KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The special fund of up to RM3 billion, to be allocated by government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to licensed fund managers for investments into small and mid-cap firms, will improve market transactions and banks’ non-interest income, said Ambank Group chairman Tan S...

AmBank: RM3b special fund for small, mid-cap investments will boost banks non-interest income

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Penang Institute, the Penang government’s think tank, said a balanced Budget is unlikely to be achieved in the foreseeable future due to the large civil service expenditure.

Budget 2017 has a total allocation of RM260.8 million, up 3.4% from the Recalibrated Budge...

Large civil servant outlay will hamper balancing of Budget, says Penang think tank

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): An economist said the emphasis on expenditure allocations in Budget 2017 belied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s dismissal of talks earlier that it would be an election budget.

“Although Najib dismissed talks of this being an election budget, the emphasis o...

Budget 2017: An election budget it is, says economist

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Franklin Templeton Investments said infrastructure development projects will benefit the economy and people (rakyat), if it is "targeted and transparently distributed".

Franklin Templeton Investments executive director and head Malaysia fixed income and sukuk, Han...

Franklin Templeton: Infrastructure development to benefit the economy & people if transparently distributed

Malaysia's Budget 2017: An election budget it is, says economist

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): An opposition parliamentarian has accused the government of being over-optimistic about the economy in Budget 2017.

Liew Chin Tong , the DAP MP for Kluang, said the Budget did not address significant challenges that Malaysia is facing amid the global economic slow...

Opposition MPs say PM over-optimistic about the economy

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The establishment of the Collection Intelligence Arrangement (CIA) under the Ministry of Finance (MOF) is expected to decrease potential tax evasion by companies.

The setting up of the CIA, which consists of the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), Royal Malaysian Customs ...

Experts: Time’s up for tax evaders with the establishment of CIA

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) welcomes the incentives for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Budget 2017, but expressed disappointment that more funds had not been allocated to the sector’s growth.

“FMM welcomes the numerou...

FMM: More funds should have been allocated to develop SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) is concerned that there is only a 2.22% increase in the development expenditure in Budget 2017.

Its president Datuk Ter Leong Yap said there should have been a higher allocation for development e...

ACCCIM: Govt should have allocated more money for development

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Khazanah Nasional Bhd said Budget 2017 balances growth, fiscal stability and improving living standards for the Bottom 40 (B40) group of Malaysian households.

Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said the fund is committed to deliver on the initiatives...

Khazanah: Budget 2017 balances growth, fiscal stability and better B40 living standards

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The Transport Ministry (MoT) is happy that its allocation has been increased by 13% in Budget 2017, said minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The additional funds is mainly for development purposes, he told reporters while leaving Parliament after Budget 2017 was a...

Transport Ministry to buy more trains after getting bigger allocation

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) said the government should take note that the construction industry needs foreign workers to fill in the demand-supply gap for manpower in the industry.

Noting the infrastructure spending announced in Budget 2017 tod...

MBAM: Construction industry needs foreign workers

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The Real Estate And Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (REDHA) is calling on the government to extend the special step-up financing scheme of 90%-100% loan given to buyers of PR1MA homes in Budget 2017, to private developers too.

"In areas where PR1MA is not...

REDHA: Extend PR1MA 'step-up' financing scheme to private developers too

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak lambasted opposition Members of Parliament for staging a walkout during his presentation of Budget 2017 in Dewan Rakyat earlier today, saying they were a disgrace to Parliament.

“In developed countries, they can have different...

Najib: Opposition MPs' walkout a disgrace to Parliament

PARADIGM Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), managed by Paradigm REIT Management Sdn Bhd, is slated to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on June 10, with a market capitalisation of RM1.6 billion.

As its initial public offering (IPO) did not involve the issuance of new units, th...

