Malaysia’s workforce is evolving rapidly, thanks to technology and globalisation. Key sectors like technology, healthcare and financial services are driving demand for specialised skills such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data analytics.

Adapting to tech and talent demands

In October, the government announced incentives to jump-start the special economic zone in Forest City. One particular announcement that caught attention was the zero tax rate for family offices, a term rarely heard of in Malaysia as the regulatory framework for such firms did not exist. Essentially, family offices handle investment and wealth management for wealthy families.

Rise of the family office

Even as birth rates fell further in South Korea and Singapore, where less than one baby is born to every woman of reproductive age, Malaysia’s total fertility rate (TFR) surprisingly inched higher to 1.7 in 2023 from a record low of 1.6 in 2022.

Demographic squeeze : Declining birth rates and the rising burden of eldercare

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

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

FBM KLCI down 0.11% to 1,611.43 on Dec 9, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country over a failed attempt at imposing martial law, a justice ministry official said on Monday, amid growing calls for him to step down and a deepening leadership crisis.

Yoon has apologised for the botched attempt and said he was leaving his political and legal fate to his ruling People Power Party (PPP) but has not resigned. He has become a subject of criminal investigation, according to local media reports.

South Korea President Yoon banned from foreign travel as leadership crisis deepens

GIC Pte is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co to help advise on a strategic review of options including a sale of its 50% stake in India’s Greenko Energy Holdings, people familiar with the matter said, in what could be one of the biggest disposals in the country.

JPMorgan to advise GIC on US$5 bil Greenko stake sale

(Dec 9): Almost US$10 billion (RM44.25 billion) has poured into US exchange-traded funds (ETFs) investing directly in bitcoin since Donald Trump became president-elect, in a bet that his embrace of the crypto sector heralds a boom for the market.

US bitcoin ETF inflows near US$10b since Trump election win

Global shares held steady on Monday, as investors took geopolitical tumult in their stride, leaving oil and gold modestly higher, while the dollar edged up ahead of US inflation data this week that could cement a December rate cut.

Stocks firm as US upbeat outlook absorbs geopolitical shocks

Southeast Asia's e-commerce market has undergone significant transformation over the past five years, reaching milestones earlier than expected.

The sector saw rapid growth during the pandemic, hitting US$200 billion in gross merchandise value by 2022 — three years ahead of schedule, according to Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.

Addressing the hidden costs of adaptability in Southeast Asia’s e-commerce and logistics

CVC Capital Partners plc offered to take CompuGroup Medical SE & Co KGaA private in a deal that values the German software provider at €1.18 billion (US$1.2 billion or RM5.3 billion).

CVC offers to take CompuGroup private for US$1.2 bil 

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma rallied his troops during a speech at Ant Group Co’s 20th anniversary, making a rare appearance after a government crackdown forced the financial technology (fintech) giant to scrap what would have been the world’s largest initial public offering (IPO) four years ago.

Jack Ma pushes AI drive in rare speech since Ant crackdown

DAMASCUS (Dec 9): Syrians awakened on Monday to a hopeful if uncertain future, after rebels seized the capital Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family's brutal rule.

With Assad ousted, a new era starts in Syria as the world watches

More cases of a mysterious flu-like illness labelled “Disease X” were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a rapid response team to help investigate.

‘Disease X’ outbreak widens as UN sends health team to Congo

In one of his rare interviews in January 1996, the late T Ananda Krishnan said his passion was to go into the business of the future.

Alternative Views: Ananda’s unfinished business leaves much to speculation

In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as a data centre powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a global surge in demand and an established data centre sector.&nbsp;

With favourable conditions such as the availability of land, cheaper electricity, and an advantageous geographical location, the country has attracted numerous firms to establish data centre operations within its borders.

How Malaysia is setting itself up as an AI hub

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) found no wrongdoing within the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp).

No offences under the MACC Act 2009 had been committed, according to investigators cited in a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the government agency.

No offences found in HRD Corp probe, says MACC

Shares of Kawan Food Bhd (KL:KAWAN) climbed to their highest in nearly five months on Monday, after the frozen food manufacturer announced a venture into distribution of information technology (IT) equipment.

Kawan Food shares climb to near five-month high after news of IT venture

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) and Sembcorp Power Pte Ltd have signed an agreement for the supply of 50 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to Singapore.

