Enterprise Explores

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...

Malaysia’s freight and logistics sector is changing fast. Projected to grow from nearly USD 30 billion in 2025 to almost USD 38 billion by 2030, the shift from speed-focused express delivery to freight solutions is transforming how businesses trade. For industries like healthcare, electronics, and advanced manufacturing, precision, compliance, and cold-chain reliability are now business-critical....

As US tariffs rise, Asian exporters face a stark choice: absorb the costs and see margins shrink, or pass them on and risk losing market share. A new report from Nomura finds that, on average, Asian exporters are absorbing about one-fifth of these new costs, but the strategy varies dramatically across countries and industries. Sonal Varma, Chief Economist for India and Asia ex-Japan at Nomura, joi...

In the world of venture capital, one metric separates paper promises from real success: DPI, or Distributions to Paid-In Capital. It's the actual cash returned to investors, and in a landscape littered with inflated valuations, it matters more than ever. Kevin Brockland, Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures, joins us to demystify this crucial metric. He explains why a lack of DPI has created a l...

China’s move to ban tech firms from buying certain Nvidia AI chips has reignited the semiconductor race, with rivals like Huawei pushing back into the spotlight through massive chip clusters and new roadmaps. The stakes are high: supply chains are shifting, the balance of power in AI computing is in flux, and Malaysia is positioning itself to move further up the semiconductor value chain. We speak...

When it comes to tax compliance, what works better: engagement or enforcement? With Malaysia's "shadow economy" estimated at 30% of GDP, the debate over using the carrot or the stick is more critical than ever for the nation's fiscal health. Tax expert Harvindar Singh joins us to dissect the state of tax compliance in Malaysia. He discusses the effectiveness of the self-assessment system, the role...

ASEAN continues to be seen as a region of immense opportunity, but the 11th EU-ASEAN Business Sentiment Survey by the EU-ASEAN Business Council reveals a paradox. European companies are optimistic about revenues and expansion, yet at the same time frustrated by red tape, rising non-tariff barriers, and slow progress on integration. So where does Malaysia fit in — a country some describe as a sweet...

Apple has moved far beyond selling gadgets. Each launch now reinforces a bigger story — an ecosystem that locks in millions of users worldwide. With the global rollout of the new iPhone, updated Apple Watch, iPads and more, including their arrival in Malaysia, Alexander Wong and Amin Ashaari, co-founders of SoyaCincau, discuss whether Apple is doubling down on luxury, lifestyle and loyalty rather...

With Malaysia's government debt hitting a record high of over RM1.2 trillion, many of us see an abstract, impossibly large number. But what does this actually mean for our economy, our currency, and our collective future? Senior Economist Julia Goh from UOB joins us to provide a 101 on government debt. She breaks down why governments borrow, the key warning signs of when a country is borrowing too...

Everyone is talking about "democratising AI," but what does it actually take to move this powerful technology from the hands of a few tech giants into the core of everyday enterprise operations? While individual AI usage is high, businesses are still struggling to move beyond experiments to monetisation at scale. Prem Pavan, General Manager for Southeast Asia and Korea at Red Hat, joins us to disc...

For years, sustainable finance meant investing in green companies. But a new, more pragmatic idea is gaining traction: transition investing, funding high-emitting industries to help them decarbonise. While 91% of Malaysian investors are interested, most don't fully understand it and are wary of the risks. Eugenia Koh, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at Standard Chartered, joins us to break down...

Why do so many digital transformation and AI projects fail to deliver their promised returns? According to our guest, the answer has less to do with technology and everything to do with the most overlooked element: the human factor. Bestselling author and digital transformation expert Kamales Lardi joins us to share her human-centric approach to technology. She explains why successful transformati...

In a world buzzing with AI hype, how do you separate real innovation from the "bubble of expectations"? With three decades of experience on the frontiers of technology, our guest, a self-described "tech bubble collector", offers a unique, long-term perspective on the cycles of boom, bust, and breakthrough. Tech investor and entrepreneur Nicklas Bergman joins us to share his insights. He discusses...

The US government is now a strategic shareholder in chipmaker Intel, signaling a new era of state intervention in the US But what are the real risks of this interventionist playbook for innovation, free competition, and investor confidence? Economist Dr. Carmelo Ferlito joins us to dissect this trend. He argues for a clear distinction between a market economy driven by price signals and a state-le...

New rules incoming for affiliates, sellers & marketplaces? With Malaysia's new E-commerce Bill set to be tabled by year-end, Ganesh Kumar Bangah, the e-Commerce Chapter Chair of PIKOM, joins us to break down the need for it and key implications. He discusses the need to regulate dominant marketplaces, the crucial new legal distinction between affiliates and sellers, and his strong advocacy for...

With Google's massive antitrust trial in the headlines and Malaysia set to amend its own Competition Act, the rules of fair play in business are under the spotlight. But what do these laws actually mean for businesses on the ground, and could you be accidentally breaking them? Competition law expert Tan Shi Wen, a Partner at Skrine, joins us to demystify this complex area. She explains the two mai...

Across our cities, empty shop lots and vacant office buildings are a common sight, a sign of wasted potential. But for enterprising individuals and businesses, could these underutilised assets be the next big opportunity? Cha-Ly Koh, Founder and CEO of the data analytics firm UrbanMetry, joins us to provide a data-driven look at this issue. She discusses her framework for assessing these propertie...

Artificial intelligence is powering a new wave of innovation, but it's also fueling a darker reality: the rise of 'Dark AI.' From hyper-realistic deepfakes to perfectly crafted phishing scams, how are cybercriminals weaponising this technology, and how can businesses and individuals protect themselves? Sergey Lozhkin, Head of Kaspersky's Global Research & Analysis Team for APAC, joins us to br...

In a global debt market of over $100 trillion, the Shariah-compliant Sukuk market has just crossed its own major milestone: $1 trillion. But what exactly are these Islamic financial instruments, how do they differ from conventional debt, and what's driving their rapid growth? Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings, joins us to get into all this and more. We discuss: What...