What to expect as Malaysia's split election leaves scramble to form government

13 Sept 12:46 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysia's recent general election resulted in an unprecedented hung parliament, with no single coalition securing a majority to form a government.
Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin are both actively scrambling to form a coalition, engaging in urgent talks with other parties.
The King of Malaysia holds a pivotal role in appointing the next prime minister, empowered to select a lawmaker he believes can command a majority in parliament.
Continued political instability is anticipated, with any new coalition likely facing internal struggles, which could negatively impact Malaysia's economy.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.