The US-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that was signed in October last year remains in limbo as the Trump administration tries to sort out its tariff regime. What does the uncertainty mean for US-ASEAN business activity? We break down the latest developments on US tariffs and discuss what growing US involvement in critical mineral supply chains means for ASEAN with Marc Mealy of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

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The global Sukuk market entered 2026 with strong momentum after a record year in 2025, when global issuance grew 25% year-on-year to surpass USD 300 billion for the first time. Then came the US-Iran war, triggering a 35% plunge in first-quarter global Sukuk volumes, effectively grounding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market to a halt in March.

Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings, joins The Breakfast Grille to break down how the asset class is navigating this ultimate geopolitical stress test.

We dive into why global yields refuse to return to pre-war baselines, how Malaysia’s local, ringgit-denominated market acts as a shield against international volatility, and whether the future of Shariah-compliant capital will be powered by blockchain tokenisation.

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Malaysia's food delivery market has evolved beyond restaurant meals into a broader contest over groceries, convenience, and quick commerce. As rivals tap into larger ride hailing, e-commerce, and fintech ecosystems, foodpanda is pursuing a more focused strategy centred on operational efficiency and rapid delivery. With competition intensifying and its parent company undergoing global restructuring, can foodpanda build a sustainable and profitable business without the advantages of a super app?

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For thirty years, Puspakom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-Hicom, has been the sole company appointed by the government to conduct mandatory inspections of commercial and private vehicles. This long-term monopoly officially ended in August 2024. How prepared is Puspakom to compete in an open market and can it overcome the legacy issues it has collected over the years? We discuss Puspakom’s strategy and outllook with Mahmood Razak Bahman, the CEO of Puspakom.

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Malaysia's hospitality sector is enjoying strong tourism growth, but hotel operators are also navigating rising labour costs, wage pressures, and intensifying competition. Marriott International continues to expand aggressively across both established and emerging destinations, raising questions about brand positioning, operational efficiency, and the long-term potential of secondary cities. As the industry evolves, how is Marriott balancing growth with profitability in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-changing hotel markets?

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With the Johor state assembly around the corner there is increased jostling between political parties, even those which are formally in alliances. And there has been quite a bit of chatter about wanting youth voices and with many parties claiming that their candidates reflect a mix of veterans and new faces, experience and youthful idealism. But what’s really at stake in the political contest and can our political leaders speak from a different script? We talk about the history of youth wings, cooperation during the Madani period, UMNO Supreme Council Puad Zarkashi's shock resignation and if Bersama is eating any party’s proverbial lunch.

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The US-China geopolitical rivalry and President Donald Trump's mercurial policies have upended the established multilateral order, to the detriment of countries like Malaysia that base development strategies on the rules-based system. Can multilateralism survive these geopolitical shifts and what role do smaller countries play in reshaping multilateralism for the future? We discuss these themes with Danny Quah, the Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the National University of Singapore.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Malaysia's refugee policy vacuum, rising anti-Rohingya sentiment, and whether refugee issues are becoming politically salient in the lead-up to upcoming elections. Adrian Pereira of the North South Initiative and May of the Refugee Emergency Fund and Reimagine Education, discuss refugee governance, shifting public attitudes, and whether Malaysia's decades-long approach is still fit for purpose.

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