What Are The 5 Investments Themes That Will Define Malaysia in 2026?

 

Malaysia heads into 2H 2026 with a record RM426.7 bill in approved investments in 2025, a freshly launched 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and a government that means business on digital infrastructure and economic transformation. The five investment themes shaping Malaysia in 2026 with an assessment of what the headlines leave out:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Malaysia 

Theme 1: Infrastructure – The execution story 

Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) (2026-2030) commits RM430 bill in development expenditure with 53% allocated to the economy. The GEAR-uP programme tasks six core GLICs – including Khazanah Nasional Bhd , the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Permodalan Nasional; Bhd (PNB) – to deploy RM120 bil in domestic investments alongside RM61 bil via public-private partnerships. Construction, utilities, transport connectivity and energy transition names are the clear beneficiaries. CIMB Securities, Maybank and RHB have all flagged infrastructure as a multi-year earnings driver with players like Gamuda Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd and YTL Power International Bhd well-positioned across different segments of the pipeline.

 

The Risk? Plans are not projects. Malaysia has a distinguished history of announcing infrastructure mega-projects and revising, deferring or cancelling them. The 13MP allocates ambitiously, hence execution depends on fiscal discipline, project governance and procurement integrity. Investors should track contract awards – not just government budgets – before pricing in earnings. 

 

Theme 2: AI & data centres – Southeast Asia’s best kept secret 

Malaysia captured 32% of Southeast Asia’s AI funding between H2 2024 and H1 2025 — US$759 mil. Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services and Nvidia have all made substantial commitments. YTL Power and Nvidia inked a US$2.36 bil AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure deal in July 2025. Malaysia’s first Nvidia-powered AI data centre in Johor became operational in October 2025. 

The Risk? AI hype cycles are real. The FBM KLCI fell 14.2% in April 2025 when US export controls on AI chips rattled sentiment despite Malaysia’s strong fundamentals. Power supply constraints, water usage concerns around data centres and global tariff volatility can disrupt project timelines significantly. The AI play in Malaysia is real. But investors buying at peak optimism have historically paid for it.

 

Theme 3: REITs – The quiet outperformer 

The KLREIT index rose 8.3% in 2025 versus the FBM KLCI’s 2.3% gain with the fundamentals for 2026 remain constructive. Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) surprise 25bps OPR (overnight policy rate) cut in July 2025 – its first rate cut in five years – improved REIT valuations directly. Maybank projects average REIT dividend yields of 6.1% for 2026. With distribution yields in the 6%-7% range, Malaysian REITs offer what most equity investors are desperately looking for: visible income in an uncertain market. 

The Risk? REIT valuations have already re-rated. Dividend yield spreads over the 10-year MGS (Malaysian Government Securities) have narrowed toward their long-term averages.vIf global interest rates rise again – or if Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) tourism numbers disappoint due to geopolitical tensions and higher airfare, the tailwind reverses quickly. REITs are not bonds. They carry asset-specific, occupancy and interest rate risk that investors should price properly.

 

Theme 4: Tourism – Real catalyst, real ceiling 

VM2026 is not a tagline – it is a government-backed demand catalyst with RM60 mil allocated for events and campaigns, RM10 mil in concert incentives and a formal target of 47 million tourist arrivals. Tourism already contributes over 15% of Malaysia’s GDP (gross domestic product). Johor-based assets benefit additionally from Singaporean cross-border spending and improved connectivity. 

The Risk?  Tourism is acutely sensitive to external shocks – Middle East tensions, flight disruptions or a global growth slowdown can compress arrivals fast. RHB Research cautioned that rising airfares from geopolitical pressures could dampen long-haul travel. VM2026 targets are aspirational. Investors should model downside scenarios, not just the campaign posters.

 

Theme 5: Small-caps – Recovery play or value trap? 

The FBM Small Cap Index fell 11.3% while the FBM Mid 70 fell 9.9% in 2025, dramatically under-performing the FBM KLCI’s near-flat performance. After that kind of drawdown, valuations are trading below long-term averages Small-caps offer recovery potential in 2026 – but the upside will come through careful stock selection, not a broad-based re-rating. 

