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Top 5 at 5: Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Delayed Yet Again
38 mins·17:00, 20 Oct 2026
Top 5 at 5: Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Delayed Yet Again
38 mins
·
17:00, 20 Oct 2026
·
Recommended
48 mins
38 mins
44 mins
Guest: Ariff Adi Putera Anwar, Research Associate, Institute for Development Studies (Sabah)
The Public Accounts Committee is investigating Phase One of the project after the Auditor General’s Report found that its completion date has been pushed from 2021 to 2030, with costs rising by more than RM1 billion to RM18.96 billion. We speak to Ariff Adi Putera Anwar, Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies in Sabah, about why over 94 percent of the allocation has been paid out when only 11 percent of the project is recorded as complete, and what accountability should be taken to ensure the project gets completed. (Starts at 21:45)
Other stories we covered:
• Perikatan Nasional has been deregistered: The Registrar of Societies has deregistered the coalition following a complaint by Bersatu, with Perikatan vowing to seek a stay and calling the move an abuse of power ahead of the Melaka state elections. We speak to Dr Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, about how this changes Perikatan’s strategy at the state elections and where Bersatu goes from here. (Starts at 16:29)
• ECRL train fares are out: Fares for the East Coast Rail Link start at RM60 one way from Gombak to Kuantan and RM125 to Kota Bharu, with dynamic pricing that can rise during busy periods and ticket sales opening in mid November. We look at the Transit and Express options and concession rates, and discuss what the opening could mean for travel along the east coast. (Starts at 12:56)
• The hidden dangers of squishy toys: The latest viral collectibles, shaped like food and mini appliances, can carry real safety risks when they are counterfeits that have not been tested for toxic chemicals, made all the worse by a TikTok trend calling for people to microwave the toys. We speak to Dr Khoo Wee Vien, Clinical Lecturer and Developmental Paediatrics Fellow at Universiti Malaya, about the harms and how parents can manage the craze. (Starts at 6:43)
• Running in malls to escape the haze: A Singapore running group has started using the Marina Square mall before opening hours for workouts when outdoor air quality turns unhealthy. We ask whether you would run in a mall and whether we need to utilise local malls in the same way. (Starts at 0:22)
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Presenter: Lee Chwi Lynn, Susan Tam
Producer: Alia Zefri, Sudais Ferhard, Susan Tam, Lim Sue Ann, Tee Shiao Eek, Sneha Harikannan
east coast rail linksquishy toysmelaka state electionspan borneo highwayperikatan nasionalsabahbersatu
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