Ahmad Zakii Anwar’s Sementara brings together 75 paintings and drawings spanning decades of the painter’s career, from his celebrated Smokers and Sofa series to pieces exploring the human form, ritual, portraiture and animals. Drawn from the Steve Wong Art Collection, the retrospective highlights Zakii’s distinctive mastery of shadow, light, charcoal and chiaroscuro, alongside his fascination with the body and its spiritual dimensions.

State of becoming

For much of its history, women’s watchmaking has often drawn from a remarkably consistent visual lexicon. Motifs of flowers, ribbons, lace, diamonds and the polished geometries of Art Deco are all beautiful in their own right, but they inevitably reveal how femininity in horology has been imagined through forms already made familiar by the past. Richard Mille’s portfolio for the female collector, however, is compelling precisely because it is so little beholden to those conventions — preferring instead aerospace materials, saturated colour and cases whose curves and apertures feel closer to architecture. The assumed hierarchy, in which women wear and men collect, has been decisively shattered.

Pavé the way

Humanity’s desire to delve into the unknown has long shaped how we see and experience the world, from the wilderness to outer space. In this season’s fashion spread, Options takes that instinct for discovery as its starting point, reimagining Autumn/Winter 2026 collections through the lens of adventure.

Window of opportunity

Set against the limestone grandeur and deep greenery of the Templer Park forest reserve, the aesthetically pleasing Takun Retreat Club in Rawang is Joewel Lee’s answer to the country’s predictable wellness template.

Pause + play

Richard Mille brings the RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics chapter to a close with a bedazzling finale

All that glitters

In celebration of the nation's 69th Independence Day, this week’s issue looks at the many things worth cherishing within Malaysia. From delectable bites and drinks, lesser-known natural wonders and far-flung heritage centres, this edit compiles the best ways to experience the country.

Home ground

Marking its 15th anniversary, the Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is preparing an experimental staging that puts Malaysia’s latest theatre — and the future of live concerts — to the test. Set to be held at the new Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) in Sunway on Aug 29, the upcoming Chapter 30: Philharmonic Test Drive — Celebrating A New World is a collaboration that presents the rewards of hard work, shaped by dedication and passion.

Into a new world

Growing up, Datuk Johan Rozali-Wathooth saw how acts of selflessness, service and sacrifice could change lives. The CEO of Bintang Capital Partners and active member of several social impact groups describes his journey in charity and suggests what Malaysia can do to reform the sector in this week’s cover story.

For the cause

Kuching is the city of choice for the country’s first Voco Hotel, which marks the Malaysian debut of the premium lifestyle brand under the InterContinental Hotels Group. At the heart of this concerted push is Datuk Bobby Ting Sie Ching, managing director of Elica Equity, whose Wisma Elica will house both Voco and Care Collective, combining guest services with integrated wellness and senior living in one lifestyle destination.

Look east

Melvin Chee, co-founder and CEO of RPG Commerce, has built a career on turning consumer habits into commercial instinct, with Montigo making a case for drinkware as daily utility and desktop trophy. Now he is testing whether a Malaysian company can hold water as an international business.

Bottle royale

What, so goes the age-old question, is the ultimate meaning of life? Perhaps the most satisfying answers may be found embodied in the reflective and self-realising artworks of preeminent British sculptor and installation artist Sir Antony Gormley.

It figures

One of the major events on the international jewellery calendar is the annual unveiling of Cartier’s high jewellery collection. This year, the bar has been clearly raised with the reveal of Le Chœur des Pierres. At a star-studded fête in Saint-Tropez in the South of France, where celebrities Shu Qi, Zoe Saldaña and Tilda Swinton were among those in attendance, the French house’s novelties marked another glowing chapter in its 179-year-old legacy through pieces crafted with gemstones of the most exceptional quality and rarity.

Rock stars

With geopolitics, epidemics and many other crises plaguing the planet, can the love of football really save the World Cup? The upcoming 39-day extravaganza could either create a magical time for fans or engender an overblown and expensive fiasco. In our cover story this week, issues ranging from boycotts due to exorbitant ticket prices to diluted group stages are explored. Despite such conditions, however, the 2026 Fifa World Cup will begin nonetheless and kick off on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium.

Game on or off?

A prominent plastic surgeon who first started collecting art to fill the empty walls of his clinic, Dr Steve Wong has since channeled his passion for aesthetics into amassing over 1,000 works from Southeast Asia’s most prominent talents. One of the hallmarks of his approach has been a faithful commitment to artists who have grown in importance and stature, such as Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Jalaini Abu Hassan. “I enjoy discovering younger talents and following their progress. That, you could say, is my style of collecting,” he says. In our cover story this week, Wong let us in on his private trove and the selected pieces currently on display in an exhibition titled Memory’s Landscape at GDP Campus in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

Eye of the beholder

MUMBAI (Oct 6): The Indian rupee declined to its weakest level in more than two months on Tuesday under ​pressure from persistent foreign selling of local assets, drawing likely ‌central bank intervention as the South Asian unit nears a record low.

The rupee declined 0.15% to 96.43 per ...

Rupee slips to over 2-month low on portfolio outflows

Sunway Malls has leased 80% of Sunway Ipoh Mall and confirmed 25 brands for the mall, including seven anchor tenants and nine brands making their Perak debut.

Sunway Ipoh Mall 80% leased, 25 tenants confirmed ahead of 4Q2027 opening

Myanmar's coup leader turned president Min Aung Hlaing will visit Malaysia "in the next few days", Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, after Kuala Lumpur launched a plan to return thousands of Myanmar migrants.

Myanmar leader to visit Malaysia after migrant returns begin

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): SLGC Bhd (KL:SLG) ended its first trading day on the ACE Market below its initial public offering (IPO) price.

