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<div class="thumb-cap">SINGAPORE (Dec 4): Since the start of the year, some 1,000 staff working for Malaysia-listed YTL Corp Bhd have been operating out of YTL Tower, along Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. Soaring 41 storeys high in a glass-clad structure, the headquarters of the Malaysian developer brought together all of its employees, which used to operate out of over 25 separate sites across the Klang Valley.</div>
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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Before Covid-19 wreaked havoc globally, the office was seen merely as a location to report for duty and less as a meeting place to foster ideas and creative collaboration. Only after a spate of work-from-home (WFH) orders were issued worldwide did pundits attach a new meaning to the role of the workplace — one where the focus on collegial relationships is key, and conversations around the water cooler&nbsp;applauded.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Even before the pandemic hit <a href="https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/ytl%E2%80%99s-futuristic-headquarters-kl" target="_blank">... (click on link for full story on EdgeProp Singapore).</a></div>

Since the start of the year, some 1,000 staff working for Malaysia-listed YTL Corp Bhd have been operating out of YTL Tower, along Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. Soaring 41 storeys high in a glass-clad structure, the headquarters of the Malaysian developer brought together all of its employees, which used to operate out of over 25 separate sites across the Klang Valley.

YTL’s futuristic headquarters in KL

The Court of Appeal has granted UEM Sunrise Bhd’s (KL:UEMS) wholly-owned unit UEM Land Bhd leave to challenge the Inland Revenue Board’s (IRB) additional tax assessment and penalty of RM8.49 million.

Appellate court grants UEM Sunrise unit leave to challenge additional tax assessment

The government will implement direct intervention measures to eradicate hardcore poor in 10 of the districts with the highest poverty rates in the country, eight of which are in Sabah, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

Direct intervention to eradicate hardcore poor in 10 poorest districts under 13MP — Rafizi

Funds stolen by hacking cryptocurrency platforms surged 21% from a year ago to US$2.2 billion (RM9.9 billion) in 2024, a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis showed on Thursday.

Losses from crypto hacks jump to US$2.2b in 2024 — report 

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.

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

Malaysia's domestic tourism performance showed strong growth in the third quarter of 2024, recording 66.3 million visitors and a total expenditure of RM25.6 billion, according to a report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on Thursday.

Domestic tourism soars with 66.3 mil visitors logged in 3Q2024 — DOSM

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he was ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump on ending the war and had no conditions for starting talks with the Ukrainian authorities.

Trump, a self-styled master of brokering agreements and author of the 1987 book 'Trump: the Art of the Deal', has vowed to swiftly end the conflict, but has not yet given any details on how he might achieve that.

Putin says Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war

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. 

Contributions from its acquired subsidiaries, MCE Technologies Sdn Bhd (MCET) and MCT (Thailand) Co Ltd, also add to the earnings.

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

Several reforms will be introduced in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to ensure the smooth implementation of projects and reduce the incidence of delayed or ‘sick’ projects.

Reforms in 13MP to minimise delays, number of ‘sick’ projects — Rafizi

The world's economic reckoning with the incoming Trump administration kicked off in earnest this week, with the US Federal Reserve flagging fewer rate cuts and other leading central banks signalling caution over future rate decisions.

Trump, not yet in office, looms over global economy 

People on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu braced on Thursday for heavy rains and a possible cyclone, two days after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed at least 16 people, wrecked buildings and cut power and water supplies.

Vanuatu braces for heavy rains two days after deadly quake

The Indonesian arm of Malaysia-based home improvement retailer Mr DIY Group (M) Bhd (KL:MRDIY) shook off a wobbly start to rise on its stock market debut on Thursday.

Indonesian arm of Mr DIY climbs on market debut

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been granted a full acquittal in her RM7.1 million money-laundering and tax evasion case.&nbsp;

Rosmah acquitted in RM7.1m money-laundering and tax evasion case

Companies that spent billions on poorly timed acquisitions in recent years are now offloading those assets at knockdown prices. 
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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced on Tuesday it’s going to sell Chinese department-store chain Intime to a local apparel group for US$1 billion (RM4.47 billion).

