Here’s an iconic corporate story. In a bid to boost its green credentials, a corporate giant launched a “Go Green” initiative, complete with a grand ceremony. Employees were handed ­reusable water bottles and bamboo cutlery, all wrapped in layers of fancy plastic packaging. The highlight was the ...

Econ 4.0: Sense and sustainability

Here’s a New Year story with a nifty twist: A CEO, a CTO and a CFO are having lunch at a pizza place. The CEO says: “Let’s use a hybrid cloud model. Leverage the best of both worlds — scalability and flexibility of the public cloud and security and control of the private cloud.” The CTO says: “Le...

Econ 4.0: New Year forecast: Cloudy weather ahead

Here’s a freaky story with a creepy twist: A CEO of a tech company decides to use GAI (generative artificial intelligence) to write his speech for the annual shareholders’ meeting. He is confident that the algorithm would produce a brilliant and persuasive speech that would impress the investors ...

Econ 4.0: Will generative AI gyp you?

Here’s a scary story with a spooky twist: Dan was proud to start his new job as a drone delivery coordinator. He had to deliver 10 packages in an hour. Delighted, Dan grabbed the remote control. He flew his drone to the first address, dropped the package on the doorstep and messaged the recipient...

Econ 4.0: Are you ready for the future of work?

Here’s a nerdy conversation with a scary twist. A chemical engineer and an artificial intelligence (AI) prompt engineer walk into a bar that is full of cigarette smoke. The chemical engineer orders, “Give me 250ml H2O first.” The prompt engineer smiles, “Get me a glass of water.” The bartender sm...

Econ 4.0: Can you become a prompt engineer?

Here is a geeky story with a cheeky twist: In 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) has become pervasive, and robots have become cheaper and smarter. John, a struggling comedian, buys a robot that can do everything — cook, wash, clean and take care of him. Being lonely, John takes the robot along to...

Econ 4.0: The AI ethics paradox

Here’s a nifty NFT (non-fungible token) narrative. An artist asked the art gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings on display at the gallery. “I have good news and bad news,” the owner replied. “The good news is that an art connoisseur enquired about your work and wanted to ...

Econ4.0: Tips to get tech right

Here is a brazen burglar story: A wealthy man calls the cops to report a burglary at his house. He alleges thieves have stolen a big bag of cash that he was planning to deposit in the bank the next day. After a long and tiring search, the police nab a suspect and bring him to trial. The suspect p...

Econ4.0: Are you proactive enough?

Here’s a beautiful banker story. After a long day at work, bankers Ben and Bud decide to go to a busy bar on the shady side of town for a booze session. Later that night, armed robbers burst in and line everyone up against the wall. The robbers frisk everyone and take their cash and valuables.

Econ4.0: Are you ready for BaaS?

Here’s a serious software story: A team of programmers is tasked with developing a sophisticated software package using the latest tools and technologies on a substantial budget. The team hires a hot-shot artificial intelligence (AI) programmer who labours diligently and completes the project to ...

Econ4.0: Is robotic process automation for you?

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrived in Malaysia on Monday to begin his two-day official visit in conjunction with the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat on Tuesday.

He arrived with his delegation at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 6.15pm on a commercial flight and then was given a guard of honour by the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment under the command of Captain Iskandar Dzulkarnein Doa Hassan at the Bunga Raya Complex here.

Singapore PM arrives in Malaysia for two-day official visit

The Centre for Market Education (CME), a think tank, is arguing that Malaysia’s housing market may be mispriced, as homes deemed “affordable” based on conventional metrics might actually be deemed “expensive” when assessed from a social affordability perspective.

Think tank proposes new way to measure housing affordability, saying current method overlooks critical elements

Citaglobal Bhd (KL:CITAGLB) has acquired a 55% equity stake in Germany’s LAWI Engineering GmbH (LAWI Germany), as part of a partnership to provide advanced waste-to-energy (WTE) technology and engineering solutions for waste management projects.

Citaglobal acquires 55% stake in waste-to-energy partner LAWI Germany for undisclosed value

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Melaka government through the Kampung Digital Melaka (KDM) Initiative agreement.

In a statement on Monday, MCMC said that the initiative was a strategic move aimed at ensuring all premises in Melaka were equipped with a complete and systematic address.

MCMC partners with Melaka government on Kampung Digital Initiative

The eurozone jobs market will start conforming to historic norms as the effects of a startling post-pandemic boom dissipate, according to the European Central Bank (ECB).

ECB sees labour market normalising after puzzling post-Covid boom

The High Court on Monday dismissed a judicial review application filed by the director and producer of the film 'Mentega Terbang' against the ban on its screening and publicity.

Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh delivered the ruling during proceedings attended by Federal Counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Md Ali, representing the Home Ministry and the government as respondents, and lawyer N Surendran, appearing for the film’s director Mohd Khairi Anwar Jailani and its producer Tan Meng Kheng.

Court rejects judicial review bid against 'Mentega Terbang' ban

South Korea’s corruption watchdog filed for an extension of a warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol after their first attempt last week ended in failure following an hours-long stand-off with his security team.

South Korean investigators seek extension of warrant for Yoon

The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, taking aim at its oil revenues with action against tankers carrying Russian crude, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.

US plans more sanctions on tankers carrying Russian oil — Reuters

GoTo Group said Patrick Walujo will run the company for about five more years, giving the chief executive officer more time to turn around Indonesia’s unprofitable ride-hailing and food-delivery champion.

