Morning Brief

Was the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord truly a landmark peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, as claimed by U. President Trump, or merely a symbolic gesture to project diplomatic success? We speak to Dr. Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer, Australian National University for his insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flood risk has been made a key factor in approving all new housing developments in Malaysia as of last week. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof says the move aims to protect homebuyers from projects built in flood-prone areas. How will this affect developers and consumers moving forward? We find out from Dr. Joshua Netto, Director, Blue Stone Management, a company that specialises in...

The spotlight was on Kuala Lumpur this week as world and regional leaders, including US President Donald Trump, gathered for the 47th ASEAN Summit. While the agenda focused on cooperation and sustainability, ongoing challenges, from the South China Sea to Myanmar, continue to test the bloc’s resolve. We speak to Shannon Teoh, Malaysia Bureau Chief at The Straits Times, for his take on what unfolde...

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two biggest oil companies, to cut off funding for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The decision comes just days after Russia launched 28 missiles and more than 400 drones across multiple Ukrainian cities. Dr. Sonia Mycak, Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, joins us to share her insights. Image Credit: Shutters...

The 47th ASEAN Summit will take place shortly in Kuala Lumpur, against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics. We interview Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, on how global geopolitics and geoeconomics have redefined this summit and Malaysia’s economic trajectory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US markets were roiled a week ago amid growing investor concerns of credit risks affecting US regional banks following the failure of  car loan company Tricolor and car parts maker First Brands. We ask Herman Chan, Senior Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence if US regional banks are under stress and which under his coverage are more resilient. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/list...

GLCs and GLICs play an outsized role in the Malaysian economy - but is there more chaff than wheat in the crowded ecosystem? And how can we hold these entities which have both commercial and social mandates to better account? We discuss this with independent business writer P. Gunasegaram. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As U.S. tariffs take effect, how are China’s tech giants holding up, and can their growth keep pace with or even surpass their American rivals? For insights, we speak with Steven Tseng, senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female prime minister, a landmark moment in a political landscape long dominated by men. Michael Cucek, Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at the Japan Campus of Temple University, talks about how her leadership might reshape Japan’s economy, gender politics, and role on the global stage. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener...

As China tightens export controls on rare earths, the global supply chain is being reshaped, with the US turning to allies like Australia to secure new sources of this critical resource. To understand what’s at stake we speak with Trung Ghi, Head of Energy and Utilities Practice at Arthur D. Little in Asia Pacific. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kuala Lumpur is set to host the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in a few days, the pinnacle of Malaysia’s chairmanship of the bloc. The event is touted as one of the largest in history, with a long-list of world leaders in attendance, including US President Donald Trump. What might be the outcomes of the summit? We discuss this with Dr. Khoo Ying Hooi of Universiti Malaya. Image Credit: Shu...

Last Friday, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled in favor of Sabah,  declaring that the federal government acted unlawfully by withholding 40% of the state’s revenue from 1974 to 2021. Prof. James Chin, Professor in Asian Studies, University of Tasmania tells us what the ramifications of this are especially since the Sabah elections will be held soon. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystu...

FTSE Russell  has announced that Vietnam will  be upgrading from frontier to Emerging markets in September 2026 after a final review in March. This upgrade is expected to draw strong investment interest, with passive inflows estimated at around 1.5 billion US dollars and potentially more from active investors. Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research, ANZ tells us how the Vietnamese economy will...

Last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the government is considering several measures, including a ban on smartphones for students under 16, in the wake of several shocking crimes involving underaged perpetrators. Goh Cia Yee, criminal lawyer, joins us in discussing the legal and social aspects of juvenile crime. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The KLIA aerotrain continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons having suffered nearly two dozen disruptions in just 3 months since it resumed services. Who bears the responsibility for these mishaps and what does it say about broader upgrades to the national airport? We discuss this with aviation infrastructure specialist Khair Mirza, Modalis Infrastructure Partners.  Image Credit: Shut...

Alvin Tai, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, remains positive on the palm oil sector for the rest of the year, despite weaker soybean prices after China stopped buying from the U.S. However, he notes that the 2026 outlook will hinge on Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel mandate and its implementation. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is looking to introduce legislation that would hold senders and recipients of goods accountable for overloaded lorries, closing a loophole that some in the industry have long been pointing out. How far will this go to prevent accidents caused by the overloading of haulage vehicles? We hear from Prof. Dr. Farhan Sadullah of University Putra Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com Se...

Perikatan Nasional has tabled its own response to Budget 2026 under the theme “Fixing the Structure, Revitalising the Economy, and Easing the People’s Burden”. Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, the MP for Machang from Bersatu discusses PN’s key criticisms of the government’s fiscal strategy and its alternative. Wan Ahmad also clarifies his recent suspension from his party. Brought to you by Mah S...

Similar to previous years, the education sector is the biggest beneficiary under Budget 2026 with a headline allocation of RM66 billion. But are funds being channelled to address the structural issues that plague our education system? We get reactions to the education budget with Dr. Wan Chang Da of Taylor’s University. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life Image Credit: Shutte...

The Ministry of Defence was allocated RM21.7 billion ringgit, a 3% increase from last year. How far will this funding go in enhancing Malaysia’s defence capabilities and safeguarding national security? We get insights from Marhalim Abas, Freelance Writer On Defence and National Security Issues. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio....

The U.S. and China have been trading blows this week over cooking oil, soybeans and renewed tariff threats, a confrontation that could have serious repercussions for the global economy. Dr. Deborah K. Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, believes Trump’s gamble that Xi will back down is unlikely to pay off. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

A string of headlines highlighting bullying, physical violence, and even murder in schools has shaken public confidence in the safety of our education system. Are our national schools truly equipped to protect their students? We explore the policies and frameworks necessary to ensure that every child can learn in a safe environment, with Alina Amir, CEO & Co-founder of Arus Academy. Image Cred...

Bersatu ranks have been shaken by the expulsion of key leaders, including Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Saiful Wan Jan and four division chiefs, as well as the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fahysal for one term. What does this mean for party unity and also the Perikatan Nasional coalition? Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director of Merdeka Centre, shares insights on this political fallout. Image Credit:...

China’s EV companies are seeing slowdowns in their sales domestically, even though their numbers are positive overseas. What’s causing this downturn in the sector at home, and what is its outlook in the coming months? Joanna Chen, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence shares her insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business writer Pankaj C. Kumar says the lack of substantive tax reforms and the continued rise in debt service charges are among the key issues Budget 2026 fails to address. He also highlights other missed opportunities in the latest budget tabled by the Madani government. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.