Morning Brief

As tensions between Umno and Bersatu rise, will we see any resolution or will we see more drastic developments? Suggestions have been made that Bersatu members should just join with Umno while others have called for Bersatu to rejoin the Pakatan Harapan coalition. Helping us to unpack this is Dr Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel has been halted all over the world, forcing airlines and aerospace players to dramatically cut costs and even lay off thousands of employees. Many suggest that the industry will fundamentally change because of COVID-19. So what will the new normal look like for the industry?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister announced an easing of restrictions in which a number of economic sectors were allowed to be open today onwards under a conditional MCO. Malaysians have been split about their views on the conditional MCO fearing a rise in Covid-19 infection rates with several state governments opting out from this conditional MCO. Focus Malaysia's P Gunasegaram gives us his take.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China was the first country to go into a lockdown early this year and was also the first to emerge but can their economy restart? Gary Ng, Asia Pacific Economist at Natixis tells us what are the issues they face and the policy options available. He also tells us what we can expect at the important National People's Congress that will meet in May, where President Xi is likely to restate China's economic growth and future direction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alvin Tai, Soft Commodity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence warns that palm oil prices are correlated to oil and explains why. He also gives his view on CPO price direction based on supply-demand conditions and who among the regional planters are in the best position to come out unscathed from the Covid 19 crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the first day of the conditional movement control order, The Morning Run crew goes over what the biggest changes are, as well which individual states are diverging from the federal government's guidelines in order to maintain stricter controls. Also, Bank Negara Malaysia made a clarification on its loan moratoriums which drew much ire on social media over the weekend as well as other top business headlines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the impact of COVID-19 continues to take grip on the economy, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) has forecasted that 2.4 million Malaysians may lose their jobs. This means we could see unemployment spike to as much as 15%. We speak to Dr. Niaz Asadullah about which groups are more vulnerable to the effects of unemployment than others, as well as what measures the government needs to take in order to cushion this blow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite a population of 95 million people, Vietnam has just under 300 cases of Covid-19. Dr Le Hong Hiep, a Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute explains how the country achieved this feat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lilianne Fan, Co-Founder & International Director, Geutanyoe Foundation, and Chairperson, Rohingya Working Group, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network makes the case for treating Rohingya refugees with more humanity and discusses possible solutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lilianne Fan, Co-Founder & International Director, Geutanyoe Foundation, and Chairperson, Rohingya Working Group, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network makes the case for treating Rohingya refugees with more humanity and discusses possible solutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Cheng Kiat, President of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) says the government should scrap the approval process for businesses to operate as it is taking too long, and just do spot checks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US GDP in the first quarter of of -4.8%, China's $42b bank-dividend bonanza and a global central bank gold buying frenzy hog the international headlines. The Morning Run crew spill the beans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Bar has called on the government to provide leeway to law firms to operate during the MCO. Earlier this month, de facto law minister Dato’ Takiyuddin Hassan had asked law firms not to reopen during the MCO where all non-essential activities have to be paused. Law firms as a category by itself have not been classified as essential services by the Health Ministry or by MITI. However law services can resume where they are part of certain other sectors that have been permitted to operate by MITI. We speak to Salim for a clearer picture on how the MCO is impacting the legal sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and also discusses sectors reopening under the MCO, New Zealand declaring victory over COVID-19 and rollercoaster oil prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the glaring absence of Kim Jong Un from the public eye, speculation is rife that the North Korean leader might be ill or worse. Dr. Hoo Chiew-Ping, Senior Lecturer, National University of Malaysia (UKM), discusses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should investors be putting their money into debt securities? And what’s the outlook for Malaysia’s bond market as foreign funds pull out from emerging markets, and the potential of a sovereign downgrade? Jesse Liew, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Fixed Income, Principal Asset Management discusses these questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bringing you the morning headlines on Covid-19, SMEs running out of cash, a Deputy Minister being charged in court for breaking MCO rules, and don’t swim near the Singapore coastline.