18/12/2025

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | DEC 18, 2025

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GDB announces board realignment to head expansion into East Malaysia PETALING JAYA: Construction services firm GDB Holdings Bhd is eyeing expansion to East Malaysia, following the appointment of Andy Lai Wee Young as the acting Group managing director. Lai, a Sarawakian, also came in as an investor, with 13% equity stake after acquiring from key shareholders on Dec 12, 2025. Leveraging his experience in operations in East Malaysia, Lai aims to add a new dimension to GDB’s business with presence in East Malaysia. As part of the succession planning, the Group announced a change in board composition yesterday, with Cheah Ham Cheia transitioning from group managing director to group adviser, and serving as alternate director to Cheah Jun Kai, executive director of the group. Together with group executive director Alexander Lo Tzone Leong, the new board composition will lead the company in executing its growth strategy, expanding its presence across East Malaysia, while operations in West Malaysia continue as usual. “This strategic board realignment reflects our ambition to create long-term value by combining our Grade G7 execution competency with a new growth mandate. “Mr. Lai’s strategic focus will be instrumental in spurring growth for the Group in East Malaysia,” said the board of directors in a statement. “The extensive experience of Johari, coupled with his strong professional background in finance, accounting, auditing and corporate affairs, represents a key asset in supporting the country’s economic development, particularly in the formulation and implementation of policies related to investment, trade and industry,”he said in a statement yesterday. The statement noted that Johari’s previous cabinet roles, including deputy minister of finance, minister of finance II, and minister of plantation and commodities, have been instrumental in shaping policies related to investment, trade and industry, and are closely aligned with fiscal policy, tax incentives, and capital flows. Matrade added that Johari’s experience as chairman and director of leading companies, including those listed on Bursa Malaysia, demonstrates his ability to make strategic decisions and provides practical insights into global supply chains and international market challenges. – Bernama Matrade welcomes Johari as Miti minister KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has expressed confidence that the new leadership at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) will continue to strengthen the national export agenda in line with Malaysia’s economic development priorities. Its chairman, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, said the appointment of Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as Miti minister is expected to provide strong support for export promotion initiatives and exporter development programmes spearheaded by the agency.

Malaysia steps firmly towards Agenda 2030

o Significant progress made in achieving sustainable development goals

PUTRAJAYA: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicators Report 2024, released yesterday, is crucial to uphold the principle of leaving no one behind, ensuring that the data reflects not only national performance but also the lived realities of the people, said Chief Statistician of Malaysia Datuk Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin. He disclosed that Malaysia has recorded significant progress in achieving the SDGs in 2024. Yesterday, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) released the report which marks the seventh edition since 2018. This report includes 205 national level indicators or 82% indicators available. In addition, at the state level 84 indicators are available and 26 district level indicators providing key inputs for assessing Malaysia’s SDG achievements in 2024. “The SDG Indicators Report 2024 represents the third series of 21 publications, comprising five national level reports and 16 state level reports. The national reports include an executive summary and four reports aligned with the five focus areas of the SDGs: People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnership,” said Mohd Uzir.

United Statistical Commission (UNSC) in March 2025. Malaysia reported 205 available indicators, 23 partially available need further development, 16 not available and 7 not relevant. In total, 244 indicators are relevant to Malaysia, reflecting an overall availability rate of 82% as compared to the global framework. DoSM, in collaboration with the National SDG Centre, Lead Ministries and data providing agencies, continues to strengthen the development of SDG indicators at the national level. Efforts are also being expanded with civil society organisations to reduce data gaps, enhance the availability of granular data and complement official statistics. The provision of high-quality SDG indicators plays a vital role in monitoring the implementation of the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan and assessing progress at both Asean and international levels. This sustained commitment reinforces Malaysia’s data ecosystem and strengthens its position in advancing the SDGs, contributing meaningfully to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda globally. Nations

