14/10/2025

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

TUESDAY | OCT 14, 2025

Malaysia to sign semiconductor cooperation pact with Brazil KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will sign a memorandum of cooperation with Brazil in the semiconductor sector and hold nego tiations with India to strengthen tech nological and industrial collaboration between both countries, said Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong yesterday. The move is in line with the Madani government’s direction and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s aspiration to enhance trade relations with developing countries, including BRICS member nations and the African continent. According to him, the prime minister is scheduled to make an official visit to Africa in November to strengthen economic ties with the region. “In this context, we also have good relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan. We can enhance ties with these markets and establish relationships that go beyond exports – we can have technological collaboration between us,” Liew said in response to a supplementary question from Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN Kubang Pasu) on the ministry’s strategies to diversify trade with BRICS countries and the African continent. According to Liew, the strategy is crucial to ensure Malaysia does not become overly dependent on traditional markets such as the United States. “We may have to accept the fact that our reliance on the US as an export destination may decline one day. We, therefore, need new markets and commercial partners,” he said. He said the ministry has also focused on strengthening regional supply chains, especially in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, to ensure long-term economic resilience. “In the past, many said we were competing with Vietnam or other countries, but now we are ensuring that the ecosystem and supply networks in Asean are being strengthened. “In the context of semiconductors under Asean leadership, we are establishing a framework for semiconductor supply chains beyond Asean countries so we can reinforce the supply chains in our country and throughout the region,” Liew said. – Bernama

Focus on clean governance delivering results: Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The recovery of RM15.5 billion over the past two years proves Malaysia’s focus on clean governance is delivering results, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the government’s crackdown on corruption, smuggling and cartel activities had led to the recovery of RM15.5 billion through confiscations and tighter enforcement. “During the Budget on Friday, I shared a shocking figure. In the last two years, because of our focus on governance and zero tolerance for corruption, abuse of power, smuggling, and the presence of so many cartels and syndicates, we were able, through massive confiscations and enforcement, to generate RM15.5 billion in recovered funds,” he said in his speech at Global Islamic Finance Forum 2025 (GIFF 2025) yesterday. This is not the full picture, he said, as that means that for years Malaysia has been haemorrhaging billions. “Assuming every year we lost around RM5 billion through these networks of corrupt actors and syndicates, imagine the cumulative loss over the last decade. It is difficult, even for me, to comprehend how a country like Malaysia, which is relatively well governed and doing reasonably well, could have tolerated this for so long.” Anwar said that is why when discussing the Madani Economy, which includes Islamic finance, he will always relate it to the issue of governance. “Because however effective the Islamic o When introducing financial instruments, issues of competitiveness and profits cannot be separated from values, justice and governance, says PM Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Anwar visiting a booth in conjunction with the Global Islamic Finance Forum 2025 in Sasana Kijang yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

purpose and ensuring that no one is left behind.” Anwar highlighted Malaysia’s growing leadership in sustainable finance, noting that the country issued RM20 billion in sustainable and responsible investment sukuk in 2024. “This is a clear signal to the world that Malaysia’s Islamic finance sector is not only thriving, but leading in mobilising capital for green, social, and ethical impact,” he said. Meanwhile, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the global Islamic finance industry is projected to surpass US$9.7 trillion (RM46 trillion) by 2029. “But this journey cannot be defined by scale alone – it must be underpinned by robust substance. Growth must be anchored by leadership and innovation with purpose.” He shared that BNM plans to move forward with a new benchmark. “Beginning 1 July 2027, Malaysian Islamic Overnight Rate, or we call it MYOR-i, will become the mandatory reference rate for Islamic financial products. This is not just a technical adjustment; it is a structural transformation. As the world’s first transaction-based Islamic benchmark rate, MYOR-i brings transparency, consistency, and syariah alignment to the heart of Islamic finance,” Abdul Rasheed said.

instruments may be, if we operate in a system of poor governance, endemic corruption, and abuse of power, it will not meet the desired aim of Maqasid Syariah .” Anwar urged leaders, professionals, academia and civil servants to work together to ensure that the higher objective of Maqasid Syariah is upheld. “Even when introducing financial instruments, the issues of competi tiveness and profits cannot be separated from values, justice and governance.” Anwar said while discussions today centre on green energy, sustainability culture and affordable housing, governance must remain the foundation of all such efforts. “The governance of our house must first be in order. Once it is, initiatives such as Islamic finance can truly showcase their potential. Otherwise, these instruments, however sophisticated, will remain just that ... instruments. “In a system that condones or tolerates corruption, leakages will persist. We must take responsibility to correct these ills, flaws and limitations.” Anwar said he views Islamic finance, and the broader Islamic economic framework, as integral to the nation’s wider vision. “It is instruments that support the objectives of Maqasid Syariah by delivering profit with

U Mobile inks 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement with Eastel PETALING JAYA: U Mobile, Malaysia’s newest 5G network provider, has signed a wholesale access agreement with Eastel, a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) from Anchor Communications which is set to launch in quarter one of 2026.

said , “Eastel is honoured to be U Mobile’s first 5G and 4G wholesale partner. This partnership marks a significant milestone as we prepare to launch a new kind of MVNO, one that empowers Malaysia’s gig and creator economy. By leveraging U Mobile’s ultra-fast 5G and 4G network, we aim to support more niche and customisable data-intensive appli cations for the community. Together with U Mobile, we look forward to building a stronger, more connected Malaysia.” With the wholesale access agreement in place, Eastel will leverage U Mobile’s next-gen 5G infrastructure and 4G network to deliver targeted mobile services and solutions tailored to their specific market segments.

announcing our first 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement with Eastel, an MVNO that will be launching their services in the country early next year. This latest partnership marks the start of more 5G wholesale agreements to come, especially since our 5G network expansion will reach 80% CoPA by the second half of next year. With an award-winning 4G and next generation 5G network, we look forward to enabling more oppor tunities for telco players to tap into our advanced and future-proofed infrastructure, as well as operational expertise. This move also underscores our commitment to support the nation’s digital economy through greater market diversity and com petition.” Eastel executive director Aaron Lee

The five-year contract is U Mobile’s first 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement and will see the telco providing its next- generation 5G infrastructure and 4G network for data, voice and SMS services, as well as lend support to Eastel for international direct dialing, roaming and mobile number portability services. U Mobile deputy CEO Kenneth Chang said, “U Mobile, as Malaysia’s newest 5G provider, is delighted to achieve another milestone by

From left: U Mobile chief marketing officer Navin Manian, Chang, Lee and Anchor Communications CEO Chia Han Hui at the signing ceremony.