02/04/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026

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Giving businesses a ‘digital employee’ PETALING JAYA: Agmo Holdings Bhd, a digital solutions specialist listed on Bursa Malaysia, is partnering with Lark, a global all-in-one collaboration platform, to integrate enterprise AI capabilities into workplace environments and support broader adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). o Agmo Holdings-Lark partnership aims to address common challenges faced by SMEs in adopting artificial intelligence A centralised management layer is also incorporated to allow tools within the SME segment. Agmo CEO Tan Aik Keong said: “Our mission at Agmo has always been to democratise technology that drives real, tangible business value for the SME sector.

organisations to monitor usage and maintain oversight on operational and data governance requirements. By utilising a scalable cloud architecture, Agmo ensures that every AI assistant operates in an isolated and secure environment. This guarantees that as an SME scale, its AI resources scale proportionally, maintaining high performance and data privacy while requiring zero coding to maintain. The partnership also reflects a broader shift towards platform-based delivery of enterprise technologies. By leveraging Lark’s existing ecosystem and user base alongside Agmo’s artificial intelligence capabilities, the collaboration is positioned to support more efficient scaling and wider accessibility of AI

“By integrating AgmoClaw with Lark, we are giving businesses a ‘digital employee’ that is not only highly intelligent but also deeply embedded into their existing daily workflows. “This partnership is a game changer because it removes the technical friction of AI, allowing even the smallest teams to automate their finance, scheduling, and documentation with full governance and one-click simplicity.” The AgmoClaw integration is currently available for deployment, with an initial trial offering provided to support user adoption.

supporting the development of recurring revenue streams and ongoing platform utilisation. Agmo said the integration specifically addresses the primary barriers to AI adoption for smaller businesses, such as high development costs, complex implementation cycles, and a lack of centralised governance. In terms of functionality, the integrated solution supports automation across routine processes such as administrative workflows, scheduling coordination, and internal documentation.

SMEs in adopting AI, including cost considerations, implementation complexity, and the need for governance. By embedding AI capabilities directly within Lark’s ecosystem, both parties aim to streamline deployment and enable more practical, day-to-day use of AI across business functions. From a business model perspective, the collaboration introduces a subscription-based structure complemented by usage-based pricing. This provides a scalable framework for customers, while

The collaboration brings together Agmo’s AgmoClaw, which an enterprise AI control layer built on the OpenClaw framework with Lark’s integrated collaboration platform. Through this integration, businesses are able to deploy AI-driven assistants within their existing digital workflows, without requiring separate systems or extensive technical implementation. In a statement yesterday, Agmo said the partnership is intended to address common challenges faced by Concrete Engineering gets takeover offer from YTL Cement KUALA LUMPUR: Concrete Engineering Products Bhd (Cepco) has received an unconditional mandatory takeover offer from YTL Cement Bhd following the latter’s acquisition of a 53.49% stake in the company at RM2.60 per share. The offer follows YTL Cement’s entry into unconditional share purchase agreements (SPAs) to acquire 39.91 million shares in Cepco for a total cash consideration of up to RM103.78 million, Cepco said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday. It said the acquisition will be transacted within two market days via direct business transactions in accordance with the exchange’s rules. “Upon completion of the acquisition, YTL Cement’s direct shareholding in Cepco will increase from nil to approximately 53.49%,” it added. As the SPAs are not subject to any conditions precedent and are unconditional, YTL Cement is obliged to extend a mandatory takeover offer to acquire all remaining Cepco shares not already owned by it, in compliance with the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 and the Securities Commission’s rules on take-overs, mergers and compulsory acquisitions, it added. Shares of the company, which manufactures prestressed spun concrete piles and poles, were last traded at RM1.87 prior to its suspension yesterday. Its shares will resume trading today. – Bernama

