GE14: Looking Back

KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will be meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the latest tomorrow, and seek an audience with the Sultan of Selangor after that, to decide if he will continue to helm Selangor or help with the Federal ...

Selangor MB Azmin says he 'certainly won't' hold two posts at the same time

KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced the Pakatan Harapan government's Cabinet line-up in a statement today, comprising 15 Ministers including the Prime Minister and his deputy, who will be sworn in at the Istana Negara on Monday (May 21) at 11.30am.

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Dr Mahathir lets go of Education Ministry portfolio, announces full Cabinet line-up

SINGAPORE (May 16): Yesterday, the new Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government announced that Malaysia’s 6% goods and service tax (GST) will be zero-rated from Jun 1 onwards, effectively abolishing it.

Malaysia’s newly elected prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, had vowed during his campaign ...

Is Malaysia's farewell to its GST a little too rushed?

KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Malaysia can reduce its fiscal deficit to around -2.7% or -2.8% in 2018 if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government holds up to its promise for an efficient and prudent government, according to AmBank Research. 

In a note today, AmBank chief economist and head of ...

Malaysia's fiscal deficit may be reduced if PH holds up promise to clean up government, says AmBank Research

PETALING JAYA (May 16): PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong pardoned him of all  charges because the ruler recognised that there were elements of "miscarriage of justice" in his detention.

“He (the King) followed the development of the case, ...

Anwar: 'King pardoned me because there was miscarriage of justice'

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): More than 10 police cars and a Black Maria (a police truck used to transport prisoners) arrived at the residence of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta here tonight, Bernama reported.

The lorry believed to be bringing...

Police cars and Black Maria parked outside Najib's house

SINGAPORE (May 16): The five-member Council of Eminent Persons, a team of special advisors announced by Malaysia’s prime minister Mahathir Mohamad on May 12, has hit the ground running.

Led by former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, the council also includes former Bank Negara Malaysia ...

Malaysia's special advisory council committed to meet first 100-day promises, says Maybank

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad plans to play a background role in the government even after he hands over the reins of power to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in one to two years' time.

Dr Mahathir said PKR de facto leader Anwar, who is expected to be released f...

 Dr Mahathir to have a 'background' role even after Anwar takes over as PM

KUALA LUMPUR (May 14): Umno has given its acting president Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the green light to negotiate with other political parties on forming the government or opposition blocs.

Zahid said the Umno supreme council, which decided this at a meeting today, imposed the condition ...

Umno mandates Zahid to negotiate with other parties

PUTRAJAYA (May 14): Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has been told to go on leave and his duties will be taken over by Solicitor General Datuk Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek.

At a press conference today, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the arrangement was due to the ...

Apandi to go on leave, Solicitor General to assume AG's role, PM says

GEORGE TOWN (May 14): DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Anti-Fake News Act will be abolished, as promised in Pakatan Harapan’s general election manifesto.

“Pakatan’s position has always been that the Act would be abolished but I will clarify with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir...

Anti-Fake News Act will be abolished as promised, says Guan Eng

(May 13) AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has apologised for buckling under intense pressure from the Najib administration by showing that he supported the Barisan Nasional (BN) government by flying the former prime minister on a plane with a BN theme.

On May 7, former Prime Minister...

AirAsia's Tony Fernandes apologises for buckling under intense pressure

GEORGE TOWN (May 13): Newly appointed Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the new government has steady hands to handle any volatility that could affect the Malaysian stock market following Pakatan Harapan’s takeover of Putrajaya in the 14th general elections.

“We have steady hands handl...

Government has steady hands to handle market jitters, says Finance Minister-designate 

PARADIGM Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), managed by Paradigm REIT Management Sdn Bhd, is slated to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on June 10, with a market capitalisation of RM1.6 billion.

As its initial public offering (IPO) did not involve the issuance of new units, th...

