Morning Brief

Sabah’s Bersatu Chief Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor was unanimously elected by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah alliance yesterday as the new Chief Minister of Sabah. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives a glimpse of what to expect of his leadership. He also gives us his views on the dynamics between Bersatu and Umno especially since the former has fewer seats in Parliament. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all gaming companies will recover from the pandemic in the same way. But who gets to go first? And which ones are best-placed? Erlin Salim, Director, Fitch Ratings, explains. Image Credit: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah is Malaysia's newest pandemic epicenter, so what are health professionals and the govt doing about it? Dr Khor Swee Kheng, Health Policy Specialist, discusses. Image Credit: Abdul Razak Latif / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a closely contested state election, the opposition coalition of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) emerged as victor, winning 38 out of 73 seats at stake. Political analyst Dr. Bridget Welsh discusses the factors that tipped the scale to GRS' favor, and the ongoing tussle for the post of Chief Minister. She also warns that the tight results indicate a period of instability for Sabah politics. Image Credit: Ekahardiwito / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As economies reopen and businesses resume from the widespread lockdowns in the second quarter, what is the pace of recovery for the ASEAN-6 countries? Chua Hak Bin, Senior Economist at Maybank Kim Eng weighs in on the efficacy of regional stimulus policies, and the economic impact of a potential vaccine. Image Credit: YuriAbas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After clinching a simple majority victory win on Saturday’s Sabah state election, there seems to be a stalemate now in the discussions for the position of Sabah Chief Minister within the winning Gabungan Rakyat Sabah alliance. We speak to political commentator Professor James Chin for his views on why support for Warisan withered in Sabah, how this affect's Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin's rule and what's next for the new state government.  Augustine Bin Jumat / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who will win when Sabah votes tomorrow? With 447 candidates contesting 73 seats, with some fierce 9 to 11 corner fights, tomorrow's election promises to be an interesting one. For an understanding of Sabah politics, a look at how peninsular politics plays into it, and who is expected to win, we speak to James Chin. Image credit: Dolly MJ / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK has introduced further measures to cushion the economic blow of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the country heads into a fearful winter. This comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed fresh curbs on the public just this week. If the Bank of England deploys another round of monetary stimulus at its upcoming November meeting, will this be enough to keep the UK afloat? Image credit: Loveandrock / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palm oil futures topped RM3000 last week, as economies reopened and demand for the commodity recovered. However, the sector still isn't out of the woods. We speak to Alvin Tai, Soft Commodity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, about whether there is still an upside to palm oil. Image credit: Mohd Erwin / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared yesterday that he has majority support from MPs to seize control of Putrajaya. While the PKR President is still waiting to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, we reached out to Dr Hamidin Abdul Hamid, Research Fellow at the Ilham Centre, to help us answer some of the many questions we now have, most importantly: what comes next? Image credit: YuriAbas / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and affiliated media organizations issued a series of reports on how financial institutions were allegedly facilitating suspicious money flows amounting to more than 2 trillion US dollars. Several Malaysian banks were also mentioned. Thorsten Beck, Professor of Banking and Finance, at The Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London helps us understand what banks are obliged to do under such circumstances, and possible policy responses if any. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid 19 turned out to be the black swan event for 2020. A virus that shut down most of the world as the race to flatten the pandemic curve became a priority.With that, companies scrambled to adapt, making the need to transform especially on the digital front a priority so as to be able to work remotely and continue with operations.But what were some of the gaps? What did businesses find they needed the most? To help us answer that question, we’re touching base with a company that has been investing in digital transformation. Image Credit: AngieYeoh / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than 10% of the candidates fielded in the upcoming Sabah state elections are women. Nurul Izzah Anwar, MP of Permatang Pauh explains why it is so difficult for women to rise in politics. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump is expected to nominate an ideologically conservative successor to the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Senior Fellow with the University of Virginia, discusses the implications. Image credit: bakdc / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After spending most of last year being the most unloved market in ASEAN, Malaysian equities have outperformed regional peers this year with only a year-to-date decline of 5%, versus the likes of Indonesia and Singapore which are down by more than 20%. That said, can the KLCI continue to outperform? Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month, a bipartisan parliamentary caucus headed by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was formed, to look into ways to end the “party hopping” culture in Malaysian politics. The current proposal put forth by Nazri Aziz is for Parliament to amend the Election Commission Act 1957 and enforce a party-list system, in which voters would elect parties rather than individuals. Nazri says that amending an Act of Parliament would be easier, as it requires only a simple majority to pass. That said not all legal commentators are convinced that this should be the way forward, with some stating that a constitutional amendment would still be necessary. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew MacGregor Marshall, Journalist and Author of “A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand’s Struggle for Democracy in the 21st Century” discusses the protests against the monarchy and how it might end. Image credit: Blanscape / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, a concrete wall slab from a construction fell and hit a car along the MRR2. This is not the first such accident due to construction works. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman, Alliance for Safe Community discusses why these accidents continue to happen, and what the government could do to promote higher safety standards. Image Credit: Alexiushan / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue tracking Sabah politics as the state heads for election on 26 Sep. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs discusses themes and hot seats, and thinks the elections will not stop “frogging” as long as there is no anti-party-hopping law. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a report by Fitch Ratings, spending on 5G will increase over the next two years but the tough economic environment will delay economic returns. The report noted that the pandemic’s effects on 5G will be short-lived as diverging capex patterns have emerged during the pandemic, with 5G priorities advancing in countries like South Korea, China, Singapore and the US. So what does this mean for the rollout of 5G in the Asia Pacific region?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawati Abdul Hamid, Senior Research Associate, at Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) estimates that informal employees form about 17% of the workforce, and more could be done to encourage them with little safety net (the “precariats”) to contribute to existing social protection schemes. For example, EPF estimates that only less than 10% of 2.7 million self-employed Malaysians are contributing to i-Saraan, and out of that, only 18% contribute consistently. Image Credit: TZIDO SUN / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After stopping work for several months during the Movement Control Order, the construction industry is once again grinding to life- but time is money, and how much have they lost in the interim? Crest Builder Holdings is one such player who fell into the red as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, but have they managed to pull themselves up now that work has recommenced? How will their existing projects fare, as consumer demand shifts? All this and more on the Breakfast Grille with Eric Yong, Managing Director of Crest Builder Holdings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taps in Klang Valley recently ran dry because of pollution in Sungai Gong that caused the shutdown of water treatment plants in Selangor. In response, the Government is forming a special task force to deal with environmental crimes. Kiu Jia Yaw, Co-Chair of Bar Council Environmental and Climate Change Committee tell us what is lacking in the current laws and is enforcement is more important?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Kantrowitz, the Chief Investment Strategist of Cornerstone Macro, discusses the so-called K-shaped recovery, which describes the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Image credit: Travis Wolfe / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's new National Digital Infrastructure Plan known as 'Jendela' intends to be a blueprint for Malaysia’s transition towards 5G technology and high-quality broadband. Question is: will all Malaysians benefit equally from this progress? And how do we ensure equitable access to connectivity? Dr. Rachel Gong, Senior Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute, discusses. Image credit: Thomas Jensen on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57 years have passed since the union between Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. But with many of the issues laid out in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 yet to be resolved and the political situation still in a state of flux, it’s more important than ever before to understand the federal-state relations with East Malaysia. Tricia Yeoh, CEO, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), discusses. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's unveiling of a Perikatan-led opposition manifesto for the state of Sabah, called ‘Aku Janji’, focuses on reviving the state’s economy, state rights, infrastructure, employment, prosperity and health. But will this opposition manifesto appeal to Sabahans? Dr Azmil Tayeb, political scientist, Universiti Sains Malaysia, dicusses. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Subscription services are the new battlefield in the tech world as Apple attempts to monetise its database of loyal customers even further. However this will put it in conflict with Amazon and the battle to reign supreme is expected to heat up. Daniel Ives, Managing Director for Equities Research, at Wedbush Securities gives us his views while discussing Oracle's winning bid for Tik Tok. Image credit Worawee Meepian / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government wants to standardise regulations and taxes for hotels and Airbnb operators. For an industry ravaged by Covid-19, these developments can't come any earlier. Yap Lip Seng, CEO, Malaysian Association of Hotels, discusses. Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brexit negotiation have started in earnest as the 15 October deadline fast approaches. Michael Gasiorek, Professor of Economics at Sussex University tell us whether UK-EU trade negotiations have been thrown into turmoil over UK Internal Market Bill and what it means for the British economy if no deal is reached. Image Credit: Ink Drop / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Sabah elections hogging the limelight, PAS has been noticeably absent from the headlines. Adib Zalkapli, a director of the Asia-Pacific strategic advisory firm BowerGroupAsia, discusses the party’s standing future with its allies, Perikatan Nasional and Muafakat Nasional. Harris Hamdan / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Budget 2021 set to be tabled in November, will we see a revival of the mega-projects to pump prime the economy? Loong Chee Wei, Senior Associate Director at Affin Hwang Investment Bank tells us who stands to benefit and what projects we can expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah nominations were announced with some surprises. Dr Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute tells us the significance of nomination day and what does this say about Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and also Warisan Plus. She also weighs in on the fact that this time round, the outcome is too close to call and the campaign period is of particular importance this time. Image Credit: Augustine Bin Jumat / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masayoshi's Son's Softbank is hard on the M&A trail, reportedly revisiting plans to go private, even as it considers selling ARM to NVidia while exhorting another investee, Grab, to merge with GoJek, its super-app rival. Image Credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masayoshi's Son's Softbank is hard on the M&A trail, reportedly revisiting plans to go private, even as it considers selling ARM to NVidia while exhorting another investee, Grab, to merge with GoJek, its super-app rival. Image Credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) decided to maintain Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 1.75%. The global economy continues to improve but some sectors lag such as the services sector. The overall economy is still subject to downside risks and uncertainty, primarily due to the risk of a resurgence of the pandemic and weaker labour market conditions, according to BNM’s statement. Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOB Malaysia helps us look ahead and whether she expects further rate cut and her concerns about unemployment. Image Credit: Ismail Sadiron / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, SoftBank's market value fell by about $9 billion after the Financial Times broke news that the Japanese tech investor was the so-called “Nasdaq whale” that drove the US stock market to record highs in recent months. SoftBank had reportedly spent about $4 billion on options focused on tech stocks with an overall exposure of about $30 billion. However, some analysts say it can’t attribute the overall market impact solely to SoftBank. For a better understanding of this and how it all works, we spoke to Ed Clissold, Chief U.S. Strategist at Ned Davis Research. Image Credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the run up to Sabah’s state elections, political parties have been aggressively jockeying for seats. Yesterday we saw some surprising developments like the re-fielding of former chief minister Salleh Keruak. Dr Hamidin Abd Hamid, Research Fellow at Ilham Center helps us understand the messy, high stakes politics in Sabah as its elections might be a barometer of voter sentiment towards the Perikatan Nasional led government. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A visit by China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe to countries in the Southeast Asian region has raised concerns over what China's strategy is to allay tensions in the South China Sea. We speak to Ridzwan Rahmat, Principle Defence Analyst at Janes, an open-source defence intelligence company, for his thoughts on the timing of the visit, and how it will impact the upcoming ASEAN Summit, where US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be in attendance. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the latest Merdeka Centre survey saw Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin receiving a 69% approval rating for his performance so far, there are doubts about the long-term future of his party, Bersatu. Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs discusses the issues faced by the party to regain political legitimacy. Image Credit: ShuttlestockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the closure of national borders, businesses that cater to Singaporeans are struggling in Johor. Jeffrey Goh, a Johor Committee Member of the SME Association of Malaysia paints a dire picture. Podcast image credit: Lisa_AH / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The redevelopment of KL city has given rise to concerns over the relocation of residents living in the designated areas. Seeing as renters sometimes find themselves in difficult situations when government-owned land becomes due for redevelopment, we speak to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa, on the challenges of managing residents involved in a redevelopment. Image Credit: Hafiz Johari / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Ng, Asia-Pacific Economist, Natixis explains China’s dual circulation strategy of spurring Chinese self-reliance, and its impact on global supply chains and on countries like Malaysia that exports heavily to China. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said that the government is planning to impose a new service tax for online shopping at a rate of about 0.02%. Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education and Senior Fellow at IDEAS is not in favour of the move and discusses alternatives for the government to generate more revenue. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With longer working hours becoming the norm and increase women's participation in the workforce, eating out has become an important element of life regardless of income level. However, the fact that the recently-revised Poverty Line Income does not take into account the rising cost of eating out, questions have been raised in a Khazanah Research Institute paper over whether absolute poverty levels have been underestimated as a result. We speak to Christopher Choong, Deputy Director of Research at the Khazanah Research Institute, for more insight. Image credit: Lano Lan / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more people work from home, experts are questioning the need for populations to congregate in big cities. Richard Holt, Head of Global Cities Research, Oxford Economics tells if he expects an exodus of people migrating to smaller cities and towns. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political parties are jockeying for seats in the run up to Sabah’s state elections, and while Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s Warisan is expected to win, Professor James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania says it is still too early to tell. Nomination day is on 12th September. Image Credit: Dolly MJ / ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syed Azmi Alhabshi, social activist at Persatuan Untuk Anak Kita (PUAKPayong) discusses the merits and downside of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal to give monthly social aid of RM1,000. Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several proposed changes to the central bank law in Indonesia have raised concerns amongst investors, over the prospect of government ministers having voting rights and monetary policy meetings. Other recommendations include expanding Bank Indonesia's mandate to cover economic growth and employment, in addition to managing the value o the rupiah. To give us a picture of why these proposals are being put forward at this point in time, we speak to Marissa Abdul Rahman, Executive in Research and Advisory at KRA Group. Image credit: Odua Images/ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unscheduled water cuts since last Thursday due to pollution have affected over 1,200 areas in the Klang Valley causing unnecessary hardship for people and businesses. Charles Santiago, Klang MP and former Chairman, SPAN (National Water Service Commission) discusses the weaknesses in Selangor’s water system, and what needs to be done to deter future water pollution and water cuts. Image credit: fitri iskandar zakariah / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.