<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Government-owned Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) has denied issuing a notice that loan applications by oil and gas employees will be rejected upfront.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>The Star </em>reported a BSN customer service representative saying the the notice was fake.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The “notice” being circulated is a screenshot of an internal email among BSN staff about a temporary suspension on loans to employees in the oil and gas sector. The sector was described as “high risk” in the email because of the fall in oil prices and cost cutting measures taken by oil companies.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>The Malaysian Insider </em>has also sent a query to BSN to respond to the alleged notice but has yet to receive a reply.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The email said that new applications for personal loans, credit cards and hire purchase loans from employees in the oil and gas sector are to be rejected upfront.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>An exemption would only be given to non-contract employees of Petronas, but these applications had to get approval from the bank's headquarters first.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Malaysia's revenue has been affected by falling oil prices, currently lower than US$27 (RM118) a barrel, and will revise its national budget next week.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Government-owned Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) has denied issuing a notice that loan applications by oil and gas employees will be rejected upfront.

The Star reported a BSN customer service representative saying the the notice was fake.

The “noti...

BSN not rejecting loan applications by oil and gas workers, says report

BRUSSELS (Jan 29): The European Commission presented on Wednesday its plans to reverse industrial decline in the bloc, and step up efforts to compete with the United States and China in new fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), to lower energy costs, and to cut red tape.

EU points way to competitive future to catch US, China rivals

(Jan 29): Thailand expects to complete its first high-speed rail network linking the country to China through Laos in 2030, a long-delayed project officials have touted as key to furthering bilateral relations and trade between the two nations.

Thai high-speed rail linking Bangkok to China eyes 2030 opening

WASHINGTON (Jan 29): The US trade deficit in goods widened to a record high in December, likely as businesses front-loaded imports of industrial supplies and consumer goods, in anticipation of broad tariffs from President Donald Trump's new administration.

Record US goods trade deficit seen cutting into fourth-quarter GDP growth

MILAN/ROME/DUBLIN/BERLIN (Jan 29): The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek could not be accessed on Wednesday in Apple and Google app stores in Italy, the day after the country's data protection authority requested information on its use of personal data.

DeepSeek blocked on Apple and Google app stores in Italy

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (Jan 29): The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq slipped on Wednesday, as losses in tech heavyweights Apple and Nvidia pressured broader gains and as cautious investors braced for the US Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision, expected later in the day.

Tech majors drag on S&P 500, Nasdaq as Fed's rate verdict looms

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): Global air cargo markets made significant strides last year, with demand rising 11.3% in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) compared to 2023, surpassing the record volumes set in 2021, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA: Air cargo demand soars 11.3% in 2024, surpassing 2021 record

LONDON (Jan 29): World markets were suddenly looking calmer on Wednesday as the week’s rollercoaster ride for stock markets morphed into wait-and-see ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s first rate meeting of the year and results from Microsoft, Meta and Tesla.

European stocks hit all-time high, Fed expected to hold rates

BANGKOK (Jan 29): ByteDance's TikTok will invest 126.8 billion baht (US$3.76 billion, or RM16.51 billion) in Thailand in a data hosting service, the Thai investment board said on Wednesday.

TikTok to invest US$3.8b in Thailand data hosting project, investment board says

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): The retail price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia will increase by five sen per litre, from RM3.13 to RM3.18 per litre, from Jan 30 to Feb 5, while in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, the price remains at RM2.15 per litre.

RON95, RON97 prices unchanged, diesel up by five sen in Peninsular Malaysia

MIRI (Jan 29): The last victim of the landslide incident at Kampung Lereng Bukit was found at 6.06pm on Wednesday, according to Miri Police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu.

Last victim of Miri landslide found, SAR concluded

<p>THERE has been a lot of pushback on the recent proposal to raise the base tariff for electricity in Peninsular Malaysia in the second half of the year, which means higher bills especially for commercial and industrial users.</p>

<p>The hike is to reflect the higher fuel costs and larger invest...

Decoding Malaysia’s new electricity tariff plan 

<p>AS&nbsp;the Chinese Lunar Calendar turns a new leaf, we bid farewell to the mythical beast Dragon and embrace the arrival of the enigmatic Snake. Gong Xi Fa Cai to all. This year, the Wood Snake slithers into the spotlight, bringing with it unique energies and opportunities that point to an unforgettable 2025.</p>


What’s approaching in this serpentine Wood Snake year?

<p>IN November 2017, I wrote a Cover Story for The Edge (Issue 1189, Nov 20, 2017), which explained how Penang-born Tan Hock Eng was moving the domicile of second-tier semiconductor firm Broadcom from Singapore to the US, and mounting a US$105.3 billion takeover of rival chip firm Qualcomm to create...

Tech: Is Broadcom the next Nvidia?

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): Malaysia will build a school, hospital and mosque as an initial effort to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza, Palestine, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.</p>


Reconstruction of Gaza: Malaysia to build school, hospital and mosque, says PM

<p>LONDON (Jan 29): World markets were suddenly looking calmer on Wednesday as the week’s rollercoaster ride for stock markets morphed into wait-and-see ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s first rate meeting of the year and results from Microsoft, Meta and Tesla.</p>


<p>BANGKOK (Jan 29): ByteDance's TikTok will invest 126.8 billion baht (US$3.76 billion, or RM16.51 billion) in Thailand in a data hosting service, the Thai investment board said on Wednesday.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): The retail price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia will increase by five sen per litre, from RM3.13 to RM3.18 per litre, from Jan 30 to Feb 5, while in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, the price remains at RM2.15 per litre.</p>


<p>NEW YORK/BENGALURU (Jan 29): The S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq slipped on Wednesday, as losses in tech heavyweights Apple and Nvidia pressured broader gains and as cautious investors braced for the US&nbsp;Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision, expected later in the day.</p>


<p>Sabah saw a slowdown in the growth trajectory of its housing market in 3Q2024.</p>

<p>“The Sabah residential property market moderated in 3Q2024, indicated by a lower volume and value of transactions compared with 3Q2023. The state registered 1,114 transactions worth RM457 million, a decrease ...

The Edge Malaysia | Rahim & Co Kota Kinabalu Housing Property Monitor 3Q2024: Cautiously optimistic sentiment

<p>MILAN/ROME/DUBLIN/BERLIN (Jan 29): The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek could not be accessed on Wednesday in Apple and Google app stores in Italy, the day after the country's data protection authority requested information on its use of personal data.</p>


<p>WASHINGTON (Jan 29): The US&nbsp;trade deficit in goods widened to a record high in December, likely as businesses front-loaded imports of industrial supplies and consumer goods, in anticipation of broad tariffs from President Donald Trump's new administration.</p>


<p>BRUSSELS (Jan 29): The European Commission presented on Wednesday its plans to reverse industrial decline in the bloc, and step up efforts to compete with the United States and China in new fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), to lower energy costs, and to cut red tape.</p>


<p>(Jan 29): Thailand expects to complete its first high-speed rail network linking the country to China through Laos in 2030, a long-delayed project officials have touted as key to furthering bilateral relations and trade between the two nations.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): Global air cargo markets made significant strides last year, with demand rising 11.3% in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) compared to 2023, surpassing the record volumes set in 2021, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).</p>
