There needs to be better engagement between the creative economy and those who fund it if the arts in Malaysia are to grow in an effective and meaningful way, says Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin, the founder of the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana).

Facilitating conversations between the arts and business

Failure is part and parcel of the entrepreneurial game, but not many entrepreneurs are able to bounce back after they have experienced their first defeat, a case of “once bitten, twice shy”.

Jimmy Lee, co-founder and CEO of Foodie Box Group and an angel investor, is not one of those peo...

Entrepreneurship: The price of integrity, the value of kindness

Here’s a funny farming fable: An officer from the income tax department pays a visit to an old farmer in a rural community. “Show me the list of all your employees and how much you pay them,” he demands.

“There are four employees,” the farmer says. “One is a plant picker and cleaner; he...

Econ 4.0: Why focus on farming?

Vaults. These expansive metal chambers are arguably the most recognisable trope of any self-respecting crime caper. And yet, for all the intrigue their imagery stirs, big screen bank vaults do not exactly inspire a sense of security as they seem to be constantly broken into with unerring ease.

Family Businesses: Safekeeping keepsakes

The future of agriculture will not only involve farmers but technology players as well. This will be essential especially in urban areas, where space is scarce but demand for fresh food is high.

To accelerate this revolution, Sunway Innovation Labs (iLabs) is launching Sunway FutureX Fa...

Agritech: Creating an innovative ecosystem for urban farming

In March, Aemulus Holdings Bhd was at its lowest ebb. The company, which specialises in semiconductor testing equipment, had a problem collecting payments from its customers in China and it was running out of money.

“Back in November 2019, the first thing I told my chief financial offic...

Cover Story: Coming out of the dark

The Musang King durian had its genome sequenced for the first time in 2017. The findings, which also identified the genes responsible for the fruit’s pungent odour, were published in a leading international journal and covered by news portals globally.

The research was done out of Singa...

Cutting Edge: Genome sequencing for all

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is endless. Inference Tech Sdn Bhd CEO Izad Che Muda discovered this during his time as chief technology officer of Aerodyne Group, a provider of drone-based enterprise solutions.

This is because at Aerodyne, he was...

AI: Using AI to address worker safety, potholes and prescriptions

The movement control order (MCO) saw a lot of people losing their jobs. The publishing industry was not spared. But what Sean Teoh, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Monster Alliance Bhd (MOPress), realised was that while a lot of companies were moving to digital, publishing platforms were looking for content other than articles.

MOPress to diversify into voice and video content to suit present demand

Fintech firm Juris Technologies (JurisTech) has acquired personal finance company Intelligent Money Sdn Bhd (iMoney) in an effort to develop end-to-end solutions for its enterprise clients.

JurisTech acquires financial comparison site iMoney

Here is an atypical Covid-19 story. After finishing online classes for a bunch of business management students, the professor announced on the day of the exam: “Although I did not see you in person, I believe you attended my online classes regularly, took notes diligently and worked on projects h...

Econ 4.0: What hath Covid-19 wrought?

The once controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST) could be making a return. Multiple sources have informed Enterprise that the tax regime could be announced during the tabling of Budget 2021, slated for November.

“In fact, the reason the announcement was moved from its traditional Oct...

Taxation: GST on the horizon?

Like most companies linked to the tourism industry, Flexiroam Sdn Bhd — a company founded in Malaysia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange that provides mobile roaming packages for travellers in 150 countries — saw its business decimated in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, when trav...

Entrepreneurship: Love and connection

In the past, the customising or personalising of products was reserved for high-end luxury brands. Having your name engraved on a journal or lipstick, along with a handmade label, represented prestige and class.

However, general manufacturing costs have gone down due to economies of sca...

Cover Story: Getting personal

(May 17): Noland Arbaugh still doesn’t quite know what happened. He doesn’t know many of the key details about how his life took such a drastic and now extraordinary turn. How he became Noland Arbaugh, celebrity cyborg.

It was mid-2016, and he had his first day off as a sports counselor...

Neuralink’s first patient: ‘It blows my mind so much’

(May 17): The first Hong Kong exchange-traded funds investing directly in crypto have so far failed to spark the kind of excitement that greeted rival US products, a blow for the city’s push to foster a preeminent digital-asset hub.

Total assets at the batch of six Bitcoin and Ether ETF...

Hong Kong’s shaky crypto ETF debuts dent global hub aspirations

(May 17): Shut out of US markets and under fire in Europe, China’s electric carmakers are zeroing in on the countries where they’re welcome. One of the big ones is Brazil.

BYD Co. and Great Wall Motor Co. already dominate EV sales in the world’s sixth-largest auto market. Now the two Ch...

Chinese EV giants hammered by Biden tariff are welcome in Brazil

(May 17): Donald Trump’s lawyer at his hush money trial grilled Michael Cohen for hours on the witness stand Thursday about possible inconsistencies in his testimony and his well-documented history of lying under oath.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche took a far more aggressive tone with C...

Trump defense gets boost from tough Cohen cross-examination

(May 17): Commuters in Buenos Aires will see subway fares quadruple Friday morning, a consequence of President Javier Milei’s austerity drive.

Prices on Latin America’s oldest subway system will rise to 574 pesos (64 cents) from 125 pesos, one of steepest overnight changes since Milei’s...

Buenos Aires subway’s heavily subsidized fares set to quadruple

NEW YORK (May 17): The Dow reached an intra-day high of 40,000 for the first time on Thursday, but it ended lower after paring earlier gains, as investor hopes of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve were buoyed by data showing inflation slowdown, as well as strong corporate earnings results...

Dow hits milestone 40,000 mark as rate-cut hopes fuel rally

NEW YORK (May 17): The Dow Jones industrial average crossed the 40,000 level on Thursday for the first time and a world stock index scored a third straight record intraday high on hopes of U.S. interest rate cuts and strong earnings before stocks turned mostly flat in afternoon trading.

Dow surpasses 40,000, world stocks hit record amid rate cut hopes

LEEDS (May 17): Leeds United beat Norwich City 4-0 in the second leg of their Championship play-offs semi-final on Thursday to complete a 4-0 aggregate win, earning the spot in the final.

Midfielder Ilia Gruev gave Leeds the lead in the seventh minute, scoring his first goal for the clu...

Leeds reach Championship play-offs final with 4-0 win over Norwich

(May 17): A protracted air raid alert in most of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region was lifted early on Friday after officials reported Russian drone strikes and a missile warning in the city of Kharkiv.

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least five drones had struck Kharkiv, ...

Long air raid alert lifted in Kharkiv after drone strikes, missile warning

SEOUL (May 17): Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, again denied arms exchanges with Russia, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

The U.S. and South Korea accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, which it invaded in ...

North Korea leader's sister denies arms exchange with Russia, KCNA says

The construction of the Tanjong Karang-Assam Jawa section of Section 7 of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) has reached 71%, and is expected to be completed in March 2026.

Tanjong Karang-Assam Jawa section of West Coast Expressway ready in March 2026, says Nanta

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday.

Hup Seng, SEGi, Hong Leong Industries, Pansar, Kawan Food, Malaysian Pacific Industries, S P Setia, Thong Guan, Iconic Worldwide, Pertama Digital

Tomei Consolidated Bhd’s net profit jumped 76.38% to RM20.94 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024), from 11.87 million a year before, led by higher sales during the festive seasons — Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.

Tomei's 1Q net profit jumps 76% to RM20.94m, highest in two years

Chinese carmaker Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd (BAIC) on Thursday launched its first two passenger car models for the Malaysian market, the X55 and BJ40 Plus.

BAIC launches X55, BJ40 Plus SUVs in Malaysia

Plastic packaging manufacturer Thong Guan Industries Bhd (KL:TGUAN) is teaming up with the Kedah State Development Corporation (PKNK) to jointly develop 221 units of shop and office lots with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM200 million.

