PKR international bureau chairman Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin claims that the consensus among parties within Perikatan Nasional (PN) is becoming increasingly fragile.

PN parties’ consensus weakening, says Shamsul Iskandar 

All members of the Dewan Rakyat are advised to focus on discussing the affairs of the people instead of politics during the presentation of the 2025 Budget, said Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul.

Budget 2025: Members of Dewan Rakyat must focus on people's welfare, not politics — Johari

There is a clear commitment from the leadership of Malaysia and Pakistan to resolve any issues that could impede the flourishing trade and commerce between the two countries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at a business dialogue event attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Anwar noted that the commitment to enhance trade ties between Kuala Lumpur and Islamabad is currently at the highest level within both governments.

Malaysia, Pakistan leaders commit to enhancing trade and commerce — Anwar

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Special Task Force, which met for the first time on Thursday, will establish a 'Focus Group' to implement measures to improve the CPI in the country.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and attended by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Corruption Perception Index Task Force forms focus group to improve perception

Here is brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made headlines on Thursday.

Velesto, MPHB, Kuchai, Sungei Bagan, Lay Hong, Atlan, Techna-X, MyEG, Harrisons, Maybank and Varia 

Total global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased by 8.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) in August 2024 compared with August 2023, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In a statement Thursday, it said that the total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose by 6.5% y-o-y.

Global passenger demand up 8.6% in August — IATA

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s scheduled short official visit to Bangladesh on Friday has generated significant anticipation, with local media in Bangladesh already highlighting its potential impact.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, this will be the first visit by a Malaysian Prime Minister to Bangladesh in nearly 11 years and will mark the first visit by a foreign head of government under the interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

Anwar's visit to Bangladesh points towards enhanced bilateral cooperation

Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed mostly lower on Thursday, driven by profit-taking following a recent price rally.

Palm oil trader David Ng said that the weakness in the soybean oil market during Asian trading hours also dampened sentiment.

CPO futures close mostly lower on profit-taking after rally

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has consented to the latest fatwa issued by the Selangor State Fatwa Committee, declaring that the leaders, followers, employees or members of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its affiliates have deviated from the true teachings of Islam.

Selangor Sultan consents to latest fatwa declaring GISBH doctrine as deviant from Islam

We live in a time where the price of being cheap is too high and being less bad does not create value anymore.

Abating climate change or weaning societies off fossil fuels is a noble mission, which should be pursued albeit pragmatically. However, policy makers, activists and, for that matter, journalists should also not be allowed to turn this mission into a quixotic crusade where we, like lemmings, are expected to jump off a cliff focusing entirely on optics and less so on real outcomes.

The high price of idealism: Why pragmatism must lead the climate fight

In normal circumstances, wars are launched with total stealth to maximise the element of surprise. It is one of the most important dimensions of warfare, whether it is staged by the states or sub-state groups.

Strategic realism in the Israeli-Iranian war

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Bank of Hangzhou to work together on enhancing cross-border business and advancing digital innovation.

Maybank teams up with Bank of Hangzhou to boost cross-border financing, digital innovation

The privatisation of MPHB Capital Bhd (KL:MPHBCAP) has been met with a stumbling block put up by ISM Sdn Bhd, which is the company's minority partner in six joint-venture companies.

MPHB Capital's privatisation hits stumbling block

Alphabet Inc’s Google is beginning a wide rollout of ads that will be displayed within and alongside the AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of some search results — a move meant to show investors that costly artificial intelligence (AI) projects can generate revenue.

Google begins wide rollout of ads in AI Overviews search results

The US government and Microsoft Corp have seized 107 websites used by Russian intelligence agents and their proxies in the US, according to the Department of Justice and the tech giant.

US takes down websites used by hackers linked to Russian intelligence agents

Wall Street's main indexes were mixed on Thursday after data showed strong service activityin the world's largest economy, while cautious investors watched for any escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Wall St opens mixed after economic data; Middle East tensions in focus

OpenAI has tapped global banks for a US$4 billion (RM16.67 billion) revolving line of credit on top of its recent US$6.6 billion fundraising, building a massive war chest to stay ahead in the costly race to develop more sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI).

OpenAI gets US$4 bil in credit on top of US$6.6 bil in fundraising

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Oct 2): Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes against Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Israel calls for evacuations from south Lebanon, strikes Beirut suburb

Metals traders arriving in London for LME Week were in for a surprise as they caught up with friends and customers from China.
 
For the last couple of years, the biggest consumer and producer has been a buzzkill for metals bulls — but now suddenly Chinese representatives were among the most bullish in any room.

Sudden shift on China means LME Week whiplash for metal traders

In his first public comments since Stellantis NV confirmed it had started searching for his successor, chief executive officer Carlos Tavares signalled he’s open to leaving the automaker just over a year from now.

Stellantis CEO mulls exiting at the end of contract in 2026

Singapore is set to charge property tycoon Ong Beng Seng over the case of an ex-minister who was sentenced Thursday for obtaining gifts from the businessman.

