Episodes
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Najib’s Prison From Home: How It Happened
Dato Seri Najib Razak is now serving the rest of his SRC sentence at home, after a RM50 million fine was paid and the High Court issued a fresh order. But is the matter settled, or does it raise deeper questions about how a royal pardon is carried out? Emmanuel Samarathisa, Founder of The...
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Can Melaka Hit Its RM30 Billion Investment Target
Manufacturing contributed 35.4% of Melaka's RM50.3 billion GDP in 2025, and with the state election days away, attention turns to a RM30 billion investment target over five years, centred on semiconductors and high-tech industries. But can that target be met while a recent industry survey points…
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Singapore Banks Eye Stronger Growth Into 2027
Singapore's three major banks reported lower total income in the third quarter, as weaker non-interest income outweighed growth in net interest income and fee revenue. The question now is whether they can manage funding costs, preserve asset quality and build more reliable earnings. Thilan...
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DAP on Anthony Loke's Resignation: What Does It Achieve?
A court decision allowing Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest has left DAP in an awkward position, as it governs alongside Umno while remaining one of his sharpest critics. Anthony Loke has resigned as Transport Minister, yet other DAP ministers remain in...
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Prabowo vs Jokowi: A Widening Political Divide
Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has reportedly tendered his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto, following court rulings questioning his educational credentials and eligibility for office. It comes amid a widening rift between Prabowo and his predecessor Joko Widodo,...
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Can Malaysia Balance Data Centres and Communities
Malaysia has approved 117 data centre projects, with 55 operational and the rest in planning or under construction. But rapid expansion has raised local concerns over grid loads, water use and construction disruption, and the government has become more selective, with 24 new applications on hold....
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A Prison in Kenny Hills?
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak is now serving the rest of his SRC International sentence at home, until 23 August 2028, after the High Court corrected an earlier discharge order. A separate 15-year sentence in the 1MDB case still awaits him, and Malaysia has no specific house arrest…
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Melaka Polls: Can Amanah Win Seven Seats?
Amanah is contesting seven seats in the Malacca state election, with party president Datuk Sri Muhammad Sabu expressing confidence of winning all of them, despite the party taking just one of nine seats in 2021. Can an electorate that has grown by roughly 39% since then, and a slate of younger...
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Could Malaysia Withstand a Major Cyberattack?
France has accused Iranian state-linked hackers of targeting refrigeration systems at more than 700 retail sites, causing damage and even fires, a sign that cyber attacks now reach well beyond stolen data. Closer to home, Malaysia's national cyber threat level has been raised from low to medium,...
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New Zealand Election: A Majority on the Line
New Zealand's election has left a 131-seat parliament, 11 more than intended, with preliminary results giving Christopher Luxon's National-led coalition 67 seats, just one above a majority. National is the largest party, yet its party vote fell from around 38% to just over 29%, and Labour won…
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How Vulnerable Is Bursa to a Global AI Capex Slowdown?
A volatile week on Wall Street and mounting political scrutiny over Big Tech’s AI spending triggered sharp sell-offs across North Asian semiconductor giants, spilling over to Bursa Malaysia as the local Technology Index tumbled over 4% in a single session. Loong Chee Wei, Head of Research at…
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Post-Midterms : The Future of Trumpism and the GOP
Republicans have lost Congress, and now they are arguing over why. Party leaders point to the war in Iran. Voters, in one poll, put affordability first: 49 per cent cited it as a deciding issue, against 13 per cent for the war. Trump-endorsed candidates lost, including in traditionally…
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Indonesia's Wiretapping Scandal Shakes Prabowo's Government
Indonesia is facing mounting political tensions following allegations that senior police officials were involved in illegally wiretapping President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures. Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch breaks down these developments against a backdrop…
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Bank Negara Holds at 2.75%: What Comes Next in 2027?
Bank Negara Malaysia kept the Overnight Policy Rate at 2.75 per cent at its last policy meeting of the year, as most economists had expected. But interbank rates have risen about 30 basis points this year even with the OPR unchanged, a minimum wage increase is due next year, and US Treasury…
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Farhash vs Bloomberg: The Fight to Halt an Unprinted Story
Can the court block a story that’s not been published? Emmanuel Samarathisa, founder of The Malaysianist, joins The Morning Run to to unpack the legal fight between corporate figure Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador and global news wire Bloomberg. The former political secretary to the Prime…
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New Zealand Votes: A Government in the Balance
New Zealand heads to the polls with National and Labour closely matched, raising the prospect of another election decided by smaller parties and coalition negotiations. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faces scrutiny over rising unemployment and his government's economic record, while Labour's...
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ASEAN Rates, Inflation and the AI Boom's Uneven Gains
Inflation across Southeast Asia is charting an increasingly divergent course, with headline figures ranging from a moderate 1.8% in Malaysia up to a sharper 7.8% in the Philippines. While targeted fuel subsidies and domestic price controls have shielded households in economies like Malaysia and...
