KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27): The name John Heah might not instantly be on everyone’s lips when it comes to the topic of built spaces, but the designs dreamed up by the Penang-born, London-based principal and owner of architectural firm Heah & Co have been bewitching jet-set travellers and luxury e...

Of space + style

Humanity’s desire to delve into the unknown has long shaped how we see and experience the world, from the wilderness to outer space. In this season’s fashion spread, Options takes that instinct for discovery as its starting point, reimagining Autumn/Winter 2026 collections through the lens of adventure.

Window of opportunity

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Hotelier and aesthete Chris Ong is keeping the time-honoured traditions of his Penang childhood alive. To preserve disappearing oral histories, his new book Heritage Rituals documents the intangible cultural and religious customs woven into George Town’s community life, from the sending-off of Chao Kun, the Kitchen God to the Hokkien thanksgiving celebration of Pai Ti Kong.

Of heart + heritage

Set against the limestone grandeur and deep greenery of the Templer Park forest reserve, the aesthetically pleasing Takun Retreat Club in Rawang is Joewel Lee’s answer to the country’s predictable wellness template.

Pause + play

Richard Mille brings the RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics chapter to a close with a bedazzling finale

All that glitters

In celebration of the nation's 69th Independence Day, this week’s issue looks at the many things worth cherishing within Malaysia. From delectable bites and drinks, lesser-known natural wonders and far-flung heritage centres, this edit compiles the best ways to experience the country.

Home ground

Marking its 15th anniversary, the Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is preparing an experimental staging that puts Malaysia’s latest theatre — and the future of live concerts — to the test. Set to be held at the new Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) in Sunway on Aug 29, the upcoming Chapter 30: Philharmonic Test Drive — Celebrating A New World is a collaboration that presents the rewards of hard work, shaped by dedication and passion.

Into a new world

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 16): Balancing scale and stewardship, Datuk Izwan Hasli, CEO of PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, reflects on why Merdeka 118 must remain a model of responsible nation-building, rooted in the interests of the rakyat. In this week’s Options cover story, he explains his vision behind Malaysia’s tallest landmark, which anchors the country’s global aspirations to the historic heartbeat of Kuala Lumpur.

Peak purpose

Growing up, Datuk Johan Rozali-Wathooth saw how acts of selflessness, service and sacrifice could change lives. The CEO of Bintang Capital Partners and active member of several social impact groups describes his journey in charity and suggests what Malaysia can do to reform the sector in this week’s cover story.

For the cause

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 2): Once a residence for immigration officers, a building in George Town has been revitalised in the form of 1926 Heritage Hotel Penang by The Unlimited Collection, a brand under Singapore-based lodging owner-operator Ascott Ltd. Datuk Koay Shao Sheong, director of Jetblue — a Penang-based firm that manages property development and hospitality projects — talks about bringing the site back to life in time to commemorate its centenary.

Historic charm

Kuching is the city of choice for the country’s first Voco Hotel, which marks the Malaysian debut of the premium lifestyle brand under the InterContinental Hotels Group. At the heart of this concerted push is Datuk Bobby Ting Sie Ching, managing director of Elica Equity, whose Wisma Elica will house both Voco and Care Collective, combining guest services with integrated wellness and senior living in one lifestyle destination.

Look east

KUALA LUMPUR (July 19): A former professional motorcycle rider, Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard’s sporting instinct still shapes how he helms the Swiss maison.

Material gains

Melvin Chee, co-founder and CEO of RPG Commerce, has built a career on turning consumer habits into commercial instinct, with Montigo making a case for drinkware as daily utility and desktop trophy. Now he is testing whether a Malaysian company can hold water as an international business.

Bottle royale

KUALA LUMPUR (July 5): China-born Singaporean artist and CNMC Goldmine Holdings CEO Lin Xiang Xiong talks about navigating a difficult childhood and pursuing a creative career that has culminated in a multi-million dollar project devoted to education and world peace.

Brush up

The market moves, corporate deals and top headlines of the day, at a glance.

Gamuda, Zetrix AI, Sunsuria, TSH Resources, Hap Seng, GUH, Willowglen, KKB, Kinergy Advancement, Poh Kong, Zetrix AI, AYER

Thong Bowl restaurant chain operator, Thong World Bhd has filed its draft prospectus for an ACE Market listing, as the group seeks to raise fresh capital to open more outlets and deploy kiosk machines.

Mokhzani-linked restaurant operator Thong World files draft prospectus

Paramount Skydance Corp’s plan to sell more than US$44 billion (RM181.46 billion) of bonds in US dollars and euros to fund its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery Inc is now in motion, kicking off the main portion of the year’s largest M&A financing.

Paramount puts US$44 bil bond sale for Warner deal in motion

Tata Trusts, the majority shareholder of Tata Sons Pvt, proposed that the holding company of India’s biggest conglomerate merge with two of its unlisted units to stave off a listing order.

Tata Trusts propose restructuring of Tata Sons to avoid listing

SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time on Monday despite having one of its engines down, overcoming this hitch mid-flight to deploy the first batch of new Starlink satellites as Elon Musk's company plans to put the vehicle into routine use starting later this year.

SpaceX's Starship reaches orbit for the first time, deploys Starlink satellites

President Donald Trump will announce on Monday a Minnesota company's plan to build a US$15 billion (RM61.3 billion) steel mill in Iowa, a White House official said, a major investment that the administration is highlighting as it seeks to promote domestic manufacturing ahead of the November mid-term elections.

Trump to unveil planned US$15b Iowa steel project

A former chief executive officer (CEO) of Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC), investigated for alleged misappropriation involving the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project, is scheduled to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Tuesday (Sept 29).