IPO Watch: Paradigm REIT kicks off with three malls, plans to add four more assets

Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) has, via a joint venture (JV) company, secured a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the government of Brunei to invest in, build, and operate a 30MWac solar photovoltaic power plant, which will be the largest such plant in Brunei upon its completion by end 2026.

Solarvest JV secures 25-year solar plant deal in Brunei

SARAWAK-based construction firm Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd (KL:HKB) is poised to capitalise on a construction boom in the state, following the Sarawak government’s record-high RM10.9 billion development expenditure (devex) in Budget 2025. Of this amount, about RM1 billion is specifically allocated to...

IPO Watch: Hartanah Kenyalang to ride construction boom in Sarawak 

Flag carrier Thai Airways International on Monday said it will exit its debt restructuring programme and expects to resume trading its shares on the stock market by early August.

Thai Airways to exit debt restructuring programme

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Malaysia’s oleochemical sector could face increased input costs starting July 1, as palm kernel oil, previously exempt from the sales and service tax (SST), will now be subject to a 5% sales tax, according to CIMB Securities.

Sales tax on palm kernel oil could increase input costs of Malaysian oleochemicals players — CIMB Securities

Relatives of people feared dead or missing after last week’s crash of an Air India Boeing Co 787 jet have become frustrated by a lack of information about the cause of the disaster and slow-moving recovery operations.

Air India crash victim families upset by slow recovery efforts

Malaysia’s economic growth is expected to lose further momentum from the second quarter of 2025 after three straight quarters of slowing expansion, said Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB), citing rising global uncertainties.

Maybank IB projects Malaysia's growth to slow in 2Q and beyond amid external challenges

THE US dollar is expected to weaken in the next 12 months as it suffers from what economists call a “crisis of confidence” over the greenback’s safe haven status due to Washington’s worsening fiscal outlook and erratic trade policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Rising...

Crisis of confidence weighs on US dollar but ringgit outperformance not guaranteed

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the country’s utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) has committed RM43 billion to upgrade the national power grid. This upgrade will help handle growing energy demand and support renewable energy by using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and battery storage systems. The goal is to make Malaysia’s energy system more resilient and flexible for the future.

Malaysia to spend RM43 bil on grid upgrades to support clean energy, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there are no immediate plans to restructure the Ministry of Economy, following the unexpected resignation of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as its minister.

Anwar sees no urgent need to reshuffle Economy Ministry after Rafizi’s departure

(June 16):&nbsp;Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Malaysia’s state-owned oil-and-gas company, is looking to expand output from more affordable assets abroad, in an effort to cut production costs and rein in declining profits.

Petronas looks abroad to help cut production costs

Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa in an early morning raid on Monday, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week's G7 meeting that the battle between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.

Israel's national emergency service said three people were killed in the country's centre while dozens more were wounded in the overnight strikes, part of a wave of attacks by Tehran in retaliation for Israel's pre-emptive strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes that began last Friday.

Iran lauds 'new method' as missiles hit Israel's Tel Aviv, Haifa

&nbsp;US&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;administration&nbsp;is considering significantly expanding its&nbsp;travel&nbsp;restrictions by potentially&nbsp;banning citizens of&nbsp;36&nbsp;additional&nbsp;countries&nbsp;from entering the US, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

Trump administration weighs adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says

Energy stocks surged in early trade on Monday as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day with no signs of de-escalation, sparking concerns of a broader war in the oil-rich region.

Energy stocks on Bursa soar amid escalating Israel-Iran attacks

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Asia-Pacific will require US$90 trillion (RM382.1 trillion) in energy investments through 2050 to power its growing economies, while achieving net zero ambitions, said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz.&nbsp;

Asia-Pacific needs US$90 tril in energy investments to meet net zero goals by 2050, says Petronas chief

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): The importance of oil and gas can't be underestimated at times when conflicts occur, something that is currently being seen, the head of Saudi oil giant Aramco&nbsp;told an energy conference on Monday.

