There has been a quiet revolution taking place in the way products are designed and sold, and the value placed on sustainability, as the world is locked down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and as consumption moved online.

Heng Hiap Industries Sdn Bhd founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Seah Kian Hoe says people changed their consumption behaviour because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Before, it was about mass consumption and push production. Brand owners looked at the fastest, cheapest way of producing something and pushing it to the market.”

From online consumption to on-demand products to sustainability

The Hire Seniors story is a case of being in the right place at the right time. Jasmin Amirul and her co-founder Sharmila Sinnathurai (who has since left the company) came up with the idea of hiring out retired professionals to companies suffering from a lack of staff just as Malaysia was waking ...

Talent: When old is gold

Food and beverage (F&B) outlets cannot rely on takeaways alone but in the new normal that requires social distancing until the Covid-19 virus is brought under control, many will have to do just that. To survive, they will have to adapt their businesses and pivot quickly, says Web Bytes Sdn Bhd CEO Ooi Boon Sheng.

The new digital normal for F&B operators

The Covid-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order has been hard on everybody, not least the human resource (HR) departments of most companies which have been flailing in the dark during these unprecedented times.

HR function even more crucial during this time of distress and uncertainty

For Harbir Gill, founder and chief composter of Ground Control Sdn Bhd, a company specialising in providing compost, soil conditioners and creating edible gardens for clients, the Movement Control Order has been a mixed blessing.

Even more urgent to rethink waste management policy now

At a time when, despite the partial lifting of the Movement Control Order (MCO), most employees are working from home, intelligent audio solutions to block out the noise and allow staff to concentrate on the communication at hand, has become extremely relevant.

In wake of MCO and lockdowns, headsets catch on

After the great disruption in supply chains brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO), companies should look at going local for supplies and manufacturing, says Anish Kanaran, Sage Asia regional enterprise resource planning (ERP) sales director.

Come up with structured recovery plan, companies told

RISE, the Southeast Asian corporate innovation powerhouse that was founded in Bangkok, is setting up shop in Malaysia. The office will be run by Johnathan Lee, who has extensive experience in the local start-up sector as well as working with government agencies.

RISE is not just another...

Innovation: A time to RISE

Companies that manage to come out of the present economic malaise intact need to shift the focus in their supply chains from traditional metrics such as cost, quality and delivery to agile metrics such as resilience, responsiveness and reconfigurability.

Prioritise resilience over cost in supply chains

When the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns throughout the world started, nobody was prepared. No company could have envisaged such a global catastrophe in their planning and very quickly, it threw all the weaknesses in their supply chains into sharp relief.

Sage Asia ERP regional sales director Anish Kanaran tells Enterprise that the whole thing was a “perfect storm” to test the resilience of supply chains worldwide. “Never before in our lifetime, I believe, have we witnessed such a colossal episode and the ensuing disruption which affected so many industries.”

Identifying and repairing the cracks in the supply chain

MIDF Research expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to moderate in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q2024), yet predicts a month-on-month (m-o-m) increase of 4.6% to RM4,410.5 per tonne in April due to mild El Niño events.

MIDF sees CPO price moderation in 2Q

A tumbling yen is spurring traders to game plan how much further Japan’s beleaguered currency can fall even with the specter of intervention looming.

Yen traders brace for 160 level as BOJ hints of intervention 

Britain’s unemployment rate rose unexpectedly to the highest in six months as the number of jobs in the economy shrank, an indication that the once red-hot labour market.

UK unemployment jumps to six-month high after economy cools

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook said on Tuesday in Hanoi the US tech giant wanted to boost its investment in Vietnam, state media reported.

Apple wants to spend more on suppliers in Vietnam

Grant Bowers, a senior vice-president and portfolio manager at Franklin Equity Group, is excited about the healthcare and industrial sectors.

US healthcare stocks look attractive, says Franklin’s Bowers

Tesla's global job cuts are hitting China, the automaker's biggest market after the US, affecting staff in teams including sales, two sources briefed on the matter said.

Tesla global job cuts hit China sales team — Reuters

Vietnam's parliament has asked the government to investigate gold trading firms for possible market manipulation amid soaring domestic prices, state media reported on Tuesday.