The Risk? Many Malaysian small-caps small caps a decade of stagnant earnings, margin compression from Chinese and Vietnamese competition and governance gaps that institutional investors have quietly walked away from. 

Valuation discount alone is not a thesis. Without earnings quality, visible cash flow and credible management, cheap can get cheaper. This is a stock-picker’s market, not a rising-tide story.

 

Bottom Line 

Malaysia’s 2026 investment story is compelling – anchored by policy commitment, FDI (foreign direct investment) momentum and a government that has put its balance sheet where its ambitions are. But real problems are execution, red-tape, external developments, margin squeeze and the “fashionable” sector tendency to jump into what’s new and exciting in the market like AI. It was gloves manufacturing in the 80s, golf courses and IPPs in the 90s, dot com companies in the early 2000s, renewables in the 2020s and so forth. But we need the basics revisited – education, infrastructure and connectivity, job creation for Malaysians and a more efficient civil service. 

Reference:

5 Investment themes that will define Malaysia in 2026 – and the risks nobody talks about, Aida Lim Abdullah, Focus Malaysia, 9 June 2026 

CEOs: Grow People or Company?

 

Great CEOs don't just grow companies. They grow people. Most leaders spend their time chasing strategies, shortcuts, and productivity hacks. Elite CEOs take a different approach. Their edge isn't a secret formula; it's a different way of thinking. 

9 Mindsets That Set Top CEOs Apart 

1. Progress Over Perfection

They don't wait for perfect conditions. They act, gather feedback, and improve along the way. 

2. Questions Over Answers

Exceptional leaders aren't defined by what they know, but by the quality of the questions they ask. 

3. Systems Over Goals

Goals provide direction. Systems create consistent results. Success comes from repeatable processes. 

4. Learning Over Experience

In a rapidly changing world, the ability to learn quickly matters more than relying on experience. 

5. Leverage Over Effort

Growth isn't about working harder. It's about multiplying impact through people, processes, and technology. 

6. Clarity Over Consensus

Strong leaders create alignment around the vision and purpose, without getting stuck in endless discussions. 

7. Energy Over Hours

Peak performance comes from managing energy, focus, and recovery, not simply working longer hours. 

8. Relationships Over Transactions

The most asset is a network of mentors, peers, and teams that challenge, support, and elevate you. 

9. Decades Over Quarters

Great leaders think long term. They #prioritize culture, #trust, and #sustainable impact over short-term wins.

 

 

Reference:

Sushma M.’s Post on LinkedIn

 

Malaysia’s Total Trade Hits RM3.1 trillion in 2025

 

Malaysia’s total trade expanded to RM3.1 trillion in 2025, comprising RM1.6 trillion in exports and RM1.5 trillion in imports. Penang led the nation’s export performance, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Penang accounted for 38.1% of Malaysia’s total exports, followed by Johor (19.8%), Selangor (17.0%), Sarawak (6.4%) and Kuala Lumpur (3.7%). 

Strong export growth was driven by electronic integrated circuits and other electrical and electronic (E&E) products, particularly in Penang, Selangor and Johor. Refined petroleum products contributed to exports in Johor, while palm oil was among the key contributors to exports in Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org 

Malaysia’s Trade Openness Index (TOI) rose to 151.0 in 2025 from 149.0 in the previous year, reflecting stronger integration between trade and the economy. Penang recorded the highest TOI at 575.1 in 2024, up from 540.6 in 2023, followed by Johor at 332.1 and Kedah at 234.2, the only three states to surpass the national level. The TOI measures the degree of dependence of international trade in goods on the economy, while the index can be used to analyse trade patterns and the importance of trade to the economy. TOI by state for 2025 is still being compiled, pending completion of state-level gross domestic product estimates. 

On imports, Malaysia recorded a 6.0% increase to RM1.5 trillion in 2025, and Penang again led the increase in imports, rising by RM60.4 billion, followed by Kuala Lumpur (+RM24.8 billion), Selangor (+RM23.5 billion), Johor (+RM6.5 billion), Perak (+RM2.9 billion), Sabah (+RM582.8 million) and Kelantan (+RM112.7 million). Imports were supported by electronic integrated circuits, particularly in Penang and Kedah, and other E&E products and refined petroleum products contributed to imports in Selangor and Johor, with piezo-electric crystals and parts among the key import products in Penang. 

