Malaysians are unknowingly losing between RM200 and RM350 per overseas trip due to hidden exchange rate markups, according to new research by international money app Wise. Despite spending up to two days searching for the best travel deals, many travellers overlook exchange rates, leading to unexpected costs. For instance, a RM2,500 weekend in Singapore could cost RM180 to RM250 more, whilst a RM5,000 trip to Bangkok might be RM350 to RM450 pricier.

The research highlights that 31% of Malaysian travellers claim to save over RM500 by chasing promotional deals, yet only 41% prioritise checking exchange rates. Many providers mark up exchange rates by 3–6% above the real midmarket rate, pocketing the difference without clear disclosure.

To address this issue, Wise has teamed up with content creator Adam Izzy for a campaign to educate travellers on avoiding hidden fees. Yen Ting Chiam, Country Manager of Wise Malaysia, added, “Our message is simple: look at the rate, not just the price, so every Ringgit goes further abroad.”

Wise offers a solution by using the midmarket exchange rate with no hidden markups, allowing Malaysians to hold, convert, and spend over 40 currencies transparently. The Wise account and card also offer features like autoconversion and free ATM withdrawals worldwide, helping travellers avoid overpriced airport money changers.

Malaysia’s major sporting events are drawing increased international attention, according to recent data from digital travel platform Agoda. The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon, Mount Kinabalu Climbathon, and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi triathlon have notably boosted travel activity, with searches for accommodation around these events showing a marked rise.

During the Kuala Lumpur Marathon weekend on 4–5 October, domestic searches increased by 24%, whilst international interest grew by 7% compared to the previous year. The event attracted significant interest from Indonesia, Singapore, and China, with additional growth in searches from Bangladesh (224%), Hong Kong SAR (73%), South Korea (48%), and Taiwan (25%).

The IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi, held on 1 November, also saw a surge in international travel interest. The triathlon, set against Langkawi’s scenic backdrop, drew significant attention from Singapore, India, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Japan. Notably, searches from South Korea and Bangladesh increased by 536% and 148%, respectively.

Similarly, the 32nd Mt Kinabalu International Climbathon on 19 October attracted athletes from across the region. South Koreans showed the most interest, followed by Singaporeans and Chinese travellers. Singaporeans, in particular, showed an 84% increase in searches for Kota Kinabalu during the event.

These trends highlight Malaysia’s growing appeal as a sports tourism destination. The Malaysian government has introduced a 50% income tax exemption for private companies organising international-level sports events, aiming to boost tourism and support the sports industry ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Fabian Teja, Country Director for Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda, noted, “Sporting events are much more than competitions. They inspire exploration and discovery.”

BWYS Group Berhad, a leading manufacturer of sheet metal products and scaffoldings, has reported a robust financial performance for the third quarter of the financial year 2025 (Q3 FY25), ending 30 September. The company achieved a 30% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching RM74.8m, primarily due to heightened demand from Malaysia’s construction sector and sustained orders from existing clients.

The group’s net profit surged to RM4.3m, nearly tripling the RM1.5m recorded in the same period last year. This significant increase in profitability was attributed to higher revenue and reduced administrative expenses, as the previous quarter included one-off listing expenses of RM2.3m. The net profit margin improved to 5.8%, up from 2.6% in Q3 FY24.

Malaysia remains BWYS’s largest market, contributing RM69.1m, or 92.3% of total revenue. The United States accounted for RM3.7m, with the remainder coming from Singapore, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.

Managing Director Kang Beng Hai expressed optimism about the company’s future, citing a joint venture with Runwin International (HK) Holding Group Co., Limited to establish a colour-coated steel coil production line. This facility, expected to begin operations in early 2026, will have an initial capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year. Additionally, BWYS plans to acquire 28.9 acres of industrial land in Kota Seri Langat for RM94.5m to support future growth.

For the nine months ending 30 September 2025, BWYS reported revenue of RM201.7m, an 11.2% increase from the previous year. Net profit for this period rose by 94.5% to RM10.9m. The company has declared a first interim single-tier dividend of 0.05 sen per ordinary share, amounting to approximately RM0.5m.
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Vantage Foundation has partnered with Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) to support their community food aid initiative in Kuala Lumpur. The collaboration saw ten volunteers from Vantage Foundation working alongside KSK staff to prepare and deliver essential food aid packs to six registered households in Cheras and Jinjang. These households, identified by KSK, include families living in poverty, those with disabled members, and elderly individuals without family support.

