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

YTL Power, Ranhill, MPHB, IHH Healthcare, Aurelius, Pestech, CelcomDigi, UEM Sunrise, IGB, FGV, E&O, Supermax, BLand, Magnum, Signature International, Star Media

A Singapore court has sentenced Malaysian John Soh Chee Wen — who was found guilty of masterminding the manipulation of three penny stocks that eventually collapsed and wiped off S$8 billion (RM26.23 billion) in market capitalisation in 2013 — to 36 years in jail. His main accomplice Quah Su Ling, another Malaysian, was given 20 years.

The Edge Says: Singapore gets it right — Severe punishment is the best deterrent against future commercial crimes

The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is silent after its third six-month special exemption from Bursa Malaysia for the 25% public shareholding spread in FGV Holdings Bhd expired on Aug 3 2022.

It continues to mop up more shares on the open market in an apparent attempt to privatise FGV on the cheap despite high palm oil prices and record profits.

Felda and privatisation of FGV: No end in sight

KUALA LUMPUR (April 17): To compound or not to compound may very well be the question when it comes to compoundable offences. The decision to compound the four executives in the Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd case has raised a myriad of questions, thoughts, and opinions.

As a general princi...

MSWG CEO: What is the reason for the decision to compound in Serba Dinamik case?

KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): Whilst Gamuda is still considering and deliberating the offer from Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Berhad (ALR), and we will duly announce our decision on their offer immediately after our Board has made a decision on it, we would like to make the following comment(s):

Gamuda says everyone wins with ALR's takeover offer

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8): Last Friday (Feb 4), I took my children to the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur to be vaccinated. Like all parents, whether a pandemic was in progress or not, my wife and I were understandably anxious. Indeed we are always anxious. We worry about the state of the world our children are growing up in and about the future they may have to inhabit. We want the best for them and we live in the hope that somehow, things will get better. We steel ourselves to be ready for anything but we weren't prepared for what awaited us that day.  As expatriate parents, understandably, our anxiousness had added dimensions to it.

A pleasant surprise during my children’s vaccination

Serba Dinamik Bhd’s standoff with market regulators and two major accounting firms over its delayed financial statements is becoming a joke. But it is definitely not funny.

To recap, the problem surfaced after its long-time external auditor KPMG highlighted discrepancies involving trans...

End the standoff: Serba Dinamik should make EY review public to prove it has nothing to hide

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16): Effective Jan 1, 2022, a proposal to remove tax exemption on income derived from foreign sources and received in Malaysia by Malaysian residents under Paragraph 28, Schedule 6 of the Income Tax Act (ITA) 1967 was announced in the recent Budget 2022.

Look into issues in proposed tax on foreign-sourced income

Money laundering is a process of converting cash or property derived from illegal activities to give it a legitimate appearance. It is a process to clean "dirty" money in order to disguise its criminal origin.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is empowered to enforce recovery of stolen assets via the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).

Understanding money laundering and asset recovery strategies

There are views now being promoted that any prescriptive regulations or employment requirements for vaccination status on individuals militate against the liberty of a person to choose NOT to be vaccinated. And further this is unconstitutional.

Does the Federal Constitution protection of fundamental liberty mean that laws employer cannot prescribe vaccination against Covid-19 be imposed?

MERDEKA!

On the 31st of August 2021, Malaysia will celebrate 64 years of independence. Over the last two years, the usual fanfare associated with the occasion (among others) has been replaced with quieter celebrations at home under what seems to be a perpetual state of lockdown.

Merdeka, in the midst of a pandemic

There is a call to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations of interference on the judiciary. Such a call is wrong and must be rejected.

Setting up of RCI to investigate judiciary is unconstitutional

While grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia has also gone through a very toxic and stormy period of political crisis since the Sheraton coup took place in February 2020. Seventeen months after the parliamentary coup, we have yet another unelected government led by the ninth prime minister (PM), and third in three years, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

An idea of economic governance for new PM

If Daniel Moss of Bloomberg has accurate facts on his hand by just working harder to look at the latest ranking of the Fragile States Index (FSI 2021), he would not have been gloating in his article that Malaysia is staggering down the road to failed statehood.