This is well before Hormuz, so it will be interesting to see the effects of first half of 2026. In some sense, it could be higher because many would stockpile inventories with the continued tension between Iran and the U.S. – so exports/imports could remain high in the immediate term. 

Reference:

DOSM: Malaysia’s total trade hits RM3.1 tril in 2025, Penang tops exports, by Bernama/theedgemalaysia.com, 16 Jun 2026

Malaysia Jumps Eight Spots in IMD World Competitive Ranking

 

Malaysia has jumped eight spots in the 2026 International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking, rising to the 15th spot among 70 economies, marking its best ranking in recent years. Last year, Malaysia advanced 11 places to 23rd among 69 economies, up from 34th place out of 67 economies in 2024.  

The ranking was based on four pillars, including the country's economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. According to IMD, improvements across all four pillars contributed to Malaysia's stronger standing. Malaysia ranked fourth globally in economic performance, while government efficiency rose 11 spots to the 14th, business efficiency advanced 16 spots to the 16th, and infrastructure also improved by two places to 33rd. Among the sub-factors, Malaysia's domestic economy ranking improved four places to 11th, while international trade rose one spot to the fifth position.  International investment also recorded a strong improvement, climbing seven places to the 19th position.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org 

Meanwhile, Switzerland lost its position as the world’s most competitive economy to Singapore, slipping to third place in the ranking as high US trade tariffs and a strong Swiss franc hurt investment flows. While Switzerland remained the highest-ranked European nation, it was also leapfrogged by Hong Kong in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking. Business efficiency was key to Singapore rebounding to first place, a position it last held in 2024. 

The IMD said Switzerland’s decline underscores how even the world’s strongest economies remain vulnerable to shifting capital flows and heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The setback comes as Switzerland faces intensifying competition, with Hong Kong recently overtaking the country as the world’s largest cross-border wealth hub, according to Boston Consulting Group.

Switzerland’s inward direct investment flows flipped to a negative US$60.7 billion, putting it bottom of the IMD’s 70-country ranking for that metric. 

Despite the drop, Switzerland retained its position as the world leader in government efficiency and infrastructure, while business efficiency remained sixth. The IMD’s statistical measures are primarily driven by the 2025 macroeconomic data, and don’t fully incorporate the impact of the Iran war. 

The key development is Singapore is back on top. If only we are a little humble to learn, implement or adapt their winning strategies? If not go to Hong Kong or Switzerland and do the ‘lawatan sambil belajar’ excursion? 

References:

Malaysia jumps eight spots to 15^th in 2026 IMD world competitiveness ranking, Bernama/The Star, 18 June 2026

 

Switzerland loses top competitiveness ranking to Singapore, Allegra Catelli/Bloomberg, theedgemalaysia.com, 18 June 2026

 

Can We Discern Halal Rubbish?

 

Halal rubbish? That’s something Selangor wants to do! Not even PAS has suggested that! 

I am not insulting halal standards. Shopping malls in Selangor must now separate halal rubbish from non-halal rubbish or food waste. Garbage is garbage. Leftover food is meant to be recycled into fertilisers. They are broken down by bacteria and fungi to become rich compost. The only possible reason for separate bins is if we want to create “halal fertilisers”. If so, is the soil where food is grown halal? What if a wild boar from the nearby forest pees on it? Frogs and snakes are also haram. What if these hop or slither across the soil?

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Back in 2012, fast-food chain A&W rebranded its “Coney Dog” and “Root Beer” to “Chicken Coney” and “RB” as the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) deemed that certain words would “confuse” Muslims. Yet A&W had been in Malaysia since 1963, and Muslims drank root beer for over 50 years, knowing full well it had nothing intoxicating, except too much sugar. In fact, the Malay dessert of fermented tapioca, or tapai, probably has more alcohol. 

In 2017, a “halal laundry” in Muar refused to serve non-Muslims. Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, as the head of state of Islamic matters, called this “extreme” and a “narrow mindset”. He pointed out that ringgit notes may have also come in contact with pork or liquor.

Malaysians generate around 8.3 million metric tonnes of food waste annually, or roughly 260kg per person. Food waste makes up 40 percent to 45 percent of all daily waste sent to landfills. 

