Morning Brief

The Deputy Works Minister has revealed that twelve out of thirty-three highway concessions recorded losses in 2024, spanning both newer expressways and some long-established routes. We speak to independent business writer, P. Gunasegaran as to whether the BOT model that Malaysia employs is flawed and what we can do to prevent loss making highways.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled her first full UK Budget, presenting a £26 billion package aimed at balancing fiscal responsibility with support for households and businesses. How will it affect the UK’s economy, as well as citizens on the ground? We find out from Andy Williams, Managing Director of Corporate Affairs, Penta Group. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government will introduce next-generation MyKad equipped with security upgrades to curb forgery and misuse. This upgrade includes a QR code to verify their authenticity. Given MyKad’s integration with aid initiatives and Malaysia’s anxiety with data security, we discussed the safety and necessity of this upgrade with Amin Ashaari, CEO & Co-founder of SoyaCincau.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a year to date basis, the FBMKLCI is still in negative territory yet the outlook for 2026 still remains positive. We ask Munirah Khairuddin, CEO Principal Asset Management Berhad what investment strategy to adopt globally and in Malaysia in light of this cautious optimism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular users of e-hailing services have been noticing fewer cars on the road and higher charges, as drivers themselves experience rising insurance premiums, mounting costs, and platform pressures. Jose Rizal from the Malaysia E-Hailing Coalition shares insights about what’s happening on the ground and why drivers are struggling today.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Sarawak Budget that was just tabled is focused on development spending, rural uplift, and human capital, while also marking a shift toward new forms of revenue generation as the state positions itself for a lower-carbon future. We ask Zafri Zulkeffeli, Deputy Chief Economist of BIMB Securities as to what this means for growth and fiscal position.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations has estimated that rebuilding Gaza will cost at least US$70 billion, which is now in ruins after Israel destroyed homes, schools, hospitals, and essential public services over the past 2 years. Dr Anas Iqtait, of the Middle Eastern & Central Asia Studies at Australian National University, shares his view on what reconstructing Gaza might entail.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Sabah goes to the polls this weekend, the focus is on ensuring a clean and fair election. From money politics to threats or misuse of government resources, what violations have emerged so far? We discuss this with Faisal Aziz, Bersih Chairman.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia plans to ban children under 16 from signing up for social media accounts starting next year, using strict eKYC verification, hoping to address rising school violence. Dr Benjamin Loh, Course Director for the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication, Monash University Malaysia, shares his take on this seemingly hurried put together legislation.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions in the Indo-Pacific have been rising steadily but in recent months, Taiwan has become the focal point of both geopolitical friction and economic concern. Dr. Adrian Ang, Research Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies tells us what the consequences of this is for Asia and if the rift between Japan and China will escalate.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Donald Trump back in power, broadcasting and publishing companies in the US are expecting a different environment next year, including a more deregulated landscape. We speak to Geetha Ranganathan, Senior Media Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence on what 2026 will look like for these companies.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Securities Commission has released a consultation paper proposing a major update to Malaysia’s listing requirements for both the Main and ACE Markets. We ask Pankaj Kumar, Managing Director of Datametrics Research & Information Centre as to what these revisions means for capital markets and if it enhances Malaysia as a destination for IPOs.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavy rainfall has triggered widespread flooding across seven Malaysian states, displacing nearly 17,000 people. Dato’ Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, President of Mercy Malaysia, shares his insights about the situation on the ground, ongoing relief efforts, and the challenges of cross-border evacuations.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COP30 in Belém, Brazil, which brought together 194 countries to discuss climate action, has concluded with the summit falling short of binding fossil-fuel reduction commitments. Climate change and sustainability expert, Dr Renard Siew, who was at the event, shares his take on whether or not the COP process is still effective in driving global climate solutions.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has posted that "something good may be happening" following news of a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine put forward by Washington and Moscow which requires a decision by Nov 27. Dr Sonia Mycak, a research fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies discusses this along with a new counter peace plan suggested by Ukraine and European leaders.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crypto markets are seeing major developments as the Singapore Exchange (SGX) launches perpetual futures for Bitcoin and Ethereum today. At the same time, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is easing its exam focus on crypto for 2026. We speak with Varun Mittal, Founder of Fintech Nation, on these developments and the outlook of cryptos.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The structure and independence of Malaysia’s legal profession have come under renewed national attention as the government has proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act that would give the Law Minister new powers over the Legal Profession Qualifying Board. Anand Raj, Vice President of the Malaysian Bar Council explains why there are concerns over this and also the lack of transparency over JAC appointments.