The maiden renewable energy supply from Malaysia to the island-state is the result of the bidding process conducted through Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem) in June.

Tenaga, Sembcorp sign deal for supply of 50MW renewable energy to Singapore

Industrial services firm Swift Energy Technology Bhd has begun accepting applications from investors for its initial public offering (IPO) that would gross more than RM84 million on the ACE Market.

The IPO, priced at 28 sen per share, involves a public issue of 250.2 million new shares and an offer for sale of 50.04 million existing shares, according to its prospectus. All in, the listing offers investors a 25% stake in the Selangor-based company.

Swift Energy now selling IPO shares at 28 sen apiece for ACE Market listing

US&nbsp;President-elect Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;and Russia&nbsp;to end "the madness", prompting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy and the Kremlin to list their conditions.

Trump calls for immediate Ukraine ceasefire, Kyiv and Moscow cite conditions

As Bashar Al-Assad fled to Moscow, the looters started raiding the presidential palace and people took the streets of Damascus to celebrate his demise. The Syrian president had tried to hang on until the bitter end, still desperately sending an SOS to anyone who would listen, including Donald Trump. The despot had run out of road.

Assad’s fall in Syria puts world on watch for more Middle East chaos

Imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again claimed that there was a conspiracy by the US to prevent him from accessing evidence pivotal to mount his defence in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial.

Najib now says US Democrats conspired with then-Opposition to suppress evidence pivotal to his defence

Malaysia’s retail sales growth accelerated in the third quarter, an industry research firm said on Monday, flagging faster growth in the next three months due to the year-end holiday season.

Retail sales growth accelerated to 3.8% in 3Q, may hit 4.4% in 4Q — Retail Group Malaysia

Global shares held steady on Monday, as investors took geopolitical tumult in their stride, leaving oil and gold modestly higher, while the dollar edged up ahead of US inflation data this week that could cement a December rate cut.

Facility management firm GFM Services Bhd (KL:GFM) said on Monday it has signed an agreement to explore a stake in oil-and-gas services firm Shapadu Energy Sdn Bhd for an indicative RM30 million cash.

GFM Services to explore 45% stake in energy services firm Shapadu for RM30m cash

A white knight has emerged to take over the development of the stalled Penang World City (PWC) in Bayan Baru, Penang.

The white knight, who is a developer, is said to be in the midst of restructuring Hemat Tuah Sdn Bhd, in which the brother of MBI’s Tedy Teow and associates close to the...

White knight to take over RM10 bil Penang World City project

Malaysia’s healthcare sector is set for sustained growth beyond its robust third-quarter results, amid steady increases in both capacity and demand, BIMB Securities said.&nbsp;

The research house, which kept an 'overweight'&nbsp;stance on the sector, expects private hospital operators to "sustain earnings growth of double digits, supported by steady increases in inpatient and outpatient visits”, which are likely to extend into 2025.

Healthy demand, capacity growth to drive healthcare earnings through 2025 — BIMB

Oil&nbsp;prices nudged higher on Monday, as heightened tensions in the Middle East following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebels offset concerns over weak Chinese demand that was highlighted by Saudi Aramco's price cuts to Asian buyers.

Oil edges up as rising Mideast tensions offset demand fears

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that he supported 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB)&nbsp;ambitions to acquire independent power producers (IPPs), by bringing down cost of power,&nbsp;for the well-being of Malaysians.

Najib says supported 1MDB's independent power producer ambitions for Malaysia's 'well-being'

US-based Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire rival Interpublic Group in a deal that would create the world’s largest advertising company, The Wall Street Journal&nbsp;(WSJ) reported.

Omnicom, Interpublic in merger talks that would create world's largest ad company — WSJ

Former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir told the High Court on Monday that he did not know that his aunt Habsah’s patronym is Mohamad Iskandar.

Mukhriz says he does not know his aunt’s patronym is Mohamad Iskandar

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to explain its investigation into the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), which was classified as “no further action" (NFA).&nbsp;

Explain ‘no further action’ on HRD Corp investigation, PAC tells MACC

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): UEM Sunrise Bhd (KL:UEMS) has received planning permit approval for a A$277.8 million (RM784.8 million) build-to-rent development in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia.

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