<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>PUTRAJAYA (Oct 25): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the open apology made by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak concerning the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>"I welcome it," he said briefly after performing Friday prayers at Surau Ar-Rahman in Precinct 16 here on Friday.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>On Thursday, Najib publicly apologised to all Malaysians over the 1MDB scandal, which happened during his tenure as the prime minister and finance minister.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a statement read out by his eldest son, Datuk Mohamad Nizar, at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex, Najib insisted that he was innocent and blamed fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and PetroSaudi executives for the debacle.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide next Wednesday whether Najib must defend himself in the 1MDB corruption case, which began five years ago.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Read also:</em><br />
<em><a href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/731633" target="_blank">Fahmi denies new laws on house arrest are geared towards jailed ex-PM Najib</a></em><br />
<em><a href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/731443" target="_blank">Najib offers unreserved apology, regrets that 1MDB scandal happened under his watch</a></em></p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Felyx Teoh</em><br />
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the open apology made by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak concerning the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

1MDB scandal: Anwar welcomes Najib's public apology

Roche on Wednesday said it plans to complete its purchase of US biopharmaceutical company Poseida Therapeutics, a specialist in complex immune cell therapies to treat several types of blood cancer.

Roche to complete US$1.5b acquisition of US biopharma company Poseida

Swift Energy Technology Bhd (KL:SET) ended its first day of listing with a 41.07% gain; it was the first listing for 2025, after the industrial services firm’s initial public offering (IPO) grossed RM84.07 million.

The strong debut reinforces optimism for a boom in the market that last year saw the highest number of IPOs in nearly two decades. This year, Bursa Malaysia is aiming to host 50 IPOs.

Swift Energy gains 41% at close of ACE Market debut in 2025's first listing

Swift Energy Technology Bhd (KL:SET), which made its debut on the ACE Market on Wednesday, is expecting mid-teen earnings growth in the current financial year, leveraging new opportunities in the renewable energy (RE) industry within the oil and gas (O&G) sector.

Newly-listed Swift Energy sees mid-teen earnings growth for FY2025

Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with stakeholders, including government agencies and international partners, to ensure the success of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Iskandar Investment reaffirms commitment to collaborate with stakeholders for Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone 

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Wednesday.

FBM KLCI falls 0.92% to 1,614.83 on Jan 8, 2025

Despite a quality education and extensive experience in politics and governance, Datuk Seri Najib Razak disagreed that it would be impossible for him to be misled on national level affairs.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib says despite education and intelligence, still possible to be misled 

Micron Technology Inc is investing US$7 billion (RM31.5 billion) over the next several years to expand its manufacturing footprint in Singapore, as artificial intelligence boosts demand for advanced memory chips.

Micron to spend US$7b building Singapore memory chip plant

Japanese economy minister Ryosei Akazawa said on Wednesday he believed a potential foreign acquisition of retail giant Seven & i was a matter "heavily related" to national security.

Japan's Seven & i deal related to national security, economy minister says

Malaysia is studying whether LinkedIn Corp will require a social media licence to continue operating in Malaysia as the government seeks to broaden internet controls.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he has asked the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to review whether LinkedIn has more than the licensing threshold of eight million users in Malaysia and if they are considered a social media platform.

Malaysia mulls whether LinkedIn needs social media licence to operate

Samsung Electronics' preliminary fourth-quarter operating profit missed estimates by a large margin, with the South Korean tech giant hit hard by extra costs as it works towards providing high-end chips to Nvidia.

Samsung's preliminary 4Q profit falls far short of estimates as chip issues drag

<p>Investors in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) are eligible for a suite of incentives, including a special corporate tax rate that takes effect on Jan 1, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.</p>


Malaysia announces tax incentives for Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

<p>Immediate-past attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh and his successor, Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, are choosing to stay silent over the controversial purported ‘house arrest addendum’ related to imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.</p>


Present and former AGs keeping mum on purported house arrest addendum for Najib

<p>In what is possibly her final speech at the Opening of the Legal Year, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said that her time as the top judicial officer of the country has been filled with tests — being criticised, vilified, labelled as un-Islamic or an enemy of Islam, and even having her husband (unfairly so) being used against her in some applications to not only have her recused&nbsp;but, more generally, to embarrass her and the bench.</p>


Chief justice: My conscience is clear

<p>The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said on Wednesday that it will roll out six water supply related projects worth over RM1.8 billion, as part of its efforts to address rising water consumption.</p>


