THE architecture of globalisation, once deemed irreversible and indomitable, is now showing signs of profound fragility. With US President Donald Trump’s administration unleashing on the global economy its harsh logic of punitive tariffs — then pausing them unilaterally, as if tossing the keys to a vault he himself had sealed — the very mechanics of global trade are now suspended in an eerie, uncertain vacuum. The global economic order, long governed by predictable flows of goods, capital, and services, is being unmade not by war, but by something far more insidious: capricious economic nationalism.

The spectre of deglobalisation and its impact on Asean

AS we take a moment to observe Earth Day, April 22, it is noteworthy that Malaysia is well placed to take the lead in setting the global standard in biodiversity management, in view of the rich pool of data captured by monitoring institutions operating in its space. This is where biodiversity observation networks (BONs) have their place.

Malaysia can show the way to a global standard in biodiversity management

The world is reeling from US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day,” when he announced the highest US tariffs in more than a century. The United States is hiking taxes on imports from almost every country in the world. Shoes made in Bangladesh and sold to American wholesalers for $20 will now ...

Sinonomics: Americans Can’t Win from Trump’s Trade War

The Contract Laws Review and Reform Committee was established by the Malaysian government to re-examine the Contracts Act 1950 and other related laws. We are reviewing a law from 1950, which means we are essentially trying to upgrade from a rotary phone to 5G.

Aiming for a contract law that is modern, coherent and future-ready 

Around the world, governments are trying to reinvent themselves in the image of business. Elon Musk’s DOGE crusade in the United States is quite explicit on this point, as is Argentina’s chainsaw-wielding president, Javier Milei. But one also hears similar rhetoric in the United Kingdom, where Ca...

The Visible Hand: Governments Are Not Startups

Donald Trump may have unwittingly done more for the planet in 2025 than many world leaders have done by design. His latest act — a sweeping global tariff regime — has been decried as capricious, protectionist, inflationary and geopolitically reckless. Yet buried within the economic disruption lies a surprising ecological dividend: a forced slowdown in the world’s hyper-consumptive habits, and with it, a potential reduction in global waste and emissions.

The green side of Trump’s trade war

In a world where geopolitical tensions increasingly shape trade flows, security alliances, and digital infrastructure, Malaysia has found itself not on the sidelines — but squarely in the crossfire. Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, our country has long danced a diplomatic ballet between the two largest economies: the United States and China. Today, that balancing act is becoming more perilous than ever.

Small nation, big crossfire: What happens to Malaysia when the elephants dance?

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) expresses deep concern over the restrictive implementation of access to beneficial ownership (BO) data in Malaysia. While the enactment of the Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 marked a significant step towards corporate transparency, the subsequent limitations on data accessibility undermine the reform's objectives and contradict global best practices.

Transparency International Malaysia questions denial of public access to information on beneficial owners

The recent reminders by the Right Honourable Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat delivered at the Opening of the Legal Year 2025 Malaysia on Jan 8, 2025 and at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta on April 8, 2025, as well as the statement by the Malaysian Bar dated April 14, 2025, of the importance of and necessity for an independent Judiciary and for the continuous strengthening of its independence are timely and ought to be supported.

Judicial independence — The fundamental truths

Our Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s speech on April 8 at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta has attracted a variety of comments — some very measured and moderate and some extremely unfair and ill-informed.

Chief Justice Tengku Maimun deserves praise, not condemnation

US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to impose reciprocal tariffs on goods from nearly every country have set off alarm bells around the world. Trump’s tariffs are likely to accelerate the ongoing fragmentation of the global economy. And, as is often the case, developing economies will be...

Frontiers of Growth: Developing Countries Need a New Strategy

With the Trump administration imposing “insane” tariffs on the rest of the world, many commentators are worried about the problem of “sane-washing”: imputing cogent rationales to policies that have none. Such naive punditry, they argue, distracts from the grift that is unfolding before our eyes. ...

