Morning Brief

Yesterday, Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee announced that the Overnight Policy Rate remains unchanged at 2.75%, saying the current policy setting remains appropriate and supportive amid price stability. Firdaos Rosli, Chief Economist, Ambank will be sharing his perspective on BNM’s OPR decision, and the outlook for Malaysia’s economy. This episode of The First Look was brought to...

Earlier this week, we saw a wipeout of about 700 billion US dollars from Magnificent 7 stocks due to US-Greenland uncertainty - though there’s been some recovery since. Be that as it may, the episode does call into question what the outlook of US tech stocks is, and Jonathan Curtis, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Equity will be sharing his thoughts with us. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com Se...

Malaysia’s rail ambitions are back in the spotlight, not just what we build, but how it performs and what it costs. In the Klang Valley, Rapid Rail carries millions of passengers on core urban routes, even as financial losses persist. At the national level, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is nearing operations, raising fresh questions about how big rail projects should ultimately be priced. For pe...

Malaysia is pushing forward with the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, with 70% of the framework already completed. But can it truly keep the waters safe and accessible when it does not resolve territorial disputes? For better understanding, we speak with Dr. Abdul Rahman Yaacob, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Verve Research, Australia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/liste...

The US Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs only by Feb 20, leaving importers, markets, and international partners in suspense. Dr Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, unpacks the impact on businesses and global commerce, as well as how the US and Europe are navigating a tense trade landscape. This episode of The First Look wa...

Financial markets are currently navigating what has been dubbed the 'Greenland Tariff Gambit', a significant geopolitical shock triggered by President Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations. We ask Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank what impact all these geopolitical risks have on the FX market. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Malaysia is tabling the National Climate Change Bill to give the federal government formal powers to regulate emissions and carbon markets. Climate change and sustainability expert Dr Renard Siew shares his insights into whether Malaysia’s emerging climate architecture can translate policy ambition into real-world outcomes. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The government will table a Freedom of Information Act with free access to request documents and other information from government agencies. So, why does freedom of information matter and how will the act be implemented at the federal level that satisfies international standards and not just be a token reform measure? Professor Dr Joanne Lim, Digital Media, Communications and Cultural Studies lect...

Malaysia has launched its National Education Plan 2026-2035, introducing earlier school entry, new centralised assessments and changes across the entire education pipeline. Danial Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, joins us to unpack what these reforms could mean in classrooms and for the future generations of Malaysians. This episode of The First Look was brought to...

Vietnam’s 14th Communist Party Congress is ongoing in Hanoi and will determine the country’s leadership and policy direction for the next five years. Dr Nguyễn Khắc Giang, Visiting Fellow with the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, explains what’s at stake, and how Vietnam plans to manage growth ambitions amid rising geopolitical tensions. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com...

Kuala Lumpur MPs will now play a more significant role in the city’s administration, as Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has announced the formation of five MP-led monitoring committees to oversee the DBKL 2026 Budget. We ask Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa as to how this plan will change the running of KL and also if there are any updates  to his plan for  a council-base...

China’s retail sector is showing signs of strain despite repeated stimulus measures. Catherine Lim, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence unpacks buyer fatigue, diverging spending trends between luxury and mass-market consumers, and what lies ahead for China’s household economy in 2026. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland "the easy way or the hard way" has triggered a transatlantic crisis. Dr Benjamin Barton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, talks about the different scenarios that might unfold and what would happen in a post-Trump era for Europe. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Over the past week, US President Donald Trump has floated a proposal he calls a Board of Peace, a new international body linked to Gaza that would sit outside the United Nations framework. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies tells us if this is a workable plan. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

China closed 2025 meeting its headline GDP growth target of 5%, but beneath the surface the recovery looks uneven with the final quarter, expanding at its slowest pace since Covid. Heron Lim, a lecturer of economics at ESSEC Business School, shares his insights into these numbers and what to expect when China's National People’s Congress convenes in March. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnyst...

The Federal Territories Ministry is partnering with Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia to redesign key urban infrastructure, encompassing public housing layouts and toilets to shower facilities aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles. Adrianta Aziz, the president of PAM, shares his insights into what this means for the future of KL. This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better...

Malaysia wrapped up 2025 on a stronger footing than expected. Flash estimates show the economy growing 5.7% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, beating market expectations and bringing full-year growth to around 4.9%. Can this momentum be sustained, and what is our growth outlook in 2026? Questions we pose to Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOB This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emi...

Recently, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Institute announced that homeownership among Malaysia’s middle-income M40 group has fallen below that of the low-income B40 rate.  Dr Consilz Tan, Research Fellow, Centre for Market Education & Senior Lecturer, Xiamen University Malaysia  helps us make sense of the data and if there is any validity to claims that t...

Umno’s General Assembly has wrapped, but the political signals are still unfolding. Tough rhetoric on the floor, cooperation at the top, delayed party elections and quiet symbolism around who appeared where all raise fresh questions about Umno’s direction as GE16 approaches. What really changed and what was just theatre? We’ll break it down with Dr. Azmil Mohd Tayeb, Political Scientist and Associ...

Taiwan will invest $250 billion dollars in US semiconductor manufacturing under a new trade deal, as tariffs on its goods are cut from 20% to 15%.  George Chen, Partner & Co-chair of the Digital Practice at The Asia Group gives us his insights on this and what it means for the wider semiconductor industry. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is proposing a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) mechanism for certain corruption cases, to allow those accused to pause criminal proceedings while repaying misappropriated funds and potentially avoiding lengthy trials. Criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee helps us unpack the proposal, and what it could mean for the fight against corruption. Image Credit: Shutter...

Greenland remains a fixation for President Donald Trump, who insists the United States needs the island for national security. A recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Denmark, Greenland and the US produced little sign of compromise. John Zogby, founder of Zogby Strategies, unpacks what this standoff reveals about shifting global politics. This episode of The First Look was brought to you...

Oil markets have been navigating a complex mix of geopolitics, supply dynamics and demand uncertainty with prices weak in 2025. Is the outlook different in 2026 due to possible regime change in Iran and the removal of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Sim Moh Siong, Commodity Strategist, OCBC Bank gives us his views. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament next week, triggering a national election for all 465 seats, her first since taking office. The ruling party says details will be announced on Monday, with polling expected in February. The move comes as Japan enters a key policy period, with budget discussions underway and continued pressure on the yen. Markets have already begun...

As UMNO convenes its long-delayed general assembly, Malaysia’s oldest political party faces critical questions about its role within the unity government and its identity ahead of GE16. Adib Zalkapli, Managing Director, Viewfinder Global Affairs, shares his insights on what discussions will dominate at this year's gathering, and who stands to gain in the months ahead. This episode of The First Loo...