Morning Brief

More Chinese are expected to travel overseas during the Golden Week holiday period running from 1 - 7 October. Will Malaysia be a beneficiary of improved consumer sentiment? We discuss the tourism trends and policy initiatives needed to boost the industry with Nigel Wong of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).

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The Madani Government has made 95 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies so far, a relatively lower number than previous administrations. How can the appointment process be made more transparent? Doris Liew, Assistant Research Manager of the Public Finance Unit at IDEAS Malaysia, unpacks the think tank’s latest report.

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Malaysia has been making efforts to develop its digital infrastructure, by introducing a national cloud policy and regulations, to ensure the ethical use of AI. Woon Tai Hai, Advisor at the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), give his insights into what the AI Technology Action Plan (2026 to 2030) might do to help Malaysia compete in this new global landscape.

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Silver surged to their highest level since 2012, driven by expectations of further interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. while gold recently hit a new high. Are there still legs to this rally? Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC gives us that answer and what their house view is on their respective year-end prices.

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Sri Lanka's political future appears clearer and hopefully more promising after Anura Kumara Dissanayake won last month's presidential election, the first candidate not connected to a political dynasty. Dr Ahilan Kadirgamar, a political economist and senior lecturer at the University of Jaffna, shares his take on how a Dissanayake administration might address the current economic state the country is experiencing after it declared bankruptcy in 2022.

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Iran's missile attack on Israel, involving nearly 200 projectiles, significantly escalates tensions in the Middle East. Despite most missiles being intercepted, the incident highlights the region's precarious security amid ongoing conflicts and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For insights, we speak to Dr. James Dorsey, adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

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The two vice-presidential candidates are set to debate each other. The Democrat candidate Tim Walz is expected to focus on social equity and policies that support families and small businesses, while the Republican JD Vance will likely champion increased tariffs and lower corporate taxes. Bryan DeAngelis, partner & head of the Washington office of the Penta Group share his insights into what we can expect from the exchange.

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has outlined five key strategies to eradicate poverty in Malaysia. One of the standout measures is the use of net disposable income as a tool to identify those eligible for poverty relief assistance. For further insights into the effectiveness of these strategies, we speak to Prof. Dr. Yeah Kim Leng, Deputy President of the Malaysian Economic Association.

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Selangor has revealed that there are more than 200 illegal e-waste recycling facilities across Malaysia, with several identified in Rawang and Hulu Selangor. There are concerns also that these plants use hazardous methods, such as open burning or unsafe chemical processes, to extract valuable metals from electronic waste. Mohamed el-Fatatry, CEO & Founder of ERTH or Electronic Recycling Through Heroes, shares his thoughts on the current situation.

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The Ringgit has been the dark horse this year, appreciating by 11% on a year-to-date basis. In fact, the best performing in Asia. We speak to Saktiandi Supaat, Head of FX Research, Global Markets, Maybank Singapore to understand why and if this trend can continue whilst looking at the Yen, Yuan, Pound and even the Greenback.

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