Morning Brief

Sarawak's move to launch AirBorneo is sparking discussions about the future of its aviation sector. As the region looks to chart its own course, the real challenge is not just growth—but ensuring sustainable success. We take a closer look at what’s ahead for AirBorneo with Khair Mirza, Head of Airport Investor Resource at Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc.

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The Malaysia Padi Farmers Brotherhood Association or PeSawah, has voiced concerns that the newly announced floor price of 1,500 Ringgit per tonne is insufficient, believing additional incentives are necessary in the face of rising input costs. Dr. Sarena Che Omar of the PNB Research Institute joins us to discuss if the new floor price helps or hurts paddy farmers.

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The government is reviewing vehicle valuation to ensure fair excise taxes, but experts warn that prices could rise by 10% to 30% from 2026. Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain, President of Malaysian Automotive Association shares his insights on how these changes could affect the automotive industry.

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The recent launch of Chinese startup, DeepSeek, has sparked a flurry of interest into AI-related stocks but Bloomberg Intelligence warns that this support could see some pressure in 2025. Robert Lea, Senior Tech Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence, shares his perspective on this as the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets record gains.

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The abrupt resignation of a vice-chancellor from a prominent public university has raised serious questions about appointments of vice-chancellors and other leadership positions. We speak with Dr. Sharifah Munirah Alatas from the Allianz Centre for Governance on whether our ministers should still be the ultimate authority on the appointment of vice-chancellors.

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Peter Lewis, Director, Peter Lewis Consulting (China) Limited discusses what's behind the recent rally behind the Hang Seng Index, and whether this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

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With Chap Goh Meh and Valentine’s Day falling in the same week, florists have been flooded with orders. However, rising costs and supply challenges are shifting consumer buying habits. Is the love for fresh flowers fading or will demand continue to bloom? To get an industry perspective, we speak to Esda Meow, Member of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA).

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Amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act came into effect earlier this week after it was passed by Dewan Rakyat. These are aimed at creating a more secure internet ecosystem to provide better protection for users, especially minors. Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism, shares her perspectives on the impact of these amendments to journalistic freedoms.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has wrapped up a two-day official visit to Malaysia holding discussions with PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Topics ranged from the reconstruction of Gaza as well as doubling bilateral trade from the current 24 billion ringgit. Dr Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer with the School of Law and Governance at Taylor’s University, shares her insights.

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The rise in influenza cases has put the Ministry of Health on alert, with free flu vaccinations offered for eligible individuals including senior citizens. How concerned should we be about the uptick? We discuss measures to enhance public healthcare with Dr Haji Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Specialist, Pantai Hospital.

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