The prime minister’s pre-Budget 2027 remarks have put practical support for smallholders and agro-commodity businesses in the spotlight. The government is considering RM425.65 million for agro-commodity initiatives, including RM280.03 million for oil palm smallholder replanting, RM100 million for farm roads, RM28.57 million for disaster and disease control, and RM17.05 million for downstream agro-commodity entrepreneurs. These are proposals under consideration, not confirmed Budget allocations.

Opinion: Budgeting beyond the harvest

On Sept 28, Malaysia said goodbye to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

Opinion: The quiet place beside history — Remembering Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, 1926–2026

Risk, it seems, likes neat boxes. Low. Standard. High. Three categories, three colours, three levels of comfort for regulators. Malaysia, under the European Union Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR, sits in the middle as a standard-risk country.

Tek Talks: When the EUDR risk label lags the landscape

Over the past two years, I have occasionally written about some of the people I regard as role models in Malaysia's plantation and palm oil journey — Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Tun Raja Muhammad Alias Raja Muhammad Ali, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock, Datuk Boon Weng Siew, fondly remembered as “Uncle Boon”, MR Chandran and Mahbob Abdullah, among others.

Opinion: Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian — the planter, the steward and the next row

As we mark Malaysia Day, the country pauses to remember what holds us together. Flags appear, speeches turn to unity, and attention returns to Sept 16, 1963, when different territories, histories and peoples came together to form Malaysia. Yet perhaps the deeper story lies not only in how the federation was formed, but in how Malaysians have learnt to live together ever since.

Opinion: Muhibbah moves the chair

PARTS 1 and 2 of this three-part article looked at who sits around Malaysia’s palm oil table and how those many voices might work together more effectively. But coordination alone is not enough.

Opinion: The long game of palm oil: Part 3

In Part 1 of this three-part article, titled ‘Malaysia’s palm oil alphabet soup’, we mapped some of the Malaysian palm oil family: growers, smallholders, nurseries, millers, refiners, biodiesel and biomass players, professional institutions, academia, government agencies, certification systems and enough acronyms to keep a Scrabble player occupied for an afternoon.

Opinion: Many voices, one palm oil industry: Part 2

ONE of the questions I am asked surprisingly often — especially by people trying to find their way around the Malaysian oil palm industry — is: who is who, who does what, and which association or agency should I speak to?

Opinion: Malaysia’s palm oil alphabet soup: Part 1

READ part 1 here.

BEING understood is one achievement. Remaining believable under examination is another.

There was a time when industries could shape opinion largely through what they published. To...

Opinion: Shaping Malaysia’s palm oil narrative — from claims to credibility (Part 2)

AT the close of my presentation, the applause was warm. I received it less as recognition of the speaker than as a sign that the subject had touched something familiar among planters.

Opinion: Shaping Malaysia’s palm oil narrative: From mud to meaning (Part 1)

Asian stocks were set to open higher after a tech-led rally pushed the S&P 500 index near a record as investors largely shrugged off concerns about bond yields at multi-decade highs. US oil prices extended declines

Asian stocks set to rise after tech rallies boosted S&P to record high

Oil held a two-day drop, as rising Persian Gulf exports and a steep price cut by Saudi Arabia reinforced signs of a loosening market. West Texas Intermediate steadied near US$89 a barrel after shedding 3.7% over the prior two sessions, while Brent closed near US$100.

Oil holds two-day drop on signs of increased Mideast exports

A rally in giant technology companies drove stocks higher, overshadowing concerns about still-elevated oil prices and bond yields. The S&P 500 rose to a striking distance of a record while the Nasdaq 100 reached a fresh peak. Political upheaval in Europe and fiscal worries drove the euro to its weakest since May 202

S&P 500 closes in on record high as tech rallies

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) unveiled a proposal on Monday to regulate digital asset transactions and markets.

CFTC proposes registering crypto exchanges offering leverage

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces staged a lightning advance on Monday to retake the coast around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait up to the city of Mocha, the government said, pushing the Iran-backed Houthis out of most of the areas they seized last month.

Yemeni government forces drive Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Germany and France are urging the European Union (EU) to adopt new powers that would enable the bloc to cut off access to its single market if China or other nations destabilise trade relations.

Germany and France push trade weapon to deny access to China 

Shipping bottlenecks, deep cuts in refinery output and inventory draws that could take years to replace will keep global oil prices high beyond this year, industry executives said at a conference in London on Monday.

Oil market turmoil could last for years, executives say at London conference

The US Supreme Court opened its new nine-month term on Monday by hearing a bid by oil companies ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy to thwart a lawsuit by officials in Boulder, Colorado, seeking monetary damages for harms caused by climate change.

US Supreme Court hears bid by oil companies to avoid climate lawsuit

NEWS: MoT explains why Zetrix AI, MyEG services were suspended

PUTRAJAYA (Oct 5): Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) owes the Road Transport Department some RM314 million as it failed to remit collections from May to September this year.

