Category: Business

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is confident that it will be able to achieve 15 of the 18 Priority Economic Deliverables (PED) in time for the 47th Asean Summit next month. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry deputy secretary-general (trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa said of the 18 initiatives set by Malaysia this year, one has been completed,… Continue reading Malaysia confident of completing 15 out of 18 Asean economic initiatives by October

KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia Bhd will begin piloting new business models from the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4’25) to address the challenges faced by traditional mail services and to drive future growth. Group CEO Charles Brewer said Pos Malaysia is facing declining mail volumes, reduced foot traffic at post offices and intense competition in the… Continue reading Pos Malaysia to pilot new business models to tackle challenges, drive future growth

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s palm oil production rose 43,000 tonnes to 1.85 million tonnes in August (up 2.4% month-on-month), driven mainly by higher output in Sabah and Sarawak, which increased by 13,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes respectively. In contrast, production in Peninsular Malaysia began to decline after peaking in July. Exports in August were largely unchanged… Continue reading MPOC: Palm oil inventories rise to 2.2 million tonnes in August, highest since January 2024

PETALING JAYA: Nearly nine in 10 banks (88%) are already using predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs to some degree but only a tiny fraction (11%) described their hyper-personalisation strategies as highly advanced. This was revealed in an industry poll conducted by global analytics software leader Fico, which disclosed the challenges banks in Asia-Pacific face… Continue reading Asia-Pacific banks struggling to meet customers’ personalisation expectatons: Fico survey

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian clean energy player Solarvest Holdings Bhd has entered into a Joint Investment Framework Agreement with Brookfield, a Canadian investment firm, to develop, construct and operate at least 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects in Malaysia, with an estimated investment value of over RM5 billion. Solarvest executive director… Continue reading Solarvest, Canada’s Brookfield to jointly develop green energy projects in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: US tariffs and other short-term trade issues won’t affect Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Malaysia strategy, said AWS managing director for Asean, Jeff Johnson (pic). He also said AWS’s pricing philo-sophy is to “relentlessly drive effi-ciencies” in its own operations and pass those savings on to customers. “Our infrastructure strategy is built around long-term… Continue reading US tariffs, short-term trade issues won’t affect AWS’s Malaysia strategy

TRANSFER pricing is triggered whenever there are transactions between associated persons where one party has control over the other, or where both parties are controlled by a third party, or are relatives of each other. Determining whether there is control in a transaction between parties is fundamental. If there is no control, the issue of… Continue reading Tax Matters – What constitutes ‘control’ in transfer pricing?

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s plan to phase out vapes, beginning with open-system devices, is sparking strong reactions from industry players who warn that a poorly managed ban could devastate businesses, cost thousands of jobs and expand the very black market the government seeks to curb. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said last week the ministry… Continue reading Malaysia’s proposed vape ban raises fears of black market growth, industry collapse

KUALA LUMPUR: National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi), an initiative by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is seen as a strategic tool to empower entrepreneurs by driving e-commerce growth and enabling businesses to scale through wider market access, according to an economist. Putra Business School Professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said Nadi strengthens… Continue reading MCMC’s Nadi drives e-commerce, expands reach of local businesses: Economist

PETALING JAYA: National automaker Proton Holdings Bhd has entered its third overseas market with the official launch of its first electric vehicle, the Proton e.MAS 7, in Singapore last week. The launch also marked Proton’s return to the Singapore market after an absence of nearly 11 years, signalling a renewed commitment to regional growth and… Continue reading Proton returns to Singapore market with launch of e.MAS 7

PETALING JAYA: Gamuda Bhd’s net profit climbed 10% to reach the RM1 billion mark for the financial year ended July 31, 2025 (FY25), from RM912.13 million in FY24, due to strong domestic project strength. Revenue for FY25 increased 19.66% to a record RM15.97 billion. Fourth-quarter net profit rose 21.89% to RM332.15 million from RM272.49 million,… Continue reading Gamuda’s FY25 net profit reaches RM1b mark on strong domestic construction growth

PETALING JAYA: Lianson Fleet Group Bhd, formerly known as Icon Offshore Bhd, announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries Melisar Corporation Pte Ltd and Gimsar Corporation Pte Ltd have signed two memorandums of agreement for the acquisition of MV Pacific Ace and MV Pacific Pride for RM115.1 million. The latest acquisitions follow the purchase of… Continue reading Lianson Fleet to acquire two bulk carriers for RM115,1 million

KUALA LUMPUR: Short-term interbank rates are projected to maintain their stability throughout the coming week. Bank Negara Malaysia’s ongoing operations to absorb excess liquidity from the financial system will continue to provide this support. The central bank conducted daily interventions this week through various reverse repo instruments. These operations included reverse repo, Islamic reverse repo,… Continue reading Short-term interbank rates to stay steady on BNM liquidity operations

KUALA LUMPUR: Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives are expected to trend cautiously next week, following the United States (US) Federal Reserve’s (Fed) recent interest rate cut. SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said the bullion may enter into a consolidation mode next week, but any fresh signs of dollar weakness sparked by dovish… Continue reading Gold futures to trade cautiously after US Fed interest rate cut

