Morning Brief

The Malaysia Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market is expected to have a compounded annual growth rate of 35% between 2022 and 2028. But concerns are growing that these schemes contribute to high debts levels among the vulnerable. Dato Paul Selvaraj, CEO, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) tells us what policy measures should be considered to rein this issue in before it becomes a serious problem for Malaysians.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite making up 50% of the population and electorate, women unfortunately face systemic disadvantages at the economic, social and political levels. What should the government focus on to empower women in business and the economy? Nuraizah Shamsul Baharin, president of the Women Entrepreneur Network Association (WENA) and representative of the Gender Budget Group gives her recommendations.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance LifeImage credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the best performing asset classes this year has been cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is up close to 50% on a year to date basis albeit still less than half the value of its peak of 67,000 US dollar in October 2021. With the collapse of FTX, this has invited greater scrutiny by the US Securities and Exchange Commission which recently proposed changes to federal custody requirements to include assets like crypto. How will this pan out and what has been the reason for the sudden surge in cryptocurrency prices? For answers, we speak to Zhong Yang Chan, Head Of Research, CoinGecko.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cabinet had agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to allow children born abroad to Malaysian mothers to gain automatic Malaysian citizenship. Suriani Kempe, President of Family Frontiers tells us what are the next legal hurdles to overcome and why this change in law was much needed.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UMNO announced changes to its Supreme Council membership last week, with Selangor Umno treasurer Tengku Datuk Zafrul Aziz appointed whilst Dato’ Lokman Noor Adam who had been expelled, was readmitted. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser at Pacific Research Centre tells us the consequences of such moves and the importance of the upcoming state elections.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The revised Budget 2023 is to be tabled this Friday. The electrical and electronic industry accounts for 7.2% of the Gross Development Product and around 40% of exported manufactured goods making it a crucial part of the economy. The previous 2023 Budget included initiatives to attract more high-quality investments in particular the front end of the supply chain. However, will the incentives from this new Budget 2023 be enough to drive investments in the sector and ensure Malaysia as an E&E sector and also destination stays relevant? We speak to Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) for insights.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance LifeImage credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, we ask if US-China can reset turbulent ties spurred by the spy balloon saga? We discuss superpower geopolitics with Dr. Pradeep Taneja of Melbourne University.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Malaysia's national debt including liabilities has reached 1.5 trillion ringgit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has set their eyes on reducing opex and expanding revenue. And one elephant in the room that cannot be ignored would be the size of civil service, their emoluments and pensions. So as reduction of fiscal deficit takes priority, how should we relook at the size of civil service in Malaysia? For answers, we speak to Dr Tricia Yeoh, CEO, IDEAS.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2023 State of Southeast Asia report was issued last week, shedding light on how the rivalry between the US and China is seen from the perspective of those caught in the middle. How have the developments of the past year affected how those in Southeast Asia view the power competition, and the effectiveness of ASEAN as a multilateral bloc to navigate the dynamics? Sharon Seah of the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute shares insights from the report.Image credit: Thapakorn HemgoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are international laws governing how children should be held in detention by governments. Is Malaysia abiding by these laws and how can we ensure the protection of children being held in state detention? We discuss this issue with child rights activist Dr. Hartini Zainuddin, Co-Founder of Yayasan Chow Kit.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Japanese economy averted recession in  the fourth quarter of 2022, expanding by an annualised 0.6%, but this was much smaller than the median forecast of 2% GDP growth. The latest data point to the challenge for incoming Bank of Japan governor, Kazuo Ueda, in normalising the bank’s ultra-loose policy without derailing the fragile economic recovery. What options does the Japanese central bank and government have to navigate the delicate policy tightrope? Tokyo-based journalist William Pesek shares his insights.Image credit: Saranya Phu akatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has warned of a leaner budget for military services this year, after taking into account lower government revenue. But with rising geopolitical tensions, is this the time to trim allocation for the country's defence sector? Defence analyst Ridzwan Rahmat discusses the implications for Malaysia's security apparatus.