Morning Brief

US Tariffs against China were implemented this week which was swiftly followed by retaliatory action by Beijing. We examine in detail why China appears to have taken a muted response and what implications tariffs have on global trade. We would be talking to Tommy Xie, Head of Asia Macro Research, OCBC Bank.

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Two of the region's biggest e-hailing platforms, Grab and Goto have long been said to be in talks over a potential merger. What would be the implications of the consolidation? We discuss the challenges and opportunities for both companies with Nathan Naidu of Bloomberg Intelligence. 

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The government is expected to table amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711), but how far do these improvements go? We discuss the needed reforms to the legislation with Dr. Muhammad Mohan of Transparency International Malaysia.

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The government is set to implement a mandatory 2% EPF contribution for foreign workers, instead of the initially proposed 12%. However, the increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700 and potential electricity tariff hikes might impact businesses. To gain industry views, we speak with Datuk William Ng, National President of Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (SAMENTA).

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to set up a US sovereign wealth fund within the next year. What could this look like and does the US need one? We discuss what makes an effective sovereign wealth fund with Dr. Elsa Satkunasingam of the Asia School of Business.

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The Trump administration is overhauling the US Agency for International Development (USAID), disrupting ongoing humanitarian projects around the world. What will happen to USAID moving forward and how will this impact US relations with recipient countries? We discuss the implications with Grace Stanhope of the Lowy Institute.

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Unlike Thailand, Singapore and Laos, Malaysia does not have a blanket ban on the use and sale of vapes; but should it? We discuss the present regulatory framework for vapes and e-cigarettes as well as the gaps in implementation with Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy.

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The latest Dewan Rakyat sitting will run for 18 days and among the issues in focus will be the long-anticipated revival of the Parliamentary Services Bill. We speak to Aira Azhari of IDEAS about the expectations for the session and measures to enable MPs to be more effective in their law-making duties.

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After announcing tariffs against Canada and Mexico over the weekend, President Donald Trump delayed its implementation after speaking to the leaders of the respective countries. Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO, Center for Market Education tells us how tariffs are now a political tool and how countries affected might respond in this new world order.

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Malaysia has scrapped the point-based system for foreign spouses applying for permanent residency, shifting to criteria based on marriage duration and children. Advocacy groups welcome the move but stress the need for clearer guidelines and fairer implementation. We speak to Bina Ramanand, Co-Founder of Family Frontiers to know if these changes will be enough to ensure a more inclusive and transparent process for binational families.

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