Morning Brief

With the recent changes in directors at GLC's , questions arise as to who makes a good director for all companies and what role should the person play? Are academic qualifications the only criteria or are there other considerations. Michele Kythe Lim, CEO, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) tells us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Hong Kong deep in the throes of a second wave, authorities are juggling the possibility of another lockdown even as joblessness hits a 15-year high. Benjamin Cowling, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Hong Kong, discusses. Source: ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flash floods in Kuala Lumpur seem to be a frequent occurrence and aside from in the inconvenience, the economic cost cannot be downplayed. But what steps have been taken to address it and is enough being done? We speak to Dr Tanot Unjah, Researcher at the Institute for Environment and Development of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to find out. Image Credit: Mohd Rasfan / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Statistics revised the poverty line from RM980 to RM2208 but also revealed that the level of poverty differs from state to state. So we ask Laurence Todd, Head of Research and Development at IDEAS as to how should the government should formulate their policies to address this inequality and what should they focus on. Image Credit : Reuters picSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world after Covid - 19 will change significantly and although the cost of human lives cannot be understated, the bad also comes with the good. Rob Subbaraman, Head of Global Research at Nomura tells us what could be the cost which include a future food crisis but also reminds us that this allow us to re look at climate change more seriously and pursue a green revolution.The world after Covid - 19 will change significantly and although the cost of human lives cannot be understated, the bad also comes with the good. Rob Subbaraman, Head of Global Research at Nomura tells us what could be the cost which include a future food crisis but also reminds us that this allow us to re look at climate change more seriously and pursue a green revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a variety of applications in food packaging, delivery and in the electrical and electronics industries, Malaysia' plastics manufacturers are one of the few beneficiaries of Covid-19, despite a global war on the industry and the challenges of relying on foreign workers. Datuk Lim Kok Boon, President, of the Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association, discusses the whys and wherefores of Covid-19 on the local plastics industry. Image source: OLIVIER MORIN / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament has been in session since last week but the scenes on the first day were a shock to many with the ruckus and language used. Wan Anwar Wan Ibrahim, Former Special Functions Officer, Speakers Office at Dewan Rakyat explains what the rules are whilst telling us what reforms are outstanding. Image source: AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK- China relations are now in deep freeze after the UK government banned the use of 5G technology with the Chinese warning of retaliation. Can the UK afford to antagonize China when there is USD88 billion worth of trade annually and Chinese involvement in key industries that includes UK nuclear power plants? Simon Baptist, Global Chief Economist, at The Economist Intelligence Unit attempts to answer those questions and more. Image source: ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlike some of its more vocal neighbours, Malaysia has been noticeably considered in its response to China's looming presence in the trade- and resource-rich South China Sea, prompting criticism that it could be a victim of 'Elite Capture'. Ridzwan Rahmat, Principal Defence Analyst, Jane's, sheds some light. Image source: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah and Sarawak are one of the least developed and poorest states in Malaysia. Prime Minister candidate under Pakatan Harapan, Dato Seri Shafie Apdal, has ambitions to turn Borneo into an economic hub. Dr. Firdausi Suffian, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, UiTM Sabah discusses the feasibility and reforms that are much needed in both states. Image source: ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deloitte has released the results of a global survey looking at how millennials and Gen Zs are responding to the Covid-19 crisis, with results from Malaysian youths putting financial stability, climate change, and mental health at the top of the priority list. Coupled with the fact that youth voices have been in the spotlight recently, propelled by frustration in the wake of heckling received by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman during the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday, we speak to Izana Azuddin, founder of independent educational reform outfit MYER Movement, for her thoughts on the issues challenging our younger generation today. Image source : ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erhan Gurses, Research Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence discusses the implications of banning British telecommunication companies from buying 5G equipment made by Huawei. Image source: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese stocks have been on a massive rally. The Shanghai Composite index is up over 15% on a one-month basis, while the S&P 500 is up about 3.6% in the same period, but can the rally continue? Some analysts have pointed to similarities with what happened in 2015, where the market crash after the value of Chinese stocks rose above $10 trillion for the first time. With Chinese markets are once again reaching those levels once again, will history repeat itself? Image source: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia and Singapore are allowing a reciprocal green lane arrangement and periodic commuting arrangement starting from 10 August. Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute explains the movements that take place between both countries and how that might change over time in light of higher unemployment and political developments. Image Credit: Catherine Lai / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technical and vocational training and education (TVET) tend to be overlooked despite growing demand for such skills. We catch up with P Sailanathan, President, Federation of JPK Accredited Centers Malaysia on how TVET institutions are coping with the MCO and fundamental problems that hamper their growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hani Raihan Ikhwan, Vice President of Public Relationship, Remisiers' Association of Malaysia discusses the profile of individual investors who have started trading heavily since the MCO started, and what they need to be aware of about the markets. Image Source: www.distel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a new Covid-19 outbreak in the Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland has had to close again after a month as social distancing measures return. On the flip side, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopened in Florida despite the state reporting more than 15,000 cases last Saturday. Keeping in mind that the crisis has already cost Walt Disney $1.4 billion in lost profits in the last quarter, how will Disney weather the Covid-19 pandemic? We also get into Disney's competition with Netflix, and whether Disney+ will be enough to offset the damage done by Covid-19.