Malaysia’s semiconductor sector is coming off a strong run, with E&E exports making up over 40 percent of total exports and continuing to grow into 2026. But new risks are emerging from the Iran conflict, including risks to the supply of helium, which is a critical input in chipmaking. We look at how exposed the sector is and what this means going forward with Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, President, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).

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Chinese EV companies, in particular BYD, have seen a surge in sales following the outbreak of war in Iran and the ensuing energy crisis. What does that mean for the outlook for the sector this year, and which companies might do well? We discuss the trends with Joanna Chen, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

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Investors are being selective about their portfolio positioning amid inflamed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Within Asia, that has started to translate into renewed interest in markets like Malaysia, where relative stability, yield, and diversification are coming back into focus. But can this investment momentum be sustained? We discuss this with Dr. Calvin Cheong, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting at HELP University.

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• Malaysia’s food prices are under pressure as global tensions in West Asia disrupt fertiliser supplies and push up energy costs. How will these global shocks affect the prices of everyday essentials? We discuss these issues with Professor Datin Paduka Dr Fatimah Mohamed Arshad, Food Security Chair at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security of UPM.

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Even as the war in Iran continues with no clear end, President Donald Trump already has his sights on another country: Cuba. The island state is undergoing a severe energy crisis as a result of a US blockade on oil supplies to Havana. Why is Trump threatening to take over Cuba? We discuss Cuba-US relations with Prof. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda from UCLA.

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Is Malaysia’s rental market working fairly for everyone? Jason Wee, Executive Director of Architects of Diversity, discusses a study the anti-discrimination NGO has conducted exploring how racial discrimination is shaping access to housing and if a Rental Tenancy Act could make a difference.

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As countries grapple with rising pump prices resulting from the war in Iran, an unwitting beneficiary could be electric vehicles or EVs. What is the consumer appetite for EVs in the current economy and what policies could spur a higher take-up rate? We discuss the industry landscape with Datuk Dennis Chuah, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia (EVAM).

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The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to traffic for over two weeks since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war and creating an unprecedented global energy crisis. What does a prolonged war mean for oil markets? We discuss the implications of the disruption in oil supply with Muyu Xu, Senior Crude Oil Analyst with data analytics firm Kpler.

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The federal government has reaffirmed Sabah’s right to a 40% revenue share under MA63, but legal appeals, technical challenges, and political realities continue to complicate its implementation. Ariff Adi Putera Anwar from the Institute for Development Studies Sabah discusses this issue.

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The Malaysia-US Agreement for Reciprocal Trade (ART) is up in the air after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs in February. What lessons should Malaysia learn from negotiating the controversial deal? Trade expert Dr. Jayant Menon of the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute weighs in.

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