PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The overall household debt level stands at RM1.16 trillion – about 83.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) as at end-June 2018, said the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in its Economic Outlook 2019 report.

The debt level has been moderating since 2015 following macro prud...

Half of RM1.16 trillion household debt is housing loans

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): As at September 2018, about 3,800 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has joined the Digital Free Trade Zone (DTFZ) platform, stated the Economic Report 2019 by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) today.

The increasing number of participation in e-commerce and higher co...

More SMEs joining DTFZ, propping up e-commerce

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): A total of RM314.6 billion is budgeted for the federal government's expenditure in 2019. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the budgeted amount is 0.3% higher than 2018's revised estimates.

Of this, a total of RM259.9 billion or 82.6% will be allocated for o...

Govt budgets RM314.6b for 2019 total expenditure

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Operating expenditure (OE) in 2018 is expected to increase by 8.2% from that of 2017's, largely due to higher allocation for subsidies and social assistance, supplies and services, emoluments, debt service charges and retirement charges.

The significant growth in s...

Operating expenditure to rise by 8.2% in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The original 2018 budget allocation — comprising operating expenditure (OE) and development expenditure (DE) — was RM280.3 billion, before it was revised upwards to RM290.4 billion.

From the RM16.6 billion additional expenditure provided, RM11.2 billion is channell...

Total government expenditure to increase RM10.1b in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): While they are connected to the internet, most of Malaysia's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have yet to utilise the internet optimally to unlock the opportunities available due to the lack of digital skills, access to talents, high costs, low speed and unreliable connec...

SMEs yet to unlock opportunities via internet

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Ranked 5th in terms of average 4G speed in Southeast Asia — behind Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Myanmar — Malaysia’s low-speed and pricey broadband is a barrier to the country’s development and adoption of digital technology, the government said.

Rapidly changing...

Malaysia’s low speed, high price broadband a barrier

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The federal government's share of petroleum-related revenue to its total revenue is estimated to drop slightly to 19.5% in 2019 from 21.7% in 2018, indicating that the government still has diverse sources of revenue despite the cut in consumption-based taxes.

The f...

Govt's oil revenue share drops despite cut in consumption-based taxes

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysia’s inflation rate has been increasing since 2010, with the Government pointing to the weakening of the ringgit due to external factors, as the main driver behind the upwards trend.

Malaysia recorded its lowest increase in inflation in February 2015 at 0.1%,...

Exchange rate the biggest factor behind rising inflation

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysian gross exports are estimated to grow 3.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2019, supported by continuous demand for manufactured goods coupled with a rebound in commodity exports, according to Economic Outlook 2019, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

However, this rate is...

Malaysian gross exports to grow 3.9% y-o-y in 2019

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysia’s external debt increase 6.45% to RM936.5 billion or 65.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) as at end of June 2018, from RM500.9 billion or 37% of GDP at the end of 2017, due to higher loans by the non-financial corporations segment to finance investment activity...

Malaysia’s external debt increases to RM936.5 bil at end-June 2018

(Nov 2): These are the highlights of the Economic Report 2018/19:

> 4.9% GDP growth in 2019

> Real GDP is projected to grow at 4.8% in 2018 and 4.9% in 2019 supported mainly by domestic demand.

> Global economy to grow at 3.7% in 2019

> Global g...

Highlights of Economic Report 2018/19

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The Finance Ministry (MoF) is anticipating the Federal Government gross borrowing to be higher for deficit financing and refinancing of matured papers, according to the Economic Report 2018/2019, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

The Federal Government’s gross b...

MoF expects higher gross borrowing for deficit financing, matured papers refinancing in 2019

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): There were 100 public-private partnership (PPP) projects involving outstanding government commitments of RM135.1 billion as at end-June 2018, according to the Ministry of Finance's Economic Report 2018/19, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

The projects, said the report, ...

Govt committed RM135.1b to 100 PPP projects at end-June 2018

HONG KONG/BENGALURU (Sept 21): New World Development said on Monday the Shanghai Stock Exchange had approved the spinoff and listing of its REIT for an expected offering size of 3.82 billion yuan (US$570.36 million), the first by a Hong Kong developer.

New World Development gets Shanghai bourse nod for US$570 mil REIT listing

Gold prices slipped on Monday as market participants assessed developments in the Middle East and their implications for inflation and interest rates.

Gold slips as focus remains on Middle East, rate outlook

As global supply chains are reshaped and geopolitical competition intensifies, Malaysia has made the ability to maintain strategic flexibility a valuable economic asset. The future of the Indo-Pacific is being shaped not only in Washington and Beijing. Across the region, middle powers are increasingly influencing the partnerships, institutions and economic networks that will define the emerging regional order. Malaysia offers a particularly instructive example.

My Say: How Malaysia is creating strategic space in a fragmenting world

TANJONG MALIM (Sept 21): Setia Awan Land Sdn Bhd (Setia Awan) has launched its first industrial development, the 447-acre Tanjong Malim Hi-Tech Park, as the company seeks to establish an industrial ecosystem alongside the growing automotive activity in the area.

Setia Awan enters industrial segment with RM1.4 bil Tanjong Malim Hi-Tech Park

SINGAPORE (Sept 21): A dozen commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on the weekend, down from 35 the prior weekend, shipping data showed on Monday, as tension in the Gulf persisted with the US and Iran in stalemate.

Vessels trickle through Strait of Hormuz as Middle East conflict persists

KOTA BHARU (Sept 21): A former TH Properties deputy general manager of construction projects pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to abetting a criminal breach of trust involving RM14,000 in penalty funds collected from a contractor for a commercial building project owned by Tabung Haji (TH).

