Morning Brief

The Morning Run Team takes a look at the front pages of the newspapers, and takes a look at other regional economies weathering the Covid-19 pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia cut the overnight policy rate by 50bps to 2.00% as expected citing the weaker global economic conditions. To find out whether more cuts are in store and the state of the domestic economy, we speak to Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB Malaysia for her views on the matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Bank Negara’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting, we discuss the likely outcome and outlook for the Malaysian economy with OCBC economist Wellian Wiranto. Contrary to street expectations, Wellian believes BNM could hold rates for the time being, as the loans moratorium reduces the impact of an interest rate cut. He also shares his thoughts on the impact of the Conditional MCO and the...

09:20 - PNB assures that the payout from its fund will remain competitive this year, despite a fall in net income resulting from Covid-19. 13:10 - Malaysia is not the only country looking to reopen its economy, others include Singapore and Hong Kong, who both stand at risk of recession. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As tensions between Umno and Bersatu rise, will we see any resolution or will we see more drastic developments? Suggestions have been made that Bersatu members should just join with Umno while others have called for Bersatu to rejoin the Pakatan Harapan coalition. Helping us to unpack this is Dr Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Travel has been halted all over the world, forcing airlines and aerospace players to dramatically cut costs and even lay off thousands of employees. Many suggest that the industry will fundamentally change because of COVID-19. So what will the new normal look like for the industry? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister announced an easing of restrictions in which a number of economic sectors were allowed to be open today onwards under a conditional MCO. Malaysians have been split about their views on the conditional MCO fearing a rise in Covid-19 infection rates with several state governments opting out from this conditional MCO. Focus Malaysia's P Gunasegaram gives us his take. S...

China was the first country to go into a lockdown early this year and was also the first to emerge but can their economy restart? Gary Ng, Asia Pacific Economist at Natixis tells us what are the issues they face and the policy options available. He also tells us what we can expect at the important National People's Congress that will meet in May, where President Xi is likely to restate China's eco...

Alvin Tai, Soft Commodity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence warns that palm oil prices are correlated to oil and explains why. He also gives his view on CPO price direction based on supply-demand conditions and who among the regional planters are in the best position to come out unscathed from the Covid 19 crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the first day of the conditional movement control order, The Morning Run crew goes over what the biggest changes are, as well which individual states are diverging from the federal government's guidelines in order to maintain stricter controls. Also, Bank Negara Malaysia made a clarification on its loan moratoriums which drew much ire on social media over the weekend as well as other top busine...

As the impact of COVID-19 continues to take grip on the economy, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) has forecasted that 2.4 million Malaysians may lose their jobs. This means we could see unemployment spike to as much as 15%. We speak to Dr. Niaz Asadullah about which groups are more vulnerable to the effects of unemployment than others, as well as what measures the government nee...

Despite a population of 95 million people, Vietnam has just under 300 cases of Covid-19. Dr Le Hong Hiep, a Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute explains how the country achieved this feat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lilianne Fan, Co-Founder & International Director, Geutanyoe Foundation, and Chairperson, Rohingya Working Group, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network makes the case for treating Rohingya refugees with more humanity and discusses possible solutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lilianne Fan, Co-Founder & International Director, Geutanyoe Foundation, and Chairperson, Rohingya Working Group, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network makes the case for treating Rohingya refugees with more humanity and discusses possible solutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Cheng Kiat, President of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) says the government should scrap the approval process for businesses to operate as it is taking too long, and just do spot checks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US GDP in the first quarter of of -4.8%, China's $42b bank-dividend bonanza and a global central bank gold buying frenzy hog the international headlines. The Morning Run crew spill the beans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Bar has called on the government to provide leeway to law firms to operate during the MCO. Earlier this month, de facto law minister Dato’ Takiyuddin Hassan had asked law firms not to reopen during the MCO where all non-essential activities have to be paused. Law firms as a category by itself have not been classified as essential services by the Health Ministry or by MITI. Howe...

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and also discusses sectors reopening under the MCO, New Zealand declaring victory over COVID-19 and rollercoaster oil prices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the glaring absence of Kim Jong Un from the public eye, speculation is rife that the North Korean leader might be ill or worse. Dr. Hoo Chiew-Ping, Senior Lecturer, National University of Malaysia (UKM), discusses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should investors be putting their money into debt securities? And what’s the outlook for Malaysia’s bond market as foreign funds pull out from emerging markets, and the potential of a sovereign downgrade? Jesse Liew, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Fixed Income, Principal Asset Management discusses these questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bringing you the morning headlines on Covid-19, SMEs running out of cash, a Deputy Minister being charged in court for breaking MCO rules, and don’t swim near the Singapore coastline. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lives of the B40 have been most affected by Covid-19 and the subsequent MCO which is now into phase 4. With many unable to work, basic necessities have become a luxury few can afford. To help, the government was supposed to distribute food packages via the social welfare department however there have been some confusion here. For more on this we speak to YB Fahmi for his view on the matter. Se...

Peter Berezin, Chief Global Investment Strategist, BCA Research talks about where he’d put his money now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of a global pandemic and stalled economy, Malaysia is stuck in limbo thanks to a Perikatan govt that is demonstrably at sea, worsened by a dislodged Pakatan coalition that remains shell-shocked, says Malaysian Insight CEO, Jahabar Sadiq. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and also discusses Thailand's falling tourism, Singapore's COVID-19 infections, central banks meeting this week and Facebook launching a Zoom rival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.