Malaysia is again attempting to reform how migrant workers are recruited, amid longstanding concerns over debt bondage, misleading job promises and weak enforcement. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of North-South Initiative, shares his views on whether proposals like direct hiring, virtual interviews and AI translation can address exploitation on the ground.


This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates.


Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Malaysia is again attempting to reform how migrant workers are recruited, amid longstanding concerns over debt bondage, misleading job promises and weak enforcement. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of North-South Initiative, shares his views on whether proposals like direct hiring, virtual interviews and AI translation can address exploitation on the ground. This episode of The First Look was brought to you by Emirates. Fly better, fly Emirates. 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

Malaysia’s Migrant Labour System Needs Immediate Reforms

Bitcoin has surged more than 20% over the past week, crossing back above the US$80,000 mark before settling just below it. Is this simply a reactionary rebound, or something more durable amid the so-called debasement trade?

Hann Liew, Founder and CEO of Halogen Capital, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explore how a coiled crypto market was ignited by policy headlines, Treasury intervention, and record spot ETF inflows.

He also examines how Bitcoin is competing with AI for capital allocation, the potential spillover from 10- and 30-year Treasury yield spikes, and what upcoming policy signals from Jackson Hole mean for digital asset valuations.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Bitcoin has surged more than 20% over the past week, crossing back above the US$80,000 mark before settling just below it. Is this simply a reactionary rebound, or something more durable amid the so-called debasement trade?Hann Liew, Founder and CEO of Halogen Capital, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explore how a coiled crypto market was ignited by policy headlines, Treasury intervention, and record spot ETF inflows.He also examines how Bitcoin is competing with AI for capital allocation, the potential spillover from 10- and 30-year Treasury yield spikes, and what upcoming policy signals from Jackson Hole mean for digital asset valuations. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Did US Treasury Buybacks Spark Bitcoin's Surge?

Is the AI infrastructure race creating a dangerous subprime-style debt bubble? While Wall Street worries over massive CAPEX and corporate debt issuance among big tech hyperscalers, new growth engines are rapidly opening up across sovereign clouds, neo-clouds, and Southeast Asian optical hardware suppliers. Jonathan Curtis, Portfolio Manager at Franklin Equity Group, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explain why the economics of "agentic AI" and resetting legacy compute contracts support a multi-year growth runway, while exploring how potential policy signals from the Jackson Hole symposium could impact AI valuation multiples and discount rates.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Is the AI infrastructure race creating a dangerous subprime-style debt bubble? While Wall Street worries over massive CAPEX and corporate debt issuance among big tech hyperscalers, new growth engines are rapidly opening up across sovereign clouds, neo-clouds, and Southeast Asian optical hardware suppliers. Jonathan Curtis, Portfolio Manager at Franklin Equity Group, joins BFM’s Morning Brief to explain why the economics of "agentic AI" and resetting legacy compute contracts support a multi-year growth runway, while exploring how potential policy signals from the Jackson Hole symposium could impact AI valuation multiples and discount rates. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Beyond Nvidia: Neo-Clouds, Debt & The AI Capex Reality

Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters this week shows new Chinese installations on an islet near Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracels, shortly after Beijing completed the first phase of an artificial island at the reef — infrastructure analysts say could eventually support a larger military presence. Confrontations with the Philippines are growing more frequent, and Manila is responding by expanding its military drone fleet and deepening defence ties with Washington. Georgi Engelbrecht, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group, on where the dispute is headed, what it means for Malaysia's quieter approach to Beijing, and whether the long-delayed Code of Conduct is going anywhere.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters this week shows new Chinese installations on an islet near Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracels, shortly after Beijing completed the first phase of an artificial island at the reef — infrastructure analysts say could eventually support a larger military presence. Confrontations with the Philippines are growing more frequent, and Manila is responding by expanding its military drone fleet and deepening defence ties with Washington. Georgi Engelbrecht, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group, on where the dispute is headed, what it means for Malaysia's quieter approach to Beijing, and whether the long-delayed Code of Conduct is going anywhere. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia’s Migrant Labour System Needs Immediate Reforms

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