Malaysia's tech innovation and talent potential is immense, but the country’s brain drain dilemma continues to see expertise fleeing to neighbouring countries. Malaysia has lost almost 500,000 strongly trained skilled talent aged above 25 years in the last 10 years, but imported seven million low-skilled workers into the country, said Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation’s (MRANTI) chief executive officer Datuk Wira Dr Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff.

MRANTI: Time to address brain drain and tech talent gap

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become the talk of town allowing people to harness data to work with and organise data while building and customising apps using foundation models (FMs).

AWS:ReInvent 2023 — Utilising generative artificial intelligence to its fullest potential

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is still at its nascent stages with no knowing of where it will ultimately head towards.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) vice-president and managing director of Asean Conor McNamara believes that there will not be only one large language model (LLM) that will solve all customer use cases.

AWS:ReInvent 2023 — Multiple large language models needed to meet business needs

Grab-led GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) has officially launched its digital bank to Malaysians, making it the first of the five Bank Negara Malaysia licensees to do so.

GXBank now open to public

Putrajaya (Nov 29): The allowance for the manager and assistant manager of the National Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) will be increased by RM500 starting from January 2024, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the 2023 PEDi Madani Conference.

Anwar: PEDi allowance increased by RM500 

Being in the IT industry for more than 30 years has allowed Dr Anton Ravindran to be a part of the digital evolution, from mainframe computing to the PC, which was initially revolutionised by IBM and Apple, making computers accessible to the public.

Since then, artificial intelligence (...

Ideas: Unveiling the impact, challenges and promise of AI

Ever since Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted in April 2022, Malaysians have been busy packing their bags and jetting away for holidays. According to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), Malaysia’s international passenger traffic grew at an average of 80.9% quarter on quarter and the...

Solutions: How travel companies can better protect travellers

In today’s digital age, our lives are deeply intertwined with technology. We have seen remarkable advancements, but also vulnerabilities emerge. Technology has connected us in unprecedented ways, turning businesses, governments and individuals into virtual inhabitants. Yet, as our digital world g...

Security: Stopping the ripple effect of web application attacks against organisations

Over the last couple of years, Malaysia’s venture capital ecosystem has grown by leaps and bounds but there is a lack of financial commitment in the mid-to-late stages of fundraising.

For funding between US$500,000 (about RM2.34 million) and US$20 million, firms like 500 Global would be...

Issues: Funding gaps in venture capital landscape need to be addressed

Weddings are hectic and chaotic, with the bride and groom often too busy mingling with guests and seeing to details to appreciate every precious moment.

With POV, a disposable camera app, they can have access to some of those moments through the eyes of their guests.

Guests ca...

Tech Fun: Documenting cherished moments

A digital transformation consulting firm run by two Malaysians is leading a government digitalisation programme in Fiji that promises to take the agrarian nation into the new economic arena.

Spirit of Endeavour (Endeavour), which is based in Malaysia and Singapore, reached a key mi...

Digitalisation: One digital platform for businesses and citizens

In the escalating debate on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment, a looming sense of apprehension has given rise to fears of a global wave of “employment refugees”. However, Sanjay Sarma, CEO, president and dean of the Asia School of Business (ASB), offers a nuanced perspectiv...

Cover Story: Crafting a future-ready education

Budget 2024 was in many ways a good budget for the tech ecosystem, from the RM1.5 billion in funding from government-linked corporations (GLCs) and government-linked investment corporations (GLICs) to the extension of the angel tax incentive and exemption from capital gains tax for venture capita...

The Pitch Deck: Malaysia’s global top 20 ecosystem target: An impossible task?

NEWS

Digital awareness, collaborative effort needed to secure data privacy

Sixty-three per cent of Malaysians are concerned about data privacy and security, while one in three young Malaysians cite this as their reason for switching off ...

