The recent global debates about artificial intelligence (AI) are couched in apocalyptic terms — such as the idea that 10%, 25%, or 50% of humanity would be obliterated — which, in my opinion, is hyperbolic. However, the advent of AI is still the most dramatic technological advancement since the i...

My Say: Realising an AI nation: Once-in-a-generation opportunities and risks

Against the backdrop of a world in transition, on July 27, 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the Madani Economy Framework, and in quick succession, the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap. Together they constitute the core ideas of the e...

My Say: Malaysia’s once-in-a-generation opportunity in a world in transition

Fiscal responsibility and sustainability, federal-state government relationship and climate change are, to a certain extent, intertwined. As a nation, we will have to deal with the problems arising from the past, such as irresponsible spending and corruption, as well as issues that will concern t...

My Say: Fiscal responsibility and constructive federalism

While tax is often presented as a technical matter, it has to fulfil larger objectives and purposes for society, and it is ultimately the manifestation of that society’s values.

More often than not, our debates and discourses on tax in Malaysia focus too much on technical issues and are...

My Say: The future of tax

What keeps Asean government leaders awake at night is the twin challenge of avoiding Gen Z protests and, as society ages, ensuring that their people get rich before they get old. The median age in Singapore and Thailand is 43 and 40 respectively; in Vietnam and Brunei, it is 32; Malaysia 31; Indo...

My Say: Post-disruption societies: Solidarity and the social market

While the two-week ceasefire is a reprieve, the Iran war is not over yet. The West Asia crisis — which only started less than two months ago on Feb 28 — is already moving towards a disruption as serious as the Covid-19 virus. The widely circulated idea of “Build Back Better” during the pandemic s...

My Say: Build back better

As Chairs of the Asean Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF), we are pleased to present the first Asean Geoeconomics Report (AGR) 2025, which is the basis of discussion for the very first Asean Foreign Ministers-Asean Economic Ministers (AMM-AEM) joint meeting.

Opinion: This time it is different

The recent protests in Indonesia expose a serious socioeconomic root cause: millions of people work in the informal sector, especially as gig workers, and face low wages as well as the lack of opportunity in the formal sector.

And a day before a young Gojek rider Affan Kurniawan was kil...

My Say: Economic insecurity means political danger

Is an inclusive, unifying, and all embracing Malaysian nationalism possible?

Opinion: Malaysian nationalism — Democracy, solidarity and dignity

As the saying goes, “nature abhors a vacuum”. When the old order dies and the new order is yet to be born, there will be a vacuum, and with a vacuum comes conflicts, until a new equilibrium is finally reached.

Opinion: Building a peaceful, resilient, inclusive and sustainable Asean

Huawei Technologies Co has secured a 15 billion yuan (US$2.25 billion or RM9.2 billion) loan from Chinese banks, according to a person familiar with the matter, as spending on chips to power artificial intelligence related projects soars.

Huawei gets US$2.3 bil offshore loan as chip spending soars — Bloomberg

Barclays Plc said it’s cutting 5,000 jobs, or about 5% of total headcount, as part of a “technology-enabled” effort to reduce costs as it adopts artificial intelligence across the bank.

Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs in AI-fuelled push to lower costs

THE energy transition is no longer just an environmental imperative but a question of energy security. As Malaysia seeks to attract investment in energy-intensive industries such as data centres and semiconductor manufacturing, securing reliable, competitively priced and low-carbon power is becom...

Bankability, not capital, is the hurdle in energy transition

It has been almost four months since the LRT Shah Alam line officially started operating. Some commuters have since taken to social media to voice their woes, not about the train service itself but about the lack of surrounding infrastructure.

In Malaysia, stepping off a train line does...

The walkability gap around Malaysia’s train stations

(Oct 22): Nearly three years after China Evergrande Group began winding up, liquidators have recovered less than 1% of the US$46 billion sought by creditors, which they aim to begin distributing in the first half of 2027.

Evergrande liquidators plan first payout to creditors next year

Two former senior Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) officials pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Thursday to charges of deceiving the institution’s board of directors over a proposal to adjust property valuations to facilitate the distribution of RM3.3 billion in hibah to depositors.

Ex-Tabung Haji CEO, CFO claim trail to cheating over RM3.3b hibah payment

PARIS (Oct 22): Birkin bag maker Hermes posted slightly weaker third-quarter revenue than analysts expected on Thursday, as sales in its ready-to-wear and accessories division fell for the first time in years due to weak demand in key market China.

Hermes revenue growth slows as weak China demand hits accessories 

China is aiming to claw back some of the colossal riches kept overseas by the country's millionaires and billionaires, who have until Thursday to pay new taxes levied by Beijing aimed at filling a growing fiscal hole.