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government’s debts and liabilities currently stand at a record RM1.5 trillion ringgit, or 82% of GDP according to Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim. Wong Chen, MP for Subang has suggested that we list the national oil & gas company, Petronas. We speak to him for the thinking behind this suggestion and what could potentially be the pitfalls.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister for Education Fadhlina Siddique is helming a portfolio with enormous economic and social implications. As the academic year draws to a close, we discuss the policy signals so far from the government and priority areas that should be considered with Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim of PAGE.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S$104 billion Singaporean dollars - that’s the ticket price of the 2023 Singapore Budget aimed at positioning the city state in an era of great competition. There were several initiatives to alleviate near-term cost-of-living pressures such as an increase subsidies by 3 billion dollars to lower-income households. It also aims to narrow the budget deficit to 0.1% of GDP, from a revised 0.3% gap this year. Will the measures announced be effective in addressing Singapore’s economy and the cost of living issues faced by its people? For answers, we speak to Lee Ju Ye, Economist, Maybank Investment Bank.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lynas rare-earth processing plant in Kuantan has had its license renewed for another 3 years, subject to conditions including relocating the “cracking and leaching” facility, which produces radioactive residue out of Malaysia before July 2023.  Do these conditions adequately address concerns over health and environmental safety? Mageswari Sangaralingam of Sahabat Alam Malaysia breaks down the Lynas controversy for us.Image credit: T. SchneiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's property market continues to face headwinds. An issue which is seldom focused on is the level of property overhang in Malaysia. According to the National Property Information Centre (Napic), the residential overhang at the end of 3Q22 stood at 30,000 units worth RM20 bn. More worrying is Napic's revelation on ageing of the total overhang numbers where 71% of the properties have not been sold for the past 5 to 10 years. What does this mean for the state of developers' balance sheets as inventory has to written down and what sort of policies should the government be looking at to address this? For insights, we speak to Pankaj C Kumar, Business Commentator.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, record high inflation spelled trouble for economies, capital markets and governments. After losing the transitory-vs-sticky debate, the Fed delivered a cumulative of 4.25% increase in rates last year. Asia Pacific meanwhile did not escape unscathed from elevated prices. In Malaysia, to shield households and firms from higher prices, it was estimated that the total subsidy bill and cash aid reached a record high of 77 billion ringgit for 2022. So will inflation loosen its grip this year or will governments have to battle between elevated prices and a recession? For answers we speak to Sarah Tan, Economist, Moody's Analytics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year saw the incredible reversal of fortunes of high-profile Southeast Asia tech start-ups. At the end of 2022, the combined market cap of Grab, GoTo and BukaLapak fell by USD51 billion, a far cry from the lofty valuations the trio commanded when they each made their IPO debuts. How might 2023 play out for the regional tech sector - can companies reverse the decline in share price and improve prospects? Nathan Naidu of Bloomberg Intelligence gives his take.Image Credit: Adansijav Official / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is humanitarian aid being channelled to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria? We get updates from Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President of Mercy Malaysia of the situation on the ground.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six states are heading to state elections this year. Will this be the first test for the unity government? Dr James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania gives us his views on how seats will be allocated and will there be a green wave for PH controlled states?Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s GDP in 2022 recorded the highest annual growth rate in more than 2 decades at 8.7%, which was higher than the median estimate of 8.6% in a Bloomberg survey. As for the last quarter of the year, the economy expanded by 7% y-o-y. The services sector recorded the highest growth in 2022 at 10.9%. Can Malaysia be shielded from a challenging global environment and what growth can we expect for 2023? For answers we speak to Woon Khai Jhek, Head of Economic Research and Senior Economist at RAM Ratings.