GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Federal Action Council, a body formed by Putrajaya to oversee federal projects in the state, expressed concern about the reported rezoning of rural and agricultural lands for other purposes.

Its chairman, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, said the council received growi...

Federal council accuses Penang of rezoning agricultural lands

GEORGE TOWN: Residents in Batu Feringghi have launched a campaign asking the Penang government to prevent the iconic tourist destination from being turned into an overcrowded neighbourhood.

The “Please save Batu Ferringhi” campaign hosted on the online petition portal change.org has gar...

Petition to ‘Save Batu Ferringhi’ gains traction

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government’s committee to look into the constituency redelineation process has been jolted into action following the Election Commission’s (EC) plan to use a state hall to exhibit drafts of the latest constituencies.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who is a member of...

Penang redelineation committee plans urgent meet

PENANG (Jan 22): Residents in Batu Feringghi have launched a campaign asking the Penang government to prevent turning the state’s iconic tourist destination into an overcrowded neighbourhood.

The “Please save Batu Ferringhi” campaign placed on the online petition portal change.org has g...

Petiton to save Penang's Batu Ferringhi from overdevelopment gains traction 

GEORGE TOWN: Wanting to spend their golden years in Asia, Dennis, a 60-something retired engineer from Europe, and his wife chose Penang for the sea breeze, sunny skies, greenery and local hospitality that the island is known for.

They invested in a house in the idyllic Batu Ferringhi t...

The limits to development

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): A controversial mixed development plan that will increase population and building density at Penang's idyllic Batu Ferringhi tourism belt has not been approved, the local authority has said, assuring residents and stakeholders in the area that their objections would be cons...

No approval yet for high density project in Batu Ferringhi, says council president

GEORGE TOWN: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has initiated a study and action plan on food security specifically for the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak as part of efforts to avert a food crisis due to increasing population and climate change.

NCIA, the a...

Blueprint to avert food crisis in northern states

WASHINGTON (Sept 29): US President Donald Trump could unveil plans as soon as Wednesday to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about US$54 billion to build a liquefied natural gas facility in Alaska and several other major US projects, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Trump set to tout Korean investment in Alaska LNG, other projects — Reuters

A total of 29 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings as at 10am on Wednesday.

Haze: Unhealthy air in 29 areas nationwide at 10am

SYDNEY (Sept 30): Australian inflation accelerated in August as fuel costs surged anew and price pressures remained broadly based, showing little impact as yet from a run of interest rate increases this year.

Australia inflation stubbornly high in August, defying run of rate hikes

Malaysia already has some of the ingredients for a leadership position among Asean in sustainable commercial buildings: a substantial domestic energy base, strong year-round solar resources and, increasingly, developments that combine rooftop solar, efficient cooling and thermal energy storage.

Opinion: Malaysia can lead Asean on sustainable buildings — if it scales what already works

BEIJING (Sept 30): China's factory activity expanded in September, official and private surveys showed on Wednesday, as easing weather disruptions allowed factories to resume operations and a global AI boom supported the industrial sector.

Chinese factory activity expands in September amid AI boom

For many years, tax was viewed primarily as a compliance function, focused on meeting statutory obligations and managing financial risks.

Today, tax has become a strategic governance issue with implications for corporate reputation, stakeholder trust, long-term value creation and risk m...

My Say: Tax governance and the future of corporate accountability

It has been a year of great surprises that shook market expectations, but the surprises will keep coming. The trade war gave us many an unexpected twist and turn. The US-Israeli attack on Iran was another shocker, as was the earlier American kidnapping of Venezuela’s leader. The scale of artifici...

My Say: What the consensus view may be missing

VS Industry Bhd (KL:VS) hit a two-month high on Wednesday after the electronic manufacturing services provider reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss.

VS Industry hits two-month high after smaller 4Q and full-year loss surprise

BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Sept 30): Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged Americans to vote out US President Donald Trump's allies in Congress as US forces were due to withdraw from their remaining bases in neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday in a departure celebrated by Tehran.

Iran appeals to US voters as American troops leave Iraq

Australian air-safety investigators are examining traffic controller fatigue and staffing levels after a Qantas Airways Ltd jet was cleared to cross a runway while another jet was landing, one of a series of recent lapses at the country’s busiest airport.

Sydney airport near-misses spur probe of controller fatigue

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) on Tuesday (Sept 29) for observation, his son&nbsp;Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir&nbsp;said.