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lives of the B40 have been most affected by Covid-19 and the subsequent MCO which is now into phase 4. With many unable to work, basic necessities have become a luxury few can afford. To help, the government was supposed to distribute food packages via the social welfare department however there have been some confusion here. For more on this we speak to YB Fahmi for his view on the matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Berezin, Chief Global Investment Strategist, BCA Research talks about where he’d put his money now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of a global pandemic and stalled economy, Malaysia is stuck in limbo thanks to a Perikatan govt that is demonstrably at sea, worsened by a dislodged Pakatan coalition that remains shell-shocked, says Malaysian Insight CEO, Jahabar Sadiq.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and also discusses Thailand's falling tourism, Singapore's COVID-19 infections, central banks meeting this week and Facebook launching a Zoom rival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent TV interview, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin chose not to comment on politics, preferring to focus on the fight against Covid-19. Wong Chin Huat, political scientist, at Sunway University, tells us what he thinks of this comment as political machinations have produced the politically weakest government Malaysia has ever had. Wong also thinks the opposition needs to step up and do more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian property stakeholders are bracing for the unavoidable economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the property sector. Prior to the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the pandemic, property sales for residential and commercial were already slow amid a mismatch between supply and demand although affordable housing was still a growing segment. So how bad will the fallout be for the property sector, and how far off is the light at the end of the tunnel?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The presence of China’s warships in the resource-rich South China Sea is increasingly cause for concern, more so with the absence of America from its waters. Ridzwan Rahmat, Principal Defence Analyst, Jane's by IHS Markit, discusses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite being one of the regions worst hit by the pandemic, there has been a frustrating lack of unity among European Union members in handling the economic fallout from the crisis. Simon Baptist, Global Chief Economist from The Economist Intelligence Unit tells us whether there is going to be a resolution to this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahmad Yazid Othman, CEO of the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) tells us why he opposes political appointments at GLCs but acknowledges that moving away from it, will be a challenge as this has been practised since our independence. He also weighs in what sectors should be allowed to operate in phase 4 of the MCO as revival of the economy is critical.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the movement control order extended to mid-May, 2020's Ramadhan month will be unlike any other. Nurliyana Yahaya, Manager at Nielsen Commercial and Thought Leadership joins us in discussing how consumer behaviour has changed amid the festive season during this MCO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the MCO will be extended until May 12th. We go through some of the key points of his speech and what does this mean for the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coronavirus outbreak has hit economies around the world hard, and Malaysia is no exception. But with these new parameters, should the Shared Prosperity Vision mooted by the previous government be reconfigured to meet the current circumstances? For some insight, we speak to Nizam Mahshar, CEO of Institut Masa Depan Malaysia, about the SPV2030 plan, and how it can be adapted to help weather the economic crisis particularly for the most vulnerable in society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Commission is floating a 2 trillion-euro plan for economic recovery but will 27 countries agree? Or will the rich Northern states still say no to their poorer Southern neighbors?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With some countries starting to ease their lockdown restrictions, we speak to Miquel Oliu-Barton, Associate Professor, at the Université Paris Dauphine and Bary Pradelski, Associate Member, Oxford-Man Institute at University of Oxford to see if mathematical modeling based on red and green zones is a viable option.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Singapore struggles with a surge in coronavirus cases, stemming from it foreign worker communities, we ask the question if Malaysia is doing enough to restrict the spread of the virus within our own migrant communities? For insight, we speak to Dr. Tharani Loganathan, Public Health Medicine Specialist at Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Medicine, for her thoughts on migrants' access to healthcare, and other barriers that stop migrant workers from seeking the help they need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has managed to keep infection rates down by closing its borders early but the continuous 28 years of growth has now ended. The government has responded by announcing the most aggressive stimulus last seen in WWII. So we speak to Catherine Birch, Senior Economist, at ANZ Research to find out if this is enough and what other plans the Australian government has to cushion itself from falling commodity prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peck Boon Soon, Chief Economist at RHB Investment Bank tells us the importance of oil revenue to the country while giving us the lowdown on the ability of the government to repriorities expenditure. He also weighs in what should the government's strategy should be to revive the economy in the post MCO era.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10:11 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly undergone cardiovascular surgery, throwing the country's succession plans into the limelight. 