Current Affairs

Adrian Foster, Asia Head of Financial Markets Research at Rabo Bank in Hong Kong, tells us why growth in China will moderate for the rest of the year, and its implications for trading partners like Malaysia. Also his views on currency reforms in China and what it means for the market. He says inflation would be the bigger problem and that China will no longer be a low cost producer like in the past.

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President Barrack Obama was scheduled to visit Indonesia this week but had to postpone his trip again to deal with the oil leak issue at the Gulf of Mexico. This is the second time he has postponed a trip to Indonesia. It seems like Asean plays step child to US' relations with China. Professor Simon Tay, the Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, explains the significance of this trip.

Professor Simon Tay is also the author of the book "Asia Alone: The Dangerous Post-Crisis Divide from America", soon to be available in major bookstores in Malaysia.

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We speak with Lillian Tay, architect and Chairperson of the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia's Heritage and Conservation Committee and a Council Member of Badan Warisan Malaysia, and also Lim Take Bane, conservation architect and member of Badan Warisan, on Cabinet's decision to consider moving the Parliament to Putrajaya International Convention Centre. They say alternatives should be sought instead of moving our August house, not just for cost reasons but most importantly, for its heritage significance.

Lillian says the present Parliament House would merely be a shell of a heritage building if the move happens. There is nothing more powerful than  a "living heritage" a building which is alive and being used for its original purpose. Therefore, any plans for a new Parliament must also come with a workable proposal for the worthy use of the existing Parliament House. It would be disrespectful to this institution of democracy to convert the present Parliament with its wealth of historical significance, to another lesser use.
If other much larger and populous and wealthier nations can live with the same Parliament Building for several hundred years, and with great pride too, for example the British Parliament at Westminster, surely we can find modify and repair the building to better serve any change of needs today.

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Ariel Cohen gives us insights into the ethnic unrests at southern part of Kyrgyzstan. More than 100 people have died, thousands are wounded and are trying to flee the country.

Ariel Cohen is Senior Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy at the Katherine and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Policy at The Heritage Foundation.

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Ong Kian Ming, political analyst and from the Faculty of Economics and Policy Science at USCI University, explains the benefits of the Cabinet's decision to scrap Public Service Department overseas scholarships for undergraduates, the political repurcussions, and possible alternatives to scrapping the scholarships.

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Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, gives insights into the Palestine conflict and the options for a peace plan.

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Kaladher Govindan, Head of Research with TA Securities Holdings Bhd talks about what he expects from the 10th Malaysia Plan, and the counters that are likely to benefit. He also tells us his expectations for the local index, FBM KLCI as a result of 10th MP announcement.

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Leong Wai Ho, Director and Senior Regional Economist at Barclays Capital, tells us what he expects to see in the 10th Malaysian Plan. Implementation is key and he is optimistic Najib's administration can deliver.

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Martin Schulz, Senior Economist and Research Fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute, believes there will be no significant changes in terms of policies including social spending by Nato Kan, Japan's new Prime Minister, but says Kan will need to be more consistent in efforts to stimulate demand.   

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Dr Paul Montagna, Endowed Chair for Ecosystems and Modelling at the Harte Research Institute in Texas, tells us the potential damage of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Industries affected are tourism, fishing, oil and gas, and shipping. He estimates BP's liabilities could be close to $20 billion or more based on past judgements.

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