Morning Brief

The escalating war in Iran perpetrated by the US and Israel have shut down airports and airspaces in the region, impacting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, among the busiest in the world. Capt Mohd Radzi Mohd Alias of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, takes us through the passenger protection frameworks that are in place, when crises like these happen. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Pri...

The recent attack on Iran by the US and Israel has not only caused oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices to soar, but also shipping carrier rates as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed off. We speak to Kenneth Loh, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence about the outlook for the shipping sector and what it means for global trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran is confronting its most serious leadership crisis since 1979 after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel air strikes on Saturday. What options does Tehran have to ensure regime survival and how are neighbours in the Gulf region reacting to the crisis? We discuss this with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/li...

Is the American public onboard with President Donald Trump's military strikes on Iran? We discuss public sentiment and how the Middle East conflict could influence voter decisions in the November mid-term elections with independent pollster John Zogby. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News that the government is setting aside RM480 million from the 2025 development budget to support loss-making Vantris Energy Bhd, ostensibly to safeguard vendors and industry capacity, has raised some questions. Independent business writer, P Gunasegaram, talks about the implications of this development. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Employees' Provident Fund has declared a 6.15% dividend for 2025 for both its shariah and conventional accounts, which some contend as being below expectations. Ng Zhu Hann, founder & CEO of Tradeview Capital shares his perspectives on the payout amid a stronger ringgit, shifting membership dynamics, and overall equities performance in 2025. The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority...

Malaysia is set to revamp its pre-university admissions with a “single window, single offer” system and standardise First Class degree awards. But will these changes really level the playing field and improve our higher education system? We get insights from Prof. Zaharom Nain, Director & Adjunct Professor, Allianz Centre for Governance at Universiti Malaya. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

The start of 2026 has signalled a diplomatic "thaw" as a parade of world leaders, including those from the UK, Canada, and Germany, descend on Beijing. What do these visits signal? Angeline Tan, Analyst, Institute Of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, gives us her perspective whilst we also discuss the upcoming US-China meeting at the end of March. Image Credit: Shuttersto...

Telekom Malaysia is switching its 5G wholesale partner from Digital Nasional Berhad, to U Mobile, a move that comes as Malaysia advances its shift from a single to a dual network model. The announcement has unsettled the market and raised fresh questions about ownership, competition and the economics of 5G. We unpack the implications with Alex Wong, Managing Editor and Co-Founder of SoyaCincau. Im...

DAP is pushing for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into allegations of a “corporate mafia” involving businessmen and senior MACC officials. Syahredzan Johan, DAP's national vice-chairman and MP for Bangi, explains why the party views the corporate mafia allegations as serious and what an RCI can realistically achieve, and how the government should respond. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

The escalating bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery is heating up as Paramount Skydance has made a "best and final" $31-per-share all-cash offer, officially pressuring the Warner Bros. board to reconsider its existing merger agreement with Netflix. Geetha Ranganathan, Senior Media Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence, tells us who might emerge victorious and what the outlook is for the rest of t...

Recent high-profile cases have brought domestic and sexual violence back into public focus, raising difficult questions about enforcement, transparency and institutional accountability. Gandipan Gopalan, Advocacy Manager at the Women's Aid Organisation talks about how the existing legal framework operates in practice and the barriers survivors face in seeking justice. Image Credit: Shutterstock.co...

Malaysia has tabled a constitutional amendment to separate the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor roles, ending decades of concentrated prosecutorial power in a single office. But does it truly strengthen independence and accountability? We speak to constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet to examine the safeguards, the gaps and what this reform could mean for the rule of law in Malaysia. Image Cred...

After 24 years without revision, the Dewan Rakyat has passed the Capitation Grant Bill 2026, updating how federal funds are distributed to states based on population and introducing a 10-year review cycle. Professor Tricia Yeoh, from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, shares her view on how this marks a meaningful step toward fairer and more transparent state funding. Image Credit: Shutterstoc...

The political landscape in Philippines has shifted from a fragile alliance to political rupture, between its two most powerful dynasties, the Marcos and the Dutertes, because the "UniTeam" that dominated the 2022 elections is officially dead. Erin Cook, Southeast-Asia Based Journalist gives us her views on what this means for the country's political future. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnys...

President Donald Trump delivers his first official State of the Union address in his second term on Tuesday. Can his messaging change the mood of the American public that has grown uneasy with his economic and immigration policies? We get a preview of what to expect from Dr Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science & International Affairs, at the University of Mary Washington Image...

JKOM or the Community Communications Department, is under renewed scrutiny as it sharpens its focus on political security and public trust, raising questions about its evolution and relevance in Malaysia’s crowded digital communications landscape. Dr Benjamin Loh, a lecturer in Media & Communications at Monash University, talks about whether or not JKOM has truly evolved and what its really pu...

The US Supreme Court delivered a stunning blow to the Trump administration by ruling that the President has no unilateral authority to impose broad tariffs. Although the decision has technically invalidated the legal basis for the trade barriers Malaysia had been navigating for the past year, how should we tread? Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor's University and former Deput...

Although US-Iran nuclear talks continue, the US is building up its military presence in the region while Iran has reportedly secured missiles from Russia. Is there a diplomatic path to prevent tensions from boiling over? We discuss these developments with Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listene...

Perikatan Nasional has appointed Terengganu Chief Minister and vice-president of PAS, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as chairman of the coalition, replacing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. What does this signal about the direction of PN? We speak to Dr. Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, for insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listen...

The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed under emergency powers. Since then Trump has moved to preserve his trade agenda by raising global tariffs by 15%. We ask Dr. Deborah K. Elms, Head of Trade Policy, Hinrich Foundation the repercussion of this and what this means for existing trade deals. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Eight PKR lawmakers have been very vocal over the alleged corrupt practices within the MACC and share ownership by their Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki. We speak to Setiawangsa MP, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as to why this matter is so urgent, what type of investigation is required and what should we make of the government’s silence on the issue. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/l...

The mass expulsion of former Bersatu Deputy President Dato' Sri Hamzah Zainuddin and 16 other members has triggered uproar and mass resignations among the party grassroots. What options are the exiled members considering to maintain political relevance? We hear from Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fahysal on the fallout and his next steps. Image Credit: Bernama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Malaysia’s retail sector ended 2025 on a stronger note,  with growth picking up in December. However, what is the outlook for 2026? Damien Yeo, Senior Consumer & Retail Analyst, BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions gives us their house view and the catalysts for this sector. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The survival of Bersatu is in question after the expulsion of prominent leaders last week, including heir apparent Dato' Sri Hamzah Zainudin. Who then will succeed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as party leader? We discuss Bersatu's future with Dr. Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.