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Central Banks Are Buying the Gold Dip
Gold has shed about a quarter of its value since the US-Iran war began in February, but central banks are buying at their fastest pace in almost two years, with third-quarter purchases up 42%. China and India account for more than half of all buying, while Russia is the only major seller.…
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Is Trump Now A Lame Duck President?
Democrats have just taken both chambers of Congress, and the damage reaches deep into territory Republicans thought was safe. Texas now has its first Democratic governor in more than three decades, after James Talerico beat Ken Paxton for the Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa flipped the…
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Bersama Fights in Melaka: Is Winning Realistic?
Contesting 16 out of 28 state seats in the Melaka polls, Parti Bersama Malaysia enters the race as the third-largest contender behind Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan. Backed by a six-point manifesto, Ibrahim Sani, Official Spokesperson of Parti BERSAMA Malaysia, joins The Morning Run to...
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US Midterms: What the Democrats' Sweep Means for the Economy
US voters have just delivered what one guest calls more than a blue wave. Democrats have retaken both chambers of Congress, Texas returned not a single statewide Republican win, and Kansas elected a Democrat senator for the first time since 1932. Donald Trump stays in the White House for two more...
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Indian Stocks: Bargain or Value Trap?
India's economy is growing at more than 7%, yet its stock market remains one of Asia's worst performers this year. With valuations falling below historical averages, could this be an opportunity for investors, or are there deeper problems behind the selloff? Nitin Chanduka, Emerging Markets…
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Australia’s Inflation Fight: How Much Pain Ahead?
Australia’s central bank has raised interest rates to 4.85%, their highest level in 18 years, as stubborn inflation continues to challenge policymakers. Despite five rate hikes this year, rising energy costs, weak productivity and persistent domestic price pressures are keeping inflation above...
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Melaka Polls: UMNO on Duyong Straight Fight vs DAP
Duyong was decided by just 200 votes in 2021, and this time Barisan National's incumbent faces an even stranger fight. His challenger from Pakatan Harapan's DAP is someone he calls a friend, forged through years of cooperation in the state government. Melaka votes on November the 14th, UMNO is...
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Chancellor Merz's Asia Tour: De-Risking from China?
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently concluded a five-day tour across Singapore, Japan, and South Korea with a business delegation in tow, aiming to deepen economic ties as Berlin attempts to diversify away from China. At the very same time, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was...
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DAP on Melaka Polls: No Safe Seats & Vote-Splitting Risks
As Melaka heads to the polls on November 14, DAP must defend its existing strongholds while contesting three additional seats allocated under the Pakatan Harapan banner. This comes as the entry of Bersatu and Bersama shifts the electoral arithmetic, introducing multi-cornered vote-splitting into...
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FMM on PMI Rebound, Rising Orders & Margin Squeezes
Malaysia’s manufacturing sector returned to expansion in October, with the S&P Global PMI climbing to 51, its strongest reading since April. New orders surged at one of their fastest rates in four and a half years on the back of resilient export demand, yet manufacturers' business confidence...
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Hong Kong Stocks: Why the Disconnect?
Hong Kong's stock market is facing a sharp divide between its success in attracting new listings and the disappointing performance of Chinese companies already trading there. The Hang Seng Tech Index has fallen more than 30% this year, even as Hong Kong ranks among the world's leading IPO…
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Melaka Votes: A Test of Political Loyalties
Melaka heads to the polls on November 14, with 79 candidates competing for 28 state assembly seats in an election featuring straight fights and multi-cornered contests. With Barisan Nasional seeking to retain power, Pakatan Harapan looking to make gains and Perikatan Nasional facing a changing...
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Binance Hack: How Safe Is Your Crypto?
A reported US$6 billion cryptocurrency heist at Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, has raised serious questions about the security of digital assets and the protection available to investors. Although Binance says it has recovered 90% of the stolen funds and will cover remaining…
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Balabac, Sabah, and Malaysia's US-China Balancing Act
Located just 50 kilometres from the northern tip of Sabah, the Philippine island of Balabac is undergoing a military expansion, including a 3KM airstrip accessible to US forces under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Dato' Dr Ilango Karuppannan, former Malaysian ambassador and...
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Tycoons, Political Patronage, & SoftBank’s $50B AI Pledge
When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revisited the corporate fallout of the late 1990s Asian financial crisis in Parliament, he framed the exits of prominent business figures as the work of a "corporate mafia" run by political rivals. Emmanuel Samarathisa, founder of The Malaysianist…
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Data Centres, Renewables and the Power Sector Shake-Up
Malaysia wants to double renewables’ share of Peninsular Malaysia’s energy mix, from 11% in 2025 to 22% by 2035. Data centres must now source at least 30% of their energy from renewables and meet a 30% local content requirement. Ahmad Maghfur Usman, Equity Research Analyst at Nomura Securities,...
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Indonesia’s Protests: A Growing Challenge for Prabowo?
