Morning Brief

This week, the Jakarta equity market experienced a sharp correction, down by 7% at one point. This is driven in part over the economic concerns over a budget deficit and weakening Rupiah. We speak to Brian Lee, an economist from Maybank Investment Banking Group about why the central bank decided to keep rates unchanged and what is his outlook for Indonesia's GDP. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

The proposed Urban Renewal Act continues to spark debate. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reassures homeowners they’ll receive upgraded properties, fair compensation, and living support. Advocates, like Sim Tze Tzin, see it as a lifeline for the urban poor, citing the Mahsuri project. Yet, critics warn of potential land grabs. Will this Act truly drive equitable redevelopment and economic growth? Dis...

Last November, the Defence Ministry scrapped its Black Hawk helicopter lease deal after the contractor failed to meet delivery deadlines. Now, the government is retendering the project, keeping the original terms—a five-year lease for four helicopters worth RM200 million. What does this indicate about Malaysian defense procurement and the accountability process? Giving us some clarity and insight...

In a highly contested DAP election, the results have reshaped its Central Executive Committee (CEC). Among the notable changes, two Malay leaders - Bangi MP Syahredzan was appointed as one of the party’s four vice-chairmen, while Bentong MP Young Syefura was named assistant publicity secretary. Their election signals a shift in the party’s leadership, alongside the departure of Bagan MP Lim Guan E...

On Sunday, Beijing launched a “Special Action Plan” to boost domestic consumption in a bid to reverse weak confidence and deflationary pressures. How impactful is the latest stimulus plan in light of the growing risks of the global trade war? We get analysis from Heron Lim, Economist with Moody’s Analytics. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electoral reform group Bersih is calling for a two-term limit on the Prime Minister’s tenure, requiring a constitutional amendment and two-thirds parliamentary support. A similar 2019 proposal failed. Now, with PM Anwar Ibrahim’s cautious backing, the debate resurfaces—raising questions on bipartisan support, and the prospects for institutional reform. Will this drive reform or hit familiar roadbl...

Over the last 25 years, the price of bullion has risen tenfold, outperforming the US S&P 500 benchmark, which only quadrupled over the same period. With gold hitting a new all time high above USD3000 does this rally still have legs? Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC tells us. Image Credit: Shutterstocks.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is ramping up STEM education, setting an ambitious target of 70% enrolment in boarding schools to build a tech-savvy workforce. While participation has risen to 50%, it remains below the 60:40 STEM-to-arts ratio set decades ago. Dr Mas Sahidayana Mokhtar examines key challenges, from teacher training and curriculum quality to industry alignment, that must be addressed for lasting im...

Earlier this month, a video posted by the Seremban City Council went viral, showing officers removing the doors of several homes in Public Housing Projects. The tenants had reportedly failed to pay the monthly rent, resulting in arrears of tens of thousands of ringgit. We speak with Dr. Nur Fareza Mustapha, Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute, to identify the flaws in Malaysia’s curr...

Last week, the US managed to get Ukraine to agree to a 30-day ceasefire after more than three years of war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is amenable to the idea, but he has drawn a hard line in the sand as to his own demands. Discussing the Ukraine-Russian peace talks is Dr Alexey Muraviev, Associate Professor, National Security & Strategic Studies, Curtin University. Image Cre...

Yesterday, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) wrapped up its latest party election, with some new faces in the CEC. We speak to Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director, Merdeka Centre on the new leadership of DAP, the legacy of the Lim family and what direction the party will take as we head into GE16. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1MDB mastermind Jho Low has eluded the dragnet of authorities for over a decade. Could a crowdsourcing initiative harnessing the hype of cryptocurrency succeed in tracking down the fugitive financier? We speak to investigative journalist Bradley Hope on the $JHOLOW memecoin and why it's been so hard to arrest Jho Low. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

A recent study by Universiti Malaya’s Social Wellbeing Research Centre has revealed that a minimum-wage worker in Malaysia must work four times longer than their Australian counterpart to afford 1kg of chicken. Dr Amjad Rabi, a visiting expert at the Social Wellbeing Research Centre of Universiti Malaya, shares his insights into how this research highlights issues with food affordability as well a...

DAP will hold elections for 30 spots in the party's Central Executive Committee on Mar 16th. Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, a political analyst and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research shares his observations on what appears to be a situation where supporters of Sec-Gen Anthony Loke will go up against supporters of Chair Lim Guan Eng. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.co...

Singapore will host four Lady Gaga concerts, her only stop in Asia. We look at which listed property companies stand to benefit. Ken Foong, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us his perspective whilst we also ask what is the outlook for City Developments after the family lawsuit was dropped. Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Carbon, Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill 2025 is a key milestone in Malaysia’s low-carbon transition, but uncertainties linger over its execution and impact. The government sees it as crucial for carbon regulation, while industry leaders argue it’s vital for competitiveness. Critics warn of weak oversight, and with Sabah and Sarawak excluded, its broader economic and environmental...

After AirAsia's decision to move all its domestic flights from Subang Airport to KLIA2, after seven months, only four jet operators - Firefly, Batik Air, TransNusa and Scoot - remain. Brendan Sobie, Independent Analyst and Consultant at Sobie Aviation shares his thoughts on SZB's dreams of becoming a city airport serving up to 8 million passengers by 2030. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnyst...

The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is set to be charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity during a brutal war on drugs perpetrated during his term in office. Dr Aries Arugay, Professor and Chair at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, talks about the domestic political implications from this development. I...

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has shed more than 17% year-to-date, the worst in Asia. In an effort to stabilise the local equities market, the Thai government has unveiled several tax incentives and is disbursing more cash handouts to boost domestic consumption. to give more insights on this we speak to Naphat Chan, Head of Thailand Research at CLSA. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnys...

Despite structural headwinds, China has maintained its 5% growth target. We discuss how that figure will be achieved and other pronouncements that were made at the NPC with Chen Zheng, Policy Analyst, CITIC Securities. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has proposed £5 billion welfare cuts to address the nation’s financial shortfall, a move that has sparked debate within the Labour party. While some support the plan, others argue it will disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. Prof. Peter Taylor-Gooby, Research Professor of Social Policy at University of Kent tells us what impact that it will on society and what cuts...

After five negotiation sessions, Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, finally got an assurance from Putrajaya that his constituency will receive government allocations. This highlights how unequal distribution of funds meant for ALL voters is. Syed Saddiq talks about why it is important to address this disparity, as the welfare of all should be paramount. Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omn...

Last week, the Malaysian government unveiled that it had signed a deal with British chip giant Arm Holdings, allowing us to acquire the company’s chip design plans. Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said that the agreement aims to accelerate the development of our own home-grown chips and strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor space. Farlina Said, a Fellow at ISIS Malays...

Ongoing negotiations between Petros and Petronas have signaled a major shift in Malaysia’s oil and gas sector. With Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledging Sarawak’s ambitions, questions have been raised about federal-state power dynamics and their impact on investors. What then will be the outcome of talks between the national and Sarawak oil and gas company? Prof. Tricia Yeoh, Asso...

The rally in the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) last week was a welcome break after four straight weeks of decline in February. Is this momentum sustainable and are there opportunities for investors in this market? We discuss the trends with Alfred Dy of CLSA. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.