Morning Brief

In Singapore, the People’s Action Party (PAP) dominates again with 87 out of 97 seats, as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong scores 65.6% of the vote. Despite the strong win, growing concerns over housing and living costs continue to weigh on many Singaporeans. Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University shares his analysis on what the election results really mean for the f...

Australia's opposition party has been left reeling after a bruising defeat in Saturday's federal election. Meanwhile, Labor's Anthony Albanese has defied the so-called "incumbency curse" to be re-elected Australia's prime minister in a landslide. Taking us through Australia’s election results is Dr Rob Manwaring, Associate Professor in the College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders Universi...

Malaysia’s private healthcare sector is pushing back against a new mandate requiring the public display of drug prices. Doctors argue this policy was imposed without meaningful consultation and threatens the financial viability of smaller private practices. How might this regulatory shift reshape the dynamics between private practitioners and public health policy in Malaysia? Unpacking this matter...

Although officials across the world - including those in Malaysia - have revised downward their economic growth targets for 2025, Tourism Malaysia aims for an even higher number of visitor arrivals to our country this year. To discuss the outlook for the local tourism sector in 2025 amid the US tariffs, we’ll be speaking with Nigel Wong, President of The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel...

With Singaporeans heading to the polls tomorrow, the upcoming election marks a significant moment in the country’s political journey. It will be the first major test for newly minted Prime Minister Lawrence Wong amidst a more fluid and unpredictable voter landscape emerging, over concerns of inflation, housing and a demand for diverse political voices. To unpack this, we’re joined by Dr Mustafa Iz...

The number of HIV infections among young people in Malaysia is steadily increasing, with 44% of new cases in individuals aged 20 to 29 and 4% in school students aged 13 to 19. This alarming rise calls for urgent action. Steps must be taken to reverse this trend and safeguard the future of Malaysia’s youth. Dr. Rabiathul Badariah Bazeer Ahmed, a volunteer with PT Foundations and HIV activist, share...

Malaysia’s inflation eased to 1.8% in 2024, but food prices climbed 2.5% due to rising costs of staples like rice and meat. As blanket subsidies are phased out, policymakers must weigh targeted support against market pricing. Dr Amjad Rabi explores the policy trade-offs ahead. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive power outage hit large areas of Spain and Portugal, as well as parts of southern France on Monday. While officials have yet to disclose the exact cause of the power cuts, this comes as experts warn of an oversupply of renewable energy putting pressure on the region’s power grid. So how do we strengthen our grid infrastructure to accommodate the growing demand for clean energy? We discuss...

Malaysia’s expanded SST, expected to generate RM5 billion in revenue, has been delayed to June 1 amid industry pushback. With implementation details still unclear, the delay adds pressure to fiscal consolidation efforts and highlights rising operational and market challenges facing tax reform execution. Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Adviser on Tax Policy, KPMG and Adjunct Professor at Monash Uni...

Former central banker Mark Carney has led the Liberals to an unexpected victory in Canada's federal election, unseating key Conservative figures and reshaping the political landscape. Dr Cristine de Clercy of Trent University helps us unpack the results, rising nationalism, and what lies ahead for Canada. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump's first 100 days into his second term has been marked by his aggressive policy moves, political battles, and global ramifications. Bryan DeAngelis of the Penta Group shares his perspectives. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With elections just around the corner in Singapore and the Philippines, foreign interference is making headlines. From PAS-linked figures in Singapore to Chinese disinformation campaigns in the Philippines, how will these external influences impact the political landscape? We are going to discuss this with Dr. Benjamin Loh, Course Director for the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication at Mon...

Australia is expected to hold its federal election this Saturday, with opinion polls indicating a tight race between the ruling Labor Party and the opposition Liberal-National Coalition. Parties have been campaigning since late March in an effort to secure at least 76 seats for a majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives. Helping us unpack what to expect at the polls down south is Dr. Paul...

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has unveiled the RM180 million Warisan KL initiative to revitalise Kuala Lumpur’s historic core, pivoting from mega-projects toward community-driven development centered on culture, conservation, and green spaces. As ambitions rise, concerns remain over execution and whether it can catalyse meaningful investment or fall short once again. Mustapha Kamal, Urban Planner a...

Last week, it was reported that an unspecified number of investors' trading accounts have been hacked and used for unauthorised share buying on Bursa Malaysia. Both the SC and Bursa Malaysia have acted quickly but questions still remain over the accountability of this and the losses that resulted. Ng Zhu Hann, CEO & Founder, Tradeview Capital give us his views on this. Image Credit: Shuttersto...

A deadly attack in Kashmir, resulting in the loss of 26 civilians has reignited the conflict between India and Pakistan. In response, both countries have exchanged accusations and retaliatory actions, including India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines. To provide further insight into the situation, we speak with Dr. Keith Suter, Managing Directo...

China’s small and mid-sized firms face growing pressure from high U.S. tariffs, weak domestic demand, and shifting global supply chains. How significant is their contribution to the economy, what policy support has been provided and can they mitigate this tariff storm? Giving us some clarity on this matter is Harry Murphy Cruise, Head of China and Australia Economics from Moody’s Analytics. Image...

Barisan Nasional’s Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir clinched Ayer Kuning with a 5,000-vote majority, but cracks are showing. BN’s vote share slipped, PN gained ground, and PSM doubled its support. Turnout plunged to 58%. The by-election result hints at voter fatigue — and a shifting political undercurrent BN can’t ignore. Helping us unpack the outcome of this by-election, along with other political developm...

The recent rise of AI-generated music has raised concerns about ownership and intellectual property rights. With generative AI tools becoming more accessible, potentially outpacing our local copyright laws. We discuss the implications with Indran Shanmuganathan, IP Litigator and Partner at Shearn Delamore & Co. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The April 26 Ayer Kuning by-election is seen as a key test for Malaysia’s political coalitions, with BN, PN, and PSM contesting a traditionally BN-held seat. With strong early turnout among uniformed voters and shifting loyalties, will BN retain its hold on Ayer Kuning, or could low voter turnout impact the results? We discuss this with Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri, Department Head of Polit...

Hope for ending the war in Ukraine has taken a hit after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a peace plan from the U.S that heavily favors Russia, including demands for Ukraine to give up Crimea and abandon its NATO aspirations. This rejection led to the scaling down of key talks in London, leaving the future of peace efforts uncertain. Dr. Sonia Mycak, Research Fellow at the Centre for Europea...

The Law Minister has announced a Cross-Border Insolvency Working Committee to align the country’s insolvency laws with international standards and review the adoption of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law. We ask Lee Shih, Managing Partner, Lim Chee Wee Partnership the importance of this new legislation and why it's good for Malaysia Inc. Image Credit: Shutterstock....

Will the US-China trade tensions hamper renewable energy adoption in Southeast Asia? We discuss the developments at play with Prof. Paul Burke, Deputy Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy at Australian National University. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Commerce Department announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four South East Asian countries, including Malaysia. What kind of effect will this have on our local solar industry? We discuss the implications for the renewable energy sector with Shabrina Nadhila, Energy Analyst for Asia at Ember. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listene...

The strengthening ties between Malaysia and Indonesia were once again on display this week, with the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi concluding a three-day visit to Jakarta. How might this visit pave the way for more opportunities for the two neighbours to collaborate amid challenging global conditions? We discussed the trends with Dr. Siwage Dharma Negara of ISEAS-Yus...