Enterprise Explores

When tech giants dangle massive signing bonuses worth hundreds of millions, it’s more than just competition — it’s a global war for talent. And if you're a Malaysian startup, scale-up, or mid-sized tech company, how do you even begin to compete? We dive into the legal and ethical battleground of talent poaching with Ong Johnson and Winn Wong of Halim Hong & Quek. We unpack what businesses can...

As Malaysia rapidly transforms into an aging nation, what is often viewed as a challenge is emerging as one of the country's biggest economic opportunities: the silver economy. At its heart is AgeTech, technology designed to support the health, independence, and well-being of a growing senior population, with spending power. Alea Nasihin and Sabreena Zahri from the Institute for Capital Market Res...

Jetstar Asia is shutting down after 20 years, but is this just about one airline, or a warning sign for the entire low-cost model in Southeast Asia? The Singapore-based carrier, part of the Qantas Group, cited rising costs at Changi Airport and post-pandemic pressures. But the deeper story may be what this means for the future of budget flying. While passengers have grown used to cheap tickets and...

Asia's energy transition presents a unique challenge: how to power growing economies while decarbonising? The investment required is staggering, an estimated $90 trillion for the APAC region by 2050. This means navigating the immense "energy trilemma" of balancing sustainability with energy security and affordability. Azam Mohammad, a Senior Partner at McKinsey who co-leads its regional energy pra...

What if we could predict and prevent disease outbreaks before they happen? That's the promise of precision public health, a new approach where AI, big data, and digital tools are combining to make population-level healthcare smarter, faster, and more tailored. But as we embrace this data-driven future, how do we navigate the critical ethical questions of privacy, equity, and trust? Dr. Clive Tan o...

Your posts, comments, and even memes could be training the next generation of AI,and often without your knowledge or consent. Now, a lawsuit between Reddit and AI company Anthropic has sparked global debate: who really owns the content we put online, and what rights do users have when platforms and AI developers use it? While the case is playing out in the US, it raises important questions for Mal...

As US-China trade tensions reshape global supply chains, a quiet boom is happening in Malaysia’s industrial real estate market. Multinationals are increasingly looking beyond traditional hubs, seeking resilient, cost-efficient, and high-tech operational bases that are fit for the future. So, is this momentum sustainable or just temporary hype? Keith Ooi, Group Managing Director of Knight Frank Mal...

From evolving stamp duty rules to revised timelines for e-Invoicing and a major expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST), Malaysian businesses are navigating a flood of critical compliance updates. To cut through the complexity and potential confusion, Thenesh Kannaa, Executive Director at Tratax, discusses: Stamp duty enforcement changes and what it means for businesses The revised timeline a...

With World Food Safety Day showing how important it is to apply science and prevention to protect consumers, the question is — how safe is our food before it hits the shelves? Suzanne Mooney, Founder of The Lost Food Project joins us to explore what food safety looks like in practice, the current gaps in the F&B industry and the risks that follow if we just treat food safety as a checkbox, rat...

Many gig workers want to grow, but without a boss, training, or a clear path, building a career can feel out of reach. So, how do you take charge on your own? These days, more people are turning to gig work, whether it’s freelancing, ride-hailing, food delivery, or tutoring, to earn a living or enjoy more freedom than a regular 9-to-5. But while the flexibility is appealing, many find themselves s...

The OECD recently urged Malaysia to boost competitiveness, while neighbours race ahead with bold reforms and investor wins. So what’s holding us back and what needs to change? Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education, takes a hard look at Malaysia’s economic fundamentals, the limits of SME-driven growth, and what it will take to remain regionally relevant. See omnystudio.com/list...

IATA's latest financial outlook suggests an improved profitability for the airline industry over 2024 and resilience in the face of global economic and political shifts. But what does this mean for Malaysians who are travelling abroad or for travelers entering the country? We explore that and dive deeper into the state of the travel industry amidst these industry shifts with Nigel Wong, President,...

