MalaysianUpdates

Category: Global

  • Breaking Barriers: First-Ever Malaysian Appointed as Global Chair of Prestigious Legal Powerhouse LAWorld

    Breaking Barriers: First-Ever Malaysian Appointed as Global Chair of Prestigious Legal Powerhouse LAWorld

    In a historic milestone for the Malaysian legal profession, Dato’ Mohamed Ridza Abdulla, Managing Partner of Mohamed Ridza & Co, has been appointed as the Global Chair of LAWorld, an international network of independent law firms. The appointment was formally approved on 8 May 2026 following a unanimous vote by members during the LAWorld Annual General Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal. This election marks the first time a Malaysian has been chosen to lead the prestigious global organization since its inception three decades ago, signaling a significant shift in the leadership landscape of international legal networks.

    LAWorld operates as a non-exclusive legal network comprising nearly 70 independent mid-sized law firms, representing more than 1,500 lawyers practicing across over 100 cities worldwide. The network is designed to offer clients direct access to high-quality local legal expertise across various jurisdictions while maintaining the personalized, partner-led service culture of its member firms. Dato’ Mohamed Ridza’s elevation to the global chair follows nearly twenty years of dedicated involvement with the network, beginning in 2007 when Mohamed Ridza & Co first joined as the Malaysian representative firm. His leadership journey within the organization includes previous tenures as Treasurer and Chair of the Asia Pacific region. b

    Dato’ Mohamed Ridza Abdulla, Managing Partner of Malaysian law firm Mohamed Ridza & Co

    In addition to this global leadership transition, the network has also strengthened its regional talent pipeline with the appointment of Muhammad Akhlil, a senior associate at Mohamed Ridza & Co, as the Director of LAWorld’s NextGen Programme for the Asia Pacific region. This initiative is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of legal practitioners within member firms by focusing on leadership development, cross-border exposure, and the nurturing of emerging talent. Together, these appointments underscore a growing influence of Malaysian legal expertise on the international stage, providing a structured gateway for local clients to access overseas expertise and for international investors to engage with recognized Malaysian counsel.

    As he assumes the role of Global Chair, Dato’ Mohamed Ridza has established a strategic roadmap focused on expanding the network’s footprint in underrepresented regions such as Africa and the Gulf. His priorities include enhancing regional collaboration, scaling the NextGen Programme through international secondments, and strengthening digital governance across the network. By building a broader professional ecosystem, he aims to better support the cross-border needs of clients in an increasingly interconnected global market. Dato’ Mohamed Ridza noted that being part of such a network aligns with Malaysia’s historical identity as a trading nation, allowing the firm to act as a seamless one-stop center for both local and international clients navigating global markets.

    Dato’ Mohamed Ridza expressed his gratitude to the senior leadership teams of the member firms for their trust, acknowledging the significant responsibility of ensuring LAWorld continues to reach new heights in legal excellence. He highlighted that the personal nature of the network’s membership allows for expedited, high-quality legal advice across the globe, distinguishing it from other international legal structures. With his appointment taking effect immediately, the Malaysian legal community celebrates a new era of global representation and connectivity within the international commercial and legal landscape.

  • JessC Expands Global Reach with Award-Winning Multilingual and Raya Music

    JessC Expands Global Reach with Award-Winning Multilingual and Raya Music

    Malaysian international artist JessC, recipient of the “Best Asian Pop” award at the InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA, USA) and widely known as the “US-Asia Healing Pop Queen,” has once again marked a significant milestone in her international music career. Her multilingual works continue to receive global recognition, and she recently held a press conference to share her latest achievements with members of the media and the public.

    JessC shared that her music is currently being played across multiple regions, including China, the United States, Europe, Indonesia, and Australia. Her songs have also entered radio charts in China and Indonesia, further highlighting the growing international presence of Malaysian music.

    She expressed her gratitude to media representatives and listeners from more than 30 countries for their continued support. She also noted that Rolling Stone (Australia and UK editions) has recognised her as one of the “New Artists to Watch,” adding further momentum to her international journey.

    At the LIT Music Awards, JessC achieved further success by winning across three languages with four works, making her the first artist to receive international recognition for music produced in three different languages. Her award-winning works include the Platinum-winning Malay songs “Mari Menari Raya” and “Expose,” the Mandarin song “My Style,” and the English track “One Chance,” which also earned her the “Best New Artist” award. In addition, “My Style” secured her the ICMA “Best Asian Pop” title, further strengthening her position in the global music industry.

