Morning Brief

James Dorsey, Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies & the Middle East Institute, helps us understand why countries in the Gulf area are restoring relations with Qatar now, and the limitations faced by incoming President Joe Biden in managing Middle Eastern affairs thanks to Trump’s actions. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the reintroduction of the Movement Control Order (MCO) last week, the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office released a statement saying all trials and hearings of criminal cases during this time are to be postponed. We speak to Salim Bashir, President of the Malaysian Bar, about how the MCO has affected law firms ant the industry, as well as the challenges of conducting cases over virtual platforms. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the public healthcare system at breaking point and Covid-19 cases rising in the country, calls have once again come for the private healthcare sector to take more of an active role in the coronavirus fight. After this week's announcement of a national state of emergency, in which the government could potentially nationalise private hospital assets and resources, we speak to Dr Kuljit Singh, President of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia, to find out what private healthcare is already doing, and what more needs to be done. Image Credit: Nanausop / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump's term in office has been marked by an escalation in tensions between the US and China. Now that Joe Biden is poised to take over the White House next week, and with the recent surprise release of Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy, we speak to Dr Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, for his thoughts on whether the Trump administration achieved its objectives in reducing China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Geoffrey Williams, Professor at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST), discusses the reasons why Malaysia is losing out in FDI compared to Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. He calls on the government to refresh its attitude towards foreign investors and to drop protectionist measures. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The declaration of a state of emergency yesterday caught many Malaysians by surprise. Critics have raised concerns that there were ulterior motives to this move, so we reached out to political commentator Dr Bridget Welsh for insight into the political implications of the emergency. Image Credit: Abdul Razak Latif / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commodity prices have staged a strong rally since the third quarter of 2020, and in particular, food components have seen strong price increases rather than energy commodities like oil or coal. Is this a cause for concern over inflation or a positive sign for ASEAN economies? The Morning Run speaks with Lee Ju Ye, Economist at Maybank Kim Eng, to find out. Other related interviews: - Sime Darby Plantation Claims Accusations Are "Absolutely False" - Palm Oil Charting New Highs In 2021?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry and DAP lawmaker, Dr Ong Kian Ming, weighs in on how the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic could be improved, including whether it was necessary to declare an emergency and also its implications on investor sentiment. Image Credit: mokjc / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has been put under a state of emergency until August 1st, or until such a time as the Covid-19 pandemic comes under control. Bersatu leaders have since come out to defend the decision, insisting the priority is to tackle the healthcare crisis, and not the volatile political situation. We speak to Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Information Chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, to get the full story. Image Credit: YuriAbas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laurence Todd, Director of Research and Development at IDEAS, comments on the implications of the impending MCO and how else the government can better support businesses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's majority support in the Dewan Rakyat has come under pressure with the withdrawal of Machang MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub. As UMNO is also slated to discuss breaking with Bersatu at its general assembly at the end of the month, and with the second Movement Control Order newly-declared, we speak to Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow at the Ilham Centre. Image Credit: NAUFAL ZAQUAN / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Senior Fellow at the Miller Center, University of Virginia, discusses moves to remove Donald Trump, why impeachment is important even if it may not be achieved by 20th January, how recent events will change the Republican Party, and the risk of escalating violence. Image Credit: vasilis asvestas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining palm oil and products from Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries, following allegations of forced labour. Do these allegations hold any truth? The Morning Run speaks to Haris Arshad, Managing Director of Sime Darby Oils, Sime Darby Plantation’s downstream arm, to find out. We also ask him about reputation and earnings risk from this, as well as concerns of whether this could spread to other regions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the ROS has rejected MUDA's application to become a political party, what are the movement's next steps? Do they still intend to contest in GE15? The Morning Run speaks to MUDA Co-founder and Muar MP Syed Saddiq about this, as well as his views on reaching across party lines to form a government and his thoughts on GE15. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, Japan declared a state of emergency in the wider Tokyo region, in order to bring the drastic rise in Covid-19 cases under control. But will this soft lockdown be effective in bringing down case numbers? We speak to Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Senior Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, to find out more. Image Credit: image_vulture / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce new MCO measures today. We speak to Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of Malaysian Employers Federation, on their concerns and alternative measures to a tighter MCO. Image Credit: Abdul Razak Latif / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Record daily cases and a public healthcare system at breaking point has Malaysians once again on the back foot. Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Health, Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, discusses measures, advice to the PM, vaccinations and immunity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With daily cases rising alarmingly in Malaysia, we speak to Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy, on whether public healthcare is stretched and whether tighter restrictions would help bring the infection numbers down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days into the new year and Bitcoin is leading a surge in the cryptocurrency market. TM Lee, Founder of CoinGecko, discusses the reasons behind the rally and whether Bitcoin will ever hit the mainstream.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Floods are an annual affair in Malaysia, displacing thousands and with devastating consequences for those affected. Dato' Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President of MERCY Malaysia, tells us what the situation on the ground is like, what state governments are doing and whether Covid-19 further complicate issues. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Merdeka Center survey recently showed that most Barisan Nasional supporters want Umno to remain part of the Perikatan Nasional government. But ties between Umno and splinter party Bersatu have become strained of late, and questions have arisen over potential partnerships that Umno may forge as it positions itself for GE15. We speak to Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director at the Merdeka Centre, for more insight. Image Credit: Aisyaqilumaranas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News of the Georgia runoffs was eclipsed by the siege at the US Congress after a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building and forced the debate on President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College to be suspended. Robert Shapiro, Professor of Government at Columbia University, tells us what happened and the impact that it might have on the Republican party while weighing in on what priorities a Biden administration might have, now that the Democrats have control over the Senate. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) will be fierce this year, as every economy strives to chart a sustainable path to recovery in the wake of the pandemic. But there are concerns that Malaysia is falling behind in terms of attracting FDI, both in long-term and short-term investments. We discuss Malaysia’s comparative advantage (or lack thereof) compared to regional peers with Firdaos Rosli, Head of Economic Research at the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad(MARC). Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent cancellation of the High-Speed Rail project connecting Kuala Lumpur to Singapore has raised questions over the conduct and transparency of megaprojects here in the country. Mixed messages, opaque governance, and political appointments to the GLCs surrounding these projects do not make matters easier, so we reached out to Tricia Yeoh, CEO of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs, to weigh in on the matter. Image Credit: MyHSR CorporationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2020 saw a record number of sovereign rating downgrades by Fitch Ratings. James McCormack, their Global Head of Sovereign Ratings, tells us the reason for this and their outlook for global recovery in 2021. Image Credit: Willy Barton / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reports have filtered in this week that two of Indonesia's biggest tech startups are looking to tie the knot. Ride-hailing and payments player Gojek and local e-commerce platform Tokopedia are said to be in merger talks, which could create a company valued at as much as $18 billion. We speak to Varun Mittal, Global Emerging Markets FinTech Leader at EY, about what both sides stand to gain from this, as well as what Tokopedia might bring to the table for Gojek that Grab does not. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sarawak state election is expected to take place this year. Frequent political commentator James Chin weighs in on the evolving contesting coalitions, issues that will take centre stage, and the feasibility of holding GE15 this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2021 is poised to be a year of recovery for many industries, but the fact remains that the pandemic will continue to be a challenge for most people and businesses. To find out the outlook for SMEs and the challenges ahead, we speak with Datuk Michael Kang, President of the SME Association of Malaysia. Image Credit: Aisyaqilumaranas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices have recovered from the lows seen back in April last year when Brent fell to US$16 per barrel, while WTI hit negative US$40. The price crash resulted in OPEC instituting the biggest production cuts in history, slashing 10 million barrels of oil per day. But in 2021, will OPEC continue to maintain its production cuts, and what is the outlook for oil prices? Yong-Liang Por, Consultant at Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis (IEEFA), tells us. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The digital divide has grown larger this past year, with so many children unable to physically attend school. Now that the government has announced that schools will reopen in the country over the first quarter of the year, we ask Chan Soon Seng, CEO of Teach For Malaysia, about the feasibility of this move, as well as whether parents, students, and teachers will be able to cope. Image Credit: Mhilmi Osman / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a decade of expansion in the global automotive industry to a staggering halt, resulting in widespread plant closures and job losses. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) predicts double-digit growth for the sector, but can it make up for the losses seen in 2020? To find out, we speak with Arushi Kotecha, Research Analyst at the EIU. Image Credit: seyephoto / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project is officially off the table after an agreement failed to materialise between both countries. P. Gunasegaram, Editorial Consultant for the news portal The Vibes, gives us his views on whether the HSR is viable and if it should continue if the line stops in Johor, or if the funds can be put to better use. Image Credit: FreshStock / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Securities Commission has issued a new guidance note to clarify what constitutes legal and licensed investment advice. Linnet Lee, CEO of the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM), weighs in on this and highlights what to look out for when seeking investment advice. Image Credit: William Potter / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The continued SST exemption is good for the car industry, but for how long? What are structural issues that need to be addressed to spur the industry in the long-term? The Morning Run speaks to Daniel Fernandez, founder of automotive news website dsf.my and co-host of BFM's Cruise Control, about this. We also get into the key trends and biggest winners from the SST exemption, as well as Daniel's outlook for 2021. Image Credit: Mikbiz / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Gasiorek, Professor of Economics at Sussex University, discusses the merits of the Brexit deal and ensuing negotiations for the financial services industry to give UK banks equivalent access to the EU market. Image Credit: Melinda Nagy / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The live events industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Iqbal Ameer, CEO of Livescape Group, pleas for the government to allow live events and assures that SOP measures can be followed. Image Credit: Sheng Lee / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lockdowns and a pandemic have left both students and teachers in the lurch, trying to adapt to online learning and with no certainty of when national exams will take place. And with borders still shut, private higher education institutions have also been unable to tap the international student market. How will these universities survive the coming year ahead? To find out, we speak to Geoffrey Williams, Professor at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology, and a frequent commentator on issues surrounding the education sector. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities think that tech will gain 23% in 2021? Find out with The Morning Run on this episode of Market Watch. They get into the justification for Apple's valuation and autonomous ambitions, who will win in the ongoing cloud war between Amazon and Microsoft, whether Big Tech will have to change its business model under increased regulatory scrutiny, and the overlooked tech gems he's watching in 2021. Image Credit: Koshiro K / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were 18 IPOs in Malaysia this year, down from last year’s record number of 30. Wong Kar Choon, Disruptive Events Advisory Leader at Deloitte Malaysia, reviews the IPOs and his outlook for 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Lim, Asia Consumer Senior Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses retail trends in 2021 - what are the new trends, and who are the gainers and losers? Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selangor has been the hotbed for Covid-19 infections. Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, former Minister of Health and Chair of the Selangor Task Force on Covid-19, discusses responses, other potential vulnerabilities, and vaccine distribution in the state. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prior to Covid-19, the property sector here in Malaysia was already looking sluggish. As soon as the pandemic hit, many Malaysians had to rethink plans, including future purchases and operation of retail spaces. Will this continue into 2021? To find out, we speak to Siva Shanker, CEO of the Real Estate Agency at Rahim & Co International.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanah seems to be positioning itself as the peacemaker within the opposition. Is this a sustainable strategy, or will they eventually be made to choose sides, given the current factions in the opposition? We speak to Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow at the Ilham Centre, for his thoughts here. He also gives us his assessment of Amanah's leadership and strength in the wider political landscape, as well as his political outlook for 2021. Image Credit: Fadzil Yahaya / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Kiernan, Lead Analyst for Energy at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), discusses his predictions for the energy sector and milestones to look out for like the Glasgow Climate Change Conference in November 2021. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been many things for businesses to worry about this year, from the onset of a pandemic to a sudden change of government. Going into 2021, what are these business owners worried about? We reached out to Professor Mahendhiran Nair, Professor of Public Policy Engagement and Econometrics with the School of Business at Monash University Malaysia, to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has launched its National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 with the aim of ensuring the continuity of the country's tourism industry, as well as bringing back Malaysia as the preferred tourism destination at a global level. But is this policy the solution? Nigel Wong, Honorary Secretary General of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), tells us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlike in the 2008 financial crisis, the financial sector has weathered the economic turbulence wrought by Covid-19 relatively well. However, the EIU predicts a challenging outlook for the sector in 2021, in light of ultra-low interest rates as well as mounting defaults by businesses and households. We discuss the forecast with lead analyst Steven Leslie. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has been in talks with various pharmaceutical companies on the vaccine procurement, but is there sufficient scrutiny of the process? Kelvin Yii, MP for Kuching and a member of the parliamentary select committee on health, science and innovation, weighs in on this, as well as what further transparency measures he hopes to see. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

90 days after submitting its registration application to the Registrar of Societies (RoS), the status of Syed Saddiq’s Malaysian United Democratic Alliance party (MUDA) remains in limbo. This week, MUDA said that it would launch legal action to compel the RoS to register the party if a decision was not forthcoming in 7 days. We speak to lawyer and co-founder Lim Wei Jiet for MUDA’s perspective on the registration delay, and we also discuss barriers to the formation of political parties in the country. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glove makers have been one of the biggest corporate winners in the Covid-19 pandemic. But while they’re raking in profits, the pandemic has also revealed their failings in upholding employee safety and human rights. Top Glove's managing director, Dato' Lee Kim Meow, joins us to respond to allegations of worker mistreatment and poor employee accommodation. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.