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shahrul Nizar Ahmad, Committee Member, Malaysian Association of Amusement Theme Parks and Family Attractions (MAATFA) describes how bad the situation has been for theme parks during the MCO, and developments including SOPs going forward. Image Credit: Mohd Rasfan / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1 of Parliament saw the removal Tan Sri Mohammad Ariff Yusof as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker by a narrow vote majority of 111 votes in favour of the motion, and 109 votes against. We then saw Deputy Speaker, Datuk Nga Kor Ming, resign before a motion to remove him could be voted on, and Former Election Commission Chair Datuk Azhar Harun be sworn in as the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker, without being voted in by the MPs. There was certainly a lot to unpack, so we turned to Dr Hamidin for his analysis of the day's events. Image Credit: Izzudin Abd Razak, BERNAMASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has raised the poverty line income (PLI) from RM980 to RM2,208, meaning the number of households considered poor has increased from about 25,000 to 400,000. Hawati Abdul Hamid, Senior Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute makes sense of these numbers and what it means for policymakers. Image Credit: Manan Vatsyayana / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has raised the poverty line income (PLI) from RM980 to RM2,208, meaning the number of households considered poor has increased from about 25,000 to 400,000. Hawati Abdul Hamid, Senior Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute makes sense of these numbers and what it means for policymakers. Image Credit: Manan Vatsyayana / AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International students are uncertain if they should return to or enter universities in the fall due to public health concerns. Nick Hillman, Director, Higher Education Policy Institute discusses the issues and sentiments on the ground.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first full Parliamentary sitting of the Perikatan Nasional government is set to see several landmark motions tabled- including a motion to replace the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and one of the Deputy Speakers. We speak to Dr. Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute for some insight into the political dynamics informing the sitting, as well as Dhanya Nair, reporter with the BFM News team, for an on the ground perspective of what's happening in Parliament house. Image Credit: EPA-EE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the back of the pandemic, the world has increasingly turned to digital and virtual methods to communicate as physical distancing and movement restrictions guidelines were put in place. This has also been adopted by public listed companies in order to hold their AGMs, however there have been some concerns that virtual AGMs may be a hurdle to the voices of shareholders, particularly with regards to minority shareholders. We explore this with Devanesan Evanson, CEO of Minority Shareholders' Watch Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) retained power once again but with a lower percentage of popular votes, one of its worst election results while Prime Minister in waiting, Heng Swee Keat only won by a slim majority of 53% of votes in the East Coast GRC. Michael Barr, Associate Professor, Flinders University, and expert in Singapore politics and history, discusses the results and its implications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every sector has been impacted by Covid 19 including the general insurance industry. With written premiums under pressure especially since auto sales will be weak, we speak to Antony Lee , Chairman , General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) on how they intend to pivot in the new normal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if a second wave of Covid wasn't enough, a cabinet reshuffle, plunging economy and a resurgent baht are conspiring to further derail Thailand's growth engine. So what's the Land of Smiles to do? Charnon Boonnuch, Asean Economist, Nomura, offers one view.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if a second wave of Covid wasn't enough, a cabinet reshuffle, plunging economy and a resurgent baht are conspiring to further derail Thailand's growth engine. So what's the Land of Smiles to do? Charnon Boonnuch, Asean Economist, Nomura, offers one view.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every sector has been impacted by Covid 19 including the general insurance industry. With written premiums under pressure especially since auto sales will be weak, we speak to Mohamad Fadzli Hassan, President , Majlis Belia Felda Malaysia on how they intend to pivot in the new normal. Source: Bernama ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Census 2020 is here, and for the first time, it'll be done electronically. Professor Nur Ain Shahrier, Professor of Economics, Sunway University, explains its mechanics, and what the data spells for public development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amidst alls for GLCs to lead an economic recovery post Covid-19, lingering concerns over a lack of governance and political patronage remain. Prof. Edmund Terence Gomez, Professor of Economics, University Malaya explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology related stocks have been soaring not only in the US but in China. Chelsey Tam, Analyst at Morningstar gives us her opinion on Tencent and Alibaba, the juggernauts of the Chinese technology. She weighs in on the difference between the two and which is a better buy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the U.S. stocks have been generally rising steadily despite concerns that we may see a reimposition of COVID-19 restrictions now that cases have been rising around the country. We speak to Grant Bowers, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Franklin Templeton about this disconnect, as well as the prospects of economic recovery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia announced it is cutting the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to a record low of 1.75% -- marking the fourth straight cut. The central bank's dovish statement remarked that the impact of the pandemic on the global economy has been “severe.” We speak to Julia Goh for her reactions and outlook on the Malaysian economy for 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political grapevine has murmured: Malaysia might go to the polls, potentially giving the country the policy and leadership stability it so badly needs. