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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.

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All Episodes

12:13

Inside Myanmar’s 2025 (Disputed) General Election

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/27

Myanmar has concluded its latest general election under heavy restrictions, with major opposition parties banned and large parts of the country unable to vote due to ongoing conflict. Journalist Erin Cook joins us to assess how credible the polls were, what the results mean for Myanmar’s political future, and how regional and international actors are responding.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:56

Middle Powers Need Each Other For Trade and Political...

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/26

Recently, the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that middle powers need to move from being rule-takers to rule-shapers. From a trade and investment perspective, how realistic is that ambition for Asian middle powers? Jayant Menon, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute tells us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:38

Making TikTok American

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/26

After years of political and legal uncertainty, TikTok has struck a deal allowing it to continue operating in the US under a majority American-owned joint venture. Dr Bradley Freeman, Professor of Creative Arts & Media, School of Arts, Sunway University, examines what this means for data security, algorithmic control, and if this model addresses the original issue.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:13

Malaysia's Civil Service: From Youth to Attitudes

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/26

Applications to Malaysia’s civil service are falling even as the Public Service Commission plans to hire more in 2026. Syafiq Ridzwan, Chief of Information, Malaysian Youth Council, shares his insights into how changing entry requirements and attitudes of civil servants towards corruption, shape the quality of public service.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

14:38

Sunway Bid for IJM Gets Complicated

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/25

Earlier this month, Sunway Berhad launched a conditional takeover offer for IJM Corporation Berhad, valued about 11 billion ringgit, largely through a share swap. The deal is framed to create a larger ‘national champion’ in construction and property, but it comes at a tricky time as MACC has launched a probe on IJM. We ask Pankaj C. Kumar, Business Commentator for his view on the valuations and if the deal will materialise.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

11:50

MHIT Part of Bigger Solution to Tackle Medical Costs

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/25

Private healthcare costs are rising, insurance premiums have jumped, and the central bank has published a whitepaper proposing a base medical and health insurance plan (also known as MHIT) as part of a broader effort to rein in costs. We ask if this offers adequate protection and whether it can meaningfully address medical inflation. Dr. Khor Swee Kheng, Chief Executive Officer of Angsana Health and a specialist in health systems, will help us break this down.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee

en-US

10:56

Cautious Optimism for Malaysia's Economy in 2026

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/22

Yesterday, Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee announced that the Overnight Policy Rate remains unchanged at 2.75%, saying the current policy setting remains appropriate and supportive amid price stability. Firdaos Rosli, Chief Economist, Ambank will be sharing his perspective on BNM’s OPR decision, and the outlook for Malaysia’s economy.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

11:36

US Tech Stocks Momentum to Continue

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/22

Earlier this week, we saw a wipeout of about 700 billion US dollars from Magnificent 7 stocks due to US-Greenland uncertainty - though there’s been some recovery since. Be that as it may, the episode does call into question what the outlook of US tech stocks is, and Jonathan Curtis, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Equity will be sharing his thoughts with us.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:02

Can Malaysia Afford Its Rail Future?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/22

Malaysia’s rail ambitions are back in the spotlight, not just what we build, but how it performs and what it costs. In the Klang Valley, Rapid Rail carries millions of passengers on core urban routes, even as financial losses persist. At the national level, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is nearing operations, raising fresh questions about how big rail projects should ultimately be priced. For perspectives on our rail system, we’ll be speaking to Dato' Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd. Sadullah, Vice

en-US

11:03

Building Stability in the South China Sea

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/22

Malaysia is pushing forward with the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, with 70% of the framework already completed. But can it truly keep the waters safe and accessible when it does not resolve territorial disputes? For better understanding, we speak with Dr. Abdul Rahman Yaacob, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Verve Research, Australia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

8:33

The US Supreme Courts vs Trump's Tariffs

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

The US Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs only by Feb 20, leaving importers, markets, and international partners in suspense. Dr Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, unpacks the impact on businesses and global commerce, as well as how the US and Europe are navigating a tense trade landscape.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee

en-US

12:38

FX Markets in A Whirlwind Over TACO Trade

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

Financial markets are currently navigating what has been dubbed the 'Greenland Tariff Gambit', a significant geopolitical shock triggered by President Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations. We ask Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank what impact all these geopolitical risks have on the FX market.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:39

Malaysia's Climate Change Approach

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

Malaysia is tabling the National Climate Change Bill to give the federal government formal powers to regulate emissions and carbon markets. Climate change and sustainability expert Dr Renard Siew shares his insights into whether Malaysia’s emerging climate architecture can translate policy ambition into real-world outcomes.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

12:18

The Importance of a Freedom of Information Act.

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/21

The government will table a Freedom of Information Act with free access to request documents and other information from government agencies. So, why does freedom of information matter and how will the act be implemented at the federal level that satisfies international standards and not just be a token reform measure? Professor Dr Joanne Lim, Digital Media, Communications and Cultural Studies lecturer and Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia gives us her

en-US

10:58

Unpacking the National Education Plan 2026-2035

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Malaysia has launched its National Education Plan 2026-2035, introducing earlier school entry, new centralised assessments and changes across the entire education pipeline. Danial Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, joins us to unpack what these reforms could mean in classrooms and for the future generations of Malaysians.This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly EmiratesImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

9:04

Inside Vietnam’s 14th Communist Party Congress

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Vietnam’s 14th Communist Party Congress is ongoing in Hanoi and will determine the country’s leadership and policy direction for the next five years. Dr Nguyễn Khắc Giang, Visiting Fellow with the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, explains what’s at stake, and how Vietnam plans to manage growth ambitions amid rising geopolitical tensions.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

13:07

KL MPs

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

Kuala Lumpur MPs will now play a more significant role in the city’s administration, as Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has announced the formation of five MP-led monitoring committees to oversee the DBKL 2026 Budget. We ask Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MP for Setiawangsa as to how this plan will change the running of KL and also if there are any updates to his plan for a council-based governance model.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

11:22

What’s Next for China’s Retail Sector?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/20

China’s retail sector is showing signs of strain despite repeated stimulus measures. Catherine Lim, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence unpacks buyer fatigue, diverging spending trends between luxury and mass-market consumers, and what lies ahead for China’s household economy in 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

10:10

Greenland: A Test For Transatlantic Ties

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland "the easy way or the hard way" has triggered a transatlantic crisis. Dr Benjamin Barton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, talks about the different scenarios that might unfold and what would happen in a post-Trump era for Europe.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

24:07

Board of Peace, A Trump Dream or Reality?

Morning Brief ·

2026/01/19

Over the past week, US President Donald Trump has floated a proposal he calls a Board of Peace, a new international body linked to Gaza that would sit outside the United Nations framework. Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies tells us if this is a workable plan.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

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