Malaysia Money Matters Daily News Digest 26th Sept 2025

In today’s episode, we break down how Malaysia’s leading corporates are managing risk amid legal battles, global trade uncertainty, and internal shifts. From a brewing RM600 million exposure at PPB to the prospect of a national vape ban, the message is clear: in a volatile climate, focus is everything.📈 Malaysian Corporate Headlines⚖️ PPB Faces RM600M Risk from Wilmar Case* Indonesian Supreme Court reverses Wilmar’s acquittal* Linked to graft case on cooking oil exports* PPB hasn’t provisioned for the potential loss💼 Bermaz Auto Rejects Shareholder Push* Pangolin Asia Fund proposed tying director fees to market-purchased shares* Board rejected it outright📉 Yinson Profit Halved* Q2 net profit: RM101M* Dragged by EPCIC segment + higher finance costs📺 Astro Q2 Profit Drops 70%* Subscriptions + ad revenue down sharply* Small bright spot: first net pay TV customer growth since 2018🚀 Infrastructure IPOs Show Strong Demand* Cheeding Holdings (utilities): Public tranche oversubscribed 40.28x* Farm Price Holdings earnings forecast to jump 33% in FY26🏢 F&N Monetizes Non-Core Assets* Selling half-stake in PJ property: RM180M🌍 Trade & International Relations🇺🇸 US-Malaysia Tariff Talks Before Trump’s Visit* Aim: Resolve reciprocal tariffs (~19%) ahead of October ASEAN Summit* Exports to US already down 16.7%🇪🇺 Malaysia-EU FTA Talks Set for November* Complicated by EUDR (deforestation regulation)* Despite 57% drop in primary forest loss, Malaysia still classified as “standard risk”🇲🇾 Domestic Policy & Legal Moves🛢️ Vape Ban Incoming by Mid-2026* Ministry of Health plans phased ban on vape sales* Part of broader anti-addiction strategy* Paired with expansion of Sara Aid to include healthier foods⚖️ SRC Civil Trial: Najib’s Accountability Questioned* RM4B pension fund involvement* SRC lawyers argue “too busy” isn’t a valid defense💡 Final ThoughtThere’s a clear pivot toward core focus—both in business and governance.* Companies like F&N and Yinson are shedding distractions.* The government is doubling down on accountability and regulatory clarity.* Meanwhile, unresolved trade issues with the US and EU hang over our export future.The message?💬 Stay lean. Stay strategic. And keep your eyes on the big picture.🎧 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