Malaysia Money Matters Daily News Digest 25th Sept 2025

In today’s episode, we explore Malaysia’s shifting tech and infrastructure momentum, unfolding political and regulatory stories, and how regional markets are reacting to persistent trade headwinds. From soaring IPOs to luxury car tax dodges, it’s another packed day of money, markets, and macro moves.📈 Malaysian Corporate Highlights📊 XPB Debuts Strong on ACE Market* IPO oversubscribed 13.55x* Debut close: +12.5% at RM0.225⚡ EI Power Files for ACE Listing* Focus: Electrical systems for data centers* Backed by OCK Group* Target markets: Thailand & Johor🆔 NexG (formerly Datasonic) Launches RM250M Expansion* Phase 1: RM85M to double passport production* Supporting RM1.73B gov’t contract* Introduced MyNasional, a private digital ID platform✈️ Capital A Targets PN17 Exit by Year-End* Needs disposal of airline ops to AirAsia X + RM1B capital🏗️ LB Aluminium Profit +31%* Q1 net: RM1.6M* Driven by PSV1 project (87% sold)🏭 Winstar Capital Faces Costly Delays* RM14.5M aluminium plant still idle due to final approvals* Paying depreciation & loan interest with no returns yet⚠️ C-Suite Movements* CEO of Sentral REIT resigns* CFO exit at CTOS Digital, shortly after CEO left🛢️ National Policy & Governance⛽ Budi95 Fuel Subsidy Defended* Savings estimated: RM2.5B–RM4B/year* Cut foreign + business access (22% of old volume)🚘 Road Tax Dodging on Luxury Cars* RM35.7M owed from just 5 high-end brands* Porsche alone: RM3.7M⚖️ Legal & Corruption Updates* MACC probe into Dr. Mahathir now extends to Switzerland* Abu Sahid faces fresh CBT charge: RM145M* Former director Yap Wee Leong: 9 counts incl. money laundering🌍 International Outlook🌴 Palm Oil Prices Eye RM5,500* Driven by:* Ageing trees* Indonesia’s possible B50 biofuel mandate* Short-term relief: EU deforestation law (EUDR) delayed📉 ASEAN Warns of US Tariff Fallout* Ongoing US-China tensions + Trump’s UN speech* ASEAN trade officials flag slowing regional trade* Vietnam at high risk with 20% tariff exposure🥇 Gold Soars Again* Hits US$3,784/oz🚨 Regional Security* Malaysia IGP denies US analyst’s Hamas claims🎧 Listen Now for a deep dive into Malaysia’s financial gems and global trends shaping 2025!🔗 Subscribe & Share the Malaysia Money Matters podcast on Substack, Spotify, or Apple PodcastsMalaysia Money Matters is a one-person passion project. Subscribe for free or support me as a paid subscriber—it means the world to me! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mmoneymatters.substack.com