Morning Brief
च्यानल विवरणहरू
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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OSA, Making Changes to Online Platforms
Malaysia is about to see a significant shift in how online platforms are regulated. Under the Online Safety Act, global platforms with large Malaysian...
Can Australia Further Reform Its Gun Laws?
Following the recent mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, questions have been asked about how strict are Australia’s gun controls. Professor Andrew...
Preparing for Full Ban on Vape and E-Cigarrettes
Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reaffirmed that a full ban on vape and e-cigarettes might happen as early as mid-2026, with i...
Asean's Fortunes in 2026
Asean equities are a tale of two halves with Singapore and Indonesia outperforming and Thailand and Philippines languishing while Malaysia is sandwich...
A Long Overdue Cabinet Reshuffle
After weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim finally announced a cabinet reshuffle following 4 ministerial vacancies. Dr. Azmi...
Evaluating Malaysia’s Education Reforms
Malaysia’s education system is undergoing reforms aimed at improving teacher welfare, enhancing infrastructure, and addressing student discipline. Dat...
The Ayer Hitam Reserve Debate Highlights Development Decisions Transparency
A proposed development near Selangor’s Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve has captured national attention, touching on the broader issues of planning transpare...
2026, Time for Small-Mid Cap Stocks?
On a year-to-date basis, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Small Cap Index is down 13%. However are valuations in this space too attractive to ignore? Lee Meng...
Why the UEC Question Won’t Go Away
The debate over recognising the Unified Examination Certificate, or UEC, for entry into Malaysia’s public universities has resurfaced once again, with...
Ukraine: Is Peace Finally Possible?
Following recent peace talks in Berlin, both US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have expressed optimism for a real peace p...
Sabah's Budget Laying the Foundation for Transformation
The theme for Sabah's budget is ‘Driving Development, Prioritising the People’s Well-Being’. We ask Zafri Zulkeffeli, Deputy Chief Economist of BIMB S...
Malaysian Pharmacists Deserve Better
Over seven hundred contract pharmacists who were previously identified for eventual permanent roles recently had that status withdrawn, raising fresh...
Thailand Elections During The Border Conflict
With the border crisis with Cambodia still raging, Thailand plunges into early elections as Prime Minister Anu-tin Charn-vira-kul dissolves parliament...
Social Media Ban In Focus
The government is set to ban social media use for those under 16 years old next year. However, is this the best approach to achieve a safer screen soc...
Asean Resilience Continues in 2026
ASEAN economies has shown surprising resilience in 2025 despite higher US tariffs and global uncertainty. Chua Hak Bin, Regional Co-Head, Macro Resear...
Some SME's Escape E-Invoicing For Now
SMEs that earn less than 1 million ringgit annually will no longer have to implement e-invoicing. Previously, the income threshold for e-invoicing was...
Amendments To PNPV Act Detrimental To Farmers
Controversy is brewing as the government is reported to have quietly submitted draft amendments to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 to a...
Decoding the Dress Code
Should Malaysians be denied public services because of the way they are dressed especially in an emergency. A pertinent question we are posing to cons...
Mixed Picture for Southeast Asian Banks 2026
We’re taking a closer look at how Southeast Asian banks are positioned heading into 2026, a year shaped by shifting interest-rate expectations, uneven...
Beyond the Barrel: The Oil & Gas Outlook
Malaysia’s oil and gas sector has seen much volatility this year, with both external and domestic pressures weighing on the sector - but will these st...
Differentiating Fact from Fiction With Influencers
Idea reports that modern influencers have become central to the dissemination of political messaging, with government and political party machinery in...
Goodbye To Medical Inflation?
With medical inflation rising steadily, the government is reviewing the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act and the way that private hospit...
Going Down Under to See if Banning Social Media for Kids Works
Australia has made history by introducing the world’s first ban on selected social media use for children under 16.
Dr. Joanne Orlando, Digital...
Gloves, Seeing Shoots of Recovery
Malaysia’s rubber glove players saw strong earnings from the latest earnings quarter. Is this a sign that the sector is due for a positive re-rating?...
Malaysia on Course to Fully Eliminate Hardcore Poverty?
Even as Malaysia nears full eradication of hardcore poverty by early 2026, many low-income households remain at risk. To address this, the government...
LRT3 Delays Persist
Recent developments in the transportation space include delays to the LRT3, a potential reduction in parking spaces in new developments near public tr...
China's Record Breaking Trade Surplus
China has just posted a record-breaking trade surplus, more than one trillion US dollars, even as its economy at home shows signs of strain. What’s po...
No Easy Resolution to the Thai-Cambodia Crisis
Thailand and Cambodia have resumed fighting after Thailand launched airstrikes on the Cambodian military. Dr. Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer at the Aus...
Storm Signals for Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia has been battered by a string of storms, cyclones and heavy rain, resulting in more than a thousand deaths and billions in damage. But...
Hong Kong Property Gaining Momentum
After years of slowdown, Hong Kong’s property market is showing signs of comeback. Rents rose 4% in 2025 and could climb another 5% next year, while h...
MCA Backed Into A Corner?
Over the weekend, MCA held its annual general meeting where arguably one of the most notable resolutions that was passed - it will leave BN if any com...
Consistent and Clear Migrant Worker Policies Needed
Malaysia continues to rely on migrant workers and uses quota applications to recalibrate labour demand. Combined with tighter enforcement on accommod...
Gold & Silver Still Poised to Grow in 2026
Precious metals are stealing the spotlight in 2026, with gold up 60% year-to-date and silver rallying strongly, while palm oil and Brent crude face a...
Carbon Credit System for Malaysian Planters, Workable?
Felda is promoting a carbon-credit system for oil-palm plantations but is this workable in a Malaysian context? Khor Yu Leng, Economist, Segi Enam Adv...
Carbon Credit System for Malaysian Planters, Workable?
Felda is promoting a carbon-credit system for oil-palm plantations but is this workable in a Malaysian context? Khor Yu Leng, Economist, Segi Enam Adv...
Singapore Property Market Still Looking Healthy in 2026
Singapore’s property market saw continued momentum in the third quarter, with the Urban Redevelopment Authority reporting an uptick in both private an...
Australia's Economy Keeps Going
Australia’s economy posted a softer-than-expected expansion in the third quarter, with GDP rising 0.4%, yet the annual pace accelerated to 2.1% — the...
Airbus Technical Glitches a Temporary Turbulence
Airbus has hit turbulence as its A320 jets face a software glitch in the ELAC flight-control system and fuselage panels that don’t meet specifications...
Time for New Malaysia Household Income Classifications
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the government is reviewing Malaysia’s household income classifications. Calvin Cheng, Director of the Economics, Trade,...
Underemployment, Not Unemployment is Malaysia's Problem
DOSM has revealed that skill-related underemployment, where graduates work in positions below the level of their qualification, has increased by 3.9%...