European business confidence in ASEAN is rebounding, with 78% of surveyed companies expecting to increase trade and investment in the region. Yet expansion is becoming more selective, while non-tariff barriers, regulatory fragmentation and uncertainty over US trade policy continue to weigh on companies. With Malaysia among the preferred markets for expansion and 50 years of EU-ASEAN relations approaching, what needs to change for ASEAN to turn strong investor interest into broader and more sustainable growth?


Image Credit: Shutterstock

European business confidence in ASEAN is rebounding, with 78% of surveyed companies expecting to increase trade and investment in the region. Yet expansion is becoming more selective, while non-tariff barriers, regulatory fragmentation and uncertainty over US trade policy continue to weigh on companies. With Malaysia among the preferred markets for expansion and 50 years of EU-ASEAN relations approaching, what needs to change for ASEAN to turn strong investor interest into broader and more sustainable growth? Image Credit: Shutterstock

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

Why European Businesses Are Betting on ASEAN

Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, but its arrival comes with an eye-watering RM9,499 starting price and a broader shift upwards in iPhone pricing. With no base-model iPhone 18 and the previous generation remaining at RM4,299, Apple appears to be testing just how much consumers will pay for a premium smartphone. Has Apple delivered enough innovation to justify the higher prices, and could its strategy give Samsung, Google, Huawei and Xiaomi cover to raise their prices too?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, but its arrival comes with an eye-watering RM9,499 starting price and a broader shift upwards in iPhone pricing. With no base-model iPhone 18 and the previous generation remaining at RM4,299, Apple appears to be testing just how much consumers will pay for a premium smartphone. Has Apple delivered enough innovation to justify the higher prices, and could its strategy give Samsung, Google, Huawei and Xiaomi cover to raise their prices too? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Has Apple Made Smartphones Too Expensive?

Malaysia has spent years debating political financing reform, yet there is still no dedicated law governing how political parties raise, spend and disclose their funds. With the government now consulting all 72 registered parties on proposed legislation, questions remain over donor transparency, contribution limits, enforcement and who should regulate the system. Could public funding eventually reduce the influence of wealthy donors, and what safeguards must Malaysia put in place before taxpayers are asked to fund political parties?


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia has spent years debating political financing reform, yet there is still no dedicated law governing how political parties raise, spend and disclose their funds. With the government now consulting all 72 registered parties on proposed legislation, questions remain over donor transparency, contribution limits, enforcement and who should regulate the system. Could public funding eventually reduce the influence of wealthy donors, and what safeguards must Malaysia put in place before taxpayers are asked to fund political parties? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Who Really Funds Malaysia’s Political Parties?

Air India is seeking around US$1.1 billion in fresh equity from its owners, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, after posting a record loss of more than US$2 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. The request has become a flashpoint in Singapore's parliament — SIA holds a 25% stake in the carrier and is itself majority-owned by Temasek, prompting opposition lawmakers to question whether state-linked funds should be propping up a loss-making Indian airline. Shukor Yusof, Founder and Primary Analyst at Endau Analytics, joins us to assess Air India's financial position, why SIA has lost money on every foreign airline investment it has made in over three decades, and at what point the national carrier should consider cutting its losses.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Air India is seeking around US$1.1 billion in fresh equity from its owners, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, after posting a record loss of more than US$2 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. The request has become a flashpoint in Singapore's parliament — SIA holds a 25% stake in the carrier and is itself majority-owned by Temasek, prompting opposition lawmakers to question whether state-linked funds should be propping up a loss-making Indian airline. Shukor Yusof, Founder and Primary Analyst at Endau Analytics, joins us to assess Air India's financial position, why SIA has lost money on every foreign airline investment it has made in over three decades, and at what point the national carrier should consider cutting its losses. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Why European Businesses Are Betting on ASEAN

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