Morning Brief

The U.S. is set to elect a new leader in just a couple of days but concerns are growing that additional tariffs under a second Donald Trump presidency would dampen global growth. What impact however will it has specifically on the Asean 6 countries? Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN Economist, OCBC gives us her perspective whilst telling us if emerging market currencies would also see weakness as a result.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bersatu held party elections over the weekend, but the process was far from smooth sailing. Some 10 divisions were suspended at the eleventh hour while 15 division committee members, announced they quit the party. Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb, Political Scientist and Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia gives us a glimpse as to the reasons for this and what this means for their political future.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Madani Government is reviving the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 beginning January 2025 at a cost of RM50 million ringgit. Can the implementation of the national service programme truly improve nation building and unity among Malaysian youth? We speak with Syafiq Ridzwan, Chief of Information, Malaysian Youth Council for more insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the media acting responsibly when they chase stories involving children or are there cases where their rights are ignored? We speak with Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, Children's Commissioner at SUHAKAM about the implementation of regulations under the Child Act 2001 related to media reporting on cases involving children.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been several developments in the Middle East this week, including the banning of UNWRA in Israel, as well as Israeli strikes on Iran, Gaza and Lebanon. We speak to Dr. Ghada Soliman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies to discuss the implications of these events and whether the outcome of the US elections could impact what happens in the Middle East.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International rice prices have dropped following India's decision to resume exports of non-basmati rice for the first time in 14 months. With adverse climate conditions and volatile rice prices becoming the norm, how can the industry adapt to ensure food security? We speak to Dr. Paul Teng, Professor & Adjunct Senior Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies for insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Court will decide today whether or not there is a prima facie case against former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for 25 counts of abuse of power and who has been charged with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. Giving his thoughts on the matter is P. Gunasegaram, Independent Business Writer. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The upcoming US elections are being seen as the most consequential in recent history, with Vice-President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump what is the sentiment in the US ahead of elections? We speak to BFM correspondent Dhanya Nair on factors that could influence the outcome. Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming announced that under new anti-corruption criteria introduced this year, twelve local authorities (PBTs) have had their ratings downgraded. How are PBTs assessed for their anti-corruption efforts? We get views from Pushpan Murugiah, CEO of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) on how these developments could reshape accountability in local governance.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Tech earnings are in the spotlight as 5 of the 7 Magnificents report their third quarter results, amid a focus on the AI revolution and how the upcoming US presidential elections might impact future performances. Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities, shares his views.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's ruling coalition, the Liberal Democratic Party, led by PM Shigeru Ishiba, has failed to secure a parliamentary majority following a snap election he decided to call. Voters appear to be punishing the LDP over a funding scandal and inflation. Michael Čuček, Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Temple University, Japan Campus shares his insights into what might transpire in the coming days and weeks. Image Credit: さかおり / Wikimedia CommonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living is looking to review commission fees imposed by e-commerce platforms on sellers. Eng Kin Hoong, President of Malaysia Cross Border E-Commerce Association discusses whether the government should indeed step in to regulate the commission e-commerce platforms take from sellers.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025's focus on Malaysia's real estate sector included a RM10 billion ringgit allocation for the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme as well as tax relief and RM900 million ringgit for affordable home initiatives. Datuk Chang Kim Loong, Honorary Secretary-General of the National House Buyers Association shares his thoughts on the budget announcement.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been a spate of human trafficking cases reported of late, most prominently stemming from the GISB probe. How robust is Malaysia's anti-trafficking regime and what are the gaps that need to be addressed? We discuss the situation with Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, criminologist at Universiti Malaya.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 is Malaysia’s largest ever budget at RM421 billion and comes with plans to increase the minimum wage as well as the possibility of the removal of RON95 petrol subsidies, among others. Dr Afif Bahardin, Secretary of Perikatan Nasional Selangor, shares his views on where the plans for next year's spending met the mark and where they failed and what could have been done better.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Monetary Fund or IMF and the World Bank will start their annual meetings today in Washington which are overshadowed by a report that warns that public debt will rise above USD100 trillion. Brian Coulton, Fitch Ratings’ Chief Economist tells us why we should be concerned about this and the consequences of ignoring it.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 saw a RM1 billion sovereign fund for the electrical and electronics sector and high-value activities as well as training funds allocated for several universities, to support local players in the semiconductor industry. Andrew Chan, Director, at the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) tells us how much the sector might benefit from these funds and schemes.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Budget 2025, the government allocated RM2.6 billion to the Communications Ministry and RM1.3 billion to the Digital Ministry for a range of initiatives, including improving access to the internet. So how do telcos fit into this mix, especially as our country looks to advance its digital economy? For more perspectives, we speak with Suresh Sidhu, CEO of EdgePoint Infrastructure.