Morning Brief

As global technology trade intensifies, Malaysia is reinforcing its position as a critical, trusted hub in the semiconductor supply chain. Farlina Said, Senior Analyst at ISIS Malaysia, highlights essential factors namely robust enforcement and seamless industry transition in the implementation of the strategic trade permit on all US-origin high-performance AI chips.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s economy beat expectations with 5.2% GDP growth in the second quarter, buoyed by strong exports and robust industrial output. However, domestic demand remains weak and retail sales have disappointed. Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking helps us sift through the numbers to see if Beijing can hit its full-year growth target of 5%.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Ghani has been tasked with temporarily overseeing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability following the resignation of Nik Nazmi. With portflios seemingly at odds, how can conflict of interest and dilution of priorities be avoided? Meenakshi Raman, President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia tells us.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s economy grew by 4.3% year-on-year in Q2 2025, beating expectations and avoiding a technical recession. The rebound was driven by strong manufacturing and services performance but are there downside risks to growth for the rest of the year? Selena Ling, Chief Economist, OCBC Bank gives us her perspective whilst weighing in on whether Singapore economic model is at risk with the threat of tariffs.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the federal government allocates billions of ringgit to development projects in Sabah, alongside state efforts to reclaim 40% of its revenue rights; how might these moves reshape Sabah's economic landscape? For insights, we turn to Ariff Adi Putera Anwar, Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies (Sabah)Image Credits: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid ongoing economic pressures, Indonesia is launching ambitious plans to boost growth and resilience, such as mass housing projects and free school meals. Challenges like weak consumer spending and tight banking liquidity continue to weigh on its outlook. Lionel Priyadi, Head of Research, PT Mega Capital Sekuritas, shares his analysis.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump sent letters threatening steep tariffs on several countries — including key ally Japan. So, what went wrong, given that Japan was one of the first countries to engage in trade negotiations with the Trump administration? For insights, we speak with William Pesek, Columnist at Nikkei Asia.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EU member states are ramping up defence spending to meet ambitious new targets, even as they face mounting fiscal pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. Dr. Benjamin Barton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, examines the bloc’s internal cooperation and its capacity to respond to potential threats from Russia.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public service outsourcing has been a longstanding practice in Selangor, but questions remain about whether these arrangements truly deliver value for money. We speak with Dr. Afif Bahardin, Taman Medan Assemblyman, to explore where improvements are needed and how to make these partnerships more effective.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, US President Donald Trump nominated Australian-born conservative commentator Nick Adams as the next US ambassador to Malaysia which has raised eyebrows. We speak to Dato' Dr Ilango Karuppannan, retired Malaysian ambassador and geopolitics & ASEAN analyst for his views on what the roles, responsibilities and qualities are needed of any ambassador be it appointed or career.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's MyKiosk initiative may have started with good intentions, but its patchy implementation and the number of vacant units highlight deeper issues in how support for small businesses is designed and delivered. Chin Chee Seong, President of the SME Association of Malaysia, weighs in on the challenges and the potential solutions that could emerge from the MyKiosk experience.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Bar’s peaceful walk titled “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence” on July 14 comes amid unexplained delays in judicial appointments and growing concerns over potential interference in the judiciary. In June 2022, the Bar organised a similar walk to defend judicial independence. Helping us better understand the broader significance of judicial independence is Anand Raj, Vice President of the Malaysian Bar.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia launched its biggest drone attack yet as President Trump resumed military aid to Ukraine, frustrated by failed talks with Russian President Putin. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovat the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur amidst these tensions. Dr. Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer, School of Law and Governance, Taylor’s University joins us for an update on this. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Malaysia culminated in the signing of a strategic civil nuclear cooperation agreement, signaling Washington’s intent to deepen ties with Southeast Asia amid rising geopolitical competition. Elina Noor, Senior Fellow with the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, helps us make sense of what this means for the region.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Home Ministry has announced plans to introduce a national refugee registration system known as the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Database, or DPP. Will this pave the way for greater rights and protections for refugees in Malaysia? To help us unpack this database, we speak with Aslam Abd Jalil, Senior Lecturer at the International Institute of Public Policy and Management, Universiti Malaya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Kuala Lumpur hosts the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, senior officials from the US, China, Norway, Australia and Russia are in attendance. Can regional leaders find common ground on escalating tariffs and mounting geopolitical tensions? Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow, ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, shares her insights on what to expect from this high-stakes gathering.