Morning Brief

US Tariffs against China were implemented this week which was swiftly followed by retaliatory action by Beijing. We examine in detail why China appears to have taken a muted response and what implications tariffs have on global trade. We would be talking to Tommy Xie, Head of Asia Macro Research, OCBC Bank. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two of the region's biggest e-hailing platforms, Grab and Goto have long been said to be in talks over a potential merger. What would be the implications of the consolidation? We discuss the challenges and opportunities for both companies with Nathan Naidu of Bloomberg Intelligence.  Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is expected to table amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711), but how far do these improvements go? We discuss the needed reforms to the legislation with Dr. Muhammad Mohan of Transparency International Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is set to implement a mandatory 2% EPF contribution for foreign workers, instead of the initially proposed 12%. However, the increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700 and potential electricity tariff hikes might impact businesses. To gain industry views, we speak with Datuk William Ng, National President of Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (SAMENTA). Image Credit: Shu...

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to set up a US sovereign wealth fund within the next year. What could this look like and does the US need one? We discuss what makes an effective sovereign wealth fund with Dr. Elsa Satkunasingam of the Asia School of Business. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration is overhauling the US Agency for International Development (USAID), disrupting ongoing humanitarian projects around the world. What will happen to USAID moving forward and how will this impact US relations with recipient countries? We discuss the implications with Grace Stanhope of the Lowy Institute. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Unlike Thailand, Singapore and Laos, Malaysia does not have a blanket ban on the use and sale of vapes; but should it? We discuss the present regulatory framework for vapes and e-cigarettes as well as the gaps in implementation with Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Dewan Rakyat sitting will run for 18 days and among the issues in focus will be the long-anticipated revival of the Parliamentary Services Bill. We speak to Aira Azhari of IDEAS about the expectations for the session and measures to enable MPs to be more effective in their law-making duties. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After announcing tariffs against Canada and Mexico over the weekend, President Donald Trump delayed its implementation after speaking to the leaders of the respective countries. Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO, Center for Market Education tells us how tariffs are now a political tool and how countries affected might respond in this new world order. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listene...

Malaysia has scrapped the point-based system for foreign spouses applying for permanent residency, shifting to criteria based on marriage duration and children. Advocacy groups welcome the move but stress the need for clearer guidelines and fairer implementation. We speak to Bina Ramanand, Co-Founder of Family Frontiers to know if these changes will be enough to ensure a more inclusive and transpa...

Parts of Sabah and Sarawak are undergoing unprecedented flooding, following heavy rainfall since January 28th, which has displaced thousands across 26 districts. We get updates on the situation and efforts to channel aid on the ground from Dato' Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, President of MERCY Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Border control in Malaysia is now under the newly established Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), which started operations on February 1st. Its objectives include strengthening national security, protecting the economy, improving public health, and reducing congestion at key borders like Malaysia-Singapore. What needs to be in place for this unified agency to be effective? Munir...

On Saturday, India tabled its Budget against a backdrop of a complex economic landscape, with global headwinds and domestic inflationary pressures putting pressure on the country’s GDP. Sanjay Mathur, Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and India, ANZ Bank gives us his initial impressions of the Budget and if it does hit the mark in terms of helping India achieve developed nation status. See omnyst...

Road safety is a pressing issue across ASEAN with over 97,000 deaths annually. This comes with significant human and economic costs to the countries in the region. With Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025, are our leaders able to strengthen regional road safety measures? We discuss ways to make roads safer with Dr Nurrul Hafeezah Sahak, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Univer...

With the Federal Reserve keeping rates higher for longer, the reign of King Dollar is undisputed. What does this mean for Asian currencies? Saktiandi Supaat, Head of FX Research, Global Markets, Maybank tells us the answer whilst diving specifically at the Ringgit. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since taking office less than two weeks ago, Donald Trump has signed a series of immigration-related executive orders, outlining a crackdown on migration in the U.S. From declaring an invasion at the border to ending birthright citizenship, these actions have sparked significant attention and pushback. We discuss the implications of these initiatives with Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, Associate Policy...

Retailers in Malaysia are gearing up for a busy Chinese New Year season, with the government implementing price controls on essential items and expanding the Rahmah Madani Sales Program. These initiatives are designed to make shopping more affordable for consumers. We speak to Michael Liew, Secretary-General of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), to get his insights on how these measures...

US stocks plunged on Monday with Wall Street darling Nvidia down 17% after the surprise emergence of a low-cost artificial intelligence model by Chinese start up, DeepSeek. Dan Ives, Managing Director, Wedbush Securities tells us whether this start up will cause the the end of the tech bull cycle whilst giving us a preview of the results of the Magnificent 7. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omn...

In less than a week since the start of his presidency, Donald Trump has made several controversial foreign policy announcements. From a 25% emergency tariff and visa restrictions against Colombia, to wanting Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza and making claims on Greenland and the Panama Canal. Wes speak to Dr Prashanth Parameswaran, Fellow, Wilson Center & Founder, ASEAN Wonk...

Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said that the government plans to introduce additional incentives in the 13th Malaysia Plan to stimulate the economy, based on policies aimed at driving changes in societal and behavioural economics to support national transformation. For more insights into how behavioural economics could work in Malaysia, we speak with Alex Clark, Head of International for...

Typically, Chinese New Year is a busy time for the F&B but news that some outlets will be raising their service tax from 10% to 15% has not gone unnoticed. We speak to Jeremy Lim, Vice-President & Media Liaisons, Persatuan Pemilik Restoran & Bistro, for his views on this and also the outlook for 2025. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has launched the process for its 2025 general election by forming the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, with polls expected between May and November. The election could prove pivotal, as the rise of the Workers' Party in 2020 presents a growing challenge to the People’s Action Party. We speak with James Gomez to gain his insights on what the future holds for Singapore’s political la...

With Malaysia’s data centre industry rapidly expanding, there’s growing concern over the rising demand for water, particularly in Johor and Selangor. Data centres use vast amounts of treated water for cooling, putting pressure on local resources. We speak to S. Piarapakaran, President of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, to discuss how this surge in demand could strain our wat...

The Media Law Reform Blueprint by the Canadian NGO Centre for Law and Democracy, has called for RTM and the MCMC to be independent in the interest of freedom of expression and journalism in Malaysia. Dr Joanne Lim, Communications, Media and Cultural Studies Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia, shares her input into how the proposed Malaysian Media Council bill might move the needle (or no...

The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), by President Donald Trump, has sparked concern about the future of global health cooperation and the role of the U.S. in shaping health policies worldwide. Prof. Tikki Pangestu, Visiting Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore shares his perspective on the potential consequences of this decision. Ima...