<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 21): Malakoff Corp Bhd has appointed former UEM Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali as its new chairman, effective Jan 1, 2022.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a Bursa Malaysia filing on Tuesday (Dec 21), Tajuddin, 73, will be replacing Datuk Hasni Harun, who is resigning from the position after over four years since his appointment in June 2017, due to personal commitments. His resignation will take effect on Dec 31, 2021.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>According to the group, Tajuddin holds several directorships in other companies including as chairman in Optimax Holdings Bhd, Linde Malaysia Holdings Bhd and SIRIM Bhd.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Tajuddin owns 50,000 ordinary shares in Malakoff.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Malakoff's share price settled unchanged at 72 sen on Tuesday, valuing the company at RM3.55 billion.&nbsp;</p></div>


Malakoff Corp Bhd has appointed former UEM Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali as its new chairman, effective Jan 1, 2022.

Former UEM chairman Tajuddin Ali to lead Malakoff's board from Jan 1, 2022

US stocks ended a choppy session with modest losses, struggling to rebound from the selloff they suffered after the Federal Reserve dialed back rate-cut expectations for next year. 

The S&P 500 gave up earlier gains to end the day little changed.

Stocks fail to recover from Fed-fueled selloff

Crude palm oil (CPO) futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended mostly lower on Thursday in line with the weaker soybean oil performance on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), said palm oil trader David Ng.

CPO futures close mostly lower in sync with weaker soybean oil prices

Police have recorded the statement of blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, regarding his allegedly defamatory and insulting remarks against the Inspector-General of Police and the security forces.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Wan Muhammad Azri had his statement recorded at 3pm Thursday at the Setapak police station.

Police record Papagomo's statement over defamatory remarks against IGP, PDRM

A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Thursday called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to announce a clear timeline for the separation of the public prosecution function from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).

NGOs urge PM to announce clear timeline for separation of AG-PP's powers after Rosmah's acquittal 

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

MRCB, Pentamaster, UEM Sunrise, Mah Sing, S P Setia, Mynews, UWC, Aeon Credit, United Malacca, Vestland, Uzma, Bonia, Catcha Digital, Southern Steel 

The US Department of Commerce has recently asked Nvidia to look into how the company's products ended up in China over the past year, The Information reported on Thursday, citing a person close to the department.

US asks Nvidia to investigate how its chips ended up in China — report 

As the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held his carefully stage-managed annual phone-in and press conference to answer questions from journalists and ordinary Russians, EU leaders were hosting Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels at their final meeting of the year. Unsurprisingly, the war in Ukraine loomed large at both events.

Ukraine war: As 2025 approaches, Kyiv is left with few good options and allies in a Trump 2.0 world

The US Congress has two days as of Thursday to avert a partial government shutdown after President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan deal on federal spending and demanded lawmakers address the nation's debt ceiling before he takes office next month.

US Congress has two days to avert shutdown after Trump rejects spending bill

The script for the biblical epic 'Mary', which tells the story of the Nativity from the perspective of Mary of Nazareth, languished in Hollywood for some 15 years before entering production.

As the independent film approached completion this September, it attracted interest from three major Hollywood studios and streaming giant Netflix, which emerged as the global distributor and released the movie this month.

Hollywood embraces God and the 'cowboy curious' to broaden audience

The third meeting of the third session of the 15th Parliamen adjourned on Thursday after sitting for 12 days since Dec 2, with 26 bills passed.

Dewan Negara adjourns after passing 26 bills in 12 days

<p>Chai Woon Yun, daughter of Aset Kayamas founder Tan Sri Datuk Chai Kin Kong, has become the largest shareholder of Kanger International Bhd through a private placement.</p>


Daughter of Aset Kayamas founder is now Kanger’s largest shareholder

<p>Mynews Holdings Bhd (KL:MYNEWS) reported a significant jump in net profit to RM3.76 million for the fourth quarter ended Oct 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), a nearly fourfold increase compared to RM947,000 in the same period last year. This marks the fifth consecutive profitable quarter for the convenience store operator.</p>


Mynews plans more new stores after 4Q profit jumps nearly fourfold as sales climb

<p>UWC Bhd's (KL:UWC) net profit rose 49.2% to RM6.5 million in the first quarter ended Oct 31, 2024 (1QFY2025) from RM4.35 million a year ago, lifted by increasing orders from the semiconductor industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Contributions from its acquired subsidiaries, MCE Technologies Sdn Bhd (MCET) and MCT (Thailand) Co Ltd, also add to the earnings.</p>


UWC's net profit jumps 49% as revenue nearly doubles on increased semiconductor orders 

