Energy transformation should be a top priority for Asean as it tackles climate change, and the key strategies should be the development of connected infrastructure and capitalising on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Jeffrey Sachs, president of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions and Research (UN-SDSN), said during his presentation at the Asean Workshop on Sustainable Development that regional integration has become a strategic necessity for every nation in the world, and Asean must have diplomatic unity to have influence in the world.

Sustainable Asean-wide policies with connected infrastructure and AI

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), a technology touted to be as transformative as electricity or the internet, is capturing the imagination the world over.

Governments and businesses, wary of being left behind in the AI race, are scrambling to stake their claim in ...

Cover Story: Building the AI playbook

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions people make is to travel more. Whether it’s exploring new destinations, immersing oneself in a different culture or building memories that serve as a testament to a life well-lived, travelling resonates deeply as a meaningful and enriching goal for t...

Listicle: Own our trip

It’s common for people to financially plan for their deaths, with wills and trusts stating instructions for next of kin on how to manage and disperse assets. But in this day and age, where data is an increasingly important commodity, the posthumous management of one's data is overlooked, putting ...

Digital Legacies: Till death do us part? Not for your online data

Last year was marked by a significant uptick in cybersecurity regulations globally, particularly targeting generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and third-party risks. As organisations rushed to tackle these new challenges, many neglected to establish essential cybersecurity measures to pro...

Rise Of Machines: A cyber wake-up call

When ChatGPT was launched, Harsha Purasinghe, CEO and founder of Malaysian digital HR platform provider MiHCM, immediately saw the potential of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in the HR space. The technology could be used to solve gaps identified by his team.

This potential ...

Solutions: A copilot AI built for HR

Cryptocurrencies and the blockchain have sparked global intrigue and debate, moving beyond niche concepts to revolutionise finance. Much like the creation of money and the rise of the internet, blockchain technology and digital assets are reshaping how we value and invest in assets.

How...

Crypto Revolution: Beyond the hype

Here’s a nerdy story for the new year: A group of engineers are working on a groundbreaking new gadget. “I’ve designed a circuit that will never fail,” the electrical engineer says. “I’ve built a prototype that’s indestructible,” the mechanical engineer adds. “I’ve written code that’s completely ...

Econ 4.0: Top 10 tech tips for 2025

Traditionally, plants rely on water, soil and sunlight to thrive. But local start-up Airgro Sdn Bhd is exploring a cutting-edge approach to farming: growing crops out of thin air.

To tackle the needs of a growing population and Sarawak’s rising reliance on imports, Airgro — founded by K...

Growing Life: Growing crops out of thin air

NEWS

From saving to growing wealth

Trading app Moomoo is partnering with GXBank to enable the latter’s customers to make instant transfers or deposits to their Moomoo account and start investing.

As part of the launch, GXBank c...

Bits + Bytes: A Miscellany Of Technology

Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli’s words, according to which Malaysia is set to adopt nuclear power generation as one of its energy sources in the coming years, are extremely welcome.

According to Rafizi, nuclear power is a cleaner energy source compared to others, which could help the ...

Views: A case for nuclear energy

Year in review: Major ESG-related events in 2024

In Southeast Asia, conversations in the Business and Human Rights-Environmental, Social and Governance (BHR-ESG) space focus on encouraging companies to voluntarily adopt sustainability measures and subsequently report on their sustainability initiatives. While some progress has been made, it rem...

Views: How the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will impact Malaysian businesses

Every monsoon season, I’d feel the dread that grips Southeast Asia — the deadly floods currently displacing hundreds of thousands in a day, the thick blankets of haze we’ve grown up with and, of course, the unease over how our leaders will respond.

This year, I feel cautionary hope at t...

Views: Malaysia’s 2025 resolution: Adopt Asean’s first environmental rights declaration

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 focuses on the massive gap between the rhetorical and real impact of climate action commitments, and emphasises that crunch time is here, as wildfires, heatwaves, storms and droughts intensify globally.

Time for countries to aggressively ramp up climate change action

Malaysia’s transition to becoming a developed and high-income nation has imposed pressure on its biodiversity.

Thankfully, the country has been ramping up its efforts in conservation and the sustainable management of its biodiversity. For instance, it aims for biodiversity conservation ...

Nature: Protecting Malaysia’s biodiversity at all costs

Clean and safe water sources are crucial to human survival, but water security is increasingly being threatened by pollution, poor maintenance of assets, effects of the climate crisis and low awareness among the public.

Unscheduled water cuts have occurred multiple times in the country ...

Resources: Protect watersheds and open new ‘taps’

Malaysia’s plastic problem seems like a never-ending conundrum, despite laws and policies put in place to eliminate dependence on single-use plastics and to encourage the use of sustainable alternatives.

