KUALA LUMPUR: About 84% of chief executive officers (CEOs) in Malaysia plan to expand beyond their traditional industry boundaries over the next three years, targeting adjacent and fast moving sectors, according to PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey – Malaysia.
The survey noted that these fast moving sectors include retail (22%), consumer goods and services (16%), and technology (14%), among others.
Meanwhile, the number of Malaysian companies entering entirely new sectors has surged to 76% over the past five years, a significant leap from 42% in 2025.
“This appetite for reinvention is reinforced by bold deal-making ambitions, with 51% planning at least one major acquisition in the next three years, surpassing both Asia-Pacific (28%) and global (45%) averages, despite a cautious global mergers and acquisitions outlook,” it said.
However, only 33% of CEOs in Malaysia are confident about their company’s revenue growth over the next 12 months, a double-digit decline from last year.
The survey found that skills shortages (35%), cyber risks (33%) and technological disruption (33%) are the top concerns for CEOs in Malaysia. Trade-related pressures, on the other hand, remain relatively contained. Only 24% reported feeling highly exposed to tariff risks, a figure close to the Asia-Pacific average.
On artificial intelligence (AI), the survey said 23% of CEOs in Malaysia reported that AI has driven additional revenue over the past 12 months, while 17% are seeing cost reductions. However, 26% said AI has increased their cost base.
“2026 is shaping up as a decisive year for AI. A small group of companies are already turning AI into measurable financial returns, while many others are still struggling to move beyond pilots.
“That gap is starting to show up in confidence and competitiveness – and it will widen quickly for those that do not act,” said PwC global chairman Mohamed Kande. — Bernama