KUALA LUMPUR: Global trade rules need a “reset” and should not be driven by short-term fixes or exclusive blocs, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. He noted that recent months have demonstrated how no nation can stand alone, with geopolitics and geoeconomics now deeply intertwined. “The global trading… Continue reading Global trade rules need reset, not short-term fixes: Tengku Zafrul

PETALING JAYA: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) has urged the government to simplify and adjust the Sales and Service Tax (SST) framework, warning that the new regime will increase construction costs and weigh on homebuyers’ affordability. Rehda president Datuk Ho Hon Sang said while residential properties are technically exempt from SST, many… Continue reading Rehda urges government to simplify, adjust Sales and Service Tax, cites rising cost pressures

PETALING JAYA: Land & General Bhd (L&G) is positioning itself for its next transformative growth phase, supported by a sizeable landbank of 2,815 acres and a strong pipeline of launches worth more than RM700 million in gross development value (GDV) for the financial year ending March 31, 2026 (FY26). At its recent annual general meeting,… Continue reading Land & General poised to enter next phase of growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded higher trade for the first eight months of this year with exports surpassing RM1 trillion a month earlier compared with 2024, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) said. Total trade rose by 3.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM1.98 trillion between January and August, with exports and imports increasing by 3.9%… Continue reading Miti: January-August exports top RM1 trillion, one month earlier than in 2024

SAN FRANCISCO: SoftBank Group will lay off nearly 20% of its Vision Fund team globally as it shifts resources to founder Masayoshi Son’s large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) bets in the US, according to a memo seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the plan. The cuts mark the third round of layoffs at the… Continue reading SoftBank said to be laying off 20% of Vision Fund team amid AI push

BEIJING: Hundreds of people lined up at Apple’s flagship store in Beijing on the launch day of the iPhone 17 yesterday in a sign that sales of the series are off to a promising start in the world’s second largest economy. Among the roughly 300 people that arrived in the morning at Apple’s store in… Continue reading Apple’s iPhone 17 launch sees long queues in Beijing

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sought an agreement yes-terday to keep the video app TikTok online in the United States and ease tensions between the two super-powers locked in a trade standoff. The agreement is at the top of the agenda alongside trade for the leaders’ first known call in… Continue reading Trump, Xi seek TikTok win to break US-China gridlock

PETALING JAYA: Johor Port Bhd, a member of MMC Group, has strengthened its container handling capabilities with the arrival of two Post Panamax container quay cranes, manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC). This strategic investment underscores Johor Port’s commitment to continuously enhancing efficiency and competitiveness as a premier multipurpose port in the… Continue reading Johor Port enhances container-handling capabilities with two new Post-Panamax quay cranes

BEIJING: Chinese consumer tech giant Xiaomi will remotely fix a flaw in the assisted driving system on over 110,000 of its popular SU7 electric cars, the firm and regulators said yesterday, months after a deadly crash involving the model. China’s tech companies and automakers have poured billions of dollars into smart-driving technology, a new battleground… Continue reading Xiaomi to remotely fix assisted driving glitch in 110,000 SU7 EVs

BEIJING: Chinese AI developer DeepSeek said it spent US$294,000 (RM1.2 million) on training its R1 model, much lower than figures reported for US rivals, in a paper that is likely to reignite debate over Beijing’s place in the race to develop artificial intelligence. The rare update from the Hangzhou-based company – the first estimate it… Continue reading DeepSeek spent only US$294,000 on R1 training

KUALA LUMPUR: Zoom Communications has introduced AI Companion 3.0, a major upgrade to its artificial intelligence suite that the company says will redefine how teams and businesses collaborate. The updated platform integrates agentic AI across Zoom Workplace and Business Services, offering new ways to turn conversations into actionable outcomes. “With AI Companion 3.0, our agentic… Continue reading Zoom unveils AI Companion 3.0 with agentic AI upgrades

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia-listed ICT Zone Asia Bhd achieved revenue of RM92.90 million for the six months ended July 31, 2025 (FY26), representing a 61.13% jump from RM57.65 million in the corresponding period last year, with solid growth across its core business segments. Net profit rose 53.68% to RM7.03 million compared to RM4.57 million previously,… Continue reading ICT Zone Asia posts 61% revenue growth, strong techfin momentum in 1H FY26

SEPANG: Paragon Globe Bhd, via its subsidiary Builtech Acres Sdn Bhd, has completed and handed over a purpose-built facility in Sepang, Selangor, to Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd. The ceremony was officiated by Selangor chief minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, together with other dignitaries, highlighting the state government’s support for public-private partnerships across Selangor. This project… Continue reading Paragon Globe hands over first healthcare facility to Selgate in Sepang

