Morning Brief

The Covid-19 pandemic has inarguably set back efforts to eliminate poverty among Malaysian society. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the pandemic raised the incidence of absolute poverty to 8.4% in 2020, compared to 5.6% in 2019. The government has reiterated its commitment to tackle poverty and income inequality under the 12th Malaysia Plan, with the aim of eradicating hardcore poverty by 2025. But does the 12MP provide a sufficiently clear roadmap towards that aim? We discuss this with World Bank economist Ririn Salwa Purnamasari.

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US-China relations appear to remain cool under the Biden administration while Taiwan’s fate is the biggest uncertainty in the region, says Dr. Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer In Asian Studies from the University of Melbourne.

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Malaysia’s small businesses have withered in the face of the full fury of the pandemic, prompting the question of what more can be done to save them, with Budget ‘22 looming.

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The Melaka state assembly has been thrown into turmoil after four assemblymen withdrew support from the ruling government coalition this week. In response, the Melaka Governor Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam dissolved the state assembly paving the way for elections in 60 days, but will this lead to a resurgence in cases? We discuss the political ramifications of the chaos in Melaka with political commentator Dr. Hamidin Abdul Hamid.

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Professor Kim Kyung Hyun gives us his perspective behind the success of South Korean soft power and the leverage it gives South Korea in the global economy and geopolitics.

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The Melaka state assembly has been thrown into turmoil after four assemblymen withdrew support from the ruling government coalition this week. In response, the Melaka Governor Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam dissolved the state assembly paving the way for elections in 60 days, but will this lead to a resurgence in cases? We discuss the political ramifications of the chaos in Melaka with political commentator Dr. Hamidin Abdul Hamid.

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Professor Kim Kyung Hyun gives us his perspective behind the success of South Korean soft power and the leverage it gives South Korea in the global economy and geopolitics.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

After 10 hours of debate on Monday in the Singaporean parliament, a controversial law aimed at countering foreign interference in domestic affairs was passed. Dubbed the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act aka (FICA), the law allows authorities to order social media sites and Internet providers to disclose user information or block content that they deem hostile. James Gomez, Director of Asia Centre tells us the implications of such a law.

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Is raising the average household income to 10,000 ringgit per month by 2025 realistic? Calvin Cheng from ISIS provides a reality check, his perspective on minimum wage, and social protection goals under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

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Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government has allocated nearly RM3 billion towards prioritizing green growth. They have also pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% by 2030. How viable are these targets and what's missing from the 12MP in terms of environmental sustainability? We assess the government's commitment to the green agenda with Alizan Mahadi of ISIS Malaysia.

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