A year of changes – or not

Clear warning: A ‘no-smoking’ sign outside of a restaurant in Johor Baru.

WHERE did the year go? It feels like it was New Year just weeks ago and here we are about to step into 2026.

The memories of the end of 2024 are still so fresh. We were looking forward to a year of upheaval. New smoking laws, the end of fuel subsidies, wage reform, a boost in public transport with pedestrians as the key – these were all in the works.