Morning Brief

Despite the disappointing lack of female representation among GE15 candidates, the Prime Minister has attempted to redress the imbalance in the Cabinet. The current line-up features five ministers and eight deputies who are women, making up 24% of the total composition, which is an improvement from previous administrations. What are the important gender-responsive policies that should be looked into by the new government? We discuss policy recommendations with Anis Farid of WAO.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bank of England is forecasting a recession that will last till 2024. Yet the FTSE100 has been surprisingly resilient. We ask Craig Erlam, Senior Market Analyst at OANDA whether it's time to invest in the UK and if so, what are the investment opportunities.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made tackling the cost of living a priority for the new government. In his first days in office, the PM set a two week deadline for the National Action Council on the Cost of Living to come up with a proposal on targeted subsidies and their implications. How should the subsidy mechanism be revised to improve effectiveness and efficiency? We get suggestions from Dr. Ahmed Razman Abudl Latiff of Putra Business School, UPM.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wong Yan Ke, Activist and Former President of Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) makes the case why it is now high time for the Higher Education Ministry to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), provide greater autonomy for campus elections and transparency in the appointment of vice-chancellors and managing boards.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has become the first country to legislate a generational end-game for smoking, with sale of tobacco products banned for those born in 2009 beginning next year. What lessons can Malaysia draw from the Kiwi experience? We speak to Tony Blakely, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne for insights.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim has signalled that institutional reform is a core pillar of his agenda with the appointment of Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman as the Minister for Law and Institutional Reform, and Ramkarpal Singh as her deputy. The policy wishlist of reforms is no doubt a long one - what does civil society see as the most important issues to tackle? Jerald Joseph, advisor to the CSO Platform for Reform weighs in.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Tourism Organization said that international tourism is on track to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022. To what extent is Malaysia capturing this rebound in tourism? That’s a key question for the newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Bintulu MP Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing. What do tourism industry players need to consider in light of this? For more insights, we speak to Nigel Wong, Honorary Treasurer and Spokesperson of Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 was a record year for agriculture prices, no thanks to a perfect storm of climate change, the war in Ukraine and high energy prices but will this trend continue in 2023? Alvin Tai, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence tells us whilst explaining why the correlation between high agriculture prices is not translated to stock prices.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 4 MPs from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaving Sabah Bersatu, lawyer Kee Hui Yee gives her perspective as the landmark anti-hopping law that came into force on 5th October is put to the test.Image credit: msyaraafiq / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Zaliha Mustafa, the MP for Sekijang has the distinction of being the country’s first woman health minister in the new government. The portfolio is a demanding one, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic magnifying the inadequacies of our health system. What issues should be prioritised by the Ministry of Health? Azrul Mohd Khalib of the Galen Centre gives us his recommendations.Image credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With China showing signs of reopening, will 2023 be a smoother, less turbulent year for global aviation in particular in Asia? We speak to Shantanu Gangakhedkar at Frost & Sullivan on what he’s watching in the coming year.Image credit: Thanathip Rattanatum / Pexels.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi will have his hands full. One of his top priorities include ensuring the completion of Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak and Sabah. Additionally, the condition of federal roads in the country remains in focus where in September, the works ministry announced that an allocation of 3.4 billion ringgit is needed to repair damaged federal roads throughout peninsular Malaysia. What role does the Works Ministry play in the development of infrastructure in the country? For insights we speak to Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Professor of Transport Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The line up of twenty seven Deputy Ministers was finally revealed with a mix of old and new faces from the various parties. Ibrahim Suffian, Program Director at Merdeka Centre helps us to unpack the nuances of this whilst diving into the recent news headlines on Perikatan Nasional including the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) split from Bersatu.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan has revised its third quarter GDP figures, under the expectation that it will shrink to 0.8% on an annualised basis instead of 1.2%. But this doesn’t eliminate concerns over the economy’s resilience heading into 2023, even with the 210 billion US dollars. Moreover, the yen's persistent weakness against the US dollar has impacted prices of imports; Japan recorded a current account deficit of 4.5 billion US dollars in October. How long can The Bank of Japan keep the policy of low-interest rates? For answers, we speak to William Pesek, Tokyo-based journalist and columnist, Nikkei Asia.