Morning Brief

Mark Rozell discusses priorities and strategies President Biden will take in pushing forward his agenda in an increasingly partisan Congress. Image Credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Birch from ANZ Research helps us navigate the challenges of Australia's economy during Covid and how many sectors are successfully repivoting in these challenging times. Image Credit: xtock / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The emergency has forced Umno to postpone its general assembly and party polls, which were scheduled for the end of the month. Yet, divisions within the party are clearly forming. Adib Zalkapli, Director at Bower Group Asia, weighs in on what is happening within the party and the relationship it has with its other coalition partners. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Malaysia is taking legal action at the World Trade Organisation against the European Union and member states France and Lithuania for restricting palm oil-based biofuels as part of an EU renewable energy directive. Khor Yu Leng, Economist at Segi Enam Advisors, tells us what is at stake for the country. Image Credit: nelzajamal / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Azrul Mohd Khalib from the Galen Centre shares the perils of making the Covid-19 vaccination compulsory and how to win the hearts of anti-Vaxxers and fence-sitters. Image Credit: siam.pukkato / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China, said to be the source of Covid-19, reported Q4 GDP growth of 6.5% and a full-year expansion of 2.3%, the only one of the world’s biggest economies to not contract in 2020, following the virus' global scourge and destruction of life, limb and business. Questions abound, including what drove growth and when will China pass the US in economic bragging rights. Xiao Chun Xu, Assistant Dire...

Another Covid-19 aid package has been announced, this time worth RM15 billion, to help people cope with MCO 2.0. Significantly smaller than the RM250 billion aid package announced after the first MCO last year and short of details in terms of speed, delivery and direct fiscal injects, observers ask, 'is this enough'? Laurence Todd, Director of Research and Development at The Institute for Democrac...

The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 was gazetted last Thursday. Constitutional lawyer Dato’ Malik Imtiaz Sarwar explains what impact it has on Parliament's power and whether laws will still be passed during this period. Image Credit: Jaggat Rashidi / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitch's rating outlooks for global banks have turned ‘Negative' for most jurisdictions compared to 2020, while only APAC Emerging Markets received a 'Stable' rating. What is driving these outlooks? The Morning Run finds out from James Longsdon, Fitch's Global Head of Bank Ratings. Image Credit: Willy Barton / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fahmi Fadzil shares PKR's position and their perspective on the Proclamation of Emergency. Image Credit: Ismiza binti Ishak / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmaniaga has inked a deal with Chinese biotech firm Sinovac to fill and finish 14 million doses of Covid-19 for Malaysians. But with questions starting to emerge over the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine, we speak to Emeritus Professor Dr P.T. Thomas, Executive Dean at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, to help us understand vaccine approvals and some of the data co...

James Dorsey, Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies & the Middle East Institute, helps us understand why countries in the Gulf area are restoring relations with Qatar now, and the limitations faced by incoming President Joe Biden in managing Middle Eastern affairs thanks to Trump’s actions. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Following the reintroduction of the Movement Control Order (MCO) last week, the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office released a statement saying all trials and hearings of criminal cases during this time are to be postponed. We speak to Salim Bashir, President of the Malaysian Bar, about how the MCO has affected law firms ant the industry, as well as the challenges of conducting cases over virtu...

With the public healthcare system at breaking point and Covid-19 cases rising in the country, calls have once again come for the private healthcare sector to take more of an active role in the coronavirus fight. After this week's announcement of a national state of emergency, in which the government could potentially nationalise private hospital assets and resources, we speak to Dr Kuljit Singh, P...

Outgoing US President Donald Trump's term in office has been marked by an escalation in tensions between the US and China. Now that Joe Biden is poised to take over the White House next week, and with the recent surprise release of Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy, we speak to Dr Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, for his thoughts on whether the Trump administration achie...

Dr Geoffrey Williams, Professor at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST), discusses the reasons why Malaysia is losing out in FDI compared to Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. He calls on the government to refresh its attitude towards foreign investors and to drop protectionist measures. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The declaration of a state of emergency yesterday caught many Malaysians by surprise. Critics have raised concerns that there were ulterior motives to this move, so we reached out to political commentator Dr Bridget Welsh for insight into the political implications of the emergency. Image Credit: Abdul Razak Latif / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commodity prices have staged a strong rally since the third quarter of 2020, and in particular, food components have seen strong price increases rather than energy commodities like oil or coal. Is this a cause for concern over inflation or a positive sign for ASEAN economies? The Morning Run speaks with Lee Ju Ye, Economist at Maybank Kim Eng, to find out. Other related interviews: - Sime Darby Pl...

Former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry and DAP lawmaker, Dr Ong Kian Ming, weighs in on how the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic could be improved, including whether it was necessary to declare an emergency and also its implications on investor sentiment. Image Credit: mokjc / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has been put under a state of emergency until August 1st, or until such a time as the Covid-19 pandemic comes under control. Bersatu leaders have since come out to defend the decision, insisting the priority is to tackle the healthcare crisis, and not the volatile political situation. We speak to Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Information Chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, to get the full stor...

Laurence Todd, Director of Research and Development at IDEAS, comments on the implications of the impending MCO and how else the government can better support businesses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's majority support in the Dewan Rakyat has come under pressure with the withdrawal of Machang MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub. As UMNO is also slated to discuss breaking with Bersatu at its general assembly at the end of the month, and with the second Movement Control Order newly-declared, we speak to Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow at the Ilham Ce...

Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Senior Fellow at the Miller Center, University of Virginia, discusses moves to remove Donald Trump, why impeachment is important even if it may not be achieved by 20th January, how recent events will change the Republican Party, and the risk of escalating violence. Image Credit: vasilis asvestas / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining palm oil and products from Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries, following allegations of forced labour. Do these allegations hold any truth? The Morning Run speaks to Haris Arshad, Managing Director of Sime Darby Oils, Sime Darby Plantation’s downstream arm, to find out. We also ask him about reputation and earnings risk f...

Now that the ROS has rejected MUDA's application to become a political party, what are the movement's next steps? Do they still intend to contest in GE15? The Morning Run speaks to MUDA Co-founder and Muar MP Syed Saddiq about this, as well as his views on reaching across party lines to form a government and his thoughts on GE15. Image Credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...