For the 1st half of this year, Malaysia has attracted 132.6 billion ringgit in approved investments, with the top countries being Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, and China. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz is confident that approved investments will hit the annual target of 220 billion ringgit. Today we speak with Nordin Abdullah, Vice Chairman of the Malaysia Australian Business Council to get his opinion on this goal and where Malaysia's FDI is heading.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

For the 1st half of this year, Malaysia has attracted 132.6 billion ringgit in approved investments, with the top countries being Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, and China. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz is confident that approved investments will hit the annual target of 220 billion ringgit. Today we speak with Nordin Abdullah, Vice Chairman of the Malaysia Australian Business Council to get his opinion on this goal and where Malaysia's FDI is heading. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Opinion and analysis of today’s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Opinion and analysis of today&rsquo;s international and local news that matter to Malaysians. Everything you need to know to start and plan your work.

Morning Brief

Can Malaysia Be An FDI Gateway For ASEAN?

Xi Jinping’s first state visit to Egypt in a decade comes as China seeks a larger role in a Middle East transformed by the Iran war, the Gaza conflict and growing uncertainty over US influence. With Egypt controlling the strategically vital Suez Canal, deepening economic ties with Beijing and even expanding military cooperation, the relationship increasingly extends beyond trade. Is Cairo simply hedging between the world’s two superpowers, or is China positioning itself as a genuine alternative diplomatic and security partner for the region?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Xi Jinping’s first state visit to Egypt in a decade comes as China seeks a larger role in a Middle East transformed by the Iran war, the Gaza conflict and growing uncertainty over US influence. With Egypt controlling the strategically vital Suez Canal, deepening economic ties with Beijing and even expanding military cooperation, the relationship increasingly extends beyond trade. Is Cairo simply hedging between the world’s two superpowers, or is China positioning itself as a genuine alternative diplomatic and security partner for the region? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Is China Rewriting the Middle East Order?

The Straits Times Index hit an all-time high in August and is up 23 per cent year-to-date. But the second-quarter earnings season showed the market's engine has changed — the old story of domestic consumption and property has given way to wealth, regionalisation and AI-linked infrastructure. Financial services posted resilient earnings and still saw the biggest outflow of any sector, at $1.42 billion. We speak to Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the Singapore Stock Exchange, on what's driving the rally and whether 17.5 times earnings is still worth paying.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Straits Times Index hit an all-time high in August and is up 23 per cent year-to-date. But the second-quarter earnings season showed the market's engine has changed — the old story of domestic consumption and property has given way to wealth, regionalisation and AI-linked infrastructure. Financial services posted resilient earnings and still saw the biggest outflow of any sector, at $1.42 billion. We speak to Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the Singapore Stock Exchange, on what's driving the rally and whether 17.5 times earnings is still worth paying. Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Straits Times Index Hit All Time High, New Growth Drivers Ahead

Malaysia's Cross-Border Insolvency Act 2026 came into force on 28 August, giving the country a dedicated framework for insolvency cases where the debtor, the assets and the creditors sit in different jurisdictions. It's based on a UN model law adopted internationally more than two decades ago — so the obvious question is what took so long. The government says it strengthens legal certainty, protects creditors and supports business rescue rather than liquidation. We speak to Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister of Law & Institutional Reform, on what changes for businesses and whether this makes Malaysia a credible regional restructuring hub.



*Image taken at BFM Studio on 6 July 2026.

Malaysia's Cross-Border Insolvency Act 2026 came into force on 28 August, giving the country a dedicated framework for insolvency cases where the debtor, the assets and the creditors sit in different jurisdictions. It's based on a UN model law adopted internationally more than two decades ago — so the obvious question is what took so long. The government says it strengthens legal certainty, protects creditors and supports business rescue rather than liquidation. We speak to Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister of Law &amp; Institutional Reform, on what changes for businesses and whether this makes Malaysia a credible regional restructuring hub.*Image taken at BFM Studio on 6 July 2026.

Can Malaysia Be An FDI Gateway For ASEAN?

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