- AMD expands in Penang
- Former Economy Minister’s family attacked by unknown parties
- China is making moves in global trade
IN Malaysia
Exciting times for the Malaysian economy
- AMD expands its R&D footprint in Malaysia
AMD senior vice-president of global operations, Keivan Keshvari, announced the opening of the company’s new office and engineering lab in Bayan Lepas, Penang. The new facility will enhance the company’s ability to develop, build and deliver next-generation high-performance, adaptive and artificial intelligence (AI) computing solutions across its portfolio.
- Sime Darby is knocking on doors for funds to build a data centre for Google
Sime Darby Property is talking to banks for the latter to extend a RM3 bil loan to the former, to fund the building of a data centre that will be leased to Google. The proposed loan will have a tenure of five years and include an optional extension of up to two years. At the back of the envelope calculation, given it is a five-year loan with a 10% interest rate, Sime Darby needs to pay north of RM800 mil per year. Previously, Google announced in 2024 plans to build the data centre at Sime Darby’s Elmina Business Park near the Malaysian capital as part of a USD2 bil investment.
Despite the influx of new investments, Malaysia is likely to miss its 2Q2025 GDP growth target of 4.5%, mainly due to Trump. Chief Economist at Ambank Group, Firdaos Rosli, said its initial projections for the 2Q GDP growth were initially in line with advance estimates of 4.5% but considering the latest developments, this has been lowered to 4.3%.
Another bad news, the Malaysian darling, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem)’s future is not looking swell, as at least two research houses downgraded their recommendations and slashed their forecasts, due to an ‘oversupply environment’.Analysts projected that PetChem will bag a net profit of RM866 mil for the full year. However, the company had racked up net losses totalling RM1.09 bil in the first six months alone. The math is not mathing.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/766539
Kedah still want its Kulim airport
State Industry and Investment Committee chairman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah said that the Kedah Government nak jugak its Kulim International Airport (KXP). Dr Haim envisioned that KXP would have a dedicated cargo airport, not intended to compete with Penang Airport, but to complement it while positioning Kedah as a hub for northern regional development. Kedah will press for the inclusion of the KXP project in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). For your information, the distance between the Penang International Airport and KXP will only be 60 kilometres, which is a shorter distance between Gombak and KLIA. Put that into perspective.
Malaysia, are you okay?
- When taunting Rafizi is not enough, they threaten his wife and child
Following the attack on his 12-year-old son, former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s wife received threatening messages that read – ‘Diam! Andai teruskan, AIDS!’ (Shut up! If you continue, AIDS!). Rafizi said in a press conference that he suspected that the individuals behind the attack thought that by attacking his family, it would pressure him to lay low in the political world. Coming back to his son, at the moment, his son will have to undergo routine blood tests over the next six months to rule out any long-term effects from the unknown substance that was injected into his body.
- Spy turned drug dealer
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki revealed that an army officer who was arrested for suspicion of involvement in a smuggling syndicate is also believed to be the mastermind of a drug trafficking operation. The said army officer was among 10 individuals arrested during Op Sohor. The raid, which followed a year-long investigation, led to the seizure of more than RM63,000 in cash, drug packages, weighing and measuring equipment, liquor and imitation weapons. Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi.
Around the SEA
China’s 6D chess move in the global trade space
- China and India intend to resume border trade
After five years menyepi, foreign ministry officials from China and India have stated that they want to resume border trade activities, mainly due to clusterf*ck uncertainties created by Trump. Past trade across the icy and high-altitude Himalayan border passes between the neighbours was usually small in volume, but any resumption is significant for its symbolism. Apart from border trade, both parties also agreed to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas. No restart date was given by either side.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/india-china-border-trade-resume-us-tariffs-5294381
- Chinese firms are going to use Indonesia for staging
Chinese firms are flocking to Indonesia to expand or set up operations as they try to shield themselves from the United States’ hefty import tariffs. Although Indonesia’s tariff rate is the same as Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, but Indonesia has one big advantage – its large population. Investment from China and Hong Kong into Indonesia was up 6.5% year-on-year to USD8.2 bil in the first six months of 2025. Total FDI grew 2.58% over the same period.
For your EYES only
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund is moving away from Malaysian markets. Ouch, bad times ahead?
This is interesting.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, trimmed its holdings to 209 Malaysian stocks worth US$2.53 billion by June-end, according to The Edge’s analysis of its half-yearly disclosure. pic.twitter.com/kqzNbWYrM5
— Jason Ng (@ByJasonNg) August 15, 2025
