthcare expenditure accelerates.

Retirement funds are not only meant to sustain daily living for retirees but they must also cover escalating healthcare costs in the final decades of life.

And the burden does not end with retirees.
It shifts to our children who working to support ageing parents with inadequate savings while raising children in a high cost environment. Income will be stretched across mortgages, education, childcare and medical bills.

These pressures were long hidden beneath the surface, from urban poverty linked to low wage structures to chronic under-saving that now manifests as retirement vulnerability.

At its core, Malaysia faces a labour market that does not function efficiently. Persistent low pay reflects weak wage formation, limited bargaining power and structural distortions between productivity and income growth.

This requires structural reform anchored in credible rule of law, transparent institutions and effective wage negotiation frameworks that align productivity with fair and sustainable income growth.

The real accountability lies with those shaping our economy and social fabric, the planners who failed to design a nation where people can live, not merely survive.

For the average Malaysian, the uncomfortable truth is this: no one will secure our retirement except ourselves.

13/02/2026

MALAYSIA’S TRAFFIC CRISIS IS A PRODUCTIVITY CRISIS

Early the week, we in Klang Valley suffered a major gridlocked; No major accident. No severe weather. May be festive season to blame?

A 30 minute journey becomes more than 2 hours. If across 5 working days & 4 weeks a month, that delay compounds. What feels like daily inconvenience quietly translates into national output erosion.

Reports highlighted by NST indicate that the average Malaysian in the Klang Valley spends approximately 44 hours per month in traffic congestion. That is nearly 2 full days every month sitting in a vehicle instead of generating value, innovating, or investing in skills.

Traffic congestion is estimated to cost Malaysia RM54M per day. Over 365 days, that exceeds RM19B annually. This represents productivity leakage, wasted fuel, higher logistics expenses, increased emissions, and stress related inefficiencies. In practical terms, congestion operates as a silent tax imposed on labour, capital & enterprise.

The consequences extend beyond economics. When transportation networks fail to expand in line with population growth and urban density, time becomes the casualty. Many working parents return home at 8.00 PM or later. When adults lose 2 hours daily to traffic, children lose supervision, guidance, and engagement. Over time, this compounds into reduced family relationship & weaker children development formation in term of education & emotion.

Productivity loss appears in GDP data. Social loss appears in households. Both are outcomes of planning decisions.

Some argue that work from home is the solution. Remote arrangements may temporarily reduce road demand, but they do not correct structural weaknesses in road design, land use planning, or public transport connectivity. Once physical presence becomes necessary, congestion returns.

There is also a cultural dimension especially in Asia Country like Malaysia. In many organisations, physical visibility remains associated with performance. Performance stigma influences promotion opportunity perceptions. Remote work therefore becomes a perception management variable rather than structural reform.

The structural answer lies in reliable public transport, higher frequency services, broader route coverage, seamless integration, transit oriented development, and smarter traffic management systems. Transportation planning must be integrated into national economic strategy, not treated as an afterthought of urban development.

When movement is inefficient, productivity growth slows. When productivity growth slows, wage growth weakens. When wage growth weakens, social pressure intensifies.

Congestion is not simply a road problem. It is a planning outcome. The real question is whether Malaysia is prepared to treat transportation reform as a central pillar of economic competitiveness & human capital development, rather than a recurring complaint.

To my Chinese friends, Happy . Be careful while travelling!

Alpharabius Consultants LLP

01/06/2026

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02/05/2026

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