Morning Brief

Oil and gas contribute about 20% to Malaysia's GDP, but production in Peninsular Malaysia has declined, with more focus now on Sabah and Sarawak. As reserves decrease and imports rise, the government is pushing for a quicker shift to renewable energy. We delve into the impact and future outlook of the sector on industry players with Gordon Lim, Communication and Media Secretary, Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM).Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Dr Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia about when the 2024 edition of the Corruption Perception Index might be released and how prolific graft cases from last year might affect our rankings in the index.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Madani Government launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 in May as part of its bid to rank among the top 25 in the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) within the decade. What is MACC's role in achieving this target? We speak to Norul Ashikin, Head of the Governance Policy Sector at MACC on the whole-of-government approach to combat corruption.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Malaysia and Singapore officially signed an agreement formalizing the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to boost collaboration on both sides of the Causeway. Which equities stand to benefit from the enhanced ties? We discuss expectations with Lim Sue Lin, Co-Head of Research at Maybank Investment Bank.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phase 2 of the National Digital Network, JENDELA, is set to be launched to improve 4G connectivity nationwide. However, this initiative has been facing mounting criticisms for its delays and inefficiencies since it was initiated in 2021. Dr Rachel Gong, Deputy Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute, helps us understand the challenges surrounding JENDELA and Malaysia's digital strategy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past month or so, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had attempted to impose martial law, was impeached with a warrant subsequently issued for his arrest but was thwarted. PM Han Duck-soo was then appointed acting president but was also impeached almost immediately after. William Pesek, a columnist at Nikkei Asia helps shed some light into what is happening in South Korea.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jailed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is now a step closer to serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest, after the Court of Appeal allowed his judicial review application related to a royal addendum. Criminal lawyer, Goh Cia Yee, explains what the implications of this decision might be as well as how a house arrest might work when there are no provisions for this in Malaysian law.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PUSPAKOM, the sole provider of vehicle inspection services for over three decades, is back in the news with four of its officers under investigation for approving vehicles that do not meet safety standards, putting lives at risk. Transport consultant, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, shares his insights into how vehicle inspections can be improved especially with PUSPAKOM's monopoly ending and at least 10 companies applying to provide these services.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bitcoin has rallied 42% since the US presidential election in early November which saw Donald Trump win. Since then, the coin has hit an all-time of US$107,000. Andy Baehr, Managing Director and Head of Product at CoinDesk Indices, talks about what we can expect as the pro-crypto Trump officially moves into the White House.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although economic indicators appear positive going into 2025, SMEs are not fully convinced that this will translate to better business this year. We do a channel check with Chin Chee Seong of the SME Association of Malaysia about the headwinds concerning SMEs in the new year.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is taking on the role of 2025 ASEAN Chair at a time of uncertainty over geopolitical dynamics with an incoming Trump presidency. How should Malaysia position itself as the leader in tackling regional challenges? Analyst Bunn Nagara weighs issues that should be prioritised.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data from the Statistics Department in 2023 have revealed that nearly 98% of P-hailing and E-hailing workers were youths aged 15 to 30. Another set of data from Statista, show the value of the online ride-hailing and food delivery market in Southeast Asia trebling by this year. Jose Rizal, Chief Activist of the Malaysian eHailing Association (GEM), shares his thoughts on where Malaysia stands.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The equity performance of ASEAN was a tale of two halves with Singapore and Malaysia both ending 2024 on a strong note whilst the laggards were Thailand and Indonesia. Andrew San, Head of EM Equities, Amundi Malaysia tells us his outlook for 2025 and what investment strategy we should adopt to outperform.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government saw a 2024 that has experienced both momentum and hurdles in 2024 amid public dissatisfaction over economic measures like subsidy cuts and the controversial partial pardon granted to Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Meanwhile, the opposition Perikatan Nasional has struggled to maintain a united front. Dr Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor, International Islamic University of Malaysia shares her thoughts as well as what she thinks 2025 might bring.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese equity markets started the year on a lackluster note albeit there was a remarkable turnaround in September when the government issued a bevy of fiscal support. However by the last quarter of the year, Chinese equities have returned half of September's 35% gain and remained in a tight trading range. What then can we expect in 2025? Yip Kah Ming, Assistant Portfolio Manager, AHAM Capital tells us.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two rallies are set to be held outside Menara Kinabalu on New Year's Eve following allegations of corruption involving the state's chief minister and 7 lawmakers. One rally is calling for more anti-corruption action and the other is in support of the chief minister. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser, Pacific Research Centre, shares his analysis on Sabah politics with state elections due to be held next year.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is the sleeper hit amongst Asean markets, up 16% on a year to date basis. We ask Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Research, Singapore and Regional Head of Financials, Maybank Investment Bank as to why the city state has rallied, will this strong outperformance continue and what stocks will outperform in 2025.