How to Make Statutory Bodies More Independent

A recent report by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) revealed that 78% of chairperson roles on federal statutory bodies lacked formal qualifications and political appointments remain widespread. Why have reforms been slow to take shape? We speak with Aira Azhari, Chief Execut…

GE16 Snap Polls? Bersatu Purges & Umno’s Open Door

With mounting speculation that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may call early GE16 elections to coincide with state polls in Melaka and Johor, we speak to Adib Zalkapli of Viewfinder Global Affairs to unpack recent developments. He weighs in on the internal tremors within Bersatu following the strat…

Winners & Losers of Higher Oil Prices

War in the Middle East has pushed oil prices sharply higher, fuelling concerns about supply disruptions and volatility across financial markets. How might sustained energy price shocks affect Asian equities and key sectors? Ahmad Maghfur Usman, Equity Analyst at Nomura Malaysia, joins us to unpack …

Airlines Brace For Prolonged Middle East Disruption

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are disrupting global aviation and tourism, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and forcing airlines to reroute flights longer. What does this mean for the global aviation sector and its recovery? We examine the situation with Shukor Yusof, Founder and Pr…

Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei, The New Iran Supreme Leader?

Nine days after the US‑Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Assembly of Experts in Iran has named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as its new supreme leader. Can he secure the survival of the Iranian regime amid bombardment by US and Israel forces? We’ll discuss this with Mohd Amirul A…

The RM6 Trillion Question: Is CMP4 Achievable?

The Securities Commission's Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030 was launched yesterday, a five-year roadmap to build a larger, more inclusive, sustainable and globally connected capital market, supporting the nation’s transition to a resilient high-income economy. Ng Zhu Hann from Tradeview Capital…

Brent Crude at US$100, Impact on Malaysia

Brent crude oil futures have surged amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, almost hitting US$110 a barrel before easing on hopes of de-escalation. Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Chief Economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia shares his insights into the impact of oil prices on Malaysia's fiscal positi…

Urgent Reforms Needed Before GE16

The defeat of the Prime Minister’s term-limit bill failed in Parliament last week has cast doubts on the Madani government’s commitment to pass much needed institutional reforms. What are the lessons learned from this debacle and what does this mean for other more controversial reform initiatives? …

China Contends with Multiple Challenges

All eyes were on the political elite of China as they convened for the annual Two Sessions meetings last week. The 2026 growth target was set at 4.5 to 5 percent and Beijing also underlined a renewed push into AI and strategic industries. What does this signal about the trajectory of China’s econom…

Singapore Banks Remain Resilient Despite New Headwinds

After reaping the rewards of a “higher for longer” interest rate environment over the past few years, the banking sector is facing new headwinds as lower benchmark rates and competitive pricing squeeze lending margins. How are the big three Singapore banks navigating this new landscape? We check in…