Morning Brief

Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan, the newly-appointed committee chairman Mitra has said that the agency will undergo a comprehensive audit to clean up its accounts after being mired in controversy with claims that millions had been syphoned out since its establishment. Prof Dr P Ramasamy, Perai assemblyperson and Penang deputy chief minister II tells us what reforms needs to be in place to ensure that i...

Fighting broke out on 15 April between 2 Generals, previous allies that has since caused the deaths of more than 400 and thousands fleeing the country. David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University gives us the reasons for this war, the power brokers involved, the repercussions it has on Sub-Saharan Africa and can peace be achieved?...

In conjunction with World Malaria Day, we speak to Dr Paul Divis, Director of Malaria Research Centre at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) on efforts to eliminate malaria. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently headlines have been dominated by the bankruptcy of a tycoon. We separate fact from fiction as to the laws regarding bankruptcy with Christopher Guo, Legal Associate at Kenny Tan & Co. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the progress and developments on Malaysia’s 5G roll-out, including speculation that the government could introduce a second wholesale network with Alex Wong of tech news portal Soya Cincau. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Menu Rahmah is an initiative aimed at providing affordable meals, especially the B40 group at 5 ringgit a meal. Great for consumers but what about F&B players? Abdul Mukthahir Ibrahim, Vice President of Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association tells us their side of this initiative. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the implications of the online leaks of classified US intelligence information on the war in Ukraine and the current progress of the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Dr. Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybank investment bank recently released their 1st Quarter ESG report. We speak to its author Anand Pathmakanthan, who is also the regional head of research at Maybank Investment Banking Group for the methodology behind it and what companies meet that criteria. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Court dismissed an appeal by DBKL and 3 others to reinstate the development order over a certain part of Taman Rimba Kiara, upholding the 2021 Court of Appeal ruling. What does this judgement then mean for controversial development projects in Kuala Lumpur, and what does it say about the protection of already scarce public spaces? Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi of Messrs Thomas Philip, which...

China’s GDP grew more than expected in the first quarter, increasing by 4.5% on-year. What does this bode for its economic trajectory for the rest of the year? We get analysis from Gary Ng, APAC economist with Natixis. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public social media squabble between Transport Minister Anthony Loke and his predecessor Dato’ Sri Wee Ka Siong has put the spotlight on transport links to East Malaysia. We speak to transportation consultant Khair Mirza of Integral Capital on the mechanics of airfare pricing and the viability of state-owned airlines. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Over the weekend, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escaped unhurt after an explosive device was thrown at him at a campaign event. The incident echoed the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe less than a year ago and raises questions about security concerns ahead of the G7 Summit. We discuss domestic reactions to the incident and political dynamics ahead of local elections with T...

Malaysia is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons over migrant worker issues from how they are recruited, to how we treat them to and the middlemen involved. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director, North South Initiative gives us the hard honest truth on the existing system and what changes must be made. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Covid Variant which has been detected in 33 countries has now been found in Malaysia too. Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, Leader, Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University Malaysia tells us how virulent and deadly this variant is. Whilst reminding us that we still need to keep the SOPs especially as Hari Raya is just round...

Malaysia aims to achieve 40% renewable energy capacity by 2035, from the present ratio of 25%. What’s the pathway to reach this target and what are the roadblocks that need to be overcome? We discuss this with Amin Abdul Majid, Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Utilities and Zaid Ibrahim & Co. Image credit: Aisyaqilumaranas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the present demand for hotel rooms during this Raya season indicate about the state of the Malaysian economy? We do a channel-check with Dato’ Indera Naresh Mohan on how hoteliers are faring and his views on regulations for short-term rental accommodation. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s economy shrank by 0.7% in the first quarter, larger than projected by economists. What does this mean for the outlook of the island-state? We discuss the economic headwinds buffeting Singapore with Khoon Goh of ANZ Bank. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the government declassified its report on the 1976 Double-Six tragedy that killed then-Sabah Chief Minister. What have been the implications of the tragic incident and how should this inform government policy on the right to information? Lawyer Roger Chin weighs in. Image credit: adriannandu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home Minister Dato’ Seri Saifuddin Nasution informed the Dewan Negara that the Printing Presses and Publication Act is still relevant to preserve peace and security. We ask Watshlah Naidu of the Center for Independent Journalism why she disputes this assertion and how best to uphold freedom of speech without stirring up racial or religious tensions. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

The US earnings season kicks off this week, with some of the major banks reporting results on Friday, including JP Morgan, CitiGroup and Wells Fargo. We get a preview of what’s expected with Walter Todd of Greenwood Capital. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At present, many who find themselves caught in the criminal justice system are unable to pay for legal representation, especially from the lower income segment. We speak to SUHAKAM Commissioner Ragunath Kesavan on how setting up a Public Defender’s Office could remedy this. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is embarking on several initiatives to raise Malaysia’s port competitiveness, including plans for a new port on Carey Island with a price tag of RM28 billion. We ask Ooi Lean Hin, Chairman of the Shipping Association of Malaysia for his views on measures needed to elevate Malaysian ports. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold is currently trading at above 2000 US dollars - what does this say about market sentiment? We discuss what’s driving gold prices with Diego Cacciapuoti of Oxford Economics. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The newly appointed chairs of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have called for its meetings to be open to public. What value does this bring to Malaysian democracy? We hear from former Chair of the PAC, YB Wong Kah Woh on why this move strengthens parliamentary oversight. Image credit: Friko Keiro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government estimates that as many as 1 million Malaysians are grappling with drug addiction, far more than official records suggest. What does this say about the effectiveness of policies to tackle drug issues? We discuss policy recommendations with Tham Jia Vern, international engagement coordinator at the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener...