Morning Brief

Dato’ Ahiruddin Attan, President of the National Press Club discusses Malaysia’s large decline from 101st to 119th spot on the World Press Freedom Index, and the challenges ahead for media players. Image Credit: Afif Abd. Halim / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato’ Ahiruddin Attan, President of the National Press Club discusses Malaysia’s large decline from 101st to 119th spot on the World Press Freedom Index, and the challenges ahead for media players. Image Credit: Afif Abd. Halim / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharifah Zaida Nurlisha, President of the Malaysia Oil & Gas Services Council (MOGSC), discusses the country's National Oil & Gas Services and Equipment Blueprint, in the context of a sub-sector which has only half of its 4,000-strong membership still active as well as beset by a number of policy and industry woes. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Helmy Haja Mydin helps address the concerns over the Astra Zeneca vaccine and shares his perspective on the proposal to set up a dedicated vaccination centre for those who want to take it by the Malaysian Government. Image Credit: Marc Bruxelle | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden marked his 100th day in office with his first formal address to Congress. Robert Shapiro, Professor of Government at Columbia University reviews his performance against campaign promises and tells us what the priorities are for the rest of this term. Image credit: EPA-EFE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 233 Fintech companies in Malaysia, who will be the winners in this growing sector? Vincent Fong, Chief Editor of Fintech News Malaysia tells us whilst revealing whether any Malaysian companies have the potential to be a unicorn. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Tan Hai Hsin on whether the surge of e-commerce will prevail post-pandemic and gauge the current performance of the retail sector as different omnichannel strategies are adopted. Image credit: Tooykrub/Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has proposed a series of tax hikes to pay for childcare and education programs. Markets were initially sold down on this news but have since recovered. Ed Clissold, Chief US Strategist at Ned Davis Research tells us if this has a significant long-term impact on markets and will this see a shift towards more passive investing. Image credit: EPA-EFE/ Stefani Reynolds / POOLSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katrina Ell, Senior APAC Economist at Moody's Analytics, discusses higher-than-expected March CPI numbers, even as Malaysia grapples with a slow vaccine rollout and an uncertain economic outlook. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawrence Wong has been announced as Singapore's new Finance Minister in a major cabinet reshuffle. With that, is he the new heir apparent to the Prime Minister's post? Nydia Ngiow, Bower Group Asia weighs in on this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent Merdeka Center survey results showed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s approval rating at a steady 67 percent. We speak straight to the source, Merdeka Centre’s Programme Director, Ben Suffian on what this survey result means and the demographics behind this figure. Image Credit: S.O. | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent Merdeka Center survey results showed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s approval rating at a steady 67 percent. We speak straight to the source, Merdeka Centre’s Programme Director, Ben Suffian on what this survey result means and the demographics behind this figure. Image Credit: S.O. | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-based learning and teaching will be implemented for 2 weeks after the Hari Raya holidays. Previously the government decided to close schools for two days when any cases have been reported. Are these the right decisions? We speak to Harry Tan, Secretary-General, National Union Of The Teaching Profession (NUTP). Image Credit: Mejini Neskah / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-based learning and teaching will be implemented for 2 weeks after the Hari Raya holidays. Previously the government decided to close schools for two days when any cases have been reported. Are these the right decisions? We speak to Harry Tan, Secretary-General, National Union Of The Teaching Profession (NUTP). Image Credit: Mejini Neskah / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the significance of Malaysia being the first country to sell a dollar-denominated sustainability Sukuk with Firdaos Rosli, Head of Economic Research from Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC). And we also discuss how close are we to the self-prescribed 60% limit of debt-to-GDP. Image credit: kudla / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sebastien Strangio from the Asian Diplomat gives us a deeper perspective of the effectiveness of the ASEAN convened special summit on Saturday in Jakarta and whether the ASEAN Special Envoy will have the clout to ensure the compliance of the Five-Point Consensus. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merdeka's Centre Survey and Invoke Survey Results. UMNO recent Supreme Council meeting. PAS sticking with BERSATU. Oh Ei Sun helps us understand the musical chairs of political parties as well as unpack the deep dissatisfaction and uncertainty among voters. Image Credit: Amiirullah Mansor | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do Malaysia's foreign labour policies encourage foreign direct investment and spur economic growth? Dr Niaz Asadullah, Southeast Asia Lead of the Global Labor Organisation weighs in on this debate whilst reminding us that short-term populist measures do not work in the longer term. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economist Dr. Nungsari Radhi is cool on the government’s move to tap into the RM16 billion National Trust Fund, pointing out that such funds should only be sparingly used on rainy days. Image credit: Rangzen / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Ives gives us his perspective on the recent IPO of Coinbase and also provides a comprehensive roundup of expected results of major US tech players in the coming week including Tesla and in particular Apple that announced its first tech refreshes Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past decade has seen rapid growth in sustainable or ESG investing, how does Malaysia measure up with regards to ESG investing options and standards? Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research at Maybank Kim Eng tells us whilst giving us the top ESG stock buys for Malaysia. Image Credit Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Malaysian Climate Change Action Council and the National Low Carbon City Master Plan, we ask Alizan Mahadi from ISIS how Malaysia will be able to deliver on its promises and meet COP26 commitments. Image Credit: venimo | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With global economies recovering, luxury good sales have surged reflected in the strong earnings of companies like Kering, LVMH and L'oreal. Deborah Aitken, Senior Industry Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence gives us the reasons why, the markets which will see growth and the trends of the industry. Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MP for Bangi and former Deputy Minister of International Trade, Dr. Ong Kian Ming gives his perspective on what Malaysia really needs to drive more investments and we seek his views on the proposed National Investment Aspirations launched by Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to help Malaysia to become a regional investment hub. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Cardosa assists us in navigating the history and legacy of SMK Convent Bukit Nanas but also gives us a comprehensive take on how our country has and should be looking at preserving heritage sites of implicit and intangible value. Image credit: Liena Kamaruz / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft officially announced its plans to establish a data centre region in Malaysia, pledging investments amounting to USD 1 billion over the next 5 years. As many as 19,000 jobs will be created but what are the other benefits? Dr Lau Cher Han, Chief Data Scientist at LEAD tells us. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft officially announced its plans to establish a data centre region in Malaysia, pledging investments amounting to USD 1 billion over the next 5 years. As many as 19,000 jobs will be created but what are the other benefits? Dr Lau Cher Han, Chief Data Scientist at LEAD tells us. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football is the latest casualty of sport's commercialisation, a sad but true reflection of the world's insatiable appetite for contest and content, according to Professor Simon Chadwick, Professor of Eurasian Sport at Emlyon Business School. Image credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With news of an international bank, Citibank closing shop in Malaysia, what rights do its employees have? Sunitha Ruthram, employment lawyer tells us. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has the media market in Malaysia managed and survived Covid? Will new entrants like Disney+ / Netflix add further to the disruption? Who has sufficiently evolved their business to weather the rapid changes in advertising expenditure trends? Pritika Modhgil from ‎Kenanga Investment Bank provides the answers. Image credit: Bank Phrom on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the potential 4th wave of covid 19 infections in Malaysia, what lessons have we learnt? Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy tells us what needs to be done on the ground and also how to tackle vaccine hesitancy in this country. Image Credit: siam.pukkato | ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Schwartz of Fitch Rating talks about the consequences (or none) of the first semi-annual foreign exchange report issued by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen as the US places 11 economies on the monitoring list for possible currency manipulation. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Pradeep Taneja touches on the multiple challenges faced by India, from its economic impact to implications on its poor as well as its role of being the global factory for vaccines versus how its own vaccination is being rolled out Image credit: Manoej Paateel / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the Maybank Virtual AGM technical glitch, Devanesan Evanson from Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG) weighs in on the current issues, solutions and platforms we can adopt to ensure a more transparent and fair AGM takes place across the diverse business community. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria discusses with us the effectiveness of different strategies and forms of assistance to combat the multi-dimensional challenges in urban poverty as economies reopen and growth becomes unevenly distributed. Image Credit: hkhtt hj / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With work from home themes the big winner last year, will this trend continue in 2021? And with the 5G rollout expected to intensify over the next few years, how can one profit? Sammeer Sharma, Managing Director and Head of Wealth Management at Standard Chartered Malaysia helps us make sense of the options. Image Credit: metamorworks | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run speaks to Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Health, about the rising case numbers, interstate travel ban extension, the vaccination rollout in Malaysia, and Ramadan bazaars. Image Credit: IZWAN IS / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, we learned that the Federal government will return the administration of two islands, Sipadan and Ligitan, to Sabah, while also giving Sarawak full control of its gas distribution. Are substantial steps towards MA63 or just cosmetic? We speak to Dr. Firdausi Suffian, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at UiTM Sabah, to find out, and get the lay of the land of East and West Malaysia politics. Additionally, we attempt to pin down the technical difference between classifying the states as "negeri" vs "wilayah". Image credit: Leo Altman / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, we learned that the Federal government will return the administration of two islands, Sipadan and Ligitan, to Sabah, while also giving Sarawak full control of its gas distribution. Are substantial steps towards MA63 or just cosmetic? We speak to Dr. Firdausi Suffian, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at UiTM Sabah, to find out, and get the lay of the land of East and West Malaysia politics. Additionally, we attempt to pin down the technical difference between classifying the states as "negeri" vs "wilayah". Image Credit: IZWAN IS / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Joe Biden is looking to plug the gap in semiconductor production in the US while China is likewise aiming for self-sufficiency. The trade war is a tech war. Abishur Prakash, Geopolitical Futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future discusses the dynamics of the semiconductor industry and how Southeast Asian countries should navigate between these two superpowers. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As DAP heads towards its party elections in a couple of months, Adib Zalkapli, Director at Bower Group Asia discusses succession, the party’s reputation as a Chinese chauvinist, and if it can succeed in attracting more Malay members and voters. Image Credit: Gwoeii | Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tender for the MRT3 Circle Line is expected to be opened by August, this year. The ultimate cost of the project is as yet unclear, but reports have emerged that MRT Corp is also considering a private funding arrangement of around 10-30%. We speak to Pankaj C. Kumar, Financial market columnist and a former chief investment officer, about the feasibility of this plan. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dale Fisher, Professor of Infectious Diseases, National University of Singapore discusses the implications of pausing the use of certain vaccines like the ones by Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca, and the criteria that could guide governments in deciding which to drop. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Hoe Lee Leng, Regional Plantation Sector Head from RHB Research about rising CPO prices, demands from India and China, and risks in the industry. We also ask her about her top picks for the palm oil sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Hoe Lee Leng, Regional Plantation Sector Head from RHB Research about rising CPO prices, demands from India and China, and risks in the industry. We also ask her about her top picks for the palm oil sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that federal government doesn’t have much money left after spending for budget and stimulus packages. Did we really spend 600 billion ringgit? We look into this matter with Sri Murniati Yusuf, Research Manager from Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Image credit: MUHAMMAD IZZAT TERMIZIE / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Philippines continues to report a new wave of Covid 19 cases while vaccination rollout has been slow to take off. Cleve Arguelles, doctorate candidate at the Department of Political and Social Change, Australian National University discusses the difficulties in fighting the pandemic, and the government’s response. Image Credit:EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of Covid-19 cases in schools, Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Internal Medicine Specialist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur discusses the most optimal response, the pace of vaccination, and if Malaysians are becoming too complacent. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world's largest vaccination campaign gets underway, it has become apparent that progress across different countries is uneven, to say the least. Some reports suggest wealthier nations will be vaccinated as much as 25 times faster than poorer ones. We speak to X for more insight into the pace and trajectory of the current rollouts, and the economic implications which could arise. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's Welfare Department celebrated its 75th Anniversary this week with several policy measures to strengthen its services. We speak to Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Norma Mansor, Director of Social Wellbeing Research Centre of Universiti Malaya for her thoughts on our social protection landscape, and what the system needs to survive another 75 years. Image Credit: Ham_Hassan / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.