KUALA LUMPUR: Most banks are setting moderate loan growth targets for this year as they remain cautious after falling short of their growth targets for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017 (FY17).

Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), the country’s largest lender by assets, is targeting a loa...

Banks set moderate loan growth targets for 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has missed its loan growth target of 7% for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017 (FY17), recording a growth of only 0.2%.

Group chief executive officer Tengku Zafrul Aziz said this was due to slower-than-expected loan growth from CIMB’s Si...

CIMB misses 7% loan growth target for FY17 with marginal 0.2% increase

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is projecting a 30% rise in annual capital expenditure (capex) over the next three years, as it embarks on a programme to refurbish and upgrade its airports in Malaysia.

"We will share the absolute figure only when we announce ...

MAHB's capex to rise 30% per year for airport upgrade

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects its loss-making Istanbul Sabiha Gocken International Airport (ISGA) in Turkey to turn around in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2018 (FY18) — two years later than predicted.

In July 2016, its managing director Datuk B...

MAHB now sees Turkish airport's turnaround in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) 39 airports in Malaysia are expected to see a lower passenger traffic growth of 6.5% for 2018, due to lower traffic volume from the domestic sector.

At a press conference today on MAHB's business update and 2018 outlook,...

MAHB forecasts lower passenger traffic growth this year

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): A new analysis on the impact of the recent changes in US tariffs on the national economy will be presented at the National Geo-Economic Action Council (NGCC) meeting on Monday (April 14), said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Miti to present new analysis on impact of US tariffs at National Geo-Economic Action Council meeting on Monday

WASHINGTON/WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (April 13): US President Donald Trump's administration granted exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronics imported largely from China, providing a big break to tech firms like Apple that rely on imported products.

Trump spares smartphones, computers, other electronics from China tariffs

Growing up in a rubber estate in Teluk Intan, Perak, Giva Kuppusamy developed a fascination for freshwater prawns thriving in nearby rivers. Today, that childhood curiosity has blossomed into a mission to make udang galah, as they’re known locally, more affordable for and accessible to Malaysians...

Start-up: Making freshwater prawns affordable

Ever played a game that just feels like a warm hug? While some gamers thrive on competition and high-stakes action, others find comfort in laid-back social games for a chance to unwind, connect and take a breather from the chaos of everyday life.

Cosy games are generally identified as c...

Listicle: Escape to cosy town

Being an angel or venture capital investor, especially in start-ups, is often seen as glamorous. The media tends to romanticise VC investors who pour millions — sometimes billions — into chasing the next unicorn (a company valued at over US$1 billion). Every time a unicorn is announced, everyone ...

The Pitch Deck: How not to lose money investing in new tech

Facing increasing challenges with internal communication in the mid-2010s, ByteDance sought a more effective solution. Despite experimenting with various collaboration tools, the company struggled to overcome productivity-sapping silos and improve workflow efficiency.

Realising it neede...

Productivity: Fostering efficient communication

Let’s start with an April Fool’s fable: A group of lifelong friends debated where to meet for their reunion dinner. In their 40s, they chose the Bay Hotel for its attractive wait staff. A decade later, at 50, they returned for the excellent food and wine. At 60, the hotel’s quiet ambience and oce...

Econ 4.0: April Fool fables?

Earned wage access (EWA) can improve workers’ financial well-being, with 80% of users reporting a better quality of life and 78% using it for household expenses, according to a survey by 60 Decibels and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The findings, released on March 24, wer...

Issues: Early wage access linked to better financial health

Something big is taking shape in Puchong — a strategic initiative aimed at elevating Malaysia from a back-end player in the semiconductor supply chain to a force to be reckoned with in the global chip design arena. At the heart of this effort is the Puchong Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Park, a ...

Cover Story: Stepping into the IC design fast lane

The rapid push towards digital adoption has necessitated increased reliance on telecommunications networks. Yet, consumers often rely on networks with no assurance on service quality, although they pay for these services, says Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commission me...

Bridging The Gap: Tracking telcos’ real-time network quality

(April 13): Indonesia has detained the chief judge of the South Jakarta District Court and three other people in a bribery investigation related to a 2022 palm oil export corruption case that involved a unit of Wilmar International Ltd.

