I bid you a warm welcome to the 2023 chapter of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) Awards. This once-a-year gala dinner started in 2010 as an initiative by The Edge Malaysia to recognise, honour and celebrate the biggest and best of Corporate Malaysia — we believe this is possibly the only time in the year that top executives of companies across all sectors listed on Bursa Malaysia are gathered together for an evening like this.

Building value that lasts beyond quarterly performances

The evening shower and Kuala Lumpur traffic faded away as old friends and business associates caught up at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (The Edge BRC) Awards 2023, Corporate Malaysia’s biggest and most anticipated awards night, on Oct 23.

Celebrating Corporate Malaysia

Keynote Speech by Yang Berhormat Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Oct 23, 2023)

Championing a mission-oriented approach to innovation

Reflecting the heightened market volatility, it has been a sea of red in terms of the share price performance and total returns of the 14 companies named as The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) Company of the Year over the years.

Saluting sustainable excellence for the 14th year

Mega First Corp Bhd (MFCB), a member of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) since 2017 and placed on its winners’ list every year since 2018, has secured a spot in its Hall of Fame with the highly-coveted BRC Company of the Year award for 2023.

Company Of The Year: Mega First Corp Bhd - Powering growth with renewable energy and more

Companies that were scored highly on corporate responsibility (CR) initiatives continue to be those that not only create lasting impact for multi-stakeholders but know how to measure and communicate them well, say The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) panel of CR judges.

Creating lasting impact for multi-stakeholders and measuring them well

Financial education is the basis for wealth accumulation, retirement planning and stock investing

It all starts with financial literacy

It came as no surprise when Malaysia’s largest financial services group, Malayan Banking Bhd, again took home the Best CR Initiatives award for the Super Big Cap (above RM40 billion market capitalisation) category of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club Awards 2023 — marking the third time it has won the award after first bagging it in 2015 and 2019.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: SUPER BIG CAP — ABOVE RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION: Malayan Banking Bhd - Mobilising change with thoughtful sustainability agenda

With fleets of aeroplanes almost completely grounded and international air travel curbed as governments around the world imposed various degrees of movement controls to combat the spread of Covid-19, shares of airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) naturally nosedived.

HIGHEST RETURNS TO SHAREHOLDERS OVER THREE YEARS: TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd - Resuming its ascent post-pandemic

United Plantations Bhd (UP), the world’s first producer of sustainable palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in 2008, has always taken pride in taking a sustainable, responsible and ethical approach to all aspects of its operations — a commitment that it oft said can be traced back to its founder, Danish engineer and entrepreneur Aage Westenholz, who established the group in 1906.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BELOW RM10 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION: United Plantations Bhd - Facilitating the journey towards a more sustainable society

Westports Holdings Bhd has clearly weathered the global supply chain disruption, continuing the legacy of its late founder Tan Sri Gnanalingam Gunanath Lingam.

HIGHEST RETURN ON EQUITY OVER THREE YEARS, HIGHEST GROWTH IN PROFIT AFTER TAX OVER THREE YEARS: TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS: Westports Holdings Bhd - Weathering supply chain headwinds on strong foundation

In the face of natural disasters occurring in all corners of the world, IOI Corp Bhd recognised that the concept of “do no further harm” is increasingly insufficient in addressing the loss of natural capital and the onset of climate tipping points.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BIG CAP COMPANIES — RM10 BILLION TO RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION — JOINT WINNER: IOI Corp Bhd - Taking it further than ‘do no further harm’

It is a constant balancing act for Telekom Malaysia Bhd, which supports nation building and advances the country’s digital transformation agenda as a government-linked corporation (GLC) while also needing to deliver good returns as a public-listed company (PLC).

HIGHEST GROWTH IN PROFIT AFTER TAX OVER THREE YEARS: TELECOMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA: Telekom Malaysia Bhd - Delivering profits while accelerating the Digital Malaysia aspiration

RHB Bank Bhd seems well on track to achieve its aim to mobilise RM20 billion in sustainable financial services by 2026, having already hit RM12 billion in sustainable financial services as at December 2022, exceeding its year-to-date target by more than 40%.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BIG CAP COMPANIES — RM10 BILLION TO RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION — JOINT WINNER: RHB Bank Bhd - Building a sustainable future with responsible financing

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The 10 Negeri Sembilan executive councilors have filed an originating summons (OS) at the Seremban High Court to challenge the revocation of their appointments, which took effect on Sept 20.

All deposed N9 excos file suit challenging their expulsion

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Composite Index extended its downward trend on Wednesday, falling to an 11-month low as persistent foreign selling and cautious sentiment amid elevated oil prices continued to weigh on the local market.

FBM KLCI slides to nearly a year low as foreign selling, high oil prices weigh on sentiment

SEPANG (Oct 7): Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, with the repatriation of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia among key issues to be discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Myanmar president arrives in Malaysia, repatriation among key issues

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB), Malaysia’s second-largest lender by assets, fell to its lowest in three months as banking stocks fell amid persistent concerns over rising bond yields.

Malaysian banking stocks fall as JP Morgan downgrades CIMB, AMMB

BENGALURU (Oct 7): HSBC is planning sweeping job cuts across its UK wealth management business, including a sharp reduction in financial advisers and specialist staff, as part of a broader push to integrate AI, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

HSBC plans job cuts across UK wealth business in AI push, FT reports

When Scottish patience meets F1 precision

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Malaysia’s Public Works Department has 33 projects classified as sick projects as at Sept 30, with most attributed to weaknesses in contractors’ management.