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual G20 Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa over the weekend. The event, meant to be a gathering of the world's biggest economies, was boycotted by the United States. Bunn Nagara, Director and Senior Fellow at the Renaissance Strategic Research Institute and Honorary Fellow of the Perak Academy, walks us through the events of the summitImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The halfway mark for the Sabah polls has been crossed with 5 days left till polling day on 29 November. We check in with Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser, Pacific Research Centre for an update on the campaign strategies of the different parties and if policies matter more than loyalties and familial ties.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aluminum prices have surged to about 2,800 US dollars a ton since April, a 3-year high. What is driving prices and will this rally continue in 2026? For some insight into this metal, we speak to Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals & Mining, Bloomberg IntelligenceImage Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COP30 is now entering its final stretch in Belém and while the summit remains anchored to the Paris goal like all previous COPs, this year’s summit has unfolded somewhat differently. We speak to Hong Jinghann, Adaptation Coordinator, Malaysian Youth Delegation on what is happening on ground and what the main points of contention are.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven KL MPs have submitted a Private Members’ Bill to amend the Federal Capital Act 1960 to allow for councillors to be appointed by MPs to effectively manage the KL. We ask, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa and also sponsor of the bill as to why there should be a revamp and the benefits of the councillor system.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All unclassified documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case are now awaiting President Donald Trump’s final approval for release, after both the Senate and Congress overwhelmingly voted in favour of making them public. Dr Kathryn Robison, a lecturer in American Studies at the United States Studies Centre shares her thoughts on the impact this has on the Republican party.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deloitte’s latest report on Southeast Asia’s IPO markets shows that in the first 10.5 months of 2025, 102 IPOs across six exchanges have raised around US$5.6 billion. Wong Kar Choon, Capital Markets Services Partner, Deloitte Malaysia explains why capital markets were so active and if the pipeline remains strong in 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When cloud network services company, Cloudflare, crashed this week, there was a worldwide outage taking major websites offline and exposed the fragility of the internet. CF Fong, CEO of LGMS Berhad shares his view on what went wrong and how businesses can build stronger cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is set to introduce the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system, allowing vehicles to pass tolls without stopping. To implement this, amendments to key transport laws are required, but challenges like technology reliability and highway operator cooperation remain. We delve into these and other developments with Transport Consultant, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Cook, a journalist covering Southeast Asian affairs, explains the massive Manila protest that drew up to 650,000 people over alleged multibillion-dollar kickbacks in flood-control projects and whether this unrest could spark a leadership shake-up.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1.8 million people will be voting in the Sabah elections, of which more than half a million will be under the age of 30. However, voter turnout for this segment is low at just 55%. We speak to grassroots movement HAI MANDAK, as to why this is the case and what are the issues facing young Sabahans.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia is in the middle of a rapid data centre boom, driven by accelerating digitalisation, cloud demand and the spillover from Singapore’s capacity constraints.  Malaysia has been a beneficiary of this but what are the bottlenecks we face? Linda Zeng, Senior Power & Renewables Analyst, BMI gives us that answer and some solutions so we can stay ahead of the competition.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EPF has just posted one of its strongest performances in years for the first nine months of 2025. With two-tier pension reforms, rising voluntary contributions, and the growing influence of social media and finfluencers, the investment landscape is shifting. Ng Tzu Hann, CEO of Tradeview Capital, joins us to unpack it all.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Azmil Tayeb, Political Scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, discusses MIC’s potential exit from Barisan Nasional after nearly seven decades, where the party might head next, and whether it still holds relevance among Indian voters.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China and Japan are locked in a new confrontation, sparked by Tokyo’s comments on Taiwan and escalated by Beijing’s tourism bans, market pressure, and military moves near the Senkaku Islands. Professor Alexis Dudden, a visiting professor at the Department of Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore, helps us understand what's at stake.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian markets have been like a yoyo this year, dropping by 10% in April to 7,343 points to then recover and hit a year to date high of 9,094 points in late October. However recent selling of late has meant the ASX 200 year to date gains are currently just 5.3%. Matt Ingram, Senior Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us the 2026 outlook and also if banks are the sector that will outperform.