Seventy-six percent of businesses agree that new digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) will be closely intertwined in creating a greener and sustainable future, stated a new report commissioned by Alibaba Cloud.

AI and tech to power a greener future — report

Social media and messaging platforms must have a responsibility in protecting the data and information of consumers in the current digital society.

Consumer data must be protected by online platforms

“Pilots, arm your drones!” The marshal’s call cuts through the electric hum of spinning propellers. Engines whirr, a countdown begins and pilots snap on their First-Person View (FPV) goggles. With a flick of the throttle, the drones shoot into the air.

From behind their headsets, the pi...

Cover Story: Taking flight

FPV (first-person view) drone racing is a high-speed battle of reflexes and cutting-edge tech. Pilots, equipped with FPV goggles, navigate intricate obstacle courses at blistering speeds, executing razor-sharp manoeuvres with split-second precision.

Only the most skilled racers dominate...

Listicle: Masters of the skies

US-headquartered cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 researchers warn that the technology used by DeepSeek, a China-based artificial intelligence (AI) research organisation, is alarmingly vulnerable to jailbreaking compared with those of its peers and can produce nefarious content with...

Guardrails: Little to no expertise needed to jailbreak LLMs, says Palo Alto Networks

Data has become the lifeblood of modern businesses, driving operations and decision-making. With ransomware threats on the rise, however, organisations cannot afford to be complacent about their cybersecurity measures.

Lim Hsin Yin, vice-president of sales for Cohesity Asean, says while...

Cybersecurity: Data recovery crucial in combating ransomware

The gig economy has become an integral part of Malaysia’s workforce, providing countless individuals with flexible earning opportunities. The ability to set one’s schedule, choose trips and earn on their own terms has drawn thousands of e-hailing drivers to the industry. This flexibility often co...

Gig Economy: Balancing flexibility and protection: A new era for Malaysia’s e-hailing drivers

On a quiet Saturday evening, what was supposed to be a nice hearty dinner for my wife and I ended up with me standing over a pot of chicken, sausages and inedible curry. How did I end up in this unfortunate mess?

It was all the fault of ChatGPT. Let me tell you the events that preceded ...

Geek Speak: Chicken sausage curry à la ChatGPT

Malaysians are bracing for another economically challenging year, with the Ipsos Predictions 2025 Report revealing that about four out of five Malaysians believe taxes and inflation will rise, which will significantly impact consumer spending and force brands to rethink their strategies.

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Futureproofing: Why contextual advertising is Malaysia’s answer to the 2025 budget crunch

Retail and consumer product organisations are at a pivotal point in their artificial intelligence (AI) journey.

An IBM study, The AI Readiness Barometer: Asean’s AI Landscape, reveals that only 8% of the retail industry surveyed in Malaysia is prepared to adopt and implement AI technolo...

Solutions: Retailers see increased demand for traditional and generative AI

Last month was a dramatic one for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Just when everyone was super bullish on the industry, especially American giants OpenAI and Nvidia Corp — the developers of ChatGPT and high-performance GPU (graphics processing unit) chips respectively — the chips came ...

The Pitch Deck: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

E-commerce has become a crucial platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and many are finding opportunities to grow through online marketplaces.

Shopee, one of the country’s most-visited e-commerce platforms, has placed a strong emphasis on supporting local businesses, s...

Interview: Bridging gaps for MSMEs in the e-commerce marketplace

NEWS

Phishing hits 893 million in 2024, a 26% spike

Kaspersky’s security solutions blocked over 893 million phishing attempts in 2024, a sharp 26% increase from nearly 710 million in 2023. The surge in attempts occurred between May ...

Bits + Bytes: A Miscellany Of Technology

The harvesting of oil palm is a test of endurance — long hours under the sun, sickles swinging, fruit bunches crashing to the ground. It is backbreaking labour, a line of work that few locals are eager to take on, and one that remains largely dependent on foreign workers.

