Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 97% of all business establishments in Malaysia and employ around 48% of the country’s workforce. While the pressure to provide sustainability-related disclosures and adopt relevant practices has thus far been on bigger companies, SMEs are increasingly affected as well. A special feature in the recent Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) 2023 annual report, titled “Supporting SMEs transition to greener practices”, highlights the risks, opportunities, steps and toolkits for SMEs in this low-carbon transition.

Helping SMEs cope with climate change

The State of Southeast Asia 2024 survey by ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian Studies) reveals that China has edged past the US to become the prevailing choice (50.5%) if Southeast Asian countries were forced to align themselves in the ongoing US-China rivalry. The US as a choice declined from 61.1% last year to 49.5%.

Majority of Southeast Asians would rather align with China than the US

The global offshoring industry is undergoing a significant transformation because of technological advancements. There has been a transition from basic functions in the early days of first-generation outsourcing to specialised services.

Global offshoring a catalyst for office space demand in Malaysia

Banks, irrespective of size or credit strength, are consistently ramping up their cyber spending because of an escalating number of incidents. Events such as the ransomware attack on China’s biggest lender, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), demonstrate how critical cybersecurity can be and the potential damage to bank operations.

Banks raise budgets to fight rise in cyber threats

Since 2000, floods have been the cause of 85% of all natural disasters in Malaysia, with the frequency increasing since 2020. The catastrophic floods of December 2021 highlight the significant impact unabated climate change could have on the Malaysian economy and financial sector.

Building resilience against floods in Malaysia

One of Pakatan Harapan’s biggest priorities when it came to power in November 2022 was to address the revenue leakage the government faced while shrinking the size of the shadow economy of illegal and unrecorded income.

The near-future standard of invoicing

Hydrogen is touted as the next alternative green energy solution. There are several projects and plants being developed in Malaysia as envisioned in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap, and even more are under development globally.

Exploring hydrogen as an energy source

It pays — literally — to have skills and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI). Findings from a survey of employers and employees by Amazon Web Services — in collaboration with Access Partnership, a UK-based public policy consultancy focused on technology — show that having AI skills could boost salaries, productivity and career growth for workers. However, there is a lack of skilled talent to harness the full potential of AI.

The AI payoff for employees

In the “Informal Employment in Malaysia: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Reform” report by the World Bank in February, a data analysis of the informal employment landscape in Malaysia reveals the vulnerabilities of those in it. Household income surveys conducted between 2009 and 2019 show that women, youth, less educated persons and workers from lower-income households, rural areas and less developed states were more likely to be informally employed. In fact, women across groups were more likely to experience skill-related unemployment, which is defined as the share of those with tertiary education working in mid- or low-skilled jobs in the workforce.

Challenges of women in informal employment

The significant contribution of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia’s pursuit of economic reforms cannot be overstated. However, limited financing poses a substantial hurdle for SMEs to grow and has the potential to jeopardise the development of the entire SME ecosystem. What does the financing landscape for SMEs look like and what are the challenges and opportunities for start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)  and mid-tier companies (MTCs) when it comes to accessing financing?

Market-based financing for SMEs in Malaysia: Issues, challenges and the way forward

The results of the 2024 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index signal that global trade is at a crossroads as companies struggle to bolster their supply chains through near-shoring, re-shoring, friend-shoring and other production/sourcing strategies. It is not all bad news, though. As World Trade Organization director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says, “The case for strengthening the trading system is far stronger than the case for walking away from it.” Between October and December 2023, Transport Intelligence, one of the world’s leading providers of logistics and supply chain market research, surveyed 830 logistics industry professionals for their opinions on the prospects and challenges that emerging markets face in the year ahead. The following are the findings of the survey.

Sobering findings of the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index

As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) continues to evolve, large language models (LLMs) will have increased capabilities, use audio-visual training, transform the workplace and improve conversational AI.

Language of tomorrow

The amount of single-use plastic used and disposed of by individuals and households is alarming. According to WWF-Malaysia, post-consumer plastic waste generation in Malaysia is estimated to be more than one million tonnes and 81% of its value is lost because it is not recovered.

What to do with single-use plastic?

With a host of challenges — from persistent economic headwinds and geopolitical conflicts to technological disruption and climate change — redefining business risk and limiting growth, CEOs are faced with a compelling need to accelerate business reinvention. PwC’s latest annual CEO survey — conducted with 4,702 CEOs globally, of whom 1,774 are in Asia-Pacific, including 44 from Malaysia — indicates that the vast majority of companies are already taking steps towards reinvention.

What Malaysian CEOs are doing to reinvent business

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.

Main Market-bound MKH Oil Palm’s IPO oversubscribed by 8.43 times

WASHINGTON (April 18): The International Monetary Fund urged Asian central banks on Thursday to focus on domestic inflation and avoid tying their policy decisions too closely to anticipated moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Receding expectations for a near-term interest cut by the U.S....

IMF tells Asian central banks not to follow Fed too closely

Batik Air will suspend its operations to Istanbul, Turkiye, effective May 1, 2024, and affected passengers will be notified via email and text, said the airline operator, Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd.

