The Covid-19 pandemic has driven Indonesia into a recession for the first time in 22 years, impacting the livelihoods of millions in the country. The government recently passed the controversial Jobs Creation Law to mitigate the fallout, amid heavy opposition from labour unions. How do Indonesian businesses view the challenge facing the country? We speak to Gita Wirjawan, former Indonesian Trade Minister and Chairman of the Ancora Group, with interests across a range of sectors from natural resources to education, on his prescription for economic recovery. Gita was speaking at the Leadership Energy Asia Summit 2020. Visit asb.edu.my/lesa2020 for more information.

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Budget 2021 is the largest in Malaysia's history as the country faces unprecedented times. Lim Guan Eng, Former Finance Minister, gives us his views on whether the Budget can address the crisis that lies ahead and what he would have differently. He also gives us his insights into the Malaysian political landscape and whether Pakatan Harapan is ready for the next general election.

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Should the government be the employer of last resort, in good times and in bad? Roshan Kanesan explores this with Associate Professor of Economics at Bard College, Pavlina Tcherneva.

Even in the best of times, there is unemployment and needless to say, 2020 is not the best of times. Jobs have become an even bigger concern as Covid-19 wreaks havoc on the global economy. That said, employment was a focus in the US even before the pandemic took hold, with many pointing the finger at globalisation and technological advancements for jobs lost.

Is a federal backstop for jobs the answer?

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The Covid-19 pandemic has compelled companies to speed up digital adoption because employees cannot access their workplaces as easily. Noelle Lim speaks to Bill Taylor-Mountford, VP of Blue Prism in ASEAN and Korea, on why and how Malaysian companies can make the leap in digital transformation, and much-needed changes at the top leadership level using South Korea as a benchmark.

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Can gyms like Fitness First, Celebrity Fitness, and FIRE Fitness not just survive the pandemic, but thrive?

Roshan Kanesan speaks with Simon Flint of Evolution Wellness, the owner of these franchises amongst others, about the impact of the pandemic to revenue and membership, the game plan to navigate the challenging environment going forward, how they're tapping into technology and digital resources, possible deals and acquisitions, as well as what a possible exit plan could look like.

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Budget 2021 is Malaysia's most expansionary budget in history with three main objectives to help the country overcome the crisis brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic. But do the initiatives meet the objectives and does it offer new ideas? Tai Lai Kok, Executive Director & Head of Tax at KPMG, and Tricia Yeoh, CEO of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), dissect the details of Budget 2021.

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Budget 2021 is Malaysia's most expansionary budget in history with three main objectives to help the country overcome the crisis brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic. But do the initiatives meet the objectives and does it offer new ideas? Tai Lai Kok, Executive Director & Head of Tax at KPMG, and Tricia Yeoh, CEO of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), dissect the details of Budget 2021.

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With Covid-19 casting a dark shadow on the economy with rising unemployment and slowing growth, much is riding on this expansionary Budget. But what should the government focus on considering the narrow fiscal space, and how do we ensure growth and prosperity for all?

Dr Muhammad Khalid, chief economist at DM Analytics, and Richard Record, lead economist of the World Bank, weigh in on this.

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A company that is benefiting from China's dual circulation strategy is JF Technology, a testing solution and equipment manufacturer that is partnering with Huawei to set up a testing facility in China. Dillon Atma Singh, the CEO of JF, discusses how it will protect its interest, other opportunities in China, the importance of having 5G infrastructure in Malaysia to attract foreign direct investments into advanced manufacturing, and when JF will move out of the ACE market.

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Americans head to the polls today, in what's been touted as the election of the century. Amid a bitterly polarized electorate, an ongoing healthcare crisis and an economic crunch caused by the pandemic, how will US voters decide? We discuss the prospects for both candidates and the likelihood of a contested election with Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Senior Fellow at the Miller Center, University of Virginia.

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