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s agricultural self-sufficiency came under the spotlight this year given the shortage in locally produced rice. How is the Madani Government responding to the challenges of managing a ballooning food imports bill and ensuring adequate agricultural yield? We discuss this with food security expert Prof. Datin Paduka Fatimah Arshad of Universiti Putra Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palm oil remains the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world which has seen strong price momentum in 2024. We ask Alvin Tai, Global Agriculture Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence what explains this price trend and more importantly what is the outlook for 2025 despite the headwinds.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under the National Energy Transition Roadmap or NETR, Malaysia plans to achieve 70% renewable energy capacity by 2040. How far have we progressed towards that path this year, and can global momentum for renewable energy be sustained under the incoming Trump presidency? We review the year in energy with Dhana Raj Markandu of ISIS Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 2024, eventually seeing challenges for the transportation sector - both aviation and maritime - despite positive expectations when the year began, what fortunes will 2025 bring? Ahmad Maghfur Usman, Equity Analyst at Nomura Malaysia, talks about some of the factors that had played a part in the sector's performance this year and what his expectations will be next year.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the first meeting on the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council after GE14 in 2018, the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill 2024 is now expected to be tabled for a second reading in February next year, nearly 5 years on. Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism, talks about how to make an imperfect bill as perfect as possible.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tech sector has boomed this year driven by investor exuberance over AI tech, with the Magnificent 7 dominating the equity markets. Will this momentum be sustained in the new year, when variables change under a second Trump administration? We get analysis from Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Bank Negara Malaysia as the financial regulator for the insurance sector announced interim measures to limit the hike in insurance premiums resulting from medical inflation. While broadly welcome by stakeholders, the announcement is but a temporary band aid for what ails healthcare financing. What policies need to be considered to address the issue more holistically? We discuss this with Azrul Mohd Khalib of the Galen Centre.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chinese equity markets started on a soft note in 2024 until a raft of stimulus measures were announced in mid-September, resulting in a 35% jump. But as markets normalised and are now only around 14% up on a year-to-date basis, Yu Junqiang, Acting Head of Equity, Hong Leong Asset Management, shares his insights on what we can expect in 2025.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian public healthcare system is at its breaking point, with medical staff overstretched and burnt out due to the various demands on their time and expertise without commensurate reward. What policy measures are needed to resolve the long-term crisis in public sector healthcare staffing? We discuss a proposal to introduce a rotational system in medical placement and other recommendations with Dr. Timothy Cheng of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, as the country’s benchmark stock index, the Kospi, has lost over 9% on year-to-date basis making one of the worst performing main exchange in Asia. This was made worse by the recent declaration of martial law which was rescinded. Marvin Chen, Senior Asia Equity Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence tells us if it's time to bottom fish or will that perennial Korean discount continue.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controversial figure Tun Musa Aman, who served as Sabah’s Chief Minister from 2003 till 2018, has been appointed as the state’s governor with the backing of the current Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. What does this development signal about the evolving landscape of Sabah politics? We get analysis from  Ariff Adi Putera of the Institute for Development Studies (Sabah).Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International ratings agency, Fitch has reaffirmed Malaysia’s long term currency issuer default rating at BBB+ with a stable outlook. We speak to Kathleen Chen, Associate Director Fitch Ratings’ Asia-Pacific Sovereigns who is also the primary Sovereign analyst for Malaysia as to the reasons for this and what is required for us to achieve an upgrade.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government launched a National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), which is a brand-new agency under the Digital Ministry. According to its website, the office is expected to serve as a centralised agency for AI, providing strategic planning, R&D, as well as regulatory oversight, among others. So, how will this agency fit into Malaysia’s agenda of accelerating AI adoption? Dr. Jun-E Tan, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute shares her perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The healthcare sector has been making headlines recently, with many calling for regulatory and systemic reforms as insurance premiums are expected to rise by up to 70% next year. As a result, the Health Ministry has proposed that diagnosis-related group pricing system, (DRG) be implemented. Oong Chun Sung, Equity Research Analyst, RHB Investment Bank tells us if DRG will be a boom or bane for earnings and which listed companies stand to benefit.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's expected that the Thai Economy will only expand by less than 3%, lower than that of its Asean neighbours. Poon Panichpibool, Markets Strategist, Krung Thai Bank tells us whether the recent debt support measures and cash handouts will boost consumption and in turn growth for 2025. We also ask what we can expect from their equity markets which are one of the worst performing in Asia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the opposition, accusing it for repeatedly undermining the Constitution. This on the back of the Congress party attempting to impeach the Vice President. Dr Mishra, Associate Professor at the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi helps us unpack the latest political developments and what we can expect from US-India relations with Trump 2.0.