EPF Akaun Fleksibel - only ‘break in case of emergencies’. Last week (25 April 2024), the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) announced a restructuring, which, among other things, will see the introduction of a third account known as Akaun Fleksibel effective May 11th. We speak with Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams to dissect what this potentially means for EPF members, for the economy, and the retirement crisis. Among other things, we explore how Account 1 (now Akaun Persaraan) has been moved up...

On the back of Earth Day earlier this week, Enterprise explores the 2024 Earth Day report that was released by market research firm Ipsos Malaysia with Arun Menon, Managing Director at Ipsos Malaysia. This is the 4th edition of the report and is based on a 33-country survey conducted where 24,000 people were interviewed between January 26th and February 9th. Below are the 6 key findings from the report, which we explore in more depth in the show. Globally, across 33 countries, a majority...

In the fast-paced world of advertising, language is not just a tool for communication but also an element of brand identity and cultural representation. Recently, concerns have arisen regarding the incorrect use of Bahasa Melayu in advertisements and public signage, sparking debates about linguistic integrity versus creative freedom. As advertisers and creative agencies navigate these waters, they face the challenge of balancing the evolving nature of language with the need to preserve its...

Today, Enterprise explores the KL20 action plan and what is in store for the startup ecosystem in Malaysia with Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founder at 1337 Ventures and Kevin Brockland, Founder and Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures. For some context, the KL20 is a summit organised by the Malaysian government that aims to stimulate Malaysia’s startup scene by addressing some of the challenges faced by startup founders in the country like access to funding, navigating regulatory barriers and...

Today on the show, Enterprise explores Echelon’s annual Top100 Program, a program specifically curated to boost the growth for startups in Malaysia. To help me break down the significance of this program to startups across SouthEast Asia, I’m joined in the studio by Mohan Belani, CEO and Co-Founder of e27, the startup ecosystem's go-to platform for insights, connections, funding, and talent opportunities. Recently, Echelon has revealed the first 26 participants in this program for 2024 and...

Enterprise explores the 15th edition of CPA Australia’s Asia-Pacific Small Business survey which provides insights about small businesses across 11 economies, including Malaysia. The annual survey results indicate that 2024 is expected to be a better year than 2023, with 78% of small businesses expected to grow this year. This is Malaysia's best result since 2012 and it is higher than the survey average of 70%. To help me breakdown and explore the survey, we’re joined by Gavan Ord and Azfar...

In this episode, Enterprise explores the complexities of digital fragmentation and how businesses can address it to unlock real business value with Michael Bachman, Head of Architecture and AI Strategy at Boomi, a software company that specialises in integration platform as a service, API management, master data management and data preparation. While data is increasingly valued in today's business landscape, many organisations struggle to bring out its full potential due to a common issue:...

With the upcoming launch of the MYStartup Single-window for startups, today we explore how this will streamline startup matters and address the long-standing issue of a fragmentation and disconnect when it comes to startup support and resources from the government. Joining us for this conversation is Norman Vanhaecke, Group CEO of the Cradle Fund. Among other things, we’ll get into the specific features and enhancements, how the single-window initiative will streamline the startup...

With nominations for the 23rd edition EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards now open, today we dive into the evolution of the awards over the past 2 decades and its current focus with Philip Rao, Partner in Consulting with Ernst & Young, and Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia Program Director. Philip breaks down the awards, getting into the differentiation between the 4 categories (Master, Technology, Women and Emerging), the types of companies that are encouraged to apply, the judging...

Food waste represents a significant challenge, particularly during festive periods when celebrations often lead to excessive food production and consumption. In Malaysia, as in many parts of the world, festivals such as Ramadan see markets and households overflow with food, much of which unfortunately goes to waste. This not only impacts the environment through increased landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions but also represents a considerable economic loss. Addressing this issue requires...

Amidst the competitive landscape of the Asia-Pacific consumer goods market, the narrative has often focused on insurgent brands disrupting established incumbents. However, a recent Bain & Company’s analysis of 23 consumer product categories across 11 Asia-Pacific markets (from 2018 to 2022) paints a more complex picture. The report, entitled “Resilience Amid Disruption: How Some Asia-Pacific Incumbents Are Outmanoeuvring Insurgents”, challenges the conventional view, revealing how...

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is more than just an IT concern - it is a fundamental business imperative. Recent cyber incidents targeting significant Malaysian entities like Maxis, and The Youth and Sports Ministry have underscored the urgency of this issue, revealing vulnerabilities that can have far-reaching implications for organisations across the nation. To shed light on effective strategies to combat cybersecurity threats, we speak with Ian Farquhar, the Security Chief...

Enterprise explores the role and power of foreign-owned e-marketplaces and social commerce platforms and why this needs to be studied and managed to protect local merchants and Malaysia's digital sovereignty. We explore this with Ganesh Kumar Bangah, the Chair of PIKOM’s e-Commerce Chapter, he’s also the Founder & Executive Chairman of Commerce.Asia, an all-in-one ecommerce ecosystem. Among other things, we get into the power that marketplaces and social commerce players hold in...