Construction firm SLGC ends first trading day below IPO price

LONDON (Oct 6): A euro crisis redux with France at its centre would demand a massive response from the European Central Bank to prevent spillovers and insulate the single currency. But a leadership switch at the top of the central bank is looming, which could both complicate that process and...

Opinion: Early ECB leadership change could worsen Paris bond jolt

The heads of two of the Middle East’s biggest oil producers warned that the rest of the world will need to share the burden of paying for the Iran war and the need for infrastructure spending that it’s creating.

Mideast oil chiefs warn world needs to share Iran-War costs

Profits for the US securities industry totalled US$45.9 billion (RM187.5 billion) in the first half of the year, putting it on track for a new annual record, according to a report released on Tuesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Wall Street profits soar to US$45.9b in first half of 2026, report shows

The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) will examine witness statements, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and various other evidence before deciding on further action in connection with an incident involving Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

Viral KLIA reprimand video: AGC to examine witness statements, evidence before deciding on further action

The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's order forfeiting RM4,084,729 belonging to Ammeltz Marketing Sdn Bhd to the government.

Appellate court upholds RM4.08m forfeiture of Ammeltz Marketing funds 

U Mobile Sdn Bhd has achieved 90% coverage of populated areas (CoPA) nationwide, nine months ahead of schedule, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi: U Mobile 5G coverage hits 90%, nine months ahead of schedule

THE ongoing issues at digital services and technology infrastructure provider Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) could be a long-drawn affair, with managing director Wong Thean Soon, better known as TS Wong, likely to seek legal recourse after recent developments at the company ravaged its share price.</p...

TS Wong could seek legal recourse over issues at Zetrix

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) faces uncertainty over its revenue collection business after the Ministry of Transport (MOT) suspended its services as a collection agent for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) over unremitted government funds totalling RM314 million.

Zetrix AI's business continuity uncertain after JPJ suspension — MBSB Research

Top Glove Corporation Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV) said it is confident of weathering industry headwinds ahead after earnings jumped nearly five times in the recently ended quarter.

Ray Dalio warns China, Japan may pull back from US Treasuries

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Malaysian banks are working towards introducing fraud alert capabilities that can flag potential risks before a transaction is completed.

BNM: Banks working towards fraud alert before transaction is completed

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Seven years after Malaysians were made aware of the problems confronting the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), the institution is once again at a crossroads.

Felda’s road ahead in the spotlight

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): SLGC Bhd (KL:SLG) ended its first trading day on the ACE Market below its initial public offering (IPO) price.

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 6, 2026 

<h2>Notable filings</h2>

During the week of Sept 14 to 18, notable shareholding changes among Bursa Malaysia-listed companies included those at D&amp;O Green Technologies Bhd (KL:D&amp;O), where pension fund Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) ceased to be a substan...

Insider Moves: D&O Green Technologies Bhd, EI Power Bhd, MQ Technology Bhd, Sealink International Bhd, Zetrix AI Bhd

Scientex Bhd (KL:SCIENTX) is acquiring 503 acres of land in Pulai, Johor, for RM580 million to boost the property developer’s land bank.

Scientex to acquire 503-acre land in Johor for RM580 mil

The World Bank has flagged the risk of a slowdown from a correction in global artificial intelligence (AI)-related activity, even as it raised Malaysia's 2026 growth outlook to 5.1% from 4.4% previously, driven by surging AI-related spending.&nbsp;

World Bank flags AI correction risk as it lifts Malaysia's 2026 growth outlook to 5.1%

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Rapidus Corporation has roped in Malaysian firms — GreatAsic Technology Sdn Bhd, Infinecs Systems Sdn Bhd, Oppstar Bhd's (KL:OPPSTAR) Oppstar Technology Sdn Bhd&nbsp;and SkyeChip Bhd (KL:SKYECHIP) — as design solution associates to support the development of its global chip ecosystem framework.

Rapidus taps four Malaysian firms as design solution associates for CORE ecosystem

United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) chief executive officer Datuk Ng Wei Wei&nbsp;climbed 10 rungs to 85th place in this year's Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Asia ranking. &nbsp;&nbsp;

UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei climbs 10 rungs in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Asia ranking

The World Bank has agreed that certain elements of the goods and services tax (GST) should be implemented into Malaysia’s sales and services tax (SST) to address its distortionary features.

World Bank supports Malaysia’s possible integration of GST elements into SST 

Outstanding repayments for loans issued by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), the country's main tertiary education loan provider, stood at RM10.7 billion as at Aug 31.

PTPTN loan arrears hit RM10.7b as at Aug 31 — minister

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Five of the nine technology drivers identified under the National Technology Sovereignty Framework (NTSF) have been deemed critical to national sovereignty and possess strong commercial potential.

Mosti: Five technology drivers identified as critical to Malaysia's sovereignty

SYDNEY (Oct 6): Asian stocks rose on Tuesday after a tech-fuelled rally lifted the Nasdaq to a record close, with a retreat in oil prices offering further support even as longer-dated Treasury yields hovered near multi-decade highs.

Asian shares track Wall Street higher, Treasury yields near multi-decade highs

BENGALURU/SINGAPORE (Oct 6): Oil prices made slight gains on Tuesday as security concerns in the Middle East kept a geopolitical risk premium in the market, even as resilient regional crude exports and a G7 emergency stockpile release eased supply concerns.

Oil gains as traders weigh Gulf tensions against strong Mideast exports

BENGALURU (Oct 5): Data centre operator DayOne Data Centers filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States on Monday, testing investor appetite for data-centre listings amid challenging market conditions.

Data centre operator DayOne reveals revenue surge in US IPO filing

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) is exploring a sale of its business in the Philippines as part of efforts to streamline and focus on bigger markets for growth, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

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