Morning Brief

1MDB mastermind Jho Low has eluded the dragnet of authorities for over a decade. Could a crowdsourcing initiative harnessing the hype of cryptocurrency succeed in tracking down the fugitive financier? We speak to investigative journalist Bradley Hope on the $JHOLOW memecoin and why it's been so hard to arrest Jho Low.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent study by Universiti Malaya’s Social Wellbeing Research Centre has revealed that a minimum-wage worker in Malaysia must work four times longer than their Australian counterpart to afford 1kg of chicken. Dr Amjad Rabi, a visiting expert at the Social Wellbeing Research Centre of Universiti Malaya, shares his insights into how this research highlights issues with food affordability as well as access to nutritious food.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DAP will hold elections for 30 spots in the party's Central Executive Committee on Mar 16th. Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, a political analyst and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research shares his observations on what appears to be a situation where supporters of Sec-Gen Anthony Loke will go up against supporters of Chair Lim Guan Eng.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore will host four Lady Gaga concerts, her only stop in Asia. We look at which listed property companies stand to benefit. Ken Foong, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us his perspective whilst we also ask what is the outlook for City Developments after the family lawsuit was dropped.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Carbon, Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill 2025 is a key milestone in Malaysia’s low-carbon transition, but uncertainties linger over its execution and impact. The government sees it as crucial for carbon regulation, while industry leaders argue it’s vital for competitiveness. Critics warn of weak oversight, and with Sabah and Sarawak excluded, its broader economic and environmental implications remain in question. Senior Lecturer at Asia School of Business (ASB) weighs in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After AirAsia's decision to move all its domestic flights from Subang Airport to KLIA2, after seven months, only four jet operators - Firefly, Batik Air, TransNusa and Scoot - remain. Brendan Sobie, Independent Analyst and Consultant at Sobie Aviation shares his thoughts on SZB's dreams of becoming a city airport serving up to 8 million passengers by 2030.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is set to be charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity during a brutal war on drugs perpetrated during his term in office. Dr Aries Arugay, Professor and Chair at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, talks about the domestic political implications from this development.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has shed more than 17% year-to-date, the worst in Asia. In an effort to stabilise the local equities market, the Thai government has unveiled several tax incentives and is disbursing more cash handouts to boost domestic consumption. to give more insights on this we speak to Naphat Chan, Head of Thailand Research at CLSA. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite structural headwinds, China has maintained its 5% growth target. We discuss how that figure will be achieved and other pronouncements that were made at the NPC with Chen Zheng, Policy Analyst, CITIC Securities.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has proposed £5 billion welfare cuts to address the nation’s financial shortfall, a move that has sparked debate within the Labour party. While some support the plan, others argue it will disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. Prof. Peter Taylor-Gooby, Research Professor of Social Policy at University of Kent tells us what impact that it will on society and what cuts can be expected.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After five negotiation sessions, Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, finally got an assurance from Putrajaya that his constituency will receive government allocations. This highlights how unequal distribution of funds meant for ALL voters is. Syed Saddiq talks about why it is important to address this disparity, as the welfare of all should be paramount.Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the Malaysian government unveiled that it had signed a deal with British chip giant Arm Holdings, allowing us to acquire the company’s chip design plans. Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said that the agreement aims to accelerate the development of our own home-grown chips and strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor space. Farlina Said, a Fellow at ISIS Malaysia, will join us to discuss what needs to be in place to fully capitalise on this government subsidy for chip design.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ongoing negotiations between Petros and Petronas have signaled a major shift in Malaysia’s oil and gas sector. With Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledging Sarawak’s ambitions, questions have been raised about federal-state power dynamics and their impact on investors. What then will be the outcome of talks between the national and Sarawak oil and gas company? Prof. Tricia Yeoh, Associate Professor of Practice, Uni of Nottingham Malaysia's School of Politics & Intl Relations joins us to share her analysis and the outlook arising from this.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rally in the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) last week was a welcome break after four straight weeks of decline in February. Is this momentum sustainable and are there opportunities for investors in this market? We discuss the trends with Alfred Dy of CLSA.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Carney, former central banker, has been elected leader of the Liberal Party and will become Canada’s 24th Prime Minister, securing 86% of the vote. Dr. Cristine de Clercy, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Trent University shares her insights on how his leadership may shape Canada’s political landscape.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump Administration has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, while granting a temporary reprieve to the auto industry. The one-month pause under the USMCA trade agreement offers short-term relief, but rising costs and supply chain disruptions are forcing automakers to reassess production, innovation, and investment strategies. As companies navigate tighter margins and shifting trade policies, Vivek Vaidya, Associate Partner and Senior Vice President of Mobility at Frost & Sullivan, joins us to unpack the broader implications for the industry.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the Dewan Rakyat passed a bill making EPF contributions mandatory for non-citizen workers. Set to be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2025, the policy will require employers and workers to contribute 2% each to the retirement fund. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North-South Initiative, will join us to discuss the importance of this move and what else is required to improve social protection for our migrant workers so that we are on par with international standards.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environmental crimes are on the rise in Malaysia and to counter this, the police will be granted enforcement authority under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. But is this enough to crack down on illegal activities, including e-waste smuggling? We discuss the government's strategy on this with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dato' Sri Azalina Othman recently affirmed in Parliament that the Prisons Act 1995 already allows for home arrest sentences. Is a standalone Home Detention Bill then required? We unpack the law with criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Women, Family & Community Development Ministry recently reported that cases of domestic violence have hit a three-year high, with over 7,000 cases in 2024. It is also important to note that violence against women and girls can be perpetrated physically or online. Jayamalar Samuel, Capacity Building Director, at the All Women's Action Society (AWAM), shares her thoughts on what needs to be done to address this.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Malaysia, only 20% of enterprises are women-owned, despite government programmes designed to help kickstart women-led businesses. Andal Krishnan from the NGO, NAWEM (National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia) helps us understand the reasons behind this and what could be done to improve the situation.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia has maintained the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 3% after its most recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting, while signalling that inflation remains under control despite uncertainties from major economies and geopolitical developments. Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, the chief economist at Bank Muamalat, shares his assessment.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black gold has taken a tumble, dropping to a 3 year low. We ask Vandana Hari, Founder & CEO, Vanda Insights for the reasons for this dip and what is the outlook for the rest of 2025.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumer Credit Bill 2025 was tabled for the first reading in Parliament, with the intention of forming a Consumer Credit Commission (CCC) as the new authority regulating conventional and shariah non-bank credit providers and credit service providers. Jonathan Lim, Secretary of Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM) & Partner at Zaid Ibrahim & Co helps us understand how this bill helps to create a structured regulatory framework to protect borrowers. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysians have embraced the electric vehicle revolution, but this comes with new challenges. It is estimated that nearly 900,000 EV batteries will need recycling by 2050 - does Malaysia have the right infrastructure and ecosystem in place to handle this waste? We discuss this with Amin Ashaari, CEO & Co-founder SoyaCincau.com. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bitcoin rebounded to $94,000 after US President Donald Trump proposed a 'Crypto Strategic Reserve' including other major cryptocurrencies. This recovery came after Bitcoin experienced a nearly 18% decline in February. Andy Baehr, Managing Director and Head of Product at CoinDesk Indices, shares his insights on the market’s outlook. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the National People's Congress that kicked off this week for signs on Beijing's priorities in 2025. Can China revive its lagging economy on the back of an escalating trade war with the US? We discuss the policy expectations and outlook with Harry Murphy Cruise, Head of China and Australia Economics at Moody’s Analytics.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin has urged the government to consider banning private hospitals from listing on Bursa Malaysia as part of efforts to curb profit-driven healthcare. Sim also suggested that listed private hospitals be nationalised and fully government-owned to help lower medical costs. We’ll be speaking with Dr. Khor Swee Kheng, CEO of Angsana Health & Specialist in Public Policiesto discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of these proposals.  Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Succession planning of family-owned businesses is in the spotlight, with a conflict between a prominent patriarch and his heir in Singapore. This has highlighted the ongoing challenges within family-owned businesses. We examine the possible factors driving tension within these enterprises and how they can be resolved with Deepa George, Managing Consultant of MYHRC Services. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Evidence of Child Witness (Amendment) Act 2024, came into force on March 3 and enhances legal safeguards for children testifying in court. We speak with Ajeet Kaur, Child Advocate & Co-Chairperson of Child Rights Innovation and Betterment (CRIB) Foundation to understand the impact of these changes and what they mean for the justice system.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has hit the ground running since returning to the White House in January as he has ordered a series of widely criticized executive actions, as well as sparking a trade war with Canada, Mexico, and China. Joining us for a discussion on how these moves have affected the US economy is Olu Sonola, Head of US Economic Research, Fitch Ratings.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The earnings season for Malaysian and Singapore banks has just concluded with most reporting results that either beat or were in line with expectations. We ask Sarah Jane Mahmud, Senior Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence what is the outlook for 2025 and which banks will have the strongest earnings profile despite the headwinds of tariffs and increasing geopolitical tensions.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, set to be tabled for a second reading today, aims to re-establish the administrative autonomy of Malaysia's Parliament, a status that was altered when the original Act was repealed in 1992. Prof Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head of Strategy at the Asia Headquarters of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, shares his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A government study, has revealed that about half of the bags marked as imported white rice had been mixed with local grains as unscrupulous parties seek to make profits from this. We speak to Professor Datin Paduka Dr Fatimah Mohamed Arshad, Food Security Chair at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security of UPM about what reforms are needed to prevent this and ensure food security.