17/04/2026

BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 17, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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Kenanga IB sees Malaysian job market remaining stable in near term PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s labour market should remain stable in the near term despite heightened external uncertainties, mainly supported by resilient domestic demand and targeted policy measures. Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga IB) said that domestic fiscal support will sustain household spending, while the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign should support hiring in the services sector, particularly tourism related segments. The manufacturing sector, led by electrical and electronics, along with public sector hiring, including 20,000 contract teachers under the Ministry of Education, will continue to support labour demand, the investment bank noted. It said the domestic unemploy ment rate held steady at 2.9% in February, unchanged from January, extending its four-month streak and remaining at the lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed fell by 0.6% month-on-month, re versing the slight increase seen in January. This brought total un employment down to 506,800 from 509,600 previously. The number of actively un employed – those available for work and actively seeking jobs – eased to 404,700 from 406,900. Their share of total unemploy ment edged slightly higher to 79.9% from 79.8%, Kenanga IB said. Employment continued to expand, increasing 0.12% month on-month, supported by ongoing hiring activity across several sectors. By sector, the Department of Statistics Malaysia reported that employment growth was led by services, particularly wholesale and retail trade, alongside gains in accommodation and food and in information and communications. Hiring also picked up in agri culture, manufacturing and con struction, while the mining and quarrying sector posted a decline. Across employment categories, Kenanga IB said, all segments posted monthly gains. The number of employees rose 0.1%, while own-account workers increased by 0.3%. Employers grew by 0.4%. Labour force participation re mained unchanged at 70.9%.

DBKL, CIMB collaborate to liven up KL’s street economy

programmes and enjoy themselves, we believe we are achieving our objective of making Kuala Lumpur more vibrant. The outcomes will depend on participation levels and the ability of SMEs to convert event driven demand into sustained income.” The initiative currently has no defined performance targets, with success instead gauged by parti cipation and public response. Yeoh pointed to other pro grammes including partnerships with other companies such as ZUS Coffee and Carsome, as examples of how different players are contri buting to city-level improvements. “As the government, we ack nowledge that financial resources are limited. We cannot do everything on our own, which is why partnerships with the private sector are critical,” she said. Yeoh said these programmes should be seen as part of a wider ecosystem of experimentation, where different programmes cater to different segments of the public. “It is better to move forward, even if imperfectly, than to do nothing. Different groups have different needs, not everyone will attend

Federal Minister Hannah Yeoh said the collaboration will combine events, cultural programmes and digital payment incentives to drive demand for small businesses while encouraging digital adoption. “Under the initiative, DBKL will coordinate programmes across key pillars including culture, wellness, civic-mindedness and commerce, with flagship events such as the Festival Orkestra Kuala Lumpur, Ambang Merdeka Concert and KUL Design Festival expected to draw significant crowds and generate spending,” she said at the signing of a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) between DBKL and CIMB yesterday. The MoC was signed by CIMB Group CEO Novan Amirudin and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud, and witnessed by Yeoh and CIMB Group chairman Datuk Syed Zaid Albar. Yeoh said the collaboration is part of a broader push by the government to work with private sector players to address urban challenges and stimulate economic activity through targeted initiatives. “As long as people attend the Territories