GoTo gives CEO five years more to get car-hailing firm to profit

Saudi Arabia, one of the largest bond issuers in emerging markets last year, signalled that it is set to maintain a similar pace of borrowing in 2025 to help fund huge oil-diversification projects.

Saudi Arabia planning further borrowing spree to pay for huge projects — Bloomberg

A three-member Court of Appeal bench on Monday ruled to allow former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal, to have the merits of his challenge over the existence of an addendum, purportedly issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest, to be heard at the High Court.

Najib's addendum appeal allowed via majority decision, case reverted to High Court

Cafe chain operator Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd set its initial public offering (IPO) price at 44 sen apiece in a share sale that would raise RM183.96 million ahead of its listing on the ACE Market.

ACE Market-bound Oriental Kopi to raise RM184 mil, sets IPO price at 44 sen

Pahang exco member Datuk Nizar Najib has produced a letter from the Royal Pahang Household, purportedly verifying the existence of the Jan 29, 2024, addendum that allows former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Nizar Najib produces letter purportedly from Pahang comptroller, allegedly verifying addendum

A crowd rallied outside the Palace of Justice on Monday to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his renewed bid to serve out his prison term under house arrest.

Supporters turn up to Najib solidarity rally

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Shares of glove manufacturers rallied on Monday in active trade amid reports of new virus infections in China, though authorities have downplayed the infections as&nbsp;seasonal winter peak.

Glove stocks rally amid reports of new virus infections in China, MIDF shrugs off potential demand spike

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Shares of NationGate Holdings Bhd (KL:NATGATE) hit a fresh high on Monday, after gaining 23 sen or 9.1% at RM2.75, becoming the fifth biggest gainer on Bursa Malaysia.

NationGate hits new record high on first mover advantage, deliveries of AI GPU servers

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Binastra Corporation Bhd (KL:BNASTRA) may be the preferred contractor for property projects worth RM10 billion in gross development value over the next three years, Mercury Securities said.

Binastra may be preferred contractor for property projects worth RM10b, Mercury starts coverage on 'buy'

Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, representing the government and other respondents in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal over a purported addendum, told the Court of Appeal on Monday that the addendum was never discussed or brought up during the Federal Territory Pardons Board’s 61st meeting on Jan 29 last year.

AGC claims no due diligence on Najib’s part to produce additional evidence on purported addendum, maintains February release as main order

Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd, a cafe chain operator en route to the ACE Market, said it would cap menu price increases at 5%-10% to manage the impact from rising costs.

Oriental Kopi to raise menu prices amid rising raw material costs

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 6): Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who is former treasury secretary general, will bring in two former 1MDB board members as third parties in a US$6.59 billion suit filed by the strategic development company against him and former 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy. This follows the Federal Court’s ruling to dismiss their application for leave to reverse an earlier Court of Appeal’s (COA) decision that had allowed Irwan to bring in the two former board members as third parties.

Two ex-directors to be included as third parties in US$6.59b 1MDB suit after apex court denies them leave to appeal

Demand for Malaysia’s palm oil could rise if Indonesia goes through with its plan to raise export levy to support the higher biodiesel mandate, TA Securities said on Monday.

Raising the export levy to 10% would add US$26.49 per tonne, making Indonesian crude palm oil (CPO) even more expensive than Malaysia’s product, the research house said. The price of Indonesia’s palm oil is already at a premium of US$146.30 per tonne above that of Malaysia, it noted.

Demand for Malaysian palm oil could rise if Indonesia raises exports levy — TA Securities

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad&nbsp;Zahid&nbsp;Hamidi has appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant a full pardon to the jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Zahid pleads with King for full pardon of Najib following court's decision allowing addendum appeal

(Jan 6): The Australian dollar slid the most in six years in 2024 but its decline looks far from over — there’s every prospect it will fall below 60 US cents (RM2.70)&nbsp;in coming months.

Bears see Aussie dollar drop to 60 cents as Trump readies China tariffs

PIE Industrial Bhd (KL:PIE) is seen as a major beneficiary of global supply chain shifts and technological trends, according to Maybank Investment Bank.

The house noted that as an EMS provider, PIE is poised to benefit from new sources of earnings growth.

Maybank initiates a 'buy' on PIE on trade diversion, data centre boom

CBH Engineering Holdings Bhd (KL:CBHB) saw its initial public offering (IPO) of 94.05 million shares — available to the public at 28 sen apiece — oversubscribed by 34.21 times.

CBH Engineering’s IPO shares for public oversubscribed by 34 times

Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party this week, the Globe and Mail reported, a move that would trigger a race to replace him as prime minister.

Canada’s Trudeau is likely to resign this week — report

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): U Mobile has signed an agreement with the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), in which&nbsp;the telco will play a critical role in supporting the group in its digital transformation drive.&nbsp;

U Mobile, Felda ink agreement to support digital transformation

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted 14 stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Monday. 13 stocks showed negative momentum, while only one stock showed positive momentum.

Stocks with momentum on Jan 6, 2025: Kumpulan Fima, Eurospan, Velocity Capital, Inta Bina, Radiant Globaltech, Ramssol, Evergreen Max Cash, Minox, Carlsberg, Lien Hoe, Southern Steel, Aeon Co, Xin Synergy and Wong Engineering

(Jan 6): The task of providing elderly care for the growing number of Chinese baby boomers may be a headache for Beijing, but a Singaporean hospital operator sees it as an evergreen opportunity.

Singapore hospital operator Perennial targets wealthy boomers in China

Local institutions supported Bursa Malaysia for the 11th consecutive week, with net purchases of RM304.0 million in domestic equities, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd. &nbsp;

Raju Chellam

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