Morning Brief

Malaysia's federal government has successfully narrowed its deficit to 3.6% of GDP, but the revenue-to-GDP ratio has slipped to 16.4%, the lowest in six years. Meanwhile, emoluments and pensions now consume 40% of government spending, retirement charges are climbing toward RM45 billion, and federal debt sits above 65% of GDP with a 60% target two years away. Suhaimi Ilias, Group Chief Economist at...

The Health Ministry will receive RM47.7 billion under Budget 2027, with more than 9,000 contract doctors set to be offered permanent positions and a new affordable MediAsas insurance plan due to launch in January. Dr Khor Swee Kheng, CEO of Angsana Health, assesses the budget's healthcare funding priorities, workforce challenges, the affordability of private healthcare and the reforms needed beyon...

Budget 2027 introduced incentives to broaden capital market access for Malaysia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-tier companies (MTCs), including a RM270 million matching fund allocation for equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms. Datin Paduka Azalina Adham, Managing Director of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), joins The Morning Run to outline how...

With US equities hovering near record highs, attention turns to Q3 earnings expectations for the S&P 500. As valuations remain resilient despite numerous headwinds, William Chang, Senior Client Portfolio Manager at Franklin Equity, joins The Morning Run to evaluate whether corporate earnings can continue to justify today’s lofty valuations He examines how AI infrastructure investments, project...

Malaysia's stock market has struggled to sustain its gains this year, underperforming several regional peers. Can Budget 2027 provide the catalyst for a recovery? Alexander Chia, Head of Regional Equity Research at RHB Investment Bank, discusses the budget's implications for investors, the outlook for the FBM KLCI and where he sees opportunities in the market. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent...

Malaysia’s nearly RM460 billion Budget 2027 promises greater tax relief, higher minimum wages and continued development spending. But how does the opposition assess the government’s economic priorities, and what alternatives would it offer? We speak to PAS assemblyman and Kedah State Executive Councillor Prof. Haim Hilman Abdullah about the budget’s approach to living costs, taxation and wage grow...

Budget 2027 comes at a critical juncture for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following electoral setbacks for Pakatan Harapan and growing calls from within the Unity government for an early general election. Ibrahim Suffian, Co-founder and Programmes Director of Merdeka Center shares his views about the political calculations behind the budget, the government's standing among Malay voters...

Budget 2027 introduced modest changes to Malaysia's tax landscape, but with the government projecting tax revenue to grow by 5.8% (RM16.3 billion), where will that revenue come from? Sim Kwang Gek, Country Tax Leader at Deloitte Malaysia, joins The Morning Run to unpack the tax adjustments, and how these policy shifts will impact the middle-income group, corporate profits, and the broader tax refo...

Budget 2027 is expected to focus on easing the cost of living and strengthening household incomes, but the government faces limited fiscal room to deliver meaningful relief. With middle-income Malaysians feeling increasingly squeezed, attention is turning to personal income tax reforms, housing affordability, cash transfers and the burden of SST. We speak to tax consultant SM Thanneermalai about w...

With Budget 2027 set to be tabled, Malaysia’s live entertainment industry is calling for more than just additional funding. Industry players want the government to abolish outdated entertainment duties, simplify concert approvals and address inconsistent regulations across states. We speak to Rizal Kamal of ALIFE Malaysia about how these reforms could lower costs for promoters and consumers, attra...

The Hang Seng Biotech Index has outperformed the broader market this year, fuelled by a wave of out-licensing deals with Western drugmakers, stronger R&D capabilities and attractive valuations. Eight years after the first biotech listing in Hong Kong, a growing number of these companies are turning profitable and moving from clinical-stage developers into commercial drugmakers. But profitabili...

The Reserve Bank of India has raised its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, its first hike in nearly four years, and signalled that more tightening could follow. Inflation has stayed above the RBI’s 4% target for three straight months, driven by higher oil prices from the Iran war and a weak monsoon, while the rupee hovers near record lows. Yet the economy grew 7.8% in the April to Ju...