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Hong Kong's housing market showing signs of recovery, especially in the luxury sector, after a prolonged downturn? Especially after Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., the city's largest developer, asold over 200 apartments in one day, and used home sales surged by 60% in early October. Questions we pose to Patrick Wong, Head of Bloomberg Intelligence Hong Kong & Senior Analyst - Asia Pacific Real Estate, Bloomberg Intelligence whilst asking which listed companies stand to benefit.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Russia hosting the 16th BRICS summit in its southwestern city of Kazan, three years after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine; President Vladimir Putin said that the gathering would be one of the largest foreign policy events, with some of the most powerful leaders in attendance. How significant is this gathering, and what message does it send to the West? We speak to Dr Julia Roknifard, an independent expert on international relations for her viewsImage Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education received the highest allocation in Budget 2025 of RM64 billion. Are the budget initiatives put forth as ambitious as the headline figure suggests? We discuss how far Budget 2025 goes in advancing quality education with Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim of the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is set to introduce a new law that will make house arrest a potential sentence for minor crimes, with the proposal expected to be tabled in parliament next year. How should this legislation take shape? Criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee walks through the finer details that need clarification in the drafting of the bill.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 allocated RM45.3 billion to the Health Ministry, nearly 10% more than the previous year. Among the items mentioned in the Budget included an increase in on-call allowance for medical and dental officers, a hike in the sugar-sweetened beverage tax, along more than RM1.5 billion ringgit to upgrade infrastructure and facilities. Dr Farhan Rusli, Fellow for the Institute of Research and Development of Policy, a think tank based out of Kuala Lumpur, shares his thoughts.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent months, oil prices have been trading in a wide range between USD68 to USD85 bbl on the back of geopolitical tensions in the middle east and the expectations of improving demand from China. We speak to Vandana Hari, Founder & CEO, Vanda Insights for her views on how oil prices will trade for the last quarter of 2024 and even 2025.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the SME sector receiving a financing boost of RM40 billion ringgit and a RM3.2 billion ringgit micro-loans support for small traders, the introduction of more sales / sugar taxes, a higher minimum wage and a 2% dividend tax raises concerns about increased financial pressure on consumers and businesses. Chin Chee Seong, National President of SME Association of Malaysia shares his perspectives on why Budget 2025 was off the mark for MSMEs.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we unpack Budget 2025 through a macroeconomic lens we speak to Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB to find out whether the Madani government has managed to strike a balance between fiscal responsibility and encouraging economic growth with the Budget being the largest on record.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, along with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), has been supervising nearly 18 billion ringgit of investments from Chinese companies into Malaysia. Although China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, the cumulative amount of Chinese investments still lags behind those from the US, Japan, and even Singapore. Joining us to unpack China’s capital injections into Malaysia is Dr. Cassey Lee, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak InstituteImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has a fiscal deficit target of 4.3% for 2024 and 3.0-3.5% for 2025. To achieve that goal, widening the government's revenue base seems obvious. Is tax reform the solution and what should the government focus on? Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax at KPMG Malaysia gives us his views.Brought to by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's F&B sector recorded RM229 billion in revenue last year and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8% until 2027. Dato’ Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, President of Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (PRESMA), shares his wishlist and addresses issues facing the industry, from subsidy cuts to the introduction of new taxes amongst market participants.Brought to you By Man Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joko Widodo will be handing over Indonesia's presidency to the elected Prabowo Subianto, after a decade in power where he governed for two terms. Johannes Nugroho, a writer and political analyst discusses the legacy that Jokowi is leaving behind while anticipating what Prabowo might bring to Indonesian politics.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year’s budget reflected the renewed ambition of the Madani Government to accelerate the country’s energy transition and catalyse new investments in the green economy. But this cannot be divorced from the broader climate action agenda of reducing carbon emissions, including the importance of nature-based policies. How can Budget 2025 best balance all the necessary elements for an effective national climate strategy? Dr. Gary Theseira of Climate Governance Malaysia weighs in.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's property sector has been experiencing a prolonged downturn since its 2021 peak, prompting Beijing to come up with various stimuli to address the issues. Kristy Hung, the senior industry analyst of Asia real estate at Bloomberg Intelligence analyses the impact of these measures and whether or not more could be done.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s economy grew by 4.1% in the third quarter this year, beating economist projections and outpacing Q2 growth of 2.9%. Meanwhile, the Monetary Authority of Singapore also maintained its policy settings amid inflation outlook risk. We discuss what’s in store for the Singapore economy for the remainder of the year with Selena Ling of OCBC Bank.