The third meeting of the third session of the 15th Parliamen adjourned on Thursday after sitting for 12 days since Dec 2, with 26 bills passed.

Dewan Negara adjourns after passing 26 bills in 12 days

The Senate’s Special Select Committee on Social and Community Affairs (JKPK HESM) has urged the government to expedite the formulation of the Anti-Ali Baba Act to tackle the growing issue of foreigners' dominance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Putrajaya urged to hasten creation of ‘Anti-Ali Baba’ law 

A total of 288,000 members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) have registered to contribute more than the statutory rate of 11% for employee contributions as of October 2024.

288,000 EPF members register to contribute above the statutory 11% employee rate — Lim

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has found that instances of using cryptocurrency as a medium for money laundering in Malaysia are low.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said that this conclusion was based on the latest Virtual Assets Risk Assessment conducted by the National Coordination Committee to Counter Money Laundering (NCC) based on observations from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

MOF: Few cases of using cryptocurrency in money laundering

The government has acquired 10 new train sets for the Electric Train Service (ETS), which is expected to be operational from the first quarter of next year, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.

Ten new ETS trains to be operational by 1Q2025, 50 more on the way, Senate told

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): The SouthEast Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X), the 160Tbps (trillion bits per second) undersea fiber-optic cable network designed to enhance connectivity and data transmission in the Asia-Pacific region, is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025 (3Q2025).

SEA-H2X undersea cable network in Sarawak set for completion by 3Q2025 — Teo

The Health Ministry (MOH) will introduce a rotation system to improve the placement of medical officers, particularly in rural and urban areas, to address the shortage of workers in the sector.

MOH to introduce rotation system to address workforce shortage

The Dewan Negara on Tuesday passed three bills under the Prime Minister's Department, namely the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Trustees (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the Trustees (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill 2024.

Dewan Negara passes five bills

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 17): The government is scrutinising the need for a plastic-related act that is more comprehensive through a feasibility study under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the study needed t...

Environment ministry scrutinising need for comprehensive plastic policy through study under 13MP

Proposals related to the definition and classification of the T15 income group are being refined and will be decided by the Cabinet soon, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said on Tuesday.

Rafizi: Definition, classification of T15 will be decided soon

The ringgit has strengthened by 2.8% against the US dollar as of Nov 22, 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Ringgit strengthened 2.8% against US dollar as of Nov 2024 — MOF

The implementation of the 15% global minimum tax (GMT) starting next year is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s financial position, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

MOF sees global minimum tax boosting Malaysia’s financial position 

he Malaysia Digital Investment Strategy (MDIS) (formerly Digital Investments Future5 Strategy or DIF5) has attracted investments totalling RM224.72 billion since its launch in 2021 until the third quarter of this year.

Malaysia’s digital investment strategy attracted RM224.7b in investments since 2021, created nearly 96,000 jobs — Gobind

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 13): After a 35-day sitting of the third meeting of the third session, the 15th Parliament adjourned sine die on Thursday (Dec 12), with 26 bills including the Supply (Budget) Bill 2025 passed.

Review: Third session of 15th Parliament adjourns sine die after passing 25 bills, including Budget 2025

(Dec 24): Traders continue to see a slower pace of interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve next year and the potential worsening of country’s fiscal backdrop under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

The rise in longer-term Treasury yields outstripped that of shorter ...

Treasury yields edge higher with long-term debt out of favor

The Covid-19 and influenza situation in Malaysia remains under control, with no increase in cases requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and no fatalities reported.

Covid-19, influenza cases under control in Malaysia, says MOH

Coastal Contracts Bhd’s (KL:COASTAL) maiden foray into the renewable energy (RE) sector is timely while providing long-term income visibility for the oil-and-gas services firm, said RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB).

Coastal Contracts' foray into renewable energy timely, helps cut reliance on Pemex — RHB IB

(Dec 24): Mainland Chinese investors snapped up a record amount of Hong Kong stocks as they ramped up exposure to risk assets in the city amid a revival of animal spirits and a weakening yuan.

Traders in Shanghai and Shenzhen bought HK$778 billion ($100 billion) of stocks in the fi...

Chinese investors buy record amount of Hong Kong stocks via Link

Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) wholly owned unit trust management company, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), has declared a total income distribution of 5.75 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024).

PNB declares 5.75 sen per unit income distribution, RM10.1b payout for ASB

(Dec 24): Donald Trump hinted he still wants to buy Greenland, a self-ruling territory of Denmark, saying that US ownership and control of the island is an “absolute necessity” for national security.

The US President-elect reopened a debate from 2019, when he offered to buy what is the ...

Trump reiterates he wants to buy Greenland for US security

British confectionery giant Cadbury has lost its status as supplier to the British Royal Family after 170 years and six monarchs, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti, citing the Daily Mail.

