Leading countries in the Islamic finance space within the Asean region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, should collaborate in the banking and takaful sectors, as bright prospects are seen for both Islamic finance and financial technology (fintech) in the region, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Adnan Zaylani.

Malaysia, Indonesia should forge alliance to enhance Islamic finance, fintech growth in Asean — BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) will enhance cross-border e-commerce among small and medium enterprises by partnering Amazon in a programme that allows products to be sold internationally via Amazon’s e-stores.

Matrade, Amazon collaborate to enhance cross-border e-commerce among SMEs

SINGAPORE (April 15): Asia Pacific saw the largest y-o-y decline in financial technology (fintech) funding value compared to other regions in 1Q2024, falling 46% to US$1.85 billion (S$2.51 billion), according to data by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Asia Pacific saw largest y-o-y decline in fintech funding in 1Q2024 — S&P Global

BENGALURU (April 9): India's Paytm said on Tuesday that Surinder Chawla had resigned as the chief executive officer and managing director of its banking unit Paytm Payments Bank "on account of personal reasons".

The company said the resignation would be effective from June 26 but did no...

India's Paytm banking unit CEO Surinder Chawla resigns

SINGAPORE (April 9): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and global payments company Mastercard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in cyber security.

MAS to strengthen financial services’ cyber resilience with Mastercard MOU

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd will start imposing a 1% overseas transaction conversion fee for its cross-border QR payment feature in Touch 'n Go (TNG) eWallet, starting from April 25, which had been free of charge previously.

Touch 'n Go eWallet to charge 1% conversion fee for overseas transactions from April 25

KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): Grab-led digital bank GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) aims to provide financial facilities to the underserved market, expand the retail segment and address the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said its chief executive officer Lai Pei-Si.

Grab-led digital bank GXBank to tap into underserved market, MSMEs

MBSB Bank Bhd is discontinuing its e-wallet platform, effective from May 31.

In a statement on Monday, the bank said the strategic decision is aligned with the bank’s ongoing efforts to optimise and streamline its digital offerings.

MBSB Bank discontinues e-wallet platform

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched Cosmic, a centralised digital platform for the sharing of customer information among financial institutions to tackle money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

Singapore's MAS launches information-sharing platform to combat financial crime with six commercial banks

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Malaysia’s first shariah-compliant and conventional peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform microLEAP recorded a total financing disbursement of RM62.18 million last year, more than double from RM30.91 million in 2022.

microLEAP records over 100% rise in total financing disbursement in 2023

Alibaba Group said on Tuesday it was offering to buy the 36% of Cainiao it does not already own for up to US$3.75 billion (RM17.7 billion), abandoning plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of the logistics business in Hong Kong.

Alibaba to buy Cainiao stake for up to US$3.75b as it drops IPO plan

Thailand's government expects to launch a signature handout scheme worth 500 billion baht (RM65.2 billion) by the fourth quarter of this year, a deputy finance minister said on Monday, delaying it beyond a former target date of May.

Thailand delays US$14b handout scheme to fourth quarter

JAKARTA (March 22): Southeast Asian online lending platform Akulaku, which is backed by China's Alibaba, secured up to US$100 million of debt financing from the Singapore branch of London-based HSBC, Akulaku's CEO said, as it aims to make the company more profitable.

Alibaba-backed fintech Akulaku secures HSBC financing, aims for double-digit growth

SINGAPORE (March 22): Maybank has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with fintech firm Doxa Holdings International (Doxa) to jointly provide and enhance supply chain financing (SCF) solutions for players in the building and construction sector, extending to other industries in the future.

Maybank, Doxa ink MOU for supply chain financing solutions in building & construction sector

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire on energy facilities overnight, with an oil refinery damaged in Russia’s Krasnodar region, while Ukraine sustained a missile barrage on gas infrastructure and other targets.

Russia, Ukraine exchange strikes on refinery and gas targets

Deutsche Bank AG is putting aside as much as €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion or RM6.6 billion) in legal provisions, warning this will hit profits.

The bank will book the potential payment in the current quarter, it said in a statement late on Friday. That will impact “second quarter and full-year profitability”, it said, while adding that the ultimate amount of the provisions is not clear yet.