15:23 - Singapore has extended its Circuit Breaker until June 1st. 19:15 - Oil prices have edged higher, following the collapse seen earlier this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The decision to hold Malaysia's first parliamentary sitting of the year for only one day - on May 18th, has drawn much criticism. In light of that, we speak to Lim Wei Jiet, Constitutional lawyer, about whether this will fulfil the constitutional recommendation for Parliament to meet every six months, and if it violates the spirit of the law itself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trouble continues to brew in Hong Kong as more people are arrested over pro-democracy protests while its unemployment rose to the highest level in nearly a decade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Health Organisation has released guidelines for countries looking to end extended lockdowns and ease restrictions. But as the conversation turns to a post-coronavirus world, the question still remains of whether we're ready to return to business as usual. For more on this, we speak to Benjamin Cowling, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Hong Kong, about current country responses to the virus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mohamed Zamri Mohammed, Secretary General, Federation of Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Association of Malaysia tells us why Ramadhan Bazaars are so important from an income perspective, especially for the many petty traders or Makcik Kiahs. He also tells us what initiatives have been provided as alternatives, including e-commerce platforms and whether they are viable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Germany starting to open up while Spain and Italy continue their lockdown, we ask what model is the best way forward as questions still remain over the trade off between life, health and the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook is confident that Apple will be able to come out of the global pandemic strong, much as it did after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and near-bankruptcy in the 1990s. Poised as the company is on the tip of a super-cycle, we speak to Daniel Ives, Managing Director for Equities Research at Wedbush Securities, about Apple's supply chain, efforts to monetize their services segment, and whether or not consumers will have the appetite for their more expensive products in a post-Covid world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 has affected many legal contracts with individuals and companies in limbo as they are unable to fulfill their obligations. We speak to Lee Shih, a corporate lawyer to find out if a Covid-19 Bill similar to the one that Singapore has passed, is a solution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Shankaran Nambiar, Senior Research Fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research gives us his views on what post MCO exit strategies the government should consider if and when the MCO is lifted. He also weighs in the practicalities of social distancing in essential services and how can it be enforced in certain sectors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With many countries now barring travel save for exceptional circumstances, sailors who man the sea lanes transporting 90% of the world’s trade now find themselves unable to return to their home countries. We speak to Guy Platten, Secretary-General, International Chamber of Shipping about the issues this might cause, as well as the importance of maintaining maritime trade amid the global coronavirus crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coronavirus outbreak has impacted working life for most of us with most people now forced to work from home, with the MCO estimated to affect 2.4 million jobs, according to the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER). With the reality that work-from-home arrangements are likely to persist for many even after the movement control order is lifted, what does this mean for us? How much work can really be done from home and what happens to those who are not able to do so?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is a leadership change at Bursa Malaysia now the right time especially when capital markets are facing an unprecedented crisis. We discuss if there are other more important priorities. Meanwhile, the Securities Commission releases their 2019 Annual Report while providing details on how they plan to support capital markets during these challenging times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump and New York state governor Andrew Cuoma were at loggerheads on who had the power to direct states to lift restrictions. Nicole Huberfeld, Professor of Health Law, Ethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health helps us understand the US Constitution and the potential of remdesivir as a vaccine to treat Covid-19.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and discuss the the impact of Covid-19 on marriages, the news that workers will need to be screened for the virus and Japan declaring a nationwide state of emergency due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Ir Soam Heng Choon, President, Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) comments about the government’s move to allow construction projects to resume, safety measures for workers especially foreigners who live in cramped lodgings, and where more clarification is needed. Eg: Do all workers needed to be tested for Covid-19? He also talks about proposals to rejuvenate the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Run crew looks at the front pages of the newspapers, and discuss the exam postponement and cancellation by the Ministry of Education, doubts over IMF growth numbers and the US Federal Reserve confirming that economic activity fell sharply with conditions expected worsen in the next few months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.