Morning Brief

Indonesia's latest intervention in palm oil exports is reshaping the conversation around regional competitiveness, as Malaysia's exports face mounting pressure and Jakarta seeks greater control. Hoe Lee Leng, Head of Regional Plantations at RHB Investment Bank, discusses the current situation and shares her forecast for the industry. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

More than 20 years after the National Heritage Act 2005 came into force, questions remain over whether Malaysia's cultural and historical assets are adequately protected. Elizabeth Cardosa, a cultural heritage & conservation consultant examines the effectiveness of the law, the challenges of enforcement, and what reforms may be needed to improve it. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.co...

The United States is considering new tariffs on imports from dozens of economies, including Malaysia, under a Section 301 investigation tied to forced labour concerns. Dr Chin Chee Seong, National President of the SME Association of Malaysia, addresses what these developments mean for Malaysian SMEs. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump remains the dominant figure in Republican politics, but recent developments suggest growing tensions within his own party. A bipartisan House vote on Iran, resistance from Senate Republicans on key spending priorities, and pushback against controversial Justice Department proposals have all raised questions about the limits of Trump's influence in Congress. At the same time,...

The dissolution of the Johor state assembly has intensified political tensions beyond the state’s borders, with Negeri Sembilan now emerging as a potential flashpoint in the evolving relationship between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan. What began as a local political dispute has increasingly become a test of coalition discipline, state-federal power dynamics, and the durability of political...

Malaysia’s medical tourism industry continues to grow, attracting nearly two million healthcare travellers and generating billions in revenue, but the competitive landscape is becoming increasingly crowded. Regional rivals are expanding capacity, investing in technology, and targeting many of the same patient segments, while rising operating costs are placing pressure on healthcare providers. As h...

The recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore brought together defence ministers and senior security officials from across the world against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tension. Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore talks about what transpired at the meeting amid a deepening US-China rivalry and other issues. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

Johor is heading to the polls earlier than expected after the state assembly was dissolved nearly two years ahead of schedule, setting up one of Malaysia’s most closely watched political contests. With Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan both choosing to contest independently, and smaller parties expected to play a more active role, the election could provide an important test of party strength,...

Despite higher EU tariffs, Chinese automakers continue to make headway in the European EV market and are outstripping international competition in batteries, semiconductors and advanced driving technologies. What's driving the global expansion of Chinese automakers and what does this mean for the competitive landscape? We discuss these trends with Akshay Prasad of Arthur D. Little. Image Cred...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expected to enter the public markets as early as this month. With what could become the largest IPO in Wall Street history, we take a closer look at what this landmark offering could mean for the company, investors, and the broader space industry with George Ferguson, Senior Aerospace, Defense and Airline Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnys...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest in the tournament’s history, spanning three countries, expanding to 48 teams, and generating forecasts of tens of billions of dollars in economic activity. Yet behind the headlines, questions are emerging about whether host cities and local businesses will actually capture the benefits being promised, especially as ticket prices surge and travel cos...

Kuala Lumpur is positioning itself as a major live entertainment destination in Asia, with a packed calendar of international concerts expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans this year. But as demand accelerates, the industry is also running up against structural constraints, from venue shortages and ageing infrastructure to logistical bottlenecks and rising operational pressures. As compet...

Malaysia’s labour market is sending increasingly mixed signals, with more than 7,000 workers reportedly losing their jobs in April even as employers continue struggling to fill vacancies across key sectors. The concentration of retrenchments in urban centres like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur is raising questions about rising business costs, workforce readiness, and whether the country is facing a tem...

South Korea’s economy is on a tear, powered by surging semiconductor exports, strong AI-related demand and one of Asia’s best-performing equity markets this year. The Bank of Korea has also upgraded its 2026 growth and inflation forecasts. Ho Woei Chen, Economist & Senior Vice President at UOB Group, shares her outlook for this Asian powerhouse. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

Malaysia’s political landscape appears to be entering another phase of fragmentation and realignment ahead of GE16, with tensions within Perikatan Nasional and the emergence of new political parties at the expense of Pakatan Harapan. Dr Wong Chin Huat, a political scientist at Sunway University analyses the current situation for us. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Malaysia’s construction sector is coming under mounting pressure as higher diesel prices continue pushing up transport, material, and project costs across the industry. Contractors are increasingly warning that fixed-price contracts, financing pressures, and ongoing supply uncertainty are squeezing margins and slowing project activity, with some developers already signalling higher property prices...

India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, powered by resilient domestic demand and aggressive infrastructure spending. But as conflict in the Middle East disrupts energy markets, trade routes and currency stability, the situation is much more complicated. Sanjay Mathur, Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and India, ANZ Bank, explains. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystud...

Indonesia wants to centralise control over key commodity exports, including palm oil, coal, and nickel, through a new state agency, Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia. Julia Lau, Principal Fellow & Coordinator of Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, discusses these developments and its impact on President Prabowo Subianto's legacy. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystud...

Malaysia’s Online Safety Act is entering a major new phase with the introduction of the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code from June 1. The new rules place significantly greater responsibility on social media and messaging platforms to proactively reduce harmful content, scams, exploitation, and online risks involving children. As regulators around the world move toward tougher oversig...

Yesterday, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that the country’s first-quarter GDP surged by a better-than-expected 6% year-on-year, but also warned of a slower outlook for this year - what does this mean for the nation’s economy? We discuss with Barnabas Gan, Group Chief Economist and Head of Market Research, RHB Bank. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Although Parliament passed the Government Procurement Bill 2025 in September last year, the government has yet to gazette a commencement date for implementation. We hear from Jacob Lee, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing on why enforcement of the act is urgently needed to support supply chain resilience for the industry. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Donald Trump still dominates the Republican Party, but recent pushbacks from Senate Republicans are raising fresh questions about whether limits to that influence are beginning to emerge. Disagreements over immigration, government spending, and the direction of US foreign policy are surfacing just as Democrats continue struggling to rebuild after their 2024 defeat. With political tensions rising,...

A new Think City report paints a troubling picture of overcrowding, persistent stress, weak social support systems, and rising safety concerns inside many PPR communities. While public housing was originally designed to provide affordable shelter and improve living conditions for lower-income families, questions are now being raised about whether the system has kept pace with the realities of urba...

The initial 2026 playbook for fixed income premised on a steady cycle of global rate cuts under a new Federal Reserve regime has been completely upended due in large part to the energy shock centering around the Iran war. What should investors be considering then for this asset class? We ask Michael Chang, Head of Investments, Eastspring Investments. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/l...

Malaysia’s constitutional reform agenda faces renewed uncertainty following the resignations of two PKR MPs. Syahredzan Johan the MP for Bangi shares his view on how parliamentary numbers, political consensus and reform momentum might affect the two key reforms promised including a limit on the Prime Minister's term. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.