Indonesia is facing a wave of student-led protests over the government's handling of devastating forest fires, with public anger extending to spending priorities, employment and civil liberties. As haze spreads across Southeast Asia, President Prabowo Subianto faces growing scrutiny over his...
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Fed on Hold, Midterms Ahead: Where Next for US Markets?
The US Federal Reserve has held rates at 3.75% to 4% with inflation still above target, and two officials pushing for a hike. With the midterm elections on 3 November and growing questions over the returns on AI spending, investors face a crowded risk landscape. Lawrence Hatheway, Head of…
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Israel’s Election: Who Will Govern?
Israel's election has produced no clear winner, with Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc falling short of a parliamentary majority and Arab parties emerging as potential kingmakers. As coalition negotiations intensify, the possibility of a government led by Gadi Eisenkot raises questions about Israel's...
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Short-Term Rentals: New Rules, New Risks?
Malaysia is finalising nationwide guidelines for short-term rental accommodation, with proposed requirements for operator registration, local authority licensing and a 180-night annual rental limit. But could tighter regulation undermine property investments and restrict owners' ability to…
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Malaysia’s Producer Inflation: Who Pays the Price?
Malaysia's producer prices surged 12% year-on-year in September, driven by soaring global oil prices and rising costs in mining and manufacturing. Yet consumer inflation remains relatively subdued, with businesses absorbing much of the pressure through thinner profit margins. Nazmi Idrus, Head of...
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What's Behind South Korea's Current Growth
South Korea’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter, fuelled by booming demand for AI chips and stronger equipment investment. John Bromhead, Senior Economist at Moody’s Analytics discusses these numbers against a backdrop of contracting private consumption contracting, and what...
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SG4: Can Malaysia’s Northern States Compete?
PAS is seeking to strengthen its economic credentials through SG4, an initiative bringing together Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis to attract investment and accelerate development. With ambitions spanning manufacturing, green technology, logistics and infrastructure, the four states hope…
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The Battle for Congress & Trump’s Political Future
Americans head to the polls on Nov 3 in elections that will determine whether Donald Trump’s Republicans retain control of Congress. Bryan DeAngelis, Partner and Head of the Washington Office of Penta Group shares his views on what's at stake for all parties with inflation, the economic fallout...
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China’s Stocks : Time to Buy the Dip?
China’s CSI 300 has slipped into bear market territory, wiping out trillions of dollars in market value as mainland equities lag behind other major Asian markets. Marvin Chen, an equity analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence share his outlook on Chinese equities' valuations with corporate earnings…
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Melaka Election : A Changing Political Alliances
Melaka's 28 state seats are up for grabs when polling day takes place Nov 14th. Its election is also shaping up to be an important test of Malaysia’s political alliances ahead of GE16, with Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional negotiate seat allocations. Dr Oh Ei Sun…
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Lula’s Fourth Term: A Divided Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a historic fourth term as Brazil's president, narrowly defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested runoff. But with Bolsonaro challenging the result and conservative parties strengthening their position in Congress, Lula faces a difficult political...
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Sarawak Polls: GPS Dominance, MA63 & The Road to GE16
Sarawak's Legislative Assembly dissolves today, and with GPS holding 76 of 82 seats and a fresh RM14.8 billion election budget passed, the outcome is hardly in doubt. The real question is the margin of victory, whether controversies over a suspended DAP assemblyman and a VIP jet lease will dent…
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Haze & Accountability: Who Really Lit the Fires?
This year's haze is worse than usual, and pressure is hitting palm oil and forestry producers from three directions at once. Khor Yu Leng, Director and Senior Economist at Segi Enam Advisors, joins The Morning Run to unpack those forces. She discusses why satellite hotspots show where a fire...
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Malaysia’s Rare Earths: Beyond Raw Exports
Malaysia has approved its first export of unprocessed rare earths under a new regulatory framework, signalling a shift in its approach to developing a strategically important industry. With growing interest from American investors and intensifying competition between the US and China for critical...
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The Rohingya Crisis Malaysia Can’t Solve Alone
Malaysia hosts around 130,000 registered Rohingya refugees, and unofficial estimates put the number above 200,000. Indonesia hosts fewer than 2,600, and Thailand fewer than 500. With other countries falling short on their promises to resettle refugees, Malaysia has been left to carry much of the...
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Are Malaysian REITs Still Worth Holding?
Malaysian REITs are usually bought for steady income, but this year the sector has lagged the broader market by a wide margin. Rising bond yields and the end of the withholding tax break for retail investors have made REIT payouts look less attractive, and Budget 2027 didn’t bring that break…
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Inside Zetrix's Stock Collapse & RM2B Sukuk Risk
Zetrix AI Founder Wong Thean Soon’s stake collapse below 2% has breached a covenant on its RM2 billion Sukuk. So what happens next? Emmanuel Samarathisa, founder of The Malaysianist, joins The Morning Run to trace the four-step downfall of Zetrix, from market rumours that wiped out billions in...