Malaysia has long trumpeted its trade prowess, with total trade numbers going beyond RM1 trillion in several years. Magnificent achievement, no doubt. Yet, with such stellar numbers, the man on the street is often wondering how that translates into what goes into their wallet.

The backg...

My Say: Ever-rising trade numbers — but do they matter to the economy?

Having lived in the US for five years, when president-elect Donald Trump started sounding off against just about every country, I immediately realised he was undertaking three very American practices. Two are captured in the saying “Speak softly and carry a big stick”, attributed to president The...

My Say: The bull is in the china shop

I bet you thought from the title that this would be an article on how to get more money from state and national budgets to improve the environment and ESG (environmental, social and governance) factors, didn’t you? Well, it’s not. Read on.

My Say: Slight changes in national, state budgeting can improve environmentalism and living standards

If one does any sort of analysis on national strategic plans for countries, one is certain to find that Malaysia has a situation that flummoxes. This bewildering situation is one where there are national master plans, then individual states have plans, then federal ministries, too, have plans. Do...

My Say: Measures to make us really food secure

Donald Trump won. He will be the next president of the US despite one conviction and several outstanding court cases against him. So much speculation has emerged as to what it would mean for the world. His previous term as president made many countries around the world grimace at this prospect.

MySay: Trump returns — should Malaysia be fearful?

Stepping into the recent Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA 2024), I was struck by how huge the entire event was. One needed at least five days to cover every single display. A friend remarked that you could fit the state of Perlis into it.

That visit w...

My Say: A golden opportunity for homegrown entrepreneurs

It’s that time of the year again, when public finance economists get quite excited. Yes, you guessed it, it’s national budget time, when economists put forward their suggestions for the budget, with fiscal and monetary policies in mind. Industrialists do the same, usually requesting things that w...

My Say: Four suggestions for Budget 2025

Well, that’s settled. In the US, Vice-President Kamala Harris has not only secured the Democrats’ nomination for the presidential elections coming up, but she has also chosen a running mate whom, by many accounts, seems a fine choice. Early indications are that Republican candidate Donald Trump a...

My Say: What the West frequently gets wrong about China

As I was sitting in the Global Forum on Islamic Economics and Finance (GFIEF24) in Kuala Lumpur recently and listening to the country representatives, mainly central bankers, speak, two things became abundantly clear: First, world economics is in a “dead wind” state, to borrow a nautical term; an...

My Say: With economics in a ‘dead wind’ state, what will the world do now?

It would not be wrong to say that research and development (R&D) is a prime mover for development, especially for companies that sell goods and, to some extent, services. It keeps the offerings fresh, new and updated. For companies, it keeps not only their products and services relevant to th...

My Say: R&D institutes that a developing country needs to advance

President Donald Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell despite his frustration with the central bank not moving more quickly to slash interest rates.

Trump says he has no intention of firing Fed chief Powell

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

Both S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 c...

US futures, dollar rise on Trump’s Fed backtrack

The year 2024 marked the 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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL: PCHEM), or PCG, announced on Tuesday that its Pengerang Petrochemicals Complex in Johor — the group’s largest growth project under its olefins and derivatives segment in partnership with Saudi Aramco — commenced commercial operations in November 2024

Petronas Chemicals says commercial ops at Pengerang site commenced in November 2024

Norges Bank, which manages Norway’s government pension fund, has emerged as a substantial shareholder in automated test equipment (ATE) maker Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) with a 5.26% stake.

Norges Bank emerges as substantial shareholder of Pentamaster

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

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.

Wong &amp; Partners, the legal firm which had advised 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), did not play a role in the controversial transfer of the US$1 billion meant for a joint venture with PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI), but which was then misappropriated, the court heard on Tuesday.

1MDB legal adviser Wong & Partners played no role in controversial US$1b remittance, court told

MGB Bhd proposes to settle RM7.23 million with joint venture partner Aset AZG Sdn Bhd (AASB) to kick start a serviced apartment project in Cameron Highlands which has been on the back burner for six years.

MGB settles RM7.23m with JV partner to revive Cameron Highlands project after six years

Wall Street's main indexes recovered some ground on Tuesday as investors focused on corporate earnings after President Donald Trump's mounting criticism of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell led to a sharp sell-off in the previous session.

Wall Street bounces back after sell-off as investors focus on earnings

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.

After Singapore-based steel firm Green Esteel Pte Ltd’s emergence as the controlling shareholder of Southern Steel Bhd (KL:SSTEEL) earlier this year, the Malaysian group is now offloading a 55% stake in its steel wire mesh-making unit to Singapore-listed BRC Asia Ltd for RM61.05 million in cash.

Southern Steel to sell 55% stake in steel wire mesh unit to Singapore-listed BRC Asia

To break into the cryptocurrency mining industry, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr are teaming up with executives who previously founded a miner with the backing of investors implicated in an illegal penny-stock pump-and-dump operation.

Trump sons’ bitcoin mining partners had run-ins with regulators

West River Bhd, slated for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 5, saw 0.26 times oversubscription for the public portion of its new shares in its initial public offering.

West River’s IPO oversubscribed by 0.26 times

DPS Resources Bhd (KL:DPS) is partnering Invest Energy Sdn Bhd to develop solar farms and other infrastructure to support its proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data centre and high-tech industrial park in Alor Gajah, Melaka.

DPS Resources, Invest Energy team up to build solar farms in Melaka

Alpha IVF Group Bhd (KL:ALPHA) posted a 12.4% year-on-year decline in net profit for its third quarter, dragged by expansion costs and lower contributions from its Singapore operations.

Alpha IVF's 3Q net profit down 12% on expansion costs

Scanwolf Corporation Bhd (KL:SCNWOLF) said it has secured a RM16.63 million subcontract for the relocation of water supply in Rawang, Selangor.

Scanwolf secures subcontract for relocation of water supply in Rawang

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecasts for growth in the United States, China and most countries, citing the impact of US tariffs now at 100-year highs, and warning that further trade tensions would slow growth further.

IMF cuts growth forecasts for most countries in wake of century-high US tariffs

Hours after swearing an oath to defend the US Constitution on January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing his attorney general to scour the Justice Department and other agencies for evidence of political "weaponization."

How Trump moved swiftly to punish perceived foes in his first 100 days

Brazil and Argentina are emerging as early winners in the global trade war that’s upending agricultural markets.

From meat to grains, trade war is boon to Brazil, Argentina

Volkswagen plans to start exporting cars from China, aiming to sell in other Asian markets, South America and the Middle East, its China chief said on Tuesday, adding the carmaker was also ready to tackle domestic competition in the country.

Volkswagen plans exports from China to Asia, South America, Middle East

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.

Huzaime Hamid

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Huzaime Hamid

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