Morning Brief

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 We breakdown the court's ruling with Andrew Khoo, Human Rights Lawyer and if the Act should be repealed.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.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.

Starting August 1, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will take over both safety and economic oversight by absorbing the Malaysian Aviation Commission’s (MAVCOM) functions. What does this merger mean for the aviation sector? We speak with Khair Mirza, Head of Airport Investor Resource at Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NATO Summit is taking place this week amid changing dynamics within the bloc, especially with the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House. We discuss expectations for the summit with Dr. Reuben Wong, Deputy Head of the Political Science Department at the National University of Singapore.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 2024, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) initiated a comprehensive review of Malaysia’s e-commerce laws, which should be completed by August. Ganesh Kumar Bangah, Current Advisor, National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) and Chairman of its think-tank Future Digital tells the challenges of balancing the needs to all stakeholders and what are the current challenges faced by the industry with impending US tarrifs and an expanded SST list.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a year-to-date basis the USD is down almost 8% but with recent attacks on Iran, investors have ploughed back into the greenback. We ask Stephen Chiu, Chief Asia FX and Rates Strategist, Bloomberg Intelligence if the US dollar still remains the dominant currency whilst taking a look at the Yen, Euro and the Ringgit.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia continues to lag behind the region in education rights, scoring just 67.5% and ranking among the lowest in ASEAN in the 2025 Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) report. What are the human rights gaps in the government's education policies? We discuss this with Keshia Mahmood, Southeast Asia Consultant with HRMI.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump made a gamble when he approved US strikes on Iran nuclear facilities in aid of Israel, despite a campaign pledge to avoid forever wars. Has his subsequent ceasefire declaration staved a broader political fallout? We discuss the implications for Trump's domestic base with pollster John Zogby. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's total auto industry volume from January to May fell 5%. We ask Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain, President, Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for the reasons to this and if the outlook will remain as dim for the rest of the year against a backdrop of SST expansion, US tariffs and the RON95 petrol subsidy rationalisation.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASEAN economies are contending with various external headwinds. As we head into the second half of the year, the 90-day pause on US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs is set to expire, amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a potential war in the Middle East. We’ll be speaking with Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN Economist at OCBC, about how these developments are shaping the outlook for Southeast Asian economies.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend the US launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in a bid to cripple Tehran's nuclear arms ambitions. What are the implications of this for dynamics in the Middle East and how might Iran retaliate? We discuss the scenarios with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million linked to SRC International after prosecutors failed to provide key documents. We discuss the outcome of the case with independent business writer P. Gunasegaram and how this reflects on the Madani Government's commitment to tackle corruption.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The retail industry has joined calls for the government to defer the upcoming expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) citing rising cost and implementation hurdles. We speak to Michael Liew, Secretary-General, Malaysia Retail Chain Association to find out if their concerns are legitimate and what assistance they require from the government for a smooth implementation of the expanded SST list.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s residential property market remains under pressure, with over 23,500 completed but unsold units worth around RM15 billion ringgit recorded in the first quarter of 2025. As measures like Penang’s 5% discount and the revised Sales and Service Tax (SST) come into effect, concerns persist over whether these interventions can effectively address the overhang issue. We speak to Dr. Consilz Tan, Research Fellow at the Centre for Market Education, to unpack the implications. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces calls to resign after a leaked call led 69 MPs from Bhumjaithai to quit the coalition. Dr. Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer, Australian National University joins us to discuss the potential outcomes from this political crisis.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 G7 Summit, held in Canada, brought together leaders from the world’s major economies to tackle pressing global issues including economic uncertainty, security threats, and climate change. However, the summit was overshadowed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden early departure to address escalating tensions in the Middle East. We discuss the key takeaways from the summit with Paul Samson, President of the Centre for International Governance Innovation.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government plans to make SOCSO contributions mandatory for gig workers by January 2026, starting with a 1.25% per-ride deduction. Jose Rizal, Chief Activist of the Malaysian eHailing Association (GEM), shares the reaction from drivers and riders to this change as well as what’s missing in the upcoming Gig Workers Bill.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s economy expanded at a faster-than-expected annual rate of 7.4% in the quarter ending March but is the outlook dimmer for the rest of the year on the back of trade tensions and uncertain tariffs. Sanjay Mathur, Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and India, ANZ Bank gives us his perspective whilst telling us if India can be the next manufacturing powerhouse of the world.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has the second-highest road fatality rate in Asean with some statistics saying that a road accident occurs every 50 seconds. What makes Malaysian roads so dangerous - is it education, attitude or the lack of enforcement? Dr Law Teik Hua, Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia, highlights what the current issues are and what needs urgent reforms.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ASEAN Power Grid is shaping up to be a potential game changer for Southeast Asia’s energy future, aiming to connect national electricity grids and enable renewable energy to move more freely across borders. But what are the challenges to its implementation. Dr. Renard Siew, a Climate Change & Sustainability Expert gives us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Isreal-Iran conflict has caused oil prices to surge since the attacks began last week but is there more upside to prices if there is an escalation? Vandana Hari, Founder & CEO, Vanda Insights tells us her perspective whilst weighing in on the fundamental demand-supply conditions of this black gold.Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Online Safety Act 2024 has been passed and gazetted, with enforcement just around the corner. It is touted as a milestone in protecting Malaysians, especially children, from online harm but the law has also raised serious concerns about vague definitions and unchecked regulatory powers. Dr Benjamin Loh, Course Director for the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication at Monash University Malaysia shares his thoughts.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How liveable is Kuala Lumpur? Dato' Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Datuk Bandar of Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Managing Director of Think City and Cha-Ly Koh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UrbanMetry join BFM’s Shazana Mokhtar to discuss what makes a city liveable, the challenges KL faces in this pursuit, and the potential solutions to move us closer to this goal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two firms to separate streaming from legacy TV, aiming to cut debt and boost flexibility. Meanwhile, Netflix’s strong quarter highlights its dominance as media companies face pressure to adapt or consolidate. Geetha Ranganathan, Senior Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us her insights on the media sector in the US.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Malaysian government prepares to expand the Sales and Service Tax (SST) on a variety of goods starting July 1st, many are concerned about how this will affect their ability to afford everyday staples, given that Malaysia relies heavily on food imports. Nik Syafiah Anis, Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute weighs in on the implications of the expanded tax on food security.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As tensions between Israel and Iran exploded into open conflict following Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and with Tehran responding in kind, concerns have surfaced if this could spiral into a full-blown regional war. Dr Shahram Akbarzadeh of Deakin University helps us unpack how we got here and what each side hopes to achieve and if there is still hope for a de-escalation.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perikatan Nasional's unusual leadership structure is raising questions about who and which party is steering the coalition. We discuss the internal dynamics with political analyst Adib Zalkapli.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting July 1, Malaysia’s expanded SST will impact construction firms earning over 1.5 million ringgit, adding strain to an industry already facing cost hikes and labour shortages. Industry players like MBAM stress the need for clearer direction and stronger government support; we’ll speak to Oliver Wee Hiang Chyn, President of the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM).Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The delay as well as lack of transparency over decisions extending the tenure of the Chief Justice and other top judges is creating speculation that could affect public perception of judicial integrity. We speak to constitutional lawyer Dato' Malik Imtiaz Sarwar about the implications of this impasse for the Malaysian judicial system.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.