Singapore set to charge tycoon Ong Beng Seng over ex-minister case

Here is brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made headlines on Thursday.

NH Foods Ltd, a joint venture (JV) partner of egg producer Lay Hong Bhd (KL:LAYHONG), has ceased to be the latter’s substantial shareholder after disposing of 62.32 million shares, or an 8.24% stake.

NH Foods ceases to be Lay Hong’s substantial shareholder

The privatisation of MPHB Capital Bhd (KL:MPHBCAP) has been met with a stumbling block put up by ISM Sdn Bhd, which is the company's minority partner in six joint-venture companies.&nbsp;

MyEG Services Bhd (KL:MYEG) said its blockchain developer, Zetrix, has come out with a digital identification (ID) verification service for Chinese nationals on the ZCert service.

MyEG's blockchain developer launches digital ID verification for Chinese nationals

<div class="ceonothumb mx-auto pb-5">
<div>
<div class="iframe-w100-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S8DAAskl62c?si=EJn8MQBYV-CAV27h&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="840"></iframe></div>
</div>

E...

Malaysians lost an estimated US$12.8 billion (RM53.34 billion) to scams over the past year, representing about 3% of the country's gross domestic product, according to the State of Scam Report 2024.

Malaysians lost US$12.8b to scams over the past year, survey reveals

Duty-free retailing group Duty Free International Ltd has received a notice of compulsory land acquisition for several of its land lots in Malaysia, according to an Oct 3 release.

Duty Free International receives compulsory land acquisition notice

Atlan Holdings Bhd (KL:ATLAN) said its indirectly owned units, Cergasjaya Sdn Bhd and Cergasjaya Properties Sdn Bhd (CPPA), have received notices for the compulsory acquisition of their lands in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, for a road construction project.

Atlan Holdings' units get compulsory land acquisition for road construction project in Bukit Kayu Hitam

The total sum for the proposed disposal of Kuchai Development Bhd’s (KL:KUCHAI) assets and liabilities to Sungei Bagan Rubber Company (KL:SBAGAN) has been revised lower following the exclusion of an agricultural land parcel in Semenyih, Selangor.

Kuchai Development-Sg Bagan deal revised downwards to RM267.78 mil on Semenyih land exclusion 

(Oct 3):&nbsp;A leading economist in China said the country has room to ramp up fiscal support for the economy by issuing as much as 10 trillion yuan (US$1.4 trillion, or RM6.01 trillion) in special debt, reflecting rising expectations for Beijing to expand public spending as part of its stimulus package.

China ready for US$1.4 tril fiscal bazooka, top economist says

Nvidia Corp insiders have cashed in on shares worth more than US$1.8 billion (RM7.5 billion) so far this year — and more selling is on the horizon.

Nearly 11 million shares have been sold by Nvidia executives and directors in 2024, the most in a year since at least 2020 after adjusting for stock splits, according to data compiled by the Washington Service.

Share sales by Nvidia insiders top US$1.8 bil and more are coming

The Pahang palace on Thursday refuted a post on social media regarding a royal wedding invitation involving the Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and a woman as fake and has no connection to the Crown Prince or the palace.

Pahang palace refutes fake post of royal wedding involving Tengku Hassanal

Varia Bhd (KL:VARIA), formerly known as Stella Holdings Bhd, has appointed Datuk Seri Mohd Nizom Sairi, the former chief executive officer and director general of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), as its new independent and non-executive chairman.

Varia appoints former LHDN chief Nizom Sairi as non-executive chairman

Technology company Techna-X Bhd (KL:TECHNAX) has called off its plans to develop an 85-acre microalgae farm and produce algae biofuel following the mutual termination of a tripartite agreement.

Techna-X’s microalgae biofuel project scrapped

Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Bank of Hangzhou to work together on enhancing cross-border business and advancing digital innovation.

Singapore’s initiative to tackle high rents has suffered another setback, with a single bid for a serviced apartment site being rebuffed.

The S$120 million (US$93 million or RM390.72 million) offer for a site in Media Circle — near a business park cluster in the country’s west — was “assessed to be too low,” the Urban Redevelopment Authority said in a statement Thursday.

Singapore rental pilot suffers new setback as ‘low’ bid rejected

GOPENG (Oct 3): The state government, through the Perak Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc), has established a mineral analysis lab&nbsp;—&nbsp;the Terra Mineral Lab (TML) Sdn Bhd, and the Centre of Excellence (COE) for Mineral Research at Persiaran Teknologi Gopeng&nbsp;here,&nbsp;since September 2024.

Perak sets up Malaysia’s first mineral analysis lab

PayPal Holdings Inc completed its first business payment using its proprietary stablecoin as a way to demonstrate how digital currencies can be used to improve often-clunky commercial transactions.

PayPal completes its first business transaction using stablecoin

In normal circumstances, wars are launched with total stealth to maximise the element of surprise. It is one of the most important dimensions of warfare, whether it is staged by the states or sub-state groups.&nbsp;

Malaysia

‌‌

‌
‌