The New Global Economy: Trump, Tariffs, and the Fate of the Dollar

When the 24% reciprocal tariff US President Trump imposed on Malaysia on April 9 takes effect, Malaysia would face the biggest economic threat since we transitioned from an agricultural and commodity exporting country to a manufacturing exporting country in the 1980s. The reciprocal tariff would bulldoze all the economic prosperity that Malaysia has generated since then, rendering us a hollowed industrial ecosystem with a high unemployment rate.

How Malaysia’s manufacturing industries can survive Trump’s reciprocal tariff

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria have emerged as essential metrics to assess the ethical impact of businesses and organisations on society. ESG factors are no longer solely the realm of corporate responsibility but have expanded to influence numerous sectors, including the legal system.

ESG and judicial independence: Building accountability, transparency and fairness in the legal system

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will boost defence spending to 2% of economic output in 2025, or four years earlier than previously planned, as Nato nations come under growing US pressure to invest more in their security.

Spain plans to hike defense spending to 2% of GDP this year

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday:

MGB, Scanwolf, DPS Resources, Petronas Chemicals, Alpha IVF, Pentamaster, Southern Steel, Sarawak Consolidated Industries

Northrop Grumman Corp reported first-quarter profit that missed analysts’ expectations and cut its earnings forecast for the year as costs mounted for its next-generation B-21 stealth bomber.

Northrop Grumman cuts earnings outlook on B-21 Bomber costs

Solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers in Malaysia owned by China-based players could face the risk of being phased out due to the latest US-imposed duties on solar imports from the country, an industry group representing the sector said.

New US tariffs on solar imports threatens to phase out Chinese solar panel makers in Malaysia

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ruled out an imminent cabinet shakeup amid reports of a growing rift between her ruling party and its biggest coalition partner.

Thai PM rules out cabinet shakeup amid signs of coalition rift

Wall Street's main indexes recovered some ground on Tuesday as investors focused on corporate earnings after President Donald Trump's mounting criticism of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell led to a sharp sell-off in the previous session.

Wall Street bounces back after sell-off as investors focus on earnings

West River Bhd, slated for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 5, saw 0.26 times oversubscription for the public portion of its new shares in its initial public offering.

West River’s IPO oversubscribed by 0.26 times

Germany’s short-dated bonds jumped as investors sought havens in Europe due to US President Donald Trump’s combative stance toward the Federal Reserve.

US short-term yields climb with treasury auctions set to begin

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday urged Britain and the European Union to safeguard multilateral trading systems, as Beijing seeks to rally support from trading partners to counter US tariff measures.

China urges UK and EU to uphold multilateral trade in face of US tariffs

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (KL:SCIB) has withdrawn one of its legal claims against housing developer Awana JV Suria Saga Sdn Bhd over the termination of a housing project for civil servants in Perak's Muallim district.

SCIB drops RM19.8 mil claim against developer over scrapped Perak housing project

KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): AmBank (M) Bhd&nbsp;is taking legal action to auction off a property in Bandar Kundang, Rawang, owned by the late Kee Kok Thiam, a former aide to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), to recover a housing loan of RM1.018 million.

AmBank seeks to auction off property of Jho Low’s former aide Kee over RM1m loan

Malaysia should brace for potential US recession and slowdown of China that will drag on the global economy this year, OCBC warned on Tuesday.

Malaysia should brace for potential US recession, China slowdown, says OCBC

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) plans to nab&nbsp;another ‘Tan Sri’ for questioning&nbsp;in connection with the MBI ponzi scheme, following a second round of arrests from April 18 to 21 and the seizure of RM347 million in assets, according to sources.

Police to nab third ‘Tan Sri’ for questioning, following fresh arrests and RM347m seizure in MBI case — sources

KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): Malaysia’s ports-and-logistics sector could be hit by a sharp decline in global order volumes amid uncertainty over international trade, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said in cutting the industry outlook.&nbsp;

Maybank IB turns neutral on Malaysia’s ports-and-logistics sector because of tariff uncertainties, despite signs of near-term front-loading by exporters

Inari Amertron Bhd (KL:INARI) is still in the early stages of its earnings downgrade cycle, even after the recent plunge in its share price, but investors should consider taking positions now, an analyst&nbsp;said on Tuesday.