IPO Watch: Paradigm REIT kicks off with three malls, plans to add four more assets

Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) has, via a joint venture (JV) company, secured a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the government of Brunei to invest in, build, and operate a 30MWac solar photovoltaic power plant, which will be the largest such plant in Brunei upon its completion by end 2026.

Solarvest JV secures 25-year solar plant deal in Brunei

SARAWAK-based construction firm Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd (KL:HKB) is poised to capitalise on a construction boom in the state, following the Sarawak government’s record-high RM10.9 billion development expenditure (devex) in Budget 2025. Of this amount, about RM1 billion is specifically allocated to...

IPO Watch: Hartanah Kenyalang to ride construction boom in Sarawak 

Flag carrier Thai Airways International on Monday said it will exit its debt restructuring programme and expects to resume trading its shares on the stock market by early August.

Thai Airways to exit debt restructuring programme

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Malaysia’s oleochemical sector could face increased input costs starting July 1, as palm kernel oil, previously exempt from the sales and service tax (SST), will now be subject to a 5% sales tax, according to CIMB Securities.

Sales tax on palm kernel oil could increase input costs of Malaysian oleochemicals players — CIMB Securities

Relatives of people feared dead or missing after last week’s crash of an Air India Boeing Co 787 jet have become frustrated by a lack of information about the cause of the disaster and slow-moving recovery operations.

Air India crash victim families upset by slow recovery efforts

Malaysia’s economic growth is expected to lose further momentum from the second quarter of 2025 after three straight quarters of slowing expansion, said Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB), citing rising global uncertainties.

Maybank IB projects Malaysia's growth to slow in 2Q and beyond amid external challenges

THE US dollar is expected to weaken in the next 12 months as it suffers from what economists call a “crisis of confidence” over the greenback’s safe haven status due to Washington’s worsening fiscal outlook and erratic trade policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Rising...

Crisis of confidence weighs on US dollar but ringgit outperformance not guaranteed

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the country’s utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) has committed RM43 billion to upgrade the national power grid. This upgrade will help handle growing energy demand and support renewable energy by using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and battery storage systems. The goal is to make Malaysia’s energy system more resilient and flexible for the future.

Malaysia to spend RM43 bil on grid upgrades to support clean energy, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there are no immediate plans to restructure the Ministry of Economy, following the unexpected resignation of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as its minister.

Anwar sees no urgent need to reshuffle Economy Ministry after Rafizi’s departure

(June 16):&nbsp;Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Malaysia’s state-owned oil-and-gas company, is looking to expand output from more affordable assets abroad, in an effort to cut production costs and rein in declining profits.

Petronas looks abroad to help cut production costs

Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa in an early morning raid on Monday, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week's G7 meeting that the battle between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.

Israel's national emergency service said three people were killed in the country's centre while dozens more were wounded in the overnight strikes, part of a wave of attacks by Tehran in retaliation for Israel's pre-emptive strikes targeting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes that began last Friday.

Iran lauds 'new method' as missiles hit Israel's Tel Aviv, Haifa

&nbsp;US&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;administration&nbsp;is considering significantly expanding its&nbsp;travel&nbsp;restrictions by potentially&nbsp;banning citizens of&nbsp;36&nbsp;additional&nbsp;countries&nbsp;from entering the US, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

Trump administration weighs adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says

Energy stocks surged in early trade on Monday as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day with no signs of de-escalation, sparking concerns of a broader war in the oil-rich region.

Energy stocks on Bursa soar amid escalating Israel-Iran attacks

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Asia-Pacific will require US$90 trillion (RM382.1 trillion) in energy investments through 2050 to power its growing economies, while achieving net zero ambitions, said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz.&nbsp;

Asia-Pacific needs US$90 tril in energy investments to meet net zero goals by 2050, says Petronas chief

The King, Sultan Ibrahim, in his royal address at the investiture ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty’s birthday on June 2, reminded Malaysians, including political and community leaders, not to politicise sensitive issues that could fuel discord within society and threaten the nation’s stab...