Zetrix owes JPJ RM314m from May to September this year; firm stopped RM231m cheque meant to settle arrears — Loke

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) said it has submitted a proposal to resolve outstanding remittances to the government &nbsp;after the Road Transport Department (JPJ) suspended its services as a collection agent on Monday.

Zetrix submits proposal to settle government dues

A brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Monday.

Zetrix AI, Pertama Digital, HeiTech Padu, Yinson, Kelington, Go Hub Capital, Citaglobal, West River, Jati Tinggi, TNB, IJM, Asteel

Jelutong member of parliament RSN Rayer wants the identities of those behind the companies involved in the eJamin bail collection system to be disclosed in the Dewan Rakyat&nbsp;

MP wants to know who is behind companies involved in eJamin   

Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) said it has secured about US$600 million (RM2.5 billion) in additional firm contract backlog following an amendment to its contract for the FPSO John Agyekum Kufuor offshore of&nbsp;Ghana.

Yinson secures additional RM2.5 bil in Ghana FPSO contract

Shipping bottlenecks, deep cuts in refinery output and inventory draws that could take years to replace will keep global oil prices high beyond this year, industry executives said at a conference in London on Monday.

Sarawak unveiled its first locally designed gallium nitride power semiconductor chip, keteq.GaN, at the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026, alongside the Sarawak Cybersecurity Strategy Roadmap 2030 and the integration of Sarawak Pass with MyDigital ID.

Sarawak launches locally designed semiconductor chip, cybersecurity roadmap and Sarawak Pass expansion

Citaglobal Bhd (KL:CITAGLB) said on Monday its indirect unit LAWI Engineering GmbH (LAWI Germany) has secured a RM29 million share of a RM52.1 million contract for a waste-to-energy (WTE) project in Thailand.

Citaglobal unit secures RM29 mil portion of Thai waste-to-energy contract

West River Bhd (KL:WESTRVR) has secured a RM17.5 million subcontract for electrical, security and solar panel system works at the E-Metro Logistic Park in Bandar Bukit Raja 2, Selangor.

West River secures RM17.5 mil electrical, solar works for Selangor logistics park

The Economy Ministry has received 9,955 new and extension&nbsp;project proposals totalling&nbsp;RM944 billion for 2027.

Economy Ministry receives almost 10,000 new, extension project proposals for 2027

Datuk Clifford Hii Toh Leong has increased his stake in Asteel Group Bhd (KL:ASTEEL) to 53.08% stake following the close of his unconditional mandatory takeover offer on Monday.

Clifford Hii ups Asteel stake to 53.08% after mandatory takeover offer

Regional, business, cryptocurrency and sports leaders are meeting in Singapore for a slew of finance-focused conferences ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix as haze continues to shroud the city state.

Smoky Singapore gears up to talk money ahead of F1

Myanmar has repatriated nearly 10,000 migrants from Malaysia this year, state media said on Monday, a day after a flotilla returning almost 1,500 of its citizens docked in the country.

Myanmar says 10,000 migrants returned from Malaysia this year

The benchmark S&amp;P 500 rose and the Nasdaq reached all-time highs on Monday as most megacap and growth stocks advanced, though risk sentiment remained in check as Treasury yields held near multi-year highs.

S&P 500 up, Nasdaq at record high as megacap tech stocks rise

Jati Tinggi Group Bhd (KL:JTGROUP) has secured two contracts from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) (TNB) worth a combined RM15.7 million for underground cable works in Selangor and a submarine power cable monitoring system in Perlis.

Jati Tinggi bags two TNB contracts worth RM15.7 mil

Information technology solutions provider Go Hub Capital Bhd (KL:GOHUB) has secured a five-year service contract worth RM65 million from Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTMB) unit Tenang Capital Bhd.

Go Hub Capital bags RM65 mil contract from KTMB unit

The investigation paper on an incident involving Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 will be referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) on Tuesday.

Viral KLIA reprimand video: Investigation paper to be referred to AGC on Tuesday, says IGP

Germany and France are urging the European Union (EU) to adopt new powers that would enable the bloc to cut off access to its single market if China or other nations destabilise trade relations.&nbsp;

The deferment of the carbon tax implementation is aligned with the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry’s efforts to establish a complete regulatory and policy framework before enforcing emission caps.

Carbon tax deferment gives ministry more time to finalise regulatory, policy framework, says Arthur

(Oct 5):&nbsp;The US government is paying more to borrow, and it is running out of easy ways to rein in its borrowing costs.

Long-term Treasury yields are near their highest in two decades, and the causes do not look temporary. ​Washington is selling huge amounts of debt to cover defici...

What will Washington do next if US bond yields keep rising?

Raw sugar futures extended gains, with worries about tighter global supplies mounting because of weather and production concerns across top growers.&nbsp;

Joseph Tek Choon Yee

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