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of letters warning that steep import tariffs will take effect on August 1, unless they can agree to new trade deals with the United States. We speak to Katrina Ell, Director & Head of Asia-Pacific Economics, Moody's Analytics on what impact this will have on the economies of Asia Pacific and if a round of GDP downgrades are to be expected.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war in Gaza has raged for nearly two years with no lasting ceasefire. U.S President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pushing a proposed 60-day truce but face tough issues over aid and security guarantees. We get insights from Dr. Ferooze Ali, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law and International Relations, Sultan Zainal Abidin University.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is set to roll out its Guidelines for Responsible AI Communication, aimed at media, public relations, and digital content professionals. What must be included to ensure meaningful protection against misinformation and manipulation? We speak to Professor Dr Joanne Lim, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and lecturer in Digital Media, Communications, and Cultural Studies at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently hotels in Malaysia asserted that they would need to raise room rates by up to 15% as a result of the revised tax structure. We ask Nigel Wong, President, The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) if this price increase is warranted whilst getting an outlook on the tourism sector.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Chinese nationals are travelling abroad, but spending per tourist is on the decline. Catherine Lim, Senior Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, explains where Chinese consumers are directing their spending and which sectors and companies stand to benefit from this shift in consumption trends.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla maintains a positive long-term outlook despite recent credit cuts under the Big Beautiful Bill. While the company — along with the broader tech sector — faces headwinds including tariffs, weaker tech spending, and a slowdown in U.S. AI investments, sentiment remains optimistic. Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities, continues to back top tech names and describes the coming six months as a potential “golden age” for software stocks.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine PKR Members of Parliament, including former Cabinet members, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, are calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into alleged political interference and delays in judicial appointments. One of the other 9 MPs, Wong Chen, who represents Subang, joins us to warn us of this crisis of confidence in Malaysia’s judiciary and the urgent actions needed to be taken.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Robinhood launches tokenised equities tied to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX, questions are mounting over the risks of unregulated digital assets. Varun Mittal, founder of Fintech Nation explains the issues as well as where he thinks bitcoin may be heading.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major reforms are underway to elevate the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) to degree-equivalent status and guarantee apprentices a minimum wage of RM1,700 as Malaysia rethinks the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Shazrul Ariff Suhaimi of Khazanah Research Institute explains the implications.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a year to date basis, the USD has depreciated against major currencies by almost 10%, the sharpest drop since 1973. We ask Peter Chia, Senior FX Strategist, UOB as if that trend will continue and also where Asian currencies are heading.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the end of July, there will be three vacancies in Malaysia's top three judicial positions: the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal, and the Chief Judge of Malaya, raising concerns about judicial independence and the need for timely appointments. Lim Wei Jiat, a constitutional lawyer, shares his perspectives on this issue.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the July 9th deadline fast approaching before the 90-day pause on Liberation Day reciprocal tariffs ends, only the UK and Vietnam appear to have struck a semblance of a trade deal with the US. Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN Economist at OCBC, analyses the situation and what this might mean for Vietnam and other countries in the 10-nation bloc.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesia’s budget deficit is set to hit Rp662 trillion rupiah, around $40 billion US dollars or 2.8% of GDP, pushing close to its 3% legal cap. Can the government keep spending under control while rolling out social programmes such as free meals and low-cost housing? We’ll get perspective from Daniel Moss, Opinion Columnist at Bloomberg.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its general assembly delayed and political alliances shifting, UMNO is recalibrating ahead of Sabah’s 17th state election. Can the party hold its ground amid shifting political dynamics? We speak to Adib Zalkapli, managing director of geopolitical and public policy advisory firm, Viewfinder Global Affairs, for insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Court on Tuesday ruled that Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which criminalizes the failure to give police five days’ notice before a peaceful assembly, is unconstitutional. We breakdown the court's ruling with Andrew Khoo, Human Rights Lawyer and if the Act should be repealed.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The property market in Singapore has been showing contrasting trends with Urban Redevelopment Authority reporting private home prices rising by 0.5% in the second quarter while sales of private residential units fell in May to their lowest level in five months. Ken Foong, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence helps us make of the figures and which developers are poised for stronger earnings in 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GEAR-uP, the Finance Ministry's Government-linked Enterprises Activation & Reform Programme, is Putrajaya's initiative designed to help SMEs grow and become more competitive. Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLICs), including Khazanah, EPF, PNB, KWAP, LTAT, and Tabung Haji, have committed around RM25 billion for this. Ng Zhu Hann, CEO of TradeView Capital shares his thoughts.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fitch Ratings’ Global Economic Outlook report for June 2025 now forecasts the world’s GDP to grow by 2.2% in 2025, up from its April projection of 1.9%. Alex Muscatelli, Director, Fitch Ratings’ Economics Team explains the rationale behind this and what are the risks that we should be aware of.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than one year in office and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces suspension from duty if the kingdom's Constitutional Court accepts a petition filed by conservative senators accusing her of breaching ethical standards. Dr Michael Montesano, Associate Senior Fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, shares his insights on this development and what it means for the future of Thai politics.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Senate has narrowly passed the US President Donald Trump’s multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spending package. We speak to Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney about the political implications of this.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) comes into effect today with many businesses across Malaysia anticipating higher operating costs. Chin Chee Seong, National President, SME Association of Malaysia tell how the implementation has been for his members and whether Malaysian can expects prices to rise in tandem.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A widening scandal over mining license bribes in Sabah has rocked the state’s political establishment, with 15 ruling-coalition politicians implicated since 2023. Professor James Chin of the University of Tasmania talks about the implications for Sabah’s political stability, the federal-state power dynamic, and how voter sentiment may shift ahead of the next election.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deadly gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights on Apr 1st has been traced back to unstable, waterlogged soil and not foul play or negligence. Dr Joshua Netto, Director at Blue Stone Management and a former President of the Project Management Institute Malaysia Chapter, talks about his takeaways from the official report released about the incident.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States, once a top contributor to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), has withdrawn its funding, raising alarms across the public health world. Professor Dr Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, Provost of Sunway Medical School, shares his view about what this means for the world’s most vulnerable children and the fight against future pandemics.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is preparing to roll out MyGOV Malaysia, a mobile application designed to centralise seven major public services on a single secure platform. However, with so many apps already in use, will this be the one that actually delivers on convenience and security? We’ll discuss this with CF Fong, CEO of LGMS Berhad.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, China hosted the World Economic Forum’s second-largest annual gathering in Tianjin. To unpack what Beijing’s messaging at the event means for China’s economic outlook, we’ll be speaking with Heron Lim, Assistant Director–Economist at Moody’s Analytics.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Court of Appeal acquitted former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman on the basis that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case and raised doubts about key witnesses. What does that suggest about the strength of the MACC’s investigative work or the prosecution’s case-building process? Goh Cia Yee, Criminal Lawyer gives us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a five-year legal battle, the Member of Parliament for Muar was acquitted of all corruption and money laundering charges by the Court of Appeal. We speak to Syed Saddiq for his reflections of this and whether he will return to Muda as their President.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday, the government announced the formation of a joint ministerial committee to oversee the Reset framework, an initiative that aims to keep medical inflation in check. For some thoughts on the framework, we speak to Dr Khor Swee Kheng, CEO, Angsana Health & specialist in health systems.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is set to unveil the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), a bold five-year blueprint to reshape the nation from 2026 to 2030. But is it enough to tackle the challenges ahead? To unpack what’s at stake, we speak with Prof. Tricia Yeoh, Associate Professor of Practice, School of Politics & International Relations, University of Nottingham Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s expanded Sales & Service Tax is set to take effect on July 1st and the food & beverage industry is worried this will result in higher costs for dining out for the average person. Dato' Seri Abdul Malik Abdullah, Chairman of the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations and Founder of the d'Tandoor Group, shares his insights into this issue.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of the Israel-Iran conflict, fears of a renewed global arms race have resurfaced, as Tehran hints at withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Dr Alvin Chew from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies helps us understand the issues at stake including the current state of global nuclear weapons and the effectiveness of the International Atomic Energy Agency.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With nearly 620,000 jobs in Malaysia’s formal sector expected to be impacted by AI in the next few years, concerns are growing over job losses and the urgent need for education and reskilling. What is the government doing to ensure Malaysians are AI-ready? Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp weighs in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research firm Merdeka Center, in its latest mid-term survey, found that the approval rating for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has improved. We speak to Ibrahim Suffian, their Programme Director for an analysis of their findings which includes what most Malaysians are concerned about.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.