Tun Dr Mahathir admitted to IJN for observation — Mokhzani

Oil steadied after its biggest drop in more than a week on signs supply from the Middle East has risen to near pre-war levels as Saudi Arabia resumed flows through a pipeline that avoids the Strait of Hormuz. &nbsp;West Texas Intermediate slipped toward US$89 a barrel after dropping 3.5% in the previous session, while Brent settled near US$103.

Oil holds loss as Middle East exports seen near pre-war level

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, the former director-general of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), has been charged with cheating the board 12 years ago.

Former director-general charged with cheating Felda, claims trial

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) will revise its KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit fares effective Jan 1, 2027, marking the first adjustment since 2016 after significant rises in operating and maintenance costs.&nbsp;

ERL to raise KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit fares from January 2027

WASHINGTON (Sept 29): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said tech executives agreed to establish voluntary standards for AI and reiterated his support for rapid expansion of data centres, as concerns mount over AI safety and the industry's growing footprint in communities.

Trump, AI CEOs sign voluntary safety pact, back data centre expansion

Global bonds wobbled on Wednesday and were set for their worst month in years, hit by a toxic mix of deteriorating government finances, a glut of issuances and rising inflation as the seven-month-old US-Israeli war on Iran keeps energy costs elevated.

Bonds set for bruising September; stocks fare better

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) hit a nine-month high on Wednesday's early session after it agreed to partner with SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) and Gentari Sdn Bhd to develop a 680-megawatt renewable energy project in Perak for a US-based technology firm.

Gamuda hits nine-month high on renewable energy venture with SD Guthrie

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Sept 30, 2026 

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd (KL:AEONCR) fell to a 10-month low while analysts turned cautious following a weaker-than-expected quarter at the consumer finance firm.

AEON Credit falls to 10-month low as 2Q results underwhelm investors, analysts

Stocks joined bonds lower as a drop in oil prices did little to allay Wall Street’s concerns that still-elevated energy costs could fuel inflation and spur Federal Reserve rate hikes.

US stocks fall as long-term yields hit 24-year high

At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, the need for cybersecurity spending has also increased significantly. According to a global survey of about 300 cybersecurity leaders conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and released on Aug 27, cybersecurity spending is expected to continue to grow strongly, with more than 80% of respondents planning to increase their budgets through 2027.

Rising AI complexity fuels cybersecurity spending

VS Industry Bhd (KL:VS) hit a two-month high on Wednesday after the electronic manufacturing services provider reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss.

ORLANDO, Florida (Sept 29):&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has few cards left to play to free the US from its debt chokehold. He appears to be putting all his money on one: an AI-driven economic growth boom. It's unlikely to be the ace he thinks it is.

"We're going to have to gro...

Opinion: Can the US grow its way out of debt? Don't bet on it

LONDON (Sept 29): The world's biggest sovereign bond markets are heading for their worst month in years as soaring energy costs fan inflation and the ​AI boom lifts economic growth, leaving investors positioning for an era where interest rates stay higher for longer.

Two-year US Treasur...

Battered bond market braces for a new era of interest rates

BEIJING (Sept 30): China has vowed a "resolute response" to safeguard its industries if the European Union goes ahead with restrictions against Chinese companies or products, according to its commerce ministry.

China vows response if EU introduces moves targeting Chinese trade

ORLANDO, Florida (Sept 29): "Hyperion" and "Beignet" are two words many investors may not be familiar with. But they could soon become symbolic of the excesses of the borrowing and spending binge driving the record-breaking US artificial intelligence build-out.

"Hyperion"&nbsp;is the na...

Opinion: Are AI credit cracks a warning, or a 'buy' signal?

NEW YORK (Sept 29): US stocks ended the session slightly lower on Tuesday, as government bond yields continued their ascent ahead of ​inflation and labor market data, while investors assessed comments from Federal Reserve officials for the path of interest rates.

Longer-dated US Treasur...

Equities end slightly lower as bond yields hold near multi-decade highs

BEIJING (Sept 30): China's factory activity expanded in September, official and private surveys showed on Wednesday, as easing weather disruptions allowed factories to resume operations and a global AI boom supported the industrial sector.

MILWAUKEE (Sept 29): US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday that the Trump administration will take into consideration tariff caps negotiated in trade deals with countries as it weighs potential new duties in an investigation on excess industrial capacity.

US trade chief to consider trade deal tariff caps in excess capacity probe

BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Sept 30): Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged Americans to vote out US President Donald Trump's allies in Congress as US forces were due to withdraw from their remaining bases in neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday in a departure celebrated by Tehran.

Himanshu Bhatt

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