<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>(Dec 17): GlobalWafers Co, a Taiwanese maker of silicon wafers used in chip manufacturing, finalised a deal to receive as much as US$406 million (RM1.81) in awards from the US Chips and Science Act to help build factories in Texas and Missouri.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The agreement, announced by the US Commerce Department, shores up a preliminary accord announced in July. The department will dole out the funds based on GlobalWafers reaching certain milestones, according to a statement Tuesday.&nbsp;</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>“The semiconductor wafers that will be produced here in the US because of this investment in GlobalWafers are the foundation of the advanced chips that will help us out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the statement. The investment will help “strengthen our supply chains, protect our national and economic security, and create an estimated over 2,000 jobs across Texas and Missouri.”</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The Chips Act, a landmark policy of the Biden-Harris administration, is meant to lure chip production back to the US after decades of it shifting to Asia. GlobalWafers plans to invest a total of nearly US$4 billion in US projects. Other Chips Act recipients include Intel Corp, Micron Technology Inc, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Samsung Electronics Co.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Uploaded by Arion Yeow</div>

GlobalWafers Co, a Taiwanese maker of silicon wafers used in chip manufacturing, finalised a deal to receive as much as US$406 million (RM1.81) in awards from the US Chips and Science Act to help build factories in Texas and Missouri.

GlobalWafers shores up US$406 mil in US Chips Act awards

CJ Century Logistics Holdings Bhd (KL:CJCEN) has appointed Kim HyunChul as its new deputy chief executive officer (CEO), succeeding Kim JinMok, who resigned after nearly two years of service with the company.

CJ Century Logistics names Kim HyunChul as new deputy CEO

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a new and potentially more robust attempt to arrest him for insurrection after a top investigator vowed to do whatever it takes to break a security blockade and take in the embattled leader.

South Korea's Yoon faces new arrest attempt in fortified compound

Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday due to the risks stemming from the tariff plans proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, with investors waiting for US economic data for guidance on the US Federal Reserve's interest rate stance in 2025.

Gold firms on risks posed by Trump's imminent policies

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

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.

Malaysia announces tax incentives for Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

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.

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

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.

Chief justice: My conscience is clear

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a new and potentially more robust attempt to arrest him for insurrection after a top investigator vowed to do whatever it takes to break a security blockade and take in the embattled leader.

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.

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

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.

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

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;

Chief justice: I never coveted top judicial post 

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).

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

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.

Newly-listed Swift Energy attracts analyst coverage projecting sharp earnings growth

Tencent Holdings Ltd repurchased the most shares in nearly two decades after a sell-off sparked by the tech firm’s addition to a US blacklist for alleged links to the Chinese military.

Tencent makes biggest buyback since 2006 after US blacklist

Construction firm Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) and soil erosion control company Fibromat (M) Bhd (KL:FBBHD) have received approval to transfer their listings to the ACE Market from the LEAP Market.