Enterprise Explores

Malaysians aren't just online shoppers; they're among the world's most confident and frequent cross-border consumers. A new study by Airwallex and Statista found 94% of Malaysians are confident in buying from international merchants, and 72% do so at least once a month, far outpacing global averages. Aren Yip, Malaysia Country Manager at Airwallex, joins us to unpack what's driving this borderless...

Are you one of the 76% of Malaysian consumers thinking about switching car brands? A new report from Deloitte reveals a shift in the automotive market, with brand loyalty at a regional low as a flood of new players enters the scene. Kevin Ohkohchi, Consumer Leader at Deloitte Malaysia, joins us to unpack the findings from their 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Survey.  We discuss: Why 76% of M...

A recent broadcast error, where several regional leaders were misidentified on air, has sparked questions about how such mistakes happen in an era where automation and AI are increasingly woven into production workflows. We don’t know whether technology played a role in that specific case, but it’s prompted a broader conversation: as organisations rely more on automation to handle information at s...

Over 97% of all international data travels through a vast, invisible network of subsea cables. As Malaysia invests billions in its AI ambitions and data center boom, this undersea infrastructure is no longer just a utility, it's a critical strategic asset. Martyna Sucharzewska, a Technology Analyst at BMI, joins us to explore this new global race. She discusses why the explosive demand from AI is...

According to The Global Data Center Report 2025, Singapore today has one of the highest compute capacities in the world — about 8,000 people per megawatt of compute power. In Vietnam, that number jumps to 1.7 million. This growing gap isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about who gets to build, train, and benefit from the next generation of AI. We sit down with Tim Lin, Partner and Co-Founder o...

As businesses move to the cloud, they are no longer buying software, they are subscribing to a service. This critical shift from ownership to access is governed by Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements, and many leaders are signing them without understanding the significant risks. Lawyers Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi (of Halim Hong & Quek) join us to decode these complex contracts. They explai...

They are Malaysia’s 7.7 million Gen Zs, the first generation to grow up entirely online and the next to redefine how we live, work, and spend. Visa Malaysia’s latest Gen Z Decoded study reveals how this cohort blends family values with digital-first lifestyles, managing money through apps while seeking meaning and flexibility at work. We speak with Previn Pillay, Country Manager at Visa Malaysia,...

Tax predictability is a cornerstone of any good tax system, giving businesses and individuals the confidence to plan and invest. Yet for many in Malaysia, the tax landscape has felt anything but stable. While Budget 2026 offered a pause on major new taxes, questions about fiscal discipline and long-term policy remain. Dr. Carmelo Ferlito and Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh joined us for a deep dive into t...

Five teenagers from a Felda settlement in Pahang are defying expectations, and geography, to represent Malaysia at the FIRST Global Challenge in Panama City, the world’s biggest youth robotics competition. Guided by mentors from Lam Research and Roboticist Malaysia, these students from Sekolah Menengah Islam Al-Maarif have become the first team from Felda, Pahang, and an Islamic school to qualify....

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a surge in retail investors using apps, data dashboards and now AI-driven tools to make decisions that once belonged mainly to analysts and full-time traders. At the same time, younger Malaysians are moving beyond the traditional blue-chip counters that previous generations favoured, and are beginning to explore new themes like clean energy, technology indices a...

Salim Abu Haniffa, Executive Director of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce–Southern Africa, joins us to discuss this "we don't see each other" paradox between Malaysia and South Africa. He makes the case for South Africa as a critical gateway to a $1 trillion regional market, explains the vast, untapped opportunities in areas like halal and agritech, and calls for a shift from "handshake diplomacy...

For decades, global trade was dominated by goods like oil and cars. But a new report from BCG argues the real battleground of the future is in services. From cloud computing and fintech to streaming, services trade is projected to hit nearly $12 trillion by 2032, creating new tensions and ‘fault lines’" that will reshape the global economy. Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader of the Global Advantage P...

For decades, an American identity has been one of the world's most powerful brand assets. But in a shifting global landscape, is it now a liability? A new survey from Ipsos reveals a 22% global drop in purchase intent for American brands, creating a ‘perception penalty’ that has real economic consequences. Seth Traum, a Partner at Ipsos Strategy3, joins us to unpack the findings from their "Brand...

