Morning Brief

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) declared a 6.1% dividend for conventional savings and 5.65% dividend for shariah savings for 2021 which was even better than pre-pandemic times. Pankaj C Kumar, Business Commentator tells us whether this figure was better expectations and what are the challenges to replicate this performance in the years ahead. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/li...

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has set in motion seismic shifts in EU and German foreign policy, including the direct arming of weapons to countries in conflict. We discuss the reasons and implications of increasing militarization in Europe with Dr. Frederick Kliem of RSIS. Image Credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 6th assessment report issued this week by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) gave a grim prognosis on the impact of global warming, warning that temperatures were rising faster than our capacity to adapt. We speak to Ahmad Afandi of ISIS Malaysia on the state of Malaysia's preparedness to mitigate and adapt to climate change risks. Image Credit: Frederick Hornung/Shutterstoc...

With the Federal Government set to table a landmark amendment bill to make gig workers formal employees, we speak to Edwin Goh, policy researcher at The Centre on how the amendments of the Employment Act 1955 will impact stakeholders and if it can safeguard the welfare of all workers. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Western countries have unleashed a series of heavy sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's financial sector in response to its assault on Ukraine. We discuss the impact this has had on Russia's overall economy and whether its linkages with China can provide a buffer with Swedish economist Anders Aslund. Aslund is a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm World Forum and an Adjunct Professor at Geor...

With over 25,000 people displaced from their homes in the east coast due to one of the worst floods in Kelantan and Terengganu, Dato’ Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, President, MERCY Malaysia provides an assessment of the situation. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global and local volatility begs for more policy clarity, further adding impetus for Malaysian Parliamentary reform, not to mention much-needed legislation on anti-party hopping and gender equality. Aira Azhari, Manager, Democracy and Governance Unit at the think-tank IDEAS, discusses. Image Credit: Calvin Chan/Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With oil prices potentially hitting 120 dollars per barrel, Julia Goh from UOB articulates the net benefit (or cost) to the Malaysian Economy and how it would put pressure on the cost of living for Malaysians. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fast escalating into a globally significant event with many more world players getting increasingly involved, including the US, Germany, and China. Dr. Malcolm Davis, the Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, expands on the implications. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The Malaysian government's latest statement on the situation in Ukraine has been criticized by some observers as not going far enough; the same applies for the recent statement issued by ASEAN Foreign Ministers. We discuss the significance of language in international diplomacy and the considerations at play in Malaysia's stance with Thomas Daniel of ISIS. Image Credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/...

Johor's polls are seeing an unprecedented number of candidates, laying a potential template for soon-to-ensue GE15. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bernard Aw, Economist for Asia Pacific, Coface, spells out the trade and economic ramifications from the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beginning 1 March, people categorized as close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases will not have to undergo quarantine if they are asymptomatic and have received a third booster vaccine dose. We speak to epidemiologist Dr. Sanjay Rampal on the rationale for the policy as well as the challenge of balancing different interests as we head towards an endemic phase of Covid-19. Image Credit: Alen Thien...

A plethora of economic sanctions have been thrust upon Russia following its invasion of the Ukraine, but there remain serious concerns over an escalation, not to mention Europe's frail recovery. His Excellency Michalis Rokas, Ambassador the European Union to Malaysia, discusses. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine after months of troops on the border. H.E. Naiyl Latypov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Malaysia gives their position on why the incursion was necessary and can there be a diplomatic resolution. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Descriptor: The Election Commission has loosened campaigning rules for the Johor state elections compared to previous polls, but some argue that the flexibilities provided do not give adequate room for parties to engage with the public. We discuss whether the SOPs provide a level playing field and what needs to be done to ensure that campaigning can be conducted safely with Thomas Fann, Chairman o...

Recent revelations from the Roger Ng trial in New York has shone a spotlight on some of the details of the 1MDB corruption trial. Tom Wright, author of Billion Dollar Whale tells us what we should pay attention to and whether this has any bearings on the ongoing trials in Malaysia. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Russia's invasion of the Ukraine, aviation's frail recovery is once again under serious derailment. Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Aviation Consultant, Frost & Sullivan, discusses. Image credit: Pexels.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks two years since the events of Langkah Sheraton, which saw a change in government and triggered the breakdown in established coalitions. We discuss the impact of political machinations on the electoral psyche, as well as expectations for the Johor state elections with Dr. Bridget Welsh of the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute-Malaysia. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnyst...

The Ministry of Health recently issued a call to the Medical Device Authority to ensure the quality of Covid-19 self-test kits, following consumer complaints over the accuracy of testing results. We discuss the latest guidelines for self-testing with Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh of the APHM, as well as find out his observations on the paediatric impact of Covid-19 and why it's important to vaccinate chi...

Gary Ng from Natixis highlights the key elements of Hong Kong’s budget and whether it will cushion the city from the worst of the Omicron economic impact. Image Credit: HUI YT/Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to 2020 data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), wages for graduate employees have seen declining trends. Young graduates under the age of 24 have been particularly impacted, with the median salary dropping 25% to RM1,550 a month. As the country debates the viability of raising minimum wages to RM1500, what implications does this have for graduate salaries? We discuss...

Many countries in the world have embarked on carbon tax but how complicated is it to price it. Howie Lee, Economist, at OCBC Bank tells us whilst giving us a glimpse of how Malaysia should implement it. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past year has seen the emergence of several new political parties as well as an independent movement, posing challenges to the dominant parties of yore. How much impact will this have on the dynamics of local politics? We discuss the changing landscape with political analyst Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 was supposed to the year of economic recovery but with rising covid cases due to Omicron, does this derail things? Is the solution government support or is it time for business to bite the bullet and pivot? Chin Chee Seong, National Secretary General of the SME Association of Malaysia tells us. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.