Morning Brief

This month’s earnings reports from Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple revealed a combined staggering USD700 billion capital expenditure for 2026. This caused a massive sell down in tech space. We ask Dan Ives, Managing Director, Wedbush Securities if this is actually a buying opportunity or is the tech boom cycle over. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Last week, President Donald Trump declared that the build-up of greenhouse gas emissions would no longer be considered a public health issue. This effectively reverses the basis of US climate change regulations, which Trump says could save the government trillions of dollars. But will this come at the cost of irreversible climate change? We discuss the implications of this with Romany Web, of the...

SMEs in Malaysia are facing challenges on multiple fronts this year, with increased cost pressures and compliance requirements -  Datuk William Ng, Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises Association tells us how SMEs are faring and if the available financing is adequate. This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

Despite the ringgit rising 14% against the US dollar and GDP growing 5.2% this year, many Malaysians are still feeling the pinch of high prices. Will government intervention make imported goods more affordable? We’ll discuss this with Yugendran T. Kannu Sivakumaran, Economic Analyst in the Economics and Sustainability Impact Department at Bait Al Amanah. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystud...

The Securities Commission Malaysia is finalising a new framework to clarify when cash trust schemes investing in capital market products must be licensed, amid growing concerns over investor protection and market confidence. Business commentator Pankaj C Kumar gives us some perspective about how cash trust structures actually work and the risks they carry. This episode of The First Look was brough...

Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief Tan Sri Azam Baki is once again under scrutiny following fresh allegations reported by Bloomberg linking MACC officers to possible collusion in corporate control matters, alongside renewed questions over his shareholdings. Independent business writer P Gunasegaram shares his thoughts on the government's response so far. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio...

2026 sees Chinese New Year falling on the heels of Ramadan. How is Malaysia’s F&B sector gearing up for these back-to-back peak periods? We discuss what’s ahead with Jeremy Lim, Vice-President & Media Liaisons, Persatuan Pemilik Restoran & Bistro. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The infighting within Bersatu reached a head last Friday, when party President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expelled his deputy, Dato’ Sri Hamzah Zainuddin and other supporters in a shock move. What does this mean for the future of Bersatu? We get analysis from Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director of the Merdeka Centre. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US markets have begun to lag parts of Asia, after outperforming on the back of mega cap tech and the AI trade in 2025. We ask Rika Naito, Senior Portfolio Manager of the Global Growth Equity Team at Nomura Asset Management Tokyo, if this is the beginning of a trend and what are the investment themes we can adopt for the year. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Up to 2.8 million vehicles are expected to hit the roads for CNY and the start of Ramadan. What regulations is the government going to enforce to ensure the safety of Malaysians on the road? We speak to Dr. Ng Choy Peng, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, National Defence University of Malaysia, on the safety measures taken by authorities, as well as road improvements Mala...

A recent Court of Appeal ruling held that a single Joint Management Body must oversee the entire developments, even mixed ones, which is a departure from previous practices. What does this mean for developers, parcel owners, and existing mixed-use projects? Questions we pose to Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, Partner, Thomas Philip. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Malaysia has inched up three spots in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index, from 57th to 54th. It’s a modest gain against a bold pledge to crack the global top 25 by 2033. Pushpan Murugiah, Chief Executive Officer of Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) tell us what serious reform is needed whilst we discuss share ownership linked to the MACC Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Bak...

Bangladeshis head to the polls today in what is widely seen as its most consequential election in nearly two decades, coming two years after Sheikh Hasina was ousted as prime minister and now lives in exile in India. Dr Amit Ranjan, from the National University of Singapore's Institute of South Asian Studies, shares his insights into what to expect. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.co...

Malaysia has reported 10 new tuberculosis clusters across seven states within the first month of 2026, with Selangor and Johor in focus. Prof Dr Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at Universiti Malaya, discusses what the latest data reveal and what more needs to be done, because TB remains a persistent public health concern. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudi...

After a stronger-than-expected finish to 2025, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has raised Singapore’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to between 2 and 4 per cent, pointing to a global AI investment boom, resilient trade, and firm performance in sectors like manufacturing and finance. Selena Ling, Chief Economist, OCBC Bank helps us break down and the data and what we can expect from Budget 20...

Khazanah Nasional recorded a 5.2% return in 2025 and paid out RM2 billion to the government, despite global volatility. Ng Tzu Hann, CEO of Tradeview Capital, discusses how the fund balances long-term wealth creation with supporting strategic national priorities, the risks of domestic focus versus global diversification, and what Malaysians should expect from Khazanah’s investment strategy going f...

In Malaysia, there is more than one pathway to becoming a lawyer. Anishaa Sundramoorthy, Co-Chairperson of the National Young Lawyers and Pupils Committee , Malaysian Bar explains this to us whilst we also consider if we should include other reforms to raise the standards of the legal profession. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debate over whether Kuala Lumpur should have a directly elected mayor is gaining momentum, with Perikatan Nasional cautioning that elections alone may not solve the city’s governance challenges. Dr Afif Bahardin, PN Selangor Secretary and Taman Medan Assemblyman, shares his views on why his party doesn't think it would work. This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly be...

The Nikkei 225 hit a new high on the back of Prime Minister's Sanae Takaichi big election win. Ivailo Dikov, Head of Japan Equities, Eastspring Singapore tells us what sectors stand to benefit from her economic policies and if we can expect more in terms of corporate reform. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent developments involving a senior figure at a listed company have brought renewed attention to the roles, responsibilities, and liabilities of executive and non-executive directors. Dr Ismet Yusoff, CEO of Minority Shareholders Watch Group, gives us some clarity on the concerns at stake and how boards should strengthen governance and oversight frameworks. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See om...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting political pressure following the sudden resignations of key senior aides, renewed scrutiny over Peter Mandelson’s diplomatic appointment, and growing dissent within Labour’s ranks. Dr Benjamin Barton of the University of Nottingham Malaysia share some insights into this issue. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Japan’s political landscape has shifted as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a two-thirds majority. What does this mean for Japan’s future policies and its role in the region? We analyze the election outcome with Michael Cucek, Assistant Professor of Asian Studies, Temple University, Japan Campus. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Over the weekend, India and Malaysia signed 11 MOUs in an expansion of the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Covering areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, and defence and security cooperation, what might we hope to see as the outcome? Discussing this further, we have Dr. Jayant Menon, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, to delve deeper into...

The preliminary results for Thailand’s general election point to caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party emerging with a commanding lead. Dr. Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer, Australian National University (ANU) tells us if the results were expected and what would be the priorities of this administration. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Recently, Malaysia has just fully banned all electronic waste imports to tackle rising e-waste dumping. But will this policy significantly reduce the country’s e-waste problem? And how will authorities ensure its enforcement? We'll be discussing this with Dr. Renard Siew, Climate Change & Sustainability Expert.  This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fl...