Morning Brief

We ask Dr Kati Suominen, CEO Nextrade Group on the latest progress on CPTPP, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. While countries like Vietnam have enjoyed preferential access from this trade pact, we ask why is Malaysia late in the game and what are the concerns in ratifying this agreement. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

We ask Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, Director, Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) how will UMNO fare in the Melaka state elections as the elections are largely seen as a bellwether for Umno’s standing with grassroots voters as well as their chances to make a comeback in GE15. Image credit: epa-efe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shareen Shariza Dato' Abdul Ghani, the managing director and Co-Founder of Sorga Innovation, the creators of gigxglobal.com, a talent platform for professionals and former CEO of TalentCorp, addresses the reasons behind this decades-long issue of brain drain and why young professionals want to leave the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The findings of a Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) survey on attitudes concerning violence against women revealed a worrying lack of gender equality norms among Malaysian society. We discuss the causes behind the state of affairs and strategies to strengthen awareness on the importance of gender equality. Image credit: pixabay See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite being the political party with the most seats in Parliament, DAP is often held up as the bogeyman for many Malay-based political parties. How genuine is DAP to reform itself to appeal to a broader voter-base? We discuss the internal dynamics at play with political commentator Dr. Oh Ei Sun. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore on how significant the virtual face-to-face summit between President Biden and President Xi is and whether it does signify the thawing of a frosty relationship between the world two largest powers.  Image credit:  EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia will introduce foreign-source income tax beginning January 1st next year. But is there sufficient clarity in terms of how the tax will be imposed and what are the implications to Malaysian businesses and citizens? Tan Hooi Beng, Deputy Tax Lead at Deloitte helps us break down this new tabled Finance Bill. Image credit: pixabay See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to UNICEF, the doses delivered to G20 countries per capita are 15 times higher than those delivered to low-income countries. What explains this vaccine inequality and how does this impact global economic recovery? Imogen Page-Jarrett, an Analyst from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) tells us her views. Image credit: shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editorial credit: Harris Hamdan / Shutterstock.com PAS has been in the headlines recently over their opposition to Timah and gambling in Kedah but even on the political front, they have decided to ditch Umno and side with Perikatan Nasional in the upcoming Malacca election. So what is the game plan for them and will they be the kingmaker in GE15? Adib Zalkapli, Director at BowerGroupAsia helps us...

We ask  Dr Ali Izadi-Najafabadi, Head of APAC Research at BloombergNEF on the achievements and remaining challenges that lie ahead from the agreed Glasgow Climate Pact as delegates from 190 nations pledged to do more to cuts their emissions targets. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we enter the halfway stretch of campaigning for the Melaka polls, we speak to Dr. Azmi Hassan on how the campaign has been progressing and understand if whether local, state or federal issues are swaying voters. Image credit:  Gwoeii / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the break up plans of GE, Toshiba and Johnson & Johnson, we ask Karen Ubelhart, Industry Analyst, Bloomberg on whether reason for “focus” makes  conglomerates no longer relevant.  Image credit:  JPstock / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s economy declined 4.5% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2021 due to the MCOs that were in place in June which was below the street expectations of -2.6% but can we still achieve GDP growth of 3-4% for 2021 and what about 2022? We ask Woon Khai Jhek, RAM’s Co-Head of Economic and Sovereign Research. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri recently concluded a 3-day visit to Indonesia, where the two countries announced a vaccinated travel lane arrangement and investment agreements worth RM12.8 billion. We discuss what the visit means for bilateral ties moving forward, including the potential appointment of the next Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia with analyst Muhd Sinatra of ISIS Malaysia. Im...

The booster program has started in earnest to as vaccine efficacy wanes over time. We ask Dr. Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Physician about the program, whether mixing and matching vaccines is the right approach and what are the risks, if any. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s 5G roll-out appears to have hit a speedbump, as this week it was revealed in a report by Reuters that no telco carriers have signed up to the 5G network to date. Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the state-owned entity in charge of the 5G deployment later clarified that negotiations are on-going and are expected to be concluded in early 2022. What do these developments reveal about M...

Can the palm oil sector automate to overcome the labour shortages that have been exacerbated by the closing of borders from Covid 19? Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, Director-General, of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board gives us his assessment of Budget 2022 and the outlook for CPO prices. Image credit: shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently acknowledged that absorbing all 10,000 contract medical doctors into permanent service may not be possible. Why has this issue persisted for so long and what will it take to resolve the issues at play to all sides' satisfaction? We discuss the situation with Dr. Khoo Yoong Khean, Managing Editor of the Malaysian Medical Gazette. Image credit: Shutterstock...

China is seeing its inflation indicators trend upwards - its factory-gate prices grew at the fastest pace in 26 years last month, while consumer inflation is rising faster than expected. In addition, the economy is feeling the effects of a property debt bubble, energy crisis and weak domestic consumption. What does this mean for China's economic growth in the coming year? Gary Ng, economist with N...

Travel vaccinated lanes will reopen between Singapore and Malaysia. How critical is this travel lane. Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst, Solaris Strategies Singapore gives us his answer while weighing in on the current ties between the two governments. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year out from the 2022 midterm elections, according to multiple polls, a majority disapprove of the way President Joe Biden is handling his job as the President. To get some insights on the political developments taking place in the United States we speak toAdrian Ang, Research Fellow in the United States Programme S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Image credit: Shutterstock.com S...

As state borders are now open and many are taking a vacation after being stuck at home for months, hotels are struggling to cope with the surge of booking due to a shortage of workers. We speak to Yap Lip Seng, CEO of Malaysian Association of Hotels to find out what are the causes and solutions for this issue. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

112 candidates will battle it out in the Melaka 28-seat election but which coalition will come out on top? Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director at Merdeka Center tells us the voter profile in the state, which are the politicians to watch and what issues will determine the outcome. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Norma Mansor, Director of Social Wellbeing Research Centre of Universiti Malaya on how labour markets will be transformed  as we contend with an ageing workforce with little social protection and debate how to cater for the needs of this new group of older workers. Image credit: Ismail Sadiron Pictures / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Angeline Tan, Researcher in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies at ISIS gives us a good insight on how President Xi Jin Ping's plans to cement his legacy and how this plenum will chart social policies and intra-party plans. Image credit: EPA See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.