Morning Brief

Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with Myanmar junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok last week. Could this overture open the gate for further progress in finding a solution to the civil war in Myanmar that has gone on for 4 years? We discuss the implications with Moe Thuzar of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

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Amid the ongoing trade tensions, Malaysian SMEs are facing significant challenges with the potential introduction of a 24% U.S tariff, in addition to the 10% blanket tariff.  We speak to Datuk William Ng, Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) on how SMEs are navigating the turmoil and the actions needed from the government to mitigate the economic impact.

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As transatlantic ties come under strain due to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, China hawks within the European Union are beginning to show a willingness to rethink the bloc’s relationship with Beijing. Initially, will the two foes unite against the greater enemy that is the Trump administration? We discuss this with Dr. Frederick Kliem, Director of Southeast Asia at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.

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Malaysia and China renewed their commitment to jointly promote regional as well as global prosperity and stability during the state visit of President Xi Jinping this week. What were the key takeaways from the 3-day visit and how will it shape bilateral relations moving forward? Bunn Nagara of the Renaissance Strategic Research Institute weighs in. 

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Motorcyclists make up over 60% of road fatalities in Malaysia, with heavy vehicle accidents also a major concern. The government is considering dedicated motorcycle lanes and stricter regulations for lorries. UPM Vice-Chancellor Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ahmad Farhan weighs in on the impact of these proposed measures.

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Bank Negara Malaysia's latest monetary policy statement has shown that central headline inflation eased from 1.7% in January to 1.5% in February 2025, while core inflation, which excludes volatile items like fresh food, inched higher to 1.9% in February 2025 compared with 1.8% in January. Ahmad Mohd Ripin the Deputy Director, Monetary Policy Department of Bank Negara Malaysia explains the disconnect between official inflation figures and the public’s lived experience of rising costs.

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Singapore has dissolved its parliament and will head to the polls on May 3rd. PAP Leader, Lawrence Wong faces his first test against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and rising cost of living. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Asia Centre tells us how the election will pan out and the issues that will arise.

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Meta is facing a historic antitrust trial that could force the tech giant to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp, despite Mark Zuckerberg's efforts to charm the US President. What is the Trump administration's strategy in regulating the tech sector? We discuss this with Dr Kathryn Robison of the University of Sydney.

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Two days after the announcement of US President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, Beijing ordered a ban of seven rare earth elements unless companies have a special license to do so. Since these rare earth elements and products are crucial for multiple manufacturing industries, can Malaysia seize this opportunity and move up the rare earth value chain? We discuss this with Gloria Lin, Research Officer with the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

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The global semiconductor industry is entering a critical phase, amid escalating US-China tensions, driven by Washington tightening export controls as well as prohibitive tariffs. Masahiro Wakasugi of Bloomberg Intelligence breaks down the cost pressures, supply chain shifts, and strategic pivots plus what comes next for giants like ASML and Nvidia.

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