<p>The US Federal Reserve’s (US Fed) intent to adopt a slower pace of interest rate easing in 2025 is expected to prompt slight downward pressure on the domestic market, analysts said.</p>


US Fed’s hawkish pivot ‘slightly negative’ for Malaysian market, analysts say

<p>Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday.</p>


<p>Smile-Link Healthcare Global Bhd (KL:SMILE), a LEAP Market-listed dental services provider, said its major shareholder has proposed to remove its external auditors, Messrs HLB Ler Lum Chew, following significant delays in the company's financial reporting, which have led to trading suspensions and regulatory scrutiny.</p>


Smile-Link major shareholder seeks removal of external auditor amid financial reporting delays

<p>Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) on Thursday proposed to privatise its 63.9%-owned Hong Kong-listed Pentamaster International Ltd (PIL) with a partner in an exercise that would raise its stake to 71%.</p>


Pentamaster, partner to privatise HK-listed unit; confirms The Edge’s report

<p>Wall Street's main indexes regained some ground on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve's projections of fewer-than-expected interest rate cuts and higher inflation next year wrong-footed some investors and pummelled US stocks.</p>


Wall Street bounces back after Fed's hawkish cut triggers sell-off

<p>Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.</p>


EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

<p>Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd (KL:AEONCR) reported a 27.44% drop in net profit for the third quarter ended Nov 30, 2024 (3QFY2025), primarily dragged by a share of its associate's loss and increased interest expense.</p>


Aeon Credit’s 3Q profit down 27% on associate’s loss, higher interest expense

<p>Fashion retailer Bonia Corp Bhd (KL:BONIA) is venturing into the health and wellness market with a joint investment in fitness centre operator, Macroverse Sdn Bhd (MVC).</p>

<p>Bonia signed a shareholders’ agreement with Peak Physique Health &amp; Fitness Sdn Bhd (PPH) on Thursday to jointly subscribe to three million new shares in MVC, representing its entire equity. Bonia will hold a 50% stake, valued at RM1.8 million, financed by internal funds.</p>


Fashion retailer Bonia ventures into health and wellness with investment in Macroverse

<p>United Malacca Bhd's (KL:UMCCA) net profit more than doubled for its second quarter of August-October, driven by higher average crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK) prices.</p>


United Malacca's net profit more than doubles to RM30.9 mil, its highest in four years

<p>The police are investigating PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over his alleged statement regarding the Batu Puteh issue, which could potentially cause public unrest.</p>


PAS chief under probe over comment on Batu Puteh, says IGP

<p>Construction company Vestland Bhd (KL:VLB) said on Thursday that it had secured a RM70 million contract to build a 59-storey office building along Jalan Mayang, Kuala Lumpur.</p>


Vestland bags RM70m office construction job in KL

<p>Uzma Bhd (KL:UZMA) has been awarded a sub-contract by Samaiden Sdn Bhd, a unit of Samaiden Group Bhd (KL:SAMAIDEN) for the development of a 13.42 megawatt AC (MWac) solar photovoltaic plant in Sungai Petani, Kedah.</p>

<p>The contract, secured on a lump sum fixed price basis, encompasses the development of the solar generating facility, including interconnection and other works as outlined in the agreement with Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Uzma's filing read.</p>


Uzma secures RM44m Kedah solar farm construction sub-contract

<p>A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Thursday called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to announce a clear timeline for the separation of the public prosecution function from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).</p>


<p>An Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed he invented bitcoin was on Thursday found in contempt of court for bringing a £911 billion (US$1.2 trillion or RM5.4 trillion) lawsuit against Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's payments company Block &nbsp;in Britain.</p>


Self-proclaimed bitcoin inventor in contempt of court over US$1.2 tril UK lawsuit

<p>Main-Market listed Lotus Circular Bhd (KL:LOTUSCIR) is acquiring two waste recycling companies — Earthwise Resources Sdn Bhd and Expert Resources Management Sdn Bhd — controlled by its director and major shareholder Datuk Wong Sak Kuan for RM100 million, to expand its footprint in the business. &nbsp;</p>


Lotus Circular buys two waste recycling firms controlled by its major shareholder for RM100 mil

<p>Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd has advised minority shareholders of Southern Steel Bhd (KL:SSTEEL) to vote in favour of the company’s proposed issuance of new shares to Singapore-based steel firm Green Esteel Pte Ltd.</p>


Malacca Securities advises Southern Steel shareholders to approve share issuance to Green Esteel

<p>The US Department of Commerce has recently asked Nvidia to look into how the company's products ended up in China over the past year, <i>The Information</i> reported on Thursday, citing a person close to the department.</p>
