Morning Brief

Sri Lanka’s critical debt restructuring is facing further delays as China and India has yet to formally agree to a write-down of their loans. The IMF will not release the cash until China and India first agree to reduce Sri Lanka's debt and this would delay the bailout that Sri Lanka was supposed to get. We speak to Anushka Wijesinha of the think tank Centre for a Smart Future for some thoughts.

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US inflation print was released yesterday where core inflation came in at 5.7%, which points to signs of interest peaking and reaching a point of stability. This may be the much needed inflection point for fixed income and drive interest in this asset class. With the era of the King Dollar likely behind us and we get closer to the terminal Fed Funds Rate will emerging market bonds outperform developed market bonds? Additionally, should it be investment grade or high yielding? For insights, we speak to Ang Beng Kuan, Head, Fund Management Hong Leong Islamic Asset Management.

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Since 1959, Malaysia has seen 14 single coalition simple majority governments until the fateful GE15 that resulted in a hung parliament for the first time in our history. And after what seemed like a very long 5 days from the time we voted, the political uncertainty ended with the country’s five major parties, PH, BN, GPS, GRS and Warisan agreed to a coalition government. But is a hung parliament negative for a democracy and should there be a relook at our electoral system? For some answers we speak to Dr Wong Chin Huat, Political Scientist, Sunway University.

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The shortage of workers which is still plaguing many local industries. Recently, the Home minister said that employers applying for foreign workers from 15 countries will be able to get their applications approved within three days. This is limited to seven sectors and employers are now precluded from going through pre-conditional hiring qualification and quota eligibility. While this may be a welcome move, it is still a short term solution. Hence, what are some of the longer term measures the government should be looking at? For insights, we speak to Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of Malaysia Employers Federation.

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At GE15, UMNO had its worst performance, winning just 26 seats. With that, at its General Assembly, how much soul searching will take place and will there be a leadership challenge? Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow of the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research tells us what to expect.

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The shortage of workers which is still plaguing many local industries. Recently, the Home minister said that employers applying for foreign workers from 15 countries will be able to get their applications approved within three days. This is limited to seven sectors and employers are now precluded from going through pre-conditional hiring qualification and quota eligibility. While this may be a welcome move, it is still a short term solution. Hence, what are some of the longer term measures the government should be looking at? For insights, we speak to Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of Malaysia Employers Federation.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At GE15, UMNO had its worst performance, winning just 26 seats. With that, at its General Assembly, how much soul searching will take place and will there be a leadership challenge? Dr Azmi Hassan, Senior Fellow of the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research tells us what to expect.

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2022 saw the selloff of most asset classes, no thanks to the Federal Reserve adopting a very hawkish monetary policy. And with the IMF warning that the global economy will slow in 2023, what are the investment opportunities and how important is it to stay invested? 

This conversation is brought to you by Standard Chartered Malaysia.

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The prestigious Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas saw over 3,200 exhibitors from 173 countries showcasing their latest innovations. From Samsung’s bending display to a robot mechanised for elderly care and a slew of electric vehicles, the event is seen to highlight the tech trends that'll shape 2023 and beyond. The question is what innovations will see commercial value and perhaps be the killer application that propels the earnings of tech companies? For insights, we have with us Daniel Ives, Managing Director, Wedbush Securities.

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At the opening ceremony for the 2023 legal year in Putrajaya, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said that she welcomes improvements or amendments to the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 to ensure it is completely independent of the executive body.  Dato' Mah Weng Kwai, Former Commissioner of SUHAKAM,  who also served as Judge at the Court of Appeal gives us his opinion on this matter.

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