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the departure of Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Sharif as Kuala Lumpur mayor, 9 months short of her 2-year term, questions abound as to why this has happened, especially as she has been one of the most qualified persons for this job. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa, shares his thoughts on working with Maimunah and whether or not local council elections might be a feasible future solution.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vietnam’s property market is entering a new phase as sweeping land and housing reforms reshape investment flows and urban growth. Trang Le, Country Head & Head of Research and Consulting at JLL Vietnam talks about where demand is rising, and how foreign developers are positioning themselves, and what lies ahead for the next property cycle.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia reported the country’s economy grew 5.2% in the third quarter, which suggest that  Malaysia is on course to hit the upper end of the 4% to 4.8% growth target for this year. Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Chief Economist, Bank Muamalat tells us the house view of GDP growth and Ringgit outlook for 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, the Federal Court dismissed Semantan Estate’s appeal to reclaim ownership of the 263-acre plot in Bukit Semantan, Kuala Lumpur. Haniff Khatri, practising lawyer explains why the court made that decision and how compensation might be determined.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah heads to the polls at the end of this month with nomination day tomorrow. We break down the shifting alliances and explore what’s at stake with Professor James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If successful, Visit Malaysia Year 2026 could contribute as much as 16% to Malaysia’s GDP next year. Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research, discusses the key growth drivers, potential risks, the sectors poised to benefit, and shares his top five stock picks tied to this theme.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private credit has expanded rapidly since the global financial crisis, growing into a US 1.7 trillion dollar market as tighter banking regulations pushed more lending activity outside traditional finance. Thomas Cheong, President of Principal APAC & Middle East and Executive Vice President of Principal Financial Group helps us understand where the opportunities are in this asset class and what investment strategy to adopt.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Felix Neoh, Director of Financial Planning at Finwealth Management, explains the objectives and expected impact of the new 15-minute financial education module that consumers applying for personal loans above RM100,000 will be required to complete starting in 2027. Nonetheless, there isn’t a test at the end.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BBC’s ongoing controversy comes amid rising licensing fees paid by UK viewers and increasing scrutiny over the company’s editorial integrity. Dr. Benjamin Barton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, outlines the challenges facing the broadcaster and believes it is unlikely to settle former US President Trump’s US$1 billion lawsuit threat.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is news that the government plans to amend the MARA Act 1966 to improve governance and centralise oversight. The 59-year-old agency has faced scrutiny over transparency, overlapping functions, and underperformance. Ahmad Yazid Othman, Senior Fellow at the Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu (MTEM), shares his views on this.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has had some recent wins from the strength of the Ringgit to strong economic growth despite the geopolitical tensions and trade war. So,  has Malaysia found its glory days again. A question that was posed by Daniel Moss, a Bloomberg commentator in his op-ed piece entitled "Malaysia Got Its Mojo Back. But for How Long?" . We ask him why he wrote the article and if there are challenges ahead.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Professor Dr Te Kian Keong, Principal Practitioner and Director of Traditional & Complementary Medicine Centre at UTAR Hospital tells us about the new law regulating traditional and complementary medicine facilities. Active dialog between the regulator and practitioners is key to ensuring this law effectively improves standards and safety for patients.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian equities have delivered one of the strongest rallies globally this year, but weeks of volatile trading across Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, seem to indicate some hesitation. Vis Nayar, Chief Investment Officer at Eastspring Investments, talks about the factors behind Asia’s market momentum, the outlook for 2026, and where investors should be positioning next.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah’s political scene is once again in motion with UPKO’s exit from Pakatan Harapan, following party president Datuk Ewon Benedick’s resignation from Cabinet. All this ahead of the state's election at the end of the month. Ariff Adi Putera Anwar, Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies (Sabah), shares his views.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto marks one year in office and Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul wraps up his second month as prime minister, both leaders are confronting early tests of leadership. Journalist Erin Cook joins us with an analysis of some of the latest developments in these two ASEAN member nations.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan’s new government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is signalling a significant shift in economic policy, preferring to take a longer lens. We ask Alvin Liew, Senior Economist & Senior Vice President, UOB what are the implications of this change and what are the next steps the BOJ will take.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The excise duty exemption for CKDs is due to be removed while the RM100,000 selling price floor for EVs will be scrapped. What does this mean for the auto sector in Malaysia. Iftaar Hakim, Equity Analyst at RHB Investment Bank gives us his perspective whilst we also ask about EV penetration rates.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.