Morning Brief

Teenage pregnancy continues to challenge Malaysia, with over 6,000 cases recorded between 2023 and March 2025. How effective are current programs in supporting at-risk teens, and what more needs to be done? We speak with Hafiza Abdul Samath, Advocacy Officer, Women Aid Organization (WAO) on policy interventions needed.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the implications of Trump’s unprecedented interventions in the US tech sector? George Chen, partner and co-chair of the Digital Practice at The Asia Group shares his take if the US's government's cut from semiconductor chip sales to China and investment in Intel will support or hinder growth of this hot industry?

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The interim government in Bangladesh has announced elections in February 2026, almost two years after the student-led protests brought down the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We discuss the political developments in Bangladesh in the year since the revolution with Dr. Amit Rajan of NUS.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness is a challenge faced by many countries, and the reality is that it can happen to anyone, at any time. Dr. Nur Fareza Mustapha, Research Associate at the Khazanah Research Institute, discusses potential solutions to this chronic issue and why tackling it requires collective responsibility.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be closer to serving his prison sentence at home after the Federal Court dismissed the prosecution’s appeal in his judicial review over a royal addendum. What does this mean for his chances of house arrest? We speak with criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee to explain the implications of this ruling.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold prices have been on a remarkable run this year, rising over 27% to hover near record highs, but recently bullion markets were thrown into brief turmoil after a surprise US Customs ruling suggested gold imports could face hefty tariffs. Christopher Wong, FX Strategist, OCBC will be telling us how this has impacted gold prices, and whether its rally so far will continue for the rest of 2025.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The delisting of Evergrande, once the poster child of China’s property boom, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggling real estate sector. Brock Silvers, Managing Director of Kaiyuan Capital, weighs in on the deep-rooted challenges facing the market and why a rebound remains a distant prospect.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Finance recently paid tribute to the high-income earners that contribute 86% of individual tax income, but this also highlights Malaysia's narrow tax collection base. What tax reforms are needed to make government revenue generation more sustainable? We discuss this with Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nursing shortages are putting Malaysia’s public healthcare under pressure, prompting calls to import foreign nurses, particularly from Indonesia. But how can the country balance urgent needs with protecting local jobs? We get insights from Prof. Dr. Chong Mei Chan, Head of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine at University of Malaya.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A holistic approach is needed to combat bullying in Malaysia, one that includes compassionate measures for both the bully and the victim, while moving away from a victim-blaming mentality. Dr. Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, Criminologist and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya, discusses the finer points of tackling bullying, beginning with its very definition.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.