Morning Brief

The military junta in Myanmar is planning to hold elections in December, five years after the coup in February 2021. However with opposition groups barred from participating and with swaths of the country controlled by non-state actors, is this a futile exercise in performative democracy? Journalist Jaw Tu Hkwang weighs in. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Twelve opposition groups have formed a loose coalition to put pressure on the Madani government and lobby on issues that they deem neglected by policymakers. Is this a genuine effort to strengthen opposition counterbalances to government? We get reactions from political scientist Prof. Dr. Wong Chin Huat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia proudly touts record-breaking “approved” foreign direct investments (FDI), but the reality often tells a very different story. Independent business writer P. Gunasegaram joins us to unpack the disconnect between flashy approvals and real inflows as well as what reforms are needed to attract high-quality, sustainable investments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump's trade war seems to be nudging Beijing and New Delhi closer together, despite a longstanding economic rivalry and border disputes. How sustainable is the momentum towards warmer India-China ties? For more insights on this unlikely alignment, we speak to Dr. Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer in Asian Politics at the University of Melbourne. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystud...

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023 reveals that vaping in Malaysia has risen sharply, with e-cigarette users increasing by over 600% since 2011. This has prompted some states in Malaysia to ban sales of vape products. Prof Dr Haniki Nik Mohamed, Leader of Smokefree Sejahtera Campus Community, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) talks about how serious vaping and smoking are to the n...

World currencies have been on a tear year-to-date, with the USD/MYR in particular, strengthening 5.4% - this is the same with the Euro and Sterling Pound as well. However, is this due to the weakening US dollar or the strength of these currencies? Saktiandi Supaat, Head of FX Research & Global Markets at Maybank shares his views. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s economy continues to show resilience, with GDP growth holding firm at 4.4% in the second quarter of 2025. Can this momentum be sustained amid weaker exports and global uncertainties? We speak with Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB, for her outlook on what lies ahead for Malaysia’s economy. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under the first budget by President Prabowo Subianto,  the Indonesian government is set to spend USD $234 billion in 2026. The plan aims to boost the economy by 5.4% while keeping the fiscal deficit at 2.48% of GDP. Lionel Priyadi, Head of Research, PT Mega Capital Sekuritas gives us his impressions of this budget and what it means for the domestic equity market. Image Credit: Shutterstock.co...

According to recent figures from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), civil servants make up the largest group arrested for accepting bribes, with nearly 3,000 cases recorded between 2015 and mid-2025. Pushpan Murugiah, CEO, the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) gives us his assessment of the anti-corruption measures in Malaysia, and what more needs to be done to strengthen...

What does the outcome of the U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska mean for Ukraine’s future? Joseph Camilleri, Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, offers his analysis of the meeting and its implications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teenage pregnancy continues to challenge Malaysia, with over 6,000 cases recorded between 2023 and March 2025. How effective are current programs in supporting at-risk teens, and what more needs to be done? We speak with Hafiza Abdul Samath, Advocacy Officer, Women Aid Organization (WAO) on policy interventions needed. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

What are the implications of Trump’s unprecedented interventions in the US tech sector? George Chen, partner and co-chair of the Digital Practice at The Asia Group shares his take if the US's government's cut from semiconductor chip sales to China and investment in Intel will support or hinder growth of this hot industry? Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

The interim government in Bangladesh has announced elections in February 2026, almost two years after the student-led protests brought down the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We discuss the political developments in Bangladesh in the year since the revolution with Dr. Amit Rajan of NUS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness is a challenge faced by many countries, and the reality is that it can happen to anyone, at any time. Dr. Nur Fareza Mustapha, Research Associate at the Khazanah Research Institute, discusses potential solutions to this chronic issue and why tackling it requires collective responsibility. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be closer to serving his prison sentence at home after the Federal Court dismissed the prosecution’s appeal in his judicial review over a royal addendum. What does this mean for his chances of house arrest? We speak with criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee to explain the implications of this ruling. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listen...

The delisting of Evergrande, once the poster child of China’s property boom, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggling real estate sector. Brock Silvers, Managing Director of Kaiyuan Capital, weighs in on the deep-rooted challenges facing the market and why a rebound remains a distant prospect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold prices have been on a remarkable run this year, rising over 27% to hover near record highs, but recently bullion markets were thrown into brief turmoil after a surprise US Customs ruling suggested gold imports could face hefty tariffs. Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC will be telling us how this has impacted gold prices, and whether its rally so far will continue for the rest o...

The Ministry of Finance recently paid tribute to the high-income earners that contribute 86% of individual tax income, but this also highlights Malaysia's narrow tax collection base. What tax reforms are needed to make government revenue generation more sustainable? We discuss this with Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Nursing shortages are putting Malaysia’s public healthcare under pressure, prompting calls to import foreign nurses, particularly from Indonesia. But how can the country balance urgent needs with protecting local jobs? We get insights from Prof. Dr. Chong Mei Chan, Head of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine at University of Malaya. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

A holistic approach is needed to combat bullying in Malaysia, one that includes compassionate measures for both the bully and the victim, while moving away from a victim-blaming mentality. Dr. Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, Criminologist and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya, discusses the finer points of tackling bullying, beginning with its very definition. Image Credit: Shu...

The once warm relationship between India and the U.S. now appears frosty, following hefty 50% tariffs imposed on Indian exports to America, the world’s largest economy. Priyanka Kishore, Director and Principal Economist at Asia Decoded, weighs in on the sectors most impacted by these tariffs and explores the potential for India to strengthen ties with China and Russia amid this shifting dynam...

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska this Friday to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. What can we expect from this summit, especially with the conspicuous absence of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky? Dr. Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law and Governance at Taylor’s University weighs in. See omnystudio.com/listen...

Persistent vacancies in top public sector leadership positions across Malaysia raise questions about the effectiveness and credibility of the country’s governance framework. Shannon Teoh, Malaysia Bureau Chief at The Straits Times, discusses the possible causes and the long-term implications of these gaps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently revealed a surge in the number of Malaysians renouncing their citizenship for Singapore, reviving concerns about the brain drain to other countries. We speak to Dr. Lee Hwok Aun of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute about the push and pull factors that result in skilled labour leaving Malaysia and whether reframing the narrative would help. Image Credit: Shutters...

Gaza’s future looks increasingly bleak as Israel’s security cabinet agrees to assert military control over Gaza City. Dr. Ferooze Ali, Senior Fellow at the Asia Middle East Center for Research & Dialogue, examines possible outcomes amid growing condemnation from both Israelis and EU nations. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.