Morning Brief

As the Dewan Rakyat convenes a special sitting to debate the 211-page Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Tabung Haji, Bryan Cheah, Senior Research Officer at the C4 Center, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to analyse the key findings and outline what systemic reforms must emerge from Parliament. He breaks down the structural dangers of political appointments across statutory bodies and GLCs, e...

Saudi Arabia is expanding its security partnerships as the Middle East adjusts to the fallout from the US-Iran war and continued instability across the region. Riyadh has signed a new mutual-defence pact with Türkiye and nuclear-armed Pakistan, while also pursuing a multinational maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping and maintaining its longstanding security relationship with Washington....

Negeri Sembilan has unveiled its new state administration, with UMNO taking eight of the 10 executive council positions alongside MCA and Perikatan Nasional representatives. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser, Pacific Research Centre, discusses what this new line-up means for Negeri Sembilan's political direction, and how the Malacca state election might go. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio....

To counter China's silicon dominance, US President Donald Trump signed a 15% tariff and minimum price floors on polysilicon derivatives. Dr. Deborah K. Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to analyse whether this strategy can rebuild America’s domestic manufacturing supply chain and what it means for global trade dynamics. She breaks down the strategic na...

Following a difficult outing in the Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections, where Parti Amanah Negara failed to capture seats amid a combined Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional wave, the party faces crucial strategic choices. As Malay-majority identity politics continues to shape voter alignments, questions linger over how progressive Malay parties can maintain electoral appeal. Khalid Sam...

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing has made his first official visit to Thailand since assuming the presidency, signalling an effort to restore diplomatic engagement despite ongoing international sanctions and a civil war at home. The visit comes alongside renewed attention on Aung San Suu Kyi following her first meeting with an International Committee of the Red Cross representative in years, as...

Malaysia’s retail economy is undergoing a massive digital transformation, with internet penetration at 98% and e-commerce transaction income reaching RM1.3 trillion. However, local brick-and-mortar and domestic e-commerce retailers report being severely squeezed by ultra-low-cost cross-border platforms like Temu and Pinduoduo, raising urgent questions about market fairness and consumer safety. Dat...

After more than three decades of rising home prices, Australia's property market is showing signs of a meaningful slowdown. Higher interest rates, tax changes affecting investors, and improving housing supply in some markets have combined to push prices lower in major cities, even as rents continue to climb. Is this merely a cyclical correction, or does it mark a more fundamental turning point for...

Following catastrophic state election results in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, where Bersatu failed to secure a single seat and saw 23 out of 24 candidates lose their deposits in N9, the party faces critical existential questions. Compounding the setback, former Bersatu leader Dato' Seri Hamzah Zainuddin’s newly formed Wawasan gained ground by securing three seats, directly challenging Bersatu’s posi...

PKR is confronting difficult questions after a string of electoral defeats in Sabah, Johor, and most recently Negeri Sembilan, raising concerns about its ability to broaden support beyond its traditional base. As the party reassesses its strategy, issues such as voter sentiment, identity politics, the Reformasi agenda, and its role within the Unity Government are all under renewed scrutiny. How PK...

Malaysia's electric vehicle ambitions face a growing infrastructure challenge, with public charging deployment falling well behind government targets. As policymakers consider introducing a levy on new EV sales to fund more charging stations, critics argue the real obstacle is not funding but the complexity of getting councils, utilities, landowners, and charging operators to move in step. Is a ne...

Japan is undertaking its most significant military expansion since World War II, with record defence spending, looser arms export rules, and a growing emphasis on national security reshaping decades of postwar policy. As Tokyo cites a more challenging regional environment, particularly China's rise, critics warn the country risks moving away from its long-held identity as a "peace state." Is Japan...

While the Democratic Action Party (DAP) performed the best among Pakatan Harapan partners in the Negeri Sembilan state elections, the polls delivered a major blow as Secretary-General Anthony Loke lost his long-held Chennah constituency. In response, Loke stepped down as state chairman after 22 years while retaining his role as national Secretary-General following backing from the Central Executiv...