Ex-Felda Investment Corp CEO to be charged over KL Vertical City project on Tuesday 

Property developer Sunsuria Bhd (KL:SUNSURIA) is selling a piece of freehold commercial land in Sepang, Selangor, for RM316.84 million cash to Amazon Data Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Sunsuria to sell Sepang land to Amazon’s local unit for RM316.84m cash

Wall Street's main indices fell on Monday after President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to end the conflict, leading to a spike in crude prices that revived inflation worries and drove Treasury yields higher.

Wall Street slips as oil spikes after Trump rejects Iran peace proposal

European shares rose on Monday as investors looked past higher bond yields, with UK homebuilders jumping after the government announced a new loan programme to help first-time buyers.

European stocks advance as UK homebuilders rally; miners drop

SHAREHOLDERS of Zetrix AI Bhd ­(KL:ZETRIX) must be a nervous lot, as questions as to what is going on at the digital services and technology company abound.

Last Friday, it announced that a substantial shareholder of the company had been granted an injunction by the High Court on Sept 1...

More drama at Zetrix AI

IT has been a volatile year for investors on Bursa Malaysia as the benchmark index made little headway, with swings in sentiment both ways. The FBM KLCI closed at 1,679.21 points last Tuesday, almost unchanged from 2025’s end of 1,680.11.

“When capital gains are harder to come by, divid...

Higher dividends offer some relief in a volatile market

The High Court has set Jan 7, 2027, to hear and decide on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), its subsidiaries, and SRC International Sdn Bhd's Mareva injunction (asset-freezing order) against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, to bar her from disposing of any of her assets amounting to nearly US$350 million (RM1.6 billion).

Jan 7 hearing, decision on 1MDB's bid to freeze Rosmah's assets in luxury goods lawsuit

TAN Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, a veteran of the country’s aviation industry, has stepped down from the boards of Malaysia Airlines Bhd and its parent Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) after completing a two-year term as a non-executive director. He joined the boards in August 2024.

B...

Aviation veteran Bashir Ahmad exits Malaysia Airlines board

Digital services firm Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX), whose external&nbsp;auditors resigned on Monday, announced on the same day that it has completed the payout of its delayed cash dividend to all eligible shareholders.

Zetrix AI pays out delayed cash dividend as auditor exits, excludes shares tied to shareholder's legal action

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said on Monday it secured an A$790 million (RM2.28 billion) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract in Australia to develop the first stage of the Mortlake Energy Hub.

Gamuda bags RM2.3b Australian renewable energy hub contract

The era of cheap debt is over and rising global bond yields will squeeze earnings, pushing some corporates towards bank loans, BIMB Securities said.

Era of cheap debt is over as corporates face tightening credits — BIMB Securities

TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) on Monday clarified that its RM42 million fine in Indonesia involves 1,228.89 hectares of plantations outside the licensed area of its Indonesian subsidiary PT Sarana Prima Multi Niaga (PT SPMN), and does not require it to surrender productive land as feared by analysts.

TSH says RM42 mil Indonesian fine involves land outside reported planted area

THE country’s major private healthcare operators are heading into the second half of 2026 with a stronger earnings outlook, as rising patient volumes, higher bed utilisation and ongoing hospital expansions provide fresh support for growth.

Analysts expect KPJ Healthcare Bhd (KL:KPJ), IH...

Healthcare stocks enter 2H with strong earnings, but limited upside ahead

Indonesia, the world’s biggest coal exporter, is failing to tap into soaring prices for the fuel as countries look to offset reduced natural gas supplies from the Persian Gulf.

World’s top coal exporter strains to lift output as prices soar

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) on Monday announced the resignation of its external auditor,&nbsp;TGS TW PLT.

Zetrix AI announces resignation of TGS TW as external auditor 

Indonesia’s government has paid bondholders the 722 billion rupiah (RM164 million) owed to them after state-owned builder PT Waskita Karya failed to settle it last week, marking the first payout under a pandemic-era guarantee programme for securities issued by state companies.

Indonesia pays first bond claim from pandemic-era guarantee

A venture by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s smaller affiliate Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp is considering a second chipmaking plant in Singapore to meet growing demand.

TSMC affiliate plans second Singapore chip plant in Asia push

KUALA LUMPUR (Sep 28): IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts has signed a two-hotel portfolio agreement with King Park Hotel Sdn Bhd, marking the debut of its Garner brand and the launch of its franchise operating model in Malaysia, according to a press statement issued on Sept 23, 2026.

IHG expands Malaysia footprint with Garner debut and launch of franchise model

Wall Street's main indices fell on Monday after President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to end the conflict, leading to a spike in crude prices that revived inflation worries and drove Treasury yields higher.

One of the key takeaways from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent official visit to China is that both countries have agreed to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang in Kelantan, near the border with Thailand.

According to a Bernama report...

Frankly Speaking: Good to have, but not essential

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): theedgemalaysia.com highlighted one stock with positive momentum and four stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close on Monday.

Stocks with momentum on Sept 28, 2026: Verdant Solar, Inta Bina, Infomina, HPMT, CJ Century Logistics

KLUANG (Sept 28): Any decision on a possible increase in the minimum wage to RM2,000 should be left to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement when tabling Budget 2027,&nbsp;Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said.&nbsp;

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Akmal: RM2,000 minimum wage decision rests with Budget 2027

The Chinese government has signalled it may allow companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd&nbsp;and ByteDance Ltd to buy Nvidia Corp’s new RTX Pro 5500 chips, The Information reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

China may let Alibaba buy Nvidia’s RTX chips, Information reports

Kinergy Advancement Bhd (KL:KINERGY) founder Datuk Dr Lai Keng Onn has become the single largest shareholder of marine vessels operator Avangaad Bhd (KL:AVANGAAD), after acquiring a 278.38 million-share block from Sindora Bhd and Kulim (M) Bhd.

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