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is in the midst of calling for an investigation on Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the government entity tasked for the 5G rollout in Malaysia. Part of the review will be on the tender process which was perceived to not be done in a transparent manner. New Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil also assured that the current 5G rollout will still continue. How will Malaysia's 5G initiative pan out with all these delays and especially when the country is already behind regionally? For answers, we speak to Alexander Wong, Managing Editor and Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Segambut MP, Hannah Yeoh, as the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports has said that she will not introduce new programmes or policies but instead work with what is already in place. We speak to Haresh Deol, Editor of the online portal twentytwo13.my as to what her priorities will be nonetheless and whether sports in the country needs a shake up.Image credit: Kementerian Belia dan Sukan MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesian lawmakers have ratified changes to its colonial-era criminal code that impose bans on insulting the President and state institutions, views that contradict state ideology, protests without a permit, sex outside marriage and non-marital cohabitation. Dr Ross Tapsell, Senior Lecturer at Australian National University tells us why the government wants to impose these laws and what it means for civil liberties in the 3rd largest democratic country in the world.Image credit: Willy Kurniawan/ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With growing calls from all quarters to relook and even pull out from the CP-TPP that was ratified by the Dato Sri Ismail Sabri administration, Professor Rajah Rasiah from Universiti Malaya outlines the challenges and complexities that come with this controversial agreement.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerald Joseph, Director of Pusat KOMAS and former SUHAKAM commissioner outlines the policies and personnel actions that the new Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution must prioritise.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago, global manufacturing activity took a huge hit no thanks to supply chain bottlenecks that were exacerbated by Covid induced factory shutdowns. This reversed in early 2022 with recovery in demand and the revenge shopping phenomenon. However, with rising inflation and a global economic slowdown, can Asia Pacific still see strong manufacturing activity as financial conditions tighten? For answers, we speak to Sung Eun Jung, Senior Economist, Oxford Economics.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Klang Valley residents have had to endure long commutes on roads and on trains. Is this due to our flawed transportation model? What should the priorities of our new Minister of Transport be? We ask Dr Rosli Khan, Transport Consultant, that question.Image credit: Anthony Loke Siew Fook / FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks the first working week for Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, in the new reality where Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional are on the same rather than opposing sides of the aisle. The PH-BN cooperation is also being displayed in the Padang Serai and Pulau Tioman by-elections. Will this fragile alliance survive the Umno party elections? Political analyst Dr. Azmi Hassan weighs in.Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices had a good run in 2022 but it has given up all of its gains and is flat YTD at under US$80 per barrel. Meanwhile, the Group of Seven nations, Australia and the 27 European Union states imposed a US$60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil this week. Will this price cap work and how will Russia retaliate? Also, what does this mean for oil prices especially with China looking to re-open its borders in 2023? For insights and stock picks, we speak to TJ Liaw, Regional oil and gas analyst at Maybank Investment Bank.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent appointment of first time elected MP Fadhlina Sidek as the new Minister of Education certainly raised some eyebrows. Many wonder if the first time MP and minister is able to tackle many challenges afflicting the ministry, ranging from reading proficiency, learning poverty and effect of lockdowns on learning. For reactions and recommendations for the new minister, we speak to Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protesters in Iran have called for a three-day strike this week amid conflicting reports that the nation’s “morality police” had been shut down. The Iranian attorney-general reportedly made these comments on Sunday; however this has yet to be officially corroborated by state media. Street demonstrations have been ongoing in Iran since September, triggered by the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini. Is the government showing signs of taking a more conciliatory approach in the face of unrest, or are concessions too little, too late to quell the persistent discontent in the clerical authorities? We speak to Rodger Shanahan of Lowy Institute for perspectives.Image Credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESG considerations are driving many capital investment decisions and fueling a demand for green financing. How is AmBank Group rising to the challenge of aiding the ESG transition for customers? We speak to Eqhwan Mokhzanee, CEO of Ambank Islamic and AmBank Group's Sustainability Champion to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Much of the analysis post-GE15 has been focused on the changing support base of Malay-based parties. However the elections have also seen detrimental outcomes for two major Chinese-based parties, namely MCA and Gerakan. Gerakan, which had aligned itself with Perikatan Nasional, lost in all 20 seats it contested, while MCA fared slightly better, winning two out of 44 seats contested. What does this election outcome mean for the future of MCA and Gerakan moving forward? Political analyst Dr. Oh Ei Sun weighs in.