This might change going forward, however, as many big retail chains such as 99 Spee...

Waste: Malaysia’s plastic problem in the spotlight

Global climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, earlier this month finished 33 hours late with mixed results. COP29, or the 29th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, went down to the wire to reach agreement on climate finance and other contentious issues.<...

Views: Mixed results at Global Climate Summit COP 29

The Edge Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2025

The Edge Property Excellence Awards 2024

The Edge ESG Awards 2024

The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2024

The Edge Centurion Club Corporate Awards 2024

From The Edge Malaysia Weekly January 13-19, 2025 edition: Shareholder dispute at TRX’s Exchange 106

EDGE WEEKLY: Shareholder dispute at TRX’s Exchange 106

From The Edge Malaysia Weekly Dec 23-29, 2024 edition: Just how bad is healthcare cost inflation in Malaysia?

EDGE WEEKLY: How bad is Malaysia’s healthcare inflation?

Will the US government’s new export curbs on AI chips derail Malaysia’s lofty data centre ambitions? The Edge's deputy editor Liew Jia Teng explains what exactly is going on.

Will US govt curbs tank Malaysia’s data centre dreams?

Wall Street's main indexes rose on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow on track to log their biggest weekly gains since November, as investors anticipate a wave of policy changes under the incoming Trump administration.

Wall Street set for weekly advances in countdown to Trump presidency

The US Supreme Court refused to rescue TikTok on Friday from a law that required the popular short-video app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance or banned on Sunday in the United States on national security grounds — a major blow to a platform used by nearly half of all Americans.

US Supreme Court upholds law banning TikTok

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

CIMB, Berjaya Corp, Mitrajaya, HeiTech Padu, Datasonic, Petronas Gas, Dialog, Hong Leong Bank, JF Tech, Cosmos, MYMBN, Homeritz 

The International Monetary Fund on Friday raised its forecast for global growth in 2025 by one-tenth of a percentage point, with stronger-than-expected growth in the US offsetting downward revisions in Germany, France and other major economies.

IMF lifts US outlook, warns countries against protectionism, subsidies

The Palestinian militant group Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday, after 15 months of war that demolished the enclave.

Hamas set to release first hostages under Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Israel says

LONDON (Jan 17): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the success of the Madani Economy Framework, which was launched in 2023, during his lecture at the London School of Economics (LSE) on Friday.

He also announced that the government is set to launch a second chip design...

Malaysia to launch second chip design park 'in the coming weeks', says Anwar  

JF Technology Bhd (KL:JFTECH) co-founder and managing director Datuk Foong Wei Kuong continued to mop up shares in Cosmos Technology International Bhd (KL:COSMOS) from MSM International Ltd.

JF Tech MD lifts Cosmos stake by 5.6% to 17.95%

Honor Device Co chief executive officer George Zhao is stepping down due to personal reasons, according to the Shenzhen-based smartphone maker.

Honor CEO George Zhao steps down in company’s buildup to IPO

Malaysia's economic growth is expected to maintain a steady trajectory in 2025, despite external headwinds such as uncertainties in US tariff policies and global trade dynamics. Economists attributed the country's robust domestic resilience and strategic policy initiatives as key growth drivers.

Malaysia's economy poised for continued growth in 2025 despite external headwinds — economists

European shares rose on Friday and were heading for their biggest one-week jump since September as falling bond yields, stronger-than-forecast China growth figures and upbeat earnings supported riskier assets.

European shares head for best week since September on easing yields, China GDP

U Mobile Sdn Bhd is confident it will be able to roll out the second 5G network without the need for government funding or new local partners, according to its chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun.

Vincent Tan: U Mobile to launch second 5G network without new local partners, IPO by year end

Malaysian construction stocks fell further on Friday, as investors further cut their exposure to data centre plays, amid lingering fallout from intensifying US controls on advanced chip exports.

Construction stocks slip further as investors continue to cut exposure to M'sian data centre plays

Berjaya Corp Bhd (KL:BJCORP) remains committed to participating in the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project. However, the project’s progression depends on the government's decision-making process and financial conditions, said the group's founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun.

Berjaya still eyeing KL-S'pore HSR, awaiting Putrajaya's decision, says Vincent Tan

Malaysia is on its way to becoming a data centre (DC) hub in the region. Between 2021 and  June 2024, a total of RM90.2 billion poured in for DC developments. International companies such as US-based Google, Microsoft, Equinix, as well as China-based Yondr Group, Bridge Data Centres and Singapore-based Keppel Data Centres and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) are among the big names in Malaysia's DC market.

