<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 18, 2026 - May 24, 2026</span></p></div><div><img alt="" class="ceonothumb gallery-items" data-high-res-src="https://myassets.theedgemalaysia.com/pics/2026/infogphic-tem1627.png" src="" /></div>

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Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade — a gauge of consumer spending and domestic demand — recorded its best quarterly performance in at least six years in 1Q2026, even as the conflict in the Middle East that erupted on Feb 28 escalated later in the quarter.

Consumer spending holds firm in 1Q amid Middle East conflict

Police will submit the investigation papers on Selangor delegate Datuk Noorazli Said’s speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly on Sunday to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) on Friday.

Police to submit investigation papers on Umno delegate’s speech to AGC on Friday

Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir expressed his appreciation for the support shown by over 200 members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who gathered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 here on Thursday night to welcome his arrival.

Tuanku Muhriz expresses gratitude to supporters upon return at KLIA

China is establishing a vast airspace security zone roughly the size of Italy around Beijing, barring all but commercial, approved business and emergency flights, months after a small aircraft crashed into the capital's tallest building.

A permanent 600-kilometre-wide circle of "Special Restricted Area" centred around Beijing will take effect from September 20, an aviation notice attributed to Beijing airspace control authorities and available through the US Federal Aviation Administration's public NOTAM search system reviewed by Reuters showed.

China creates Italy-sized no-fly zone around Beijing after rare crash

Investors are gaining more confidence in the Federal Reserve's inflation-fighting backbone, but uncertainty about how far it will raise interest rates to keep prices in check is likely to cause volatility for stocks and bonds in the weeks ahead.

The US central bank on Wednesday raised rates for the first time since 2023, a widely expected move as it seeks to address persistently above-target inflation, despite repeated public calls by President Donald Trump for rate cuts. Bond yields pulled back on Thursday, after a long run-up which had partly reflected worries over whether the central bank would take action.

Fed builds credibility, but hawkish turn leaves investors edgy

The Negeri Sembilan state administration said it will not gazette or take any action to implement a proclamation seeking to remove Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir from office, after accepting advice from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).

Negeri Sembilan state secretary’s office will not act on proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz

Britain's King Charles warned AI leaders on Thursday of the "existential dangers" posed by the technology falling into the wrong hands, saying safeguards were needed before it was too late.

Charles was hosting the co-founders of chipmaker Nvidia and the Google DeepMind AI research laboratory, along with leaders from the AI providers OpenAI and Anthropic, in Scotland as concern grows that safety efforts are lagging behind the development of increasingly powerful systems.

King Charles warns AI leaders of 'existential dangers'

The runway at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) reopened at 11.30pm Thursday night after final safety checks, Malaysia Airports said.

Kota Kinabalu airport runway reopens

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday.

Binastra, Reservoir Link, Batu Kawan, MKH Oil Palm, Cuscapi, Glomac, Bintulu Port, Enproserve

Options markets are anticipating few fireworks in 10-year Treasury trading even as the benchmark yield has risen steadily this year to 5%, underscoring the role of strong US economic growth in driving rates higher and tamping down volatility.

US rate options signal market can absorb higher Treasury yields

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call that the two countries "should prepare well for the next stage of high-level interactions in the spirit of equality, respect and reciprocity," Wang's ministry said.

China, US top diplomats discuss 'high-level interactions' in call, Beijing says

<p>AirAsia Group Bhd (KL:AAGB) fell on Thursday to the lowest in nearly four years amid mounting concerns over the low-cost airline’s financial health.</p>


AirAsia falls to near four-year low amid concerns over financial health

<p>Pestec International Bhd (KL:PESTEC) said the Kuala Lumpur High Court has extended an injunction preventing its China-based supplier Shandong Power Equipment Co Ltd (SPECO) from enforcing an undated corporate guarantee against the group.</p>


Pestec wins High Court order preventing Chinese supplier from enforcing corporate guarantee

<p>The judge presiding over the SRC International Sdn Bhd and 1Malaysia Development Bhd suits against Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the suit filed by Muhammed Yusoff Rawther against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be&nbsp;transferred to Ipoh.</p>


Judge hearing Yusoff Rawther suit against PMX, and SRC, 1MDB suits to be transferred to Ipoh

<p>Blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, or better known as Papagomo, has failed to obtain a stay of a High Court judgement in May that had ordered him to pay RM280,000 in damages for defaming former finance minister Lim Guan Eng and his son Clint Lim Way Chau six years ago.</p>


