Morning Brief

Singapore has been seeing an influx of wealthy families interested in setting up single family offices in Singapore with an interest to tap into tax incentives. As money-laundering cases are also becoming a growing concern, authorities are weighing tougher measures. Sarah Jane Mahmud, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, shares her views on this issue.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many Malaysians turn to the Employees Provident Fund for their retirement savings. However it is still important to diversify and to that end, EPF has EPF i-Invest, an online platform that allows eligible members to invest part of their savings in selected unit trust funds and private mandate portfolios Shamsul Fadzil Kamaruddin, Senior Manager, Investment Strategy & Analytic Department, EPF tells us the advantages of this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, the Pardons Board decided to halve former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s jail time, cutting it from 12 years to six years whilst also reducing the fine to just RM50mn. We get reactions from the across the aisle of the August house with Dr Afif Bahardin, Bersatu Supreme Council Member and Taman Medan Assemblyman.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian employers are set to face new conditions regarding the foreign labour on their payrolls. These include increased the frequency and fees for their mandatory medical examinations, as well as having to house them in centralised living quarters. Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Employers Federation shares his views.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Asia's e-commerce market saw spectacular growth in recent years with names like Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop becoming household names. However as economic headwinds are beginning to exact a toll, layoffs start to make headlines, along with the aborted Grab-foodpanda deal. Jianggan Li, CEO of Momentum Works, shares his perspective.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Asian countries have still not seen their tourism numbers recover to 2019 levels, before the Covid-19 pandemic decimated this industry. We check in with Hannah Pearson, the founder of travel market research firm, Pear Anderson, for her insights into how developments like China's visa-free travel agreements and the likelihood of a high-speed rail between KL and Singapore might shape the region's tourism sector.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IMF has recently raised global GDP to 3.1% from 2.9%. Is this optimism warranted? Selena Ling, Chief Economist at OCBC Bank tells us if there are truly reasons to be optimistic whilst weighing in on the Chinese economy and the headwinds it faces.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was the golden jubilee of the formation of the Federal Territories and also the 50th anniversary of Kuala Lumpur’s designation as a Federal Territory. We will be speaking to Koh Cha-Ly, CEO of Urbanmetry on what’s next for Kuala Lumpur city and how the recently gazetted KL Structure Plan 2040 will shape the development of the city moving forward.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's fast-paced media world, the rush to break news often conflicts with ethical standards. Speed can lead to errors while, sensationalism can detract from important content, and the abundance of unreliable sources can worsen the problem. Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) tells us what are the best practices, journalist should adopt today.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transparency International released their 2023 Global Corruption Perceptions Index, where Malaysia’s ranking as well as score have improved for the first time in three years. But have we truly made significant progress in combating corruption, and what more can be done? Dr Muhammad Mohan, President, Transparency International Malaysia weighs in.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks the first day of the five-year reign of Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who will be the seventeenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He replaced Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah whose reign was marked by political uncertainties and also the Covid-19 pandemic. Lawyer Andrew Khoo helps us understand the role of the Agong in Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy system.Image credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, a Hong Kong court ordered property giant China Evergrande Group’s liquidation. The developer is the biggest casualty of a real estate crisis that continues to weigh on China’s embattled economy. Brock Silvers, Chief Investment Officer of Hong Kong-based Kaiyuan Capital tells us what this ruling means for investors and the Chinese economy.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bersatu has agreed to amend Article 10 of its party constitution after six Bersatu MPs expressed support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim without resigning to avoid triggering the anti-defection law. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research shares insights into the effectiveness of this amendment and other measures to address the internal conflicts within the party.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the government caused a stir when it announced plans to reform the retirement policy for new civil service recruits this year. Instead of pensions, retirement schemes like EPF and SOCSO will be used. Economist Dr. Nungsari A. Radhi tells us why the shift is necessary and how it can and should be better communicated.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Dewan Negara president Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was sworn in as the eighth Governor of Sarawak. He replaces Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who was the Governor since March 2014, and also Chief Minister. Dr. James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania helps us break down how these two very different men have and will take on this role.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has maintained its stance on monetary policy, leaving the currency band unchanged. MAS also retained its 2024 core inflation projection of 2.5% to 3.5%, despite a 1% increase in the GST to 9%. Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ helps us analyse this development.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media platforms are on alert after explicit AI-generated images depicting Taylor Swift went viral. Following this, X announced plans to hire 100 full time content moderators to build a new trust and safety centre to stop the spread of child sexual exploitation materials and address issues like hate speech. Dr Fahizah Shamsuddin, Programme Director & Senior Lecturer, School of Media & Communication at Taylor's University dissects this topic.