The outreach programme, held at the Kechara Food Bank in Setapak, highlighted the ongoing challenges of food insecurity faced by urban communities in Malaysia. Volunteers distributed essential items such as rice, canned food, and hygiene products, providing much-needed support to families reliant on monthly aid to meet basic needs.

Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation, remarked on the experience: “Participating in this outreach allowed us to better understand the structural challenges faced by vulnerable communities in Kuala Lumpur. It was a humbling reminder that small acts of service can create meaningful impact when directed to those who need it most.”

Vantage Foundation, an independent charitable organisation launched in 2023 at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK, has been actively partnering with organisations worldwide to drive social initiatives. Meanwhile, Kechara Soup Kitchen, through its Food Bank, aims to prevent at-risk individuals and families from falling into homelessness by supplying dry goods and essential items to stabilise their living conditions.

Bridge Alliance, a leading mobile alliance, has announced a significant expansion of its telco API ecosystem, now covering Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand. By partnering with top local operators, the alliance has achieved over 90% API market coverage in these regions. This expansion allows enterprises and developers to create and monetise new digital services using secure, standardised telco APIs available on the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx).

The integration of APIs such as Number Verify and SIM Swap will enable seamless verification services crucial for financial and retail sectors. “Lighting up key markets is a pivotal moment in our journey to democratise access to telecom network capabilities,” said Dr Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance. The expansion positions Bridge Alliance at the forefront of the region’s telco API ecosystem, promoting open innovation.

Bridge Alliance is also collaborating with new API channel partners, including Alibaba, Infobip, and 8×8, to accelerate enterprise adoption. These partnerships aim to enhance developer engagement and commercialisation across specific enterprise verticals. Alibaba will offer telco APIs to address Artificially Inflated Traffic fraud, whilst Infobip and 8×8 will focus on secure authentication and fraud prevention.

Looking ahead, Bridge Alliance plans to expand BAEx into additional markets in 2026 and introduce new API categories like Know Your Customer and fraud prevention signals. This ongoing expansion will drive open innovation and deliver more value to operators, enterprises, and developers across the Asia Pacific region.

A recent survey by Xero reveals that 81% of Malaysian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, with many anticipating its standardisation by 2030. Despite this high adoption rate, a significant confidence gap persists, as 82% of these businesses express a need for further education to harness AI effectively.

The survey, which involved 1,033 Malaysian MSMEs, highlights that whilst AI is seen as a tool for enhancing efficiency, cost savings, and productivity, only 56% of respondents are familiar with its various business applications. Concerns over data privacy, security, and ethical issues like plagiarism are prevalent, with 68% advocating for stringent government regulation of AI in business.

Xero’s findings suggest a shift in MSME priorities, with a growing demand for training and advisory support over financial aid. This presents an opportunity for government, industry bodies, and technology partners to provide practical frameworks and training programmes to facilitate strategic AI use. Koren Wines, Managing Director of Xero Asia, emphasised the importance of closing the confidence gap to enable MSMEs to leverage AI for sustainable growth.

As Malaysia aims to become an AI-driven economy by 2030, the role of MSMEs—comprising over 96% of the nation’s businesses—will be crucial. The report underscores the need for a supportive ecosystem to ensure these enterprises can navigate the AI landscape confidently and contribute to the country’s economic ambitions.

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has announced a new partnership to handle MASkargo’s operations at its London Heathrow hub. This collaboration, effective immediately, positions IAG Cargo as the ground handling agent for MASkargo, the cargo division of Malaysia Aviation Group, which specialises in comprehensive air cargo solutions.

The partnership sees all MASkargo shipments through London processed at IAG Cargo’s Premia facility, highlighting Heathrow’s strategic importance in the global air cargo network. MASkargo currently operates twice-daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and London, enhancing connectivity and service excellence.

Adam Carson, Chief Operations Officer at IAG Cargo, stated, “Welcoming MASkargo to our London Heathrow hub marks an important step as we continue to expand our third-party handling capabilities. With its strategic location, Heathrow is a prime gateway for MASkargo, and our hub offers exceptional airside access and world-class facilities.”

Mark Jason Thomas, CEO of MASkargo, added, “Partnering with IAG Cargo at London Heathrow marks another milestone in our journey to enhance global connectivity and service excellence. This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to delivering reliability and quality for our customers but also strengthens MASkargo’s presence in one of the world’s key cargo hubs.”