The injustice of stereotyping Malaysia as a failed state

Southeast Asia's e-commerce market has undergone significant transformation over the past five years, reaching milestones earlier than expected.

The sector saw rapid growth during the pandemic, hitting US$200 billion in gross merchandise value by 2022 — three years ahead of schedule, according to Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.

Addressing the hidden costs of adaptability in Southeast Asia’s E-commerce and logistics

CVC Capital Partners plc offered to take CompuGroup Medical SE & Co KGaA private in a deal that values the German software provider at €1.18 billion (US$1.2 billion or RM5.3 billion).

CVC offers to take CompuGroup private for US$1.2 bil 

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma rallied his troops during a speech at Ant Group Co’s 20th anniversary, making a rare appearance after a government crackdown forced the financial technology (fintech) giant to scrap what would have been the world’s largest initial public offering (IPO) four years ago.

Jack Ma pushes AI drive in rare speech since Ant crackdown

A summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Monday.

FBM KLCI down 0.11% to 1,611.43 on Dec 9, 2024

DAMASCUS (Dec 9): Syrians awakened on Monday to a hopeful if uncertain future, after rebels seized the capital Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family's brutal rule.

With Assad ousted, a new era starts in Syria as the world watches

More cases of a mysterious flu-like illness labelled “Disease X” were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a rapid response team to help investigate.

‘Disease X’ outbreak widens as UN sends health team to Congo

Air fragrance maker Vanzo Holdings Bhd said on Monday that the 23.34 million shares made available to the Malaysian public for its initial public offering (IPO) were oversubscribed by 66.71 times.

Vanzo’s 23.34 mil IPO shares for public oversubscribed by nearly 67 times

Volkswagen AG workers are prepared to escalate walkouts if management and labour leaders fail to break through a stalemate over painful cuts at the carmaker’s namesake brand.

Thousands of VW employees are already poised to walk off their jobs on Monday morning — the second time this month — as management and the powerful IG Metall union sit down for a fourth round of deliberations.

VW faces more walkouts as union talks enter fourth round

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living blocked access to 3,553 websites, found to be in violation of the Copyright Act 1987 for engaging in piracy activities, between 2021 and October 2024.

Govt blocks access to 3,553 websites for copyright infringement

The Dewan Rakyat on Monday passed the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2024 which, among other things, empowers the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of the Malaysian Legal Profession Qualifications Board.

Dewan Rakyat passes Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2024

In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as a data centre powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a global surge in demand and an established data centre sector.&nbsp;

With favourable conditions such as the availability of land, cheaper electricity, and an advantageous geographical location, the country has attracted numerous firms to establish data centre operations within its borders.

How Malaysia is setting itself up as an AI hub

In one of his rare interviews in January 1996, the late T Ananda Krishnan said his passion was to go into the business of the future.

Alternative Views: Ananda’s unfinished business leaves much to speculation

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) found no wrongdoing within the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp).

No offences under the MACC Act 2009 had been committed, according to investigators cited in a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the government agency.

No offences found in HRD Corp probe, says MACC

Shares of Kawan Food Bhd (KL:KAWAN) climbed to their highest in nearly five months on Monday, after the frozen food manufacturer announced a venture into distribution of information technology (IT) equipment.

Kawan Food shares climb to near five-month high after news of IT venture

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) and Sembcorp Power Pte Ltd have signed an agreement for the supply of 50 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to Singapore.

The maiden renewable energy supply from Malaysia to the island-state is the result of the bidding process conducted through Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem) in June.

Tenaga, Sembcorp sign deal for supply of 50MW renewable energy to Singapore

US&nbsp;President-elect Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;and Russia&nbsp;to end "the madness", prompting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy and the Kremlin to list their conditions.

