Category: Business

KUALA LUMPUR: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia and Singapore are expected to transform into agile, technology-driven organisations over the next five years, thriving in an increasingly digital landscape. Cloud adoption will shift the SME landscape from being a strategic advantage to an essential foundation for survival and scalable growth. These businesses will build… Continue reading CKP, OA Group collaborate to support SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR: Local sugar producer MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd remains confident in its competitive position despite the influx of imported sugar from Thailand. The group is well positioned to compete with imported products, leveraging its established domestic scale and operational capabilities and will continue to maintain its market presence and deliver value to customers in… Continue reading MSM Malaysia unfazed by influx of sugar imported from Thailand

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and other Asean member countries should collectively establish a minimum wage standard to prevent the bloc from undercutting one another with lower salaries. “It is important that Malaysia and Asean economies collectively set a floor to ensure there is no race-to-the-bottom in wage suppression as women will be most hurt,“ Investment, Trade… Continue reading Asean urged to set minimum wage standard, provide stronger support to keep women in workforce

PETALING JAYA: NanoMalaysia Bhd and Cement Industries of Malaysia Bhd (CIMA) have entered into a partnership to drive the development of graphene-enhanced concrete, aiming to transform Malaysia’s construction industry by addressing critical environmental and performance challenges. The partnership also aims to pioneer the integration of nanotechnology into the construction industry, focusing on delivering concrete solutions… Continue reading NanoMalaysia, CIMA team up to develop graphene-enhanced concrete

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia-based Wide Agro Ventures Sdn Bhd has sealed a strategic partnership with Orec Co Ltd, a company headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, to establish a production facility and distribution centre at Seri Iskandar Industrial Park, Perak, with an initial investment of RM30 million. The strategic initiative will significantly expand Malaysia’s agricultural production capacity and… Continue reading Malaysia’s Wide Agro Ventures, Japan’s Orec to invest in Perak production facility, distribution centre

KUALA LUMPUR: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (SME Bank) sentiment index for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises for the first half of 2025 has signalled continued confidence despite a moderating outlook. In a statement today, SME Bank said its SME Sentiment Index registered a solid 55.2, reflecting continued optimism among entrepreneurs nationwide while… Continue reading MSMEs remain confident in first-half 2025 but outlook moderating: SME Bank survey

BANGI: The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities has instructed for an immediate engagement session with palm oil industry players following concerns over the implementation of a five per cent Sales and Service Tax (SST) on the oleochemical sector starting next month. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, said that the ministry needs to obtain… Continue reading Ministry initiates urgent discussions with palm oil industry over upcoming 5% SST on oleochemical sector

CYBERJAYA: Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX), through subsidiary Innovation Associates Consulting Sdn Bhd, has secured a contract from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to continue providing support for the Integrated Government Financial and Management System (iGFMAS), a key digital backbone of the country’s public finance operations. Valued at RM103.76 million and spanning across 60 months, the… Continue reading DNeX secures RM103.76m contract for Malaysia’s financial backbone, iGFMAS

JAKARTA: reNIKOLA Holdings Sdn Bhd, a pure-play renewable energy power producer, signed a MoU with Indonesia’s PT Pertamina Gas, through its wholly owned subsidiary PT reNIKOLA Primer Energi (PT RPE). The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration for biogas business development across the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions. The MoU was signed during the Pertagas Integrated Pipeline… Continue reading reNIKOLA partners with Pertamina Gas on biogas plans

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is drawing increasing interest from international investors, particularly from Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe, as Johor positions itself as a strategic gateway to the Asean market. Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) chief executive Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said recent investment enquiries received by the Invest Malaysia… Continue reading JS-SEZ draws global investor interest

KUCHING: Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd recently launched its inaugural report titled Navigating ESG In Sarawak: Insights From SMEs (Sarawak SME ESG Report), a landmark initiative aimed at advancing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sarawak. The Sarawak SME ESG Report was developed through a comprehensive study conducted… Continue reading Alliance Bank launches Sarawak SME ESG Report

KUALA LUMPUR: Asia Platinum Capital Bhd (APC), marked a major milestone recently when it signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with regional and international partners in the ESG and sustainable investment space during the Asean Leadership & Partnership Forum 2025. The signing ceremony was led by APC CEO Ramlie Kamsari and witnessed by APC chairman… Continue reading Asia Platinum Capital signs three MoUs to drive regional investments

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s fiscal reform initiatives, including expanding the scope of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) and rationalising electricity and diesel subsidies, are aimed at ensuring fiscal sustainability while protecting lower-income groups and essential sectors. Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican said one of the key fiscal reform elements is the Fiscal Responsibility… Continue reading Fiscal reform to balance financial sustainability, social equity: Treasury sec-gen

PETALING JAYA: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), through wholly owned subsidiary Petronas Suriname E&P BV, has signed a production sharing contract (PSC) for Block 66, located in the deepwater region offshore Suriname. The agreement was signed with Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname NV and Paradise Oil Company NV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Staatsolie. Under the PSC, Petronas… Continue reading Petronas expands deepwater portfolio in Suriname with PSC for Block 66

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s achievement in climbing 11 positions to 23rd spot in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) underscores the strong policy measures and reforms implemented by the government and businesses in strengthening the economic fundamentals and making the nation more competitive on the world stage, said Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta).… Continue reading Samenta: Malaysia’s surge in competitiveness due to policy and reforms by government and businesses