Companies that spent billions on M&A are now selling for peanuts

Property developer Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) has acquired 5.99 acres of land in Taman Pelangi, Johor, from S P Setia Bhd (KL:SPSETIA) for RM156.8 million to develop a premium serviced apartment project.

Mah Sing acquires Johor land from S P Setia for RM157 mil

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has pronounced the court’s decision to acquit her of all 17 charges in her money-laundering and tax evasion case as “justice”.

Rosmah celebrates acquittal: ‘This is what I call justice’

UEM Group Bhd, the wholly-owned infrastructure arm of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has been silent for a long time.

Some in the diversified group say the last time it gave an interview to the media was when Datuk Mohd Izzaddin Idris was at the helm. He left in October 2018, after holding the ...

Cover Story: Sleeping Giant UEM Group Stirs

High Court judge Wan Muhammad Amin Wan Yahya has taken over a civil suit against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and a Singaporean woman, Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, involving the purchase of luxury goods using funds allegedly diverted from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Third judge takes over 1MDB's US$346 mil suit against Rosmah and Singaporean woman

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has announced that no charges will be filed against any parties involved in the 1BestariNet project tender under the Ministry of Education (MOE).

No charges filed in 1BestariNet tender investigation, says MACC

The costly truth about US government shutdowns: They don’t save taxpayers a dime.

Trump, Musk threaten government shutdown. Here’s what that costs

Indonesia will increase its export levy for crude palm oil (CPO) to 10% from the current 7.5% to finance higher biodiesel subsidies, its chief economic minister said on Thursday.

Indonesia to hike crude palm oil export levy to 10%

The government’s proposal to introduce a Diagnostic-Related Group (DRG) payment system to regulate private healthcare costs may face significant challenges and feasibility issues, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB).

Govt's proposed DRG payment system may face challenges — HLIB

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Aluminium products maker Winstar Capital Bhd (KL:WINSTAR) is expecting sales to grow in 2025, with the removal of China’s export tax rebates for aluminium products, and the upcoming implementation of the fifth iteration of Malaysia’s large scale solar programme (LSS5).

Winstar eyes sales growth amid China tax shift, LSS5 opportunities

(Dec 19):&nbsp;Global investors are looking to Southeast Asia for some shelter, as they brace for uncertainties surrounding Donald Trump’s trade policies, boosting prospects for the region’s stocks in the coming year.

Southeast Asian stocks to offer shelter amid Trump threat — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Catcha Digital Bhd (KL:CATCHA) has announced its acquisition of a 70% stake in Tastefully Malaysia Sdn Bhd for RM7.6 million cash, to strengthen its position in the integrated digital and offline advertising space.

In a bourse filing on Thursday, Catcha Digital sa...

Catcha Digital acquires 70% stake in Tastefully to tap into consumer food expo sector

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.

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

Analysts expect Scientex Bhd (KL:SCIENTX) to see better earnings from the property division moving forward, which will offset any shortfall and challenges at its packaging manufacturing segment.

Analysts expect Scientex's property division to see better earnings amid challenges at packaging segment

BENGALURU (Dec 18): Micron Technology&nbsp;forecast quarterly revenue and profit below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, sending shares lower as weak demand for consumer-centric products such as personal computers and smartphones impacts the chipmaker's business.

Micron shares tumble as quarterly forecast signals sluggish consumer demand

Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (KL:MRCB) has confirmed it has withdrawn from a Berjaya-led consortium which is bidding for the multi-billion-ringgit Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project.

In a filing, MRCB said the group issued a notice of termination to consortium partner Berjaya Rail Sdn Bhd to terminate the teaming agreement for the submission of a non-binding conceptual proposal to MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd in relation to the project.

MRCB confirms withdrawal from Berjaya-led HSR consortium

There is noticeable shift towards local fast-moving consumer goods amid prolonged boycott of international brands following the Israel-Gaza conflict, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB).

HLIB: Consumer trends shift to local fast-moving consumer goods as boycotts persist

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.