Morning Brief

The tech sector has been the main engine of recent U.S. growth, but a downturn could quickly rattle markets as tech stocks now account for around 40% of the S&P 500. Adam Slater, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics, explains how severely U.S. growth could be hit if the tech sector falters and whether the impact could rival the 2000 dot-com crash.

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Malaysian football has fallen to a new low after the FAM and seven foreign-born players were rapped by FIFA for forged documentation. What are the legal consequences that could ensue? We discuss accountability measures with sports lawyer Richard Wee.

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All eyes are on tourism as Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026. Nigel Wong, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), outlines the key support measures the industry hopes to see in Budget 2026 to attract more high-value and repeat visitors.

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On Saturday, residents of Bukit Damansara gathered to protest a proposed plan to redevelop Wisma Damansara into two 60-storey towers. We ask  podcaster and former Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin as to why residents object, what are the next steps forward and how can all KLites be protected from overdevelopment.

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Singapore’s three major banks turned in a mixed set of results for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting resilience in some areas but also pressure from narrowing interest margins and global uncertainty.  Sarah Jane Mahmud, Senior Industry Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence tells us what to expect in this tougher operating environment and which bank will do better.

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The 16th Sabah state assembly has been dissolved, setting the stage for state elections within 60 days. This will be a crucial test for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his embattled GRS coalition. Political analyst Dr James Chin from the University of Tasmania shares his analysis of what’s at play.

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Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister. However, William Pesek, columnist at Nikkei Asia, says she is unlikely to champion women’s rights or push for greater gender equality. Her biggest challenges may instead come on the diplomatic front if she seeks to renegotiate trade deals with the US.

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Budget 2026 for the transport sector should prioritise improving existing infrastructure rather than building more, says Transport Consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. He highlights three key initiatives he hopes to see included in the Budget: a National Bus Priority Programme, the establishment of a Road Safety Fund, and the smooth implementation of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Johor and Singapore.

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The GRS ruling coalition in Sabah is facing turbulence ahead of the state elections, with the exit of two member parties, STAR and SAPP last week, on top of the ongoing controversy of the Sabah mining scandal. How will this shape the dynamics of the state polls? We discuss the scenarios with Jo-Anna Henley Rampas of UNIMAS.

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As the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) marks its 58th anniversary, the question remains whether it has truly lived up to its mandate of combating corruption and abuse of power. Raymon Ram, President of Transparency International Malaysia, weighs in on the commission’s achievements and shortcomings

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