The fifth edition of The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards saw the highest number of public listed companies (PLCs) in the running, mirroring the growing adoption of ESG in Malaysia despite a challenging market environment.

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Editor’s note

IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG) emerged as the gold winner in the Best of the Best category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026, the fifth edition of the awards.

New feeder and non-feeder fund awards introduced to build local fund house capacity

MGB Bhd (KL:MGB) has won Best Performing Company by Sector for construction at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026, a recognition that comes as the group lifts its ESG rating and maintains a clean workplace safety record across a widening set of operations.

MGB records zero fatalities and work-related injuries across eight million man-hours worked

Bermaz Auto Bhd (KL:BAUTO) has been named Best Performing Company by Sector for consumer products and services at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026, a recognition that follows a year in which the group extended its sustainability efforts across its supply chain.

Bermaz Auto extends sustainability across its supply chain

For the second year running, Wasco Bhd (KL:WASCO) has taken home the award for Best Performing Company by Sector for energy at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026.

Wasco continues to evolve to deliver secure, reliable and affordable energy

First-time winner RCE Capital Bhd (KL:RCECAP) is one of two firms named Best Performing Company by Sector for financial services at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026.

RCE Capital garners first award win with strong ESG governance and greater team engagement

Tune Protect Group Bhd (KL:TUNEPRO) is one of two companies to take home the award for Best Performing Company by Sector for financial services at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026.

Identifying and managing climate-related risks central to Tune Protect’s value creation

VS Industry Bhd, which is named Best Performing Company by Sector for industrial products & services at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026 for the second consecutive year, has been stepping up the integration of ESG considerations into its operations and business planning.

VS Industry earns second straight win

SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) has continued to strengthen its sustainability efforts through the implementation of its Beyond Zero framework, which focuses on emissions reduction, nature restoration and social impact, leading to its win at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026 in the plantation sector.

SD Guthrie achieves record traceability, eyes further gains in responsible sourcing

SkyWorld Development Bhd (KL:SKYWLD), a two-time winner at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards, has taken home the award for Best Performing Company by Sector for property at the 2026 edition.

SkyWorld to integrate more efficient building solutions across future developments

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (KL:CLMT) has emerged as a winner in the real estate investment trusts (REIT) category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026. Yong Su-Lin, CEO at CapitaLand Malaysia REIT Management (manager of CLMT), says the company’s proudest achievement is achieving 100% green building certification ahead of its 2030 target.

CapitaLand obtains 100% green building certification for operationally controlled retail assets

ViTrox Corp Bhd (KL:VITROX) has won the Best Performing Company by Sector award for technology at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2026.

ViTrox keeps sustainability in step with growth

For Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:ASTRO), ESG is not only about reducing its environmental footprint or strengthening corporate governance, but also how responsibly the media company uses its platforms, content and influence to create a positive social impact.

Astro uses the power of content to drive positive impact

For MISC Bhd (KL:MISC), the transition to lower-carbon shipping is no longer only a long-term ambition. In 2025, the maritime and energy group reduced its fleet greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 36% from its 2008 baseline, putting it on track to meeting its target of a 50% reduction by 2030.

MISC charts lower-carbon course with tangible gains

Malaysia’s inflation is expected to remain manageable this year, although risks are tilted to the upside amid geopolitical tensions, commodity price volatility and potential weather-related disruptions, economists said on Friday.

Malaysia’s inflation to remain manageable but upside risks linger, say economists

SoftBank Group Corp is closing out the week with nearly US$21 billion (RM85.69 billion) in potential fresh borrowings as it builds out its artificial intelligence (AI) financing capacity. It’s also looking to raise another US$10 billion to US$20 billion next week in a separate jumbo bond deal.

SoftBank adds US$21 bil to AI firepower in new debt deals — Bloomberg

Futures tracking the Nasdaq 100 led Wall Street higher on Friday, putting the tech-heavy index on course for weekly gains as a drop in oil prices tempered inflation concerns.

It has been a busy week for investors, with an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve and Chair Kevin Warsh's commentary on the future trajectory of borrowing costs.

Nasdaq futures lead Wall St gains as oil retreat eases inflation worries

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto said on Friday that he would receive assistance from Malaysia to help contain forest and land fires that have been raging for weeks.

Indonesia to receive assistance from Malaysia to contain wildfires

Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) has proposed a debt restructuring scheme involving wholly owned subsidiary Move Digital Sdn Bhd, in a bid to resolve its historical liabilities.

Capital A proposes to divest BigPay, Tune Protect stakes under debt restructuring scheme

Engineering and infrastructure specialist Jati Tinggi Group Bhd (KL:JTGROUP) has won a RM72.84 million contract to design and build a high-voltage 275kV cable connection to a data centre's landing station in Banting Technology Park, Selangor.

This marks Jati Tinggi’s third contract win in the last 30 days.

