General

As Penang will transition to Phase Two of the Movement Control under the National Recovery Plan (PPN) today, we speak to Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, Director of InvestPenang and the special investment advisor to the Chief Minister of Penang on how has the lockdown impacted the state and what are the recovery plans.

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Members of Parliament have mixed views on the reopening of the august house on 26 July, with one of the concerns being whether 5 days is adequate to properly debate issues facing the country. We hear from Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, and the MP for Kapit on his expectations for the parliamentary sitting.

Image Credit: Jaggat Rashidi | Shutterstock.com

We talk with Datuk Dr. Lim Jee Gin, Group Managing Director of Nestcon Bhd about their future plans into Industrial Building Systems (IBS), their order book, and how they plan to use the RM 45 million proceeds from their successful IPO in the Bursa ACE market.

Image credit: Nestcon Bhd

What are the rules with regards to reconvening Parliament during an emergency? Constitutional Lawyer, Dato’ Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, tells us while weighing in on what a hybrid Parliament might look like.

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Indonesia is facing the worst Covid-19 crisis in the region, as daily new infections climb beyond 25,000 cases.

The surge in cases has placed the healthcare system under enormous pressure, with hospitals in some cities reporting a shortage of oxygen supply. Correspondent Resty Woro Yuniar describes the situation on the ground, and how the Jokowi government is responding.

Image Credit: Toto Santiko Budi / Shutterstock.com

Chinese regulators continue to crack down on DiDi and other companies, we ask Jack Kouzi, Director for Strategy of VFS Group on whether the risk is worth it for investors. We also ask him about his expectations for US corporate earnings.

In conjunction with International Joke Day, we're highlighting and celebrating the books and writers that make us laugh - something much needed as we find ourselves right in the heart of the doldrums. We also discuss how tricky it can be to write funny stories, as opposed to telling them aloud, and why comics continue to be a great bridge when it comes to humour. And then in Footnotes, we discuss the specific joys of reading accompanied by images, and not just words.

“Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”... from the alien invasion. Didn’t we all cheer when a geek, a pilot, the US President, and a group of unlikely heroes unite to save mankind from being destroyed by an advanced alien race? Twenty-five years after its release, we revisit the Roland Emmerich alien invasion classic, which stars, among others, Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum

One of the most hard-hit industries during the Covid-19 pandemic is the tourism industry, which has resulted in the collapse of hotels after leaving hotel owners and their staff with pay cuts or job losses. We explored the devastating impact that this has caused and what the industry needs to recover.

Image Source: Adriana Saraceanu, Unsplash

The Prime Minister's Office has released a statement, saying that the government will advise the King to call for a five-day parliamentary sitting from July 26 to August 2, with the purpose to present a national recovery plan to MPs and amend necessary laws for a hybrid Parliament to take place. Firstly, we look at what led to this decision and its significance. Next, we look into the process of parliamentary sittings, and what would be achievable in five days. Finally, we discuss the issues that the people want to see prioritized in Parliament.

Image Source: Lens Hitam, Shutterstock