Morning Brief

The Sg. Bakap polls will see a straight fight between educator Dr. Joohari Ariffin of PKR and businessman Abidin Ismail of PAS. What might the demographic make-up of the constituency reveal about who holds decision-making power? We discuss expectations for the Sg. Bakap by-elections and expectations for the Parliament session that opens today with Danesh Prakash Chacko of Tindak Malaysia.

Image Credit:  Djohan Shahrin / Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Southeast Asia, elections don’t necessarily guarantee stability, as seen in Thailand and the Philippines where fragile alliances are on the brink. We unpack the political developments and what to watch with journalist Erin Cook.

Image Credit: EPA-EFE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sungai Bakap by-election is set for July 6th, with nomination day this Saturday. Both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalitions have unveiled their candidates, setting the stage for a closely fought contest due to a narrow 1,563-vote margin in 2023. We gaze into the crystal ball to discuss potential outcomes with Arinah Najwa Ahmad Said, Director, BowerGroup Asia.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 30% of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia are children, but they are barred from access to the public schooling system. On World Refugee Day, we speak to Deborah Henry, founder of the Fugee School to discuss the importance of providing education pathways for refugee children.

Image Credit: Gaie Uchel / Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang's official visit to Malaysia to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, resulted in the exchange of 14 MOUs, covering a wide range of cooperation including the export of fresh durians and visa exemptions. Collins Chong Yew Keat, Foreign Affairs, Security & Strategy Analyst at Universiti Malaya, analyses the implications and significance of all these.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has dropped seven places to 34th in the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, placing us below our neighbours Thailand and Indonesia, with Singapore remaining at the top. Dr Ong Kian Ming, the former deputy international trade & industry minister shares his views on what this means for the ambitions of the Madani government as well as what can be done to improve how foreign investors.

Image Credit: rawpixel.com / Freepik.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Vladimir Putin was welcomed in Pyongyang this week with much fanfare in his first visit to North Korea in 24 years. Together with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, they signed a strategic partnership to assist each other in the event of aggression against their countries. What does this renewed relationship mean for international stability and security? Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, Senior Fellow, at the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus weighs in on these developments.

Image Credit: EPA-EFE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dissolved the war cabinet, following the departure of key figures last week over the lack of a post-war strategy. The developments come as the two sides of the war consider a ceasefire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden earlier this month. What does this mean for the trajectory of the war? Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey weighs in.

Image Credit: EPA-EFE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) announced that they conducted a special operation to reduce tax leakage in cryptocurrency trading. We speak to SM Thanneermalai, Founder & Managing Director of Thannees Tax Consulting Services as to who and when is a person liable for this based on the guidelines.

Image Credit: fabrikasimf / Freepik.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this week signaled that Malaysia was looking to join BRICS, the bloc of emerging economies led by Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. We discuss the why and the how with foreign policy analysis from Bunn Nagara, Honorary Fellow at the Perak Academy.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.