Ideas, initiatives and innovation form the basis of any effort to actualise goals and targets. Ideally, sustainability is embedded into the business case of every investment decision made by the company.

10 steps to frame your business case

While Malaysia is consolidating returns on previous infrastructure investments, leveraging its established expertise in electronics, semiconductors and data centres, political shifts and the gradual outflow of talent could impact future economic progress, according to the 9th edition of e-Conomy SEA by Google, Temasek and Bain & Co.

A survey of Malaysia’s digital economy

Public-listed companies (PLCs) showed progress in the adoption of the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCGG), according to the Securities Commission Malaysia’s Corporate Governance Monitor (CG Monitor) 2024, which was published last Monday. However, the report highlighted three critical areas in need of improvement. The CG Monitor pointed to (i) the need to refresh board composition; (ii) enhancing shareholder participation through physical or hybrid annual general meetings (AGMs); and  (iii) a deeper integration of sustainability governance practices.

SC CG Monitor: 3 critical areas of improvement needed for PLCs

As workplace priorities evolve, three-quarters of talent in Malaysia believe generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) will cause some disruption to their jobs and roles in the next five years. The new Jobstreet by SEEK’s “Decoding Global Talent Report 2024: GenAI Edition” found that the majority of local talent are already experimenting with or regularly using Gen AI in both their professional and personal lives, positioning the country for transformative AI adoption across industries.

Gen AI use growing at home and in the workplace

Malaysia remained the fifth most connected country in Asean in the first half of 2024 (1H2024), after Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, according to the Malaysian Aviation Commission’s (Mavcom) latest Air Connectivity Index (ACI).

Malaysia the fifth most connected country in Asean in 1H

The fast acceleration of the electric vehicle (EV) market over the last few years has hit a speed  bump as demand for the vehicles  has noticeably declined recently.

Global EV demand plateaus

Healthcare organisations are seeing a gradual increase in ransomware attacks. This year, 67% of organisations were attacked compared with the reported 60% in 2023, says cybersecurity company Sophos in its fifth annual The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2024 study on the impact and journey organisations face in a ransomware attack, from the root cause and financial impact to recovery time.

The state of ransomware in healthcare 2024

In April, sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd announced RM1 billion in ‘national fund-of-funds’ initiatives at the KL20 Summit to support local venture capital funds and attract international managers. With the increased interest from both domestic and foreign investors in Malaysia’s start-up ecosystem, a crucial question arises: Are there enough investment- or IPO-ready private companies in the country?

Are Malaysian private companies investment-ready?

Scams remain prevalent in Malaysia, with 74% of Malaysians encountering them at least once a month, according to a report conducted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) of scam trends affecting the country.

Scams a growing problem in Malaysia

In a matter of weeks, Budget 2025 will be upon us. Research houses have started rolling out their predictions, anticipating areas of focus that the government will zero in to continue to support and bolster the economy.

A look at the previous four national Budgets

Malaysia’s capital market remained resilient in 2023 amid global headwinds from diverging expectations of monetary policies in major economies and geopolitical turmoil, posting a 5.6% growth during the year to RM3.8 trillion from RM3.6 trillion in 2022, according to the Association of Corporate Finance Advisers (ACFA).

Independent Corporate Finance Advisers strengthening their roles in Malaysian capital market

US rate cuts are closely watched because monetary easing by the world’s largest economy has financial repercussions worldwide. While conventional wisdom is that lower interest rates stimulate economic activity, which tends to benefit the stock market, it may not be that clear cut.

How equity markets have reacted after rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve

Inequality in the workplace is a tale as old as time. Inequality across genders, ethnicities and beliefs remains a significant challenge in the country, says Randstad’s Employer Brand Research Report. But adding to these issues is a new form of inequality — generational disparity.

Reforming the workplace

The US presidential elections are closely watched as the winner influences policy directions and business climate in the world’s biggest economy, which in turn move the global markets. With the Nov 5 polling date less than two months away, The Edge revisits key economic and market indicators of the last seven election cycles from 1996.