Inari's earnings outlook still under risk; HLIB advises 'buy' before turnaround

The Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV) for Chinese visitors has been extended for another five years, as the initiative has shown immediate positive impact on the country’s economy, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Visa exemption for Chinese tourists extended for five years to boost economy — home minister

KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): Demand for palm oil from top buyers China and India may rise from restocking ahead of summer and ongoing discount against soybean oil, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said on Tuesday.

Palm oil demand from China, India may rise in next two months, support prices — MPOC

KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): Reach Ten Holdings Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) shares were oversubscribed less than two times by the public investors ahead of its Main Market listing.

Reach Ten’s Main Market IPO shares oversubscribed by 1.85 times

The High Court has postponed the Sapura Holdings Sdn Bhd winding-up petition, involving feuding brothers Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin and Datuk Shahriman Shamsudin, to Wednesday at 9am, as both sides are negotiating a settlement.

Sapura Holdings winding-up case postponed to Wednesday as brothers seek settlement

Solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers in Malaysia owned by China-based players could face the risk of being phased out due to the latest US-imposed duties on solar imports from the country, an industry group representing the sector said.

The European Commission (EC) has been urged to recognise the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification in order to promote greater acceptance of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

European Commission urged to recognise Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification to enhance compliance with EU Deforestation Regulation

(April 21):&nbsp;Air India Ltd&nbsp;is looking to take Boeing Co&nbsp;planes rejected by Chinese carriers, people familiar with the matter said, joining the ranks of Asian airlines vying to benefit from the trade war between Washington and Beijing.

Air India keen to take Boeing jets refused by China airlines — Bloomberg

The High Court on Tuesday granted leave (permission) to Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid to challenge a RM313.82 million additional tax imposed on her by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

High Court allows Na'imah to challenge RM313.8m tax bill through judicial review

Nomura Holdings Inc&nbsp;agreed to purchase Macquarie Group Ltd’s US and European public asset management business for US$1.8 billion (RM7.9 billion), marking the Japanese brokerage’s most significant overseas acquisition since it bought Lehman Brothers assets in 2008.&nbsp;

Nomura’s biggest deal since Lehman forms unit with US$770b in assets under management

Norges Bank, which manages Norway’s government pension fund, has emerged as a substantial shareholder in automated test equipment (ATE) maker Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) with a 5.26% stake.

Norges Bank emerges as substantial shareholder of Pentamaster

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL: PCHEM), or PCG, announced on Tuesday that its Pengerang Petrochemicals Complex in Johor — the group’s largest growth project under its olefins and derivatives segment in partnership with Saudi Aramco — commenced commercial operations in November 2024

Petronas Chemicals says commercial ops at Pengerang site commenced in November 2024

THE recent Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion has affected the livelihood of 469 families and disrupted the operations of nearly 300 companies whose gas supply has been cut.

While the cause of the April 1 blaze is being investigated, a number of firms have been forced to halt producti...

Putra Heights gas blast leaves its mark on businesses

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is studying a more structured mechanism regarding port charges to ensure the sustainability of the country's ports as well as a balance between market needs and capacity development.

Transport Ministry floats plan for phased 30% increase in port tariff

US President Donald Trump’s policy shocks are tilting risk sentiment in favour of emerging-market equities, leading to their biggest outperformance in 16 years over US stocks as investors focus on local growth and earnings.

EM stocks extend lead over S&P 500 as Trump rattles US markets

Shares of TMD Energy Ltd, a 66.39% subsidiary of Straits Energy Resources Bhd (KL:STRAITS), rose by as much as 26.76% on its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American.

TMD Energy opened at US$3.26 on Monday (April 21), and hit an intraday high of US$4.12, before it pared its gains to close at US$3.63, an 11.69% premium over the initial public offering (IPO) price of US$3.25 per share.

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