Morning Brief
चैनल विवरण
Morning Brief
Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.
हाल के एपिसोड
5757 एपिसोड
CPO in the Face of Energy Shocks
As the Iran conflict pushes Brent crude past US$100 a barrel, crude palm oil prices have also surged, reigniting the energy premium for the global veg...
Does the Boao Forum Still Matter?
Marking its 25th anniversary, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) continues to draw regional leaders including Singapore’s prime minister, though this year’...
Malaysia’s Economy at a Crossroads: Growth vs Global Risks
Bank Negara Malaysia’s latest reports show an economy entering 2026 with solid momentum, but facing rising external risks from geopolitical tensions,...
Road Safety Reckoning: Can Tougher Laws Save Lives?
A fatal crash in Klang has reignited concerns over Malaysia’s road safety crisis, with over 6,500 deaths in 2025 and motorcyclists accounting for the...
Water Security: Are We Investing Enough in Solutions?
Malaysia’s water security is under renewed scrutiny, with low dam levels, El Niño risks, and concerns over supply disruptions. While policymakers say...
Iran War: Off-Ramp or Ground Troops?
The conflict in Iran hits its 30-day mark without a clear sign that the US has an off-ramp to end the conflict. American allies are seeking to de-esca...
Flight Paths Rewritten Asia’s Airports Under Pressure
The Iran conflict has triggered a dramatic reshaping of global air travel, with Gulf traffic plunging over 70% in a single week and airlines scramblin...
From Rap to Rule: Nepal’s New Political Era
Nepal enters a new chapter with the rise of Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician whose landslide victory signals a shift driven by yo...
Tourism Turbulence: Can Malaysia’s Hotels Weather War?
As the Iran conflict ripples through global travel routes, Malaysia’s hotel sector is beginning to feel the strain, from booking cancellations to risi...
Franklin Templeton: Broadening Thesis Holds
US markets have marked their fifth straight week of losses with oil hovering around the $USD110 per barrel level, while gold has been a downtrend for...
Assessing the thirteen reforms for KL governance
Kuala Lumpur’s FT Minister, Hannah Yeoh, says 13 reforms have been delivered in her first 100 days, from fee cuts for traders to opening up DBKL plann...
Social Media Held Liable For Addictive Platform Designs
While social media connects people worldwide, concerns are rising over its impact on children. A Los Angeles jury has held Meta and YouTube responsibl...
ASEAN-6 Grapple with Energy Crisis Fallout
The persistent turmoil in West Asia has triggered global market instability and shaken economies, particularly as Brent crude prices climbed beyond $1...
Malaysia’s Heatwave Challenge
Malaysia is in the grip of a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures in some areas climbing as high as 40°C, and forecasts suggesting it could last for...
When Sanaenomics Met Trump
Fresh off a landslide election victory, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi met US President Donald Trump in Washington, unveiling billions in investments unde...
Higher Energy Costs Fuel RE Transition Momentum
Malaysia’s shift away from fossil fuels is gaining pace, alongside measures like the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act to drive more efficient en...
Sarawak Redelination: Fair Representation Or Political Advantage?
Sarawak plans to expand its state assembly from 82 to 99 seats, with the redelineation process is still underway, and facing scrutiny, with allegation...
The Politics of Clean Governance
Malaysia’s anti-corruption framework is back under the spotlight, with the MACC proposing three new laws which include targeting misconduct in public...
Emerging Markets Brace for Iran War Credit Shocks
How might the conflict in Iran evolve into a broader credit shock for emerging markets? We assess the vulnerabilities across ASEAN and where Malaysia...
Unpaid Bills And The Strain On Public Hospitals
Malaysia’s public healthcare system is facing over RM100 million in unpaid bills from foreign patients, many of them undocumented migrants, raising qu...
Uncertain Chip Demand Clouds Malaysian Industry Outlook
Malaysia’s semiconductor sector is coming off a strong run, with E&E exports making up over 40 percent of total exports and continuing to grow into 20...
Oil Crisis Boosts EV Demand
Chinese EV companies, in particular BYD, have seen a surge in sales following the outbreak of war in Iran and the ensuing energy crisis. What does tha...
Global Funds Turn Positive on Malaysia
Investors are being selective about their portfolio positioning amid inflamed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Within Asia, that has started...
How Global Shocks Are Driving Up Malaysia’s Food Prices
Malaysia’s food prices are under pressure as global tensions in West Asia disrupt fertiliser supplies and push up energy costs. How will these global...
Cuba at Political Crossroads Amid US Pressure
Even as the war in Iran continues with no clear end, President Donald Trump already has his sights on another country: Cuba. The island state is under...
EV Momentum Picks Up in Malaysia
As countries grapple with rising pump prices resulting from the war in Iran, an unwitting beneficiary could be electric vehicles or EVs. What is the c...
Dire Straits For Oil Amid Hormuz Blockade
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to traffic for over two weeks since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war and creating an unprecedented...
The Sabah Revenue Debate
The federal government has reaffirmed Sabah’s right to a 40% revenue share under MA63, but legal appeals, technical challenges, and political realitie...
The Malaysia-US ART That Fell Apart
The Malaysia-US Agreement for Reciprocal Trade (ART) is up in the air after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs in February. Wh...
Malaysia’s Political Realignment : Gearing Up For GE16
In recent days, Malaysia’s political landscape is entering a new phase of realignment as UMNO welcomes back prodigal members, MUDA has a new president...
Malaysia’s Car Loan Overhaul: Better For Us?
Malaysia’s vehicle financing landscape is undergoing a major shift with the implementation of the Hire Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026, which could be m...
Higher Oil Prices Squeeze Petrol Dealer Margins
Rising global oil prices, driven by ongoing Middle East tensions, threaten to push Malaysia’s RON95 fuel above the current subsidised rate of RM1.99 p...
Policing Dissent: Testing Academic Freedom and Civic Space Limits
Police questioning of an academic and a civil society leader has triggered debate about academic freedom and civic space in Malaysia. What protections...
Malaysia’s Fiscal Dilemma: Managing Rising Oil Prices and Subsidies
Rising global oil prices are putting governments under renewed fiscal pressure. For Malaysia, the challenge is complex. While the country exports ener...
Has Gold Lost Its Sheen?
Gold is traditionally seen as a safe-haven asset, but prices have struggled recently despite elevated geopolitical tensions. What’s driving this disco...
Will the War on Iran Spiral Further?
Escalation of the War on Iran is spreading across the Gulf, threatening energy routes and regional stability. Ryan Bohl, Senior Middle East and North...
SMEs Stay Afloat Amid Middle East Turbulence
Malaysia SME sector is feeling the ripple effects of rising tensions in the Middle East through shipping delays, higher costs, and supply chain disrup...
Tourism In Turmoil: When Middle East Tensions Take Flight
Although Malaysia is far from the conflict between the United States and Iran, the country is feeling its impact as disruptions at major Middle East t...
US Sidestepping IEEPA In New Probe?
Yesterday, it was reported that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated investigations into several economies, inclu...
MAGA at War, Rejuvenated Dems, Life After Trump
Washington is wrestling with the fallout of the Iran conflict as Brent crude stays above $90 a barrel, threatening a 0.3% inflation spike for every $1...