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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.
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In 2025, more than 60,000 New Zealand citizen left the country including their former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and her family. Sharon Zollner, Chief Economist, ANZ Bank New Zealand, tells us the economic reasons for this and what measures have been put in place to slow the tide which, if left unchecked, could lead to negative consequences for this island country.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political reform agenda hit a setback yesterday, when the bill proposing constitutional amendments to cap the prime minister’s tenure failed to secure enough votes for the bill to pass. What does this say about the unity of the Madani government? We discuss this and political trends in Malaysia with Dr. Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The escalating war in Iran perpetrated by the US and Israel have shut down airports and airspaces in the region, impacting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, among the busiest in the world. Capt Mohd Radzi Mohd Alias of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, takes us through the passenger protection frameworks that are in place, when crises like these happen.The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. We know what your real priorities are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The recent attack on Iran by the US and Israel has not only caused oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices to soar, but also shipping carrier rates as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed off. We speak to Kenneth Loh, Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence about the outlook for the shipping sector and what it means for global trade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Iran is confronting its most serious leadership crisis since 1979 after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel air strikes on Saturday. What options does Tehran have to ensure regime survival and how are neighbours in the Gulf region reacting to the crisis? We discuss this with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is the American public onboard with President Donald Trump's military strikes on Iran? We discuss public sentiment and how the Middle East conflict could influence voter decisions in the November mid-term elections with independent pollster John Zogby.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
News that the government is setting aside RM480 million from the 2025 development budget to support loss-making Vantris Energy Bhd, ostensibly to safeguard vendors and industry capacity, has raised some questions. Independent business writer, P Gunasegaram, talks about the implications of this development.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Employees' Provident Fund has declared a 6.15% dividend for 2025 for both its shariah and conventional accounts, which some contend as being below expectations. Ng Zhu Hann, founder & CEO of Tradeview Capital shares his perspectives on the payout amid a stronger ringgit, shifting membership dynamics, and overall equities performance in 2025.The First Look is brought to you by HLB Priority. We know what your real priorities are.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Malaysia is set to revamp its pre-university admissions with a “single window, single offer” system and standardise First Class degree awards. But will these changes really level the playing field and improve our higher education system? We get insights from Prof. Zaharom Nain, Director & Adjunct Professor, Allianz Centre for Governance at Universiti Malaya.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The start of 2026 has signalled a diplomatic "thaw" as a parade of world leaders, including those from the UK, Canada, and Germany, descend on Beijing. What do these visits signal? Angeline Tan, Analyst, Institute Of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, gives us her perspective whilst we also discuss the upcoming US-China meeting at the end of March.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Telekom Malaysia is switching its 5G wholesale partner from Digital Nasional Berhad, to U Mobile, a move that comes as Malaysia advances its shift from a single to a dual network model. The announcement has unsettled the market and raised fresh questions about ownership, competition and the economics of 5G. We unpack the implications with Alex Wong, Managing Editor and Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
DAP is pushing for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into allegations of a “corporate mafia” involving businessmen and senior MACC officials. Syahredzan Johan, DAP's national vice-chairman and MP for Bangi, explains why the party views the corporate mafia allegations as serious and what an RCI can realistically achieve, and how the government should respond.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The escalating bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery is heating up as Paramount Skydance has made a "best and final" $31-per-share all-cash offer, officially pressuring the Warner Bros. board to reconsider its existing merger agreement with Netflix. Geetha Ranganathan, Senior Media Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence, tells us who might emerge victorious and what the outlook is for the rest of the sector in 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Recent high-profile cases have brought domestic and sexual violence back into public focus, raising difficult questions about enforcement, transparency and institutional accountability. Gandipan Gopalan, Advocacy Manager at the Women's Aid Organisation talks about how the existing legal framework operates in practice and the barriers survivors face in seeking justice.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Malaysia has tabled a constitutional amendment to separate the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor roles, ending decades of concentrated prosecutorial power in a single office. But does it truly strengthen independence and accountability? We speak to constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet to examine the safeguards, the gaps and what this reform could mean for the rule of law in Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After 24 years without revision, the Dewan Rakyat has passed the Capitation Grant Bill 2026, updating how federal funds are distributed to states based on population and introducing a 10-year review cycle. Professor Tricia Yeoh, from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, shares her view on how this marks a meaningful step toward fairer and more transparent state funding.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The political landscape in Philippines has shifted from a fragile alliance to political rupture, between its two most powerful dynasties, the Marcos and the Dutertes, because the "UniTeam" that dominated the 2022 elections is officially dead. Erin Cook, Southeast-Asia Based Journalist gives us her views on what this means for the country's political future.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
President Donald Trump delivers his first official State of the Union address in his second term on Tuesday. Can his messaging change the mood of the American public that has grown uneasy with his economic and immigration policies? We get a preview of what to expect from Dr Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science & International Affairs, at the University of Mary WashingtonImage Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
JKOM or the Community Communications Department, is under renewed scrutiny as it sharpens its focus on political security and public trust, raising questions about its evolution and relevance in Malaysia’s crowded digital communications landscape. Dr Benjamin Loh, a lecturer in Media & Communications at Monash University, talks about whether or not JKOM has truly evolved and what its really purpose today is.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US Supreme Court delivered a stunning blow to the Trump administration by ruling that the President has no unilateral authority to impose broad tariffs. Although the decision has technically invalidated the legal basis for the trade barriers Malaysia had been navigating for the past year, how should we tread? Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor's University and former Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry gives us his perspective.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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