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rumors were swirling last week about how Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul might be joining PKR. How might his departure impact the party and the broader Madani coalition? Giving us his thoughts on the matter is Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chinese government concluded its Central Economic Work Conference last Thursday, promising a number of policy changes to meet major economic benchmarks next year. They include a higher fiscal deficit ceiling, more treasury bonds and cuts to interest rates. So are these pledges enough to restore investors’ confidence in Chinese stocks? Brock Silvers, Chief Investment Officer of Kaiyuan Capital joins us to discuss if 2025 will be a repeat of 2024.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coffee drinkers may soon see their morning beverage get more expensive, as the price of coffee on international commodity markets hit its highest level on record on Tuesday. The price for Arabica beans, which account for most of global production, jumped more than 80% this year, while Robusta beans hit a fresh high in September. Helping us unpack the rally behind coffee prices is Judith Ganes, Commodities Analyst & President of J.Ganes Consulting.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As land is a state matter and there are 600 industrial parks in the country with very different standards, The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) are collaborating with Sirim Bhd to set up a star rating system for industrial parks. We speak to Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry as to how this will help improve Malaysia as an investment destination and fulfil our economic agenda.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private healthcare providers are under fire over the rising cost of medical services, but the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) argue that public data does not accurately reflect the cost pressures they face. What needs to be in place for diagnosis-related group pricing to be effective in the Malaysian context? We hear from Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President of the APHM for the industry perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In response to public outcry over rising medical costs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this week announced that the government will study options to standardise the cost of private healthcare, including through the diagnosis-related group or DRG system, which could enhance transparency of patient treatment charges. To what extent could the DRG-system moderate medical inflation? Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid of the Malaysian Health Economic Association weighs in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Penal Code (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2024 aiming to tackle bullying has been passed at the Dewan Rakyat. The amendments address the legal definition of bullying and its punishments, ranging from fines to up to 10 years imprisonment. These changes aim to establish a clear legal framework for addressing both physical and online bullying. Dato’ Vignesh Kumar, Advocate & Solicitor, and former Deputy Public Prosecutor, speaks with us to shed some light on these new lawsImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the collapse of the Al-Assad regime in Syria mean for Russia and President Vladimir Putin? We discuss the implications of the realignment in the Middle East with security analyst Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.Image Credits: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncertain and volatile are the buzz words for 2025, no thanks to incoming US President Donald Trump and his stance on tariffs and taxes. With that, the pace and quantum of Fed rate cuts is less clear, so what does that mean for Asian currencies and the Ringgit in particular? Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC Bank tells us his 2025 outlook.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local authorities have been called to expedite the gazetting of public open spaces in their respective areas to prevent the land from being misused by irresponsible parties. What accounts for the low level of gazettement? We speak to lawyer Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, Partner at Thomas Philip to better understand the legislation governing the development of public spaces. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 has been a tale of two halves for Asia-Pacific infrastructure stocks, with the second half of the year making up for the sluggish start, which saw the sector underperform the MSCI Benchmark index by 7.7 percent. But could the positive momentum be derailed by Trump tariffs in 2025? We discuss the outlook for the Asian infrastructure sector with Denise Wong of Bloomberg Intelligence.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human Rights Day is marked annually on 10 December to commemorate the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. How does the Madani Government’s commitment to uphold human rights stack up against its actions? We get an assessment from Ragunath Kesavan, Commissioner with SUHAKAM.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia and Vietnam have elevated their bilateral ties to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is expected to pave the way for a more unified approach to the South China Sea tensions. How might this collaboration strengthen their collective voice against Beijing? For more perspectives, we speak with Collins Chong, a foreign affairs and security analyst at Universiti Malaya.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day, we speak to Sujatha Sekhar Naik, Chairperson of the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG), about the standards of corporate governance in Malaysia, whether the amended MACC Act has reduced instances of corporate malpractice.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fortunes in Syria have changed overnight, after opposition groups seized Damascus and toppled the 24-year regime led by President Bashar Al-Assad on Sunday. Who will fill the leadership vacuum in Syria and what does this mean for geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East? We get analysis from Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data from Adobe Inc showed that US e-commerce sales rose to a record 10.8 billion US dollars on Black Friday. This shopping season is viewed as one of the barometers for US consumer spending. Sales at larger digital platforms are expected to outperform this season, with TikTok tripling its US shopping sales to more than 100 million dollars on the day after Thanksgiving. For more insights into the earnings of this shopping gala, we speak to Poonam Goyal, Senior Retail and Ecommerce Analyst at Bloomberg IntelligenceImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is now facing the very real possibility of being impeached after declaring martial law out of the blue on Tuesday night, and rescinding it after a parliamentary vote a few hours later. For some insight into South Korea’s political situation at the moment, we will be speaking to Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, Senior Fellow, East Asia International Relations (EAIR) Caucus. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.