Morning Brief

Over the weekend, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escaped unhurt after an explosive device was thrown at him at a campaign event. The incident echoed the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe less than a year ago and raises questions about security concerns ahead of the G7 Summit. We discuss domestic reactions to the incident and political dynamics ahead of local elections with Tokyo-based journalist William Pesek.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons over migrant worker issues from how they are recruited, to how we treat them to and the middlemen involved. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director, North South Initiative gives us the hard honest truth on the existing system and what changes must be made.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Covid Variant which has been detected in 33 countries has now been found in Malaysia too. Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, Leader, Infection and Immunity Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University Malaysia tells us how virulent and deadly this variant is. Whilst reminding us that we still need to keep the SOPs especially as Hari Raya is just round the corner.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia aims to achieve 40% renewable energy capacity by 2035, from the present ratio of 25%. What’s the pathway to reach this target and what are the roadblocks that need to be overcome? We discuss this with Amin Abdul Majid, Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Utilities and Zaid Ibrahim & Co.Image credit: AisyaqilumaranasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the present demand for hotel rooms during this Raya season indicate about the state of the Malaysian economy? We do a channel-check with Dato’ Indera Naresh Mohan on how hoteliers are faring and his views on regulations for short-term rental accommodation.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s economy shrank by 0.7% in the first quarter, larger than projected by economists. What does this mean for the outlook of the island-state? We discuss the economic headwinds buffeting Singapore with Khoon Goh of ANZ Bank.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the government declassified its report on the 1976 Double-Six tragedy that killed then-Sabah Chief Minister. What have been the implications of the tragic incident and how should this inform government policy on the right to information? Lawyer Roger Chin weighs in.Image credit: adriannanduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home Minister Dato’ Seri Saifuddin Nasution informed the Dewan Negara that the Printing Presses and Publication Act is still relevant to preserve peace and security. We ask Watshlah Naidu of the Center for Independent Journalism why she disputes this assertion and how best to uphold freedom of speech without stirring up racial or religious tensions.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US earnings season kicks off this week, with some of the major banks reporting results on Friday, including JP Morgan, CitiGroup and Wells Fargo. We get a preview of what’s expected with Walter Todd of Greenwood Capital.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At present, many who find themselves caught in the criminal justice system are unable to pay for legal representation, especially from the lower income segment. We speak to SUHAKAM Commissioner Ragunath Kesavan on how setting up a Public Defender’s Office could remedy this.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is embarking on several initiatives to raise Malaysia’s port competitiveness, including plans for a new port on Carey Island with a price tag of RM28 billion. We ask Ooi Lean Hin, Chairman of the Shipping Association of Malaysia for his views on measures needed to elevate Malaysian ports.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold is currently trading at above 2000 US dollars - what does this say about market sentiment? We discuss what’s driving gold prices with Diego Cacciapuoti of Oxford Economics.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The newly appointed chairs of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have called for its meetings to be open to public. What value does this bring to Malaysian democracy? We hear from former Chair of the PAC, YB Wong Kah Woh on why this move strengthens parliamentary oversight.Image credit: Friko KeiroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government estimates that as many as 1 million Malaysians are grappling with drug addiction, far more than official records suggest. What does this say about the effectiveness of policies to tackle drug issues? We discuss policy recommendations with Tham Jia Vern, international engagement coordinator at the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has long been known for its economic diplomacy, especially through the Belt and Road Initiative spanning 150 countries over two decades. However Beijing is also trying to build its credentials as an international mediator, as seen in its successful attempt in brokering rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. spans infrastructure projects and investments across 150 countries over the past two decades. What are the implications of this shift in strategy? We discuss this with Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumer Credit Oversight Board (CCOB) task force which comprises Bank Negara, Securities Commission and officials from the Ministry of Finance has been looking at ways to bring about balance on the consumer credit front. On their radar is Rule of 78 in the Higher Purchase Act and also regulation on BNPL. Hann Liew, founder and director of RinggitPlus, a financial marketplace provider gives us his views on what is required to protect the interest of the borrowers.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Umno is seeking a royal pardon for convicted Ex-Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. What are the repercussions to the relationship between BN and PH? Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser at Pacific Research Centre breaks it down for us.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China concluded three-days of military drills in the Straits of Taiwan yesterday, a show of force in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We discuss whether this ratchets up the likelihood of conflict particularly in ASEAN with security analyst Ridzwan Rahmat of Jane’s, a military defense portal.