Vietnam to probe gold traders for possible manipulation as prices soar

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has not been informed of any corporate deal involving Malaysia's biggest port operator MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, said its Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

MOT unaware of potential MMC Port stake sale to foreign investors, says Loke

Microsoft Corp will invest US$1.5 billion (RM7.19 billion) in the United Arab Emirates’ top artificial intelligence firm, G42, bolstering the Abu Dhabi-based company’s commitment to scale back its presence in China.

Microsoft invests US$1.5b in UAE’s G42, will get board seat

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

The collective wealth of tycoons listed on the 2024 Forbes Malaysia Rich List increased by a modest 2% to US$83.4 billion (RM398.8 billion), according to Forbes Asia.

Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia 

Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will return to Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as its president and group chief executive effective July 1, 2024, the government-linked investment company said.

CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive

E-government services providers MyEG Services Bhd and HeiTech Padu Bhd have formed a partnership to collaborate on IT projects in Malaysia.

According to separate bourse filings from both companies on Tuesday, MyEG and HeiTech Padu have inked a teaming agreement for the collaboration.&nbsp;

MyEG, HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s second-biggest banking group by assets, said on Tuesday its chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will step down on June 30.

CIMB says CEO Abdul Rahman Ahmad stepping down on June 30

Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (ABMB) net profit is expected to jump by 37.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM179 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), according to AmInvestment Bank Research.

AmInvestment sees Alliance Bank’s 4Q earnings jump by 37% y-o-y

Asian stocks sank and the dollar climbed to more than five-month highs on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected US retail sales for March further reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to be in a rush to cut interest rates this year.

Asian shares slide on US rate cut rethink, Middle East worries

The automotive industry is not exactly the place one would want to be in the next few years.

Competition among manufacturers of internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars has been ongoing for more than a decade now. Last year, some certainty fin...

Alternative Views: Automotive industry feels heat from intensifying EV price war

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down on May 15 after two decades in office. Lee, 72, will hand the reins over to his deputy Lawrence Wong, 51, in a widely-telegraphed transition.

What observers are saying as Singapore’s Lee paves way for next PM Wong

China said it believed Iran could "handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil" while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity, referring to an attack on Iran's embassy in Syria and its retaliatory strike over the weekend.

Iran able to 'handle situation' and spare Middle East more tension, China's foreign minister says

Carlo Rino Group Bhd has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) that would raise more funds for the apparel company as part of its listing transfer to the ACE Market from the LEAP Market.

Carlo Rino files draft prospectus for listing transfer to ACE Market

The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.

Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower on Tuesday, in tandem with the weaker regional performance due to a broad sell-off on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa ends morning session lower along with regional peers

KTI Landmark Bhd (KTI) has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Sabah-based integrated property developer said the initial public offering (IPO) comprises a public issue of 160 million new shares and an offer for sale of 45 million existing shares, representing 20% and 5.6% of the enlarged share capital of KTI respectively.

KTI Landmark inks underwriting deal with M&A Securities en route to ACE Market listing

RHB Retail Research said Cosmos Technology International Bhd has confirmed a bullish setup after breaking past a key resistance on strong volume.

Cosmos Technology has confirmed bullish setup, says RHB Retail Research 

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has requested for a bench of five Court of Appeal (COA) judges to hear his review against the court’s own decision to reinstate abuse of power charges involving RM232.5 million against him.

Muhyiddin seeks five-judge bench to hear criminal charges review

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

RHB Retail Research said Notion VTec Bhd is looking to extend upside movement after staging a bullish breakout.

Notion VTec aiming to extend upside movement — RHB Retail Research 

Shares of EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) climbed on Tuesday and may be set for its best day in ten months after the auto parts maker signed a 10-year vehicle assembly deal with a Chinese carmaker.

EP Manufacturing shares chart best day in ten months after assembly deal

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has not been informed of any corporate deal involving Malaysia's biggest port operator MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, said its Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

There is "no urgency" to cut US interest rates, Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, said on Monday, with the economy and labour market strong, and inflation still above the Fed's target of 2%.

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