Morning Brief

As the economy reopens and the country transitions to an endemic Covid-19 strategy, employers are faced with the conundrum of how to manage the return of unvaccinated employees to the workplace. How are businesses approaching this issue? We get the position of the Malaysia Employers Federation (MEF), as well as their wishlist for Budget 2022. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/liste...

The government is reportedly looking to tighten Malaysian cybersecurity laws, and is preparing recommendations for Cabinet consideration, according to comments by Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions). What will governments and businesses need to do to bolster cybersecurity efforts? We discuss the cybersecurity landscape and potential polic...

Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ Bank, discusses Singapore monetary policy, the impact of inflation, and expected growth for the next year. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Professor Steve Tsang, Director of SOAS China Institute on how China-Taiwan tensions will play out and whether China will be able to “reunite” with Taiwan by peaceful means or will it all end by force? Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Juita Mohamad from the Perth USAsia Centre gives her insights on Malaysia's increase in its debt-to-GDP limit to 65% and distils the consequences of a higher debt ceiling and how the proceeds should be directed to help Malaysians in need. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Theiva Lingam from Sahabat Alam Malaysia gives her perspective on the latest amendments being run through on the Wildlife Conservation Bill 2021 in Parliament and what needs to be done in terms of awareness enforcement. Image credit: murrayfisher / Pixabay.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government lifted the ban on interstate travel this week on Monday 11 October. We take the pulse of the domestic travel and tourism sector as travel resumes, and also look ahead to wishlist items for Budget 2022 that would aid the recovery of Malaysian tour and travel operators. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recently tabled 12th Malaysia Plan acknowledged that more needed to be done to improve transport infrastructure and set out the targets of increasing usage of public transport as well as promote green mobility. The goals in themselves are laudable, but is there sufficient clarity on how we’re going to achieve these targets? We review the 12MP with Ziad Razak, Research Advisor at The Cent...

We speak to Philip Goh from IATA on how the airline industry will navigate these future storms and whether we'll finally see a light at the end of the tunnel as Malaysia begins to reopen to domestic tourism. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF), in its latest findings, reported that a majority of its members in the low- and middle-income groups, are likely to live in poverty in old age unless mitigation measures are taken. Pankaj C. Kumar, business commentator tells us what policy measures can be adopted to rectify this serious issue. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

We discuss with Kuching MP Dr. Kelvin Yii on how we can better support mental health for Malaysians with the Government's launch of the National Strategic Plan for Mental Health 2020 - 2025, as we celebrate World Mental Health day.  Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaludin said that the government would procure 150,000 treatment packages of a Covid-19 anti-viral drug produced by Merck called Molnupiravir. The drug is being described by many quarters as a gamechanger in the fight against Covid-19. Based on trials conducted so far, the medication was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% in patie...

Last week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaludin said that the government would procure 150,000 treatment packages of a Covid-19 anti-viral drug produced by Merck called Molnupiravir. The drug is being described by many quarters as a gamechanger in the fight against Covid-19. Based on trials conducted so far, the medication was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% in patie...

US-China relations appear to remain cool under the Biden administration while Taiwan’s fate is the biggest uncertainty in the region, says Dr. Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer In Asian Studies from the University of Melbourne. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic has inarguably set back efforts to eliminate poverty among Malaysian society. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the pandemic raised the incidence of absolute poverty to 8.4% in 2020, compared to 5.6% in 2019. The government has reiterated its commitment to tackle poverty and income inequality under the 12th Malaysia Plan, with the aim of eradicating hardcore...

Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Physician, talks about Malaysia’s readiness for interstate travel and indeed, whether international borders can reopen. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s small businesses have withered in the face of the full fury of the pandemic, prompting the question of what more can be done to save them, with Budget ‘22 looming. Image credit:  Carlos Huang / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Melaka state assembly has been thrown into turmoil after four assemblymen withdrew support from the ruling government coalition this week. In response, the Melaka Governor Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam dissolved the state assembly paving the way for elections in 60 days, but will this lead to a resurgence in cases? We discuss the political ramifications of the chaos in Melaka with political commenta...

Professor Kim Kyung Hyun gives us his perspective behind the success of South Korean soft power and the leverage it gives South Korea in the global economy and geopolitics. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 10 hours of debate on Monday in the Singaporean parliament, a controversial law aimed at countering foreign interference in domestic affairs was passed. Dubbed the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act aka (FICA), the law allows authorities to order social media sites and Internet providers to disclose user information or block content that they deem hostile. James Gomez, Director of As...

Is raising the average household income to 10,000 ringgit per month by 2025 realistic? Calvin Cheng from ISIS provides a reality check, his perspective on minimum wage, and social protection goals under the 12th Malaysia Plan. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government has allocated nearly RM3 billion towards prioritizing green growth. They have also pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% by 2030. How viable are these targets and what's missing from the 12MP in terms of environmental sustainability? We assess the government's commitment to the green agenda wi...

Michelle Leung from Bloomberg Intelligence Asia explains how serious the power crunch currently is, the major causes for such a severe power shortage in China, and what they can do to prevent another energy crisis in the future. Image credit: stevepb / Pixabay.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh helps us explain the significance of the Pandora Papers leak and how this intricate web of setting up offshore firms works, as well as whether the Malaysian government can stop these loopholes since it's been under mounting pressure to widen the tax base. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 12th Malaysia Plan has stated that 50 percent of the total basic development expenditure, will be channelled to the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak. The rationale being to narrow the development gap. Dr Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute gives a history lesson whilst telling us what the solutions are. Image credit: Shutterstock...