Advance estimates by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia’s GDP growth slowed to 4.4% in the first quarter of this calendar year, easing from 5% in the previous quarter. What contributed to this slowing expansion of our economy, and how might our GDP numbers be impacted by global volatility, especially US tariffs? We get some thoughts from Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN Economist, OCBC.



Image Credit: Shutterstock.com 

Advance estimates by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia’s GDP growth slowed to 4.4% in the first quarter of this calendar year, easing from 5% in the previous quarter. What contributed to this slowing expansion of our economy, and how might our GDP numbers be impacted by global volatility, especially US tariffs? We get some thoughts from Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN Economist, OCBC.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’s Q1 GDP Slows To 4.4%: What’s Behind The Dip?

Although Parliament passed the Government Procurement Bill 2025 in September last year, the government has yet to gazette a commencement date for implementation. We hear from Jacob Lee, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing on why enforcement of the act is urgently needed to support supply chain resilience for the industry.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Although Parliament passed the Government Procurement Bill 2025 in September last year, the government has yet to gazette a commencement date for implementation. We hear from Jacob Lee, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing on why enforcement of the act is urgently needed to support supply chain resilience for the industry. Image Credit: Shutterstock

FMM: Expedite Implementation of Government Procurement Act

Donald Trump still dominates the Republican Party, but recent pushbacks from Senate Republicans are raising fresh questions about whether limits to that influence are beginning to emerge. Disagreements over immigration, government spending, and the direction of US foreign policy are surfacing just as Democrats continue struggling to rebuild after their 2024 defeat. With political tensions rising, public trust under pressure, and concerns growing over political violence in the United States, are American politics entering a more fragmented and unstable phase ahead of the midterm elections?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Donald Trump still dominates the Republican Party, but recent pushbacks from Senate Republicans are raising fresh questions about whether limits to that influence are beginning to emerge. Disagreements over immigration, government spending, and the direction of US foreign policy are surfacing just as Democrats continue struggling to rebuild after their 2024 defeat. With political tensions rising, public trust under pressure, and concerns growing over political violence in the United States, are American politics entering a more fragmented and unstable phase ahead of the midterm elections? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Are Cracks Beginning to Show in Trump’s Republican Party?

A new Think City report paints a troubling picture of overcrowding, persistent stress, weak social support systems, and rising safety concerns inside many PPR communities. While public housing was originally designed to provide affordable shelter and improve living conditions for lower-income families, questions are now being raised about whether the system has kept pace with the realities of urban life today. So what does the story of Malaysia’s PPR housing tell us about the broader pressures facing cities, communities, and public policy and where should attention be focused moving forward?



Image Credit: Shutterstock

A new Think City report paints a troubling picture of overcrowding, persistent stress, weak social support systems, and rising safety concerns inside many PPR communities. While public housing was originally designed to provide affordable shelter and improve living conditions for lower-income families, questions are now being raised about whether the system has kept pace with the realities of urban life today. So what does the story of Malaysia’s PPR housing tell us about the broader pressures facing cities, communities, and public policy and where should attention be focused moving forward?Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia’s Q1 GDP Slows To 4.4%: What’s Behind The Dip?

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