Morning Brief

With the inevitable global economic slowdown, what options does the Malaysian economy has to sustain growth? With a RM1 trillion debt and an election pending, are our options limited? Dr. Nungsari A. Radhi, Economist gives us some ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of residents has issued a Letter of Demand to KL City Hall and the Federal Territories Ministry for information on flood mitigation measures being taken. Because let's not forget how last year's monsoon season led to the worst incidents of flooding in the Klang Valley. The latest Attorney General’s Report published last month, also revealed that DBKL has only implemented 7.7% of flood mitigation measures detailed in the 2017 flood management master plan. Lim Wei Jiet is representing the residents.Image Credit: RustyR / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hike in interest rates is positive for banks but less so for neo banks. What then is the path to profitability and how innovative do digital banks have to be to achieve market share? Tamma Febrian, Director of Financial Institutions at Fitch Ratings tells us.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite claiming to champion Malay-Muslim Unity and ostensibly being in the same government, Umno, Bersatu and PAS are constantly at odds with one another. The latest manifestation of this dysfunctional relationship is the war of words between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri and his predecessor, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of Bersatu. What does all this finger-pointing signal about the timing of GE15? We speak to political analyst Dr. Azmi Hassan for insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Jerome Powell determined to bring inflation down and taking on very Volcker tones, markets were spooked with 2 Year Treasuries surpassing 4% for the first time since 2007. However will these aggressive rate hikes push the US economy into hard landing? Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ tells us whilst giving us insight into how Asian central banks and also currencies will react.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Wisma Putra, there have been 301 reports on job scam cases in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to date. Many are initially lured by ads promising easy work and extravagant perks, but are then held against their will by human trafficking syndicates and forced to conduct online criminal activity. What policy responses are needed to stamp out trafficking job scams? Adrian Pereira of the North South Initiative weighs in.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the newly launched National Energy Policy, the government targets to increase the use of electric vehicles to 38%. How achievable and practical is this? We hear from energy policy specialist Shahrol Halmi for his views.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GLC and GLIC heads as well as the judiciary will now be required to declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. We get reactions on this announcement from Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director of C4 - Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden declared in an interview with CBS that the pandemic is over in the US. Yet, CDC data shows that an average of nearly 400 Americans a day continue to die from COVID-19. So is the pandemic in retreat? Professor Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant in Infectious Diseases at National University Hospital Singapore tells us.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ringgit has fallen by 9% to the greenback on a year-to-date basis, levels not seen since the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998. Some view the weakening currency as an indication that Malaysia’s economy is on the rocks, but is that necessarily the case? Business commentator Pankaj C. Kumar helps us make sense of the relative value of currencies, and also highlights the structural issues in the economy that underpin the value of the ringgit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is barred from running for a third term as president, but rumours have surfaced that he may be considering a run as vice-president. We speak to Resty Woro Yuniar of the South China Morning Post on the political developments there as well as look ahead to the G20 Summit in November which Indonesia is hosting in Bali.Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development recently disclosed that there is a shortage of child protection officers, with one officer currently handling 50 to 100 cases of child abuse and neglect, compared to the target ratio of one to 30 cases. We discuss the challenges in hiring more child protection officers and other policy measures to strengthen the response to child welfare issues with Ananti Rajasingam of Yayasan Chow Kit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the difference between brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals? And how can Budget 2023 help lower the cost of medication? We discuss the medicine procurement and Budget 2023 with Mark Cheong, Deputy Head at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India and China are among the states that continue to buy Russian exports, after the US, EU and allies imposed sanctions isolating Russia from the global economy. However both President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to distance themselves from Russia’s offensive in Ukraine when they met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Is this indicative of cracks in Russia’s diplomatic shield against countries opposed to the war? Dr. Pradeep Taneja of Melbourne University weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much has Malaysia’s economic recovery been hampered by the lack of foreign workers? And which listed companies are impacted or even stand to benefit? For some analysis on the impact of the labour shortage, we speak to Jeremy Goh, Head of Research, Hong Leong Investment BankSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, the Special Council on the MA63 endorsed the proposal to increase East Malaysia representation in parliament to 35%, giving Sabah and Sarawak 78 of the 222 parliamentary seats. Would this actually increase effective political representation for East Malaysia? Danesh Prakash Chacko of Tindak Malaysia weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 59 years, socio-economic development in Malaysia remains patchy and imbalanced, especially in East Malaysia. As post-pandemic economic recovery kicks in, what policy measures should be considered to even out development gaps? We speak to economist Dr. Dayang Affizzah Marikan for suggestions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former chief editor of The Edge, Azam Aris, and contributing editor Shanmugam Muragasu have been slapped with two charges of criminal defamation this week. We ask Sreekant Pillai, Criminal Lawyer as to what is the difference between this and civil defamation and should we repeal defamation laws in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country’s forces have recaptured  6,000 square kilometres of Russian-held territory in counter offensives this week. Moscow has described its troop withdrawal from the region in recent days as a "regrouping", although the explanation is seen as hollow by some observers. Do these developments mark a turning point in the war? Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University gives us his analysis.Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, has said that discussions will be held soon between relevant ministries regarding special moratoriums for SMEs. Carmelo Ferlito, CEO for the Center for Market Education tells us if this is the best way to help struggling SMEs or are there other solutions may be more productive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next general election will see over 1 million new voters aged between 18 to 21 eligible to cast their vote. As we head into GE15, politicians from both sides of the divide will no doubt intensify their efforts to attract the most eyeballs to their campaigns on social media, especially among first-time voters. But how effective is social media campaigning, and in a world of fake news and disinformation, could social media campaigning end up backfiring against a political party? Badrul Hisyam Ismail of Iman Research speaks to us about the evolution and future of political campaigning.Image credit: REUTERS/Samsul SaidSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia's closure of the Nordstream 1 gas pipeline has ramped up pressure on EU member states to respond to rising prices of gas and electricity. Can the EU come to a consensus on the package of measures to take before the onset of winter? We discuss what's at stake with Dr. Frederick Kliem of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the monsoon season approaching, what should the government be doing to prevent or mitigate flooding? We discuss policy measures to address the social and economic costs of annual floods in the country with Cha-Ly Koh of UrbanmetrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would a bridge between Melaka and Sumatra bring economic benefits, or is it more likely to become another white elephant? We get reactions to the proposal from economist Dr. Timothy Wong of the National University of Singapore (NUS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Muda president Syed Saddiq said his party was ready to cooperate with Pakatan in GE15 and contesting in no more than 15 seats. But what has the reception been to this request? Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director, Merdeka Center tell us whilst diving into what Muda as a party stands for.Image credit: shutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can companies listed on the LEAP market graduate to the ACE market? We discuss the proposed framework on the table with Datin Wong Muh Roh of Astramina Advisory.Image credit: shutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been 21 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11 sparked long-term geopolitical repercussions across the world, and fundamentally changed the relationship between the US and Middle East states. With the Biden administration presiding over a different geopolitical landscape in the Middle East from 20 years ago, how much influence do the events of 9/11 still have on US foreign policy considerations? Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey weighs in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The overnight policy rate is now at 2.5% after a 25bps hike by Bank Negara Malaysia. Was this expected and what could be gleamed from the MPC statement? Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB Malaysia gives us her answers whilst telling us how high the OPR could reach and can we achieve BNM GDP target for 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle aged 96 after 70 years on the throne. How will she be remembered, both by the British public as well as the broader international community, and what can we expect from the reign of King Charles the Third? We reflect on the monarch's legacy with Prof. Chandran Kukathas of the Singapore Management University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palm oil prices have been on the decline from the highs earlier this year, with November futures down 10% on a year-to-date basis, hovering around RM3600 ringgit. What's behind the downward trend and what's the outlook for palm oil markets heading into 2023? We get sector analysis from Alvin Tai of Bloomberg Intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is now possible to register as an organ donor on the MySejahtera app. It is hoped that this effort will encourage more people to do so, especially with Malaysia having a low transplantation rate and more than 10,000 people still waiting for organ transplants. Dr Hasdy Haron, senior clinical organ donation manager at the National Transplant Resource Centre helps us dispel some common misconceptions and confusion on this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the biggest product launch of the year, Apple unveiled a new lineup of products. Will this be a game changer for earnings? Daniel Ives, Managing Director from Wedbush Securities gives us his views whilst telling us his views on the tech sector and his top buys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government signaled that they're considering introducing a lemon law to protect used car buyers in the event of defect issues or fraud. We speak to auto journalist Daniel Fernandez on why Malaysia needs lemon laws to regulate the car market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masks are Now Optional In Malaysia after almost 3 years but still required in hospitals, public transportation and nursing homes, However premise owners can also determine independently whether they’d prefer people to keep their masks on in that location. Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, Senior Lecturer and Co-Lead, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences gives us his first impressions of this change in law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is introducing the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) pass beginning next year to strengthen the country’s position as a global hub. The five-year visa will allow talents to work in the country across all sectors and operate in multiple firms at any one time. We speak to economist Walter Theseira about the rationale behind the policy and how it will impact Singapore's economic growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is planning to finalise a climate change bill by the end of the year with a view to tabling it in 2023. Although Malaysia is only responsible for some 0.37% of global carbon emissions, we are disproportionately impacted by the consequences of rising temperatures. What strategies should be employed in Malaysia's climate change response? We ask climate researcher Yin Shao Loong for his recommendations on policy priorities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While there is widespread acknowledgement that the size of the civil service does pose long-term challenges for Malaysia’s fiscal management, economist Dr. Nungsari A. Radhi helps us reconcile the need to right size versus attracting more talent into the civil service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend PAS concluded its 68th annual congress, the PAS Muktamar in Alor Setar, a key opportunity to rally the party faithful and strengthen alliances ahead of GE15. PAS has been careful to telegraph openness to collaborate with both Bersatu and UMNO. But with Bersatu and Umno at odds, can the trio find a middle ground before the pivotal elections?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pankaj C. Kumar, business commentator and columnist for The Star shares his perspective on the tabling of Budget 2023 that is being tabled 3 weeks ahead and while we expect plenty of goodies, how will the Government strike the right balance after 2 years of pandemic spending?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next UK Prime Minister is Liz Truss, after she beat rival Rishi Sunak in the Conservative party leadership race. She inherits a government that has swung from one crisis to another, from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine. How will Liz Truss handle this thrust into leadership, and can she deliver as cost of living crisis looms? Prof. Chandran Kukathas, Dean at the Singapore Management University weighs in with his reactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak is likely to be  disqualified as a Member of Parliament for Pekan within 14 days of his Federal Court conviction if he doesn't seek a royal pardon. What are the implications of Najib vacating his seat for Umno? We discuss the scenarios with political expert Dr. Hamidin Abdul Hamid, and also get his reactions to the Rembau MP Khairy Jamaludin forgoing his seat in GE15.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an effort to woo wealthy foreign investors to Malaysia, the government has launched the Premium Visa Programme (P-VIP), which will be open for applications on 1 October. We get reactions to this policy from Shaun Cheah of Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sri Lanka’s disgraced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Colombo on Friday, less than two months after he fled during the nation’s worst economic crisis in memory. In the meantime, there is a potential USD2.9b loan from the IMF. We speak to Anushka Wijesinha, economist and Co-Founder of Centre for a Smart Future, a think tank based in Sri Lanka for an update on these latest developments.Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Aug 31st deadline has come and gone for Malaysia's 6 main mobile network operators to agree and finalise terms on equity stakes in a state-controlled 5G single wholesale network run by Digital Nasional Bhd. There is confirmation that U Mobile will not be pursuing this option, while Maxis is reportedly likely to opt out, leaving DNB with 4 takers. Alexander Wong, Managing Editor at SoyaCincau explains the implications of these developments.Image credit: istock/jamesteohartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chinese economy is facing its biggest challenges since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008. Gary Ng, APAC Economist at Natixis tells how the government intends to overcome the slowdown and what policy tools its has at its disposal.Image credit: shutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and her husband the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak are now convicted felons. Rosmah was found guilty on all three counts of corruption in connection with the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar energy project. She faces a 10-year jail sentence and a RM970 million fine, the highest for a corruption case. Tom Wright, co-author of Billion Dollar Whale, breaks down how we got here.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As concerns over Covid-19 wane, Europe is expected to recover 70% of pre-pandemic travel demand in 2022. The recovery could be attributed to the EU Digital COVID Certificate which helped ease the process of travelling between EU members. Back in 2020 when the pandemic first hit, ASEAN countries did consider an intra-ASEAN travel corridor but it never came into being. And while tourism has returned to the region, did ASEAN miss a valuable opportunity to kickstart tourism recovery earlier?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia revealed that more than 70 percent of post-SPM students do not intend to continue with their studies after SPM and STPM. We ask YB Teo Nie Ching, Former Deputy Minister of Education and MP for Kulai what is deferring students from furthering their studies and what actions need to be taken to resolve this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The summer of 2022 saw major, sustained drought over the globe, from Europe to China to the United States and Africa, with dire ramifications ranging from energy shortages to food insecurity. Dr. Mariam Zachariah, Research Associate working with the World Weather Attribution initiative, at the Grantham Institute for Climate change and the Environment of Imperial College London helps us understand what is driving these dry spells and what we can do about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Human Ministry has delayed the implementation of certain amendments to the Employment Act. Why especially since these were already debated in parliament more than a year ago? Dr Niaz Asadullah, Southeast Asia Lead at the Global Labor Organisation, Professor of Economics at Monash University Malaysia gives us the answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.