<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on December 17, 2018 - December 23, 2018</span></p></div><div>
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Tech trends What's in store for 2019?

Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship 2025 theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability” aptly reflects the region’s collective commitment to shaping an equitable and resilient future, in line with current global trends and the aspirations of its people, said Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn.

Malaysia sets the stage for a resilient Asean with 2025 chairmanship theme: Asean sec-gen

The role of the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) as the main supplier of fertiliser to farmers across the country must be maintained, said Merbok Area Farmers Organisation (PPK) general manager Faizul Mat Hasan.

National Farmers Organisation must remain the country's main fertiliser supplier, say farmers

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

Public Bank, LPI Capital, Dialog, Yinson, T7 Global, Hibiscus Petroleum, NPC Resources, MPHB Capital, Pos Malaysia, SMI

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday that a regular gathering of allies aimed at speeding up and synchronising arms deliveries to Ukraine was best kept under US leadership, with an eye to the new Trump administration.

German defence minister says he will consider changing Ramstein format if US withdraws

Lebanon's parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who enjoys US approval and showing the diminished sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group after its devastating war with Israel.

Lebanon's US-backed army chief Aoun elected president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a plea to press on with support for his war effort 11 days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged a swift end to the fighting.

Zelenskiy warns allies not to ‘drop the ball’ on war support

US companies pared back hiring plans in 2024 as employers announced the smallest additions to headcount in almost a decade, according to figures published Thursday.

US companies announced fewest hires in 2024 in nearly a decade

Target 1 Sdn Bhd, South Malaysia Industries Bhd’s (KL:SMI) largest shareholder with a 30.67% stake, announced on Thursday that the company’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) proceeded as scheduled on Thursday, with the resolutions to appoint six new directors, including former Perak police chief Datuk Pahlawan Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, being passed.

SMI’s EGM proceeds with resolutions to appoint six new directors passed — Target 1

The United States has no current plans to increase its military presence in Greenland, the US embassy in Copenhagen said on Thursday, after President-elect Donald Trump expressed renewed interest in acquiring the vast Arctic island.

Trump, who takes office on Jan 20, said this week that US control of the strategically important island was an "absolute necessity" and did not rule out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to make it happen.

US says it has no plans to increase military presence in Greenland

As tensions between the US and China escalate, experts are urging Malaysia and other Asean nations to explore new trade partnerships.

Elina Noor, senior fellow of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Asia Programme, said there is a need for Asean to diversify its collaborations, citing the growing concerns of the Global South.

Malaysia urged to diversify trade partners as US-China tension escalates

<p>There is a possibility for Public Bank Bhd (KL: PBBANK) to offer "more than biannual" dividend payments, despite not having the highest dividend yield, according to Kenanga Investment Research.</p>


Kenanga sees possibility for Public Bank offering 'more than biannual' dividends, cites synergies from LPI acquisition

<p>Malaysian construction stocks extended their decline on Thursday, amid wider market selldown sparked by worries of escalation in global trade tensions.</p>

<p>The retreat followed strong rallies of builders last year, which continued into the first week of 2025. “After having a good run, a healthy correction is expected, and any noise will trigger a pullback,” said Danny Wong, who manages assets worth over RM5 billion as the chief executive officer of Areca Capital.</p>


Malaysian construction stocks extend decline on data centre concerns

<p>The worst is over for Malaysian banks’ asset quality, and investors should take the opportunity to buy during near-term profit-taking for their solid loan growth and dividend yields, said MIDF Amanah Investment Bank.</p>


Worst is over for banks' asset quality, buy into selldown — MIDF

<p>Palm oil could hit as high as RM5,000 per tonne over the next few months, though the high prices are unlikely to be sustained beyond the first quarter, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) flagged.</p>


Palm oil could hit RM5,000 in next few months but unsustainable beyond 1Q — HLIB

<p>Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) (KL:TENAGA), Malaysia's largest utility company, views data centres as highly attractive customers for its infrastructure projects, offering excellent returns on investment (ROI).</p>


TNB: Data centres 'best customers' for infrastructure investment

<p>Malaysia’s stock market will have little upside ahead following strong run-up even as economic growth remains intact, HSBC flagged on Thursday.</p>

<p>Valuations are not as appealing, especially when compared to elsewhere in Asean, HSBC said in a note.</p>


Malaysia stocks have little upside ahead after recent rally, says HSBC

<p>Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad has filed an application to disqualify the law firm of Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen &amp; Gledhill (LHAG) from representing Felda and its subsidiary Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) in its RM2 billion suit against him and 28 others, in relation to the KL Vertical City (KLVC) project.</p>


