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KUALA LUMPUR: General Omni Beef opens third store, first franchinse in singapore

KUALA LUMPUR:  The United States’ newly imposed 24% tariffs on Malaysian exports have stirred fresh concerns over a potential global slowdown, with early tremors already rippling through Malaysia’s banking, manufacturing, and property sectors. Though full implementation has been delayed by 90 days, market sentiment is already shifting, with consumers and corporations bracing for tighter conditions. Export-driven industries are likely to see near-term headwinds. However, economists and industry players say Malaysia’s underlying economic fundamentals—particularly its diversified economy and increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) due to global supply chain realignments—will help cushion the blow. The property market, while not immune, is expected to remain relatively resilient. “Will the property market crash because of Trump’s tariffs? Are we heading for a recession?” asks Faizul Ridzuan, CEO of FAR Capital. “There’s definitely going to be uncertainty and speculation, and globally some countries might even be pushed into a forced recession. For Malaysia, a full recession is unlikely, but a slowdown is coming.” He noted that in the next six to nine months, rising construction costs could edge property prices higher, while recession fears may prompt more cautious consumer behaviour, potentially cooling sales activity. “People will hold off on buying. Fear will dominate decisions,” Faizul said. Banks, according to Faizul, will be the first to react. “Let’s be real—banks have always been vultures who want to make the most without taking any risks. They’ll get very conservative on lending, and that’s what will actually make the slowdown worse.” This conservative stance, expected to take shape over the next three to nine months, could suppress loan approvals, limiting financing options for both developers and buyers. Still, amidst the uncertainty, Malaysia may stand to gain from a shifting geopolitical landscape. With the US levelling even steeper tariffs on China and select ASEAN neighbours, Malaysia is increasingly viewed as a stable, cost-effective alternative for businesses looking to relocate. This repositioning could accelerate FDI inflows, job creation, and ultimately housing demand—particularly in key industrial corridors like Johor, Penang, and the Greater Klang Valley. Faizul believes the medium-term outlook could favour strategic buyers. “If the slowdown deepens, interest rates could drop as governments try to stimulate spending. So while there may be fear, there’s also opportunity,” he said. “Prices won’t crash, but sentiment will stall. Rental will rise due to favourable FDIs, low unemployment and limited new supply. The smart, financially-prepared buyers will be actively acquiring in the next three to six months.” FAR Capital advises buyers to stay informed and poised—especially in high-potential locations with strong infrastructure and employment trends. “This is similar to the COVID-led recession in 2020. Once the fear is gone, markets come back stronger than before,” Faizul said. “Fear-driven stagnation opens doors for those who are strategic. This is how wealth is built during times of uncertainty.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd (Cuckoo Malaysia) is rescheduling the timing of its initial public offering (IPO) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd due to the current global market volatility. Cuckoo Malaysia’s non-independent executive director and chief executive officer Hoe Kian Choon said the decision to reschedule was made after a careful and thoughtful assessment in targeting a successful and sustainable entry into the public market by the company. The listing of the company initially planned for April 30.2025 is now anticipated to be completed by June 24, 2025. “As the market present near-term challenges, we believe that this is a prudent decision.

Malaysian businesses can now offer instalment payment options ranging from 3 to 24 months through a single, streamlined integration, thanks to a new partnership between senangPay and Pine Labs. senangPay, a local payment gateway under Indonesia’s DOKU, has joined forces with Pine Labs to launch an integrated Instalment Payment Plan (IPP) designed to make instalment offerings more accessible for merchants. The solution simplifies backend operations by connecting merchants to multiple major banks through one unified integration—eliminating the need for separate bank connections. This initiative enables businesses using senangPay to offer flexible payment terms without managing multiple technical setups. Pine Labs, which provides a suite of online and offline digital payment solutions, affordability tools, embedded financial services, and credit processing systems, is enhancing its footprint in Malaysia with this collaboration. A pilot programme involving businesses across sectors—such as education, health and wellness, membership-based services, professional offerings, and e-commerce—was successfully carried out. Among the participants, fitness platform 1Fit App notably saw its transaction volume double after integrating the instalment feature. The timing of the rollout coincides with the upcoming Raya and mid-year sales seasons, where consumers typically look for budget-friendly purchasing options. Offering instalment plans is expected to help merchants attract more customers, especially for higher-ticket items, while also increasing average transaction values. “As consumer interest in instalment payments continues to rise, businesses need smart solutions that offer greater financial flexibility. Our single-integration system with senangPay lets merchants enable IPP online without the complexity of individual bank integrations,” — Sharad Gulhar, Executive Vice President & Country Head – Malaysia, Pine Labs “At senangPay, we’re focused on delivering a robust digital payment ecosystem for businesses. By teaming up with Pine Labs, we’re giving our merchants a powerful tool to boost sales through instalment plans. This complements our existing services, which include e-wallets, BNPL, FPX, and card payments—further supporting local enterprises with seamless transaction solutions,” — Aaron Chin, CEO of senangPay