<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 3, 2025 - March 9, 2025</span></p></div><div><img alt="" class="gallery-items" data-high-res-src="https://myassets.theedgemalaysia.com/pics/2025/TEM1564-infographic-2-theedgemalaysia_20250304154859.jpg" src="" /></div>

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The prevalence of illicit cigarettes in Malaysia fell for a fourth consecutive year to 55% in 2024, from 55.6% in 2023. JT International Bhd (JTI Malaysia) managing director Juliana Mohd Yahaya attributed the decline to law enforcement efforts in curbing illegal tobacco smuggling and a ban on the trans-shipment of tobacco products.

Malaysia’s illicit cigarette trade down for fourth straight year

US spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded chunky inflows at the end of last week, fully reversing earlier outflows and helping to drive the original cryptocurrency back above US$81,000 (RM330,285.60) for the first time in a fortnight.

Bitcoin ETFs swing positive as token holds jump above US$81,000

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted one stock with positive momentum and six stocks with negative momentum during Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close on Monday (Sept 21).

Stocks with momentum on Sept 21, 2026: Sersol, N2N Connect, Samaiden, UUE Holdings, Northern Solar, Verdant Solar, PBA

The Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve are asking global banks about their exposures to large trading firms after turmoil at hedge fund Situational Awareness caused large losses at Jane Street, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

US Fed, BOE step up scrutiny of bank exposure to trading firms after Jane Street loss — report

Singapore's retrenchment rate in the second quarter of 2026 hit its highest level since the height of the Covid pandemic in late 2020, driven by business reorganisation and restructuring, the manpower ministry said on Monday.

Singapore's retrenchment rate at highest level since 2020 in 2Q this year, ministry says

Tens of thousands of workers across Germany plan to stage protests on Monday, seeking protection for jobs and factories after Volkswagen AG delivered another stark demonstration of the depths of the country’s auto-industry downturn.

VW warning deepens German automakers’ gloom as workers protest

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Ismail Lasim said on Monday he was not consulted or advised on the termination of the state’s ten executive council (exco) members.

Negeri Sembilan MB says exco removal unconstitutional, will not submit new lineup

The average monthly salary and wage of Malaysians increased by 4.1% to RM3,803 in 2025, compared with RM3,652 the previous year, according to the Salaries and Wages Survey Report 2025 published by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on Monday.

Malaysians’ average monthly salary up 4% to RM3,803 in 2025 — DOSM

KOTA BHARU (Sept 21): A former TH Properties deputy general manager of construction projects pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to abetting a criminal breach of trust involving RM14,000 in penalty funds collected from a contractor for a commercial building project owned by Tabung Haji (TH).

Ex-TH Properties deputy GM charged again with abetting in CBT

Malaysia has had a genuinely eventful year so far — and there’s something to be said for boredom being underrated.

Frankly Speaking: Malaysia could do with some dull moments

HONG KONG/BENGALURU (Sept 21): New World Development said on Monday the Shanghai Stock Exchange had approved the spinoff and listing of its REIT for an expected offering size of 3.82 billion yuan (US$570.36 million), the first by a Hong Kong developer.

New World Development gets Shanghai bourse nod for US$570 mil REIT listing

<p>Last Friday (Sept 18), Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) made an unusual and shocking announcement. The company was unable to proceed to pay to shareholders a cash dividend which was due on that day.</p>


The Edge Says: Bursa must get Zetrix to disclose name of substantial shareholder who blocked cash dividend payment

<p>Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) was a darling of the stock market when it was still called MyEG Services Bhd. It was the pioneer in online government services transactions such as road tax and foreign maid renewals. At its peak, it had a market capitalisation of over RM6 billion. But once it lost its m...

