Morning Brief

Typically, Chinese New Year is a busy time for the F&B but news that some outlets will be raising their service tax from 10% to 15% has not gone unnoticed. We speak to Jeremy Lim, Vice-President & Media Liaisons, Persatuan Pemilik Restoran & Bistro, for his views on this and also the outlook for 2025.

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Singapore has launched the process for its 2025 general election by forming the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, with polls expected between May and November. The election could prove pivotal, as the rise of the Workers' Party in 2020 presents a growing challenge to the People’s Action Party. We speak with James Gomez to gain his insights on what the future holds for Singapore’s political landscape.

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With Malaysia’s data centre industry rapidly expanding, there’s growing concern over the rising demand for water, particularly in Johor and Selangor. Data centres use vast amounts of treated water for cooling, putting pressure on local resources. We speak to S. Piarapakaran, President of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, to discuss how this surge in demand could strain our water infrastructure and what steps can be taken to ensure sustainability.

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The Media Law Reform Blueprint by the Canadian NGO Centre for Law and Democracy, has called for RTM and the MCMC to be independent in the interest of freedom of expression and journalism in Malaysia. Dr Joanne Lim, Communications, Media and Cultural Studies Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia, shares her input into how the proposed Malaysian Media Council bill might move the needle (or not).

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The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), by President Donald Trump, has sparked concern about the future of global health cooperation and the role of the U.S. in shaping health policies worldwide. Prof. Tikki Pangestu, Visiting Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore shares his perspective on the potential consequences of this decision.

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Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has revealed that while Putrajaya is not hastily pursuing developed nation status, Malaysia is still on the right track to becoming an advanced nation by 2028 to 2029. Dr Hafezali Iqbal Hussain, Professor at the School of Management & Marketing Faculty of Business & Law at Taylor’s University helps us understand what this means.

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The upcoming ‘Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah’ rally has sparked a legal debate, with authorities declaring it unlawful due to an incomplete notice. However, legal advisers insist the rally adheres to the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012. N. Surendran, adviser at Lawyers for Liberty, clarifies assembly-goers' rights in such situations.

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Bank Negara Malaysia has maintained the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 3%, signaling confidence in Malaysia’s economic stability. The country continues to benefit from manageable inflation, strong domestic spending, and ongoing structural reforms. Julia Goh, Senior Economist, UOB shares her views on what this means for Malaysia’s economic future.

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Despite the Myanmar military government, which ousted a democratically one in 2021, agreeing a ceasefire with the Beijing-backed Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a return to stability is still ways away. Lucas Myers, Senior Associate for Southeast Asia at the Wilson Centre's Asia Programme gives us some context about the various factions involved in the current conflict as well as Asean's role in any potential resolution.

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Unemployment and underemployment among graduates in Malaysia is on the rise, with many highly qualified individuals struggling to secure jobs that match their skills. What kind of policies are needed to close the mismatch? We discuss this with Wan Amirah Wan Usamah of Khazanah Research Institute.

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