In Putrajaya, even a whiff of deficit spending is enough to cause anxiety. Headlines scream. Fiscal hawks circle. Politicians promise discipline. Austerity is sold as virtue, and budgets are massaged to appear balanced — even when they are not.

Meanwhile, across the desert in Riyadh, Sa...

Future Tense: Deficits by design: What Saudi Arabia’s fiscal overreach can show Malaysia

Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) has been focusing on building a sustainable company in recent years. Its approach to sustainability goes beyond environmental, social and governance aspects, encompassing a broader commitment to long-term business and operational resilience.

Future-proofing the company

When Louis Vuitton inaugurated its 4,000 sq m manufacture in October 2014, it did more than consolidate production and gather its artisans from La Chaux-de-Fonds under one roof. The facility now houses La Fabrique du Temps (LFDT), co-founded by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini in 2007, and acquired by the maison in 2011. Here, complications are assembled to define designs such as the Spin Time, Tambour Minute Repeater and Escale Worldtime. In our cover story this week, Louis Vuitton’s timekeeper-in-chief, Navas, tells us more about how LFDT is advancing the brand’s journey from trunks to tourbillons, crafting timepieces with couture precision.

Minute maestro

In today’s world, where economics and politics dominate every headline, it is easy to overlook the deeper philosophical dilemmas simmering beneath the surface — especially when viewed through the dual lenses of Iqtisad (economics) and Siasah (politics). Conventional economics starts with a simple...

MY Say: Siasah and Iqtisad: Rediscovering ethical governance and sustainable prosperity

The generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) race has emerged as the defining technological competition of the 21st century, surpassing even the 20th-century arms race in its potential to reshape global power dynamics. Unlike the arms race, which was primarily driven by state actors, the GenAI ...

MY Say: Asean’s future hinges on positioning in the global tech race

I have been asked recently the age-old question: is there a best time to list a company? This is something that resurfaces often, especially with current narratives surrounding global trade tensions, tariff uncertainties and a shifting economic landscape.

During a Hari Raya open house, ...

MY Say: Preparing for an IPO: What timing really means

Some say the US’ sweeping tariffs and increasingly protectionist stance are aimed at achieving long-term economic security, while others argue they serve strategic geopolitical interests. At its core, however, President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda has centred on reviving “Made in USA”, ...

Econtemplation: ‘Made by Malaysia’ approach trumps the ‘Made in USA’ way

IN the wee hours of the morning on April 24, hours before the market opened at Bursa Malaysia, a WhatsApp message on Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:­BPURI) was being circulated. The message read, “Bank suing, originating summons on Bina Puri. Exim RM20 million. Can’t settle.”

That Thursday ...

Cover Story: Bina Puri in the spotlight

BINA Puri-Warrant B is generally thinly traded, with periods of no transactions being a common occurrence. This trend persisted for most of the first quarter this year.

In late April, however, after seeing 12 consecutive sessions of inactivity, the warrants experienced a sudden surge in...

Cover Story: What happened in the trading of Bina Puri shares and Warrant B on April 24 

ACCORDING to the electronic records that Datuk Z provided to The Edge, the fraudulent trades were executed primarily as the market opened on March 11, targeting two Hang Seng Index put warrants: HSI-PWD4 and HSI-PWDU.

According to a public notice from their issuer — the same foreign inv...

Cover Story: How the March 11 trades made using Datuk Z’s online trading account unfolded 

WITHIN three minutes of the market opening at Bursa Malaysia on March 11, more than RM0.5 million worth of Hang Seng Index put warrants — HSI-PWD4 and HSI-PWDU — were purchased through an online trading account belonging to “Datuk Z”.

The problem is, he did not execute the orders. Inste...

Cover Story: How safe is online trading?

On May 28 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the formation of an inaugural Malaysian social exchange. A social exchange provides a platform where social entities (SEs) such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can secure capital from impact investors and various othe...