Frankly Speaking: Zetrix AI must explain the RM3.7 bil development cost

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook will deal with matters related to his resignation after completing his official trip to China.</p>


Loke to deal with resignation after China trip

<p>Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) extended its decline as investors and analysts weigh the impact of additional subsidy on the national electric utility’s earnings.</p>


Tenaga extends slide as analysts, investors digest impact of subsidy burden

<p>For years, the people building the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence systems have warned us that AI could eventually become dangerous. Yet, they continued to race ahead, building companies now worth hundreds of billions — and, in some cases, associated with technology groups worth trillions — of US dollars each.</p>


Tong's Portfolio - First, win the AI race. Then, stop the race?

<p>Two Fridays ago, MyEG Capital Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Zetrix AI Bhd, disposed of its 16.9% stake in Heitech Padu Bhd (KL:HTPADU).</p>


Frankly Speaking: Hazy shareholding structure at Heitech Padu

<p>AirAsia Group Bhd’s (KL:AAGB) pursuit of US$1 billion (RM4.08 billion) in financing from international debt markets has inevitably raised questions about whether its balance sheet can support borrowings of that magnitude and whether the government may ultimately have to step in.</p>


Frankly Speaking: Isn’t AirAsia too big to fail?

<p>WE are a country of laws. Yet several events of the past few days have wrought chaos upon the sanctity of the rule of law and the institutions established under the Federal Constitution.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
On Sept 16, 2026, Malaysians were shocked by the news that His Royal Highness the Yang di...

Opinion: An assault on the constitutional sovereignty of the Negeri Sembilan monarchy and the rule of law

<p>Share markets edged higher in Asia on Monday as AI's insatiable demand for data buoyed chipmakers, and oil eased on reports more oil was finding its way out of the Middle East than previously thought despite the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.</p>


Tech leads shares higher in Asia as oil slips

<p>SINGAPORE (Sept 21): Oil prices slid on Monday as investors eyed a recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia despite ongoing attacks by Yemeni Houthis that have escalated tension in the Middle East, while the US and Iran remain in a stalemate.</p>


Oil slips as investors assess Saudi export recovery

<p>Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.</p>


YOUR DAY AHEAD: Sept 21, 2026 

<p>Citigroup Inc chief executive officer Jane Fraser said that companies are racing to build up their defences as artificial-intelligence models become even more powerful and risk spurring cyber attacks.</p>


Citi CEO sees ‘tsunami’ of patches in race to defend against AI

<p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is causing a shift in many industries, especially in the property sector, where the technology, alongside recurring digital services, can affect the way investors value properties.</p>


The future relationship between AI and property

<p>Qatar expects inaugural output from its massive liquefied natural gas expansion next year as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz slow projects across the country’s economy, Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said.</p>


Qatar’s energy chief sees LNG expansion startup in 2027

<p>The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, voting projections showed, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949.</p>


AfD leads as Merz rues 'disaster' in worst state election result in postwar Germany

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Unisem (M) Bhd (KL:UNISEM) is approaching an earnings inflection point that could see its profit after tax growth outpace revenue growth, according to CIMB Securities.</p>


Unisem nears point where profit growth outpaces revenue, says CIMB Securities

<p>US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lauded “very successful” talks with his Chinese counterparts that spanned artificial intelligence, trade and investment ahead of this week’s summit between leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.</p>


Bessent hails ‘very successful’ China talks on AI, trade

<p>Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Ismail Lasim said on Monday he was not consulted or advised on the termination of the state’s ten executive council (exco) members.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): Gamuda Bhd’s (KL:GAMUDA)&nbsp;joint venture with BMD Constructions Pty Ltd has secured a A$624 million (approximately RM1.8 billion) design-and-construct contract for two road upgrades in Western Sydney, Australia.</p>


Gamuda-BMD JV secures RM1.8 bil Western Sydney road upgrade contract

<p>SEREMBAN (Sept 21): Gemencheh and Serting state assemblymen Suhaimizan Bizar and Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa have confirmed receiving a notification letter revoking&nbsp;their appointments as&nbsp;members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (exco).</p>
