Morning Brief

President Joe Biden is looking to plug the gap in semiconductor production in the US while China is likewise aiming for self-sufficiency. The trade war is a tech war. Abishur Prakash, Geopolitical Futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future discusses the dynamics of the semiconductor industry and how Southeast Asian countries should navigate between these two superpowers. Image Credit: Shutte...

As DAP heads towards its party elections in a couple of months, Adib Zalkapli, Director at Bower Group Asia discusses succession, the party’s reputation as a Chinese chauvinist, and if it can succeed in attracting more Malay members and voters. Image Credit: Gwoeii | Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tender for the MRT3 Circle Line is expected to be opened by August, this year. The ultimate cost of the project is as yet unclear, but reports have emerged that MRT Corp is also considering a private funding arrangement of around 10-30%. We speak to Pankaj C. Kumar, Financial market columnist and a former chief investment officer, about the feasibility of this plan. Image Credit: Shutterstock....

Dale Fisher, Professor of Infectious Diseases, National University of Singapore discusses the implications of pausing the use of certain vaccines like the ones by Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca, and the criteria that could guide governments in deciding which to drop. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Hoe Lee Leng, Regional Plantation Sector Head from RHB Research about rising CPO prices, demands from India and China, and risks in the industry. We also ask her about her top picks for the palm oil sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Hoe Lee Leng, Regional Plantation Sector Head from RHB Research about rising CPO prices, demands from India and China, and risks in the industry. We also ask her about her top picks for the palm oil sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that federal government doesn’t have much money left after spending for budget and stimulus packages. Did we really spend 600 billion ringgit? We look into this matter with Sri Murniati Yusuf, Research Manager from Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Image credit: MUHAMMAD IZZAT TERMIZIE / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/...

The Philippines continues to report a new wave of Covid 19 cases while vaccination rollout has been slow to take off. Cleve Arguelles, doctorate candidate at the Department of Political and Social Change, Australian National University discusses the difficulties in fighting the pandemic, and the government’s response. Image Credit:EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of Covid-19 cases in schools, Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Internal Medicine Specialist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur discusses the most optimal response, the pace of vaccination, and if Malaysians are becoming too complacent. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world's largest vaccination campaign gets underway, it has become apparent that progress across different countries is uneven, to say the least. Some reports suggest wealthier nations will be vaccinated as much as 25 times faster than poorer ones. We speak to X for more insight into the pace and trajectory of the current rollouts, and the economic implications which could arise. Image Credi...

Malaysia's Welfare Department celebrated its 75th Anniversary this week with several policy measures to strengthen its services. We speak to Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Norma Mansor, Director of Social Wellbeing Research Centre of Universiti Malaya for her thoughts on our social protection landscape, and what the system needs to survive another 75 years. Image Credit: Ham_Hassan / Shutterstock.com...

Last week, we learned that Celcom and Digi are headed for a merger which would result in Malaysia’s largest telco provider, but as with any M&A deal, the question is: what are the synergies? And what will this deal mean for the rest of the sector? The Morning Run speaks to Tan J Young, Senior Analyst withHong Leong Investment Bank, to find out. Image credit: Mickey12 / Shutterstock.com o...

There are over 100 housing projects that have been abandoned by developers, and the government is looking to amend the Housing Development Act 1996 (Act 118). Khairul Anuar Shaharuddin, lawyer, also discusses policies to protect buyers and take stricter actions against errant developers. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thornton Matheson, Senior Fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center unpacks the technicalities of President Joe Biden’s proposal to impose a global minimum corporate tax rate to fund its massive budget. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudhir Vadaketh, a political commentator, discusses the implications of Heng Swee Keat’s decision to step aside as designated successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the likely leader to take over. Sudhir is also the co-author of Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus. Image Credit: How Hwee Young | EPA See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


The underrepresentation of women in parliament and state legislative assemblies is a long-standing issue, with quotas typically proposed to raise participation. However, some parties are sceptical of the quota system and its efficacy, so we ask Danesh Prakash Chacko, Director of Tindak Malaysia about other options available to empower women to be more active in politics. Image Credit: Shutterstoc...

A recorded telephone conversation, purportedly between Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has gone viral, causing controversy. Both men have denied suggestions from the audio that Umno and PKR are working together, but is this yet another nail in the coffin of Zahid's leadership of Umno? We speak to Professor Dr. Azmi Hassan, political analyst a...

Alexander Wong, Managing Editor and Co-Founder of the tech news portal, SoyaCincau discusses the government’s plan to accelerate 5G rollout, and the implications of the merger between Celcom and DiGi. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, Southeast Asia was one of the most promising regions in the world for economic growth. But that was a pandemic ago. With Covid-19 vaccination rollouts happening across the world and vastly different economic responses seen even within our neighbouring countries, we speak to Joseph Incalcaterra, HSBC's Chief Economist for ASEAN, about what a recovery will look like for ASEAN in 20...

The water pollution incidents of 2019 and 2020 have shone a spotlight on the inadequacies of the legal framework for environmental crimes. Environmentalists and policy commentators have long-called for an overhaul of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, the cornerstone of Malaysia’s environmental conservation policy. How should the law be updated to take into account the current climate crisi...

Varun Mittal, Global Emerging Markets FinTech Leader, at EY Singapore gives his take on Grab’s listing via a SPAC merger - why SPAC, why US and how would you value a super app? Image credit: Lens Hitam / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosli Khan, a transport management consultant discusses the need for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in view that KTM already has dual-tracking lines. The government has decided to revive the project to its original northern alignment involving Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. Image credit: Farizul Hafiz Stock | Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To date, Brazil has recorded more than 13 million Covid-19 cases, recently breaking a tragic new record with 4,000 Covid-related deaths recorded in one day. President Jair Bolsonaro's administration has been heavily criticised for mishandling the pandemic, and plunging the country into an economic sinkhole from which recovery seems difficult. We speak to Mac Margolis, Bloomberg Opinion columnist a...

As our administrative capital, Putrajaya is a beautiful, sprawling metropolis- but it lacks the bustling economy of Kuala Lumpur. Now, Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has said that Putrajaya will be developed into an international recreational city over the next 25 years, with reports surfacing of proposals for 'glamping' and a Safari Park. But will these measures turn Putrajaya i...

The Basel Convention came into force in January this year, aimed at governing the trade of plastic waste to prevent developing countries from becoming dumping grounds. Dr. Agamutu Pariatamby, Professor at the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University discusses his concerns about allowing plastic waste imports, and opportunities for improvements in the recycling industry. S...