The RAM Business Confidence Index fell by a sizable amount in the first quarter of 2026. What does that tell us about where the Malaysian economy is heading, and when will sentiment translate to real economic pain? 

We discuss:


Reading the Index: How is it measured, and what does a broad-based decline across all five indicators mean?


The Buffer: Why government subsidies and business inventories are buying time, and what happens when both run out.


SMEs Under Pressure: How smaller businesses are navigating rising costs, regulatory compliance, and tightening access to financing all at once.

Who's Winning, Who's Not: Why the semiconductor industry is holding up while oil and gas face serious headwinds.

The RAM Business Confidence Index fell by a sizable amount in the first quarter of 2026. What does that tell us about where the Malaysian economy is heading, and when will sentiment translate to real economic pain?&nbsp;We discuss:<ul><li>Reading the Index: How is it measured, and what does a broad-based decline across all five indicators mean?</li><li>The Buffer: Why government subsidies and business inventories are buying time, and what happens when both run out.</li><li>SMEs Under Pressure: How smaller businesses are navigating rising costs, regulatory compliance, and tightening access to financing all at once.</li></ul>Who's Winning, Who's Not: Why the semiconductor industry is holding up while oil and gas face serious headwinds.

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

Unpacking Malaysia's Business Confidence Slump

Between 2010 and 2020, Malaysia’s startup scene was vibrant, driven by strong leadership and proactive government grants. Today, the "top of funnel" early-stage pipeline is quietly drying up. So how does Malaysia get its startup mojo back?

Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Founder & Senior Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator and Kevin Brockland, Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures join us to share their views on the historical rise and post-2018 decline of the Malaysian tech startup landscape. 

Tune in to learn more about: 


The Post-2018 Slump: Why the loss of ecosystem champions and a shift toward risk-averse bureaucracy stalled net-new startup production.


The Exit Reality Check: Why founders should target profitable, RM30 million to RM50 million M&A exits instead of chasing unicorns.


The NASDAQ Delusion: The hidden hurdles of international listings and why incorporating abroad doesn't guarantee valuation or analyst coverage.


Skin in the Game: Why government-backed direct investments fail without private-sector incentive structures like carried interest.

The Fund of Funds Model Fix: Why the government must step back from direct capital deployment and why Doc Siva believes fund-of-funds should adopt a 4:1 matching fund model to truly crowd-in and seed a broader VC scene.

Between 2010 and 2020, Malaysia’s startup scene was vibrant, driven by strong leadership and proactive government grants. Today, the "top of funnel" early-stage pipeline is quietly drying up. So how does Malaysia get its startup mojo back?Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Founder &amp; Senior Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator and Kevin Brockland, Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures join us to share their views on the historical rise and post-2018 decline of the Malaysian tech startup landscape.&nbsp;Tune in to learn more about:&nbsp;<ul><li>The Post-2018 Slump: Why the loss of ecosystem champions and a shift toward risk-averse bureaucracy stalled net-new startup production.</li><li>The Exit Reality Check: Why founders should target profitable, RM30 million to RM50 million M&amp;A exits instead of chasing unicorns.</li><li>The NASDAQ Delusion: The hidden hurdles of international listings and why incorporating abroad doesn't guarantee valuation or analyst coverage.</li><li>Skin in the Game: Why government-backed direct investments fail without private-sector incentive structures like carried interest.</li></ul>The Fund of Funds Model Fix: Why the government must step back from direct capital deployment and why Doc Siva believes fund-of-funds should adopt a 4:1 matching fund model to truly crowd-in and seed a broader VC scene.

Where Have All the Startups Gone? 

Malaysian SMEs are being hit hard from multiple angles, now made worse by the fuel crisis and supply shock. But not all of them are facing this crisis equally.

Datuk William Ng, National President of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) discusses what SMEs are experiencing on the ground, whether current support measures go far enough, and what businesses may need to navigate a more uncertain operating environment.

He also emphasised how businesses that have actually leveraged digitalisation and automation are now faring better than others, and why he believes SMEs need to consolidate.

We discuss:


The Hidden Cost Wave: Beyond fuel prices, where are SMEs actually feeling the biggest financial pressure right now?


The SME Divide: Why MSMEs, SMEs and mid-sized businesses are not facing this crisis equally.


The Digitalisation Divide: Why SMEs that invested early in digital tools and automation may be coping better today while businesses that delayed digitalisation are now feeling the pressure more sharply.


The Support Question: Which government measures matter most right now and where businesses still see gaps.


The Survival Trap: Why many SMEs remain stuck in short-term survival mode despite surviving multiple crises already.


Preparing for Constant Disruption: What businesses may need to rethink if uncertainty becomes the new normal.


The Consolidation Shift: Why more SMEs may need to collaborate, form consortiums or even merge to scale faster and strengthen bargaining power.

Malaysian SMEs are being hit hard from multiple angles, now made worse by the fuel crisis and supply shock. But not all of them are facing this crisis equally.Datuk William Ng, National President of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) discusses what SMEs are experiencing on the ground, whether current support measures go far enough, and what businesses may need to navigate a more uncertain operating environment.He also emphasised how businesses that have actually leveraged digitalisation and automation are now faring better than others, and why he believes SMEs need to consolidate.We discuss:<ul><li>The Hidden Cost Wave: Beyond fuel prices, where are SMEs actually feeling the biggest financial pressure right now?</li><li>The SME Divide: Why MSMEs, SMEs and mid-sized businesses are not facing this crisis equally.</li><li>The Digitalisation Divide: Why SMEs that invested early in digital tools and automation may be coping better today while businesses that delayed digitalisation are now feeling the pressure more sharply.</li><li>The Support Question: Which government measures matter most right now and where businesses still see gaps.</li><li>The Survival Trap: Why many SMEs remain stuck in short-term survival mode despite surviving multiple crises already.</li><li>Preparing for Constant Disruption: What businesses may need to rethink if uncertainty becomes the new normal.</li><li>The Consolidation Shift: Why more SMEs may need to collaborate, form consortiums or even merge to scale faster and strengthen bargaining power.</li></ul>

SME Supply Shock Relief & Case for Consolidation

Palm oil is already up about 11% this year. But with a US-Iran conflict reshaping energy economics, Indonesia redirecting supply into biofuels, and an 82% chance of El Niño on the horizon, where do prices go from here? 

Tune in to find out: 


The worst-case price scenario: What is behind the RM5,300 per tonne forecast and the specific conditions that would trigger it.


El Niño risk quantified:  An 82% probability of emergence and what that means for Malaysian and Indonesian production.


Countries (not) stockpiling: Why major importers are sitting on existing stocks rather than buying. 


The shrinking global surplus: Projections narrowing from 3.1 million tonnes to 1.9 million tonnes, and what does that mean for CPO’s long-term price outlook? 


Long-term structural challenges: Ageing plantations, limited expansion land, and why AI won't be improving yields anytime soon.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Palm oil is already up about 11% this year. But with a US-Iran conflict reshaping energy economics, Indonesia redirecting supply into biofuels, and an 82% chance of El Niño on the horizon, where do prices go from here?&nbsp;Tune in to find out:&nbsp;<ul><li>The worst-case price scenario: What is behind the RM5,300 per tonne forecast and the specific conditions that would trigger it.</li><li>El Niño risk quantified:&nbsp; An 82% probability of emergence and what that means for Malaysian and Indonesian production.</li><li>Countries (not) stockpiling: Why major importers are sitting on existing stocks rather than buying.&nbsp;</li><li>The shrinking global surplus: Projections narrowing from 3.1 million tonnes to 1.9 million tonnes, and what does that mean for CPO’s long-term price outlook?&nbsp;</li><li>Long-term structural challenges: Ageing plantations, limited expansion land, and why AI won't be improving yields anytime soon. Image credit: Shutterstock</li></ul>

Unpacking Malaysia's Business Confidence Slump

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