Morning Brief

As Malaysia gears up for a meaningful National Teachers’ Day celebration in Sarawak, the spotlight is on educators as key agents of reform. With new initiatives, digital upskilling efforts, and ongoing classroom challenges in focus, we speak to Chan Soon Seng, CEO of Teach For Malaysia, about what these changes mean for teachers on the ground. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/list...

E-hailing services have become a popular and convenient way for Malaysians to get around, with currently more than 20 such companies offering these services. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, a transport consultant, talks to us about the role the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715) plays in ensuring a safe and competitive landscape, following the recent actions taken against Russian apps InDrive and Maxim...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has wrapped up his second visit to Russia in less than a year, this time with a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Dr Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer, School of Law and Governance, Taylor’s University, takes stock of what was discussed - from trade, energy, education and tourism, as well as the shooting down of MH17 in 2014, for which the UN has ruled t...

U.S. President Donald Trump is on an official tour of the Middle East, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. American and Arab officials have already confirmed billions of dollars in investments from Riyadh into the U.S., while Trump has announced that sanctions on Syria will be lifted. Dr. James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studi...

Malaysia’s rubber glove industry, which experienced significant growth during the pandemic, is now facing new hurdles. With US-China trade tensions easing and tariffs on Chinese gloves dropping, the $21 US dollars price gap is set to shrink to just $4 US dollars. What does this mean for the industry’s future? To analyze this, we speak with Oong Chun Sung, Equity Research Analyst at RHB Investment...

UMobile is exiting Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to fully focus on the roll out of the second 5G network, with the remaining shareholders taking over its stake. What does the new ownership structure mean for DNB and how might the second 5G network take shape? We discuss the scenarios with Alex Wong of SoyaCincau. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universiti Malaya is intent to break free from federal funding, aiming for full control over governance, admissions, and finance. But with laws like AUKU still intact, questions remain about how far autonomy can realistically go. And what does “true autonomy” really look like in the Malaysian context today? Joining us to discuss this further is Dr. Wan Chang Da, former Director of National Higher...

Parti Keadilan Rakyat's leadership election, set to happen this May 23 will see 251 candidates vying for key positions, with the race for deputy president stealing the spotlight. This is because incumbent Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli will face off Nurul Izzah Anwar. Dr Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor of Political Science at IIUM analyses the issues at hand amid broader national implications. Image Cr...

Azam Baki’s third-term reappointment as MACC chief has drawn strong criticism from C4, Nurul Izzah, PAS and others, amid concerns over transparency, institutional independence, and ongoing investigations. As scrutiny grows, questions remain over the Madani Government’s commitment to reform and the future of anti-corruption efforts. Giving us clarity is Pushpan Murugiah, CEO of the Center to Combat...

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has won the mayoral election in his home Davao City from behind bars in the Hague where he faces charges of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. Erin Cook, a journalist for Southeast Asian Affairs, shares her insights into how the midterm results might signal waning support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and if we are witnessing a reshuffli...

New rules are being introduced for foreign workers in Malaysia, with the government now requiring employers to be present at exit points when workers leave, or face penalties. Additionally, migrant workers can now switch employers across different sectors. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director, North-South Initiative shares insights on these changes and how they can be effectively implemented. Image...

Trump’s plan to reverse Biden-era AI chip export controls could benefit Malaysia, offering new opportunities amid ongoing tariff talks and efforts to advance up the semiconductor value chain, attract investment, and strengthen its position in global supply chains. Analyst Farlina Said weighs in on the potential impact. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The long anticipated trade talks between the US and China came to a close on Sunday, and in a joint statement yesterday, both countries have agreed to roll back tariffs on each others’ goods for an initial 90-day period. Brock Silvers, CIO, Kaiyuan Capital gives us his perspective on how this could affect China’s economy moving forward. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Recent PKR divisional election surprises and Rafizi Ramli’s leave and resignation offer have stirred concerns over party unity. With speculation around a possible leadership contest involving Nurul Izzah or Saifuddin Nasution, questions arise over PKR’s cohesion and its positioning within the broader national political landscape. Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb, Political Scientist and Associate Professor at...

Bank Negara Malaysia retained the OPR at 3%, signalling a measured yet optimistic stance despite mounting global volatility from U.S. tariffs and inflationary pressures. With subdued Q1 inflation and a ringgit vulnerable to external forces, focus shifts to policy adaptability and structural reforms to fortify resilience. Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB shares her analysis. Image Credit: Shutter...

President Xi Jinping is on a four-day visit to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin at a time when geopolitical dynamics are in flux. How are China-Russia relations evolving under a mercurial Trump White House? We discuss expectations for this visit with Dr. Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Malaysia’s chip sector faces growing risks from U.S. tariffs and global supply chain shifts. The Madani government is pursuing strategic deals with AMD and ARM, but questions remain about industry readiness, resilience, and long-term design ambitions. Dato' Wong Siew Hai shares key insights. Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” striking nine suspected militant sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In response, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian jets. We speak with Dr Rahul Mishra, Associate Professor at the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi to bet...

The first quarter of 2025 has seen significant developments among major US tech companies, with many surpassing Wall Street expectations, driven largely by advancements in AI and cloud services. Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities, shares his insights into what tech companies to pay attention to. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taiwanese dollar jumped more than 6% in the span of two days this week, causing ripples across global forex markets. How much is this related to ongoing US-Taiwan trade negotiations? We discuss this with Caroline Wong, APAC Country Risk Analyst at BMI. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have prompted exporters to use tactics like "place-of-origin washing," routing goods through third countries like Malaysia. This raises concerns about Malaysia's reputation, leading the Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia (AFAM) to call for stricter checks on certificates of origin. Its Chairman, Thomas Matthew shares insights on the need for stronger regula...

On May 5th, Israel expanded ground operations in southern Gaza and introduced a new aid plan, triggering backlash from humanitarian groups. As civilian tolls rise, Netanyahu faces pressure at home and abroad—despite U.S. backing. How could this shift Israel’s diplomatic standing? For more insights, we speak with Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at The Aus...

Parliament convened urgently to address the 24% U.S. tariff on Malaysian exports, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim outlining a 90-day negotiation window. The tariff threatens Malaysia’s growth targets, prompting calls for strategic responses to safeguard trade, attract investment, and sustain global economic partnerships. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Director of IDEAS unpacks the p...

Malaysia has moved up 19 places in the World Press Freedom Index, signaling progress despite structural concerns. Radzi Razak, from Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM) and a pro-tem member of the new Malaysian Media Council, discusses the factors behind the improvement and the key hurdles that remain for the country’s media landscape. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

The Bank of Japan has cut its growth outlook while maintaining monetary policy in the face of global tariffs. In South Korea, snap elections next month is ramping up political uncertainty. William Pesek, a columnist at Nikkei Asia helps us unpack what we can expect in the days and weeks ahead. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.