Data Centres: Malaysia’s Next Frontier

After a prolonged lull in the latter half of the 2010s, Malaysia has experienced a resurgence in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from project owners since 2021. This revival has attracted renewed interest from financial asset investors, as evidenced by the rerating of the benchmark KLCI and the strengthening of the ringgit this year.

Roaring 20s: Malaysia in FDI upcycle

Upholstery furniture manufacturer Homeritz Corp Bhd (KL:HOMERIZ) said on Friday that the fire at one of its production facilities in Muar, Johor, has been confirmed to result in an estimated loss of RM3 million, and will be recognised in the company’s financial results for the quarter ending Feb 28, 2025 (2QFY2025).

Homeritz hit by RM3 mil loss in Muar facility fire, no insurance coverage

Ancom Nylex Bhd (KL:ANCOMNY) will likely improve its earnings as the exchange rate stabilises, analysts said, following the agrochemical company’s weaker than expected quarter.

Ancom Nylex's earnings to improve in following quarters, analysts say after disappointing 2Q

The merger of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) is expected in the second half of this year (2H2025), CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said.

CAAM CEO says merger with Mavcom set for 2H2025

The Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the integrity of the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) following media reports of an alleged investment scam involving a licensed entity under its purview.

Labuan FSA promises decisive action following allegations of fraud by licensed entity

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) sets the stage for greater growth in trade, investment, and the exchange of knowledge and know-how between Malaysia and the UK, but hard work lies ahead.

In making the remark, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said: “We have promises to keep, and miles to go before we can call it a day. Hard work still lies ahead.”

Malaysia, UK must proactively capitalise on CPTPP benefits — Anwar

Asean must establish consistent digital and cyber security standards, particularly in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to foster a trusted digital environment and strengthen the region's global digital economy position.

Gobind urges uniform cyber standards among Asean nations

Bird's nest processor MYMBN Bhd (KL:MBN) said on Friday that the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia has lifted the temporary suspension of exports of both raw-cleaned edible bird’s nest (RCEBN) and raw-uncleaned edible bird’s nest (RUCEBN) products to China after nearly one month. This is expected to bring major relief to MYMBN, given that China is a primary market for the group.

Malaysia lifts suspension of bird’s nest exports to China after nearly one month, says MYMBN

Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd (KL:MITRA) said it has secured a RM375.5 million contract for the construction of a data centre in Kuala Lumpur.

The construction group said the contract was awarded by NextDC Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian unit of Australia's data centre operator NextDC Ltd.

Mitrajaya clinches RM376 mil contract for data centre construction in KL  

Petronas Gas Bhd’s (KL:PETGAS) wholly owned subsidiary Regas Terminal (Pengerang) Sdn Bhd (RGTP) has executed and completed a share subscription agreement with Dialog Equity (Three) Sdn Bhd (DE3SB), for the development of Malaysia’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-driven air separation unit (ASU) in Pengerang, Johor.

Dialog to partake in Petronas Gas' LNG-driven air separation unit project

HeiTech Padu Bhd (KL:HTPADU) has secured a second-time contract extension for the provision of maintenance services for the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs), valued at RM28.26 million.

HeiTech Padu, Datasonic awarded fresh contracts for immigration system maintenance

FundMyHome: The final verdict and implications, plus the crab mentality

Human imagination and creativity know no bounds; just take a look at the numerous uniquely designed buildings from around the world. Some will grow on you, while others will always disturb the senses. Yet, these buildings provide much joy and function for those who use them or walk by them daily....

Picture Gallery: Uniquely designed buildings from around the world

Being environmentally conscious is becoming more important now than ever, as climate change and resource depletion become increasingly pressing issues. Large corporations are being held accountable and governments are required to set net zero emission targets, yet it is not enough to reverse the ...

Transforming Malaysian homes through green remodelling

ORDERED to enter his defence against four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has so far spent his first two weeks on the witness stand in December insisting that he had no knowledge that...

In The Courts 2024: Najib: Totally in the dark over theft; others conspired against me

EVEN though the proposed merger between Apex Securities Bhd and Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd had long been scrapped when the issue of minority shareholder rights and oppression came before the apex court in March, the decision delivered by judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan on March 26 helped clari...

In The Courts 2024: Court clarifies minority rights under called-off Apex-Mercury merger

CLARIFICATION of the Ang Ming Lee (AML) case ruling on the extension of time (EOT) sought by developers and the issue of liquidated ascertained damages (LAD) may have come more than four years late, but a Federal Court ruling now provides more certainty to the applicability of the ruling, as in J...

