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.