KUALA LUMPUR: Kinergy Advancement Bhd has been profiled in the Bursa Blitz Compendium 2025, a Bursa Malaysia initiative showcasing companies recently reclassified under the exchange’s sector framework. The Bursa Blitz Compendium serves as a research tool for investors, analysts, and stakeholders, offering insights into the strategic, operational, and financial implications of sector reclassifications. Kinergy Advancement… Continue reading Kinergy Advancement featured in Bursa Blitz 2025 after renewable energy reclassification

KUALA LUMPUR: Resintech Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Resintech Plastics (M) Sdn Bhd, has secured a contract from Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) valued at US$3.92 million, equivalent to approximately RM16.50 million. The five-month contract, commencing September 15, 2025, covers the supply and delivery of HDPE pipes and fittings (Batch 1) to support PPWSA’s ongoing water… Continue reading Resintech secures RM16.5m contract with Phnom Penh water supply authority

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan maintained its current interest rates while announcing plans to begin selling its holdings of exchange-traded funds and real estate investment trusts. The central bank kept short-term interest rates steady at 0.5% following its two-day policy meeting ending Friday. Two of the nine board members dissented from this decision and proposed… Continue reading Bank of Japan holds rates, announces ETF and REIT sales plan

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises are cautiously optimistic about the economy, but are sounding alarm bells on rising costs, weak demand and talent shortages, according to the Samenta SME Outlook Survey 2025/26, powered by Ipsos. While 65% of SMEs believe Malaysia’s economy is on the right track and 91% expect stable or higher… Continue reading SMEs cautiously optimistic but warn that not all is rosy: Samenta survey

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s shipping industry sees its outlook remaining positive as the nation is well-positioned to benefit from the reshoring and realignment of global supply chains, supported by its strategic location along the Straits of Malacca, competitive energy costs and established port infrastructure. Ahead of Budget 2026, Shipping Association Malaysia (SAM) chairman Ooi Lean Hin… Continue reading Malaysian shipping industry positive on outlook, eyes support from Budget 2026

PETALING JAYA: Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld), achieved RM3.84 billion sales in 10 months of financial year 2025 (FY25), exceeding its full-year target of RM3.5 billion. Announcing financial results for its third quarter ended July 31, 2025 (Q3’25) yesterday, EcoWorld said projects in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, contributed RM1.99 billion or 52% of the group’s… Continue reading EcoWorld surpasses FY25 sales target in just 10 months

PETALING JAYA: Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and Ericsson have launched the DNB-Ericsson Educate 21st Century Technologies Programme, a large-scale upskilling initiative to equip 40,000 Malaysian municipal and government employees with practical knowledge in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and automation. Offered free of charge, the programme is designed to build up Malaysia’s… Continue reading DNB, Ericsson launch 5G, AI, IoT and tech training for municipal, government servants

PETALING JAYA: Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), a subsidiary of Proton, announced that the Proton e.MAS 7 has once again secured its position as Malaysia’s No. 1 electric vehicle (EV) for August. Deliveries have reached a cumulative total of 5,811 units between Jan 1 and Aug 31, comprising 5,455 local sales and 356… Continue reading January-August deliveries of Proton e.MAS 7 total 5,811 units

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia has publicly reprimanded a former unit trust and private retirement scheme consultant for professional misconduct. Evangeline Rajamani Lazaroo, previously with Public Mutual Berhad, misled an investor into depositing RM40,000 into her personal investment account instead of the intended fund. She subsequently misappropriated the funds intended for the… Continue reading FIMM issues public reprimand against former unit trust consultant

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s property outlook for the second half of 2025 remains constructive with ample opportunities across multiple segments according to Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd. The investment bank highlighted that the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone is expected to spur industrial demand in Johor benefiting IOI Properties Group Bhd while also supporting residential growth for… Continue reading Malaysia’s property outlook constructive in 2H 2025 with multi-segment growth

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar on Thursday, as the greenback strengthened following the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points. At 8 am, the local note eased to 4.1943/1988 from Wednesday’s close of 4.1860/1900. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd… Continue reading Ringgit opens lower vs greenback amid US interest rate cut

KUALA LUMPUR: The manufacturing sector’s second half of 2025 (H2’25) is projected to be softer due to persistent cost pressures and weaker demand expectations, according to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). Its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the expansion of the Sales and Services Tax effective July 1, coupled with the imposition… Continue reading FMM projects softer manufacturing sector in second half of 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Digital Ministry is committed to building an ecosystem to support the country’s efforts moving towards becoming an artificial intelligence (AI) nation by 2030. Its minister, Gobind Singh Deo, said the ministry has taken concrete steps by utilising infrastructure and adopting technology to ensure the country’s readiness in developing an AI nation. “When… Continue reading Digital Ministry committed to building ecosystem to support Malaysia’s AI nation by 2030 goal

PETALING JAYA: Packaging manufacturer and property developer Scientex Bhd reported higher earnings for the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2025 (Q4’25), with net profit rising 13.6% to RM154.3 million compared to RM135.9 million in the previous year’s corresponding quarter. Revenue increased 2.1% to RM1.19 billion in Q4’25 from RM1.17 billion in Q4’24. The property division… Continue reading Scientex posts higher Q4 net profit of RM154.3m, proposes 6 sen final dividend