Morning Brief

This week on Super Tuesday, 16 states and 1 territory held primaries for the presidential race, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump winning comfortably. What does this mean for the November 2024 elections? We discuss this with political scientist Wendy Schiller of Brown University. 

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Recently, the chairman of Bursa Malaysia has advocated for a mandatory disclosure of diversity, equity and inclusivity across all businesses. In a multiracial society where there could be varying availability of a diverse workforce based on different factors, How best can we cultivate a diverse workforce while maintaining a balance with competency? Deepa George, Managing Consultant of MYHRC Services tells us.

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Currently in the palm oil sector, smallholders manage 27% of the total palm oil area in Malaysia. To increase yield, the government  has suggested consolidating them into clusters overseen by medium or large estates. Could this yield the desired results? Khor Yu Leng, Economist at Segi Enam Advisors shares her insights on the merits and drawbacks of this proposed strategy.

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The government is currently considering implementing home detention for inmates to address prison overcrowding. However, there are concerns about whether this could inadvertently favour privileged or powerful criminals. Jerald Joseph, Chair of CSO Platform for Reform shares his insights on strategies and accountability needed for this implementation

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Sabah's Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Noor recently highlighted the record gains in state revenue in 2023, amounting to RM7 billion ringgit. There are also targets of 4% GDP growth for 2024. We ask Dr. Janis Yasin, Senior Lecturer, UiTM Sabah if the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap will help the state achieve its goals and where are the gaps.

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Earlier this week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed leaders from the ASEAN member states at a special summit in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also made his first official visit to the country to forge better bilateral ties. We will be speaking to Thomas Daniel, senior fellow at ISIS Malaysia for his take on the outcome of the summit

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The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) has unveiled "Reforming Our Institutions: Blueprint for Reforms," last week highlighting 13 priority institutional reforms for the country. How much of this is actually reflected in the government's reform agenda? We discuss this with Salsabila Abdul Manan, Senior Executive with IDEAS.

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Putrajaya wants to reinstate the cabotage policy exemption for foreign vessels conducting undersea cable repairs to help spur the growth of the digital economy and attract foreign investments in the data centre industry. Dr Rais Hussin, CEO of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), explains what this might mean for the shipping industry and Malaysia’s economy.

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Bersatu has passed a motion to amend its constitution that aims to nullify the membership of its MPs who support rival parties. It now requires the Registrar of Societies' approval. If that happens, the 6 Bersatu MPs who have stated their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, might see their memberships end and likely trigger by-elections. Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research helps us understand the issues at hand.

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China's two main political parties - the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - have begun their annual meeting. This is the time legislators will approve new laws, political appointments, and government work reports, among others. Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow at The Lowy Institute gives us an idea of what to expect during these sessions.

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