TH RCI: Former deputy general manager charged with abetting in CBT

Volkswagen's sweeping turnaround plan foresees more than 4,000 further job cuts at ​Porsche, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Saturday, ‌following a profit warning linked to problems at the sports car subsidiary.

Porsche could face another 4,000 job cuts — report

AirAsia Group Bhd’s (KL:AAGB) pursuit of US$1 billion (RM4.08 billion) in financing from international debt markets has inevitably raised questions about whether its balance sheet can support borrowings of that magnitude and whether the government may ultimately have to step in.

Frankly Speaking: Isn’t AirAsia too big to fail?

WE are a country of laws. Yet several events of the past few days have wrought chaos upon the sanctity of the rule of law and the institutions established under the Federal Constitution.
 
On Sept 16, 2026, Malaysians were shocked by the news that His Royal Highness the Yang di...

Opinion: An assault on the constitutional sovereignty of the Negeri Sembilan monarchy and the rule of law

China's yuan strengthened to more than a 3-1/2-year high against the US dollar on Monday as the central bank softened its curb on currency appreciation ahead of the meeting this week between the leaders of China and the US.

Yuan hits fresh multi-year peak as PBOC eases curb ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) was a darling of the stock market when it was still called MyEG Services Bhd. It was the pioneer in online government services transactions such as road tax and foreign maid renewals. At its peak, it had a market capitalisation of over RM6 billion. But once it lost its m...

Frankly Speaking: Zetrix AI must explain the RM3.7 bil development cost

Last Friday (Sept 18), Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) made an unusual and shocking announcement. The company was unable to proceed to pay to shareholders a cash dividend which was due on that day.

The Edge Says: Bursa must get Zetrix to disclose name of substantial shareholder who blocked cash dividend payment

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook will deal with matters related to his resignation after completing his official trip to China.

Loke to deal with resignation after China trip

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) extended its decline as investors and analysts weigh the impact of additional subsidy on the national electric utility’s earnings.

Tenaga extends slide as analysts, investors digest impact of subsidy burden

For years, the people building the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence systems have warned us that AI could eventually become dangerous. Yet, they continued to race ahead, building companies now worth hundreds of billions — and, in some cases, associated with technology groups worth trillions — of US dollars each.

Tong's Portfolio - First, win the AI race. Then, stop the race?

Share markets edged higher in Asia on Monday as AI's insatiable demand for data buoyed chipmakers, and oil eased on reports more oil was finding its way out of the Middle East than previously thought despite the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.

Tech leads shares higher in Asia as oil slips

Two Fridays ago, MyEG Capital Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Zetrix AI Bhd, disposed of its 16.9% stake in Heitech Padu Bhd (KL:HTPADU).

Frankly Speaking: Hazy shareholding structure at Heitech Padu

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Sept 21, 2026 

SINGAPORE (Sept 21): Oil prices slid on Monday as investors eyed a recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia despite ongoing attacks by Yemeni Houthis that have escalated tension in the Middle East, while the US and Iran remain in a stalemate.

Oil slips as investors assess Saudi export recovery

AirAsia Group Bhd’s (KL:AAGB) pursuit of US$1 billion (RM4.08 billion) in financing from international debt markets has inevitably raised questions about whether its balance sheet can support borrowings of that magnitude and whether the government may ultimately have to step in.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing a shift in many industries, especially in the property sector, where the technology, alongside recurring digital services, can affect the way investors value properties.

The future relationship between AI and property

Citigroup Inc chief executive officer Jane Fraser said that companies are racing to build up their defences as artificial-intelligence models become even more powerful and risk spurring cyber attacks.

Citi CEO sees ‘tsunami’ of patches in race to defend against AI

Qatar expects inaugural output from its massive liquefied natural gas expansion next year as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz slow projects across the country’s economy, Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said.

Qatar’s energy chief sees LNG expansion startup in 2027

WE are a country of laws. Yet several events of the past few days have wrought chaos upon the sanctity of the rule of law and the institutions established under the Federal Constitution. 
&nbsp; 
On Sept 16, 2026, Malaysians were shocked by the news that His Royal Highness the Yang di...

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, voting projections showed, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949.

AfD leads as Merz rues 'disaster' in worst state election result in postwar Germany

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lauded “very successful” talks with his Chinese counterparts that spanned artificial intelligence, trade and investment ahead of this week’s summit between leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Bessent hails ‘very successful’ China talks on AI, trade

SEREMBAN (Sept 21): Gemencheh and Serting state assemblymen Suhaimizan Bizar and Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa have confirmed receiving a notification letter revoking&nbsp;their appointments as&nbsp;members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (exco).

Two Negeri Sembilan state reps confirm receiving letters revoking appointment

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Gamuda Bhd’s (KL:GAMUDA)&nbsp;joint venture with BMD Constructions Pty Ltd has secured a A$624 million (approximately RM1.8 billion) design-and-construct contract for two road upgrades in Western Sydney, Australia.

Gamuda-BMD JV secures RM1.8 bil Western Sydney road upgrade contract

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Unisem (M) Bhd (KL:UNISEM) is approaching an earnings inflection point that could see its profit after tax growth outpace revenue growth, according to CIMB Securities.

Unisem nears point where profit growth outpaces revenue, says CIMB Securities

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): The plantation, utilities and healthcare sectors have attracted a combined net foreign inflow of RM299.6 million into Bursa Malaysia last week, according to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB).

Economic Report 2018/2019

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