Morning Brief

Statistics confirmed that 2020 was the worst year on record for the airline industry, we speak to the regional director at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on the outlook of this industry. The Morning Run also asked him about IATA’s digital app pass and the challenges in implementing this. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk William Ng, Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) discusses the situation on the ground for small and medium-sized businesses, and how best to re-open the economy in light of high Covid cases. Image credit: YuriAbas / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq speaks to The Morning Run about parti MUDA's stance on the September confidence vote and Tan Sri Muhyiddin's support in parliament, the need for political compromises, claims and concerns of party hopping, MUDA's political allies and partners, and thoughts on his charges. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 August marks 54 years since the establishment of ASEAN. While the bloc has been a useful forum for cooperation and engagement among the 10 member states, there have been questions about the effectiveness of ASEAN in light of the pandemic experience. We reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of ASEAN with analyst Muhd Sinatra. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced some relaxation of restrictions for fully vaccinated people. For example, allowing long-distance couples to meet and for parents to cross districts and states to visit children under 18 years old. Dr. Khoo Yoong Khean, Managing Editor, Malaysian Medical Gazette discusses how we could continue to re-open while balancing public health need...

The UK has faced one challenge after another, from Brexit to escalating Covid-19 cases last year, and now the Delta variant. Thomas Moore, Senior Investment Director at Aberdeen Standard Investments discusses his outlook and stock picks. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin maintains that he has majority support in Parliament, and will be tabling a vote of confidence in his premiership when the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes in September. Pakatan Harapan stresses that the issue of legitimacy should be dealt with immediately. We speak to Subang MP Wong Chen on PH’s position on the political impasse. Image credit: Shutterstock.com...

As investor interest in the environment, social and governance (ESG) priorities increase, there’s debate about whether linking executive pay to sustainability goals would encourage better outcomes. PwC recently conducted a study on this issue, and we discuss the findings with Indra Dhanu Dipak, Director of People & Organisation at PwC Malaysia. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystud...

Pankaj C. Kumar, financial market columnist, fields questions on whether Malaysia's beleaguered stock market is a 'buy', in the midst of a political crisis and record-high daily Covid cases. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has seen a sudden surge in Covid cases with the government taking a hard stance by stepping up restrictions, cutting flights and increasing testing. Professor Ben Cowling, Epidemiologist from Hong Kong University tells us if this approach will work, whilst discussing the vaccination rollout program in the country. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

With Malaysia a key trading hub and a critical manufacturing hub that is tightly bound by global industry value chains, government-imposed lockdowns have significant global consequences on the semiconductor industry, impacting the car industry and chipmakers. We speak to Dato Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association on the impact of current lockdowns to the...

Although recent GDP results for Eurozone economies have been mixed, the overall outlook remains positive compared to other parts of the world coping with a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19. Economist Daniela Ordonez walks us through the factors keeping Eurozone economies afloat, as well as the potential downside risks on the horizon. Image Credit: MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio....

We speak to Dr Bridget Welsh about the 4Ds, Deflection, Defiance, Denial and Disrespect, adopted by our political masters following Prime Minister Muhyiddin's assertion that he still retains a majority as he pushes the confidence vote to September. Image credit: Adam Yusof/Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sensing weakness in the Perikatan government, UMNO is split down the middle: stay in a shaky coalition or forge a new and possibly more lucrative one?  Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow from the Ilham Centre discusses with us. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sensing weakness in the Perikatan government, UMNO is split down the middle: stay in a shaky coalition or forge a new and possibly more lucrative one?  Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow from the Ilham Centre discusses with us. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Previndran Singhe CEO of Zerin Properties on the current situation of commercial properties, how landlords and developers are evolving as trends such as WFH are likely to stick. We further deep dive into the dire situation of the hotel sector as we see more properties on sale. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short of beds and medical personnel, deaths and Covid casualties at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang is mounting, even as the political crisis rolls on. Klang MP Charles Santiago explains.  Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The start of August marked 6 months since the military coup in Myanmar, which saw the ouster of National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the return of a junta governing body. The junta chief, General Min Aung Hlaing has extended the timeline for elections to August 2023, and also named himself as caretaker Prime Minister. Meanwhile, ASEAN is no closer to appointing a special envoy...

Last Friday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong announced that the state of emergency will be extended in Sarawak until February 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This means that the state elections will not be held until the Emergency is lifted. We discuss the political implications of the election delay, as well as how Sarawak politics figure in the tussle for power at the federal level. Dr. James Chin...

We speak to Iskandar Ismail from MYCC (Malaysia Competition Commission) on the P-hailing industry following the recent announcement that the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is giving Foodpanda and Grab 14-days to present suggestions to improve their services. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we're seeing a flurry of visits from the Biden administration to Asia, we ask Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director of the Wilson Centre what do these trips signify. The Morning Run also asks him Biden's current strategy against China and whether Southeast Asian nations can maintain a balance in relations between the US and China. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

We speak to Bridget Welsh about the political implications from recent Parliamentary proceedings and the rebuke by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. With the situation in flux, we ask her who will likely emerge victoriously and be the kingmaker to decide whether Perikatan Nasional can hang on to power? Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers were informed on Saturday afternoon that the special parliamentary sitting that was supposed to resume today, will be postponed for two weeks from July 29th. To help, break down the constitutional aspect of this parliamentary postponement is constitutional lawyer, New Sin Yew. Image Credit: Jaggat Rashidi | Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has introduced a total of eight stimulus packages worth RM530 billion to combat the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, including fiscal injections of around RM83 billion. How effective has this aid actually been for businesses and households? We pose this question to Sri Murniati of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and discuss her expectations for Bud...

As Beijing continues its clampdown across multiple economic sectors, we speak to Tom Westbrook from Reuters on the longer-term implications of how tech companies plan to access global capital markets and China's forecasted 2H GDP numbers. Image credit: Poring studio / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.