Jati Tinggi bags RM73 mil data centre-linked job in Selangor; its third contract win in a month

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) saw RM3.03 billion wiped off its market value in late-session selling on Friday, following the national utility's announcement it would absorb the government's expanded electricity subsidy for households until the year-end.

TNB sheds RM3 bil market cap after agreeing to absorb subsidy for domestic users

The World Health Organization warned on Friday of a gap in the medical workforce around the world in the 2030s, with a quarter of doctors set to retire in the next decade.

WHO flags growing health workforce gap as workers and patients age

Global equity funds recorded their largest weekly outflow in nine months in the week through September 16, as a surge in oil ​prices heightened inflation concerns and expectations of a Federal Reserve interest-rate ‌increase added to investor caution.

Global equity fund outflows hit nine-month high on inflation fears

Strata Sense Part 3: Managing financial and operational conflicts

AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) operation is sustainable with over RM1 billion cash in hand, group adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said&nbsp;as he dismissed concerns about the airline's finances.

AirAsia sustainable with RM1 bil cash, no govt bailout requested, says Fernandes

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been allowed house arrest to serve out his&nbsp;remaining sentence for grand corruption.&nbsp;

King consents to house arrest for Najib until August 2028

AirAsia Group Bhd (KL:AAGB) has sold six newly-delivered aircraft since the start of last year, including two in July, in an unusual about-face that points to the financial strain gripping the airline.&nbsp;

Cash-strapped AirAsia takes unusual step of unloading new planes

Budget 2027 could see further sales and service tax (SST) exemptions to reduce costs embedded in businesses, alongside possible personal income tax relief for middle-income taxpayers, according to CIMB Securities.

Budget 2027 may bring SST exemptions, income tax relief for middle-income earners — CIMB Securities

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has denied signing any house arrest order involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which has been circulating on social media.

Hannah Yeoh denies signing Najib’s house arrest order

Malaysia Airlines’&nbsp;parent is said to be closing in on an order for Boeing Co 787 Dreamliners as the carrier seeks to renew its long-haul fleet, according to people familiar with the matter. 
&nbsp;

Malaysia Airlines closing in on order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners — Bloomberg

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) is postponing its cash dividend payout following a court order secured by a substantial shareholder of the digital services firm.

One shareholder's court order holds up Zetrix AI's entire cash dividend payout

It is unfeasible for rivals to absorb AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) domestic market share even as a contingency plan, the airline’s adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said.

Talks of rival airlines absorbing AirAsia's capacity 'ludicrous' — Fernandes

Keyfield International Bhd (KL:KEYFIELD) slid to a one-year low amid softer accommodation workboat demand and charter rates.

Kenanga says sell-off unjustified after Keyfield hits one-year low

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) said its central executive committee will be meeting on Saturday to discuss and decide on the party's stance and follow-up actions, after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed house arrest to serve out his remaining corruption sentence.

DAP respects King’s prerogative on Najib, CEC to meet Saturday to decide party direction

Pakatan Harapan will hold a presidential council meeting on Friday evening to discuss current developments, according to a local news report.

Pakatan Harapan leaders to meet on current political developments — report

Indonesian tycoon Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad agreed to acquire a major stake in miner PT Bayan Resources, setting the stage for him to become one of the biggest players in the global coal industry. 
&nbsp;

Indonesian tycoon close to Prabowo creates coal mining giant

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its benchmark interest rate in a split decision showing dissent within the board as it confronts mounting inflation risks and unusually explicit calls for further policy normalisation from Washington.

Japan's central bank hikes rates in split decision after US pressure

The pardon given by the Federal Territory Pardons Board on Friday — for imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction under house arrest until the end of his sentence in August 2028 — on condition that the RM50 million fine he had been given is paid first, sets a precedent for white collar crimes, says senior criminal lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan.

Pardon to serve house arrest sets precedent for white collar and other crimes, says lawyer

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will absorb the impact from the electricity tariff fuel surcharge exemption that has been expanded to more households up until the end of this year.

Tenaga Nasional to absorb fuel surcharge for electricity subsidy expansion

TMK Chemical Bhd (KL:TMK) has agreed to acquire Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd (CCM) from Batu Kawan Bhd (KL:BKAWAN) and its wholly-owned unit Enternal Edge Sdn Bhd for RM939.9 million.

TMK Chemical to buy CCM from Batu Kawan for RM939.9m

Sunway Medical Group broke ground for the RM800 million Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor on Friday, further completing the 2,000-acre Sunway City Iskandar Puteri township development.&nbsp;

Sunway Medical Group breaks ground for RM800 mil Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor

All ongoing court cases involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak must continue, national news agency Bernama reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar says all legal cases involving Najib must continue — report

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar attended the&nbsp;64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya at Istana Negara on Friday.

Hannah Yeoh, AG attend Pardons Board meeting

Binastra Corporation Bhd (KL:BNASTRA) eked out a new all-time high in Friday trading while analysts raised their outlook after the construction firm’s latest results.

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