Morning Brief

Sarawak plans to expand its state assembly from 82 to 99 seats, with the redelineation process is still underway, and facing scrutiny, with allegations of pre-allocated constituencies and longstanding concerns over gerrymandering. Danesh Prakash Chacko, Chair of Persatuan Bertindak Pilihan Raya Bebas & Saksama (TINDAK), shares his thoughts on this. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Prior...

Malaysia’s anti-corruption framework is back under the spotlight, with the MACC proposing three new laws which include targeting misconduct in public office, regulating NGO donations, and long-delayed political financing reform. Raymon Ram, President of Transparency International Malaysia talks about what these proposals could mean in practice. Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listen...

How might the conflict in Iran evolve into a broader credit shock for emerging markets? We assess the vulnerabilities across ASEAN and where Malaysia stands with Ed Parker, Managing Director at Fitch Ratings. Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s public healthcare system is facing over RM100 million in unpaid bills from foreign patients, many of them undocumented migrants, raising questions about sustainability, accountability, and access to care. Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, shares his take on this issue. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Malaysia’s semiconductor sector is coming off a strong run, with E&E exports making up over 40 percent of total exports and continuing to grow into 2026. But new risks are emerging from the Iran conflict, including risks to the supply of helium, which is a critical input in chipmaking. We look at how exposed the sector is and what this means going forward with Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, Pr...

Chinese EV companies, in particular BYD, have seen a surge in sales following the outbreak of war in Iran and the ensuing energy crisis. What does that mean for the outlook for the sector this year, and which companies might do well? We discuss the trends with Joanna Chen, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors are being selective about their portfolio positioning amid inflamed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Within Asia, that has started to translate into renewed interest in markets like Malaysia, where relative stability, yield, and diversification are coming back into focus. But can this investment momentum be sustained? We discuss this with Dr. Calvin Cheong, Acting Dean of t...

Malaysia’s food prices are under pressure as global tensions in West Asia disrupt fertiliser supplies and push up energy costs. How will these global shocks affect the prices of everyday essentials? We discuss these issues with Professor Datin Paduka Dr Fatimah Mohamed Arshad, Food Security Chair at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security of UPM. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omny...

Even as the war in Iran continues with no clear end, President Donald Trump already has his sights on another country: Cuba. The island state is undergoing a severe energy crisis as a result of a US blockade on oil supplies to Havana. Why is Trump threatening to take over Cuba? We discuss Cuba-US relations with Prof. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda from UCLA. Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/lis...

As countries grapple with rising pump prices resulting from the war in Iran, an unwitting beneficiary could be electric vehicles or EVs. What is the consumer appetite for EVs in the current economy and what policies could spur a higher take-up rate? We discuss the industry landscape with Datuk Dennis Chuah, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia (EVAM). Image credit: Shutte...

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to traffic for over two weeks since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war and creating an unprecedented global energy crisis. What does a prolonged war mean for oil markets? We discuss the implications of the disruption in oil supply with Muyu Xu, Senior Crude Oil Analyst with data analytics firm Kpler. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

The federal government has reaffirmed Sabah’s right to a 40% revenue share under MA63, but legal appeals, technical challenges, and political realities continue to complicate its implementation. Ariff Adi Putera Anwar from the Institute for Development Studies Sabah discusses this issue. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. We know what your real priorities are. See omnystudio.com/lis...

The Malaysia-US Agreement for Reciprocal Trade (ART) is up in the air after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs in February. What lessons should Malaysia learn from negotiating the controversial deal? Trade expert Dr. Jayant Menon of the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute weighs in. Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent days, Malaysia’s political landscape is entering a new phase of realignment as UMNO welcomes back prodigal members, MUDA has a new president and Perikatan Nasional has a new chairman. Azmi Hassan, senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, shares his views on how these developments might shape the landscape heading into GE16. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio....

Malaysia’s vehicle financing landscape is undergoing a major shift with the implementation of the Hire Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026, which could be more favourable for car buyers going forward. Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services at Wealth Vantage Advisory, discusses how the new rules could affect Malaysian consumers. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. W...

Rising global oil prices, driven by ongoing Middle East tensions, threaten to push Malaysia’s RON95 fuel above the current subsidised rate of RM1.99 per litre. How will this impact consumers at the pump and the operations of petrol dealers? We speak with Dato’ Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz, President, Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) on how the industry is navigating the uncertainty. I...

Police questioning of an academic and a civil society leader has triggered debate about academic freedom and civic space in Malaysia. What protections exist for scholars and NGOs speaking on governance and public interest issues? We explore the legal framework with Zaid Malek, Executive Director of Lawyers for Liberty. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising global oil prices are putting governments under renewed fiscal pressure. For Malaysia, the challenge is complex. While the country exports energy, it also spends heavily on fuel subsidies and public sector costs. As policymakers look for ways to manage spending, even measures like work from home for civil servants are being considered. How much fiscal room does the government really have? W...

Gold is traditionally seen as a safe-haven asset, but prices have struggled recently despite elevated geopolitical tensions. What’s driving this disconnect between the safe haven narrative and gold’s recent performance? We discuss the trends to watch for gold with Christopher Wong of OCBC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Escalation of the War on Iran is spreading across the Gulf, threatening energy routes and regional stability. Ryan Bohl, Senior Middle East and North Africa Analyst at RANE Network, shares his insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia SME sector is feeling the ripple effects of rising tensions in the Middle East through shipping delays, higher costs, and supply chain disruptions. How are these businesses preparing to navigate the challenges ahead? We’ll discuss this with Datuk William Ng, Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA). Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Although Malaysia is far from the conflict between the United States and Iran, the country is feeling its impact as disruptions at major Middle East transit hubs push up flight costs and travel times. How is the tourism sector coping, and what measures are being taken to maintain traveller confidence? We get industry perspectives from Nigel Wong, President of The Malaysian Association of Tour &amp...

Yesterday, it was reported that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated investigations into several economies, including Malaysia, over concerns about structural excess capacity and production in certain manufacturing sectors. Why is the US making this move at this juncture, and how might economies involved be impacted? Questions we pose to Dr. Deborah K. Elms, He...

Washington is wrestling with the fallout of the Iran conflict as Brent crude stays above $90 a barrel, threatening a 0.3% inflation spike for every $10 rise. We explore whether these strikes will unify or fracture the "America First" movement, how deep the divide truly runs between the MAGA elite and their voting base, and if emerging Democratic personalities can successfully tap into faith to fli...

Malaysia aims to establish AI standards within the next year as part of its broader ambition to become an AI-driven economy by 2030. Dr Jun-E Tan, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute, shares her insights on where the challenges may lie when building a governance framework that encourages innovation while protecting society. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. We...