Podcast
Morning Brief
Hosted by BFM Media · EN
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.
152episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Who Pays for Malaysia's Stray Animals?
6d ago00:12:31Tap to summarizeMalaysia's shelters and rescue groups are stretched thin as costs are rising, and there are too many strays around. Now the government is weighing a special fund and tax incentives to ease the burden on both rescuers and pet owners. But will money alone fix a problem this big, and where should it actually go? We speak to Associate Professor Arie Dwi Andika, President of the Malaysian Animal Association, on what meaningful support would really look like.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →America's $1.15 Trillion Military Gamble
6d ago00:11:58Tap to summarizeThe US House has narrowly passed its version of the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorising the largest military budget in US history. Is Congress simply funding today's conflicts, or is it preparing for a fundamentally different security landscape? We speak with Dr Alexey Muraviev, Adjunct Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at Edith Cowan University, about what this record defence budget reveals about Washington's strategic priorities and the implications for global security.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →China Just Killed Paper Gold
6d ago00:10:31Tap to summarizeStarting today, China will stop offering retail paper gold and leveraged gold trading. Physical gold is untouched — but millions of retail traders now have to close their positions, sell up, or take delivery. Beijing calls it investor protection, after gold's wild swings this year caught a lot of leveraged traders off guard. We speak to Christopher Wong, Precious Metals Strategist at OCBC Bank, to unpack what the clampdown actually changes — and what it signals about where gold goes from here.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →What Does Sabah’s RM1.6 Billion Supplementary Budget Say About Its Finances?
1w ago00:11:53Tap to summarizeSabah's just added RM1.6 billion to its spending for the year, with more of it going towards development and infrastructure. We talk to Dr. Saizal Pinjaman of Universiti Malaysia Sabah about what that tells us about the state's finances — and what should come first in the next budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Building A Better Government In The Digital Age
1w ago00:09:48Tap to summarizeMalaysia has made significant strides in digitising government services, with initiatives such as MyGovApp and MyDigital ID laying the foundations for a more connected public sector. Dr Marco Larizza, Lead Public Sector Specialist at the World Bank, discusses the latest surveys outlining the strengths and weaknesses of Malaysia's approach to this.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Korea’s Bid For The Won To Go Global
1w ago00:12:09Tap to summarizeSouth Korea has unveiled a roadmap to internationalise the won — allowing foreigners unlimited won transactions through registered firms from January 2027, on the heels of extending trading to 24 hours a day. The goal: shed the barriers that have kept the world's 13th-largest economy classified as an emerging market by MSCI. But can Seoul open up its currency without inviting the volatility it has long guarded against? Stephen Chiu, Chief Emerging Markets FX Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, weighs in on what these reforms mean for the Won, foreign investors, and Korea's long-awaited developed-market upgrade.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →How to Elevate Malaysia-Bangladesh Trade
1w ago00:11:28Tap to summarizeBilateral trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh stands at roughly $3 billion US dollars, but remains heavy in Malaysia's favour. Following Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit, talks of a Free Trade Agreement have gained fresh momentum. So what will it take to correct this imbalance and unlock new areas of cooperation? We discuss this with Mohammad Anwar Shahid, President of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Can Malaysia Sustain Its Data Centre Boom?
1w ago00:11:05Tap to summarizeMalaysia has become one of Southeast Asia's leading data centre destinations, attracting billions in investment as demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence accelerates. But the industry's next phase of growth will depend on more than capital, with power, water, financing, and community acceptance emerging as critical constraints. As regional competition intensifies, what must Malaysia do to remain an attractive and sustainable hub for data centre investment?Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Global Oil Supply in Dire Straits?
1w ago00:10:56Tap to summarizeThe escalating US-Iran conflict is putting global energy supplies under growing pressure, with disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea raising concerns over oil markets. How much further could crude prices rise if tensions continue to intensify? Muyu Xu, Senior Crude Oil Analyst at Kpler shares her analysis.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Burnham Takes the Helm in Britain
1w ago00:14:26Tap to summarizeAndy Burnham has become Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade, taking office after an uncontested Labour leadership contest that followed Keir Starmer's resignation. He inherits a government grappling with weak poll numbers, a sluggish economy, and growing pressure from Reform UK, while promising a renewed focus on devolution and public services. Can Burnham revive Labour's fortunes and restore political stability, or will he face the same constraints that have defined recent British prime ministers?Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →