Nearly 98% of the population in Malaysia are online, and over 25 million use social media — big numbers that reveal how deeply digital habits are shaping daily life in 2025.



From how we search, shop, and spend, to the growing influence of AI and mobile-first behaviour, the Meltwater 2025 Global and Malaysia Digital Report highlights where consumers are heading. 



Joining us to break down the key findings and what they mean for businesses is Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President and Partner of Enterprise for Asia Pacific at Meltwater.

Nearly 98% of the population in Malaysia are online, and over 25 million use social media — big numbers that reveal how deeply digital habits are shaping daily life in 2025.From how we search, shop, and spend, to the growing influence of AI and mobile-first behaviour, the Meltwater 2025 Global and Malaysia Digital Report highlights where consumers are heading. Joining us to break down the key findings and what they mean for businesses is Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President and Partner of Enterprise for Asia Pacific at Meltwater.

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

What’s Driving Malaysia’s Online Behaviour

It’s a new year, and optimism is starting to creep back in.



On this episode of Enterprise Explores, we examine Ipsos Malaysia’s 2026 Predictions report to understand how Malaysians are feeling about the year ahead and what that means for businesses.



From confidence in the economy and attitudes towards AI and jobs, to the growing importance of wellbeing and the commercial impact of the 2026 World Cup, the data points to cautious but resilient optimism.



Joining us is Arun Menon, Managing Director of Ipsos Malaysia, to help separate sentiment from reality and explain how businesses should respond to shifting expectations, spending behaviour, and emerging risks in a year shaped by hope.

It’s a new year, and optimism is starting to creep back in.On this episode of Enterprise Explores, we examine Ipsos Malaysia’s 2026 Predictions report to understand how Malaysians are feeling about the year ahead and what that means for businesses.From confidence in the economy and attitudes towards AI and jobs, to the growing importance of wellbeing and the commercial impact of the 2026 World Cup, the data points to cautious but resilient optimism.Joining us is Arun Menon, Managing Director of Ipsos Malaysia, to help separate sentiment from reality and explain how businesses should respond to shifting expectations, spending behaviour, and emerging risks in a year shaped by hope.

Cautious Optimism: What Malaysians Really Expect from 2026

2026 presents a landscape of mixed signals for Asia-Pacific: US tariffs are at their highest levels since the 1930s (effective rate of 13.6%), and China’s growth is projected to slow to 4.1%. Yet, Fitch Ratings has maintained a Neutral outlook for the sector.



Thomas Rookmaaker, Head of APAC Sovereigns at Fitch Ratings, joins BFM to break down the region's "two-speed recovery", where AI-driven economies surge while traditional exporters lag, and warns that fiscal buffers are slowly eroding as government debt climbs.



We discuss:.




The "Neutral" Verdict: Why Fitch maintains a stable sector outlook despite geopolitical headwinds, citing strong FX reserves and credit buffers in developed markets.


The "Two-Speed" Recovery: How the AI boom is shielding tech-heavy nations while non-tech exporters face dampened demand from the US and China.


The China Slowdown: The impact of China’s downgrade to 'A' and the property slump on the broader region, with spillover effects hitting commodity prices and consumption.


Fiscal Erosions & Social Unrest: With median government debt-to-GDP rising to 50.1%, we discuss why fiscal consolidation is stalling and how social unrest (e.g., Nepal, Indonesia) is forcing governments to spend more.


Country Watchlist:


Malaysia: Rated 'BBB+' (Stable) supported by political stability and 4% growth, though debt reduction remains gradual.


Thailand: The outlier with a Negative outlook due to delayed tourism recovery and high household debt.


The Danger Zone: Why the Maldives ('CC') faces a critical test with a $500m Sukuk repayment in April.

2026 presents a landscape of mixed signals for Asia-Pacific: US tariffs are at their highest levels since the 1930s (effective rate of 13.6%), and China’s growth is projected to slow to 4.1%. Yet, Fitch Ratings has maintained a Neutral outlook for the sector.Thomas Rookmaaker, Head of APAC Sovereigns at Fitch Ratings, joins BFM to break down the region's "two-speed recovery", where AI-driven economies surge while traditional exporters lag, and warns that fiscal buffers are slowly eroding as government debt climbs.We discuss:.<ul><li>The "Neutral" Verdict: Why Fitch maintains a stable sector outlook despite geopolitical headwinds, citing strong FX reserves and credit buffers in developed markets.</li><li>The "Two-Speed" Recovery: How the AI boom is shielding tech-heavy nations while non-tech exporters face dampened demand from the US and China.</li><li>The China Slowdown: The impact of China’s downgrade to 'A' and the property slump on the broader region, with spillover effects hitting commodity prices and consumption.</li><li>Fiscal Erosions &amp; Social Unrest: With median government debt-to-GDP rising to 50.1%, we discuss why fiscal consolidation is stalling and how social unrest (e.g., Nepal, Indonesia) is forcing governments to spend more.</li><li>Country Watchlist:<ul><li>Malaysia: Rated 'BBB+' (Stable) supported by political stability and 4% growth, though debt reduction remains gradual.</li><li>Thailand: The outlier with a Negative outlook due to delayed tourism recovery and high household debt.</li><li>The Danger Zone: Why the Maldives ('CC') faces a critical test with a $500m Sukuk repayment in April.</li></ul></li></ul>

When China Sneezes: The Slowdown Spillover Across APAC

In late November, Costco filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the “Liberation Day tariffs", and the White House remained surprisingly silent.



BFM speaks with Bryan DeAngelis of Penta Group to decode this "quiet rebellion." Corporate America is finally "unbending the knee," but they are doing it with a new playbook: filing lawsuits based strictly on business logic while avoiding the public shaming that bruises the President's ego.



We discuss:




The Costco Strategy: Why the retailer’s decision to sue quietly after Thanksgiving, relying on "brand math" rather than PR stunts, possibly saved them from a Truth Social firestorm.


The "Business Lane": How companies are learning to push back against policies like tariffs by framing them strictly as shareholder protection rather than political opposition.


Political Volatility & Populism: With the President's poll numbers sinking, Bryan explains why the administration is leaning harder into populist rhetoric (like the attack on institutional housing investors) to regain momentum.


The 2026 Midterm Outlook: Why "razor-thin" margins in Congress mean Democrats could flip the House even before November, and how this gridlock will force the President to rule almost exclusively through Executive Orders.

The Erosion of Authority: From GOP resignations to state-level defiance on redistricting, we analyse whether the White House is losing its grip on its own party.

In late November, Costco filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the “Liberation Day tariffs", and the White House remained surprisingly silent.BFM speaks with Bryan DeAngelis of Penta Group to decode this "quiet rebellion." Corporate America is finally "unbending the knee," but they are doing it with a new playbook: filing lawsuits based strictly on business logic while avoiding the public shaming that bruises the President's ego.We discuss:<ul><li>The Costco Strategy: Why the retailer’s decision to sue quietly after Thanksgiving, relying on "brand math" rather than PR stunts, possibly saved them from a Truth Social firestorm.</li><li>The "Business Lane": How companies are learning to push back against policies like tariffs by framing them strictly as shareholder protection rather than political opposition.</li><li>Political Volatility &amp; Populism: With the President's poll numbers sinking, Bryan explains why the administration is leaning harder into populist rhetoric (like the attack on institutional housing investors) to regain momentum.</li><li>The 2026 Midterm Outlook: Why "razor-thin" margins in Congress mean Democrats could flip the House even before November, and how this gridlock will force the President to rule almost exclusively through Executive Orders.</li></ul>The Erosion of Authority: From GOP resignations to state-level defiance on redistricting, we analyse whether the White House is losing its grip on its own party.

What’s Driving Malaysia’s Online Behaviour

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