Morning Brief

This year's theme for World Mental Health Day emphasizes ‘Mental Health At Work’, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealing that approximately 12 billion working days are lost to depression and anxiety each year. What kind of policies would strengthen mental health resilience in the workplace? We discuss the level of awareness and interventions needed with Anita Abu Bakar, President &...

A viral video of Palestinian refugees expressing frustration after being denied permission to leave their accommodations has prompted discussions among Malaysians about the country’s stance on the cause. Although this incident underscores that the actions of a few do not represent the entire community, it does highlight the need for better policies and support systems to address the holistic needs...

Vietnam’s economy grew by 7.4% in the third quarter of this year, marking its strongest growth in two years. Hanoi's economic performance exceeded expectations, with strong exports and industrial production helping to offset the impacts of Typhoon Yagi—considered the worst in seven decades. Brian Lee, an economist from Maybank Investment Banking Group discusses the outlook for Vietnam’s economy Im...

Last month, the Asian Development Bank has forecast that India’s economic growth will remain robust with GDP expected to increase by 7% this year and 7.2% next year. The Nifty 50 Index is also at historical highs, having breached the 26,000-point level in late September. Avi Satwalekar, President of Franklin Templeton Asset Management India shares some insights. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See...

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has re-elected Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as president, while secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is elected deputy president, both uncontested. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research gives some insights into the party's direction with the vice-presidency still up for grabs, and the losses faced from the recent Mahkota an...

The digital creative industry in Malaysia is flourishing, making some RM6.3 billion ringgit in revenue in 2022 and attracting RM1.6 billion in investments. What kind of policies would further advance the industry in the age of A.I. and amid fierce competition? Irwan Junaidy, Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer of The R&D Studio, discusses the future potential and innovative trends shaping...

In an effort to elevate Malaysia’s rankings in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the government has formed a Special Task Force, which met for the first time last week. We speak to Dr Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia who is a part of the task force, for more information on the group's mandate and the initiatives needed to boost Malaysia's CPI ranking. Imag...

The Control of Cigarette Products Act, effective 1 October, aims to safeguard children and teenagers by regulating the sale of tobacco and vape products while prohibiting smoking in 28 locations. The government has introduced a two-phase plan for implementation that includes immediate enforcement alongside an educational campaign. Roslizawati Mohd Ali, Executive Board Member, Malaysian Council of...

More Chinese are expected to travel overseas during the Golden Week holiday period running from 1 - 7 October. Will Malaysia be a beneficiary of improved consumer sentiment? We discuss the tourism trends and policy initiatives needed to boost the industry with Nigel Wong of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA). Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/list...

The Madani Government has made 95 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies so far, a relatively lower number than previous administrations. How can the appointment process be made more transparent? Doris Liew, Assistant Research Manager of the Public Finance Unit at IDEAS Malaysia, unpacks the think tank’s latest report. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See...

Malaysia has been making efforts to develop its digital infrastructure, by introducing a national cloud policy and regulations, to ensure the ethical use of AI. Woon Tai Hai, Advisor at the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), give his insights into what the AI Technology Action Plan (2026 to 2030) might do to help Malaysia compete in this new global landscape. Image Credit: Shutterstock...

Silver surged to their highest level since 2012, driven by expectations of further interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. while gold recently hit a new high. Are there still legs to this rally? Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC gives us that answer and what their house view is on their respective year-end prices. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Sri Lanka's political future appears clearer and hopefully more promising after Anura Kumara Dissanayake won last month's presidential election, the first candidate not connected to a political dynasty. Dr Ahilan Kadirgamar, a political economist and senior lecturer at the University of Jaffna, shares his take on how a Dissanayake administration might address the current economic state the country...

Iran's missile attack on Israel, involving nearly 200 projectiles, significantly escalates tensions in the Middle East. Despite most missiles being intercepted, the incident highlights the region's precarious security amid ongoing conflicts and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For insights, we speak to Dr. James Dorsey, adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Stu...

The two vice-presidential candidates are set to debate each other. The Democrat candidate Tim Walz is expected to focus on social equity and policies that support families and small businesses, while the Republican JD Vance will likely champion increased tariffs and lower corporate taxes. Bryan DeAngelis, partner & head of the Washington office of the Penta Group share his insights into what w...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has outlined five key strategies to eradicate poverty in Malaysia. One of the standout measures is the use of net disposable income as a tool to identify those eligible for poverty relief assistance. For further insights into the effectiveness of these strategies, we speak to Prof. Dr. Yeah Kim Leng, Deputy President of the Malaysian Economic Association. Im...

Selangor has revealed that there are more than 200 illegal e-waste recycling facilities across Malaysia, with several identified in Rawang and Hulu Selangor. There are concerns also that these plants use hazardous methods, such as open burning or unsafe chemical processes, to extract valuable metals from electronic waste. Mohamed el-Fatatry, CEO & Founder of ERTH or Electronic Recycling Throug...

The Ringgit has been the dark horse this year, appreciating by 11% on a year-to-date basis. In fact, the best performing in Asia. We speak to Saktiandi Supaat, Head of FX Research, Global Markets, Maybank Singapore to understand why and if this trend can continue whilst looking at the Yen, Yuan, Pound and even the Greenback. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

The latest State of the Household 2024 report from the Khazanah Research Institute revealed that 90% of EPF members under the age of 30 are not projected to meet the RM240,000 savings target by retirement age, with income and expenditure trends exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What are the factors that need to be addressed to avert a generational retirement crisis? We discuss findings from th...

The Mahkota state by-election saw the Barisan Nasional secure 79% of the votes trouncing Perikatan Nasional, ensuring the state remains firmly under the BN administration. Dr Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, analyses the results. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan is set to elect a new Prime Minister on Tuesday after Shigeru Ishiba won the leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). What challenges will he need to overcome ahead of the mandated general election within a year? We discuss this with Tokyo-based journalist William Pesek. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, education minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that the UPSR primary school assessment and the PT3 form 3 exams which were abolished in 2022 will not be reinstated. However, the deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes these national exams provide a necessary benchmark to measure education levels. Nina Adlan Disney, Executive Director at LeapEd Services, weighs in on thi...

Malaysia's energy landscape is at a crucial crossroads, with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli highlighting that natural gas is expected to account for 56% of the country’s energy mix by 2050. In addition, Malaysia is advancing in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage with the CCUS Progressive Regulatory Framework Bill set to be tabled in November. As Malaysia charts this path, how can the cou...

Israel has signalled it is ready to invade Lebanon following weeks of intense bombardment, ostensible against Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has responded with rocket attacks which were mostly intercepted by Israel's defences. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, shares insights into how the current conflict is escalating. Image Credit: shutters...

The Health Ministry wants to expand private wings at public hospitals as part of a hybrid model termed “Rakan KKM” to address the financial sustainability of public healthcare. Critics argue that this could undermine universal healthcare which the government assures won't happen. Anwar Anis, Honorary Secretary at the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia shares his insights. Image Credit: Shut...