In The Courts 2024: Relief for developers as Ang Ming Lee verdict clarifies extension of time damages 

IN 2024, Malaysia clinched decisive wins in several European jurisdictions in legal actions mounted by eight Philippine citizens claiming to be heirs of the now-defunct Sulu Sultanate, over a colonial-era land deal.

One of the most significant wins was surely a court finding Spanish rog...

In The Courts 2024: Decisive wins in Sulu saga, including Stampa’s contempt of court conviction

A significant development that partially redressed the pillage of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds came in August when a Swiss court found that two former PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI) executives had deliberately colluded with fugitive Low Taek Jho and certain 1MDB personnel to embezzl...

In The Courts 2024: Swiss court makes damning decision against ex-PSI executives

THE 18-year saga of Mongolian Altantuya Shaaribuu’s brutal murder was thrust into the spotlight again this year as Azilah Hadri — the former chief inspector of the police Special Action Unit who was previously sentenced to death for her murder — had his sentence commuted in October to 40 years’ j...

In The Courts 2024: Azilah’s death sentence commuted to life

THE abrupt withdrawal or dismissal of a slew of high-profile cases this year — particularly in the last two months — has put the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) under the spotlight for its seeming lack of commitment to securing convictions. This has prompted calls for the roles of attorney-gene...

In The Courts 2024: Acquittal of high-profile individuals underscores need to hasten separation of AG/PP roles

IN a major landmark Federal Court decision in February, a nine-member bench of the apex court led by the nation’s top judge, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, partially allowed lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter’s challenge to strike out 16 of 18 Kelantan shariah law...

In The Courts 2024: Federal Court strikes out 16 Kelantan shariah laws, but state remains defiant

The European Union (EU) is debating whether to drop a sensitive trade investigation against China over alleged coercive activity targeting Lithuania, a prospect that’s frustrated officials in Washington, where the incoming Trump team sees it as capitulation to Beijing.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a tough line on China and the possible EU move would reinforce for his team how the bloc will approach dealing with Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter.

EU mulls dropping China trade case, frustrating Trump team

The US Treasury department on Friday sanctioned Singaporean Yin Kechen and cybersecurity company Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co, accusing both of being involved in a series of hacks against American telecom companies.

US Treasury Dept sanctions Chinese company over Salt Typhoon hack

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pushed back against accusations that he is casting Ukraine aside in an attempt to drum up support for his trailing Social Democrats ahead of a snap election next month.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Scholz said he was ready to send an additional €3 billion (RM13.89 billion) to Ukraine so long as the funds were generated through net new borrowing and not budget cuts.

Scholz denies putting his own political survival over support for Ukraine

The European Union (EU) and Mexico agreed to a revamped free-trade agreement, just as both are under pressure from president-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened them with a new round of tariffs.

The agreement aims to boost both trade and economic security by de-risking supply chains, securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and tackling climate change, according to a European Commission statement on Friday.

EU, Mexico seal trade deal as Trump threatens tariffs

US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed trade, TikTok and fentanyl on Friday in a pre-inauguration conversation that could set the tone for relations between the world’s two largest economies and main geopolitical rivals.

“I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China,” Trump posted on social media. “The call was a very good one for both China and the USA.”

Trump and China’s Xi discuss trade, TikTok ahead of inauguration

Chrystia Freeland, the former Canadian finance minister who helped bring Justin Trudeau’s political career to an end when she resigned in December, has joined the race to replace him as prime minister.
 
Freeland, 56, announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party in a social media post on Friday, betting that she can reverse the downward trend in opinion polls that has put the governing party on course for defeat in an election this year.

Chrystia Freeland joins contest to replace Canada’s Trudeau

US industrial production rose in December by more than forecast, helped by a pickup in factory output that indicates manufacturing is stabilising after two years of weakness.

US industrial production tops forecasts after Boeing strike ends

Housing starts in the US climbed in December to the fastest pace since early 2024, reflecting a surge in multifamily projects and a more modest advance in one-family homes.

New residential construction increased nearly 16% to an annualised rate of 1.5 million, rebounding after a three-month slump, according to government data released on Friday.

US housing starts top all forecasts on multifamily construction

TikTok fans in the US are racing to secure alternatives and safeguard their digital empires ahead of a looming shutdown on Sunday, evoking the chaos of India's 2020 ban that erased the app from the lives of 200 million users overnight.

While the US ban has been debated for months, India acted swiftly in June 2020 to block TikTok and nearly 60 other Chinese apps over national security concerns, stripping many creators of their main source of income and shattering a digital community.

US TikTok ban could echo India chaos as users seek options

US auto safety regulators are probing General Motors Co over concerns that more than 870,000 of its full-size pickup trucks and SUVs face the risk of engine failure.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary evaluation into possible issues with V8 engines in Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUVs.

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