Thong Guan teams up with Kedah agency to develop RM200m GDV property project

Pansar Bhd (KL:PANSAR) has secured a RM30.1 million contract to undertake facilities management and maintenance for the Borneo Cultures Museum and annex building at the Sarawak Museum Complex in Kuching.

Pansar secures RM30m contract to manage museum building in Kuching

Iconic Medicare Sdn Bhd (IMED), a wholly-owned unit of Iconic Worldwide Bhd (KL:ICONIC), is suing Jovian Apparel Sdn Bhd over an alleged outstanding sum of RM4.96 million in unpaid face masks supplied by the company to the fashion retailer.&nbsp;

Iconic Worldwide unit sues Jovian Apparel over unpaid face masks totalling RM4.96m

Kawan Food Bhd’s (KL:KAWAN) net profit in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) rose 17.1% to RM9.22 million from RM7.88 million in the same quarter last year, in line with higher revenue.

Kawan Food reports stronger 1Q profit, warns ‘signs of recession’ showing in global economy

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Property developer S P Setia Bhd (KL:SPSETIA) posted a 39.46% year-on-year jump in its net profit for the first quarter of the year, as it recorded stronger revenue, driven by higher contribution from both its domestic business as well as its operations in Vietnam.

S P Setia 1Q profit jumps 40% as revenue climbs, says on track to achieve RM4.4 bil sales target

Engineering support services provider Coraza Integrated Technology Bhd (KL:CORAZA) remained in the red for the third consecutive quarter, posting a net loss of RM1.32 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Coraza stays in the red in 1Q amid semiconductor market downturn

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday detained the former chief executive officer of a statutory body on suspicion of abusing power and misappropriating funds allocated by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for a development project worth RM1.2 billion.

Ex-CEO of statutory board nabbed over alleged misappropriation of RM1.2b MOF funds

Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (KL:MPI) posted a net profit of RM32.76 million for the third quarter ended March 31, 2024 (3QFY2024), in contrast to a net loss of RM17.83 million a year ago, thanks to higher revenue and better foreign exchange rates.

MPI expects semiconductor industry to be volatile in near term despite improved earnings, pays 25 sen dividend

A victory by Republican Donald Trump in the US presidential election threatens US$1 trillion (RM4.7 trillion) in energy investments and future support for low-carbon energy sources, according to a Wood Mackenzie report.

A Trump win puts US$1 tril in US energy investments at risk

AirAsia MOVE, the travel super-app by Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA), has inked a memorandum of understanding with The Commune Mall to offer exclusive discounts spanning flights, hotels and rides deals to patrons of the mall.

AirAsia MOVE partners with The Commune Mall to offer exclusive deals to mall patrons

Singapore's first prime minister in 20 years held an initial cabinet meeting on Thursday after taking office with a pledge to sustain what he called the miracle of the wealthy city state amid an uncertain global environment.

Singapore's first new PM in 20 years holds inaugural cabinet meeting 

GreenRE Sdn Bhd on Thursday awarded AEON Mall Mean Chey in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with Gold certification under the non-residential category.

GreenRE awards AEON Mall Mean Chey with Gold certification, inks MOU with Cambodia Green Building Council

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, unwinding nearly half of the jump at the start of the month, consistent with a gradually cooling labour market.

US labour market rebalancing, economy slowing further

DKSH Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd's (KL:DKSH) net profit rose 9.2% to RM40.45 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) from RM37.03 million a year ago, on the back of a 5.6% increase in revenue to RM2.07 billion from RM1.96 billion previously.&nbsp;

DKSH's 1Q net profit rises 9% to RM40m

Pertama Digital Bhd (KL:PERTAMA), which runs the digital court bail payment system e-Jamin, said it is in discussions with the relevant authorities to allow the company to continue operating the system.

Enterprise

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