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia will be launching the long-awaited Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Exchange on December 9 to drive the nation's environmental change and sustainable goals. How will the VCM be structured, how successful will it be and what will the take up be like?Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, Chinese authorities unveiled their most comprehensive rescue package to-date in a bid to salvage the ailing property sector. But the sector is still seeing a persistent slump in home sales as well as home prices. In November, the 100 biggest real estate developers witnessed a 26% y-o-y drop in new home sales, while new home prices fell 1.6% y-o-y, its biggest slump since 2015. What is the outlook for the property market in China and Hong Kong, and what could revive the embattled industry? For insights, we speak to Christine Li, Head of Research, Asia Pacific, Knight Frank.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, a lot of attention has been drawn to the congratulatory gestures from dignitaries throughout the world. While these gestures are an encouraging sign towards the international recognition of Anwar’s leadership, how exactly does it impact the dynamics of Malaysia’s international relations and enhance bilateral negotiations? For insights, we speak to Izzah Ibrahim, Analyst, Foreign Policy and Security Studies programme, ISIS Malaysia.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many important positions such as the IGP, MACC head and Judicial Appointments Commission members are decided by the Prime Minister. Surendra Ananth, Deputy Chairperson at Malaysian Bar Law Reform and Special Areas Committee tells us why these appointments should be independent of the executive branch of the government, in particular the Prime Minister.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the World Bank’s 2018 Logistics Performance Index (LPI) score, Singapore stands out in ASEAN’s top country in terms of its logistic infrastructure and is also comparable with the EU. While Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand also stacked up fairly well in ASEAN, they are still lacking globally. Malaysia’s logistics sector is expected to expand at a >4% CAGR over 2022-2027, fuelled by higher adoption of e-commerce and higher rate of urbanisation and affluence. Are there any synergies between ASEAN countries which can bridge logistics connectivity and enhance efficiency across borders? We speak to Raja Nur Aqilah Raja Ali, Analyst, RHB Research for her views.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PAS, the conservative Islamist party which won the most seats in GE15, has gone on the offensive against the government of day. Adib Zalkapli, Director at BowerGroupAsia tells us why and how the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government should counter this narrative.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation is rife that Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister will be appointing his cabinet soon but with 19 political parties in this coalition and a promise of a slimmer administration, who should be appointed? Datuk Dr Rais Hussin, Chief Executive Officer at Emir Research tells us what should be the criteria and important characteristics of these Malaysians that will lead the government.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan’s local elections resulted in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, suffering its worst defeat in 36 years, holding on to only 5 out of 22 municipalities, down from 6 in 2018. The main opposition party, Kuomintang, or KMT, rose to victory in the mayoral and county elections, winning 13 of the 21, including the capital Taipei. What were the issues DPP was being punished for and does this show that voters in Taiwan are more pro-China? We speak to Brian Hew, co-founding editor of New Bloom magazine, an online magazine covering politics and youth culture in Taiwan.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly minted Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently chaired a special meeting of the 2022 National Action Council on the Cost of Living. He has set a two-week deadline to come up with a proposal on targeted subsidies and their implications. Malaysia is estimated to spend a record RM80 billion this year on subsidies with the largest being for fuel and cooking oil. How quickly and in what manner will the new government follow through with this initiative? For insights, we speak to Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese authorities have stepped up its presence in cities across China to clamp down on protestors following a series of demonstrations which turned political over the weekend. The protests come after a fire in a high-rise block in Urumqi, western China, killed 10 people last Thursday. Clara Ferreira Marques, a columnist with Bloomberg Opinion, talks about where these protests which have gone online and have spread amongst the Chinese diaspora overseas, might impact President Xi Jinping's legacy.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is making it his mission to no longer approve procurements without tenders as a way to prevent leakages and corruption. This is not without its challenges as transparency and legislation for procurement has always been in question, along with exceptions in place to allow for direct negotiations. Sri Murniati Yusuf, Deputy Research Director, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), explains the hurdles this new administration might face.