Bits + Bytes: A Miscellany of Technology

DUBAI (Dec 1): Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said addressing emissions from the energy and industrial sectors is the focus of Malaysia’s climate actions, as they account for the majority of Malaysia’s total carbon emissions.

The King in his...

Malaysia focused on tackling emissions from energy, industrial sectors — Agong

INV New Material Technology (M) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of China's Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co Ltd, has marked a significant milestone with the launch of its inaugural plant in Malaysia with an initial investment of RM3.2 billion for its first phase.

INV inaugurates RM3.2 bil Phase 1 lithium battery separator project in Penang

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has reprimanded Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB) and two of its former directors, Datuk Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah and Rosland Othman, for failing to submit the group’s 2021 annual report within the approved timeline.

Bursa reprimands SCIB, fines Abdul Karim and one other RM27,000 each for late submission of annual report

Construction and engineering contractor Crest Builder Holdings Bhd has acquired the remaining 49% equity interest in its indirect subsidiary Unitapah Sdn Bhd for RM43.61 million, cash.

Unitapah holds a 23-year concession to develop and maintain Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) campus in Tapah, Perak.

Crest Builder buys remaining 49% stake in company holding UiTM's campus maintenance concession for RM43.6m cash

Bitcoin soared to its highest price so far this year, as investors took on more risk ahead of comments from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell which could give guidance on whether the US is closer to lowering interest rates.

Bitcoin rally pushes largest token to 18-month high

Brazil is expected to join the Opec+ group of oil-producing countries in January but would not take part in the group's coordinated output caps, the chief executive of state-run oil firm Petrobras told Reuters.

Brazil to join Opec+ but won't cap oil output, Petrobras CEO says

Oil prices were broadly steady on Friday following a 2% drop on Thursday, with the market seemingly unconvinced that the latest round of production cuts by the Opec+ coalition will be able to lift prices out of their recent slump.

Oil prices stabilise after slump on underwhelming Opec+ cuts

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is to be 70%-owned by five local mobile network operators (MNOs), while the remaining 30% will be retained by Putrajaya, accompanied by a golden share, according to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Five telcos to collectively own 70% stake in DNB; Putrajaya to retain 30% plus golden share

Technological solutions provider Willowglen MSC Bhd has secured a RM12.75 million contract from Singapore-based SP PowerAssets Ltd for the installation and maintenance of substation intrusion detection system for three years.

Willowglen secures RM12.75m job from SP PowerAssets

Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza, sending scores of wounded and dead pouring into hospitals, and rocket sirens blared in southern Israel on Friday as war resumed after a week-old truce ran out with no deal to extend it.

War resumes in Gaza after truce collapses

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week.

Most read this week

After ditching the airasia Superapp name and rebranding as Move in September, Capital A Bhd’s digital arm wants to become an established and widely recognised online travel agency in Southeast Asia.&nbsp;

Move CEO wants travel brand recognition in post-AirAsia era

Billionaires minted in the latest year accumulated more wealth through inheritance than entrepreneurship for the first time since UBS started tracking the fortunes of the world’s richest almost a decade ago, said CNN.

CNN: New billionaire heirs overtake self-made ones, with US$5.2 trillion wealth transfer over next 20 years

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday registered with the National Digital Identity or Digital ID, making him the first person in the country to have&nbsp;the Digital ID facility.

Anwar first to have Digital ID in Malaysia

A client of Malaysia’s biggest bank recently discovered that her bank balance had mysteriously increased to more than US$86 million (RM404 million).

Woman discovers over RM404m mistakenly deposited in Maybank account

Banking and financial services stocks were among the top gainers in early morning trade on Friday, after they concluded the latest earnings reporting season with mostly encouraging&nbsp;results.

Banking stocks among top gainers in early trade

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and its petroleum arrangement contractors have recorded 19 exploration discoveries and two exploration-appraisal successes, contributing over one billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) of new resources for Malaysia in 2023.