Halal is supposed to mean compliance with Islamic principles of hygiene. But what about halal restaurants that are dirty? Or halal food packed with harmful preservatives and nitrates? Are we getting bogged down in micro details while missing the big picture? 

Former minister Rafidah Aziz said in 2024 that authorities should focus on combating corruption, which was “non-halal money”, instead of “causing inconvenience” by enforcing rigid halal rules. Rather than getting fixated about halal garbage, we should examine if politicians, top civil servants, plus corporate/GLC leaders got their wealth in halal or haram ways. 

The biggest threats to Muslims and Malaysians are the 3Rs of “rempit, rokok, rasuah” - reckless motorcyclists, smoking, and corruption. 

These 3Rs are what really harm lives, health, and society - not the other R - a lack of halal rubbish bins. Please focus on real issues – cost of living, inflation, job creation, corruption, education and health services, not some outward appearance while the inside is rotten or dead! 

Reference:

COMMENT | Can trash be halal?, Andrew Sia, Malaysiakini, 22 June 2026

Will a PhD Make You a Good Politician?

 

Many of our politicians today have a PhD, but does this make them better politicians? Many of them are not academics. But then politics is not a scholastic affair. It’s an art of compromise where politicians must work within real-world constraints. Academic or textbook theories may not really work in the world of politics. 

The mindset that has besieged Malaysians for so long is that politicians with impressive academic titles can become better politicians. Some politicians may even go all out to have academic titles attached to their names to convince the masses that they are “obnoxiously clever”. And some of these titles are purchased from paper mills.

 

https://www.wikihow.life

In politics, being charismatic matters more than academic titles. Many academics who went into politics have failed as most of them have been too textbook-oriented in their approach to the unpredictable economic and social turbulence engulfing the world.  Many academics are usually obstinately inflexible when proposing solutions or formulas to these quandaries. For that matter, they are usually too idealistic and always would want things to be done their way. They keep to their ideals and seldom would want to compromise. This attribute makes it hard for them to become flexible in politics, what more to become team players. 

Malaysians should start shedding the perception that those with ‘high’ qualifications can become effective political leaders. In fact, it is also true in the corporate world. Not many do well with a PhD. Many corporate or political leaders of the past or even in the present never had a PhD and were not even university educated. 

A PhD only reflects research and ability into a single area of knowledge and specialisation. A PhD holder in one area may know little about other areas of knowledge. To become a politician, a person must be rhetorically convincing even though it may only carry little substance. Ask Trump. The person must first have the political appeal and be willing to work for the people and accept human frailties in life. A good politician must be patient and be willing to accept criticism and defeat, as he has now become a public figure. Unlike a politician, an academic would not tolerate off-putting criticism and does not accept dim-witted comments just like what often happens in our local political scene. 

Politics at a certain level and in some illiterate societies is all about struggling to gain power, manipulation, and convincing people with promises. A true academic will not resort to such undignified behaviour. 

PhD holders who have proven themselves in their areas of expertise in the real world are usually roped into politics in a literate and developed society. They make good workers, but this is limited to the level of getting things executed at the highest level but not going down to the grassroots to talk about what politics is all about. In fact, in a literate and developed society, the people need not have to be convinced by political rhetoric and promises. They just want to see things delivered and therefore they seek leaders who are down to earth and speak to them plainly irrespective of their academic titles. 

A politician is not judged by their academic qualifications but by their execution. Academic qualifications will not help without the tangible ability to deliver on socio-economic reforms, infrastructure, and constituent welfare. The masses would want political figures who have ideas that are realistic, pragmatic, and that they are able to do a better check-and-balance duty in a healthy democracy. 

Reference:

Having a PhD doesn’t make you a good politician, Moaz Nair, FMT, 14 June 2026

What Work Should I Stop Doing Manually?

 

Because AI is moving work from:

-Search

-Analyze

-Design

-Present

 

Into:

 -Describe the outcome

-Give the context

-Let AI build the first version

-Review and improve the result

In 2026, the edge will go to people who build smarter systems around their work. Hard work still matters. But doing every step by hand is getting expensive. Which task are you still doing manually?

  

Reference:

Julia Danyal’s post on LinkedIn