Budget 2026 marks the first under the 13th Malaysia Plan and possibly the last before the next general election. With spending rising to RM419 billion and the deficit narrowing slightly to 3.5% of GDP, can Malaysia strike the right balance between fiscal discipline and growth? Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Bank Muamalat's Chief Economist shares his insights.


Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Budget 2026 marks the first under the 13th Malaysia Plan and possibly the last before the next general election. With spending rising to RM419 billion and the deficit narrowing slightly to 3.5% of GDP, can Malaysia strike the right balance between fiscal discipline and growth? Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Bank Muamalat's Chief Economist shares his insights. Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Shutterstock.com">Shutterstock.com</a>

Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Opinion and analysis of today&rsquo;s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Morning Brief

Budget 2026: Balancing Growth and Fiscal Discipline

From Unitree’s landmark IPO to Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games, China’s robotics industry has been a hot theme. But is commercial adoption catching up with market hype, or are investor valuations getting ahead of reality? We speak with Jianggan Li, Founder and CEO of Momentum Works, fresh off his trip to Shenzhen, to break down China’s hardware advantages, foreign chip dependencies, and what overseas businesses need to know.



Tune in to discover:

* Could China’s hyper-competitive robotics race mirror the early, chaotic stages of its EV and solar booms? 

* Are domestic chipmakers actually narrowing the gap with foreign rivals, or remains a critical vulnerability? 

* Why public market valuations are skyrocketing far ahead of narrow, real-world industrial use cases. 

* How China’s hardware engineering edge is shaping embodied AI, and why overseas businesses shouldn't dismiss viral robot missteps. 

* What key signals investors and business leaders should watch beyond the viral headlines

From Unitree’s landmark IPO to Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games, China’s robotics industry has been a hot theme. But is commercial adoption catching up with market hype, or are investor valuations getting ahead of reality? We speak with Jianggan Li, Founder and CEO of Momentum Works, fresh off his trip to Shenzhen, to break down China’s hardware advantages, foreign chip dependencies, and what overseas businesses need to know.Tune in to discover:* Could China’s hyper-competitive robotics race mirror the early, chaotic stages of its EV and solar booms? * Are domestic chipmakers actually narrowing the gap with foreign rivals, or remains a critical vulnerability? * Why public market valuations are skyrocketing far ahead of narrow, real-world industrial use cases. * How China’s hardware engineering edge is shaping embodied AI, and why overseas businesses shouldn't dismiss viral robot missteps. * What key signals investors and business leaders should watch beyond the viral headlines

China’s Humanoid Robot Boom: Hype vs Reality

Southern Thailand is experiencing its worst surge in violence in more than a decade, with dozens of coordinated attacks across the predominantly Malay-Muslim provinces near Malaysia’s border. Despite peace talks dating back to 2013, negotiations between the Thai government and separatist groups have repeatedly stalled, leaving communities caught between insurgency and security operations. What is driving the latest escalation, why has the peace process failed to deliver meaningful progress, and what can Thailand and Malaysia do to help break the cycle of violence?

Southern Thailand is experiencing its worst surge in violence in more than a decade, with dozens of coordinated attacks across the predominantly Malay-Muslim provinces near Malaysia’s border. Despite peace talks dating back to 2013, negotiations between the Thai government and separatist groups have repeatedly stalled, leaving communities caught between insurgency and security operations. What is driving the latest escalation, why has the peace process failed to deliver meaningful progress, and what can Thailand and Malaysia do to help break the cycle of violence?

Why Peace Remains Elusive In Southern Thailand

Ahead of its 72nd Muktamar in Kota Bharu, PAS has formally invited top UMNO leaders while closing the door on long-time ally Bersatu. Following months of warming ties and joint momentum across recent state elections, the Islamist party is attempting to balance grassroots frictions, seat allocation battles, and its own image as a ready-to-government national party. Dr. Azmil Tayeb, Political Scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to unpack what to watch from PAS’s coalition strategy ahead of the next general election.

Ahead of its 72nd Muktamar in Kota Bharu, PAS has formally invited top UMNO leaders while closing the door on long-time ally Bersatu. Following months of warming ties and joint momentum across recent state elections, the Islamist party is attempting to balance grassroots frictions, seat allocation battles, and its own image as a ready-to-government national party. Dr. Azmil Tayeb, Political Scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to unpack what to watch from PAS’s coalition strategy ahead of the next general election.

Budget 2026: Balancing Growth and Fiscal Discipline

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