My Say: The Malays don’t need another umbrella

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): The importance of oil and gas can't be underestimated at times when conflicts occur, something that is currently being seen, the head of Saudi oil giant Aramco&nbsp;told an energy conference on Monday.

Oil and gas important in times of conflict, Saudi Aramco CEO says

&nbsp;The&nbsp;world's&nbsp;nuclear-armed states are beefing&nbsp;up&nbsp;their atomic&nbsp;arsenals&nbsp;and walking out of arms control pacts, creating a&nbsp;new&nbsp;era&nbsp;of threat that has brought an end to decades of reductions in stockpiles since the Cold War, a&nbsp;think&nbsp;tank&nbsp;said on Monday.

Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, about 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said in its yearbook, an annual inventory of the&nbsp;world's most dangerous weapons.

World entering new era as nuclear powers build up arsenals, Sipri think tank says

The recently revised port tariffs are expected to boost Westports Holdings Bhd (KL:WPRTS), however geopolitical risks and trade uncertainties tied to the Israel-Iran conflict may weigh on regional shipping activities, said analysts. &nbsp;

Westports to benefit from port tariff hike, but geopolitical risks to affect seafaring routes — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): The recent oil price rally — one of the most intense since the 2022 energy crisis — has once again laid bare the fragility of global energy systems, said Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, president and group chief executive officer of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).&nbsp;

Oil price surge signals energy system risks amid global ‘poly-crisis’, says Petronas CEO

The 5% sales and service tax (SST) on raw materials could have adverse effects on the domestic rubber ecosystem, said the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma), which urged the government to defer the tax imposition.

Margma urges govt to reconsider and defer 5% SST on latex raw materials

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there are no immediate plans to restructure the Ministry of Economy, following the unexpected resignation of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as its minister.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Investors are expected to remain cautious in the local stock market, due to ongoing global uncertainties and concerns over upcoming domestic policies in the second half of the year, analysts said.

KLCI may test 1,500 support as geopolitical tensions and policy risks keep investors on edge — analysts

&nbsp;Financial markets look set to reopen Monday with investors squarely focused on escalating geopolitical tensions as Israel and Iran continue to bombard each other with no sign of a pause.

Israel on Sunday reported new missile attacks from Iran, and said it was carrying out simultaneous strikes on Tehran, as the two countries faced off for a third day in what is fast becoming the longtime adversaries’ most serious entanglement yet.&nbsp;

Mounting Israel-Iran conflict amps up geopolitical market risks

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd&nbsp;has extended RM351 million in financing to See Hong Chen Group and EXSIM, to support three strategic real estate developments in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

OCBC Bank extends RM351m financing for strategic developments in JS-SEZ

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s abuse of power and money-laundering case linked to the Jana Wibawa project will now be heard in the High Court.

Muhyiddin’s Jana Wibawa case moved to High Court

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Local institutions continued their buying activities for the fourth consecutive week, with net inflows amounting to RM620.6 million, said&nbsp;MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd.

MIDF: Local institutions extended buying streak with RM620.6m inflows last week

More than six weeks after Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh went missing, her family says the police have not given them any updates. Their lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo, questioned whether the police are taking the investigation seriously, stating that despite inquiries, the police still have no leads on her disappearance or abduction.

Six weeks on, no leads in Pamela Ling's case; lawyer accuses police of inaction

TOKYO (June 16): Oil prices climbed on Monday, extending Friday's rally, as renewed strikes by Israel and Iran over the weekend increased concerns that the battle could widen across the region, and significantly disrupt oil exports from the Middle East.

Oil prices firm as intensifying Israel-Iran conflict stokes supply disruption fears

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the country’s utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) has committed RM43 billion to upgrade the national power grid. This upgrade will help handle growing energy demand and support renewable energy by using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and battery storage systems. The goal is to make Malaysia’s energy system more resilient and flexible for the future.

GE14

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