Batik Air to suspend operations to Istanbul from May 1

Indonesia said fiscal and monetary policies are in sync to cushion the economy from the rising dollar, demonstrating an all-hands-on-deck approach, with the central bank signalling they’re intervening more actively to aid the rupiah.

Indonesia takes steps to shield economy from strong dollar

Some lenders to Thames Water could face losses of as much as 40% in the event that it ends up being nationalised by the UK government, according to contingency plans drawn up by officials.

Thames Water lenders face 40% losses if it’s nationalised

(April 19): Hedge funds and other international investors are sounding alarms after a profitable education company from China defaulted on its convertible bonds in March.

Hedge funds cry foul over Chinese education firm’s default

Mah Sing Group Bhd's M Oscar development in Sri Petaling has achieved an 85% Quality Assessment System in Construction (Qlassic) from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). The certification was presented by CIDB Malaysia CEO Datuk Mohd Zaid Zakaria at an appreciation night for the completion of M Oscar recently.

Mah Sing's M Oscar awarded 85% Qlassic score

Cities are facing a growing number of crises that cannot be resolved by traditional means. These include the challenges of coexisting with significant cultural differences and diversity, developing the sustainability agenda and discovering the city’s role and purpose on an economic, cultural and ...

Shaping Kuala Lumpur into a creative city

Emerging Asian equities and currencies were sharply lower on Friday as reports Israel attacked Iran in an escalation of tensions in the Middle East led investors to flee to safe-haven assets, including the US dollar.

Surging dollar pressures Asian FX; South Korean won leads losses

PUTRAJAYA (April 19): Payment of fees for training or classes in esports, equestrian, swimming, motorsports and taekwondo is eligible for tax relief of up to RM1,000 from next year, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Payment of fees for sports training eligible for tax relief from next year — Hannah

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday, sources said, in the latest tit-for-tat exchange between the two arch foes, whose decades of shadow war has broken out into the open and threatened to drag the region deeper into conflict.

Israel attacks Iran, Reuters reports, as drones shot down over Isfahan 

Shares of Awanbiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) fell as much as 53% on Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to suspend the counter’s intraday short selling (IDSS).&nbsp;

Awantec shares plunge 53%, intraday short selling suspended 

Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd will be suspended from trading pending an announcement, the company said on Friday.

Trading in Sapura Energy suspended pending announcement 

PIE Industrial Bhd, whose share price extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday on reports that it has secured a new customer, confirmed the matter and said it is expecting the new customer to contribute an additional RM2.5 billion revenue to the group, of which RM1 billion will be recognised as early as next year.

PIE Industrial confirms bagging new client, expects additional RM2.5 bil revenue

RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) on Friday upgraded Public Bank Bhd to “buy” from “neutral”, with a higher target price (TP) of RM4.80 (from RM4.70).

RHB upgrades Public Bank to ‘buy’, raises target price to RM4.80

The oil-rich Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo is aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy, betting that its ability to harness an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.

 Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy

Malaysia's economy grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), as compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates.

Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows

Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports Israel attacked Iran in a continuing series of assaults that have increased concerns of a wider Middle East conflict.

Stocks sink, oil jumps after Israeli attack on Iran

Apple said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns.

Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order

The Malaysian rubber glove industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability amidst challenging global dynamics, with optimism for a rebound in 2024, with an anticipated surge to approximately 450 billion pieces by 2027 despite a downturn in 2023, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma).

Margma optimistic of rebound in 2024, expects surge to 450 billion pieces by 2027

The escalating tensions in the Middle East have influenced market sentiment and shifted investors' emphasis to the energy, finance and plantation sectors, which helped boost the FBM KLCI higher by midday on Friday.

KLCI up 0.43% with focus on energy, plantation, financial stocks

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.&nbsp;

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s core net profit may have risen 34% in the first quarter, from a year earlier, on higher securities and derivatives trading activity when the exchange operator reports its results, Hong Leong Investment Bank said.

Bursa Malaysia 1Q earnings likely up 34% y-o-y, HLIB projects

Malaysia’s exports contracted at a slower than expected pace in March mainly due to lower foreign demand for electronics while shipments to China fell, official data Friday showed.

Malaysia’s March exports down 0.8%, imports surge 12.5%

The planned merger of Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, with India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd raises concerns as the latter's subsidiary Airtel Lanka is currently a loss-making company, analysts said.

Malaysia’s Axiata merger with Bharti Airtel of India raises earnings concern — analysts

RHB Retail Research said Inari Amertron Bhd is poised to challenge the RM3.27 resistance level once again, which would make this its fourth attempt this year.

Inari poised to challenge RM3.27 resistance, says RHB Retail Research 

The US on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognising a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny the Palestinian Authority full membershipof the world body.

US stops UN from recognising a Palestinian state through membership

The amount of reserves in banking system — a key determinant for the Federal Reserve to continue shrinking its balance sheet — dropped by the most in two years as Americans paid income tax bills out of their bank accounts.

US bank reserve balances see largest drop since 2022 tax season

Melaka State Secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari died of a heart attack this morning. He was 54.

According to a statement from the Melaka Chief Minister’s Office, Zaidi breathed his last at about 8.15am at Hospital Melaka here.

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