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysians might need to brace themselves for more expensive prescription medicines, with reports saying pharmaceutical companies planned to hike prices in the US on more than 500 drugs beginning this month. Professor Amrahi Buang, president of the Malaysia Pharmacists Society talks about why the price of drugs may rise by as much as 10% with half of them imported from overseas, including the US.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the Cabinet agreed to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into how the Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and the South Ledge territorial case was handled, leading to the International Court of Justice deciding that Pulau Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia and South Ledge to the state in the territorial waters in which it is located. Bunn Nagara, director & senior fellow at the Belt & Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific and Honorary Fellow at the Perak Academy, breaks down the issue.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, the International Court of Justice made an interim ruling on the genocide case against Israel, ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Could this ruling change the trajectory of the war? We discuss the implications with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a rough January for Japan - it experienced a severe earthquake in the Ishikawa prefecture on New Year’s Day affecting manufacturing supply chains, and a corruption scandal is putting the political stability of the government at risk. Will January set the tone for the rest of the year for Japan? We discuss this with Tokyo-based journalist William Pesek.Image credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has launched an ongoing review of the Public Service Remuneration System for salary and allowance adjustments. The SSPA hopes to address the long-standing issue with civil service recruitment to ensure salaries are competitive enough to attract the best talents and address the increasing cost of living. Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin, Secretary-General of CUEPACS, shares his thoughts.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, former US president Donald Trump secured another win at the New Hampshire Republican primary, despite rival challenger Nikki Haley pouring resources into the state. Does Haley have a path to the presidential ticket? We discuss how the presidential race could shape up with Wendy Schiller, Professor of Political Science at Brown University.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara maintained the overnight policy rate at 3.0% following its first Monetary Policy Committee meeting of 2024, meaning no change since May 2023. Ray Choy, Chief Economist at Malaysian Rating Corporation analyses how this might affect the FBM-KLCI, the value of the ringgit and the overall Malaysian economy.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has called for an end to the "old bureaucracy" between the Ministry of Higher Education and the nation's public universities. Will this spark a paradigm shift in the governance of higher education? We speak to academic Dr. Sharifah Munirah Alatas about much-needed reforms to foster the independence and autonomy of public HEIs.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although it has been 3 weeks since the launch of PADU, registration for the database has been underwhelming, standing at some 4.5% of the targeted number. What accounts for the tepid response? Tai Zee Kin, a Digital Political Communications Consultant, imparts insights on how to enhance the effectiveness of the government's messaging strategy.Image credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI boom in 2023 led to a rebound in US stocks, especially for the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Meanwhile, the concept of ESG has been picking up pace in recent years and investments are expected to continue to soar. Abel Lim, Executive Director and Head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy at UOB shares his perspective on these two themes and how will they impact investment strategies.Wealth Advice That Matters is brought to you by UOB Privilege Banking. Visit www.uob.com.my/bfm  to find out more about upcoming topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were initial expectations that the reign of King Dollar would come to an end as the Federal Reserve looked set to cut rates as early as March. However that prognosis is less certain as macroeconomic data point to inflation remaining stubbornly high while Fed minutes confirm that the  timing of the cuts is hard to forecast. What then is the outlook of the US dollar and other major currencies? Saktiandi Supaat, Head of FX Research, Global Markets, Maybank Group tells us.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mohamad Safiq Rosli was the first person to be charged under Malaysia’s anti-stalking law for stalking a woman for 8 years. A Magistrate’s Court subsequently declared that he was of unsound mind when committing the crime and ordered him to be detained at a psychiatric facility at the Sultan of Selangor’s pleasure. Criminal lawyer Sreekant Pillai explains the details of this case and its implications going forward.Image credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Energy Agency has raised its 2024 global oil demand growth forecast to 1.24 million barrels per day, the third consecutive upward adjustment in recent months. Fernando Valle, a Senior Equity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence breaks down the factors at play including geopolitics, demand and even the climate, that might impact prices this year.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia, is going to the polls on February 14th and the presidential race is heating up among the three main candidates. What are the factors that could influence the outcome of these elections? We get analysis from political scientist Dr. Ahmad Rizky M. Umar of Queensland University.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has the Malaysian shipping industry been impacted by the ongoing tensions in the Red Sea? We hear from Datuk Ruben Gnanalingam, Group Managing Director of Westport on the spillover effects, including whether we'll see a surge in freight rates. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, former Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran was charged with 27 counts of corruption, the latest in a series of scandals that have rocked the island republic since 2023. We’ll speak to James Gomez, Regional Director at the Asia Centre to discuss the implications of the recent developments for Singapore’s political landscape in light of the leadership handover later this year.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent Police Conduct Commission has already seen five out of seven members appointed, confirming that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, which the Pakatan Harapan administration tabled in 2019, has been replaced. Edmund Bon, a lawyer at Amer Bon Advocates, compares the differences in how the IPCC and the IPCMC can help put a stop to police misconduct incidences which have been on the rise recently.