Morning Brief

The US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, has kept Malaysia at Tier 2. Criminologist Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid of Universiti Malaya discusses the progress that's been made, where the gaps are and what reforms might be needed for for Malaysia to reach Tier 1 - and sustain it?

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Following the Court of Appeal’s landmark decision in the Iris Corp case, the role and accountability of company directors are once again in the spotlight. Dr Ismet Yusoff, CEO of the Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG), talks about what this means for directors in Malaysia and the reforms needed to strengthen governance while still attracting capable leaders to serve.

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US President Donald Trump came into office vowing to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the American consumer. But will that relief come at the expense of pharmaceutical balance sheets? We discuss the implications of US policy for pharma companies with Sam Fazeli of Bloomberg Intelligence.

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A Malaysiakini investigation has uncovered a network of Facebook accounts allegedly used to artificially boost support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. We speak with Digital Political Communications Consultant Tai Zee Kin about how this kind of coordinated manipulation can shape public opinion.

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The governments of Indonesia and Thailand have recently unveiled stimulus measures to boost consumer spending and investor sentiment, at a time when both countries are experiencing social and political unease. How much impact might these initiatives have on economic growth? We get economist Krystal Tan of ANZ Bank to weigh in.

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Dr Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG, explains the shadow or underground economy and how the government can tackle tax leakages arising from it

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Gold has surged past $3,800 US dollars per ounce, breaking record as investors rush to secure safe havens. But how long can this rally last? For insights on what’s driving the momentum, we speak with Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC.

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Will Hamas Accept the Latest Peace Plan?

The White House has unveiled a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war, from a ceasefire to the release of hostages. But is this proposal truly feasible? We delve into the details with Dr Anas Iqtait, Senior Lecturer of Middle Eastern Studies at the Australian National University

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Earlier this week, the government unveiled the Steel Industry Roadmap 2035, introducing a carbon tax mechanism that makes steel one of the first targeted sectors. How will this be implemented, and could it be expanded to other industries? For insights, we’ll be speaking with Dr. Renato Lima, Associate Professor at the Asia School of Business.

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Currently, only the Prime Minister can decide when to dissolve the Federal Parliament, giving one person significant control over the timing of elections, says Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head of Strategy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Asia Headquarters. He recommends setting fixed election dates rather than holding simultaneous federal and state elections.

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