The partnership is set to bolster IAG Cargo’s growth strategy and enhance its global handling capabilities, offering smoother transfer experiences and wider access to major destinations across Europe and the Americas.

Nam Cheong Limited, a leading offshore support vessel provider based in Sarawak, Malaysia, reported a 6% quarter-on-quarter increase in revenue for the third quarter of 2025, reaching RM170.8m. This growth was primarily driven by the commencement of long-term charters, which also saw vessel utilisation rise to 70% from 68% in the previous quarter.

The company’s gross profit increased by 3% qoq to RM87.5m, although the gross margin slightly decreased by 1.4 percentage points due to additional vessel operating costs related to scheduled maintenance. Despite this, the gross margin remained above 50%.

Nam Cheong’s CEO, Leong Seng Keat, highlighted the positive impact of long-term charters on vessel utilisation rates and revenue growth. “Building on this momentum, we remain focused on securing long-term contracts to achieve about 70% fleet coverage for stability,” he stated.

The company is also exploring fleet expansion opportunities to strengthen its market presence. With the global offshore support vessel fleet ageing and approaching replacement cycles, Nam Cheong is well-positioned to capture emerging opportunities, leveraging its shipbuilding capabilities.

Looking ahead, the company remains cautiously optimistic about its long-term growth prospects, supported by a solid and recurring cash flow from its chartering business. The local market faces structural supply constraints, and with Malaysia’s cabotage policies limiting foreign vessel participation, charter rates are expected to remain strong into 2026.

Gambit Custody, a regulated digital asset custodian, has partnered with global ESG technology expert GEN to introduce Malaysia’s first blockchain-driven sustainable energy investment framework. This initiative connects investors directly to real solar and green energy projects, ensuring full transparency and trust. The partnership was announced on 17 November 2025, with Ivy Fung, Foreign Digital Investments Manager at MDEC, attending the launch event in Kuala Lumpur.

The collaboration between Gambit Custody and GEN aims to reduce greenwashing risks by providing verifiable data on solar output, emissions reduction, and environmental performance. This data is tracked on-chain, offering reliable ESG reporting for Malaysian corporations. Datuk Clifford Hii, Group CEO of Gambit Group, stated, “Our first-of-its-kind partnership with GEN represents a major step towards bridging the gap between digital asset infrastructure and real-world sustainability.”

Key highlights of the partnership include the digitisation of green energy assets by GEN and their safeguarding by Gambit Custody. This initiative supports Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the target of achieving 70% renewable capacity by 2050. Ines Yong, Co-founder and CEO of GEN, remarked, “This partnership combines our strong expertise in the global ESG market and Gambit Custody’s unmatched infrastructure and market knowledge.”

By integrating GEN’s blockchain technology with Gambit Custody’s regulated infrastructure, the partnership seeks to accelerate credible green capital flows into Malaysia, aligning financial performance with verifiable climate outcomes.

Federal Express Corporation, a leading express transportation company, has expanded its intra-Asia network to meet the rising trade demand in Southeast Asia. This strategic move enhances connectivity, capacity, and agility for businesses across the region.

FedEx has introduced nonstop cargo flights connecting its Asia Pacific hub at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with Penang International Airport. Operating five times a week, these Boeing B767 freighters provide dedicated inbound capacity to Penang, enabling importers to benefit from deliveries that are one hour earlier, thus improving supply chain efficiency.

In addition, FedEx has extended the pick-up cut-off time in Malaysia’s Klang Valley by one hour for Asia-bound shipments departing Kuala Lumpur, offering greater flexibility to local businesses. This is part of FedEx’s broader commitment to strengthening logistics capabilities in Southeast Asia.

The company has also increased its cargo capacity in Thailand by adding five weekly Boeing 767 freighter flights between Guangzhou and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. This expansion facilitates reliable access to markets across the Asia Pacific and beyond, via the South Pacific Hub in Singapore.

Salil Chari, senior vice president of Marketing and Customer Experience at FedEx, stated, “Asia Pacific is emerging as the powerhouse of global trade growth, with Southeast Asia fuelling some of the world’s most dynamic trade corridors.”

These enhancements come as ASEAN’s total merchandise trade reached $3.8t in 2024, with exports from ASEAN countries, China, Japan, and South Korea growing by 7% year-on-year in the first half of 2025. As Southeast Asia solidifies its role as a global manufacturing hub, FedEx’s network improvements are crucial in supporting the region’s trade momentum.