With its ASEAN  Chairmanship and a maturing ecosystem, Malaysia stands at a pivotal moment for its fintech ambitions. But as AI disrupts roadmaps and regional competition intensifies, is our window to become a true fintech gateway for ASEAN closing fast?


Anil Gill and Marc Fong from the Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM) join us to provide a perspective on the state of the industry. They discuss the evolution from disruption to "co-creation" with traditional finance, the challenges of AI adoption, and the urgent need for leadership to capitalise on our regional advantages.


We discuss:




The evolution of fintech into a collaborative "co-creation" phase.


How AI is creating both opportunities and investment uncertainty.


Malaysia's unique position as a potential fintech gateway to ASEAN.


The role of the ASEAN Fintech Alliance (AFA) in fostering regional growth.


The urgent need to address the funding gap before the "window closes."



For fintech founders, investors, and policymakers, this is a crucial discussion on the challenges and strategic imperatives for Malaysia's digital finance future.

With its ASEAN Chairmanship and a maturing ecosystem, Malaysia stands at a pivotal moment for its fintech ambitions. But as AI disrupts roadmaps and regional competition intensifies, is our window to become a true fintech gateway for ASEAN closing fast? Anil Gill and Marc Fong from the Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM) join us to provide a perspective on the state of the industry. They discuss the evolution from disruption to "co-creation" with traditional finance, the challenges of AI adoption, and the urgent need for leadership to capitalise on our regional advantages. We discuss:<ul><li>The evolution of fintech into a collaborative "co-creation" phase.</li><li>How AI is creating both opportunities and investment uncertainty.</li><li>Malaysia's unique position as a potential fintech gateway to ASEAN.</li><li>The role of the ASEAN Fintech Alliance (AFA) in fostering regional growth.</li><li>The urgent need to address the funding gap before the "window closes."For fintech founders, investors, and policymakers, this is a crucial discussion on the challenges and strategic imperatives for Malaysia's digital finance future.</li></ul>

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Enterprise Explores

AI Disruption & ASEAN Gateway: State of Malaysian Fintech

Oil won’t go below $90, higher fuel prices are here to stay, and your electricity bill is about to go up. 

While Malaysia is an oil-producing nation, we now buy more oil than we consume, a reality brought into sharp focus as 40% of our fuel supply depends on the now-paralyzed Strait of Hormuz. So, what does that mean for us on the ground? UOB Senior Economist Julia Goh joins the show to unpack this, as well as explore Malaysia’s "net importer" status, the forecasted June hike to electricity costs, and why even a ceasefire won't return oil to the $60 lows of the past.



Tune In To Find Out:


The 2015 Crossover: Why Malaysia’s transition to a net oil importer a decade ago is only now hitting the headlines.


The RM84 Billion Bill: A breakdown of how high global prices have driven the fuel subsidy to nearly double the previous national estimates.


The Strait of Hormuz Factor: Why 40% of Malaysia’s imported oil is currently at risk due to Middle Eastern supply route paralysis.


The Petronas Paradox: Why higher oil prices don't equal bumper profits when refining costs and insurance premiums have doubled.


Electricity Bill Shock: Why the Automatic Fuel Adjustment Mechanism (AFAM) is forecasted to flip to a surcharge in June.


The 200L Quota: Assessing the government’s first move to reduce fuel subsidy quotas and its impact on consumer sentiment.


Sectoral Margin Stress: Why energy-intensive industries like manufacturing, logistics, and tourism are reaching a breaking point.


Inventory Front-Loading: The "Butter Buffer", how businesses are using working capital to stock up before the next price hike.


The Fiscal Cushion: How Malaysia's reduction of the deficit to 3.7% provides a temporary shield against global recession risks.

