Energy transformation should be a top priority for Asean as it tackles climate change, and the key strategies should be the development of connected infrastructure and capitalising on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Jeffrey Sachs, president of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions and Research (UN-SDSN), said during his presentation at the Asean Workshop on Sustainable Development that regional integration has become a strategic necessity for every nation in the world, and Asean must have diplomatic unity to have influence in the world.

Sustainable Asean-wide policies with connected infrastructure and AI

Global climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, earlier this month finished 33 hours late with mixed results. COP29, or the 29th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, went down to the wire to reach agreement on climate finance and other contentious issues.<...

Views: Mixed results at Global Climate Summit COP 29

At the beginning of the year, some industry observers speculated that ESG topics might take a back seat to political drama and geopolitical conflicts that are still ongoing in certain parts of the world.

They were right in many ways. More recently, the re-election of Donald Trump as US ...

Cover Story: ESG at yet another crossroads

Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli’s words, according to which Malaysia is set to adopt nuclear power generation as one of its energy sources in the coming years, are extremely welcome.

According to Rafizi, nuclear power is a cleaner energy source compared to others, which could help the ...

Views: A case for nuclear energy

Year in review: Major ESG-related events in 2024

In Southeast Asia, conversations in the Business and Human Rights-Environmental, Social and Governance (BHR-ESG) space focus on encouraging companies to voluntarily adopt sustainability measures and subsequently report on their sustainability initiatives. While some progress has been made, it rem...

Views: How the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will impact Malaysian businesses

Every monsoon season, I’d feel the dread that grips Southeast Asia — the deadly floods currently displacing hundreds of thousands in a day, the thick blankets of haze we’ve grown up with and, of course, the unease over how our leaders will respond.

This year, I feel cautionary hope at t...

Views: Malaysia’s 2025 resolution: Adopt Asean’s first environmental rights declaration

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 focuses on the massive gap between the rhetorical and real impact of climate action commitments, and emphasises that crunch time is here, as wildfires, heatwaves, storms and droughts intensify globally.

Time for countries to aggressively ramp up climate change action

Malaysia’s transition to becoming a developed and high-income nation has imposed pressure on its biodiversity.

Thankfully, the country has been ramping up its efforts in conservation and the sustainable management of its biodiversity. For instance, it aims for biodiversity conservation ...

Nature: Protecting Malaysia’s biodiversity at all costs

Clean and safe water sources are crucial to human survival, but water security is increasingly being threatened by pollution, poor maintenance of assets, effects of the climate crisis and low awareness among the public.

Unscheduled water cuts have occurred multiple times in the country ...

Resources: Protect watersheds and open new ‘taps’

Malaysia’s plastic problem seems like a never-ending conundrum, despite laws and policies put in place to eliminate dependence on single-use plastics and to encourage the use of sustainable alternatives.

This might change going forward, however, as many big retail chains such as 99 Spee...

Waste: Malaysia’s plastic problem in the spotlight

Malaysia has a longstanding issue of ballooning amounts of plastic waste. Some parties argue that one of the ways to address this issue is to make polluters responsible, and this has given support to the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR).

In fact, EPR is a key policy app...

Resources: Is Malaysia finally going towards a circular economy?

Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli has been promoting a new bill on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) since May. The ministry says its implementation is important to Malaysia’s decarbonisation efforts.

The CCUS bill, originally aimed to be tabled in November, will regulate th...

Technology: Is Malaysia ready for carbon capture and storage?

With ESG, every year seems to bring new challenges and topics of discussion. For instance, the popularity of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and the subsequent demand for data centres were hot-button issues globally this year. In Malaysia, many data centre projects were announced, leading to questions about their environmental impact and strain on natural resources.

Outlook: What to watch out for in 2025

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Nvidia Corp, two prominent voices in the global chip industry, have criticised the US government’s new export curbs on artificial intelligence (AI) chips.

