KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Meta Bright Group Bhd is forming a joint venture company (JVco) with a Bumiputera firm to bid for renewable energy (RE) projects with a Bumiputera equity requirement.

Meta Bright forms JVco with Bumiputera firm for RE projects

The oil-rich Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo is aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy, betting that its ability to harness an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.

 Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy

It took only one meeting between Anish Mathew Samuel and Chakrapani Ruddraramker, who both went to the same business school in Manila, to quit their jobs and set up a company to trade eco-friendly products, thanks to their passion for sustainability.

This was 10 years ago. Soon, they be...

Agriculture: On a quest to make organic farming affordable

As it stands, all development projects seeking approval in Malaysia are subject to one regulatory process for assessing their environmental impact, known as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA 1974). EIAs are a planning tool. By laying out a formal...

Views: A rubber stamp on environmental degradation?

There were few positive headlines about ESG and sustainable funds in the last few years. In 2022, the returns of many of these funds were negatively impacted by their underexposure to energy counters and overexposure to technology stocks. In 2023, declining fund flows and a net outflow were recor...

Finance: Waiting for more maturity in ESG

East Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on Southeast Asia (SEA), has launched a free web-based greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator called Ecovisea for companies to measure their emissions. Ecovisea, which stands for emissions calculator and visualisation SEA, was developed in collaboration...

Toolkit: A new free carbon emissions calculator

A parallel is often drawn between sustainability reporting and financial reporting. Both are mandatory for Malaysian public-listed companies (PLCs) and must be published online annually. Yet, compared with financial reports, sustainability reports seem to engender less trust and the comparability...

Cover Story: How credible is sustainability reporting?

Concert tours generate a significant carbon footprint — from the travel of artistes and attendees to waste generated at venues and merchandise sales. Given the large audiences that popular concerts attract, these events also consume a lot of resources and energy.

After the crowd has lef...

Waste: Can concerts be green?

KUALA LUMPUR (April 17): Malaysia intends to export up to 300MW (megawatts) of renewable energy (RE) to Singapore using all the remaining capacity of an existing power line that connects to the city state that is known simply as the Malaysia-Singapore power interconnection, according to the guide for cross-border electricity sale of renewable energy sources (CBES RE) published by the Energy Commission (EC).

Green energy sale to Singapore capped at 300MW, Single Buyer to operate energy exchange — EC

German coal mines spew 184 times more methane than what the country reports to the United Nations, according to a new analysis by Ember.

German coal mines emit much more methane than reported, study says

SINGAPORE (April 15): Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) has expanded the range of electric vehicles (EVs) that can be financed under its eco-care car loans scheme.

OCBC expands range of EVs that can be financed under its eco-care car loans scheme

SINGAPORE (April 15): A new Singaporean emissions registry will help local businesses accurately account for their emissions in local conditions. Known as the Singapore Emissions Factors Registry (SEFR), the registry was launched by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu on the first day of Temasek’s Ecosperity Week 2024 conference.

Singaporean emissions registry launched to help local biz in sustainability reporting

1 Utama Shopping Centre, which is operated by Bandar Utama City Centre Sdn Bhd, is turning to solar power as a source of clean energy.

1 Utama Shopping Centre turns to solar as energy source

SINGAPORE (April 12): Temasek-owned investment firm GenZero has launched a paper examining possible future pathways for carbon markets and the role of carbon finance in accelerating climate action.

Temasek’s GenZero explores three ‘carbon scenarios’ in new paper

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) must tread cautiously in raising interest rates, as some indicators of inflation expectations remain short of its 2% target, the International Monetary Fund's Japan mission chief Nada Choueiri said on Friday.

IMF urges Bank of Japan to tread cautiously in raising interest rates

Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Israel's Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure

The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 dipped on Friday, with Netflix among the biggest drags on a dour quarterly forecast, while all three indexes stared at weekly losses amid diminishing hopes that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates anytime soon.

Nasdaq lags peers as Netflix, chip stocks drag; AmEx lifts Dow

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night for a one-day working visit to the state.

Anwar's plane landed at Terminal Two, Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.40pm, where he was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Anwar arrives in Kota Kinabalu for one-day visit

Parties in the Unity Government have their methods to ensure a win in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election next month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said this was discussed at the Unity Government secretariat meeting on Wednesday.

Unity Govt parties have ways to ensure victory in Kuala Kubu Baharu polls — Ahmad Zahid

All travellers entering or leaving Singapore carrying Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) that are valued more than S$20,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, must submit the necessary declarations electronically with effect from May 13.

Travellers to and from Singapore carrying over S$20,000 must submit online declaration from May 13

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:

Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd have been suspended from trading, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect from 2.30pm onwa...

Sapura Energy, PIE Industrial, LSH Capital, YX, Westports, Yinson, Sime Darby Property, MISC, Meta Bright, EG Industries, Hextar, Uzma, Nova MSC and Iconic Worldwide

YX Precious Metals Bhd, a 70%-owned subsidiary of Tomei Consolidated Bhd, has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.

