Planning laws are a critical factor in a developing economy. They determine the extent of property rights; the extent of discretion that can be exercised by planning authorities in dealing with planning applications by developers; and the right of adjoining owners and members of the public to obj...

My Say: Weighing the effects of judicial review on planning applications

IN “Westminster”-type parliamentary systems of government like Malaysia’s, a general election is preceded by a formal dissolution of the elected lower house. This is an executive function, performed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Agong) on the advice of the Prime Minister (PM). The position is governed by Articles 40 and 43 of the Constitution.

Dissolution of Parliament: A discretion to refuse?

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp on Tuesday signed an agreement to establish a wholly owned electric vehicle (EV) plant in Shanghai, in a strategic move to bolster its presence in China, the world's largest automotive market, Xinhua reported.

Toyota signs deal for US$2b EV project in Shanghai

Several areas in Selangor were affected by flash floods following heavy rainfall since early Wednesday morning.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the affected areas were Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya.

Flash floods hit several areas in Selangor, no evacuations reported

SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (April 22): Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk said on Tuesday that he would cut back significantly the time he devotes to the Trump administration from next month, and spend more time running his many companies.

Musk, facing criticism and falling Tesla sales, to cut back DOGE work

(April 23): Intel Corp is poised to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of its staff, aiming to eliminate bureaucracy at the struggling chipmaker, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Intel to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of staff — Bloomberg

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit on Tuesday that the tariff stand-off with China cannot be sustained by both sides, and that the world’s two largest economies will have to find ways to de-escalate.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent expects tariff stand-off with China to de-escalate

GuocoLand Ltd has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Leong Holdings for the development of a land parcel at Tengah Garden Avenue worth an aggregate value of S$51.4 million (RM172.9 million), according to a release on Tuesday.

GuocoLand signs JV agreement with Hong Leong Holdings to develop land parcel at Tengah Garden Avenue

SYDNEY (April 23): Stock markets were enjoying a much-needed relief rally in Asia on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump said he had no plans to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, and hinted at lower tariffs for China.

Stocks, dollar rebound in Asia as Trump steps back

MORNING CALL: 23/4/25

This year marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore. Since the latter separated from the Federation of Malaya on Aug 9, 1965, trade, investment and tourism between the two countries have remained robust.

Six decades of strong ties between Malaysia and Singapore

(April 23): It’s 8am and already sweltering at the Pomina Flat Steel JSC plant outside Ho Chi Minh City, as the night shift’s last pour of molten metal is shaped, cooled and cut into rods. Down the road, at a Vietnam Steel Corp facility, a long strip is uncoiled into an acid bath and fed through a powerful press, making it thinner but tougher.

In China’s backyard, steel buyer Vietnam is trying to stem a tide of cheap metal

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

MGB, Scanwolf, DPS Resources, Petronas Chemicals, Alpha IVF, Pentamaster, Southern Steel

United States (US) tech giants Intel and Oracle have raised concerns about the impact of the United States’ (US) tariffs on their operations in Malaysia, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Intel, Oracle raise concerns over US tariffs with PM — Zafrul 

The treasurers of eight US states have written an open letter to Tesla Inc’s board of directors questioning the direction of the company and the level of attention Elon Musk is paying to its mounting challenges.

Tesla board gets an earful from state treasurers over Musk’s focus

SYDNEY (April 23): Stock markets were enjoying a much-needed relief rally in Asia on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump&nbsp;said he had no plans to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, and hinted at lower tariffs for&nbsp;China.

(April 23):&nbsp;The dollar advanced against its major peers after US President Donald Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.

Relief rebound for dollar as Trump cools rhetoric on Powell

(April 23): It’s 8am and already sweltering at the&nbsp;Pomina Flat Steel JSC&nbsp;plant outside Ho Chi Minh City, as&nbsp;the night shift’s last pour of molten metal is shaped, cooled and cut into rods. Down the road, at a Vietnam Steel Corp facility, a&nbsp;long strip is uncoiled into an acid bath and fed through a powerful press, making it thinner but tougher.

Alphabet Inc pays Samsung Electronics Co an “enormous sum of money” every month to pre-install Google generative AI app, Gemini, on its phones and devices, according to court testimony, even though the company’s practice of paying for installations has twice been found to violate the law.

Google paid Samsung ‘enormous sums’ for Gemini AI app installs

(April 23):&nbsp;Chinese corporate and government borrowers have pushed issuance of dollar and euro bonds to a record proportion of all such note sales in emerging markets (EM) this month, in one sign of resilience to the&nbsp;trade war.

Chinese foreign bond sales mark record share of total in emerging markets

(April 23):&nbsp;US equity futures surged and the dollar strengthened after President Donald Trump said he had&nbsp;no intention&nbsp;of firing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, and as optimism grew that trade tensions may be easing.

US futures, dollar rise on Trump’s Fed backtrack

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit on Tuesday that the tariff stand-off with China cannot be sustained by both sides, and that the world’s two largest economies will have to find ways to de-escalate.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore. Since the latter separated from the Federation of Malaya on Aug 9, 1965, trade, investment and tourism between the two countries have remained robust.

The Trump administration is proposing an overhaul of the US State Department that would eliminate more than 100 offices including some working on war crimes and rights advocacy to ensure Washington's premier diplomatic agency is in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" priorities.

Trump administration proposes shake-up of US State Department

A slew of mergers and acquisitions among finance-related firms is defying the global slump in dealmaking amid market turmoil triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff war.

US$50 bil finance deals defy global M&A gloom

Northrop Grumman Corp reported first-quarter profit that missed analysts’ expectations and cut its earnings forecast for the year as costs mounted for its next-generation B-21 stealth bomber.

Northrop Grumman cuts earnings outlook on B-21 Bomber costs

The year 2024 marked the&nbsp;50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China. In 1974, then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein cemented an official diplomatic relationship during a visit to Peking (now Beijing).

Ushering in another 50 golden years in Malaysia-China relations

GuocoLand Ltd has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Leong Holdings for the development of a land parcel at Tengah Garden Avenue worth an aggregate value of S$51.4 million (RM172.9 million), according to a release on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will boost defence spending to 2% of economic output in 2025, or four years earlier than previously planned, as Nato nations come under growing US pressure to invest more in their security.

Spain plans to hike defense spending to 2% of GDP this year

(April 23): Intel Corp is poised to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of its staff, aiming to eliminate bureaucracy at the struggling chipmaker, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Several areas in Selangor were affected by flash floods following heavy rainfall since early Wednesday morning.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations&nbsp;Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar&nbsp;said the affected areas were&nbsp;Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya&nbsp;and Subang Jaya.

Andrew Harding