Over the years...

Cover Story: Taking plantations into the 4.0 era

Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Bhd (KL:MALAKOF), has called on the public to bring their own reusable bags and food containers to Ramadan bazaars to reduce waste disposal.

Bring reusable bags, food containers to Ramadan bazaars, Alam Flora urges public

Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) and MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, a subsidiary of Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to boost Malaysia-Japan trade.

Affin Bank inks MOU with MUFG Bank to boost Malaysia-Japan trade

(March 19): The average US 30-year mortgage rate rose for the first time since early January, causing a pullback in refinancing and tempering purchase activity.

The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage climbed five basis points to 6.72% in the week ended March 14 from the lowest level th...

US mortgage rates increase for first time in nine weeks

The founding board of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) is expected to be established by the time the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2025 is observed in June, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Malaysian Media Council founding board likely to be formed by June, says Fahmi

A Canadian law enforcement agency is suspected to have used spyware designed to hack into mobile phones and eavesdrop on messages, according to cybersecurity researchers from the University of Toronto.

Paragon spyware tool linked to Canadian police

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he will speak by phone with Donald Trump on Wednesday, a day after the US president’s conversation with Vladimir Putin failed to win the Russian president’s commitment to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Zelenskiy says he will talk to Trump after Putin’s phone call

Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH), which is set to make its debut on the ACE Market this Friday, said its net profit for the first quarter ended Dec 31, 2025 (1QFY2025) rose 19% to RM18.5 million from RM15.5 million a year earlier, lifted by higher gross profit from construction works in Tangkak.

Lim Seong Hai Capital's 1Q net profit up 19%

Swatch Group AG is looking into a potential take-private of the Swiss watchmaker, but it will “take time,” according to chief executive officer Nick Hayek. 

“I have a big hope” the company will find someone to “help take us private”, Hayek said at a media event on Wednesday, in one of his strongest suggestions yet that the maker of Omega watches is considering delisting from the stock exchange. Shares of Swatch rose as much as 4.3% in Zurich.

Swatch CEO again floats idea of going private, sending shares up

Gagasan Nadi Cergas Bhd (GNCB) (KL:NADIBHD) said it has secured an en-bloc sale of 523 affordable housing units in the City of Elmina development in Shah Alam for RM134.41 million.

Gagasan Nadi secures RM134 mil en-bloc sale of affordable homes

Eco World International Bhd (KL:EWINT), which reported zero sales in the first quarter ended Jan 31, 2025 (1QFY2025), is putting all new property launches on hold, following the fourth consecutive quarter of losses for the company.

Eco World International reports zero sales for 1Q, all new launches on hold after fourth quarterly loss

The Court of Appeal (COA) on Wednesday upheld the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision that quashed the proposed fine of RM86.77 million imposed by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) on Grab Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries GrabCar Sdn Bhd and MyTeksi Sdn Bhd, in 2019.

Appellate court upholds quashing of proposed RM86.77 mil fine against Grab, two others

For three weeks straight, Marina Budiman became roughly US$350 million (RM1.55 billion) richer each day.

Richest woman in Indonesia loses US$3.6b in just three days

Affin Bank Bhd has signed an agreement with Halogen Capital to distribute the Halogen Shariah Defensive Bitcoin Fund, a digital asset fund with an integrated capital preservation strategy, to investors.

Halogen Capital is a digital asset fund manager licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia.

Affin Bank to distribute Bitcoin fund managed by Halogen Capital  

The Association of Private Healthcare Malaysia (APHM) has rejected the insurance and takaful operators’ (ITOs) proposal for private hospitals to freeze costs for three years and also for the Health Ministry to regulate the pricing of pharmaceuticals or medication. 
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Private hospitals association reject calls for three-year costs freeze, regulation of pharmaceutical pricing

Malaysian shares fell on Wednesday as investors returned from holiday with caution following overnight losses on Wall Street and sharp declines in neighbouring markets.