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite Malaysia ‘s efforts to be carbon neutral by 2050, solar players had a challenging 2022 with the intense competition and rising panel prices. We speak to Sean Lim, Regional Oil & Gas Head from RHB Investment Bank for an outlook and who are the winners in this growing sector.Image credit: PixabaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Thailand yesterday for a two-day official visit to elevate bilateral ties between Malaysia and Thailand. The focus areas of the visit include economic cooperation, border area development and key connectivity projects crossing the land borders. Will this trip be fruitful as Anwar’s previous diplomatic visits to our neighbours? For some answers, we speak to Dr Rahul Mishra, Director at the Centre of ASEAN RegionalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its 2022 Democracy Index recently, which showed that despite a broad easing of pandemic-era restrictions, the status of global democracy remains at similar levels to the prior year. What impacted trends in democracy over the past year, and is the world heading in the right direction? Syetarn Hansakul of EIU shares insights from the report.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public healthcare system is in crisis, with many healthcare workers contemplating leaving the service. What urgent policy measures are needed to prevent the system from collapsing? Dr. Khor Swee Keng of the Malaysian Health Coalition weighs in on this debate.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament will reconvene next week on Monday for its first full sitting since GE15. Dr. Wong Chin Huat, political scientist, Sunway University tells us why parliamentary reform is essential to ensure that democracy thrives in this country.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the threat of a global recession looming overhead, what does this mean for consumer sentiment, especially in the Asia-Pacific region? We discuss consumer trends with Liyana Yahaya, Senior for Regional Analytics & Insights, NielsenIQ.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world shifts towards renewable energy, the decommissioning of fossil fuel asset becomes a primary consideration. Are there standardised regulations to ensure this is done correctly and what are the complexities involved, William Attwell, Associate Director from Sustainable Fitch tells us.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced last week that development allocations for MPs would be reduced by 65% to RM1.3 million as part of efforts to control government finances. What are the implications of this move for MPs and their constituents? Two-term former MP Ong Kian Ming explains the potential consequences.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang is going to be brought back to life under the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke on Monday. The minister said the plan would be a major game-changer for the airport, and includes bringing back narrow body jets to the facility for both commercial and cargo flights. What are the implications of the S.A.R.P. for Malaysian aviation? We discuss the proposed redevelopment with Shantanu Gangakhedkar of Frost & Sullivan.Image Credit: AZIRULL AMIN ARIPINSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re continuing to see the fallout of UMNO’s mass purge of members last month, with former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri saying he is ready to retire from mainstream politics. Separately, Noh Omar said he has no intentions to join any political party, but he is open to telling “the truth” be it for PN or UMNO. What does all this mean for the future of UMNO or politics in general especially when PN has already revealed its shadow cabinet? For insights, we speak to Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, Associate Director, Vriens and Partners.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister for Digital and Communications Fahmi Fadzil last week announced the Unity Fixed Broadband package which provides high-speed broadband for RM69 per month targeted towards the B40 income, people with disabilities and senior citizens. How far will this go in addressing the digital divide in the country? Alexander Wong of SoyaCincau weighs in on this and other digital policy initiatives.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, the US shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon that had been making its way through US airspace  with the Navy and Coastguard collecting the debris to look for clues as to its actual purpose. China said the balloon was for meteorological research. Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore tell us what the political repercussions will be from this.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With rising inflation hitting the lower-income segments doubly hard, what can the government do to alleviate cost-of-living burdens beyond economic theory? We assess government action with economist Dr. Shankaren Nambiar, senior research fellow from the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local university UCSI released rather alarming research recently which found that 73% of close to 1,100 Malaysians aged between 18 and 40 are in debt. The key driving factors for taking on more leverage were financial constraint (42%), inflation (22%) and luxurious lifestyle (21%). This would imply that three-quarters of Malaysian youths do not have sufficient capital for financial commitments. For insights, we speak to Associate Professor Dr. Hassanudin Mohd Thas Thaker, Head of Research and Postgraduate Studies UCSI University.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Narendra Modi government laid out a slew of measures in the federal budget tabled this week to bolster job creation and attract investment ahead of elections due in the next 15 months. However overshadowing the budget tabling is the ongoing market rout of Adani Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates; billionaire founder Gautam Adani is known to have close ties to Modi. We discuss the implications of the budget and the Adani saga with economist Vishnu Varathan.Image Credit: Amit.pansuriya / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transparency International released its 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report on Tuesday, in which Malaysia dropped in score to 47 out of 100. This year marked the third year of decline for the country, after reaching a high of 53 in 2019. Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to reverse the declining trend, and said he would not compromise on any form of corruption. How closely does the government’s rhetoric match its actual actions, and what should be the primary focus in tackling corruption? Dr. Muhammad Mohan, President of TI-Malaysia assesses Malaysia's performance and what needs to be done to arrest the CPI decline.Image credit: T. SchneiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister warned that the government had debts and liabilities of some RM1.5 trillion ringgit. So as we head to the tabling of Budget 2023 on 24 February, what should the economic priorities of this Unity Government be? P. Gunasegaram, independent business writer weights in whilst telling us the other priorities to be considered.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump kicked off his campaign to reclaim the White House in 2024 last weekend, visiting two early-voting states, New Hampshire and South Carolina and brushed aside criticism that his run was off to a slow start. Also, an increasing number of elected officials have expressed concerns about Trump's ability to beat Democratic President Joe Biden, if he decides to run again. Will Trump be able to mount a successful comeback in time for the presidential elections? For answers, we speak to Robert Shapiro, Professor of Government, Columbia University.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, Minister for Local Government Development, Nga Khor Meng said that local council polls must take a backseat, until the government has managed to revive the economy and address the people’s problems first. We explore why governments of the day are so reluctant with Danesh Prakash Chacko, Director of Tindak Malaysia and the importance of it.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim concluded a half-day official visit to Singapore, his first as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister. We check in with Thomas Daniel, Senior Fellow at ISIS Malaysia on the future of bilateral ties and how we can improve trading relations.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are flaring between Palestine and Israel following a raid by the Israeli military last Thursday in the town of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. In the aftermath of the Jenin raid, the Palestinian National Authority withdrew its security cooperation with Israel. Meanwhile Israel’s security cabinet signalled plans to relax gun laws and withdraw Palestinian social security rights. Will this latest surge of violence become a prelude to another uprising in Palestine? Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey weighs in.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mass purge of UMNO members sent shockwaves although names which included Khairy Jamaluddin and Tan Sri Noh Omar were not a surprise. Reasons cited include criticising the party president and working with opposition parties during GE15. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research helps us unpack the consequence of this move.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overcrowding in public hospitals have reached alarming levels in Malaysia. Azrul Khalib, Chief Executive, from Galen Centre gives us the reasons for it whilst sounding the warning bells on the urgency of critical holistic reform needed for healthcare.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes Singapore’s HDB affordable housing scheme so successful, and can this model be replicated here? We discuss this with Alan Cheong, Executive Director of Savills Singapore with affordable housing being a long standing issue in Malaysia with Bank Negara noting that there has been severe mismatch of demand and supply.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can China lift Asia economies? The Covid lockdowns hampered the region’s economy hard. Asia was also unique in that it may have been the first to lockdown but it was also slow to reopen. Some of Covid holdouts like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan only played catch-up in recovery with much of the world in the latter half of last year. What headwinds is Asia sailing into and will China reopening be a big boost? For answers we speak to Arup Raha, Head of Asian Economics at Oxford Economics.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the latest earnings season kicks in, what trends can we glean from early tech sector results, including from the likes of Tesla, Microsoft and Intel? Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities weighs in with his tech outlook.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shock resignation of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shone a spotlight on the effects of burnout in the workplace. How can employers and employees address long-term fatigue in the corporate world? HR consultant Deepa George weighs in with tips on how to deal with burnout.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What constitutes vote-buying under the Election Offences Act? Why are veteran politicians seemingly confused about what electoral corruption looks like? We discuss urgently needed reforms in political financing with Thomas Fann of Bersih.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.