Morning Brief

As the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) marks its 58th anniversary, the question remains whether it has truly lived up to its mandate of combating corruption and abuse of power. Raymon Ram, President of Transparency International Malaysia, weighs in on the commission’s achievements and shortcomings Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, has kept Malaysia at Tier 2. Criminologist Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid of Universiti Malaya discusses the progress that's been made, where the gaps are and what reforms might be needed for for Malaysia to reach Tier 1 - and sustain it? Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the Court of Appeal’s landmark decision in the Iris Corp case, the role and accountability of company directors are once again in the spotlight. Dr Ismet Yusoff, CEO of the Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG), talks about what this means for directors in Malaysia and the reforms needed to strengthen governance while still attracting capable leaders to serve. Image Credit: Shuttersto...

US President Donald Trump came into office vowing to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the American consumer. But will that relief come at the expense of pharmaceutical balance sheets? We discuss the implications of US policy for pharma companies with Sam Fazeli of Bloomberg Intelligence. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Malaysiakini investigation has uncovered a network of Facebook accounts allegedly used to artificially boost support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. We speak with Digital Political Communications Consultant Tai Zee Kin about how this kind of coordinated manipulation can shape public opinion. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The governments of Indonesia and Thailand have recently unveiled stimulus measures to boost consumer spending and investor sentiment, at a time when both countries are experiencing social and political unease. How much impact might these initiatives have on economic growth? We get economist Krystal Tan of ANZ Bank to weigh in. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Dr Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG, explains the shadow or underground economy and how the government can tackle tax leakages arising from it Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold has surged past $3,800 US dollars per ounce, breaking record as investors rush to secure safe havens. But how long can this rally last? For insights on what’s driving the momentum, we speak with Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Hamas Accept the Latest Peace Plan? The White House has unveiled a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war, from a ceasefire to the release of hostages. But is this proposal truly feasible? We delve into the details with Dr Anas Iqtait, Senior Lecturer of Middle Eastern Studies at the Australian National University Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Earlier this week, the government unveiled the Steel Industry Roadmap 2035, introducing a carbon tax mechanism that makes steel one of the first targeted sectors. How will this be implemented, and could it be expanded to other industries? For insights, we’ll be speaking with Dr. Renato Lima, Associate Professor at the Asia School of Business. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio...

Currently, only the Prime Minister can decide when to dissolve the Federal Parliament, giving one person significant control over the timing of elections, says Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head of Strategy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Asia Headquarters. He recommends setting fixed election dates rather than holding simultaneous federal and state elections. Image Credit: Shutterst...

Yet again, the US government is poised to shutdown as Congress struggles to reach a funding agreement before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1st. How severe could this shutdown be, and what positions are the Democrats and Republicans taking in this big stakes political showdown? Wendy Schiller, Professor of Political Science at Brown University, offers her insights. Image Credit: Shutt...

China’s property developers still hold 5.3 trillion yuan in inventory as of June 2025, yet impairments of high-cost stock amount to just under 900 billion yuan, raising doubts over whether losses are being fully recognised. Andrew Chan, Credit Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence tells us if recovery is in sight or if we can expect more defaults. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

The Football Association of Malaysia was fined by the global football body FIFA  for submitting doctored documentation on seven field players in an Asian Cup qualifier. Avineshwaran Taharumalengam, Senior Writer, Sports Desk, The Star tells us what this case reveals about challenges in the Malaysian football landscape and what is the path to sports greatness. Image Credit: Shutterstock.c...

As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia is close to securing a landmark commitment: persuading major powers like China, Russia, and potentially the US to sign the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty). Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, shares his insights into what this means for the region’s security. Image Credit: Sh...

To combat online fraud and better protect users, especially minors, the government is urging social media platforms to adopt electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) verification. According to CF Fong, CEO of LGMS Berhad, the key challenge lies in determining who will carry out the process and how the validity of the submitted data will be verified. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/li...

The controversial proposal for both parties to be held accountable in statutory rape cases, including underaged girls has sparked outrage and heated debate. Chief Children's Commissioner Dr. Farah Nini Dusuki reminds us why statutory rape provisions are crucial to protect the interests of children, and also discusses diversion mechanisms for underaged boys. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnys...

Bersatu’s internal rifts are spilling into the open, with statutory declarations, leadership intrigue, and questions over Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s hold on the party. Ariel Tan, Senior Fellow & Coordinator for the Malaysia Programme at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, discusses this and how PAS' urban push might shape Perikatan Nasional as we approach GE16. Image Credit: Shut...

The nascent digital asset market in Malaysia is expected to grow over time, but it will need the assistance of market makers to build depth and liquidity. Varun Mittal, founder of Fintech Nation, points out that markets like Hong Kong and Singapore have advanced more quickly, partly because they are not restricted by currency controls. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for...

US President Donald Trump’s latest move to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas has sent shockwaves through the tech world and beyond, alarming even companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Muzaffar Chishti, Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, unpacks the political motivations, economic risks, and long-term implications of America's immigration crackdown. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

According to Nigel Wong, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), Visit Malaysia Year 2026 will highlight the country’s cultural richness and unique destinations, aligning with global travel trends. He added that Malaysia should focus on attracting high-value tourists who can contribute more spending during their visits. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystu...

The 2025 National Health Screening Initiative has revealed that nearly a third of Malaysians are overweight or obese, costing the nation an estimated RM64 billion annually in healthcare, lost productivity, and premature deaths. Dr Sapna Shridhar Patil, a senior lecturer at the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences of Taylor’s University discusses the drivers behind this and...

Timor-Leste is set to become ASEAN’s 11th member at the upcoming summit in Kuala Lumpur, after more than a decade of waiting for accession. What will Timor-Leste’s entry mean for the bloc? Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow and Coordinator, ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute shares her perspective. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 80th United Nations General Assembly this month is taking place amid shifts in geopolitical dynamics and a general US pullback from the multilateral institution. We speak to Prof. Donald Rothwell of the ANU on how the high-level general debate has unfolded so far and how relations with the US could shape the future of the UN. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

The BUDI95 fuel subsidy kicks off on September 30, with RON95 at just RM1.99 ringgit per litre. With 16 million Malaysians set to benefit, will petrol stations be able to handle the rush? We get the industry perspective from Dato' Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz, President of the Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM). Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...