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the government signalled plans to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, also known by its Malay acronym AUKU, to address complaints by students of administrative restrictions and financial constraints in carrying out activities on campus. Do the AUKU amendments go far enough to empower students or should we be looking to repeal the act entirely? Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Visiting Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Indonesian International Islamic University.Image credit: FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been increasing talks of upgrading or setting up new cross-border rail links as its seen as environmentally friendly. Malaysia is not the exception as there are proposals to establish rail links between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Kunming. Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Professor of Transport Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia tells us if we should proceed whilst discussing the woes that KTM faces.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are boiling between Israel and Palestine, following raids by Israeli forces on the Al-Aqsa mosque last week. This has sparked tit-for-tat attacks on civilians in Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank. Is this the precursor for deterioration into military conflict? We discuss geopolitical developments with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey. Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim is keen to revive Belt and Road Initiative projects with China. What lessons can be learned from previous experiences with BRI projects? Economist Jayant Menon gives us his thoughts.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a black market for organ donation here in Malaysia? We distill the facts from rumours on organ donation with Dr. Hasdy Haron of the National Transplant Resource Centre.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen met with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in southern California yesterday. What kind of impact could this have on broader geopolitical tensions between the US and China? We get analysis from Dr. Adrian Ang of the S. Rajaratnam School of International StudiesImage credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The de-dollarisation debate has circled the block many times, but the argument has picked up steam in recent years and especially in the wake of the war in Ukraine. What are the implications of the move away from US dollar trade, and would the Chinese yuan grow in strength to rival King Dollar? Business commentator Pankaj C. Kumar weighs in with his analysis.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Law minister on Tuesday announced amendments to the Mental Health Act 2001 that will decriminalise suicide attempts as currently, anyone attempting suicide can be jailed for up to one year, fined, or both. Dr. Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam, Psychiatrist at Hospital Miri Malaysia tells us why this change is much needed and how the public health service can be improved to help those in mental distress.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an ideal world, sports is the neutral arena where individuals or athletes leave their biases behind, and compete on a respectful and level playing field. However reality is often more complex, as illustrated by the fallout in international sport from the war in Ukraine. We discuss what happens when sports and politics intersect with Haresh Deol of the news portal twentytwo13.my.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of applications for the Malaysia My Second Home programme have plummeted since the government changed the rules in 2022. What should be done to revive interest in MM2H? We ask Andy Davison, Founder and CEO, The Expat Group Media for suggestions.Image credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The apex court, in a 4-1 majority decision, dismissed former prime minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak’s bid to review his conviction in the SRC International corruption case. We discuss the legal implications of the decision with Karen Cheah, President of the Malaysian Bar.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump became the first former president to be criminally charged after being indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. How will these charges affect Trump’s political trajectory leading into elections in 2024? We speak to independent pollster John Zogby for insights.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Monday, government hospitals nationwide have been on alert after a group of government doctors announced a three-day strike beginning 3 April. Dr. Ahmad Filza Bin Ismail, chairperson of MMA's Section Concerning House Officers and Medical Officers tells us the demands of this group known as "Mogok Doktor Malaysia" and if solutions have been offered by the government.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia suffers from the urban rural mismatch resulting from internal migration, like many other countries. But what are the consequences of this and should there be policy measures to correct it. Cha-Ly Koh, CEO & Founder, Urbanmetry gives us her views.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a surprise move, OPEC+ announced further cuts to oil production on Sunday. What are the implications of this for oil prices moving forward? We get analysis from Sean Lim, Regional Oil & Gas Head at RHB Investment Bank.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the leadership shake-up in the Melaka state government bode for Malaysian politics more broadly? We get analysis from Ben Suffian of the Merdeka CentreImage credit: FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded his maiden visit to China over the weekend. This is seen as an important visit as China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009. How successful was this visit and what was achieved? Angeline Tan, Researcher in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Programme at ISIS Malaysia rates it.Image credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia / Sadiq AsyrafSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has exempted nicotine from the controlled list of substances under the Poisons Act, paving the way for the nicotine-based products to be taxed. But what are the implications for broader healthcare? We speak to Azrul Khalid of the Galen Centre on why he views this as a potential trigger for a public health crisis in the country.