Shahrir wants law firm representing Felda and FIC to be disqualified; trial postponed

<p>Malaysia's neutral stance&nbsp;in the US-China tech cold war faces growing challenges moving forward, according to Professor Dr Chris Miller.</p>

<p>As the author of <em>Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology</em>, Miller notes that Malaysia has benefited from trade diversion due to its neutrality, but sustaining this position will become more difficult.</p>


Expert warns of rising challenges to Malaysia's neutrality in US-China tech conflict

<p>The takeover offer of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd or MAHB (KL:AIRPORT) by Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) marks a critical inflection point for Malaysia’s aviation sector and its future in the hyper-competitive Asean region. With GDA securing 84.1% of MAHB shares and extending the offer period to Jan 17, the stage is set for a seismic shift in how Malaysia’s airports are managed. If the consortium achieves the 90% threshold required for delisting, MAHB will transition from the scrutiny of public markets into the hands of private ownership, enabling GDA to execute a bold, long-term restructuring strategy without the burden of quarterly earnings pressures.</p>


Can Gateway Development Alliance help MAHB take flight again?

<p>Major shareholders of NPC Resources Bhd (KL:NPC) are in talks for a proposal that could lead to the&nbsp;Sabah-based palm oil producer being taken private at RM2.82 per share.</p>


NPC Resources' major shareholders in talks that could lead to privatisation — statement

<p>The 20-year Treasury bond offered a grim warning as a selloff fuelled by inflationary angst gripped global debt markets: 5% yields are already here.</p>


Treasury market gets first 5% yield in sign of what could come

<p>Malaysia's property sector will be mainly driven by the completion of mega infrastructure projects and the transition to new technologies this year, according to CBRE | WTW group managing director Tan Ka Leong at the media launch of the real estate consultancy's 2025 Market Outlook Report earlier on Thursday.</p>


CBRE | WTW: Mega infrastructure projects, new technologies to shape Malaysian real estate industry in 2025

<p>BIMB Securities expects Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) to report strong double-digit growth for its final quarter and FY2024 earnings, driven by a robust securities trading segment.</p>


BIMB expects Bursa to report double-digit earnings for 4Q and FY2024

<p>Public Bank Bhd's (KL:PBBANK) conditional mandatory takeover offer for the remaining shares of insurer LPI Capital Bhd (KL:LPI) that it does not own has lapsed, as it did not secure sufficient acceptances by the close of the offer on Thursday.</p>


Public Bank's MGO for LPI Capital closes without fulfilling 50% acceptance level

<p>Billionaire Elon Musk has held private discussions with allies about removing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from his position before the next general election, the <i>Financial Times</i> reported on Thursday.</p>


Musk discussed ways to oust British PM Starmer before next election — report

<p>Yinson Production, the offshore business arm of Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON), said on Thursday that its floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, FPSO&nbsp;<i>Atlanta</i>, has achieved first oil in Brazil.&nbsp;</p>


Yinson's FPSO Atlanta in Brazil hits first oil

<p>Oil-and-gas services firm T7 Global Bhd (KL:T7GLOBAL) said on Thursday it has been awarded a six-month contract with undisclosed value.</p>

<p>The contract involves maintenance, construction, and modification (MCM) for Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd’s (KL:HIBISCS) production asset, T7 Global said in an exchange filing. The contract runs from Dec 19, 2024, and comes with an optional six-month extension at the client’s discretion.</p>


T7 Global gets six-month contract from Hibiscus Petroleum

<p>Malaysia aims to become the region's conduit for electricity, talent, and supply chain diversification, while also strengthening its position in oil and gas, semiconductors, and Islamic finance&nbsp;this year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.</p>


Malaysia aims to be conduit for electricity, talent, and supply chain diversification in 2025, says PM

<p>Malaysia aims to locally produce its own graphics processing unit (GPU) chips in the next five to 10 years, in line with the increasing demand from data centres, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.</p>


Malaysia aims to locally produce graphics processing unit chips within 5-10 years, Rafizi says

<p>Having successfully worked to get his candidate elected in the US, Elon Musk is setting his sights on Europe.</p>

<p>In a series of posts on his X platform in recent weeks, the billionaire backer of Donald Trump has honed in on Germany and the UK, criticised the respective governments, questioned laws they’ve enacted and cast doubt on their economic competence.</p>
