Projek Sama and Merdeka Center released a survey on public sentiment regarding the royal pardon of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the SRC International trial. While most Malaysians oppose it, the findings reveal notable differences along ethnic and political lines—most notably, support for the pardon is highest among the Indian community. We speak with Thomas Fann of Projek Sama about the significance of the findings, and what the survey aims to achieve.

Other stories we covered:

• ASEAN plus three calls for stronger cooperation: The group, comprising China, Japan, and South Korea, released a joint statement shortly after Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, warning of rising protectionism and its impact on trade, investment, and financial stability. We discuss the significance of their statement with Dato' Ilango Karuppannan, former Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore.
• Government rolls out AI-assisted lung screenings: The Ministry of Health has launched screenings at seven selected health clinics nationwide to enable earlier detection of lung-related diseases among Malaysians. We speak with Dr Anand Sachithanandan, founding president of the Lung Cancer Network Malaysia, to understand how these screenings work.
• Malaysian film breaks barriers: A Malaysian short film, Bleat! by Ananth Subramaniam, has made history as the first to be selected for Critics’ Week at Cannes. The film, a Malaysian-Tamil story set in Banting, explores morality, tradition, and the meaning of life through an elderly couple’s discovery that their sacrificial goat is pregnant. We speak to Ananth about the significance of this achievement.
• A new pope emerges from the white smoke: Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has become the 267th head of the Catholic Church and the first American to hold the role. Despite skepticism over an American papal election, his prior role overseeing bishops worldwide positions him as a strong candidate. We explore his appointment and its implications.

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