How markets perform during US elections

Reddit was down for thousands of users on Thursday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com, a day after the social media company said it had fixed a software bug.

Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources including users, showed more than 14,000 reports of outages.

Reddit down for thousands of users, Downdetector shows

The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) will continue to enforce compliance through audits and investigations to detect any non-compliance among taxpayers in Malaysia.

LHDN deputy chief executive officer (Compliance) Datuk Hisham Rusli said that all actions are carried out in accordance with the laws set forth.

IRB committed to improving tax compliance via  audits, probes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, adding to pressure on the country’s leadership over the conduct of its military campaign against Hamas.

ICC issues arrest warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu on Gaza ‘war crimes’

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Thursday.

Petron, DRB-Hicom, Dayang Enterprise, AEON, 7-Eleven, MSM, Hap Seng Consolidated, SunCon, UEM Sunrise, Mega First, Oriental, Heitech Padu, Can-One, Atlan, Maxim, Thong Guan, Globetronics

Thailand is taking steps to attract more foreign investment to accelerate economic growth while preparing to adjust its policies to cope with potential changes to world trade under a Trump presidency, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

Thailand seeks foreign investment as PM plans for Trump era

Volkswagen AG faces a growing threat of widespread walkouts as executives and unionists dig in over how to restructure Europe’s biggest automaker.

Labour leaders are offering €1.5 billion (RM7.08 billion) in additional cost cuts — including foregoing some bonuses — to keep factories open, after management dangled the idea of closures.

VW lurches closer to walkouts after talks with union deadlocked

Baidu Inc recorded its biggest revenue drop in more than two years after China’s economic malaise undermined its push into generative AI.

Chinese AI pioneer Baidu posts biggest sales fall since 2022

Magnum Bhd (KL:MAGNUM) reported a slight dip in net profit in the July-Sept period as income tax and other expenses increased, but cushioned by better income generated by its gaming and investment holdings and other segments.

Magnum posts marginally lower net profit in 3Q, amid higher tax and other expenses, declares 1.5 sen dividend

UBS has seen weak European growth hit companies it lends to, CFO Todd Tuckner said on Thursday, with the bank facing a 2024 credit loss expense of some 150 million Swiss francs (US$170 million or RM757.72 million) in its personal and corporate banking business.

UBS flags 'sluggish' Europe growth as it takes US$170m credit hit

Emmanuel Macron’s ill-fated June gamble on snap elections has plunged French businesses into prolonged gloom, clouding the president’s seven-year effort to transform the country into a hub for investment.

French business’s election gloom casts long shadow over outlook

Globetronics Technology Bhd (KL:GTRONIC) has inked an agreement valued at RM145 million to provide integrated circuit (IC) product packaging, testing and backend services to Taiwan-based ChipMOS Technologies Inc.

Globetronics secures RM145 mil contract to provide assembly and test services to Taiwan’s ChipMOS

Atlan Holdings Bhd's (KL:ATLAN) Singapore-listed subsidiary Duty Free International Ltd (DFIL), which plans to challenge the compulsory acquisition of two plots of land in Kedah by the Malaysian government, announced on Thursday that it had received RM69.6 million as compensation for the land.

The sum was received from the Home Affairs Ministry, which is force-buying the plot from DFIL's wholly-owned Cergasjaya Sdn Bhd and Cergasjaya Properties Sdn Bhd, on Monday (Nov 18).&nbsp; DFIL itself is 75.53% owned by Atlan.

Home Affairs Ministry pays Atlan RM69.6 mil for compulsory purchase of its Kedah plot

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that about 70% to 80% of the costs of his official trips to five countries over the past two weeks were paid by private companies.

Private firms paid up to 80% of costs for recent official trips abroad, Anwar tells Dewan Rakyat

Sugar producer MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:MSM) continued to record losses for the second consecutive quarter, after the group reported a RM49.75 million net loss for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024).