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs, discusses the ramifications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, President of Malaysia Employers Federation weighs in on the recent government decision to freeze the hiring of foreign workers and the impact it has on businesses. We also ask him how dependent we are as a nation on foreign labour and is that the reason why innovation and productivity is low?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's People's Action Party is going for its 15th-straight term in office as the city state heads to the polls. But this time it's different: the pandemic means campaigning is strictly social media. And all 93 seats are being contested. So will it be a PAP procession? Or its Waterloo?  Nydia Ngiow of Bower Group Asia in Singapore elaborates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Covid 19 era with the relaxation of the movement control order, can tourism be revived for Penang? A pertinent question we ask YB Yeoh Soon Hin, State Assemblyman for Paya Terubong and Chairman of Penang Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee especially in light of George Town World Heritage City Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellian Wiranto, Economist at OCBC Bank gives us his forecast of Malaysia's GDP and what sectors will drive recovery and which will not for 2020. He also weighs in on whether Bank Negara will cut the Overnight Policy Rate from the current 2% at July's Monetary Policy Committee or will they keep their powder dry if the economy weakens further especially post the loan moratorium in September.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its crushing landslide win in the Chini by-election, UMNO / BN has made it 6 of 11 by-election wins, begging the question: if snap elections were to be called now, would the coalition enjoy the same euphoria? Ben Suffian, Programme Director of the Merdeka Center, offers some perspectiveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As India and China lock horns on Tik-Tok's perceived threat to national security and data privacy, doomsayers suggest that technology's so-called weaponisation -- aka 'techno-nationalism' -- offers a lightning rod that reflects wider geopolitical fissures. Alex Capri, Visiting Senior Fellow, NUS Business School, discusses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is allowing for some medical tourists to enter Malaysia for treatment. We speak with Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President, Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia on the impact of the MCO and Covid-19 on the industry’s fortunes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While countries around the world emerge from their respective lockdowns, fears have now turned towards the possibility of a second wave of infections. How well-prepared are we to weather that possibility? Will other economies in the region be able to withstand a surge in Covid-19 cases? To help us answer this question, we speak to Suhaimi Ilias, Chief Economist at Maybank Kim Eng, who together with the regional economics team recently issued a report entitled "COVID-19: Off Lockdown Lows, But Wave Woes Next...?"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysia Electronic Sports Federation (MESF) has announced a RM140 million partnership agreement with Dynasty Esports, to create an official national esports platform for Malaysia. This is slated to feature the country’s first leaderboard and ranking system for respective esports game titles for Malaysians, a national esports calendar for esports-related activities within the nation, and events featuring Malaysian athletes. With these kinds of future plans underway, we take a look at the size of the gaming and eSports ecosystem in Malaysia and its contribution to the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the economy begins to reopen, we speak to Darryl Ong, President, Malaysian E-Hailing Drivers Association on how the E-hailing industry has coped during this time and the effectiveness of PENJANA and PRIHATIN in supporting the drivers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the next three months, all stock of Remdesivir has been brought up by the United States, leaving none for the rest of the world. The drug is the first to be approved by licensing authorities in the US to treat Covid-19 and it has been shown to help people recover faster from the disease, and this unilateral move by the United States has raised alarms about its wider implications, namely in the event when a vaccine becomes available. This possibly shows the extent of which the Trump administration is willing to go to outbid and outmanoeuvre all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the country, so with this in mind, how do we ensure that a potential vaccine can meet global demand and be adequately distributed?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has recently appointed 24 new independent members to 3 different committees. To understand better the workings of MACC, and whether they will be able to strengthen governance within the anti-graft body, we speak to Alex Tan, Forensics and Risk Leader at PwC Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Joe Biden set to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the upcoming US presidential elections, all eyes are now on who will be his pick for the Vice President post. Robert Shapiro, Professor of Government at Columbia University shares his thoughts on who is the most promising candidate and what will influence Biden's choice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the MCO has been lifted and people are returning to the daily grind, businesses are hopeful that people will start spending again. And it’s a sentiment shared by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Economic Affairs, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. Earlier this week in an op-ed he wrote, he called on Malaysians to start spending in order to help our economy, and according to some numbers out of the Statistics Department, 90% of workers have returned to work but retail performance is only at 30% of pre-MCO levels. Now there are many reasons for this as the pandemic has left some jobless or having to take massive pay cuts, and those life-changing events are hard to bounce back from. So how do we rebuild confidence and help revive the economy under challenging circumstances?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the impact of COVID-19 unfolds, the structural gaps have been exposed in our economy. The government has responded with various short-term measures, but such initiatives have mainly been government led and focused on short to medium term, particularly liquidity issues, but realistically there’s only so much the government can do. In the longer term, the Institute of Capital Markets Research Malaysia (ICMR), thinks that capital markets can play a bigger role in addressing these concerns and hopefully build a more resilient economy post COVID-19.ICMR is an independent research institute commissioned by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to promote sustainable development of the Malaysian capital marketSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.