Cash-strapped China targets offshore wealth with new tax

The High Court here has granted a stay on the Registrar of Societies' (RoS) decision this week to deregister Perikatan Nasional (PN), allowing the coalition's candidates to contest the Nov 14 Melaka election under its banner.

High Court stays PN deregistration, allowing bloc to contest Melaka polls   

PETALING JAYA (Oct 22): Paramount Property, the property development arm of Paramount Corp Bhd (KL:PARAMON), has completed the main structural works for Seiras, the RM266 million fifth residential phase of its integrated Utropolis Batu Kawan development in Penang.

According to a press s...

Paramount Property tops out RM266m Seiras at Utropolis Batu Kawan

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) faces a deadline on Thursday to resolve a covenant breach that could trigger a payment default on its RM2 billion sukuk.

D-day for Zetrix AI to fix RM2b sukuk covenant breach

'Clearly the prime minister has been wrongly advised,' says former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

Opinion: TuJu doesn't work, improvements needed

The Federal Court has set Nov 5 to hear Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's appeal, on whether the courts can adjudicate on policy matters, specifically on funds already earmarked for parliamentary constituencies.

Apex court sets Nov 5 to hear Syed Saddiq's bid to reinstate legal action over Muar constituency allocation

Meta Platforms has struck a deal with Mark Zuckerberg to keep him living in California after the chief executive officer warned he was considering leaving the state that houses the company's headquarters if voters pass a wealth tax proposal next month.

Meta strikes deal to keep Zuckerberg in California after wealth tax concerns

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): RedPlanet Bhd (KL:RPLANET) staged a strong ACE Market debut on Thursday following the information technology services firm’s listing transfer from the LEAP Market.

RedPlanet rises 42% in ACE Market debut following listing transfer

Oil prices rallied over US$2 a barrel on Thursday after more Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concerns over a broader escalation of conflict and further disruptions to crude supplies from the world's key exporting region.

Oil jumps US$2 on escalating Middle East tension

The ban on the use of the Waze navigation app applies only to public servants carrying out official duties and does not extend to all Malaysians, a minister told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Waze ban applies only to public servants on official duties, says Gobind

Stocks fell on Thursday as megacap earnings failed to reassure investors about the rebound in the artificial intelligence (AI) trade, Chinese equities neared a bear market and escalating Middle East tensions drove oil prices higher.

AI trade stumbles after tech earnings; oil gains

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) on Thursday “categorically” denied planning to privatise its Indonesian unit.

CIMB denies plans to privatise Indonesian unit

(Oct 22):&nbsp;Malaysia has given the go-ahead for a batch of unprocessed rare earths to be exported, the first approval under a new framework designed to permit testing and potentially encourage investments in local capacity.

Malaysia allows first export of raw rare earths under new rules

Developers of a new US-backed undersea data cable linking Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand will this month select a cable supplier between Japan's and France's Alcatel Submarine Networks, a project executive told Reuters.

New US-backed data cable linking Malaysia to other Southeast Asian nations to pick NEC or Alcatel as supplier, developer says

The Shah Alam High Court has dismissed a striking out application brought by developer Midlands City Sdn Bhd, in a suit brought by 24 purchasers for delays in procuring strata titles and a Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).&nbsp;

High Court dismisses striking out application by Midlands City, orders full trial in suit brought by purchasers

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): The government is still finalising a natural gas roadmap that will guide the development of Malaysia’s gas sector through energy transition.

Malaysia’s natural gas roadmap still being finalised, launch set for 4Q

PUTRAJAYA (Oct 22): The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and TuJu's developer are working to identify the cause of disruptions to the navigation app, restore system stability and increase its capacity to accommodate more users.

Malaysian Highway Authority, TuJu developer address app disruptions amid user surge

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): Palm oil prices will stay firm above RM4,600 per tonne next month on stronger exports and seasonal output decline, said a Malaysian industry council.

Palm oil to stay above RM4,600 in November on stronger export, output decline — MPOC

CYBERJAYA (Oct&nbsp;22): Civil servants who defy the immediate ban on navigation app Waze could face disciplinary action, National Security Council (MKN) director general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said.

Civil servants who defy Waze ban face disciplinary action — National Security Council

Wall Street’s wagers on artificial intelligence regained traction, with stocks rising in late hours as solid results bolstered confidence in the trade that has powered the bull market.

Stocks climb in late hours on Meta’s big AI wagers

BENGALURU (Oct 22): Gold fell more than 1% on Thursday as rising oil prices stoked inflation concerns and reinforced expectations that interest rates could stay higher for longer, while investors awaited next week's Federal Reserve meeting for clues on the policy outlook.

Gold drops over 1% as oil rally reinforces higher-for-longer rate outlook

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CONSUMER goods companies are looking to Budget 2027 for a lift in household spending, as highe...

Liew Chin Tong

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