Malaysia’s hotels started 2026 with a record quarter, but the haze, rising costs and the conflict in the Middle East have since weighed on demand, while short-term rentals like Airbnb compete for the same guests. We talk about levelling the playing field between hotels and Airbnb, and the challenges of growing a hotel business as Ascott plans to expand from 35 to 50 properties in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s hotels started 2026 with a record quarter, but the haze, rising costs and the conflict in the Middle East have since weighed on demand, while short-term rentals like Airbnb compete for the same guests. We talk about levelling the playing field between hotels and Airbnb, and the challenges of growing a hotel business as Ascott plans to expand from 35 to 50 properties in Malaysia.

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

Malaysian Hotels Squeezed by Haze, Costs and Conflict

Raw sugar futures are up more than 25% since July, as El Niño, export curbs and the oil shock from the US-Iran war push the market from glut to deficit. We discuss how secure Malaysia’s sugar supply is, what higher prices could mean for businesses, and the biggest risks to the country’s food security in 2027.

Raw sugar futures are up more than 25% since July, as El Niño, export curbs and the oil shock from the US-Iran war push the market from glut to deficit. We discuss how secure Malaysia’s sugar supply is, what higher prices could mean for businesses, and the biggest risks to the country’s food security in 2027.

High Global Sugar Prices and the Impact on Malaysia

RHB puts the ringgit’s fair value at around 3.80 to the US dollar by the end of 2027, helped by Budget 2027’s plan to cut the deficit to 3.3% of GDP, but a strong US dollar and the US bond sell-off remain real risks. We discuss where the ringgit is headed, what the bond sell-off means for Malaysia, and where the OPR, loan costs and growth could go next year.

RHB puts the ringgit’s fair value at around 3.80 to the US dollar by the end of 2027, helped by Budget 2027’s plan to cut the deficit to 3.3% of GDP, but a strong US dollar and the US bond sell-off remain real risks. We discuss where the ringgit is headed, what the bond sell-off means for Malaysia, and where the OPR, loan costs and growth could go next year.

2027 Outlook: Ringgit, Rates and Growth

For businesses looking to grow, raising capital can be a challenge. Bank loans, private investors, and possibly an IPO are the usual options. But there's another route that may not be familiar to many business owners: the unlisted public company, a public company that isn't listed on the stock exchange.

We get into:


What a UPC is: How it differs from a private limited company or a listed one


The rules:  What the Securities Commission's March 2025 guidelines for UPC share offerings changed for sophisticated and retail investors


Investor risk: The warning signs investors should watch for, and illiquidity and valuation of UPC shares.

For businesses looking to grow, raising capital can be a challenge. Bank loans, private investors, and possibly an IPO are the usual options. But there's another route that may not be familiar to many business owners: the unlisted public company, a public company that isn't listed on the stock exchange.We get into:<ul><li>What a UPC is: How it differs from a private limited company or a listed one</li><li>The rules:&nbsp; What the Securities Commission's March 2025 guidelines for UPC share offerings changed for sophisticated and retail investors</li><li>Investor risk: The warning signs investors should watch for, and illiquidity and valuation of UPC shares.</li></ul>

Malaysian Hotels Squeezed by Haze, Costs and Conflict

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