The country’s benchmark equity index FBM KLCI fell as much as 15.6 points or 1% to 1,512.21 after three consecutive sessions of gain.

Malaysian shares dip as investors return from holiday with caution

Since Intel Corp&nbsp;announced that Lip-Bu Tan would take over as its chief executive officer last week, the company’s shares have soared. Now, as Tan assumes his job, it is far from clear how he will fulfill the big hopes that have been placed on his shoulders.

Intel’s Malaysian-born CEO faces ‘show me’ moment after US$22b rally

KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): Heitech Padu Bhd’s (KL:HTPADU) CEO Hasrul Azuan Mohd Yusof is stepping down barely three months after taking the helm of the information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider.

Last year, Heitech Padu won the much-coveted RM892.2 million National...

HeiTech Padu's CEO resigns barely three months at the helm

Attorney General Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said that the 65-year-old senior citizen who had slapped a non-Muslim at a supermarket in Johor Bahru would be re-charged on Wednesday afternoon.

Senior citizen who slapped non-Muslim will be re-charged this afternoon, says AG

Perodua has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with My Digital ID Sdn Bhd (MyDigital ID) to secure user authentication access, as the compact car company further advance its journey in cashless transactions.

Perodua inks MOU with MyDigital ID to secure user authentication access

Corporate figure Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din has been appointed as the new chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) for the 2025-2028 session effective Feb 2.

Salim Fateh Din appointed MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman

New World Development Co, the Hong Kong real estate company controlled by the billionaire Cheng family, is in talks with luxury giant Louis Vuitton to open a mega store in one of the developer’s signature malls, according to people familiar with the matter.

Billionaire Cheng family in talks with Louis Vuitton on mega Hong Kong store, Bloomberg reports

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd’s (KL:KLK) stock may have more upside ahead, with the palm oil producer on track for a 40% surge in net profit this financial year, said RHB Investment Bank.

KLK to see jump in earnings with higher output, lower costs — RHB

The High Court had not considered all the evidence when meting out a guilty verdict against Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in his criminal trial for his involvement in misappropriating Bersatu young wing Armada funds, claims Syed Saddiq’s defence team at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

Trial judge did not consider all evidence in Syed Saddiq case — defence lawyer

An Indonesian state-owned lender scrapped a planned sale of dollar bonds after a stock market rout in the country quickly spread to other asset classes.

Indonesia's woes spread as bank scraps bond, credit market slumps

Solar energy solution provider Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST) has signed a large-scale solar photovoltaic power purchase agreement (PPA) with&nbsp;Tenaga Nasional Bhd or TNB (KL:TENAGA).

Solarvest signs large-scale solar power purchase agreement with TNB

Indonesia's financial services regulator has allowed listed companies to buy back their stocks without shareholders' approval, while the central bank conducted "bold" currency intervention to calm markets, officials said on Wednesday.

Indonesia takes currency, market measures after rupiah and shares fall

Bain Capital-owned data centre operator Bridge Data Centres has obtained a US$2.8 billion (RM12.43 billion) loan for its operations in Malaysia, according to people familiar with the matter, marking its largest bank financing deal ever.

Bain Capital-owned Bridge Data gets record US$2.8 bil loan

An elderly man who went viral for slapping a non-Muslim youth in an incident at a convenience store was recharged at the Magistrate’s Court here on Wednesday for voluntarily causing hurt.

Elderly man claims trial to causing hurt to non-Muslim youth

Solarvest Holdings Bhd’s (KL:SLVEST) stock edged up on Wednesday, bucking broader market decline, as investors cheer its biggest job win to-date and analysts see more contract flows in coming months.

Solarvest bucks broader market decline as analysts, investors cheer contract win

The Penang state government, through the Penang Institute, is inviting relevant parties to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the proposed&nbsp;establishment of&nbsp;the Penang International Financial Centre (PIFC).

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