General

Over the course of the past year, it feels like for influencers, instead of being known for  promoting brands, products, and even lifestyles, they’re more known for scandals and mishaps. From the fall of local figure YBB to the on-and-off scandals of Western influencers like David Dobrik and the Paul brothers, are influencers actually still influential, or have they crossed over into merely cannon fodder for tabloid reporting?

As we grow more dependent on mobile apps for transactions and contact tracing check-ins, we realise how crucial data transfer can affect our daily lives. Social distancing measures imposed have caused reduced footfall and economic activity, and businesses have to accommodate new and secure ways of transacting digitally. e-Signature technology is in the spotlight for providing businesses with a solution to reduce physical transactions and make the move to the digital realm. We talk with Kofax’s Soon Yong, and Greg Cowl to learn more.

After almost two years in Malaysia, how is Stripe working with local businesses to help build the economic infrastructure of the internet? We catch up with APAC Business Lead, Noah Pepper, about Stripe’s learnings from working with local businesses like Flower Chimp, FashionValet and Storehub to grow and scale despite the challenges caused by COVID-19 and the Movement Control Order.

Luno, StashAway, and Wahed Invest are just a few names that have risen in the WealthTech and FinTech space in Malaysia. How could these new tools fit in your portfolio?

Roshan Kanesan speaks to Stephen Yong, Licensed Financial Planner from Wealth Vantage Advisory, and Vincent Fong, Chief Editor of Fintech News Malaysia, to explore this space and its place.

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Patrick Chang, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Equities, Principal Asset Management discusses his outlook of global and local corporate earnings, and about pursuing a more diversified investment strategy now.

Paul Sanda, the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner of Austrade Malaysia & Brunei discusses how Covid-19 and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could increase investment and trade between Australia and Malaysia. He also comments on the tense relationship between Australia and China, and how it might force countries like Malaysia to take sides.

The opt-in AstraZeneca vaccination programme commenced yesterday in four centres in the Klang Valley. However, at the same time Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, cautioned that Phase 3 of the National Covid Immunisation Programme could be delayed due to a supply shortage. We reached out to Asst Prof Dr Farhan Rusli, Public Health Medicine Specialist from International Islamic University Malaysia to shed some light on the progress of the rollouts.

Image Credit: EPA-EFE

The Savills Asia Pacific Investment Q1 report this year, which looked at the real estate market in the APAC region, found that transaction volumes are on the rise. Does this signal grow confidence among real estate investors in the region? We speak to Simon Smith, Asia-Pacific Regional Head of research and Consultancy from Savills to find out.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The various movement control orders have significantly dampened the tourism industry. Nigel Wong, Honorary Secretary-General of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents discusses the potential impact of MCO 3.0 on his members, and wonders when the bottom will be.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Morning Run speaks to Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy at Mizuho Bank, about Janet Yellen’s comments on higher rates, signalling from the Bank of England meeting, the implications of India's pandemic surge on ASEAN economies, and concerns around commodity prices rising.