Retail

McDonald’s Malaysia to invest RM1bil over five years, open 100 restaurants

KUALA LUMPUR: McDonald's Malaysia is planning to invest RM1 billion to open 100 new restaurants, modernise existing outlets and strengthen digital capabilities over the next five years.

Corporate News

Nestle Malaysia and UPM Launch Halal@STEM Programme for Students

KUALA LUMPUR: Nestle Malaysia has partnered with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to introduce a Halal@STEM learning programme for secondary school students, reinforcing its Halal commitment while empowering young Malaysians with industry-relevant knowledge.

Star Biz7

Building adaptation –the way forward

Urban renewal has garnered much attention and debate of late on the Malaysian built environment. Currently, urban renewal projects are focusing primarily on old dilapidated high-rise strata properties in urban areas. While the nation is relatively young, the majority of high-rise buildings are still relatively new and of low building age.

Star Biz7

Youths say no to home buying

More young Malaysians are renting instead of buying. But does that mean the dream of owning a home is dead?

Star Biz7

The festive cash tsunami

Even as the lunar calendar turns toward the Year of the Fire Horse this February, Malaysia's shopping malls have already undergone a transformation that is more than just aesthetic.

Investment

Creador Foundation, Censuria make strategic investments in local cafe chain Hock Kee Kopitiam

KUALA LUMPUR: Creador Foundation, the philanthropic arm of private equity firm Creador, and Censuria Capital have emerged as strategic investors in cafe chain Hock Kee Kopitiam.

Star Biz7

Creating designs that resonate

Clients often approach Antonius Richard, founder of Jakarta-based architecture studio RAD+ar, to design "sustainable" establishments.

Star Biz7

High stakes in Wallenberg drama

THE Wallenberg dynasty is corporate royalty in Sweden, known for its strict hierarchy, sense of civic duty and firm-handed guidance. But it was the experiment of a family icebreaker at the home of elder statesman Peter "Poker" Wallenberg Jr (pic) more than a decade ago that set the stage for its latest succession efforts.

Insight

Address stunting in children

Stunting, stemming from malnourished babies and children, is more than a matter of below-average height – it carries long-term consequences if unaddressed.

Short Position

Tech stocks hit by fresh AI fears

Just as some calm was thought to have settled over the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble fears, following a string of reassuring third-quarter (3Q) earnings and guidance from major technology players such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet, massive selloffs erupted afresh this week.

Short Position

Credibility is Malaysia’s 2026 test

The ringgit has strengthened about 17% since early 2024, foreign investors poured US$6.5bil into local currency bonds in 2025, and the benchmark equity index is up 12% year-on-year, hitting levels last seen in 2018.

Star Biz7

A question of adequate coverage

The government's base medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) plan, covering hospitalisation, surgery, medicines and select critical illnesses, has faced criticism from health experts who argue that the priority should be strengthening the public healthcare sector, as around 80% of Malaysians lack medical insurance.

Star Biz7

Painful trade-offs

As Malaysia grapples with rising medical inflation and intensifying debate over insurance reform, policymakers are increasingly looking outwards for answers.

Insight

Stepping out of shadow AI

You may have seen the viral video of a professor screaming at his students at the top of his lungs. "Do you think I can't tell that you're all using ChatGPT?" he yells, throwing their assignment papers into the air in rage. "How immature," we judge silently.

Star Biz7

Swatch turns Monet into wearable art

On the Bund in Shanghai, inside a stately heritage building crowned with a red-tiled roof and anchored by a watch boutique at street level, Carlo Giordanetti (pic) is imagining a big bang.

Insight

Governing AI the Asean way

The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) in 2025 was remarkable. 

Star Biz7

Maeko makes food waste a resource

Every year, about a billion tonnes of food waste is generated globally.

Star Biz7

Bond buyers scour Americas

Investors from T Rowe Price Group Inc to TCW Group Inc are embracing a strategy that's rapidly becoming the norm in emerging markets: pour money into Latin American countries aligned with US President Donald Trump.

Star Biz7

Inflation forecasts see-saw

Money managers at BlackRock Inc, Bridgewater Associates and Pacific Investment Management Co (Pimco) are shoring up their portfolios against a fresh bout of inflation. 

Star Biz7

Indonesian hiccup or structural concern?

Despite the recent sharp decline, the outlook for Indonesian equities still leans towards recovery rather than long-term damage, with policy support, earnings growth and structural reforms expected to reassert themselves once near-term volatility fades.