Penang to kick off six water projects worth over RM1.8 bil

<p>Local technology stocks are expected to see a double-digit compounded earnings growth till 2026, amid increased investments in artificial intelligence (AI), said CIMB Securities.</p>

<p>The technology sector's revenue is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 13% from 2025 to 2026, compared with 1% in 2024, driven by a rebound in semiconductor industry demand, supply chain diversification to Asean, and inventory replenishment, the research house said.</p>


Local tech stocks poised for double-digit earnings growth as semiconductor market recovers — CIMB Securities

<p>Swift Energy Technology Bhd (KL:SET) ended its first day of listing with a 41.07% gain; it was the first listing for 2025, after the industrial services firm’s initial public offering (IPO) grossed RM84.07 million.</p>

<p>The strong debut reinforces optimism for a boom in the market that last year saw the highest number of IPOs in nearly two decades. This year, Bursa Malaysia is aiming to host 50 IPOs.</p>


<p>Construction and property firms would be the first beneficiaries of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) that will require everything from utilities to warehouses, and from houses to offices.</p>


Builders, developers first beneficiaries of Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, analysts say

<p>US President-elect Donald Trump refused on Tuesday to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland, part of a broader expansionist agenda he has promoted since winning the Nov 5 election.</p>


Trump will not rule out force to take Panama Canal, Greenland

<p>MRT Corp has proposed part of the Sungai Nibong Festival Site here for use to build a depot for the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.</p>


MRT Corp proposes LRT depot at Sungai Nibong Festival Site — Chow

<p>The new Monthly Tax Deduction (PCB) service system, e-PCB Plus, will be introduced to replace the existing systems e-PCB, e-Data PCB and eCP39, under one platform through the MyTax portal.</p>

<p>The Inland Revenue Board (IRB), in a statement on Wednesday, said that this is in line with the implementation of the transition plan towards the e-PCB Plus Phase 1 system on Sept 24 last year.</p>


IRB introducing new monthly tax deduction system called e-PCB Plus

<p><strong>Following is the full text of the speech given by the Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on the occasion of the Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) 2025 on Wednesday (Jan 8) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.</strong></p>

<p>I would like to begin by thanki...

Speech by Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the Opening of Legal Year 2025

<p>Global stocks slid, with European shares set for a weak open on Wednesday as worries over US inflation resurfaced and bond yields spiked, boosting the dollar and keeping the yen, yuan and euro near multi-month lows.</p>


Stocks slip, dollar boosted by US rate outlook

<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:start; -webkit-text-stroke-width:0px; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">Competitive pressures within the data centre sector may pose a threat to smaller players with limited resources from gaining a foothold, especially in more saturated key markets such as Johor, said BMI.</p>


Smaller data centre players to face competitive pressures, especially in Johor — BMI

<p>Exxon Mobil Corp said earnings took a hit from lower crude prices and narrowing refining margins during the final three months of 2024.&nbsp;</p>


Exxon predicts US$700 mil hit to profit from lower oil prices

<p>South Korea’s impeached leader is barricaded in his Seoul residence, protected by a blockade of buses, barbed wire, crowds of supporters and his own armed security guards. The question now is whether investigators can arrest him without a violent confrontation.</p>


South Korean standoff over Yoon’s arrest risks violent turn

<p>Welded pipe manufacturer Pantech Global Bhd entered into an underwriting agreement with Alliance Islamic Bank in conjunction with its initial public offering (IPO) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.</p>


Pantech Global inks underwriting agreement with Alliance Islamic Bank for Main Market IPO

<p>Malaysia and Singapore reaffirmed their commitment to revamp the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) to better support the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).</p>


Malaysia, Singapore reaffirm plan to revamp joint ministerial committee after special economic zone agreement

<p>Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat hopes the present and future governments will uphold the cause of judicial independence to ensure the country's economic growth.</p>


Chief justice hopes Anwar and future govt remain committed to upholding judicial independence

<p>Outgoing Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said that she had never coveted the country’s top judicial post, and while it was an intimidating position to hold, upon accepting it six years ago, she was fully committed to serving the position properly and would not “bend or bow” to any person.&nbsp;</p>


Chief justice: I never coveted top judicial post 

<p>Swift Energy Technology Bhd (KL:SET), listed on Wednesday, has already attracted the attention of two analysts projecting sharp earnings growth for the industrial services firm.</p>
