Morning Brief

Following an approval from the Magistrate’s Court the condominium that toppled in 1993 is set to be demolished before the end of the year. This ends a tragedy that began 11 December that year, as one of the three blocks collapsed after a landslide triggered by continuous heavy rain, killing 48 people. The case is still widely cited in Malaysia’s construction and planning circles, especially when i...

With economic growth at 4.4% in the first quarter of 2026, April industrial production rising to 8.2% year-on-year, wholesale and retail trade sales increasing to 4.7% and total trade numbers hitting a record RM3.1 trillion ringgit last year, but May's manufacturing PMI slipping into contraction territory, what can be said about the direction of the economy. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystud...

The G7 Summit in France was intended to focus on long-term challenges such as AI governance, critical minerals, and economic resilience. Instead, attention shifted almost immediately to the surprise US-Iran peace breakthrough, which dominated discussions and reshaped the summit's agenda. While leaders still reached agreements on a range of strategic issues, the gathering raised a broader question:...

Buy Now, Pay Later services have become a mainstream part of consumer spending in Malaysia, prompting regulators to introduce new safeguards aimed at improving transparency, affordability checks, and consumer protection. While the industry argues that repayment rates remain strong, concerns persist over rising household debt, credit risk, and the growing role of BNPL in everyday borrowing. Will ti...

Emergency department overcrowding remains a chronic problem in Malaysia's public hospitals, driven by rising patient volumes, staffing shortages, and capacity constraints. The Health Ministry has now directed hospitals to develop plans to improve patient flow and reduce congestion within three months. As pressure on the healthcare system grows, what is causing these persistent bottlenecks, and wha...

Brent crude oil prices slumped on the news of an imminent ceasefire deal between the US and Iran as markets cheered the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. How soon can vessel traffic and oil supply normalise to pre-war levels? We discuss the outlook for global oil markets with Muyu Xu of Kpler. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Malaysian politics, one day you’re in, another day you’re out - but one can always stage a comeback, as Dato’ Hamzah Zainuddin, the MP for Larut has done. Nearly four months after he was expelled from Bersatu, he has emerged as the founder of a new party, Parti Wawasan Negara and reinstated as the Opposition Leader under Perikatan Nasional. We discuss what these developments mean for the politi...

Malaysia’s economy continues to attract strong investment, with both foreign and domestic capital flowing into key sectors despite a challenging global backdrop. Yet beneath the headline resilience, signs of strain are beginning to emerge, including a rise in unemployment, portfolio outflows from local financial markets, and renewed pressure on the ringgit. As investors weigh external risks agains...

After more than 100 days of conflict, the United States and Iran have announced a ceasefire framework that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease one of the world's most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints. While both sides have signalled progress, key issues including sanctions relief, frozen assets, regional security, and the future of Iran's nuclear programme remain unresolved. With Israel,...

A petition calling for the removal of Rohingya refugees from Malaysia has reignited public debate over one of the country’s most complex humanitarian issues. Husson Ahmad, Founder of the Rohingya Youth Support Network, shares insights into the lived reality of this very marginalised community. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As geopolitical tensions and supply chain shifts reshape the global economy, Japan and Malaysia are moving to deepen cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, AI, digital technology, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience. With Japan remaining a major investor and trading partner, the latest high-level engagements highlight a growing focus on strategic industries and long-term economic...

The Securities Commission has flagged a growing visibility problem among listed companies on Bursa Malaysia, with some firms lacking dedicated investor relations teams and some receiving no analyst coverage at all. Business commentator Pankaj C Kumar shares his view on the new SC initiative, the MY Value Up Guidebook aimed at improving companies' visibility. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystud...

Malaysia’s healthcare sector delivered a steady first quarter, supported by stronger patient volumes, improving case mix, and signs of recovery in the pharmaceutical segment. While medical tourism and structural demand continue to support growth, rising costs, currency volatility, and regulatory uncertainty are creating a more challenging operating environment. As the sector shifts from post-pande...

A petition calling for the removal of Rohingya refugees from Malaysia has reignited debate over one of the country’s most complex humanitarian and policy challenges. While public concerns over resources, security, and social integration continue to grow, the government maintains that any response must balance domestic realities with humanitarian responsibilities. As pressure mounts for a more stru...

Malaysia continues to attract strong investment flows into sectors such as semiconductors, AI, data centres, and digital infrastructure. But as highlighted in Khazanah Nasional’s latest annual report, the bigger challenge may no longer be attracting capital, but ensuring those investments translate into stronger local capabilities, better jobs, and long-term economic growth. As Malaysia seeks to m...

Malaysia’s construction sector continues to grow, but the drivers behind the expansion are changing as data centres emerged as the key growth engine, with billions in potential contracts expected over the next two years. Jack Go, UOB Kay Hian's senior equity analyst shares his take on this and what he sees could be listed companies to pay attention to. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com...

Malaysia’s approved investments edged slightly lower in the first quarter of 2026, slipping 0.2% year-on-year, but still point to a relatively resilient pipeline with more than 50,000 potential jobs created. Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor's University and the former Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, discusses these results with us. Image Credit: Shutters...

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years comes as regional dynamics continue to shift amid closer ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. While both sides have pledged deeper cooperation across politics, trade, and technology, many of the commitments mirror previous agreements. The visit nevertheless raises important questions about Beijing’s priorities, its influence on...

PAS has ended its cooperation with Bersatu, the party it founded Perikatan Nasional with six years ago, although Bersatu's President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin insists on keeping the coalition intact. Dr Azmil Tayeb, a political scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, discusses how these developments might reshape Malaysian politics as GE16 draws nearer. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com...

South Korea’s economy has posted its strongest quarterly growth in more than four years, driven by robust semiconductor exports and growing demand linked to artificial intelligence. As the country strengthens its role in the global AI supply chain, questions are emerging over whether this marks the start of a broader phase of growth, or another technology-led upswing that remains heavily dependent...

Malaysia has seen a noticeable rise in hiking-related emergencies this year, with more people getting lost, injured, or requiring rescue in forests and mountain trails across the country. While outdoor recreation has grown significantly in popularity, concerns are mounting that safety awareness, preparation, and risk management may not be keeping pace. Recent incidents have also highlighted broade...

The global aviation industry continues to benefit from strong passenger demand and record revenue, but airline executives are increasingly warning that growth is becoming harder to translate into profits. Rising fuel costs, aircraft delivery delays, engine shortages, supply chain disruptions, and uncertainty around sustainable aviation fuel are all placing pressure on an industry already known for...

Malaysia's property sector enters mid-2026 with a mixed picture as revenues rose, margin pressures building up and a shift towards data centre development. Mohd Fadzerin Arrifin, an equity analyst at BIMB Securities Research, unpacks what he sees as earnings quality divergence, margin risks, and whether the sector’s “overweight” call still holds. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/liste...

Negeri Sembilan has dissolved its state assembly more than two years before its term was due to end, setting the stage for an unexpected snap election. Dr Lau Zhe Wei, Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, talks about the implications of this latest political development. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Questions about political patronage and institutional independence have resurfaced following controversy over access to constituency development funds and continued debate over political appointments to government-linked companies and statutory bodies. While supporters argue that elected governments need flexibility to allocate resources and appoint trusted individuals, critics contend that such p...