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism and hospitality players are hoping for an RM85 million allocation when Budget 2025 is tabled, to improve Malaysia's tourism industry. This comes as Malaysia achieved 60% of its full-year target of 27.3 million international tourists for 2024. Nigel Wong, President at Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), shares his insights.Brought to you By Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beijing held a long-awaited press conference last Saturday to reveal some details on the fiscal stimulus such as the issuing of special bonds and making it easier for local governments to borrow money, though no figures have been revealed yet. We speak to Brock Silvers, CIO of Kaiyuan Capital to get his input on whether the latest stimulus package will indeed help boost China’s floundering economy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of our pre-budget series, we explore the demands and expectations of construction players. In Budget 2024, the government rolled out several big-ticket projects, such as the Pan Borneo Sabah Phase 1-B and the Penang LRT. Will this year be the same or even better? We speak with Oliver Wee, President of the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), about his budget wish list.Brought to you By Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global supply chains have faced numerous challenges this year, everything from geopolitics to severe weather to limited vessel capacity and most recently a port workers' strike in the US. Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence gives us an analysis of the current situation and what this might signal for the future.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently announced several reforms to the agri-food sector, including the potential removal of egg subsidies and the consolidation of enforcement agencies. How effective will these measures be in strengthening Malaysia’s agricultural productivity and food security? We discuss the issues at play with food security expert Prof. Dr. Fatimah Arshad.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday marked the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. Regional leaders, including our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, have arrived to participate in the discussions. This year’s summit tagline is “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” Bunn Nagara, Director and Senior Fellow at the BRI Caucus for Asia-Pacific, will join us to share his perspective on the summit. He is also the Honorary Fellow at Perak Academy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year's theme for World Mental Health Day emphasizes ‘Mental Health At Work’, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealing that approximately 12 billion working days are lost to depression and anxiety each year. What kind of policies would strengthen mental health resilience in the workplace? We discuss the level of awareness and interventions needed with Anita Abu Bakar, President & Founder of the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association Malaysia (MIASA).Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A viral video of Palestinian refugees expressing frustration after being denied permission to leave their accommodations has prompted discussions among Malaysians about the country’s stance on the cause. Although this incident underscores that the actions of a few do not represent the entire community, it does highlight the need for better policies and support systems to address the holistic needs of refugees. Dr. Melati Nungsari, Associate Professor of Economics, Asia School of Business shares her insights on the essential changes required to tackle these challenges.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vietnam’s economy grew by 7.4% in the third quarter of this year, marking its strongest growth in two years. Hanoi's economic performance exceeded expectations, with strong exports and industrial production helping to offset the impacts of Typhoon Yagi—considered the worst in seven decades. Brian Lee, an economist from Maybank Investment Banking Group discusses the outlook for Vietnam’s economyImage Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month, the Asian Development Bank has forecast that India’s economic growth will remain robust with GDP expected to increase by 7% this year and 7.2% next year. The Nifty 50 Index is also at historical highs, having breached the 26,000-point level in late September. Avi Satwalekar, President of Franklin Templeton Asset Management India shares some insights.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has re-elected Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as president, while secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is elected deputy president, both uncontested. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research gives some insights into the party's direction with the vice-presidency still up for grabs, and the losses faced from the recent Mahkota and Nenggiri by-elections.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The digital creative industry in Malaysia is flourishing, making some RM6.3 billion ringgit in revenue in 2022 and attracting RM1.6 billion in investments. What kind of policies would further advance the industry in the age of A.I. and amid fierce competition? Irwan Junaidy, Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer of The R&D Studio, discusses the future potential and innovative trends shaping this vibrant market.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an effort to elevate Malaysia’s rankings in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the government has formed a Special Task Force, which met for the first time last week. We speak to Dr Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia who is a part of the task force, for more information on the group's mandate and the initiatives needed to boost Malaysia's CPI ranking.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Control of Cigarette Products Act, effective 1 October, aims to safeguard children and teenagers by regulating the sale of tobacco and vape products while prohibiting smoking in 28 locations. The government has introduced a two-phase plan for implementation that includes immediate enforcement alongside an educational campaign. Roslizawati Mohd Ali, Executive Board Member, Malaysian Council of Tobacco Control shares her insights on the effectiveness of these new regulations.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Chinese are expected to travel overseas during the Golden Week holiday period running from 1 - 7 October. Will Malaysia be a beneficiary of improved consumer sentiment? We discuss the tourism trends and policy initiatives needed to boost the industry with Nigel Wong of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Madani Government has made 95 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies so far, a relatively lower number than previous administrations. How can the appointment process be made more transparent? Doris Liew, Assistant Research Manager of the Public Finance Unit at IDEAS Malaysia, unpacks the think tank’s latest report.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has been making efforts to develop its digital infrastructure, by introducing a national cloud policy and regulations, to ensure the ethical use of AI. Woon Tai Hai, Advisor at the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), give his insights into what the AI Technology Action Plan (2026 to 2030) might do to help Malaysia compete in this new global landscape.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.