MSM Malaysia continues to bleed for the second consecutive quarter

Thong Guan Industries Bhd (KL:TGUAN) has proposed a seven sen per share special dividend from proceeds of the sale of its food and beverage (F&amp;B) business to its largest shareholder Foremost Equals Sdn Bhd for RM60 million.

Thong Guan proposes seven sen dividend from proceeds of sale of F&B business to major shareholder for RM60m

Oil company Petron Malaysia Refining &amp; Marketing Bhd (KL:PETRONM) suffered a 94.3% drop in its third-quarter net profit, on lower sales volume due to a correction in domestic fuel demand following the implementation of the retail diesel targeted subsidy in June this year.

Petron Malaysia's 3Q net profit down 94% on lower sales volume, oil prices

AEON Co (M) Bhd (KL:AEON), a general merchandise store and supermarket chain operator, saw its net profit rise 35.4% to RM18.79 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) from RM13.88 million a year earlier on higher revenue.

AEON Co 3Q net profit up 35% with growth across all segments

Heitech Padu Bhd (KL:HTPADU) recorded a net profit of RM6.58 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), compared with a net loss of RM1.4 million in the corresponding quarter, thanks to a one-off gain on disposal of land and building.

Heitech Padu posts 3Q profit on land, building disposal gain

Automotive seat maker Feytech Holdings Bhd (KL:FEYTECH) has failed to buy a piece of land in the Klang Valley, resulting in a delay in the construction of its new corporate office with a manufacturing plant and warehouse.

Feytech delays construction of head office, manufacturing plant after land deal fails

Oil and gas services provider Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd (KL:DAYANG) said it will continue to deliver outstanding performance after posting a record high net profit for its third quarter, which surged 76.67% year-on-year.

Dayang says will continue delivering outstanding performance after 3Q profit hits record

A summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Thursday.

FBM KLCI down 0.59% to 1,588.68 on Nov 21, 2024

Baidu Inc recorded its biggest revenue drop in more than two years after China’s economic malaise undermined its push into generative AI.

Sunway Construction Group Bhd (KL:SUNCON) posted a 32.71% jump in its net profit for its third quarter on the accelerated progress of its data centre projects.

Net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) rose to RM46.47 million from RM35.01 million in 3QFY2023, as revenue rose 28.48% to RM865.33 million from RM673.51 million, its Thursday bourse filing showed.

SunCon's 3Q profit jumps 32.71% on accelerated data centre progress

DRB-Hicom Bhd (KL:DRBHCOM) saw a net loss of RM5.29 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), compared with a net profit of RM70.8 million in the same quarter last year.

DRB-Hicom records net loss in 3Q amid automotive and postal sector weakness

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Thursday.

Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd (KL:HAPSENG) posted a three-fold jump in net profit for its third quarter from a year ago, on improved contributions from the diversified group’s plantation, property and credit financing divisions.

Hap Seng 3Q net profit more than triples, declares 10 sen dividend

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said on Thursday that the implementation of the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll system is still under "heavy consideration" by the government.

Ahmad Maslan: RM3.5 bil multi-lane free flow project remains under 'heavy consideration' by govt

Datasonic Group Bhd (KL:DSONIC) on Thursday proposed to amend its company constitution to ease the passage of a directors’ written resolution.

Datasonic proposes to amend company constitution to ease passage of resolutions

Kucingko Bhd (KL:KUCINGKO), a 2D animation production company, has decided to discontinue the services of its external auditor Messrs Russell Bedford LC PLT over a disagreement on audit fees.

Kucingko drops Russell Bedford as auditor over fee dispute

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani,&nbsp;indicted in New York&nbsp;over a US$265 million (RM1.18 billion) bribery scheme, is a first-generation tycoon whose phenomenal rise has been accompanied by a series of damaging controversies at home and abroad.

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