Morning Brief

The government’s 40% increase in doctors’ and dentists’ on-call allowances under Budget 2026 is long overdue, says Dr. Khor Swee Kheng, CEO of Angsana Health and Public Policy Specialist. He provides an in-depth analysis of the key healthcare initiatives introduced in the budget and their potential impact on the sector. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutt...

Two years after the events on October 7th, the remaining Israeli captives have been released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees under phase 1 of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. But is the hardest part still to come in securing lasting peace and independence for Palestine? We discuss this with Dr. James Dorsey of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Imag...

East Malaysia took center stage in Budget 2026, with Sabah receiving RM6.9 billion ringgit and Sarawak RM6 billion ringgit in record allocations. But is this enough to address the region’s development challenges? Dr. Saizal Pinjaman of Universiti Malaysia Sabah weighs in. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is targeting RM270 billion in tax revenue next year, but with no new taxes introduced, can this be achieved?  Sim Kwang Gek, Country Tax Leader at Deloitte Malaysia tells us her perspective whilst also weighing in on incentives to help businesses and also the goodies for the rakyat. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2026 marks the first under the 13th Malaysia Plan and possibly the last before the next general election. With spending rising to RM419 billion and the deficit narrowing slightly to 3.5% of GDP, can Malaysia strike the right balance between fiscal discipline and growth? Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Bank Muamalat's Chief Economist shares his insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystu...

Budget 2026 has been lauded as a positive and pragmatic plan for Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises, with billions channelled toward financing guarantees, microloans, digitalisation, and export expansion. Chin Chee Seong, President of the SME Association of Malaysia, unpacks he opportunities and challenges for SMEs under this fourth MADANI Budget. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces....

Malaysia’s F&B sector is facing mounting cost pressures from higher wages, ingredient prices, and the expanded 8% SST. Will Budget 2026 deliver the relief the industry needs? Patrick Sim, Council Member of the Food & Beverage Division at the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), shares his insights on what measures he hopes to see in the upcoming budget. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Rei...

This week President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Chicago in response to rising protests against immigration enforcement actions by federal authorities. How far can Trump push the limits of his Presidential office? We discuss the potential scenarios with Dr. Kathryn Robison of the United States Studies Centre under the University of Sydney. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See o...

Antony Lee, Deputy Chairman of the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM), explains the factors contributing to higher repair costs for electric vehicles and their implications for long-term ownership and insurance premiums. He also highlights how medical costs are rising faster than insurance premiums. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s construction sector has had a standout year so far. More than RM126 billion worth of contracts have already been awarded year-to-date. Will 2026 Budget see the rollout of more projects? Chong Tjen San, Director, CGS International  gives us his view and also his top stock picks. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has launched the Elderly Action Plan 2026–2030 to improve care and support for senior citizens across Malaysia. With life expectancy now at 76, up from 63, fifty years ago, how prepared are we to meet the needs of our ageing population? We speak with Delren Douglas, President, Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (AGECOPE). Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See o...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting India this week to build upon the free trade agreement secured between London and New Delhi in July. How might geopolitics shape the nature of UK-India relations in the future? We discuss expectations with Dr. Benjamin Barton of the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The semiconductor sector makes up 70% of Malaysia’s total E&E exports accounting for nearly RM440 billion ringgit in 2024. With the threat of US tariffs still looming, can Budget 2026 provide measures to fortify the Malaysian semiconductor industry to weather economic storms? We discuss Budget 2026 expectations with Andrew Chan, Executive Director of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Associa...

More funds are expected to flow into Asian equities if US interest rates continue to decline and the de-dollarisation trend persists. Michael Chang, Head of Investments at Eastspring Investments Bhd, says he favours the technology and industrial sectors in North Asian markets, adding that corporate earnings in China are beginning to show signs of stabilisation. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See o...

Malaysia has made major strides in digital infrastructure, data governance, and institutional coordination as guided by the Public Sector Digitalisation Strategic Plan (PSDSP) 2021–2025. Ayesha Khurshid,  Public Sector Specialist for the World Bank tells us if our  digital capabilities have started translating into real economic payoffs. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/...

Incentives for Budget 2025 introduced several incentives for homebuyers, including first-time owners, and similar measures could be on the way, says Jamie Tan, Managing Director of JLL Malaysia. With housing affordability still a key concern, he notes that additional incentives may also be needed to offset the impact of the expanded SST on developers, landlords, and ultimately, buyers and tenants....

The tech sector has been the main engine of recent U.S. growth, but a downturn could quickly rattle markets as tech stocks now account for around 40% of the S&P 500. Adam Slater, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics, explains how severely U.S. growth could be hit if the tech sector falters and whether the impact could rival the 2000 dot-com crash. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.co...

Malaysian football has fallen to a new low after the FAM and seven foreign-born players were rapped by FIFA for forged documentation. What are the legal consequences that could ensue? We discuss accountability measures with sports lawyer Richard Wee. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on tourism as Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026. Nigel Wong, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), outlines the key support measures the industry hopes to see in Budget 2026 to attract more high-value and repeat visitors. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On Saturday, residents of Bukit Damansara gathered to protest a proposed plan to redevelop Wisma Damansara into two 60-storey towers. We ask  podcaster and former Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin as to why residents object, what are the next steps forward and how can all KLites be protected from overdevelopment. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Singapore’s three major banks turned in a mixed set of results for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting resilience in some areas but also pressure from narrowing interest margins and global uncertainty.  Sarah Jane Mahmud, Senior Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence tells us what to expect in this tougher operating environment and which bank will do better. Image Credit: Shutterstock.co...

The 16th Sabah state assembly has been dissolved, setting the stage for state elections within 60 days. This will be a crucial test for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his embattled GRS coalition. Political analyst Dr James Chin from the University of Tasmania shares his analysis of what’s at play. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister. However, William Pesek, columnist at Nikkei Asia, says she is unlikely to champion women’s rights or push for greater gender equality. Her biggest challenges may instead come on the diplomatic front if she seeks to renegotiate trade deals with the US. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Budget 2026 for the transport sector should prioritise improving existing infrastructure rather than building more, says Transport Consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. He highlights three key initiatives he hopes to see included in the Budget: a National Bus Priority Programme, the establishment of a Road Safety Fund, and the smooth implementation of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Johor an...

The GRS ruling coalition in Sabah is facing turbulence ahead of the state elections, with the exit of two member parties, STAR and SAPP last week, on top of the ongoing controversy of the Sabah mining scandal. How will this shape the dynamics of the state polls? We discuss the scenarios with Jo-Anna Henley Rampas of UNIMAS. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...