Are We OK?

Are We OK?

Are We OK? hosted by Dr. Ong Kian Ming and Peter Yong from Mr Money TV, is your indispensable Malaysian podcast delving into topics of governance, policies, politics, and the economy. It's more than just a discussion platform; we want to foster open conversations about current matters affecting Malaysians’ lives all while providing insightful analysis and engaging discussions, making complex topics accessible to all.
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Episode's summary

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Lua Bo Feng, known online as Bo Borak Moto, a car enthusiast and content creator who has built a huge following talking about Malaysia's auto industry. We get his honest take on why he thinks MITI is controlling the EV and car market too much, from setting minimum prices to blocking certain brands from selling freely. We break down his biggest complaints, including why he calls some of MITI's decisions "banana republic" level policymaking, how the B40 group ends up paying more for cars because of these rules, and the real story behind why BYD faced sudden restrictions this year. We also talk about the lack of transparency in how the government decides which car companies get special incentives. Finally, we zoom out to ask a bigger question. Should Malaysia keep protecting local car companies at the expense of everyday buyers, or is it time to let the market compete freely so prices can come down for the people who need it most. 00:00 - Teaser 00:48 - Meet Bo…

Episodes

110-

"Banana Republic" Policymaking? | Bo Borak Moto vs MITI's EV Rules | EP 108

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Lua Bo Feng, known online as Bo Borak Moto, a car enthusiast and content creator who has built a huge following talking about Malaysia's auto industry. We get his honest take on why he thinks MITI is controlling the EV and car market too much, from setting minimum prices to blocking certain brands from selling freely. We break down his biggest complaints, including why he calls some of MITI's decisions "banana republic" level policymaking, how the B40 group ends up paying more for cars because of these rules, and the real story behind why BYD faced sudden restrictions this year. We also talk about the lack of transparency in how the government decides which car companies get special incentives. Finally, we zoom out to ask a bigger question. Should Malaysia keep protecting local car companies at the expense of everyday buyers, or is it time to let the market compete freely so prices can come down for the people who need it most. 00:00 - Teaser 00:48 - Meet Bo…

24 Sep 2026
109-

"Why I Quit DAP On Merdeka Day" | Anthony Loke's "Madu" Remark, Explained | EP 102

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming finally opens up about why he resigned from DAP after 14 years, choosing Merdeka Day to make it official. He explains the three real reasons behind his decision, from his pledge to help Khairy Jamaluddin campaign to his concerns over where DAP is heading next. We also dive into Secretary General Anthony Loke's pointed "habis madu, sepah dibuang" remark, widely seen as aimed at Dr Ong, and give him the chance to respond directly and explain his side. From there, the conversation turns to who might replace Anthony Loke as Secretary General, and what that could mean for DAP's future direction and image. Finally, Dr Ong and Peter talk about the bigger shift happening in Malaysian politics, where individual leaders are starting to matter more than party loyalty, and whether DAP is still able to attract fresh talent heading into GE16. 00:00 - Teaser 02:02 - Why Dr Ong Chose Merdeka Day 03:05 - The Media Reaction 04:30 - Anthony Loke's "Madu" Remark 06:36 - Was The…

19 Sep 2026
108-

Can Bukit Kayu Hitam Become Malaysia's Tech Hub? | Delapan | EP 106

Most Malaysians know Bukit Kayu Hitam as a quiet border town you drive through on your way to Thailand for a holiday or food trip. But what if it's quietly becoming one of Malaysia's most important digital and economic gateways? In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Razwin Sulairee (CEO of Northern Gateway) and Wong Weng Yew (MD of Open DC) to find out how this border town is turning into Malaysia's newest data center and business hub, Delapan. We find out how a quiet checkpoint is becoming a billion ringgit trade and tech zone, why your gaming lag might be linked to something called "boomerang traffic," and how Delapan plans to bring in manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, and jobs for the local community in Kedah. Timestamps 00:00 - Teaser 00:46 - Welcome & Introduction 04:14 - What is Northern Gateway & Why Is It Called "Delapan"? 05:16 - From Kota Perdana to Delapan: The Rebrand Story 06:15 - Turning a Border Checkpoint Into a Business Opportunity 08:19 - Exact Location: Bukit Kayu Hitam &…

26 Aug 2026
107-

Why DAP Vote to Stay in Cabinet | PH Losing Power? | GE16: Sooner or Later? EP 105

In this episode of Are We OK, Dr. Ong Kian Ming and Peter break down what really happened in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, and why Kian Ming's election predictions, made months in advance, turned out to be almost exactly right. They also go behind the scenes of DAP's Special Congress, where party delegates just voted on whether to stay in or resign from the Madani government, and unpack the self-interest calculations different DAP leaders are making.Finally, they look ahead to when Malaysia's next general election (GE16) might actually happen, walking through the political dominoes, from the Melaka state election to pressure building within UMNO, that could speed up or delay the vote.00:00 - Teaser00:38 - Welcome Back & Life Updates04:34 - Predicting Johor & Negeri Sembilan: How Kian Ming Got It Right07:02 - On the Ground Vibes in Johor11:58 - The Collapse of Malay Support for Pakatan Harapan13:46 - The Leader Who Divides Chinese and Malay Voters18:51 - Why Voter Turnout Matters More Than…

16 Aug 2026
106-

Douglas Lim on the Rosmah Backlash, 1MDB Jokes | Is Political Comedy Safe in Malaysia? | EP104

In this episode of Are We OK, we sit down with Malaysian comedian Douglas Lim to talk about making jokes, staying out of trouble, and whether political comedy is still safe in Malaysia today! From big news stories like the Rosmah lawsuit to viral jokes about 1MDB and Najib, Douglas shares what it is really like to be a comedian in our country. We talk about whether comedians are actually getting into trouble with the government, how political humor has changed over the years, and why so many Malaysians love using laughter to deal with stressful news. Besides that, Douglas opens up about his real-life struggles when he joined a local townhall meeting to stop a big development project in Ampang. He also shares why he believes speaking up matters, whether it is through comedy or community action. Timestamps 00:00: Teaser 00:50: Welcome Douglas Lim, Malaysian Stand-Up Comedian & Actor 05:06: How Douglas reads Malaysian politics through comedy 10:20: The Harith Iskander defamation letter & where the line is…

12 Aug 2026