Morning Brief

The Selangor government has announced that employers will be able to buy the Covid-19 vaccine for their workers through the Selangkah app. We speak to Dr Abed Onn, an Occupational Health Physician representing the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Malaysia (AOEMM) for insight into how Covid-19 is changing the face of workplace safety. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio...

Schools have been subjected to intermittent closures for more than a year, with students suffering from the constant interruptions. What would a consistent and effective system for online learning during the closures look like? We speak to Chan Soon Seng, CEO of Teach For Malaysia to find out. Image Credit: NAUFAL ZAQUAN | Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does rising global debt mean for global recovery? Should we be concerned? The Morning Run speaks to Steve Cochrane, the Chief APAC Economist at Moody's Analytics, to break down the debt situation, what we should be watching, and at what point do we need to sound the alarm for global debt. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mass testing in Selangor state is underway, to identify potential asymptomatic carriers of the Covid-19 virus. This is as the state has consistently recorded the highest number of new daily cases in the country. We check in with Dr Farhan Rusli, Public Health Medicine Specialist and Director of Selangor Task Force (COVID-19) Operations to understand the reason for the mass screenings, and to get t...

Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes on the Gaza strip yesterday after Palestinian forces fired rockets into southern Israel. The UN has called the escalating conflict a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, but it's one that has been brewing for decades. To help us understand the history and the potential avenues of resolution to this conflict, we reach out to Dr. Liyana Kayali, Lecturer for the Cen...

The Department of Statistics Malaysia, or DOSM, revealed that Malaysia will be an ageing nation by 2030, with people aged 60 years and over surpassing 15% of the population. The Morning Run speaks to Hawati Abdul Hamid, Senior Research Associate with the Khazanah Research Institute, about the possible implications of these demographics, economic policy, and the job market. Image Credit: AhXiong |...

UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund, and DM Analytics recently produced the final installment of their report "Families on the Edge". Based on this, Stephen Barrett, UNICEF's Chief of Social Policy discusses much-needed policy responses and reveals that B40 families still need cash assistance and that 4 in 10 surveyed are vaccine-hesitant. Image credit: Try_my_best / Shutterstock See omnystudio...

Sarawak's State Assembly is set to dissolve in less than a month, with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg seeking an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to discuss the subject. In tandem with that, there has been growing upset over the government's implementation of MCO3.0, culminating in #KerajaanGagal trending on Twitter over the Raya weekend. We speak to Professor James Chin,...

While the US is relaxing its measures for vaccinated persons, countries like India and Brazil are still in the midst of a shocking surge in Covid-19 infections. In addition, concerns have risen over a "black fungus" affecting recovered Covid-19 patients in India. We speak to Benjamin Cowling, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology from the University of Hong Kong about this new complication,...

As we head into MCO 3.0, we speak to Tricia Yeoh, CEO of independent think tank, The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) on the implications of this lockdown and whether there are any fiscal headroom left. Image credit: MUHAMMAD IZZAT TERMIZIE / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UOB Economist Julia Goh unpacks the recent GDP numbers and its bright spots, Q2 perspective in view of MCO 3.0 and the potential implications of higher inflation on consumers and businesses. Image credit: Shutterstsock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Tang from Luno Malaysia helps us understand the different cryptocurrencies, their respective applications as well as the potential to disrupt financial markets and how investors should approach investing in cryptocurrencies. Image Credit: lucadp |shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is allowing the resumption of the 2011 RM9 billion project to construct littoral combat ships helmed by Boustead Naval Shipyard to protect economic livelihoods, according to Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri. The project is being probed for corruption after it stalled in 2019. Why has this project been delayed for so long? We tap writer and defense blogger Marhalim Abas...

Who would qualify as economic frontliners? When and how will they be getting their vaccination? We speak to Edwin Ho, Occupational Health Physician and Council member of the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia on this. Image credit: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who would qualify as economic frontliners? When and how will they be getting their vaccination? We speak to Edwin Ho, Occupational Health Physician and Council member of the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia on this. Image credit: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who would qualify as economic frontliners? When and how will they be getting their vaccination? We speak to Edwin Ho, Occupational Health Physician and Council member of the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia on this. Image credit: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With glaring inequities in the supply and distribution of vaccines, the Biden administration has backed a plan to waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments. We speak to Dr. Lindsay Newman, Director of Economics & Country Risk from IHS Markit on whether this could provide a solution to help end the pandemic. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/li...

Pakatan Harapan's frustration at the govt's handling of the pandemic and the economy has prompted the formation of a series of shadow committees in the belief that it do a better job. Sunway University's political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat discusses the implications. Image Credit: Jasni / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's key industries, including plantations, timber and manufacturing, are caught in a conundrum, as a govt freeze on foreign workers curtail their fortunes, as calls for the freeze to be lifted gain momentum. Credit: ayarx oren \ shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin from, Malaysia Retail Association discusses why the lack of consultation and inaccurate data will hamper the good intentions set out with HIDE. Image credit: JiaChengg / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Ong from HAPA explains the issues and logic behind why the current restaurant closures leaves a lot more to be desired and the implications this will have to the industry in terms of business and job losses. Image credit: TY Lim / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The domestic clamour for the Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled is growing louder, as Japan extends its third state of emergency until the end of May. With the Games around 10 weeks away, can the government bring the rising case numbers under control and speed up the vaccine roll-out in order to hold the event safely? We ask Tokyo-based journalist William Pesek for his thoughts. Image Credit: Sayuri I...

Last year, the European Union and China finally concluded negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, intended to promote market access between the two. However, Sino-European ties have become more fraught of late, with concerns rising in the EU over China's treatment of its Uighur minority. Will this mean the end of this long-awaited agreement? We speak to Nick Marro, Lead Analyst...

Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ Bank discusses Bank Negara Malaysia’s decision to leave the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged, and the implications of imposing MCO 3.0 and delaying Phase 3 of the National Immunisation Programme. Image Credit: Gwoeii / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendy Ang, Country Head of Transaction Banking at Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia shares the findings of the bank’s survey on the impact of the pandemic on SMEs, and how they are adapting digitally. Image Credit: Wright Studio | shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.