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The repercussions and the speed at which the banking crisis unfolded took many by surprise. On paper, the relatively conventional model of Asia Pacific banks should have shielded the region from some of the market turmoil emanating from such events. However, some second-order effects on the region still remain a concern for the region. Alicia García Herrero, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis tells us what we should look out for.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia transitioned from a pandemic economy to an endemic one on the 1st of April. How has business sentiment changed in the intervening year - are SMEs more hopeful or anxious about the economic outlook? Datuk Irwin Cheong of Industries Unite reflects on how businesses have been coping post-pandemic.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara’s annual report was released yesterday, projecting that Malaysia would reach economic growth of between 4 to 5% this year. But what’s in the fine print? We parse the details of the report, including BNM's assessment of the health of Malaysian banks, with Julia Goh of UOB Malaysia.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a lively week for Alibaba Group, the Chinese e-commerce giant worth 220 billion US dollars. Its boss, Jack Ma made an appearance in China after being absent for 3 years. This was then followed by the shock announcement that it would split into 6 business units, marking the biggest restructuring in the company’s 24 year history. Brock Silvers, CEO, Kaiyuan Capital tells us his views of this.Image credit: AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week Sri Lanka finally secured a USD$3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after nearly a year of negotiations. Does this IMF bailout signal that the worst is over and how will Sri Lanka rebuild its battered economy? Dr. Chulanee Attanayeke, Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore discusses Sri Lanka's difficult path to recovery.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) was launched in December 2022 as part of national efforts towards reducing carbon emissions. Earlier this month on 16 March, the first auction of carbon credits was conducted involving two products featuring offsets from projects in China and Cambodia. Can the BCX gain traction and help Malaysia achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050? Dr. Pieter Stek of the Asia Business School gives us his assessment.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The visit of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim to Saudi Arabia last week was a golden opportunity to elevate his standing as Muslim statesman, given the strategic importance of relations with the Saudis. However it has instead become political fodder for the opposition, after he met neither the head of state King Salman nor the Prime Minister, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman during the visit. How damaging is the fallout from this trip for the Prime Minister, especially ahead of the state elections in June? Political analyst Dr. Azmi Hassan weighs in.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Burmese junta marked the annual Armed Forces Day this week with a military parade and a rare speech by General Min Aung Hlaing, who reiterated the pledge to hold elections when the state of emergency ends. What is the junta's version of democracy and can the international community exert any influence? We discuss the latest developments with Hunter Marston of ANU.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is proposing the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link elevated highway, to disperse traffic from Bandar Utama to Bandar Kinrara as part of the attempt to ease the congestion along the LDP. But is another highway the solution? David Yoong, Chairman, of Stakeholders cum Residents Against PJD Link (SCRAP Highway) gives us the reason why they are against this project.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is hard at work to fulfil its election manifesto pledge of dismantling monopolies and putting a stop to profiteering. But are all monopolies bad? Economist, Dr Nungsari A. Radhi gives us that answer whilst we also discuss government appointments at Statutory Bodies and GLICS.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been high hopes that Chinese consumers will spend with a vengeance once the zero-Covid policy is lifted, providing a much needed boost to China's economy. Have these expectations materialised? We discuss consumer trends in China with Catherine Lim of Bloomberg Intelligence.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The enactment of the Sexual Offences Against Children (SOAC) Act in 2017 was a significant achievement, but the intervening years have revealed shortcomings in the law. Hence the government is proposing to introduce amendments to the SOAC Act to strengthen the child protection framework. Dato' Sri Azalina Othman, Minister for Law & Institutional Reform explains the rationale and implications of the legal changes.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration recently unveiled tight new restrictions on operations in China by semiconductor manufacturers that obtain federal funds to build in the U.S. Louise Loo, China Economist at Oxford Economics tells us what impact these raft of measures have on China's attempt to be 70% self sustaining in this critical sector by 2030.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim held a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia last week, coinciding with the start of Ramadhan. However, the visit oddly concluded without any meetings between Anwar Ibrahim with the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman or King Salman Abdul Aziz. Is there anything to read from these developments and what does this bode for the future of Malaysia-Saudi bilateral ties? Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey weighs in.Image credit: TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.