The Department of Environment continues to monitor 144 river basins, a figure unchanged since 2019. In the peace focus area, Indicator 16.1.1 revealed that the intentional homicide rate declined from 0.8 per 100,000 population in 2023 to 0.7 in 2024. The rate was higher among males, at 1.1 per 100,000 population as compared to 0.3 among females. In the partnership focus area, Indicator 17.8.1 showed that internet usage rose from 97.7% in 2023 to 98.0% in 2024. Seven states recorded usage rates above the national average, including W.P. Putrajaya and W.P. Kuala Lumpur at 100%, Penang (99.4%), Selangor (99.2%), Johor (98.9%), Negeri Sembilan (98.6%) and Malacca (98.5%). At the global level, the SDG indicator framework now comprises 251 indicators, of which 234 are unique, following refinements endorsed at the 56th session of the

He said poverty incidence declined, unemployment improved, water quality rose, homicide rates fell and internet usage reached near universal levels. In the people focus area, Indicator 1.2.1 shows that the percentage of households living below the national poverty line fell from 6.2% in 2022 to 5.1% in 2024. Urban poverty incidence decreased from 4.5% to 3.7%, while rural poverty dropped from 12.0% to 9.9%. In the prosperity focus area, Indicator 8.5.2 recorded an improvement in the unemployment rate to 3.3% in 2024 as compared to 3.4% in 2023. Ten states reported unemployment rates below the national average, with W.P. Putrajaya at 0.7%, Malacca (1.6%) as well as Pahang and Penang at 2.0%. In the planet focus area, Indicator 6.3.2 showed that the proportion of bodies of water with good ambient quality increased from 96.5% in 2023 to 97.2% in 2024.

Malaysia Airlines, Royal Air Maroc sign codeshare deal SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines and Royal Air Maroc have recently signed a codeshare partnership, aimed at providing travellers with enhanced connectivity, broader travel benefits, and a seamless experience across the two carriers’ flights in Africa, Europe and Asia. Effective immediately, this the oneworld alliance and expand their connectivity between continents. As part of this agreement, Malaysia Airlines will add its ‘MH’ code on flights operated by Royal Air Maroc between Casablanca and Doha, London, and Paris. Meanwhile, Royal Air Maroc will add its ‘AT’ code on flights operated by Malaysia Airlines between Kuala Lumpur and Doha, London, and Paris. Malaysia Aviation Group key milestone in Malaysia Airlines’ network strategy as we continue to strengthen our global reach through strategic alliances. “By leveraging the collective strength of our partner airlines within the oneworld alliance, we are able to extend our reach well beyond our own metal, offering our customers greater access, flexibility and convenience for travel across Africa and beyond. our commitment to delivering a seamless travel experience that embodies our signature Malaysian Hospitality.” Royal Air Maroc chairman and CEO Hamid Addou indicated that this strategic partnership with Malaysia Airlines marks a major step in the development of their international network and strengthens our position as a key bridge between Africa, Europe, and Asia.

partnership allows travellers to benefit from greater flexibility on both airlines’ networks. It underscores the shared commitment of both airlines to strengthen their cooperation within

“This collaboration not only enhances our presence in a rapidly growing region but also reinforces

“By leveraging the strengths of the oneworld alliance, we are offering our passengers expanded access to key destinations, while guaranteeing a smooth and quality travel experience. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to consolidating our global presence and meeting the growing expectations of our customers,” he added. In a statement, MAG said, this collaboration marks a significant milestone for both airlines as they strengthen their global presence and expand network connectivity. With growing demand for travel between Asia and Africa, the collaboration allows both carriers to optimise synergies across their respective operations, providing passengers with a broader range of destinations and smoother connections through their respective hubs in Kuala Lumpur and Casablanca. Malaysia Airlines and Royal Air Maroc are both members of the oneworld alliance, offering customers access to a global network of over 900 destinations with seamless travel benefits across member airlines.

managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said: “Our partnership with Royal Air Maroc represents a

The Malaysia Airlines-Royal Air Maroc partnership aims to providing travellers with enhanced connectivity.