MY Say: The case for a social exchange over traditional crowdfunding

The fundamental challenge of any consumer goods business is, “How do we get our products into consumers’ hands?” Leading Malaysian retailers are overcoming hurdles common to the sector — fragmented channel structure, lack of scale and the need to keep up with constant innovation — with winning go...

Growing Champions: Winning go-to-market strategies for home-grown retailers

A week before last Christmas, just a month after Donald Trump won the US presidential elections, shares in electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla Inc, run by his most vocal supporter Elon Musk, touched an all-time high of US$488. That valued Tesla at over US$1.5 trillion (RM6.5 trillion), or more th...

Tech: Imagining Tesla without Elon Musk 

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced that the state government is offering free full-time higher education to Sarawakians, including those already employed but without the opportunity to pursue further studies.

Abang Johari announces free tertiary education for Sarawakians studying full-time

China on Sunday announced anti-dumping duties as high as 74.9% on imports of POM copolymers, a type of engineering plastic, from the United States, the European Union, Japan and Taiwan.

China slaps anti-dumping duties on plastics from US, EU, Japan, Taiwan

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) has officially named Datuk Muzaffar Hisham as its chief executive officer effective May 18.

Ex-Maybank Islamic chief Muzaffar Hisham appointed Bank Pembangunan group CEO 

A US sovereign downgrade by Moody's has exacerbated investor worries about a looming debt time-bomb that could spur bond market vigilantes who want to see more fiscal restraint from Washington.

Moody's downgrade intensifies investor worry about US fiscal path

A Mexican Navy sailing ship festooned with lights and a giant flag crashed into the landmark Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, shearing the top of its masts, killing two people and injuring 17 others, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

Mexican Navy tall ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, killing two

When economists celebrate the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations next year, US President Donald Trump’s mercantilism will constitute an incongruous backdrop. After all, Trump’s obsession with bilateral trade balances, glorification of import tariffs, and ze...

Roads to Prosperity: Mercantilism Isn’t All Bad, but Trump’s Version Is the Worst

The timing for a nationwide housing market reform that would only allow developers to sell completed properties is “not mature,” according to China Real Estate Business, an outlet managed by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

Timing not right for China home-sales overhaul, state media says

Malaysia is strengthening its strategic trade ties with China through a week-long official mission led by Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Chan Foong Hin, aimed at unlocking new market potential for palm oil and promoting innovation in downstream products.

Deputy minister leads delegation to China to boost palm oil ties

Nvidia Corp’s Jensen Huang headlines the 2025 edition of Asia’s biggest electronics conference, for years a showcase for his company’s cutting-edge AI chips and the companies lining up to buy them. This year, however, the spotlight may well be on another far bigger personality: US President Donald Trump.

Beyond Nvidia, four things to know at Asia’s biggest tech show

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) has officially named Datuk Muzaffar Hisham as its chief executive officer effective May 18.

At least five companies from mainland China or Hong Kong are planning IPOs, dual listings, or share placements in Singapore in the next 12 to 18 months, four sources said, as Chinese firms look to expand in Southeast Asia amid global trade tensions.

Some Chinese companies eye Singapore listings to expand markets amid trade war — Reuters

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Walmart should "eat the tariffs" instead of blaming duties imposed by his administration on imported goods for the retailer's increased prices.

Trump tells Walmart to 'eat tariffs' instead of raising prices

Israel and Hamas resumed ceasefire talks on Saturday in Qatar, both sides said, even as Israeli forces ramped up a bombing campaign that has killed hundreds of people over 72 hours, and mobilised for a massive new ground assault.

Gaza ceasefire talks resume as Israeli assault kills hundreds in 72 hours

Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) has been focusing on building a sustainable company in recent years. Its approach to sustainability goes beyond environmental, social and governance aspects, encompassing a broader commitment to long-term business and operational resilience.

Reports in the coming week may give the fullest reading to date of how major economies are faring with trade disruptions, halfway through President Donald Trump’s 90-day hiatus on so-called reciprocal tariffs.

Midpoint of Trump tariff hiatus to reveal increasingly unsettled world