Malaysia’s exports stumbled in January 2025, rising just 0.3%, well below the 5% forecast. With the trade surplus dropping to RM3.6 billion ringgit, is there cause for concern especially with a tariff storm brewing? Zafri Zulkeffeli, Deputy Chief Economist at BIMB Securities gives us his perspective.



Image Credit: Shutterstock.com 

Malaysia’s exports stumbled in January 2025, rising just 0.3%, well below the 5% forecast. With the trade surplus dropping to RM3.6 billion ringgit, is there cause for concern especially with a tariff storm brewing? Zafri Zulkeffeli, Deputy Chief Economist at BIMB Securities gives us his&nbsp;perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

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

Malaysia, Resilient Trade Bodes Well 

Recent fatal accidents involving students have renewed scrutiny over school safety standards in Malaysia, prompting the Education Ministry to review existing guidelines and introduce new measures. As concerns grow over infrastructure, enforcement, and accountability, what reforms are needed to ensure schools can provide a genuinely safe environment for students across the country?



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Recent fatal accidents involving students have renewed scrutiny over school safety standards in Malaysia, prompting the Education Ministry to review existing guidelines and introduce new measures. As concerns grow over infrastructure, enforcement, and accountability, what reforms are needed to ensure schools can provide a genuinely safe environment for students across the country?Image Credit: Shutterstock

Are Malaysia’s Schools Safe Enough for Students?

Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to post strong arrival numbers supported by regional demand and a rebound in visitors from China. But with geopolitical tensions disrupting travel patterns, fuel costs pushing up airfares, and competition across Southeast Asia intensifying, how resilient is Malaysia’s tourism model in a far more unpredictable global environment?


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to post strong arrival numbers supported by regional demand and a rebound in visitors from China. But with geopolitical tensions disrupting travel patterns, fuel costs pushing up airfares, and competition across Southeast Asia intensifying, how resilient is Malaysia’s tourism model in a far more unpredictable global environment? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Can Malaysia’s Tourism Boom Withstand Global Uncertainty?

Political tensions in the Philippines have intensified following gunfire near the Senate amid a standoff involving Senator Ronald dela Rosa and ICC-linked investigations into the Duterte-era drug war. As the Marcos and Duterte camps drift further apart and Vice President Sara Duterte faces mounting political pressure, what does this mean for institutional stability and the country’s political future?


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Political tensions in the Philippines have intensified following gunfire near the Senate amid a standoff involving Senator Ronald dela Rosa and ICC-linked investigations into the Duterte-era drug war. As the Marcos and Duterte camps drift further apart and Vice President Sara Duterte faces mounting political pressure, what does this mean for institutional stability and the country’s political future? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia, Resilient Trade Bodes Well

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