Morning Brief

Malaysia's durian industry is facing a bumper harvest that has sent prices for lower-grade fruit plunging, while premium varieties such as Musang King continue to command strong export demand. The sharp divide has exposed growing questions over supply, market diversification, and the industry's long-term sustainability. Is this simply a seasonal oversupply, or a sign that Malaysia's durian market...

Malaysia is facing a prolonged period of energy uncertainty, with the government warning that oil price and supply volatility could persist for another one to two years. As fuel costs, food prices, and subsidy pressures mount, policymakers are balancing short-term interventions with longer-term reforms, including the nationwide rollout of the Budi Diesel programme. Is this crisis accelerating much...

The Philippines is facing a more difficult macroeconomic environment as the fallout from Middle East tensions continues to drive elevated global oil prices, impacting inflation in the import-dependent economy. Azril Rosli, an economist at Maybank Investment Bank, shares his insights into what we can expect for this Southeast Asian island nation.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener...

Global markets are entering the second half of 2026 under growing pressure from multiple fronts : rising geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices, and persistent uncertainty over the direction of global interest rates. Kenny Yee, Head of Research at Rakuten Trade, shares his insights on what we can expect for the rest of the year.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Campaigning for the Johor state elections has officially begun after Nomination Day on 27 June. What did Nomination Day reveal about each coalition's strategy, and what could ultimately decide the election? We discuss the race with Adib Zalkapli, Managing Director, Viewfinder Global Affairs.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has tabled a 1,999-page report examining rising medical insurance premiums and private hospital charges. With 17 recommendations now on the table for the government, will they be enough to slow down the rise in medical inflation? We discuss this with Prof. Emeritus Dato' Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid, President of Malaysian Health Economic Association.Image Credit: Sh...

Malaysia is formalising hybrid work in the civil service, with public sector employees set to work from home two days a week from August 1. The move reflects a broader shift in workplace expectations, but also raises questions about productivity, talent retention, and whether private sector employers, particularly SMEs, can keep pace. As flexible work becomes a permanent feature of the employment...

The LRT3 Shah Alam Line is set to begin full operations soon, adding 37km of new rail connectivity across the Klang Valley and promising major improvements. Dr Prodyut Dutt, Group Chief Operating Officer for Strategy & Development at Prasarana Malaysia Bhd talks about what commuters and expect and the big question why it took so long to complete.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/lis...

Malaysia has passed major amendments to the Road Transport Act, introducing higher fines, stronger enforcement powers, and new offences such as illegal racing. Dato' Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Sadullah, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia, breaks down what these changes got right while enforcement still remains fragmented.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Bank lending across Southeast Asia is expected to slow as weaker global trade, higher interest rates, and persistent inflation weigh on credit demand. While banks in markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have remained relatively resilient, rising asset quality risks and softer loan growth are clouding the outlook. As economic conditions become more challenging, which banking systems a...

The United States is expanding its Pax Silica initiative to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and other technologies essential to AI. As more countries join the network, the initiative is increasingly viewed as part of the broader strategic competition with China rather than simply an effort to improve supply chain resilience. What does this mean for global trade, and...

Malaysia's inflation rate remained relatively stable at 2 percent in May, with RHB forecasting inflation to average 2.1 percent this year. But beneath the headline numbers, producer prices have surged, raising questions about whether businesses can continue absorbing higher costs and how long inflation can remain contained. We discuss the outlook for prices, policy and the risks ahead with Barnaba...

Parliament has tabled the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, overhauling the nearly three-decade-old Computer Crimes Act and expanding the scope of cyber offences to include identity theft, AI-generated deepfakes and digital fraud, while imposing tougher obligations on service providers. Kenny Lam, a partner at RDS Law Partners, talks about the key provisions in the legislation as well as what it got right an...

Malaysia is revisiting key parts of its legal framework, from how criminal prosecutions are conducted to how future lawyers qualify for practice. Parliament is debating a revised bill to separate the roles of Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, a move aimed at strengthening prosecutorial independence and public confidence in the justice system. Separately, the government is studying a new Bar...

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to make Malaysia his first official overseas destination signals an effort to deepen ties beyond the traditional focus on migrant labour. While labour mobility remains central to the relationship, recurring concerns over recruitment practices, worker welfare, and market access have strained bilateral cooperation for years. With both countries now...

A recent report by Kenanga Investment Bank revealed that that 17% of Malaysian publicly listed companies have undertaken share buybacks over the last two years, while in terms of value buybacks are only 2% the size of dividends on Bursa. Why aren’t buybacks a more prevalent tool to retain investor interest? We examine the practice of share buybacks in Malaysia with Peter Kong, Head of Researc...

A decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the debate over Brexit remains as divisive as ever. While supporters point to greater sovereignty, new trade agreements, and freedom from EU rules, critics argue that economic growth, investment, and political stability have all suffered. With public opinion shifting, UK-EU relations being recalibrated, and Britain's role in the...

MUDA has decided to scale back its slate from seven seats in 2022 to just four for the upcoming 16th Johor state election. Party president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz discusses the strategy behind this decision as well as why she is stepping aside in the Puteri Wangsa constituency and endorsing a new candidate as well as MUDA's cooperation with Parti Sosialis Malaysia.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omny...

Perikatan Nasional has held its supreme council meeting during which Bersatu attended despite coalition partner PAS, announced the end of their cooperation. New parties, formed from splinter groups of Bersatu were admitted to PN as well. Dr Azmi Hassan, senior fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, helps us sift through this chaos.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener...

ASEAN and Russia have unveiled a new cooperation roadmap through 2030, covering trade, energy, food security, and digitalisation at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. For countries such as Malaysia, the relationship presents opportunities in energy security, investment, and alternative trade arrangements, but also raises questions about sanctions risks and balancing ties with competing...

Malaysia's approach to vaping is back under scrutiny after a High Court ruling overturned the 2023 exemption that removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. While the government has appealed the decision, public health advocates argue the case highlights deeper concerns over youth vaping, enforcement gaps, and the balance between regulation and tax revenue. As policymakers weigh legal, health,...

Oil prices have retreated from a high of $US118 per barrel in April to around $80 following an interim deal between the US and Iran for a ceasefire and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Will oil prices continue to trend lower or are there constraints on supply resumption? We discuss the outlook of the O&G sector with Aimi Nasuha Mohamad Nazri,Oil & Gas and Transport Analyst at AmInve...

Recent debates about the quality of our legislative branch of government, have focused on the quality of written parliamentary replies. A study by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research suggests that ministries often provide evasive answers, particularly when responding to more detailed questions from MPs. At the same time, MPs’ absenteeism from parliamentary sittings continues to...

Malaysia's consumer sector remains resilient, supported by low unemployment and steady retail sales growth. However, spending momentum is slowing as households become more cautious amid higher living costs and persistent inflation pressures. With companies facing rising costs across energy, logistics, and raw materials, investors are increasingly focused on which businesses can protect margins and...

With the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran just signed, a new set of issues will have to be resolved. The 14-point agreement is aimed at ending hostilities and allows the established a framework for further negotiations to commence. The deal signals some commitments including sanctions relief, access to frozen Iranian assets...