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak continues to draw attention even behind bars. Having so far served 17 months of his 12-year prison sentence for charges pertaining to 1MDB-linked SRC International, there is speculation that his royal pardon could be decided by the end of this month. Independent business writer P. Gunasegaram, makes the case why this would be disastrous for the country.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab Malaysia recently announced a restructuring of its delivery fee and bonus framework, effective last Tuesday. However, this decision has been met with dissatisfaction among certain riders, primarily due to the reduction in wage fees. Consequently, a group of riders is considering a boycott as a visible expression of their disagreement. Bryan Ng Yih Miin, Advisor to Persatuan Perpaduan Rakan Penghantar Malaysia shares his insights on the potential impact of the revised structures on the affected e-hailing riders.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bursa Malaysia started the year on a much-welcomed positive note; but in recent days, selected counters have seen such strong selling pressure that they hit limit down each successive session. This negative sentiment has spread to the broader market with losers outnumbering gainers on a ratio of 885 to 218 stocks. We check in with Business Commentator, Pankaj C Kumar to understand why this is happening, and can more be done by the regulators to ensure orderly trading?Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has imposed a freeze on new foreign worker recruitment, affecting labour-intensive industries grappling with manpower shortages, despite there currently being 2 million migrant workers distributed across five sectors. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director at the North South Initiative talks to us about how he thinks the country can address these issues.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does 2024 look like for Malaysia's automotive industry, after last year saw total industry volume for sales of new motor vehicles increased 11% year-on-year to nearly 800,000 units, a second consecutive annual all-time high? We find out from Daniel Fernandez, Managing Editor of dsf.my.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data released yesterday showed that China’s 2023 GDP grew by 5.2% y-o-y, in line with government’s estimates but disappointing market expectations for recovery. Gary Ng of Natixis analyses the latest economic data with us, and tells us if he is optimistic for the year ahead.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chronic weight management market is at an inflection point. Analysts have forecast that sales of weight-loss drugs could potentially hit 100 billion US dollars by 2030, buoyed by promising results in recent clinical trials. We speak to Michael Shah, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence for insights into this growing market.  Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legal fraternity convened in Putrajaya on Monday for the opening of the Legal Year 2024, and the Attorney General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh raised eyebrows when he asserted that he is not constitutionally bound to provide reasons for prosecutorial decisions, such as the dropping of criminal charges. We get reactions to these comments from constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew, and also discuss whether the separation of the attorney general and public prosecutor roles could make a difference.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been some progress on the proposed Singapore-KL High Speed Rail, with news emerging that seven local and international consortiums have submitted request for information proposals for the lucrative RM100 billion ringgit contract. Which companies are in the running and will this provide a catalyst for construction equities in Malaysia? We get views from Loong Chee Wei of Affin Hwang Investment Bank.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Donald Trump dominated the Iowa caucus on Monday, winning more than 50% of the vote share and solidifying his lead over rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. What does Iowa portend about the rest of the Republican presidential race? We get analysis on the outcome with political scientist John S. Jackson of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Its early days yet for the FBMKLCI but its already one of the best performing markets in Asia with only Japan and Philippines doing better. We ask Simon Lim, Head of Equities at Hong Leong Asset Management if this trend will persist for the rest of the year and what sectors we should be paying attention to.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new capital gains tax officially came into force on January 1st this year, but it was recently brought to light that the actual scope of this new tax surpasses the initial impressions conveyed during the budget presentation. Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax at KPMG tells us what are the other surprises in the rollout of this new tax and what have been the implications so far.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conversations about a Fixed Term Parliament Act is regaining traction in political circles especially with rumours that MPs may be orchestrating another attempt to topple the Anwar Ibrahim government. Dr Wong Chin Huat, Political Scientist with Sunway University, explains the proposal and its impact to Malaysia's democratic and constitutional processes.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa created waves on the international stage when it recently brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice for genocide. Why does South Africa have legal standing to do so? For a better understanding of the proceedings at the ICJ and the workings of the international justice system, we speak to Juliette McIntyre, Law Lecturer at the University of South Australia.Image credit: EPA ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party candidate secured victory in Taiwan’s presidential polls over the weekend. The result signifies a continued distancing from Beijing's influence. Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore weighs in on the implications of the election outcomes.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflict in the Middle East sees no signs of easing with the recent airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen by the US and some of its allies. Likewise, there is no concrete action pointing to a de-escalation of conflict in the Israel-Hamas war. We speak to Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey for updates on the situation in the region.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.