This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 14, 2026 - September 20, 2026

COME Sept 23, top performers on Bursa Malaysia will once again gather for The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of companies with market capitalisations exceeding RM1 billion.

Organised by The Edge Media Group, the awards continue to be supported by OCBC Bank Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and ARTELIA.

Despite multiple headwinds, including the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict earlier this year, local corporates have continued to perform robustly while adapting to these challenges.

The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat says: “We launched BRC in 2010 to recognise the best-performing companies with a market cap of RM1 billion and above. We believe that it remains the best measure of corporate performance using the key metrics of profit growth, shareholder returns and return on equity.”

OCBC Bank Malaysia Bhd CEO Tan Chor Sen believes periods of disruption often create the greatest opportunities for companies that are prepared to invest and adapt. “The first half of the year reinforced an important reality for businesses: uncertainty is no longer an occasional disruption, but an increasingly permanent feature of the operating environment. In this environment, the companies that will succeed are not necessarily those that wait for certainty to return, but those that continue building capabilities, investing for the future and staying focused on long-term value creation.”

Tan notes that the opportunity for Malaysian businesses remains significant, particularly when Asean remains one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions, with a population of more than 700 million and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding US$4 trillion (RM16.2 trillion).

“Its strength lies not only in its scale, but also in its regional integration, strategic location and forward-looking economic policies. For businesses, the next frontier is clear: building across borders, leveraging complementary strengths and creating regional scale that can drive resilience, competitiveness and long-term success,” he says.

Tan believes companies that build flexibility into their business models and diversify their sources of growth will be better placed to navigate an increasingly complex operating environment. “Increasingly, resilience extends beyond financial strength to include the ability to attract and retain talent, leverage technology effectively and build adaptable supply chains. The companies that consistently outperform are those that strengthen these capabilities before they are needed, rather than in response to a disruption. In a rapidly changing environment, competitiveness will depend not only on how well companies manage risks, but also on how quickly they can adapt, respond and seize new opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Martin Schulz, Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia CEO and president and Mercedes-Benz Cars Southeast Asia head of region, is calling for corporates to remain open to change and continue investing in the future.

“Technology is developing at an extraordinary pace, and businesses have an opportunity to use innovation to improve how they operate and, most importantly, how they serve their customers. This means looking beyond short-term considerations and understanding where technology can make a real difference,” he says, noting that the group continues to combine its engineering heritage with new capabilities in software, artificial intelligence (AI) and electrification.

As the official car for the BRC, Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia recognises the need to keep evolving with its customers and the market. Schulz stresses that corporate resilience is about understanding how customers’ needs are changing and being prepared to adapt.

“As technology, consumer behaviour and competitive dynamics are shifting quickly, businesses need to remain open to new ideas and continue improving their products, services and ways of working.

“For Malaysian businesses, I believe it is important to balance what has made a company successful with a willingness to embrace change. By maintaining a customer-centric approach and a commitment to continuous innovation, businesses can remain relevant and competitive over the years,” says Schulz, who took the helm at Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia in February this year.

Similarly, ARTELIA managing director Alex Toh emphasises the importance of resilience, sound leadership and the ability to create long-term value for firms to build sustainable success.

“The challenges of the past year have demonstrated how quickly global developments can affect businesses, even those operating far from the centre of a conflict. In such an environment, Malaysian corporates must remain adaptable while staying focused on their core values and long-term objectives,” he says.

“Uncertainty may present challenges, but it can also create opportunities for businesses that are prepared to innovate, respond decisively and strengthen their relationships with customers, employees and partners.”

Toh’s message for corporates is to continue building with purpose and confidence, while growth should be measured no only by financial results but also the positive and lasting impact a company creates for its stakeholders and the wider community.

“Malaysian corporates should continue strengthening their fundamentals, diversifying their markets and supply chains, investing in talent and building greater flexibility into their operations. At the same time, competitiveness should not be pursued through short-term cost considerations alone. Companies that continue to invest in innovation, customer relationships, brand trust and employee development will be better positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture new opportunities,” he says.

The trophy design and commemorative plate for The Edge BRC 2026 are by ARTELIA.

The BRC awards recognise companies for stellar performance in profit growth, return on equity (ROE) and total shareholder returns over a rolling three-year period. Companies are added to the list automatically on the cut-off date of March 31 annually.

A new Non-banks category was introduced under financial services this year, bringing the total to three: Banks (RM10 billion and above in market capitalisation), Banks (below RM10 billion) and Non-banks.

In addition to being ranked against their respective Bursa Malaysia-defined industry or sectoral peers, BRC members are also compared with companies of similar market capitalisation under the Super Big Cap (above RM40 billion) and Big Cap (RM10 billion to RM40 billion) categories.

The awards also recognise companies that have demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate responsibility.

The most coveted award, The Edge BRC Company of the Year, goes to the company that excels across profit growth, ROE, total shareholder returns and corporate responsibility initiatives.

Previous Company of the Year winners are United Plantations Bhd (2025), Gamuda Bhd (2024), Mega First Corp Bhd (2023), Frontken Corp Bhd (2022), ViTrox Corp Bhd (2021), Hartalega Holdings Bhd (2020), Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (2019), PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd (2018), AirAsia Bhd (2017), Nestlé (M) Bhd (2016), Tenaga Nasional Bhd (2015), Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd (2014), DiGi.Com Bhd (2013), Genting Bhd (2012), QL Resources Bhd (2011) and Supermax Corp Bhd (2010).

Results of the BRC awards are independently audited by Deloitte Malaysia.

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