The prospect of a Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional alliance securing a simple parliamentary majority has reignited debate over the future political influence of Sabah and Sarawak. If Peninsular-based parties can form the federal government without relying on East Malaysian blocs, the kingmaker role that has shaped coalition politics since GE15 could diminish significantly. What would this m...

Malaysia's banking sector continued to post healthy loan growth in June, led by a pickup in business lending even as household borrowing slowed to its weakest pace in more than four years. The divergence points to companies remaining confident enough to invest and expand, while consumers become more cautious amid persistent cost pressures. What does this tell us about the strength of Malaysia's ec...

UMNO won 16 of the 36 seats in the Negeri Sembilan state election, powering the Barisan Nasional–Perikatan Nasional pact to a two-thirds majority. The victory solidifies UMNO’s momentum following its dominant performance in Johor. Adib Zalkapli, Managing Director of Viewfinder Global Affairs, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to analyse whether these results mark a genuine UMNO comeback or stem from voter...

The prospect of a Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional alliance winning a parliamentary majority has reignited debate over the political influence of Sabah and Sarawak. Since the last general election, East Malaysian parties have played a pivotal role in federal government formation, giving them greater leverage over issues such as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). If Peninsular-based coaliti...

Hollywood has delivered its biggest ever box office weekend, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey combining to shatter domestic records and race towards the US$1 billion mark globally. The success comes as global cinema attendance continues to recover, raising fresh questions about whether theatrical releases have regained their place alongside streaming. Are these si...

The Barisan Nasional–Perikatan Nasional electoral pact swept to a two-thirds majority in Negeri Sembilan, unseating two-term incumbent Pakatan Harapan. In the wake of BN-PN's big win, we zoom into Wawasan's role in the pact. The Bersatu splinter party Parti Wawasan Negara (WAWASAN), contesting its first-ever election, won three of its four seats while Bersatu was completely wiped out. Wan Ahmad Fa...

Saudi Arabia is taking on an increasingly prominent security role in the Middle East, leading a new multinational maritime coalition to protect vital Red Sea shipping lanes while deepening military coordination with the United States. The developments come as Egypt faces its first drone attack linked to the wider regional conflict and Washington pursues a diplomatic initiative aimed at ending the...

ESG is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for property developers, influencing access to capital, investor interest, and long-term asset values. Yet fewer than 30 of more than 100 listed property companies are constituents of Bursa Malaysia's FTSE4Good ESG index, suggesting adoption remains uneven across the sector. How far have Malaysian property companies progressed in integrating...

A wave of market volatility hit Asian stocks last week, shattering months of AI-driven momentum. A key catalyst looked to be the blockbuster Shanghai debut of Chinese chipmaker CXMT. Its stock surged 466% on day one, stoking fears of aggressive domestic competition for semiconductor leaders like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Marvin Chen, Senior Asia Equity Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence,...

The Cabinet has declassified the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into Tabung Haji, four years after it was completed in July 2022. The findings expose weak board oversight, ministers approving major investments without independent advice, and billions lost on problematic deals. We unpack what this reveals about governance at Malaysia's statutory bodies and whether the delay was about protecting...

Negeri Sembilan heads to the polls in a closely watched election that could reshape Malaysia's political landscape. Following months of political upheaval, the state's first electoral pact between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional will be tested against Pakatan Harapan, while Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun risks his political future by contesting a long-held Umno seat. Which coalition will em...

Yesterday marked World Tiger Day, but beyond the conservation message lies a pressing financial challenge. Global conservation groups are calling for an additional $1 billion US dollars to protect tiger landscapes by 2034, while new financing tools are emerging to bridge that gap. But can innovative finance help secure the future of the Malayan tiger? Joining us this morning to discuss what's need...