Sabah got RM6.9 billion in federal development money under Budget 2026. Even so, the Auditor-General found that only four of the 35 Pan Borneo Highway packages in Sabah were finished as of March 2026, and the project's cost has risen by RM1.1 billion to RM19 billion. With 16 of the 29 MA63 issues now resolved and Budget 2027 coming up, the state wants the rest of its 40% revenue entitlement, more...

Paramount Skydance has completed its US$110 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, creating a Hollywood giant with franchises including Harry Potter, DC and Game of Thrones. But the combined company faces an enormous US$80 billion debt burden, ambitious cost-cutting targets and declining traditional television audiences. Can Skydance successfully integrate HBO Max and Paramount+, compete with...

Malaysia’s Parliamentary Services Act is now in force, with appointments to the new Parliamentary Service Council expected to move forward next week. The reform aims to give Parliament greater control over its staffing, finances and institutional resources, reducing its dependence on the Executive. But how quickly can these changes be implemented, what will they mean for MPs and parliamentary staf...

Malaysia’s tourism industry entered 2026 with ambitious targets and substantial government support, but higher travel costs and geopolitical disruption have weighed on international arrivals. With Budget 2027 approaching and the Visit Malaysia campaign extended into next year, the industry is seeking further support ranging from promotion and infrastructure to tax relief and lower operating costs....

34 years after it was repealed, the Parliamentary Services Act came back into force on October 1st, promising to free Parliament's administration from Executive control. But with key details still missing, from how "sufficient funding" is defined to who actually belongs to the parliamentary service, questions remain over whether the legislature has truly gained genuine independence. Wo Chang Xi, R...

More than two decades after ASEAN adopted its transboundary haze agreement, fires in Indonesia are once again affecting air quality across the region, with Sarawak particularly badly hit. Malaysia is pushing for stronger regional coordination, while attention is also turning to the responsibility of companies linked to plantation fires across borders. We examine whether ASEAN’s existing approach h...

With Budget 2027 set to be tabled this Friday, Malaysia's semiconductor industry is pushing for bold measures to keep multinational investors expanding and help local suppliers climb the tech ladder. Amid a global race for capital and specialised talent, the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) has laid out six core priorities. Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of MSIA, joins The M...

Brazil’s presidential election is heading to a second round after Flávio Bolsonaro finished ahead of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlighting the enduring strength of the conservative movement built by his father. The October 25 runoff could have consequences well beyond Brazil, shaping its relationships with the US and China, its role in BRICS, and its approach to trade and climate polic...

As financial crime becomes increasingly sophisticated across Southeast Asia, criminal networks are using legitimate businesses, property and financial channels to move illicit funds. Cliff Lim, Director of Risk & Compliance, Southeast Asia at Dow Jones, assesses Malaysia’s AML framework and what more can be done to tackle cross-border financial crime. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio....

Formula 1’s surprise return to Sepang over the weekend delivered high-octane excitement, but behind the spectacle lies a bigger economic question. With hosting fees pegged at over RM300 million, if Malaysia rejoins the F1 calendar, can the event consistently draw the high-spending international tourists Malaysia would need to make this worthwhile? Hannah Pearson, Founder of tourism consultancy Pea...

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Malaysia’s A-minus sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook, supported by steady economic growth and gradual fiscal consolidation. But the assessment also highlights vulnerabilities, including rising private-sector external borrowing and the risk that elevated oil prices could increase the government’s subsidy burden. We speak to S&P Global Ratings abou...

With Budget 2027 set to be tabled this Friday, education is once again expected to be a major priority. Chan Soon Seng, CEO of Teach For Malaysia, talks about where education spending should be directed, strengthening teachers and school leadership, closing socioeconomic and geographical gaps, and ensuring funding translates into better outcomes. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhanc...

Global food prices have climbed to their highest level in nearly four years, with wheat, sugar, palm oil and other key commodities rising sharply amid weather disruptions and geopolitical tensions. Imran Yassin Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research, talks about what’s driving input costs which consumer stocks could emerge as winners or losers. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/liste...