Petronas finds over 1 bil barrels of oil equivalent exploration discoveries in 2023

BEIJING (Dec 1): Malaysia&nbsp;has invited China’s President Xi Jingping to visit, its ambassador to Beijing said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country also seeks to boost the number of Chinese tourists to five million a year, to fuel economic growth.

Malaysia invites China’s Xi to visit, ramps up tourism target

The defence in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s second SRC International Sdn Bhd case on Friday applied for the former prime minister to be given a discharge not amounting to acquittal in the ongoing money-laundering case, as the attorney general had not made a decision over the representation letter submitted in July.

Defence applies to discharge Najib in second SRC case

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is to be 70%-owned by five local mobile network operators (MNOs), while the remaining 30% will be retained by Putrajaya, accompanied by a golden share, according to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday stressed that the people's concerns&nbsp;over the implementation of the National Digital Identity or&nbsp;Digital ID, such as personal and banking records being leaked and chips implanted into the bodies of individuals, are completely unfounded.

Digital ID concerns such as personal data leaks and chip implants unfounded, says Anwar

November saw further moderation in the Malaysian manufacturing sector, as demand conditions remained subdued. That said, there were some tentative signs of improvement, resulting in less pronounced slowdowns in new orders, output and employment, while business confidence reached a seven-month high.

M'sian manufacturing PMI at seven-month high amid softer moderation in new orders

Global commercial real estate and investment management company JLL has announced the retirement of JLL Property Services (Malaysia) chairperson YY Lau, and a new strategic partnership with Appraisal Malaysia, a domestic real estate firm with over 50 years of valuations, consultancy and advisory services expertise, according to a press release issued on Friday.

JLL announces retirement of country head YY Lau, new partnership with Appraisal Malaysia

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) has maintained its “buy” call on IHH Healthcare Bhd, with a target price of RM7.62, as it continued to favour IHH for its resilience in a defensive sector and positioning to benefit from global megatrends, such as an ageing population.

IHH Healthcare poised to benefit from megatrends such as ageing population, says HLIB

Apex Healthcare Bhd has proposed to acquire industrial land in Melaka for RM66.5 million, its Bursa Malaysia filing showed on Friday.

The group said its wholly owned subsidiary Xepa-Soul Pattinson (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Panasonic Appliances Refrigeration Devices Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PAPRDMY) for the proposed acquisition.

Apex Healthcare to acquire industrial land in Melaka for RM66.5 mil

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): Analysts are expecting wider losses for Capital A Bhd for the financial year ending Dec&nbsp;31, 2023 (FY2023), after its recent nine-month results missed consensus, in line with lower-than-expected rebound in air travel.

Analysts expect wider losses for FY2023 after Capital A’s 9M earnings missed expectations

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session flat&nbsp;on Friday, as buying interest in selected heavyweight stocks&nbsp;was offset by selling in the mid- and lower liners, while worries over China’s economy further dampened sentiment,&nbsp;a dealer said.&nbsp;

Bursa Malaysia flat at midday break as China worries weigh on sentiment

Bursa Malaysia Bhd on Friday launched the IR4U programme, a comprehensive programme to support and enhance the standards and capabilities of investor relations (IR) practices&nbsp;to raise the visibility and investability of Malaysian&nbsp;listed companies.

Bursa launches IR4U programme to support, enhance investor relations practices

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd received a rare downgrade from Wall Street on the same day it lost its crown as China’s most valuable e-commerce firm to one of its main rivals.

Morgan Stanley cut its rating on Alibaba’s American depositary receipts to equal-weight from overweight, lowering its price target to US$90 (RM420.93) from US$110.

Alibaba gets rare Wall Street downgrade as rival gains traction

(Dec 1): President Vladimir Putin has ordered the transfer of all the rights to managing St&nbsp;Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport from foreign shareholders that include Germany’s Fraport AG and the Qatari wealth fund by shifting their stakes into a new Russian entity.

Under a decree publish...

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