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire has ended and discussions for a second phase have stalled. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, helps us unpack what the way forward might be like and the continued acrimony between both sides and as the Trump Administration appears to add fuel to fire.Image Credit : Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was caught in a heated exchange with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance. With Trump accusing Zelenskyy of gambling with millions of lives by refusing to agree to a controversial deal with the U.S. to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Joining us to discuss the implications of the meeting is Dr. Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law and Governance at Taylor’s University.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The EPF has declared a dividend rate of 6.3% for both conventional and shariah savings for the 2024 financial year, as its investment assets grew 10% to MYR1.3 trillion. P Gunasegaram, an independent business writer and founding editor of Kinibiz shares some perspectives into this performance, EPF's investment strategies as well as how Malaysia can improve its approach to retirement savings.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rapid spread of H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, in the United States is raising serious public health concerns and significantly raising the prices of eggs. Infections have been detected in humans, farm animals, and now domestic pets, highlighting the growing risk of transmission across species. To understand the implications of this outbreak and its impact on public health, we speak to  Dr. Latiffah Hassan, Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Missouri.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of AI and technological disruption on Malaysia’s labour market, the Human Resources Ministry is set to organise the National Training Week (NTW) 2025 mid this year. This edition is set to be the largest yet, aiming to train one million people in a week. Joining us to discuss the effectiveness of such an initiative and the importance of upskilling is Dr. Lee Hwok-Aun, Senior Fellow of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The S&P500 and the Nasdaq have now turned negative on a year-to-date basis, while the Dow Jones remains just under 2% in the positive, amid news of uncertainty coming from the second Trump administration and other geopolitical uncertainties. Grant Bowers, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Franklin Equity Group, shares his views on whether or not the resilience of the health of the US economy will still hold.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The establishment of a Malaysian Media Council, first suggested in 1973 when Tun Abdul Razak was PM, has finally been passed in the Dewan Rakyat. The bill aims to create a framework for media accountability while upholding press freedom. Teo Nie Ching, the Deputy Communications Minister shares her perspectives on the significance of this Council which has now been created by an act of Parliament.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently attended the high level plenary session of the second Asean Future Forum where he emphasised that centrality needs to be earned. We speak to Thomas Daniel, Senior Fellow, ISIS as to whether Malaysia’s leadership in ASEAN can foster a new era of multilateral cooperation, and how could it change the region?Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's private medical inflation cost is higher than regional average causing the rise of health insurance premiums in tandem. We ask Sim Tze Tzin, MP for Bayan Baru & member of the Public Accounts Committee for his views on how this issue can be addressed and what the government is doing to ensure than medical cost does not rise exorbitantly.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces issues at home and also on the international front with declining approval ratings on the back of spending cuts to fund defense spending. Whilst having to be on a charm offensive when he meets with US President Donald Trump today. Benjamin Barton, Head of the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia gives us his insight on how the labour leader intends to navigate these issues.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite calls from civil society organisations to put in place a laws to regulate political funding to mitigate corruption risks and enhance transparency, as well as it being included in Pakatan Harapan's GE15 manifesto, a bill to this effect remains elusive. Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, Chairman of BERSIH, reiterates why this piece of legislation is important and should no longer be stalled.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is still implementing a B10 programme, requiring diesel for transportation to be blended with 10% palm-based biodiesel, despite having already starting the B20 programme. Compare this to Indonesia which is already gearing up for B40. Khor Yu Leng, an economist with Segi Enam Advisers breaks down the issues at play in Malaysia, including a funding standoff between the government and industry players.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auditor-General highlighted in Parliament that the RM11 billion ringgit owed to the National Higher Education Fund Corporation, also known as PTPTN, is the the highest in a decade and that there needs to be new solution to improve on it's collection. We speak to Prof. Dr Ong Kian Ming, Pro Vice Chancellor for External Engagement of Taylor's University for the reasons for this debt, how can it be resolved and what are the consequences if this is not resolved.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's recently concluded federal election saw the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, secured approximately 28.5% of the vote - allowing it to lead the formation of the next government. Notably, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) achieved a historic surge. Prof Andrew Bonnell, Professor of History at the University of Queensland, takes us through the different scenarios for where German politics might be headed.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, the Digital Ministry announced that it had secured AI training for almost half a million civil servants, who will soon have access to Google Workspace’s latest generative AI capabilities. CF Fong, Executive Chairman of LGMS Berhad tells us what are the advantages of this and the necessary guardrails to ensure that data is protected whilst efficacy is tracked.Image Credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putrajaya has given about 700,000 Micro SMEs another extension of six months to adopt e-invoicing, this time until Jan 1, 2026. Eugene Chow, Tax Executive Director, Deloitte Malaysia, shares his thoughts on the challenges in getting small businesses to adopt this system which is intended to plug leakages in Malaysia's taxation ecosystem.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.