Mohd Idzwan Izuddin Ab Rahman said the company sees its role as more than a fund manager. “We are partners in our investors’ financial journey. Our Islamic invest ment framework ensures every decision is grounded in both ethical integrity and sound financial judgment. PMB Investment CEO Hang Tuah Amin Tajudin said the company’s investment strategy is anchored in discipline, transparency, and un wavering syariah compliance. “These results speak to the resilience and consistency of our approach across varying market conditions,“ he said. concerts or participate in every programme, but these initiatives are about creating options and im proving the city over time.” Fadlun said the collaboration brings together both parties to create economic opportunities at the community level. “This colla boration will help provide oppor tunities for local talents and entre preneurs to grow while creating a more vibrant and economically inclusive city.” The programme includes events such as the Festival Orkestra Kuala Lumpur, Ambang Merdeka Concert, Rockestra Legenda and KUL Design Festival, which are expected to attract over 100,000 attendees annually. The approach builds on CIMB’s earlier OCTO Fest activations during Chinese New Year and Ramadan, where 360 vendors generated about RM17 million in sales, showing how concentrated footfall can translate into income for small businesses. Novan said the partnership reflects the bank’s role in facilitating transactions and supporting broader economic activity. “As a bank deeply rooted in Malaysia, we enable businesses to grow, facilitate transactions and support the development of local ecosystems for sustainable economic participation. Through this colla boration with DBKL, we aim to unlock opportunities for businesses and elevate local creative talent,” he said. The collaboration will focus on two main areas: enabling MSMEs to adopt digital tools such as OCTO and OCTOBiz through cashback and rebate incentives, and activating the creative economy through events, festivals and public art initiatives. Beyond this collaboration, CIMB said it continues to support economic participation nationwide through targeted programmes. The bank has pledged RM3.6 million to support 9,000 residents across Projek Perumahan Rakyat under the Santuni Madani ini tiative, alongside programmes such as iTEKAD and Komuniti Tukang Jahit aimed at improving income generation and financial resilience.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is partnering with CIMB Bank Bhd in a three-year initiative to drive activity through event-led commerce, with monthly pro grammes starting in May, in a bid to stimulate street-level economic activity in Kuala Lumpur. Under the Moving KL Forward – Kita Bagi Jadi Bersama DBKL x CIMB initiative, CIMB is committing RM5 million over three years to support programmes that leverage public spaces and large-scale events as platforms for economic activity, particularly for MSMEs and the creative sector. o Three-year initiative will leverage event-led programmes to stimulate activity and demand for MSMEs and other businesses Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

From left: Fadlun, Yeoh, Syed Zaid and Novan at the signing ceremony of a memorandum of collaboration between CIMB and DBKL.

PMB Investment declares income distributions for two funds PETALING JAYA: PMB Investment Bhd, an Islamic fund management company operating under Pelaburan Mara Bhd, has announced income distributions for the PMB Shariah Dividend Fund and the PMB Shariah Index Fund for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. Based on the closing NAV as of March 31, this translates to a distribution yield of 10.03%, with the fund recording a total return of 11.54% over the same period. With a double-digit yield and a strong overall return, the PMB Shariah Dividend Fund continues to 99.5% of its NAV to syariah-compliant equities and equity-related securities. The remaining portion is invested in Islamic money market instruments, sukuk, Islamic deposits, and other syariah-aligned assets with a long term objective of outperforming traditional fixed-income products. financial year, with a total return of 9.17% over the same period. Designed for investors seeking broad, passive exposure to Malaysia’s syariah-compliant equity market, the PMB Shariah Index Fund mirrors the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Emas Shariah Index.

Its benchmark-aligned strategy continues to deliver diversified, risk balanced returns, marking yet another solid year of performance. Both distributions were credited on March 31, with the reinvestment date on April 1. PMB Investment chairman Datuk

Meanwhile, the PMB Shariah Index Fund recorded a distribution of 2.50 sen per unit, amounting to a total of RM1,155,844.50. The NAV per unit was RM0.5585 before the distribution, adjusting to RM0.5335 thereafter, reflecting a distribution yield of 4.89% for the

distinguish itself as a compelling income-generating option, offering a meaningful alternative to con ventional savings instruments and fixed deposits for investors. The PMB Shariah Dividend Fund is structured to generate consistent income, allocating between 70% and

The PMB Shariah Dividend Fund declared an income distribution of 2.39 sen per unit, representing a total gross distribution of RM1,344,141.09. Prior to the distribution, the fund’s net asset value (NAV) stood at RM0.2706 per unit, settling at RM0.2467 post-distribution.