Morning Brief

Last week, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican said that local government elections would not be revived due to the high cost implications. We speak to PJ City Councillor and local government expert Derek Fernandez on why this stance should be reconsidered. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the three-fold downward pressure of contraction of demand, supply shocks and weaker expectations, Bernard Aw from Coface explains how Chinese policymakers are expected to front load their policies to stabilize China's economy. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disgraced and convicted former PM Najib Razak might have received his latest setback in the courts but his star still shines bright among the masses. Azmi Hassan, political commentator, explains why. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 20,000 Malaysians who contracted Covid-19 experienced post-Covid-19 syndrome, also known as long Covid. What do we know about long Covid and what are the treatment implications for patients and the healthcare system? We make sense of the scientific data available with expert Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam. Image credit: Pexels.com See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore tells us what to expect ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Southeast Asia and what will be on his agenda. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following former PM's Datuk Seri Najib Razak failure to overturn his conviction and sentence for seven charges on SRC International at the Court of Appeal, P. Gunasegaram, Editorial Consultant, The Vibes explains what's next for the convicted Ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin, President of Bumiputera Retailers Organisation shares with us the challenges and lack of action taken to address the labour shortage faced across all sectors and what does the retail industry need right now after close to two years of hardship caused by lockdowns. Image credit: gracethang2 / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America, Australia, Canada and the UK will boycott the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, prompting another round of analyses on waning US-China ties. James Dorsey, Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute, discusses. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) announced this week that wholesale 5G services will be offered for free to mobile carriers during an initial trial roll-out until March 2022. However, the Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa also announced that the Cabinet is still discussing whether to deploy 5G via a single wholesale network system or have multiple systems to allow some compet...

Cancer is the 2nd highest cause of death in the country but early detection improves the survival rate. But with Covid, has this been thwarted. Farahida Mohd Farid, General Manager of Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA) tells us. Image credit: Pexels.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 349 candidates contesting in 82 seats in Sarawak's state election, we ask Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs where the different political parties stand and who is likely to emerge victorious. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services gives her perspective on the recent education ministry announcement that since the first lockdown this year, more than 21 thousand students in Malaysia have dropped out of school before completing the period of education. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The EU has launched an infrastructure development project dubbed as the Global Gateway, which is branded as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative. How does it stack up against the BRI and can it sway the geopolitical balance in the region? We discuss the potential implications with expert Dr Frederick Kleim. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

With the Health Ministry unveiling a set of new guidelines on the National Covid-19 testing strategy or NTS, Azrul Mohd Khalib from the Galen Centre provides clarity on who should get a Covid-19 test, when to get tested and who should pay for the test. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Niaz Asadullah from University Malaya help us understand the severity of the shortages and the skill gaps in engineering in Malaysia as well as what needs to be done to fill these shortages. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business commentator, Pankaj C Kumar unpacks Grab Holdings IPO which debuted Nasdaq via a SPAC on Thursday and does it have what it takes to go the distance moving forward? Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, Dean of School of Medical and Life Sciences at Sunway University helps us unpack the latest Covid developments in Malaysia and explains to use why getting the booster jab is an important individual and collective responsibility. Image credit: shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite chronic labour shortages in a number of key industry sectors, there remains no plan to legalise migrant workers currently, begging the question of how and where businesses find the people to work. Khor Yu Leng, Political Economist, Segi Enam Advisers, discusses. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With oil prices surging in the three months to September, Petronas appears to have turned the corner, but the wider issue of profit sustainability remains. Sean Lim, analyst from RHB investment bank, discusses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the prices for fertilizers surged around 200% and hurting farmers, we ask Chris Lawson, Head of Fertilizers of C.R.U Group whether he sees prices continuing to increase in 2022 and what are the demand and supply dynamics. Image credit: Pexels.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Department of Statistics (DOSM), the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a marked increase in clinical waste from the use of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE). What are the best practices in dealing with clinical waste? Waste management expert Dr Agamuthu Pariatamby walks us through the processes, and what we as individuals can do when disposing of pandemic-related w...

Oil prices are down by more than 20% from their highs. Matthew Darvin, Asia Regional Head of Sales at HedgePoint Global Markets tells us the reasons for this and what to expect from the OPEC+ meeting this week and will supply be raised or cut? Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Selangor state government has allocated RM2.34 billion for its 2022 budget, focusing on five key priority areas. We get reactions from assemblymen from both sides of the political aisle on the budget, and the main concerns of both rural and urban constituents in Selangor. Image credit: ShamAn77 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks 100 days since Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri became the ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He came into office at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, with more than 20,000 cases of infection reported every day. Daily cases are now down to around 5000 and the political situation also seems less tense compared to Tan Sri Muhyiddin's term. What does this say about Ismail Sabri's leadership?...

The Johor-Singapore Causeway finally reopened thanks to the launch of the Vaccinated Travel Lane by land which allows 1400 people to travel daily. Is this the much-needed relief for Johor businesses who benefitted from 400,000 people who crossed daily before Covid 19? Teh Kee Sin, the Founding President of SME Association of South Johor tells us. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/l...