Oil and gas important in times of conflict, Saudi Aramco CEO says

The King, Sultan Ibrahim, in his royal address at the investiture ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty’s birthday on June 2, reminded Malaysians, including political and community leaders, not to politicise sensitive issues that could fuel discord within society and threaten the nation’s stab...

My Say: The Malays don’t need another umbrella

&nbsp;The&nbsp;world's&nbsp;nuclear-armed states are beefing&nbsp;up&nbsp;their atomic&nbsp;arsenals&nbsp;and walking out of arms control pacts, creating a&nbsp;new&nbsp;era&nbsp;of threat that has brought an end to decades of reductions in stockpiles since the Cold War, a&nbsp;think&nbsp;tank&nbsp;said on Monday.

Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, about 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said in its yearbook, an annual inventory of the&nbsp;world's most dangerous weapons.

World entering new era as nuclear powers build up arsenals, Sipri think tank says

The recently revised port tariffs are expected to boost Westports Holdings Bhd (KL:WPRTS), however geopolitical risks and trade uncertainties tied to the Israel-Iran conflict may weigh on regional shipping activities, said analysts. &nbsp;

Westports to benefit from port tariff hike, but geopolitical risks to affect seafaring routes — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): The recent oil price rally — one of the most intense since the 2022 energy crisis — has once again laid bare the fragility of global energy systems, said Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, president and group chief executive officer of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).&nbsp;

Oil price surge signals energy system risks amid global ‘poly-crisis’, says Petronas CEO

The 5% sales and service tax (SST) on raw materials could have adverse effects on the domestic rubber ecosystem, said the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma), which urged the government to defer the tax imposition.

Margma urges govt to reconsider and defer 5% SST on latex raw materials

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Investors are expected to remain cautious in the local stock market, due to ongoing global uncertainties and concerns over upcoming domestic policies in the second half of the year, analysts said.

KLCI may test 1,500 support as geopolitical tensions and policy risks keep investors on edge — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there are no immediate plans to restructure the Ministry of Economy, following the unexpected resignation of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as its minister.

&nbsp;Financial markets look set to reopen Monday with investors squarely focused on escalating geopolitical tensions as Israel and Iran continue to bombard each other with no sign of a pause.

Israel on Sunday reported new missile attacks from Iran, and said it was carrying out simultaneous strikes on Tehran, as the two countries faced off for a third day in what is fast becoming the longtime adversaries’ most serious entanglement yet.&nbsp;

Mounting Israel-Iran conflict amps up geopolitical market risks

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd&nbsp;has extended RM351 million in financing to See Hong Chen Group and EXSIM, to support three strategic real estate developments in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

OCBC Bank extends RM351m financing for strategic developments in JS-SEZ

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Local institutions continued their buying activities for the fourth consecutive week, with net inflows amounting to RM620.6 million, said&nbsp;MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd.

MIDF: Local institutions extended buying streak with RM620.6m inflows last week

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s abuse of power and money-laundering case linked to the Jana Wibawa project will now be heard in the High Court.

Muhyiddin’s Jana Wibawa case moved to High Court

TOKYO (June 16): Oil prices climbed on Monday, extending Friday's rally, as renewed strikes by Israel and Iran over the weekend increased concerns that the battle could widen across the region, and significantly disrupt oil exports from the Middle East.

Oil prices firm as intensifying Israel-Iran conflict stokes supply disruption fears

More than six weeks after Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh went missing, her family says the police have not given them any updates. Their lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo, questioned whether the police are taking the investigation seriously, stating that despite inquiries, the police still have no leads on her disappearance or abduction.

Six weeks on, no leads in Pamela Ling's case; lawyer accuses police of inaction

SYDNEY (June 16): Asian markets kept their nerve on Monday and oil prices climbed anew, as the conflict between&nbsp;Israel and Iran&nbsp;showed no sign of cooling, adding geopolitical uncertainty to the world's economic troubles in a week packed with central bank meetings.

Budget 2017

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