Papagomo fails to obtain stay of damages payment to Guan Eng, son

<p>The level of subsidised electricity for households has been increased to 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month from 600kWh until Dec 31, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.</p>


Government ups subsidised household electricity threshold to 800kWh

<p>Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) founder Wong Thean Soon has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Cuscapi Bhd (KL:CUSCAPI), after disposing of about 103.6 million shares in the company.</p>

<p>The shares disposed of via direct business transactions on Sept 11, comprise 99.1 million shares held directly and 4.5 million shares held indirectly through his private vehicle Asia Internet Holdings Sdn Bhd, according to a bourse filing. The shares represented nearly an 11% stake in Cuscapi.</p>


TS Wong ceases to be substantial shareholder in Cuscapi after offloading 103.6 mil shares

<p>Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has confirmed that the state executive council recognises the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, <em>Bernama</em> reported.</p>


Negeri Sembilan MB confirms state govt recognises removal of Tuanku Muhriz

<p>Binastra Corp Bhd saw its net profit surge nearly 80% in the second quarter ended July 31, 2026 (2QFY2027), driven by stronger construction activity, contributions from newly acquired thermal energy firm LF Lansen Sdn Bhd and its expansion into solar installation.</p>


Binastra Corp net profit surges nearly 80% in 2Q, declares four sen dividend

<p>Vertex Material, a Malaysian advanced materials company, has set its sights on a Nasdaq listing next year.</p>


Malaysian firm Vertex Material aims for Nasdaq listing in 2027 after claiming unicorn status

<p>Malaysia has delayed the mandatory reasonable&nbsp;assurance requirements&nbsp;of&nbsp;applicable entities&nbsp;on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a year.&nbsp;</p>


Malaysia delays reasonable assurance requirements on greenhouse gas emissions by a year

<p>Canada and Europe should ally to protect their markets, democracies and rule of law in a world dominated by the United States and China, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday, after an EU proposal to make Canada an "associate member".</p>


Canada and EU should ally to protect democracies, Carney says, after 'associate member' proposal angers Trump

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 17): The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) is of the view that the Negeri Sembilan executive council (exco) and menteri besar have no unilateral authority to terminate or declare the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar vacant, and deems the April 19 proclamation to depose Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as unconstitutional.</p>


AGC says Negeri Sembilan exco has no power to vacate throne, move to depose Tuanku Muhriz unconstitutional

<p>The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) Negeri Sembilan insists Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar and chairman of the customary council.</p>


Tuanku Muhriz remains Negeri Sembilan ruler, says council

<p>NexG Bhd (KL:NEXG) said the newly launched MyKad is the world’s first to combine biometric QR identity verification with an optional digital eWallet.</p>


NexG says new MyKad world’s first to combine biometric QR verification and eWallet

<p>ANALYSTS rate the corporate earnings performance for 2Q as “satisfactory” given the backdrop of a prolonged Middle East conflict. The relative resilience of corporate earnings was attributed to Malaysia’s position as a net gas exporter, robust commodity prices and the ongoing up cycle in the tech...

Cover Story 2: Solid 2Q corporate earnings bolster market outlook

<p>LARGE technology stocks are now being valued at target price-earnings (PE) multiples of between 30 and 55 times after delivering strong second-quarter results. But analysts warn that while a meaningful earnings recovery is expected across the sector, growth may still fall short of the elevated ex...

Cover Story 2: Tech stocks face high bar as AI boom lifts expectations

<p>S P Setia Bhd (KL:SPSETIA) marked the groundbreaking of Atlas Melbourne, a 73-storey residential development at 383 La Trobe Street in Melbourne’s central business district, on Thursday.</p>


S P Setia marks groundbreaking of A$940 mil Melbourne CBD project; appoints Multiplex as builder 

<p>Reservoir Link Energy Bhd (KL:RL) said it has signed a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Syarikat SESCO Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of state-owned Sarawak Energy Bhd, for a 200MWac solar photovoltaic project in the state with an estimated development cost of RM570 million.</p>


Reservoir Link inks PPA with Sarawak state-owned firm for RM570 mil solar project

<p>A new karting circuit is coming to Desaru Coast in Johor with a Singaporean company appointed to build and operate the RM10 million attraction.</p>


New RM10 mil karting circuit is coming to Desaru Coast

<p>Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (KL:BIPORT) has secured a 30-year mandate to continue operating the eponymous port following handover to Sarawak state administration from the federal government.</p>