Trump calls for immediate Ukraine ceasefire, Kyiv and Moscow cite conditions

Industrial services firm Swift Energy Technology Bhd has begun accepting applications from investors for its initial public offering (IPO) that would gross more than RM84 million on the ACE Market.

The IPO, priced at 28 sen per share, involves a public issue of 250.2 million new shares and an offer for sale of 50.04 million existing shares, according to its prospectus. All in, the listing offers investors a 25% stake in the Selangor-based company.

Swift Energy now selling IPO shares at 28 sen apiece for ACE Market listing

As Bashar Al-Assad fled to Moscow, the looters started raiding the presidential palace and people took the streets of Damascus to celebrate his demise. The Syrian president had tried to hang on until the bitter end, still desperately sending an SOS to anyone who would listen, including Donald Trump. The despot had run out of road.

Assad’s fall in Syria puts world on watch for more Middle East chaos

Imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again claimed that there was a conspiracy by the US to prevent him from accessing evidence pivotal to mount his defence in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial.

Najib now says US Democrats conspired with then-Opposition to suppress evidence pivotal to his defence

Malaysia’s retail sales growth accelerated in the third quarter, an industry research firm said on Monday, flagging faster growth in the next three months due to the year-end holiday season.

Retail sales growth accelerated to 3.8% in 3Q, may hit 4.4% in 4Q — Retail Group Malaysia

Global shares held steady on Monday, as investors took geopolitical tumult in their stride, leaving oil and gold modestly higher, while the dollar edged up ahead of US inflation data this week that could cement a December rate cut.

Stocks firm as US upbeat outlook absorbs geopolitical shocks

Facility management firm GFM Services Bhd (KL:GFM) said on Monday it has signed an agreement to explore a stake in oil-and-gas services firm Shapadu Energy Sdn Bhd for an indicative RM30 million cash.

GFM Services to explore 45% stake in energy services firm Shapadu for RM30m cash

Malaysia’s healthcare sector is set for sustained growth beyond its robust third-quarter results, amid steady increases in both capacity and demand, BIMB Securities said.&nbsp;

The research house, which kept an 'overweight'&nbsp;stance on the sector, expects private hospital operators to "sustain earnings growth of double digits, supported by steady increases in inpatient and outpatient visits”, which are likely to extend into 2025.

Healthy demand, capacity growth to drive healthcare earnings through 2025 — BIMB

Oil&nbsp;prices nudged higher on Monday, as heightened tensions in the Middle East following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebels offset concerns over weak Chinese demand that was highlighted by Saudi Aramco's price cuts to Asian buyers.

Oil edges up as rising Mideast tensions offset demand fears

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that he supported 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB)&nbsp;ambitions to acquire independent power producers (IPPs), by bringing down cost of power,&nbsp;for the well-being of Malaysians.

Najib says supported 1MDB's independent power producer ambitions for Malaysia's 'well-being'

US-based Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire rival Interpublic Group in a deal that would create the world’s largest advertising company, The Wall Street Journal&nbsp;(WSJ) reported.

Omnicom, Interpublic in merger talks that would create world's largest ad company — WSJ

A white knight has emerged to take over the development of the stalled Penang World City (PWC) in Bayan Baru, Penang.

The white knight, who is a developer, is said to be in the midst of restructuring Hemat Tuah Sdn Bhd, in which the brother of MBI’s Tedy Teow and associates close to the...

White knight to take over RM10 bil Penang World City project

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to explain its investigation into the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), which was classified as “no further action" (NFA).&nbsp;

Explain ‘no further action’ on HRD Corp investigation, PAC tells MACC

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): UEM Sunrise Bhd (KL:UEMS) has received planning permit approval for a A$277.8 million (RM784.8 million) build-to-rent development in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia.

UEM Sunrise gets nod for A$277.8m build-to-rent project in Melbourne

Former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir told the High Court on Monday that he did not know that his aunt Habsah’s patronym is Mohamad Iskandar.

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