04/01/2026

ON SUNDAY January 4, 2026 VI theSunday Special Y OU’VE likely overheard chatter DERXW $, (6* HPEHGGHG ¿ - nance or open banking popping up in lunches, LinkedIn posts or office presentations. But what do these corporate buzzwords really mean – especially for professionals navi gating Kuala Lumpur’s hustle-and-grind startup or corporate scenes? Let’s break them down, hometown style, using real moves happening right here in Malaysia. AI: Not just chatbots, but Malaysia’s digital brainpower

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Generative AI (GenAI) has leapt from geeky ChatGPT demos into actual bank ing, with institutions using it to person alise customer service, detect fraud and even streamline onboarding. A global survey shows that GenAI is reshaping operations across banks and fintechs. Though it comes bundled with ethical, transparency and cybersecurity risks your IT team’s probably already worrying about. Locally, MyFintech Week 2025 spot lighted how GenAI and blockchain are redefining consumer expectations and business models. And if you’ve caught the headlines, Malaysia has already launched D QDWLRQDO $, Ṙ FH WDVNHG ZLWK FUDIWLQJ ethical codes, a regulatory framework DQG D ¿YH \HDU WHFK DFWLRQ SODQ WR Additionally, Microsoft is pumping in US$2.2 billion to build AI and cloud infrastructure here. It is also training SHRSOH %\WH'DQFH LV PDNLQJ waves too, investing around 10 billion ringgit to set up an AI hub and expand data centres in Johor. These develop ments show Malaysia isn’t just talking AI, but building capacity, policy and talent to go with it. Additionally, keep an eye on GenAI regulation. Malaysia’s industry will likely follow APAC trends in balancing innova tion with safety. ESG: Where good intentions meet real business expectations ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. This isn’t just about corporate virtue signalling. FintechNEWS reports that Malaysian banks are thoughtfully integrating ESG into their operations, strategy, risk management and even VXVWDLQDEOH ¿QDQFLQJ Globally, researchers have developed frameworks to help investors assess AI initiatives through an ESG lens. Therefore, \RX¶UH QRW MXVW HYDOXDWLQJ SUR¿W EXW DOVR societal impact. Malaysia’s ESG push isn’t just ethical noting; it is becoming a busi ness necessity, especially for companies eyeing public funding, foreign investment or green credentials.

From AI to ESG: Corporate buzzwords you actually need to know BY ASHRAF WAHAB Open banking & embedded

Real-time payments and the ASEAN QR revolution Say goodbye to delayed transactions. ASEAN’s Integrated QR Code Payment 6\VWHP PHDQV 'XLW1RZ 45 ZRUNV DFURVV borders – from Singapore’s SGQR+ to Indonesia, Thailand and even Cambodia. For local SMEs and e-commerce play ers, this matters a lot. Faster payment FOHDULQJ PHDQV OLTXLG FDVK ÀRZ VPDUWHU inventory moves and cleaner books. A small business in Kuching can now sell to someone in Jakarta with near-instant settlement. That is game-changing. Cybersecurity: The unseen hero in digitisation With all this digital acceleration – AI, $3,V HPEHGGHG ¿QDQFH ± FRPHV D VXUJH LQ WKUHDWV 'HHSIDNH SKLVKLQJ $, HQDEOHG fraud, API exploits. A global survey spe cifically calls out AI’s vulnerability to adversarial attacks, bias and misuse. L RFDOO\ WKH DGYLFH LV ORXG DQG FOHDU Zero-trust architecture, secure SaaS lay ers and embedded security need to be foundational, not an afterthought. The more integrated and digital your systems get, the more invisible risk lurks – don’t OHW LW FDWFK \RX R̆ JXDUG Sustainability as a service: Green ¿QDQFH JRHV GLJLWDO A QHZ ZDYH RI JUHHQ HPEHGGHG ¿QDQFH LV emerging. Imagine lending products that automatically calculate carbon footprints or subscriptions that plant trees per use. Global research shows that coupling ¿QWHFK ZLWK (6* FDQ XQORFN VXVWDLQDEOH growth. While local examples are still budding, 0DOD\VLD¶V GHYHORSPHQW ¿QDQFH LQVWLWX WLRQV DQG VWDWH EDFNHG YHQWXUHV OLNH 0'9

DUH DOUHDG\ R̆ HULQJ 6KDULDK FRPSOLDQW DQG JUHHQ ¿QDQFLQJ VROXWLRQV WR WHFKQRO ogy and green startups. With sustainable frameworks gaining regulatory backing, expect more digital banks and e-wallets to push green products next. Talent pivot: Where upgrading isn’t optional As AI becomes standard and finance bleeds into everyday apps, talent demands have shifted. Companies now expect ÀXHQF\ LQ FORXG QDWLYH VWDFNV $3, ¿UVW DUFKLWHFWXUH ¿QWHFK FRPSOLDQFH DQG (6* reporting. The buzzword mix you can’t ignore If you’re working in digital, startups, corporate finance or decision-making roles this year, it isn’t enough to know AI, (6* RU HPEHGGHG ¿QDQFH LQ LVRODWLRQ 7KH PDJLF LV LQ KRZ WKH\ FRPELQH • AI enables insight and automation • ESG ensures purpose and transparency • Embedded finance makes products seamless and sticky • O SHQ ¿QDQFH SRZHUV ÀH[LELOLW\ • Cybersecurity shields you from threats • T DOHQW DQG SROLF\ GH¿QH \RXU FRPSHWL tive edge You need to focus on the intersection. Those who understand the interplay of regulation, tech architecture and con sumer ecosystems will lead. This isn’t hype, it is the frontier. If you’re operating in Malaysia’s urban and white-collar spheres, navigating this interplay is your ticket to staying in the game and maybe leading it. It’s the future of business and it’s already here in Malaysia.

¿QDQFH %DQNLQJ ZLWKRXW WKH EDQN O SHQ ¿QDQFH H[WHQGV EH\RQG EDQN DF count APIs – it lets third parties securely access financial data on investments, pensions, insurance and more. According to the Cambridge Centre for Alterna tive Finance, 56% of APAC countries have open banking regulations and open ¿QDQFH DGRSWLRQ LV HYHQ IDVWHU Here, embedded finance is boom ing. Think AI-powered banking inside everyday platforms such as Ryt Bank, ZHDYLQJ LQWR 6KRSHH¶V HFRV\VWHP WR R̆ HU seamless services. Fintech News says digital banks are entering a new era, with GXBank already gaining traction and Ryt Bank focusing on $, ¿UVW VWUDWHJLHV 0D\EDQN LVQ¶W VLWWLQJ back either – it’s collaborating with AWS WR UROO RXW ,VODPLF ¿QDQFH $3,V LQ This embedded model is reshaping the ¿QDQFLDO H[SHULHQFH EDQNLQJ EHFRPHV invisible, integrated and tailored. Need IDVW LQWHJUDWLRQV" /HDUQ $3, ¿UVW WKLQNLQJ and platform strategy.

Malaysian banks are integrating ESG principles into operations, łŊľ¾Ŋã÷ũϰ¾ěßϰłŏłŊ¾ÿě¾Øēãϰżě¾ěÙÿě÷λ