Oil won’t go below $90, higher fuel prices are here to stay, and your electricity bill is about to go up.&nbsp;While Malaysia is an oil-producing nation, we now buy more oil than we consume, a reality brought into sharp focus as 40% of our fuel supply depends on the now-paralyzed Strait of Hormuz. So, what does that mean for us on the ground? UOB Senior Economist Julia Goh joins the show to unpack this, as well as explore Malaysia’s "net importer" status, the forecasted June hike to electricity costs, and why even a ceasefire won't return oil to the $60 lows of the past.Tune In To Find Out:<ul><li>The 2015 Crossover: Why Malaysia’s transition to a net oil importer a decade ago is only now hitting the headlines.</li></ul><ul><li>The RM84 Billion Bill: A breakdown of how high global prices have driven the fuel subsidy to nearly double the previous national estimates.</li><li>The Strait of Hormuz Factor: Why 40% of Malaysia’s imported oil is currently at risk due to Middle Eastern supply route paralysis.</li><li>The Petronas Paradox: Why higher oil prices don't equal bumper profits when refining costs and insurance premiums have doubled.</li><li>Electricity Bill Shock: Why the Automatic Fuel Adjustment Mechanism (AFAM) is forecasted to flip to a surcharge in June.</li><li>The 200L Quota: Assessing the government’s first move to reduce fuel subsidy quotas and its impact on consumer sentiment.</li><li>Sectoral Margin Stress: Why energy-intensive industries like manufacturing, logistics, and tourism are reaching a breaking point.</li><li>Inventory Front-Loading: The "Butter Buffer", how businesses are using working capital to stock up before the next price hike.</li><li>The Fiscal Cushion: How Malaysia's reduction of the deficit to 3.7% provides a temporary shield against global recession risks.</li></ul>

From Petrol to Electricity: Living with a $90 Oil Floor

When fuel prices rise, where does the impact really show up in F&B businesses? Nazri Adam, Co-Founder of Sausage Sizzle, joins us to unpack how cost shocks actually move through the F&B system, and why the real impact may not have fully hit yet. 

We discuss:


The Delayed Shock: Why fuel price increases don’t hit immediately, and how “old inventory” is masking the real cost wave still to come. 


The Supply Chain Cascade: How imported goods stack multiple layers of cost.


Margins vs Demand: What gets squeezed first inside an F&B business, and why pricing pressure may matter more than weaker spending.


The Adaptation Playbook: From menu changes to frozen food pivots, how operators might need to rethink survival before the full impact hits.

When fuel prices rise, where does the impact really show up in F&amp;B businesses? Nazri Adam, Co-Founder of Sausage Sizzle, joins us to unpack how cost shocks actually move through the F&amp;B system, and why the real impact may not have fully hit yet.&nbsp;We discuss:<ul><li>The Delayed Shock: Why fuel price increases don’t hit immediately, and how “old inventory” is masking the real cost wave still to come.&nbsp;</li><li>The Supply Chain Cascade: How imported goods stack multiple layers of cost.</li><li>Margins vs Demand: What gets squeezed first inside an F&amp;B business, and why pricing pressure may matter more than weaker spending.</li><li>The Adaptation Playbook: From menu changes to frozen food pivots, how operators might need to rethink survival before the full impact hits.</li></ul>

Fuel Prices & F&B: The Costs You Don’t See Coming

Are we designing buildings ready for tomorrow’s climate problems?

As heat rises and rainfall intensifies, a hidden risk is emerging in construction, where short-term cost decisions can lead to long-term structural failures. Damian Lusty of Sika Malaysia joins us to unpack why durability is often sacrificed, how climate stress is already showing up in defects, and what “credible sustainability” really means. 

We also explore why frameworks like the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and lifecycle assessments are becoming harder to ignore, as well as how issues like water ingress and corrosion start early, and why they’re far more expensive to fix than to prevent.

Are we designing buildings ready for tomorrow’s climate problems?As heat rises and rainfall intensifies, a hidden risk is emerging in construction, where short-term cost decisions can lead to long-term structural failures. Damian Lusty of Sika Malaysia joins us to unpack why durability is often sacrificed, how climate stress is already showing up in defects, and what “credible sustainability” really means.&nbsp;We also explore why frameworks like the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and lifecycle assessments are becoming harder to ignore, as well as how issues like water ingress and corrosion start early, and why they’re far more expensive to fix than to prevent.

AI Disruption & ASEAN Gateway: State of Malaysian Fintech

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