Too many businesses still treat accessibility as a checkbox. But they may be overlooking a growing market and a chance to build smarter solutions for everyone. On the first-ever World Day for Assistive Technology, we explore how inclusive design can move from the margins to the mainstream, shaping better tech, products, and services for all. Joining us is Stevens Chan, Founder and CEO of Dialogue...

We’re exploring the decline in consumer confidence and global reputation of the United States. This is based on Ipsos’s Consumer Confidence and Impact on U.S. Reputation survey that highlights for the first time, more people are claiming China to have more of a positive influence than the United States at this current point. With that in mind, there's still an optimistic feeling among Malaysians a...

Malaysia now tops Southeast Asia for grocery spending — even ahead of Singapore. In 2023, Malaysians shelled out nearly USD 2,000 (over RM8,000) per person on food, according to the USDA. The numbers may not be inflation-adjusted, but the pain at the checkout counter is very real. We speak with economist and policy analyst Professor Geoffrey Williams to break down why food is becoming so expensive...

Today’s supply chains face constant disruption and rising customer demands. How can businesses not just survive, but thrive? Agentic AI is gaining significant traction in supply chain management, as its capability to make autonomous decisions offers a crucial competitive edge and foresight amidst ongoing global volatility. The big question is: Is it the silver bullet we’ve been looking for? On Ent...

How long does it take for Malaysian businesses to pay their bills and what does that say about our economy? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, Dawn Lai, CEO of Experian Information Services Malaysia unpacks the findings from Experian’s 2025 State of Credit Report. The report introduces the Industry Debts Turned Cash (IDTC) metric to assess real-world payment behavior across seven core sectors...

Banks are more than just vaults for savings or gateways to loans, they’re the lifeblood of a modern economy. But how do we measure their efficiency? What role do monetary policies play in shaping performance? And how should Malaysia’s banks evolve to stay competitive, especially with the rise of digital banks and fintech? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Dr. Chan Sok Gee, Asso...

As Malaysia’s e-invoicing mandate rolls out in phases, many SMEs find themselves confused, concerned, and caught between compliance and opportunity. But e-invoicing isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes, it’s about streamlining operations, enabling faster payments, and unlocking real-time data for smarter decisions. In this episode, Koren Wines, Managing Director of Xero Asia, explains how bus...

Fintech is booming in Malaysia — so why launch a Hub now? In this episode, we speak with Farhan Ahmad, Group Chief Executive Officer at PayNet to unpack the thinking behind Malaysia’s new Fintech Innovation Hub, built on two key pillars: Community and Catalyst. Why these? Why now? And more importantly — will it work? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is racing ahead, but many financial services firms are struggling to keep up, while facing concerns around data breaches, legal issues, and trust concerns.. Deloitte’s AI at a Crossroads report found that 57% of firms reported a rise in AI-related incidents in just the past year, yet only 13% are considered truly “ready” for trustworthy AI governance. So how do we build confidence in AI without...

What do job seekers in Malaysia really want in 2025? It turns out, it’s not just about salary anymore. While pay still matters, many are prioritising things like growth, flexibility, and a workplace that actually respects their time. And what they won’t put up with? Vague job roles, slow hiring, and toxic cultures. In this conversation, Derek Toh, Founder and CEO of Hiredly Group, discusses the ha...

As global trade becomes more fragmented, the Global South is stepping into a more prominent role. But with rising geopolitical tensions, how can Southeast Asian nations chart their own course, without falling into the crossfire between the US and China? Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader of BCG’s Global Advantage Practice, joins us to unpack the growing influence of the Global South, ASEAN’s unique p...

What happens when small businesses get the right digital skills at the right time? For over 11,000 MSMEs in Malaysia, the answer is clear with nearly 80% saying their income has gone up after joining the Go Digital ASEAN programme. Backed by Google.org and implemented by The Asia Foundation, Go Digital ASEAN helps micro and small businesses across the region pick up practical digital skills, from...

Scammers are getting smarter, and they are now pretending to be trusted employers or job platforms like Jobstreet. With convincing messages, fake job offers, and even forged identities, these impersonation scams are putting jobseekers at serious risk while also damaging the credibility of real employers. In this episode, we speak with Nicholas Lam, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia,...