LRT3 Finally Launches .. After Numerous Delays

The LRT3 Shah Alam Line is set to begin full operations soon, adding 37km of new rail connectivity across the Klang Valley and promising major improvements. Dr Prodyut Dutt, Group Chief Operating Officer for Strategy & Development at Prasarana Malaysia Bhd talks about what commuters and expect and …

Malaysia's Road Safety Overhaul : Enforcement Still Needed

Malaysia has passed major amendments to the Road Transport Act, introducing higher fines, stronger enforcement powers, and new offences such as illegal racing. Dato' Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Sadullah, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia, breaks down what these changes got right while enfo…

Southeast Asia Banks Face a Tougher Second Half

Bank lending across Southeast Asia is expected to slow as weaker global trade, higher interest rates, and persistent inflation weigh on credit demand. While banks in markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have remained relatively resilient, rising asset quality risks and softer loan gro…

US Expands AI Alliance to Challenge China

The United States is expanding its Pax Silica initiative to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and other technologies essential to AI. As more countries join the network, the initiative is increasingly viewed as part of the broader strategic competition with China rathe…

Malaysia Inflation Risks Contained, For Now

Malaysia's inflation rate remained relatively stable at 2 percent in May, with RHB forecasting inflation to average 2.1 percent this year. But beneath the headline numbers, producer prices have surged, raising questions about whether businesses can continue absorbing higher costs and how long infla…

Tougher Laws for a Digital Age

Parliament has tabled the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, overhauling the nearly three-decade-old Computer Crimes Act and expanding the scope of cyber offences to include identity theft, AI-generated deepfakes and digital fraud, while imposing tougher obligations on service providers. Kenny Lam, a partner a…

Who Prosecutes, Who Practises?

Malaysia is revisiting key parts of its legal framework, from how criminal prosecutions are conducted to how future lawyers qualify for practice. Parliament is debating a revised bill to separate the roles of Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, a move aimed at strengthening prosecutorial indepe…

Can Malaysia and Bangladesh Reset Relations?

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to make Malaysia his first official overseas destination signals an effort to deepen ties beyond the traditional focus on migrant labour. While labour mobility remains central to the relationship, recurring concerns over recruitment practices, wor…

The Case for Share Buybacks

A recent report by Kenanga Investment Bank revealed that that 17% of Malaysian publicly listed companies have undertaken share buybacks over the last two years, while in terms of value buybacks are only 2% the size of dividends on Bursa. Why aren’t buybacks a more prevalent tool to retain investor …

Brexit at 10: Was It Worth It?

A decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the debate over Brexit remains as divisive as ever. While supporters point to greater sovereignty, new trade agreements, and freedom from EU rules, critics argue that economic growth, investment, and political stability have all s…