In a bourse filing, the gold jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer said it has also satisfied the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Main Market listing requirements on financial position, public shareholding spread and Bumiputera equity.

YX Precious Metals proposes to transfer listing from ACE Market to Main Market

(April 19): Oyo Hotels is in talks to raise up to US$450 million via dollar bonds, a person familiar with the matter said, as the once-high-flying Indian startup seeks to replace an existing high-cost loan amid delays in its stock-market debut.

Softbank-backed Oyo eyes US$450 mil bond sale for refinancing

CIMB Thai Bank PCL’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) dropped 24.6% year-on-year to 626.1 million baht from 830.1 million baht, as it reported lower operating income and higher expenses.  

The group recorded an 8.4% drop in operating income and an 11.8% increase in operating expenses. The effects of these were partially offset by a 36.9% decline in expected credit loss, according to CIMB Thai president and chief executive officer Paul Wong Chee Kin in a statement. CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has a 94.83% interest in CIMB Thai.

CIMB Thai's 1Q earnings drop 24.6% as operating income falls while opex climbs

DUBAI/JERUSALEM (April 19): Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an&nbsp;Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated that it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:

Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd have been suspended from trading, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect from 2.30pm onwa...

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): M&amp;A Equity Holdings Bhd announced that an individual by the name of Siti Nur Aishah Ishak has become a substantial shareholder of the stockbroking firm, after acquiring a 0.13% stake in the company.

Siti Nur Aishah emerges as substantial shareholder of M&A Equity

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Construction company Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (LSH Capital) said it has obtained approval from its shareholders to transfer the group’s listing from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

Lim Seong Hai Capital gets shareholder nod for transfer of listing to ACE Market

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

SINGAPORE (April 19): CGS-CIMB Securities has officially rebranded as CGS International Securities (CGS International), as the integrated financial services provider launched its new identity in Singapore on Thursday (April 18).&nbsp;

CGS-CIMB Securities rebrands as CGS International, aims to double revenue to S$700 mil by 2030

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Silver Ridge Holdings Bhd said its wholly owned unit is being sued by a subcontractor over alleged outstanding contract payments.

Silver Ridge’s unit slapped with suit over alleged unpaid contract sums

YX Precious Metals Bhd, a 70%-owned subsidiary of Tomei Consolidated Bhd, has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.

In a bourse filing, the gold jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer said it has also satisfied the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Main Market listing requirements on financial position, public shareholding spread and Bumiputera equity.

The mandatory general offer (MGO) for the remaining 34.1% stake in Pan Malaysia Holdings Bhd (PM Holdings), launched by property developer Exsim Group's founders, the Lim brothers, concluded on Friday with acceptances for only 35,997 shares received.

No change in Lim brothers' stake as Pan Malaysia Holdings' MGO concludes

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday he does not want to be dragged into discussions over the purported addendum order on house arrest involving former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Anwar said this was because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Territories Pardons Board and also involves the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers.

Addendum order issue under Pardons Board's purview, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Iconic Worldwide Bhd has raised a total of RM95.6 million through its rights issue exercise with free warrants, which was oversubscribed.

Iconic Worldwide’s rights issue oversubscribed, raises RM95.6 mil

Malaysia’s economic growth will likely pick up pace in the quarters ahead, economists say, though some are cautioning that global uncertainties raise the risk of undershooting the official target for 2024.

This follows the Department of Statistics Malaysia's advanced gross domestic product (GDP) estimate of 3.9% for the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024).

Malaysia's economy will pick up pace but global uncertainties remain key risks — economists

SINGAPORE (April 19): Wilmar International Ltd’s board of directors has appointed former foreign minister George Yeo as a non-executive and independent director with effect from Friday.

Wilmar appoints former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo as non-executive and independent director

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Ten individuals suspected of being involved in the case related to an&nbsp;Israeli man who was charged with possessing bullets and trafficking&nbsp;guns, were rearrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Israeli man’s case: 10 individuals rearrested under Sosma

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night for a one-day working visit to the state.

Anwar's plane landed at Terminal Two, Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.40pm, where he was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Friday due to persistent weakness in the soybean oil market on the Chicago Board of Trade, said a dealer.

Palm oil trader David Ng noted that market sentiment has been influenced by concerns regarding the anticipated surge in output over the coming weeks, which is perceived as exerting pressure on the market

CPO futures end lower due to weaker soybean futures

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Proposals for improvement, including efforts to increase the net income rate of civil servants, will be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Labour Day rally to be held later.

Anwar, in his Facebook post, said the Meeting No 3/2024 of the ...

Proposal to improve salary of civil servants to be announced at Labour Day gathering — PM

All travellers entering or leaving Singapore carrying Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) that are valued more than S$20,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, must submit the necessary declarations electronically with effect from May 13.

Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Fitters Diversified Bhd has landed a subcontract worth RM26.1 million from a unit of IJM Corp Bhd for fire protection services at the compound of a four-storey logistics hub, including its parking and ancillary buildings, in Shah Alam, Selangor.

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