PETALING JAYA: AkzoNobel, a Dutch multinational firm which creates paints and performance coatings for both industry and consumers worldwide, has launched its research and development (R&D) centre in Nilai – reinforcing its long-term commitment to innovation, sustainability, and growth in the Southeast Asian region. Specialising in advanced decorative paint technologies, the facility places emphasis on… Continue reading AkzoNobel opens Southeast Asia R&D hub in Nilai

KUALA LUMPUR: Metal fabricator and assembler Wentel Engineering Holdings Bhd is optimistic that its revenue growth will be good in 2026, especially with its business operations remaining strong, particularly in Singapore. Group CEO Chuah Chong Syn said the company targets its products at the Singaporean market more than the local market in Malaysia. “Singapore’s electronic… Continue reading Wentel Engineering optimistic on revenue growth for 2026, eyes Singapore market

KUALA LUMPUR: Pharmaniaga Bhd is targeting to exit Practice Note 17 (PN17) status as early as end-2025 or by the first quarter of 2026. Managing director Zulkifli Jafar said its RM352.2 million rights issue and private placement will be the driver of its regularisation plan. “We are targeting, we are hoping, in the best-case scenario,… Continue reading Pharmaniaga aims to exit P17 status by end-2025 or first-quarter 2026

OIL prices rose in Asian trade on Wednesday, extending a 4% gain from the previous session on worries that the Iran-Israel conflict could disrupt supplies. Brent crude futures rose 26 cents, or 0.3%, to $76.71 a barrel by 0440 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $75.19 per barrel.… Continue reading Oil prices keep climbing as Iran-Israel conflict enters sixth day

THE world’s three best-selling makers of bitcoin mining machines – all of Chinese origin – are setting up manufacturing footholds in the United States as President Donald Trump’s tariff war reshapes the cryptocurrency supply chain. Bitmain, Canaan and MicroBT build over 90% of global mining rigs – essentially computers dedicated to number-crunching that produces bitcoin.… Continue reading Dominant Chinese makers of bitcoin mining machines set up US production to beat tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing group Bhd recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of RM91.4 million on the back of revenue of RM649.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Q1’25), compared to RM82.1 million and RM558.2 million in the same quarter of the preceding year, representing 11.4% and 16.4% improvement respectively. The group… Continue reading Mah Sing new sales in first 5 months of 2025 top RM1b

KUALA LUMPUR: TA Global Bhd celebrated a significant milestone recently with the official groundbreaking of the superstructure construction for CloutHaus, marking the launch of one of the most anticipated luxury developments in the heart of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The event, held at the CloutHaus construction site on Jalan P. Ramlee, was officiated by… Continue reading TA Global breaks ground on RM3b CloutHaus next to Petronas Twin Towers

TOKYO: Japan’s exports fell for the first time in eight months in May, data showed on Wednesday, indicating that sweeping U.S. tariffs were threatening the country’s fragile economic recovery. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump have yet to reach a trade deal. Tokyo is scrambling to find ways to get Washington… Continue reading Japan exports post first drop in 8 months as US tariffs hit autos

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia opened marginally higher but turned lower thereafter, tracking the weaker overnight Wall Street performance. At 9.05 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 1.28 points to 1,510.36 from Tuesday’s close of 1,511.64. The benchmark index opened 0.25 of-a-point higher at 1,511.89. The broader market was negative with 138 decliners… Continue reading Bursa Malaysia opens marginally higher, turns lower soon after

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit was slightly higher against the US dollar at today’s opening with investors remaining cautious ahead of the United States (US) monetary policy outcome due later tonight, an analyst said. At 8 am, the local note was at 4.2360/2565 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.2390/2475. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief… Continue reading Ringgit opens marginally higher vs US dollar, sentiment remains cautious

PETALING JAYA: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), through subsidiary Petronas LNG Ltd, has entered a liquefied natural gas (LNG) sale and purchase agreement with Commonwealth LNG LLC, marking a key milestone in its strategy to diversify its LNG portfolio through long-term supply from the United States. Under the agreement, Petronas is purchasing one million tonnes per… Continue reading Petronas signs 20-year deal to purchase gas from US-based Commonwealth LNG

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s economy is projected to slow in 2025 due to mounting external headwinds, despite a temporary surge in exports early in the year. Resilient demand for electrical and electronics (E&E) products and a recovering tourism sector are expected to buffer economic growth, with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) set to proactively support domestic demand… Continue reading Malaysia’s 2025 growth to slow on global headwinds

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has climbed 11 positions in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) list, securing 23rd spot out of 69 economies – its highest placement since 2020. The WCR, released each year by the Institute for Management Development in Switzerland, evaluates countries based on their ability to foster a supportive business environment and drive… Continue reading Malaysia leaps 11 spots to 23rd in global competitiveness – best position in five years

KUALA LUMPUR: The Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) wants company directors and boards to be more than mere corporate figureheads ahead of the introduction of a formalised director certification framework to advance the professionalisation of boards. The institute encourages corporate directors to discard outdated mindsets, relearn what the future demands and embrace innovation with… Continue reading ICDM highlights importance of benchmark certification for company directors, boards

KUALA LUMPUR: Berjaya Land Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Impianan Utara Sdn Bhd to jointly explore and develop two economic initiatives in Perlis – the mining of rare earth elements and other minerals, and the planting of Napier hybrid grass and Blackthorn durian. Both projects will be carried out in collaboration… Continue reading Berjaya Land, Impianan Utara team up for rare earth, hybrid grass and durian ventures in Perlis