While Budget 2026 introduced no new broad-based consumption taxes, the landscape for businesses has been far from static in 2025. From the continued expansion of the SST scope to key changes in excise and stamp duties, Geeta Balakrishnan, Tax Director at PwC Malaysia, joins us to break down the key issues. She discusses the ‘grey zones’ in the expanded SST regulations, the bottom-line impact of ne...

We sit down with Anas Amdan and Shahrizal Denci, co-founders of Bantu Tani Sdn Bhd, to explore how Malaysia’s food waste crisis isn’t just an environmental problem but also an economic one. Every day, Malaysia discards around 17,000 tonnes of food, almost half of which is still edible. Behind that number lies a hidden cost for SMEs, especially in agriculture and food retail, where waste isn’t wast...

Budget 2026 signals Malaysia’s boldest digital push yet, with initiatives ranging from a RM2 billion Sovereign AI Cloud and RM5.9 billion R&D, commercialisation and innovation (R&D&C&I) fund to new AI and cybersecurity training incentives for SMEs. But beyond the hype, can Malaysia really execute? Are our SMEs ready to go digital, and do people even understand what these AI initiat...

With Malaysia’s Budget 2026 freshly tabled, many SMEs and mid-tier companies are parsing through the fine print to understand what the government’s promises of reform and inclusion actually mean for them. We speak with Datuk William Ng, National President of  the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA), to discuss what’s in Budget 2026 for SMEs — from financing access and complianc...

We unpack Malaysia’s 2026 National Budget and its implications for the business community with Farah Rosley, Malaysia Tax Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Tax Consultants. The continuity in the Budget 2026 reinforces fiscal consolidation and economic resilience, with a strong focus on strengthening existing tax frameworks, targeted incentives, and continued subsidy rationalisation. Key highli...

We sit down with Firdaos Rosli, Chief Economist at AmBank Group, to look ahead to Budget 2026 through the lens of Malaysia’s broader economy. As global uncertainties persist, inflationary pressures remain, and fiscal consolidation efforts continue, Malaysia faces the challenge of sustaining growth while navigating structural reforms and maintaining investor confidence. Yet within these headwinds l...

We sit down with Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Founder & Senior Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator, and Ng Sai Kit, Chairman of the Malaysian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (MVCA), to look ahead to Budget 2026 through the lens of Malaysia’s tech startup ecosystem. In a landscape where funding pipelines have tightened, valuations are being recalibrated, and global competitio...

We sit down with Dr Chin Chee Seong, National President of the SME Association of Malaysia, to look ahead to Budget 2026 through the eyes of Malaysia’s small and medium businesses. With costs climbing, regulations multiplying, and technology evolving faster than most firms can keep up, many SME owners are trying to modernise while simply keeping the lights on. Yet beneath the strain lies opportuni...

Accessing financing remains one of the toughest challenges for Malaysian businesses, especially when collateral is an issue. That’s where Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP) steps in, with government-backed guarantees designed to help SMEs and mid-tier companies tap into the funds they’re entitled to. Datuk Fazlur Rahman Zainuddin, Principal Officer of SJPP, explains what businesses can...

Malaysia has seen a surge in ransomware attacks in recent years, with high-profile cases like the KLIA ransom demand of USD10 million raising alarm about the country’s cyber resilience. As the nation’s digital economy grows, so too does its vulnerability. And experts warn that artificial intelligence is giving cybercriminals new tools, while the looming reality of quantum computing threatens to up...

A safer way to donate to social impact projects? The Securities Commission of Malaysia has recently issued new guidelines for Social Exchange Platforms, creating a regulated avenue for channeling philanthropic capital to social impact projects. But what exactly are these platforms, and what do the new rules mean for non-profits and donors? Lawyers Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi from Halim Hong & Q...

For years, the promise of the ASEAN startup ecosystem has been hindered by fragmented regulations, funding gaps, and disconnected networks. A new, ambitious initiative, the ASEAN Digital Center of Excellence (COE), aims to finally solve this by building a truly integrated regional platform. Neil Cheong, Co-founder of the venture studio GUIDE, joins us to share an inside look at this project. His f...