Enterprise explores the Malaysia Venture Capital Roadmap (MVCR) 2024-2030 with Noor Amy Ismail, COO of MAVCAP. Launched by The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and the Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP), this 33-page roadmap hopes to elevate Malaysia’s perception in the eyes of the venture capital world and make Malaysia a preferred venture capital hub in Southeast Asia. The roadmap spotlights three strategic pillars: improving the ease of doing...

Enterprise explores how GenAI will change politics with Bryan DeAngelis, Partner and Head of the Washington Office at stakeholder solutions firm Penta Group. Drawing from their recent article titled "AI: The Next Political Game Changer," we'll explore how artificial intelligence is poised to reshape political campaigns and society at large. From the power of AI in micro-targeting and personalised messaging to its implications for transparency and polarisation, we'll dissect the four key ways...

Enterprise Explores 4 travel trends driving consumers in 2024 as highlighted by the AMEX Travel 2024 Global Travel Trends Report. The 4 trends that the report says are driving booking decisions are: For the Love of the Game: Sports fans are planning trips around athletic events, whether it involves a favorite sport, a beloved team, or an international multi-sport competition. Planning Big: Major, expedition-style adventures, like a trip to the Galapagos Islands or trekking with the...

Can anyone be an entrepreneur? What defines an entrepreneurial mindset? All this and more as Enterprise explores ‘The Psychology of Entrepreneurship’ with Professor Michael Frese, Professor of Management at Asia School of Business. With a particular focus on his paper titled ‘The Psychology of Entrepreneurship: Action and Process’, we will dive into the underlying psychological factors that drive entrepreneurial success and the practical implications for aspiring entrepreneurs. Other than...

2024 - We are almost at the end of the first quarter of the year! Now is a suitable time to reevaluate how small and medium-sized businesses are “feeling” about the economy. Malaysian SMEs enter 2024 with a mix of optimism and caution. A recent report by Employment Hero found that an impressive 79% of SMEs are confident about their own growth prospects, despite concerns about rising costs and inflation. This sentiment reflects a sense of resilience after challenging years, with many...

Today, Enterprise explores the state of the tech startup ecosystem and how the funding and investment narrative within this space has evolved over the years with: Peter Murray, Country Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Malaysia and Emerging Markets Kamarul Muhamed, Founder & Group CEO at Aerodyne Group, a Malaysian based tech startup that’s ranked as the world's #1 drone service provider And Khailee Ng, Managing Partner at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.4 billion in...

On this episode, Enterprise Explores the newly-formed Soonicorn Collective and discuss whether building startup unicorns is an outdated notion with Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Senior Partner & Co-Founder of ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator, and Ramachandran Muniandy, CEO and Co-Founder at Asia Mobiliti. They are both Co-Chairs of the Soonicorn Collective. The Soonicorn Collective is a platform that is hoping to groom Malaysia's next unicorns and foster a strong startup ecosystem in the country...

In the present time where a digital-first lifestyle pervades every aspect of our lives from communication and entertainment to learning and running businesses, it is important to understand how the digital landscape is shaping our behaviours, preferences, and approaches to available opportunities. In Malaysia’s rapidly developing digital market, the Meltwater’s 2024 Global Digital Report offers an insightful view of the evolving digital world, revealing the dynamics of Internet penetration,...

In the face of robust growth projections for Malaysia's construction industry, there's a pressing need to harness technology to revolutionise safety management and boost operational efficiency on sites. Building Information Modelling (BIM) stands out as a pivotal tool, offering a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of places, which significantly enhances planning, design, construction, and management of buildings and infrastructure. Meanwhile, integrating...

“Founders gotta be a little silly” Enterprise Explores what Taiwan-based VC firm AppWorks is looking for in Malaysia and Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem with Sophie Chiu, Principal leading the Southeast Asia Arm at AppWorks. We explore Sophie's role leading AppWorks' expansion efforts into Southeast Asia and the mandate given to her by HQ. We also reflect on her criteria for selecting portfolio companies, insights into the venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia, and how her...

SHEIN's business model is deeply integrated into the fast-evolving landscape of ultra-fast fashion, leveraging a blend of technology, agile manufacturing, and keen market insights to cater to a global audience. However, as SHEIN continues to expand its footprint, questions about sustainability, moral and ethical practices, and the future direction of the company have come to the forefront of discussions among consumers, industry watchers, and potential investors alike. Today, Enterprise...

Back in 2011, the Government of Malaysia, in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia, took a significant step by mandating that all public listed companies (PLCs) strive for a minimum of 30% women representation on their corporate boards. Initially aimed at the top 100 PLCs, this policy was later extended to encompass a broader spectrum of companies, to create a more balanced and dynamic leadership landscape. As women ascend to leadership roles, their voices become influential drivers of change....