JKR has 33 projects classified as sick, mostly due to contractor weaknesses — deputy minister

Asian markets were slightly weaker on Wednesday as investor confidence showed signs of flagging, while oil prices rose due to a storm threat in the Gulf of Mexico and escalating Saudi-Houthi tensions.

Asia shares weaker, oil up as investors weigh Saudi-Houthi escalation

MALAYSIA’s food-security debate is too often reduced to one question: how much food can the country produce? Production matters, but food security also depends on affordability, farmer livelihoods, resilient supply chains, and the health of the land, water and biodiversity that sustain future harvests.

Opinion: Beyond self-sufficiency: Building a food-secure Malaysia

The 16th Melaka election will be held on Nov 14, the Election Commission (EC) announced after a special meeting on Wednesday.

Melaka polls on Nov 14

From design to the finished device, a chip goes through four main stages. Global giants dominate each stage, but Bursa Malaysia–listed companies are strongest in assembly and test, and in the equipment, machined parts and automation segments that the entire chain depends on.

Where Malaysian players sit in the semiconductor value chain

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to tackle rising living costs in potentially his government’s last budget before he calls national elections.

Anwar set to boost budget spending as election speculation grows

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Glove stocks were among Wednesday's most actively traded counters, led by Top Glove Corp Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV), though analysts cautioned the world's largest glove maker's strong finish to its financial year ended Aug 31, 2026 (FY2026) may not signal a sustained recovery.

Top Glove leads glove stocks higher on strong results, but analysts doubt recovery holds

The former Negeri Sembilan Undangs' court case linked to the ongoing power tussle in the state will now be battled out solely in the Seremban High Court.

Undangs withdraw case in KL, legal bid in Seremban remains

Worsening air pollution driven by wildfires in Indonesia prompted Malaysia to temporarily shut schools in one of its most populated states, just as a major Formula One race in neighbouring Singapore approaches.

Wildfire haze shuts Malaysia schools and looms over Singapore F1

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Apex Securities expects volatility to remain elevated in the fourth quarter for equities, citing higher oil prices, persistent geopolitical risks in the Middle East and interest rates staying higher for longer.

Volatility to stay elevated into 4Q for equities; Budget 2027 seen as stock-picking play — Apex Securities

Billionaire Ray Dalio warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is a “classic bubble” that is nearing a bursting point thanks to rising interest rates and the need to turn wealth into cash.

Ray Dalio says we’re nearing point where AI bubble may burst

HI Mobility Bhd (KL:HI) is now attractive, said CGS International&nbsp;as it undervalues&nbsp;the bus operator’s growth story following the stock’s recent decline.

HI Mobility now undervalued after recent decline, says CGS International as it starts coverage with 'buy'

PERTH (Oct 7): Oil prices rose on Wednesday as the market weighed supply constraints from a storm heading for US oil-producing regions and attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia against increased supplies of Middle East crude.

Oil prices rise as storms and air strikes threaten supply

The appeal records in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) criminal case are still not ready.

1MDB-Tanore: Appeal records not ready

FTSE Russell has reaffirmed the emerging-market status of Indonesian equities amid measures taken by local authorities to improve transparency.&nbsp;

FTSE affirms Indonesia’s emerging status on ongoing reforms

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Tax collection in Malaysia rose to RM129.6 billion in the first half of 2026 from RM119.1 billion a year earlier, supported by higher corporate income tax and sales and service tax (SST) receipts, the Dewan Rakyat heard on Wednesday.

Higher corporate tax, SST receipts lift first-half collection to RM129.6 bil, Dewan Rakyat told

When you are in your 60s, a visit to the physio is almost a must. The neck and shoulders stiffen, and so do the glutes. To relieve the nagging pain and loosen the tight muscles, I go to Your Physio in SS15, Subang Jaya.

My regular physio is Akil, and I like him because he explains what ...

My Say: The worth of a degree

The 16th Melaka election will be held on Nov 14, the Election Commission (EC) announced after a special meeting on Wednesday.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB), Malaysia’s second-largest lender by assets, fell to its lowest in three months as banking stocks fell amid persistent concerns over rising bond yields.

Wall Street traders drove stocks to all-time highs on growing bets that Corporate America will be able to weather the threats from still-elevated energy costs and interest rates.

S&P 500 climbs to record high on earnings optimism

TUN Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali, one of Malaya’s earliest Malay women doctors and a pioneering public health physician who would spend decades at the centre of Malaysian public life, died on Sept 28 at the age of 100.

Malaysians knew her as Siti Hasmah, though she said in a 2024 podcast intervie...

TRIBUTE | Tun Dr Hasmah — a trailblazer in women’s healthcare and community welfare

(Oct 7):&nbsp;Retail investors are estimated to have lost 2.3 trillion won (US$1.7 billion) from leveraged exchange-traded products tracking South Korea’s two chipmaking giants in just months, according to a lawmaker’s office, in the first revelation of the magnitude of risks from such bets.

Korean investors suffer US$1.7 bil losses from leveraged ETFs

(Oct 6):&nbsp;JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co&nbsp;held its spot as the world’s most advanced bank in artificial intelligence, widening its lead over rivals in an annual ranking that shows AI deployment across the industry is accelerating at a record pace.&nbsp;

The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2023

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The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2023

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