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is Malaysia's 10th prime minister, 24 years after he was sacked as deputy by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Today, his Pakatan Harapan coalition is leading the new administration but only as a result of all MPs except those from Perikatan Nasional declaring their support, effectively giving him 148 seats or a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Maha Balakrishnan, Parliamentary Consultant and Researcher, talks to us about what reforms we can expect and what needs to be prioritised as the Reformasi movement gains new life.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Anwar Ibrahim administration has its work cut out as rising competition for a limited share of the FDI pie from Indonesia and Vietnam. So far, Malaysia has attracted RM54 billion in net inflows for the first nine months of this year. But what will the strategy for this new government look like as it banks on the existing strong infrastructure and a slew of incentives to attract multinational companies to the country. Daniel Bernbeck, CEO of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry talks about what MNCs want versus what might be offered.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week after the US midterm elections, former President Donald Trump announced that he was making a bid to run as the Republican presidential candidate. President Joe Biden has also indicated that he intends to run again, thus setting the stage for a Biden vs. Trump rematch in 2024. Mark J. Rozell, Dean at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University tells us the likelihood of this.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After five days of post-election crisis, Malaysia has finally elected its 10th prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a news welcomed by businesses who yearn for political clarity. Businesses will also be closely watching the government for their tabling of the budget and in turn addressing their concerns as soon as possible. We speak to Jeremy Lim, Vice-President, Persatuan Pemilik Restoran dan Bistro, for a check in on how the food and beverage industry is doing, and their outlook for the upcoming financial year and hopes for the new government to address.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has seen a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, thus presenting a conundrum for the leaders to either have dial down on its Zero Covid policy or revert to its familiar strict curbs to halt the outbreak at the expense of the economy. Even so, China continues to astound with its economic measures on helping the property and infrastructure sector. Yet the question remains: is China caught between a rock and hard place, and what would be their next move? We speak to Alfredo Montufar-Helu, Head of the China Center for Economics and Business, The Conference Board for insights.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) as one of the core components of the unity government under Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, what does this mean for federal-state relations with Sarawak? We discuss the political developments with analyst Dr. Arnold Puyok.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the shocking defeat of UMNO at GE15, winning only 26 seats, this party is now playing kingmaker in determining which coalition will run Malaysia. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Research Fellow, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research helps us make sense of their statement which states that it would be part of a unity government not led by PN. He also delves into the future of current party president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of the pressures that businesses are currently facing like labour shortages, rising cost and supply chain disruptions still exist globally but in Malaysia, political uncertainty has been added to the mix. Chin Chee Seong, National Secretary General, of the SME Association of Malaysia tells us the consequences of this political impasse and what can the new government do to help businesses.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FTX’s collapse from grace this month has been swift and reads better than any work of fiction with the once upon time, second largest cryptocurrency exchange filing for bankruptcy. Arun Pai, Principal at Monk's Hill Ventures tells if there was fraud and what is the consequence of this collapse on the wider cryptocurrency space.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past week after GE15, words like Unity and Minority government have been bandied as no coalition has been able to command a majority. Dr Lau Zhe Wei, Assistant Professor at International Islamic University Malaysia tells us what is the difference between the two both from a theoretical and practical perspective.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia continues to be in a political quagmire with no government but the economic problems still exist and are in fact exacerbated by this uncertainty. Dr Geoffrey Williams, economist at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology tells us what the new government's priorities should be.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police have warned Malaysian social media users against uploading content that would threaten public safety and order, after it came to public attention that there were Tik Tok clips bringing up the May 13 racial riots in relation to GE15. Munira Mustaffa, Executive Director of the Chasseur Group tells us the reason for the rise of such damaging rhetoric and if there are organised forces behind it.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.