Semiconductor Industry Association and Nvidia slam Biden administration’ new export controls on AI chips

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has embarked on an initiative to accelerate small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) digital transformation nationwide, starting with the northern state of Penang.

MDEC launches initiative to speed up SME digital transformation across Malaysia

Malaysia is keen to position Pakistan as a strategic distribution hub for palm oil exports to Central Asia, capitalising on the country's strategic location and its proximity to emerging high-growth markets, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said.

Malaysia to position Pakistan as palm oil hub for Central Asia — MPOB

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has instructed the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to collaborate with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to enforce actions and prosecute those misusing the halal logo.

Jakim directed to collaborate with KPDN to take action against misuse of halal logo

Selgate Corp Sdn Bhd, through its healthcare arm, Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MTT Properties and Development Sdn Bhd to build a private specialist hospital in Balik Pulau, Penang.

Selgate Corp group chief executive officer Datuk Noor Hisham Mohd Ghouth said the Selgate Specialist Hospital Pulau Pinang is targeted to be ready by 2028 and would add about 172 beds and offer 31 specialities to its healthcare operations.

Selgate, MTT to develop Balik Pulau's maiden private specialist hospital

Cheeding Holdings Bhd, the utilities engineering solutions provider, is looking to raise capital from a planned initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia to repay bank borrowings, raise capital for capital expenditure and to be used for performance bonds for future projects.

Cheeding Holdings files draft prospectus for ACE Market listing

Logistics service provider Xin Hwa Holdings Bhd's (KL:XINHWA) cargo transport unit has resumed normal operations after the suspension of its goods vehicle operator licence, which was in place for over two months since November last year, was lifted.  

The company’s wholly owned Xin Hwa Trading & Transport Sdn Bhd (XHTT) is now fully operational under its reinstated licence, Xin Hwa said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Monday.

Xin Hwa’s cargo transport unit resumes ops after two-month suspension

A1 AK Koh Group Bhd, the Johor-based processed food and beverage (F&B) manufacturer best known for its premix soup spices or meat ribs soup, is looking to raise fresh capital from a planned initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.

Premix soup maker A1 AK Koh Group files draft prospectus for ACE Market listing

Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST)  is acquiring three plots of land in Kedah for RM19.99 million cash to secure strategic land for renewable energy asset development projects.

The solar photovoltaic provider's subsidiary Atlantic Blue Sdn Bhd has entered into two separate sale and purchase agreements with Aziho Trading Sdn Bhd to purchase the plots measuring 48.86ha in total in Mukim Gurun in Kuala Muda.

Solarvest buys land for RE projects in Kedah for RM19.9 mil

BENGALURU (Jan 13): India's Pixxel is set to launch three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket from California on Tuesday, the first such network in the country's nascent private space sector, Pixxel's chief told Reuters.

The satellites will be pla...

Pixxel to launch India’s first private satellite network, eyes US$19 bil market

Prospect Medical Holdings Inc, once an active buyer of cash-strapped hospitals, filed for bankruptcy after struggling with debt piles and soaring costs.

Private hospital owner Prospect Medical files for bankruptcy

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said its consortium has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the first civil works package worth over RM8 billion for the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

Gamuda gets first package worth over RM8 bil of Penang LRT project

Malaysian stocks were broadly lower on Monday led by construction and property companies, while the country’s benchmark index fell to a five-month low.

Investors in Asia reacted poorly to the latest jobs data in the US that pointed to a robust economy, threatening the prospects of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The ringgit also depreciated along with other emerging Asian currencies under pressure from a strengthening US dollar.

Malaysian stocks broadly lower as KLCI falls to five-month low, ringgit weakens

City Motors Group has officially opened its 42-storey Alfa Bangsar mixed-use development located at the intersection of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Tandok in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday (Jan 10).

City Motors Group officially opens Alfa Bangsar and Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Bangsar

The government on Monday wants to apply for a gag and prohibitive order to refrain the public from discussing issues pertaining to a purported addendum allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, as it involves sensitive matters.