Deutsche Bank earmarks US$1.4b provision in hit to profit

Genting Malaysia Bhd has dismissed reports linking the group and its deputy chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thai to supposed discussions relating to the opening of a second casino for Malaysia in Forest City, Johor, to revive the US$100 billion (RM477.60 billion) development.

Genting Malaysia denies involvement in talks for Forest City casino

The Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) remains valid and applicable throughout Malaysia, including in Terengganu, unless declared otherwise by the court, says the Prime Minister’s Office, despite the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly's decision to reject its use.

Territorial Sea Act 2012 still valid, including in Terengganu, says PMO

The Malaysian government is serious about resolving issues surrounding the palm oil industry in the country, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Govt serious about resolving palm oil industry issues, says Johari Ghani

Three new semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Penang with total investments of US$100 million (RM477 million), said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Three semiconductor firms keen to invest US$100m in Penang

Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir, who have been asked to declare their assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have both denied being investigated by the agency.

Mahathir's sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, deny being under MACC probe

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters.

Govt not suspending service of Fennec and HOM helicopters, says minister

It will be a four-way fight in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election between Pakatan Harapan’s pick Pang Sock Tao, Hulu Selangor Bersatu action division head Khairul Azhari, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

NEWS: Four-cornered fight in KKB by-election

Parti Rakyar Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin says that if elected, PRM will stand on a platform of increased transparency in government.

NEWS: Parti Rakyat Malaysia will run on more transparency

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) is investigating allegations of unethical recruitment practices made against the sub-agents of SOS Manpower Service, its appointed agent to recruit Nepalese foreign workers for its subsidiary&nbsp;KL-Kepong Rubber Products Sdn Bhd.

The allegations, according to KLK, were made by Sajha Sabal Media, a news portal in Nepal.

KLK investigating allegations of unethical practice linked to its foreign worker recruitment agent

Three new semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Penang with&nbsp;total investments of US$100 million (RM477&nbsp;million), said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was never confronted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on whether Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners — which received millions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and transferred it to his private banking account — was controlled or owned by fugitive Eric Tan Kim Loong, an alleged associate of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Court told MACC never asked Najib if he knew who owned shell company that transferred US$30 mil to his account

Bank of Singapore Ltd, the private-banking arm of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), has fired up to 40 employees over the misuse of medical benefits, according to a CNA report.

Singapore bank fires workers over misuse of medical claims — CNA

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said&nbsp;there is an urgent need to accelerate replanting to address the issue of ageing oil palm trees, and urges the government to provide replanting tax incentives to support such efforts.

Ageing oil palm trees: MPOA calls for govt incentives to speed up replanting

Genting Malaysia Bhd has dismissed reports linking the group and its deputy chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thai to supposed discussions relating to the opening of a second casino for Malaysia in Forest City, Johor, to revive the US$100 billion (RM477.60 billion) development.

Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir, who have been asked to declare their assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have both denied being investigated by the agency.

The Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) remains valid and applicable throughout Malaysia, including in Terengganu, unless declared otherwise by the court, says the Prime Minister’s Office,&nbsp;despite the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly's decision to reject its use.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election&nbsp;is the time for Barisan Nasional (BN) to return Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) favour in assisting Umno candidates in the previous elections, said&nbsp;Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Time for BN to return PH's favour in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says Zahid

The Malaysian government is serious about resolving issues surrounding the palm oil industry in the country, said Plantation&nbsp;and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri&nbsp;Johari&nbsp;Abdul&nbsp;Ghani.

Deutsche Bank AG is putting aside as much as €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion or RM6.6 billion) in legal provisions, warning this will hit profits.

The bank will book the potential payment in the current quarter, it said in a statement late on Friday. That will impact “second quarter and full-year profitability”, it said, while adding that the ultimate amount of the provisions is not clear yet.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire on energy facilities overnight, with an oil refinery damaged in Russia’s Krasnodar region, while Ukraine sustained a missile barrage on gas infrastructure and other targets.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to temporarily suspend the service of&nbsp;Fennec and HOM helicopters.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened an&nbsp;operations room for&nbsp;the public to channel information and complaints of corrupt acts and power abuse in the Kuala Kubu Baharu&nbsp;state by-election.

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