Morning Brief

European countries are facing some of the most sweltering temperatures on record, as severe heatwaves affect the UK, France, Portugal, Spain and Greece. This phenomena isn’t unique to Europe - India and Northern Australia went through extreme heatwaves in March, while Japan had the worst heatwave in 150 years last month. Sustainability specialist Dr. Renard Siew explains the links to climate change and why governments need to take stronger action to combat risks.

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This week, Parliament passed important reforms to the National Forestry Act, that would make it more difficult for state governments to degazette permanent forest reserves without scrutiny. In addition, the amendments also increase penalties for illegal forest activity. However, given that forests and land matters come under state jurisdiction, how effective can federal amendments be in conserving green spaces? Meenakshi Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia weighs in.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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The Malaysian fintech industry has boomed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with products like e-wallets, remittance apps and cryptocurrency trading platforms gaining traction across society. The Malaysian Fintech Report 2022 published this week by Fintech News Malaysia highlights progress in the financial tech sector over the past year. Chief Editor Vincent Fong goes through some of the main developments.

European countries are facing some of the most sweltering temperatures on record, as severe heatwaves affect the UK, France, Portugal, Spain and Greece. This phenomena isn’t unique to Europe - India and Northern Australia went through extreme heatwaves in March, while Japan had the worst heatwave in 150 years last month. Sustainability specialist Dr. Renard Siew explains the links to climate change and why governments need to take stronger action to combat risks.

This week, Parliament passed important reforms to the National Forestry Act, that would make it more difficult for state governments to degazette permanent forest reserves without scrutiny. In addition, the amendments also increase penalties for illegal forest activity. However, given that forests and land matters come under state jurisdiction, how effective can federal amendments be in conserving green spaces? Meenakshi Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia weighs in.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Following Putrajaya's announcement sweeping measures to reduce costs and with Minister for Economic Affairs Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed saying that the government would postpone or not continue any project that has yet to commence, we ask Sri Murniati Yusuf from IDEAS what are the implications of this cost-cutting exercise for all stakeholders.

Image Credit: zesphiete / Shutterstock.com

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Sri Lanka could see its GDP contract by more than 6% this year amid the current political and economic instability, which is also hamstringing key discussions on financial relief with IMF and bilateral creditors. Years of economic mismanagement and poor policy planning have created an untenable situation in the country, with Sri Lankans struggling to source basic needs such as fuel, food and medicines and inflation running beyond 50%. We discuss much-needed economic reforms for Sri Lanka to make its way out of crisis with economist Anushka Wijesinha.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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With the government agreeing to defer implementing the condition that at least 80% of the workforce in manufacturing companies must be Malaysians, before they are allowed to employ foreign workers by two years, we ask Dr Niaz Asadullah if this reprieve is much needed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following Putrajaya's announcement sweeping measures to reduce costs and with Minister for Economic Affairs Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed saying that the government would postpone or not continue any project that has yet to commence, we ask Sri Murniati Yusuf from IDEAS what are the implications of this cost-cutting exercise for all stakeholders.

Image Credit: zesphiete / Shutterstock.com

Sri Lanka could see its GDP contract by more than 6% this year amid the current political and economic instability, which is also hamstringing key discussions on financial relief with IMF and bilateral creditors. Years of economic mismanagement and poor policy planning have created an untenable situation in the country, with Sri Lankans struggling to source basic needs such as fuel, food and medicines and inflation running beyond 50%. We discuss much-needed economic reforms for Sri Lanka to make its way out of crisis with economist Anushka Wijesinha.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com