Candy maker Cadbury loses royal supplier status after 170 years — reports

Japan rolled out more warnings against speculative yen movements as the currency continues to show weakness ahead of two potentially market-moving central bank events this week.

Japan rolls out more yen warnings as market liquidity thins

BYD Co has severed ties with a construction firm after Brazilian authorities halted construction of a new electric vehicle (EV) plant where workers were found working and living in “slavery”-like conditions.

Brazil halts BYD site after workers found in ‘slave’ conditions

Honda Motor Co’s shares climbed over 17%, the most since August, after the carmaker said it would repurchase up to ¥1.1 trillion (US$7 billion or RM28.58 billion) in shares by next December, ahead of a deal that amounts to an acquisition of ailing peer Nissan Motor Co.

Honda shares jump 17% as buyback eases concern over Nissan deal

Singapore forged ahead with efforts to formulate a digital-assets hub in 2024, while rival financial center Hong Kong has struggled to gain traction.

Singapore pulls ahead of Hong Kong in race to be crypto hub

Corporate services provider Amicorp Group has denied allegations it knowingly facilitated more than US$7 billion (RM31.43 billion) in fraudulent transactions related to the misappropriation of funds from scandal-hit Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Amicorp Group denies alleged fraud of over US$7b in 1MDB scandal

The High Court has dismissed Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's leave (permission) application to commence legal action against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government over RM730,300 in allocations for his constituency.

Court dismisses Syed Saddiq's bid to mount legal challenge on unpaid MP allocations

Stocks in Asia traded in tight ranges amid relatively thin holiday trading after a rally in some of the world’s largest technology companies boosted US benchmarks.

Asian stocks in narrow ranges after US tech boost

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) shares touched a record high, as the world’s largest contract chipmaker is poised to cap its best annual stock performance in 25 years.

TSMC shares touch record high, eyeing best year since 1999 on AI

Malaysia’s utilities stocks still have room to run as electricity demand surges from the proliferation of data centres and electric vehicles, Apex Securities said and told investors to "overweight" the sector.

Utilities stocks still have room to run as electricity demand surges, Apex joins coverage with 'overweight' call

China’s real estate woes look set to get worse before they get better, raising the prospect of a miserable year for property shares despite a recent bounce.

China’s property stock rebound faces a reality check in 2025

A rally in some of the world’s largest technology companies spurred a rebound in stocks, following a brief slide fueled by weaker-than-expected data on US consumer confidence.

In a thin trading session at the start of a holiday-shortened week, the S&amp;P 500 finished near session highs. Nvidia Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. and Tesla Inc. drove a gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps up almost 1.5%.

US stocks get boost from tech at start of Christmas week

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, and Sarawak on Christmas morning.

Rain, thunderstorms expected to hit four states on Christmas morning — MetMalaysia

Honda Motor Co’s shares climbed over 17%, the most since August, after the carmaker said it would repurchase up to ¥1.1 trillion (US$7 billion or RM28.58 billion) in shares by next December, ahead of a deal that amounts to an acquisition of ailing peer Nissan Motor Co.

Bitcoin is flagging in the last leg of a record-breaking year.

Bitcoin momentum ebbs heading into last stretch of record year

Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) wholly owned unit trust management company, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), has declared a total income distribution of 5.75 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024).

Agrochemicals giant Syngenta Group Co signed a US$4.5 billion (RM20.2 billion) sustainability-linked loan, according to a company statement on Monday, in Asia’s largest such dollar facility this year.

Syngenta signs US$4.5b ESG loan, Asia’s biggest this year — Bloomberg

BYD Co has severed ties with a construction firm after Brazilian authorities halted construction of a new electric vehicle (EV) plant where workers were found working and living in “slavery”-like conditions.

Social media app Telegram is profitable for the first time after paying down “a meaningful share” of some US$2 billion (RM8.97 billion) in debt, CEO Pavel Durov said in a post on X Monday (Dec 23).

Telegram profitable for first time after app pays down debts

British confectionery giant Cadbury has lost its status as supplier to the British Royal Family after 170 years and six monarchs, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti, citing the Daily Mail.

South Korea's consumer sentiment dropped sharply this month to hit the weakest level in more than two years on growing worries about political uncertainty following parliament's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea consumer sentiment weakest since 2022 on political uncertainty

Australia’s balance of risks is tilted to the downside, including a potential stall in disinflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, calling on the government to avoid excessive spending.

Australia’s risks tilt to downside, IMF says, urging restraint

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino rallied support from former presidents in defence of the country’s canal following threats from Donald Trump to reimpose US control over the waterway.

Panama president rallies support for canal after Trump threat

Saks Global completed its US$2.7 billion (RM12.11 billion) acquisition of Neiman Marcus, creating what the company says is a multibrand luxury giant that’s powered by the technology of its high-profile investors, Amazon.com Inc and Salesforce Inc.

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