Johor aims to lead in FDI, strengthen JS-SEZ framework JOHOR BAHRU: Johor is committed to sustaining its position as a leading investment destination and to remain at the forefront of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, which reached RM110.1 billion in 2025, the highest among all states. Johor State Economic and Investment Advisor Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad said the state will not remain complacent despite its strong performance, but will enhance its competitiveness and investment ecosystem continuously. He also said the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will serve as a key blueprint to provide clarity and certainty for both new and existing investors, while also enabling the state to retain and expand current investments. “What is important now is for Johor to maintain its momentum and remain a preferred destination for investors. “We are not only talking about attracting investments, but also reclaiming and strengthening investments that are already in Johor. The JS-SEZ will address uncertainties and provide a clear framework for investors,” he said during the Asia Summit on Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing 2026 here yesterday. Efforts to enhance Johor Singapore cross-border connectivity are also being accelerated under the JS-SEZ, including the QR code immigration clearance, digital cargo systems, and the upcoming Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Hasni said the RTS Link, scheduled to commence in January 2027, is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour each direction, potentially transforming travel patterns across one of the world’s busiest land border crossings. It currently records about 300,000 daily travellers, including 100,000 motorcyclists. “We cannot afford any glitches in our systems, whether it is the QR code clearance, digital cargo, or the RTS itself. These initiatives must work seamlessly to support growing cross-border movement,” he said. Hasni, who is also Johor Economic, Tourism and Cultural Office Singapore executive chairman, said the improved connectivity could significantly alter commuting trends, with more efficient travel potentially increasing movement between Johor and Singapore in both directions. On the industrial front, he said Johor currently hosts the largest number of data centres in Southeast Asia, and accounts for more than 50% of the state’s total FDI last year. He acknowledged, however, that the sector’s high demand for electricity and water presents sustainability challenges, particularly amid climate change and resource constraints. MICCI calls for flexible implementation of new expatriate policy KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) acknowledged the upcoming revisions to the Expatriate Employment Policy, set to take effect on June 1, 2026. supporting meaningful knowledge transfer to local talent over time,” Tee added. The chamber also emphasised that developing local successors may require longer timeframes, and a more tailored approach will be important to ensure effective capability transfer.

MICCI notes that in practice, the transfer of skills and experience does not always follow a fixed timeline. MICCI president Christina Tee ( pic ) said: “Developing Malaysian talent is a priority we fully support, and many companies are already investing in building strong local pipelines. “However, in roles that require specialised expertise or regional experience, localisation takes time and cannot always align with fixed policy timelines.” “A more flexible,

The chamber further noted that efficient and predictable processes will be critical, particularly as the policy applies to both new and renewal applications from June 1. Clear timelines and streamlined approvals will support better workforce planning and reduce uncertainty for businesses managing ongoing operations. Ultimately, how the policy is applied in practice will determine its effectiveness, particularly as businesses plan workforce transitions, project timelines, and long-term investments in Malaysia.

implementation should take into account sector-specific realities, as succession timelines can vary depending on the

It also supports the government’s efforts to strengthen local talent development. At the same time, MICCI emphasises that effective implementation will require flexibility, particularly for companies managing specialised roles and long term talent transitions. The revised policy introduces higher salary thresholds, defined employment durations, and succession planning requirements. While these measures are intended to encourage localisation,

complexity of the role. In specialised o r leadership positions,

case-by-case approach allows businesses to manage this transition responsibly, ensuring continuity while

CGS International maintains 2026 GDP forecast for Malaysia at 4.8% KUALA LUMPUR: CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd has maintained its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast of 4.8% year-on-year for Malaysia, supported by favourable fiscal space and strong export momentum. (BNM) 2026 GDP growth forecast for Malaysia is at 4.0-5.0%, slightly more optimistic at the upper range than the Ministry of Finance’s 4.0-4.5%, amid a better growth momentum. ringgit and Malaysia’s export strength. “We think there is still a possibility that Malaysia could weather the crisis better than expected, even as the West Asia war prolongs, amid its favourable fiscal space and robust export momentum. Public Investment Bank Bhd also maintained its 2026 GDP growth forecast for Malaysia at 4.6%. we would keep a close watch on signs of demand-pull inflation,” it said.

That keeps the economy close to trend rather than pointing to either a sharp loss of momentum or an overheating cycle, it said. “The economy still runs with enough domestic support to stay within BNM’s official range, but the wider 4%-5% band also tells us that uncertainty around the baseline is larger than before.”

It said BNM expects Malaysia’s output gap to remain marginally positive in 2026, with potential output growth at 4.5% - 5.5%.

It sees that the core message for 2026 remains consistent – that domestic demand is anchoring growth – with a more constructive view on the

“On BNM’s monetary policy, we expect no change to the overnight policy rate (OPR) this year, although

In a research note, the investment firm noted that Bank Negara Malaysia’s