Indonesia detains judge for alleged bribery in palm oil case involving Wilmar's unit

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Several roads in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya will be fully closed or diverted in stages from Tuesday (April 15) to Thursday (April 17),&nbsp;in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia.

Road closures, diversions during upcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia

TAPAH (April 13): Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has given all telecommunication companies until 5pm on Sunday to submit solutions to the problem of poor Internet access nationwide, or face stern action.

Fahmi gives telcos until 5pm today to resolve internet issues, or face stern action

SHANGHAI (April 13): Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen his country's strategic partnership with Indonesia, in a call with President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

China's Xi vows to Indonesia's Prabowo to deepen partnership, Xinhua says

(April 13): Hanging precariously from the tops of towering date palms, farm workers painstakingly pollinate the trees by hand. With around 100,000 palms to fertilise in just days, the pressure is especially intense this spring.

Luxury confectioner looks to take LVMH-backed Saudi brand Bateel global

(April 13): Kensington and Chelsea has long attracted high-earning workers willing to pay exorbitant housing costs to live in one of London’s most glitzy districts. Now they are leaving in their thousands.

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods have lost 11,000 workers

KUANTAN (April 13): A 72-year-old woman lost over RM2.6 million to a fake gold investment scheme she joined through social media last year.

Elderly woman loses over RM2.6m in gold investment scam

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): National men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have finally won their first ever Badminton Asian Championship (BAC) title, after beating Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi of China in Ningbo, China on Sunday.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik claim their first-ever Badminton Asian Championship title

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli defended his position as PKR Pandan branch chief in the 2025 PKR election&nbsp;for the branch, Wanita branch, and Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) branch levels, which took place on Saturday (April 12).

2025 PKR election: Rafizi defends Pandan, Amirudin and Ramanan win unopposed

PUTRAJAYA (April 13): The Health Ministry will enhance its security control standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all hospitals to prevent any untoward incidents, said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Hospital security SOPs to be tightened post allegation twins abducted by impersonator posing as doctor

TAPAH (April 13): The government is open to considering any proposals for improving existing laws, including those involving the appointment process of the chief justice (CJ), said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

CJ’s appointment process: Govt open to proposals on improving laws — Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, on Sunday extended the Vaisakhi and Tamil New Year greetings to the Malaysian Sikh and Tamil communities, respectively.

King, Queen extend Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year greetings 

BUTTERWORTH (April 13): Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Radin Muhamad Amin Radin Hadi Munir died of cancer at Bukit Mertajam Hospital at 6.55am on Sunday. He was 71.

Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Radin Muhamad Amin passes away

JOHOR BAHRU (April 13): BHPetrol, a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd and the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), plans to build up to 30 new petrol stations in rural areas nationwide.

BHPetrol to build 30 new stations in rural areas nationwide

JOHOR BAHRU (April 13): Thirty-five medical officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces will be sent on a humanitarian mission to earthquake-hit Myanmar, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Malaysia to deploy 35 military medical officers to earthquake-hit Myanmar — defence minister

CAIRO/JERUSALEM (April 13): Two Israeli missiles hit a building inside a main Gaza hospital on Sunday, destroying the emergency and reception department and damaging other structures, medics said, in a strike which Israel said was against Hamas fighters exploiting the facility.

Israeli missiles strike Gaza hospital, patients evacuated

KUCHING (April 13): Negotiations between the federal and state governments regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) can be resolved amicably without the need to bring the matter to court for legal interpretation, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.

MA63: Legal interpretation issue can be resolved amicably without court intervention — Fadillah

(April 13): The giants of private equity have spent years trying to cozy up to Middle Eastern wealth funds to secure massive cheques. US President Donald Trump’s burgeoning trade war just made those efforts even more critical — and asset managers have been forced to get creative.

Buyout firms get creative on Gulf trips in bid for bigger cheques

BEIJING (April 13): New bank loans in China rebounded more than expected in March, recovering from a sharp drop the previous month, as policymakers pledge to ramp up stimulus to buttress the world's second-largest economy against an escalating trade war with the United States.

China March bank lending beats expectations, more stimulus expected

BUKIT MERTAJAM (April 13): The Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma) plans to establish a one-stop centre for employee services, as a comprehensive facility in resolving labour-related issues.

Chester Tay & Erika Benjamin