Govt wants gag order on addendum

CAPE EMS Bhd (KL:CEB), which started its Bursa Malaysia journey on a high note in 2023, has found itself in the midst of a corporate storm this year.

A sequence of financial missteps, margin calls and declining investor confidence has left the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) pr...

Turkeys Of The Year: Cape EMS’ dramatic fall from grace

The Joe Biden administration's plans to introduce new export restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chips under a three-tiered system by country have sparked concerns in Malaysia.

How will restricted AI chip access impact Malaysia?

Europe’s largest pension fund sold its entire €571 million (US$585 million or RM2.63 billion) stake in Tesla Inc&nbsp;in the third quarter, partly due to disagreement with Elon Musk’s remuneration package.

Europe’s largest pension fund sold Tesla stake over Musk’s pay

Allianz Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:ALLIANZ) earnings outlook is clouded by uncertainties over future premium increases, Maybank Investment Bank said and downgraded the country’s largest general insurer.

Allianz Malaysia's earnings outlook clouded by premium uncertainties, Maybank says in downgrade to 'hold'

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Rising production and delays in implementing biodiesel mandates in Indonesia may weaken palm oil prices beyond the first quarter of 2025, even as latest data show a 19-month low stockpile, analysts say.

Rising production, Indonesia’s biodiesel delays likely to weaken CPO prices — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad failed in his judicial review application to challenge the Pulau Batu Puteh Royal Commission of Inquiry’s decision not to allow the presence of his lawyers during the proceedings.

Court dismisses Dr M’s bid to challenge decision to not allow his lawyers to be at Batu Puteh RCI

Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) has introduced a new renewable energy (RE) subsector within its energy and utilities sector classification. This move aims to provide more focused classification for public listed companies (PLCs) operating in the RE space.

The new RE classification includes PLCs involved in providing equipment and services for RE production, as well as those producing or distributing electricity through RE sources.&nbsp;

Bursa reclassifies 13 companies as it introduces new renewable energy subsector

YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR), which is in the midst of setting up its own artificial intelligence (AI) data centres using the latest chips by US chip giant Nvidia Corp, does not expect to be impacted by the proposed US rules on advanced chip&nbsp;exports into countries like Malaysia.

YTL Power ‘confident’ not affected by potential US chip export curbs amid Nvidia partnership

Local institutions supported Bursa Malaysia for the 12th consecutive week, with net purchases of RM281.9 million, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd.

MIDF: Local institutions back Bursa Malaysia for 12th straight week

Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy told the High Court on Monday that there was no merit to the allegations made by his former company, that he had failed to inquire, investigate or ascertain, and recover the investments the company had lost.

Testifying in his defence to 1MDB’s US$6.59 billion suit against him and former Treasury secretary-general and former 1MDB board of advisors chairman Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, before judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Raja Mohzan, Arul Kanda also disagreed that he had acted against 1MDB’s interests.

Arul Kanda: 1MDB loss inquiry was not my job

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that he returned the purported Arab donation, because the 13th general elections were over and he didn’t need a large sum of money.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib says GE13 over, no need for such large sum, returned monies

Eden Inc Bhd (KL:EDEN) said on Monday that it has been selected to develop a 29.99-megawatt (MW) large-scale solar photovoltaic plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.

Eden picked to develop 29.99MW solar plant in Kuantan

Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade growth decelerated to 4.7% year-on-year in November, largely driven by sales in non-specialised and specialised stores, official data on Monday showed.

Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade growth slows in November, official data show

Energy infrastructure firm Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON)&nbsp;is close to signing up investors for a funding round in its unit that makes equipment used by the offshore oil and gas industry, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Yinson close to deal with investors including Abu Dhabi for US$1b funding — Bloomberg

Al-Salam Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:ALSREIT) will see “significant” rental growth from this year onwards thanks to higher occupancy at its most valuable property, BIMB Securities said.

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