    JessC has also been actively promoting Malaysian Raya-themed music internationally. “Mari Menari Raya” not only received a Platinum award at the LIT Music Awards but is also regarded as the first Raya-themed song to win at an international music awards platform. Meanwhile, “Satu Suara Raya” was previously shortlisted as a finalist in the ICMA Asian Pop category and was also invited to a short film festival in Japan, further showcasing Malaysian festive culture on the global stage. These works have been broadcast on radio stations in the United Kingdom, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and South America, steadily expanding their international reach.

    She shared that she feels deeply moved by the way listeners from different countries have embraced her Raya songs, adding that it reinforces her belief that music can transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.

    The “Raya Open House × ICMA & LIT Music Awards Celebration” was held at the Symphony Performing Arts Centre and attracted more than 300 media representatives and fans. The event featured performances by several local artists, including Kelly Azman, Syafiq Ikhwan, Fareez Hazwan Fauzi, and Zaki Yamani, creating a lively festive atmosphere. JessC also delivered live performances of “Satu Suara Raya” and “Mari Menari Raya,” with the latter’s music video surpassing 4.6 million views on YouTube.

    Reflecting on her international journey, JessC expressed both surprise and gratitude, saying she never expected a Raya song to be embraced by audiences in so many countries. She emphasised that this achievement represents not only a personal milestone but also a moment where Malaysian culture is being shared with the world. She also extended her appreciation to the media, her team, and her fans, highlighting teamwork as a key factor in her continued success.

    Beyond her music career, JessC is also recognised for her strong commitment to a disciplined and healthy lifestyle. She has won 12 gold medals and 5 silver medals in wushu competitions in China and Hong Kong, as well as 20 gold medals and 8 silver medals in table tennis competitions in Australia, reflecting her dedication, versatility, and well-rounded personal development.

    Looking ahead, JessC shared her intention to continue producing music that integrates cultural elements, with the aim of bringing Malaysia’s unique identity to the international stage while delivering messages of healing and positivity. She concluded by expressing her hope to bring the sound of Malaysia to every corner of the world.

  • Tune Talk Becomes a Fully Independent Cloud-Native Mobile Network Operator in ASEAN

    Tune Talk Becomes a Fully Independent Cloud-Native Mobile Network Operator in ASEAN

    Tune Talk, one of Malaysia’s most recognised mobile brands, has successfully completed its transformation into a fully independent, cloud-native mobile network operator (MNO) through a strategic partnership with Mavenir, a network software provider specialising in AI-driven mobile infrastructure. This milestone enables Tune Talk to manage its network systems end-to-end, unlocking greater speed, agility and innovation as it prepares for its next phase of growth.

    The transformation is driven by the adoption of Mavenir’s cloud-native OSS and BSS solutions, which provide Tune Talk with full control over its network operations and digital service platforms while establishing a strong software-based foundation for future expansion. By modernising its OSS and BSS layers, Tune Talk now operates an independent, software-defined network that supports faster service deployment, more personalised AI-driven customer experiences and enhanced network reliability.

    This new architecture has already accelerated the rollout of various digital offerings, including MyDigital ID integration, Mastercard ID Theft Protection, complimentary Personal Accident Insurance, foodpanda benefits, as well as in-app streaming services such as drama and gaming subscriptions. At the same time, Tune Talk’s cloud-native operational environment incorporates zero-touch processes and self-healing automation, improving overall network stability while reducing operational overheads.

    Looking ahead, the second phase of this transformation will further strengthen Tune Talk’s AI-driven capabilities through advanced orchestration and next-generation BSS. These enhancements are expected to boost network performance, speed up service delivery and unlock new revenue streams through more contextual and personalised offerings.

    Tune Talk CEO Gurtaj Singh Padda described the achievement as the beginning of a new chapter for the company, reinforcing its ambition to build a smarter and more agile mobile network for Malaysia and beyond. He highlighted that these capabilities enable the company to move faster, scale personalisation and deliver greater value through AI-driven innovation for its growing customer base.

    Mavenir President and CEO Pardeep Kohli expressed pride in successfully delivering the first phase of the partnership, noting that Tune Talk’s commitment to continuous innovation aligns with Mavenir’s cloud-native approach. He emphasised that such an approach is essential in providing the speed, flexibility and efficiency required to meet evolving customer demands.

    With this deployment, Tune Talk now serves as a benchmark for cloud-native MNO operations not only in Malaysia but across the ASEAN region, demonstrating how modern OSS and BSS architectures can accelerate operator independence, enhance agility and support long-term digital transformation.

    In conjunction with this milestone, Mavenir, in collaboration with Mobile World Live, will host a panel discussion at Mobile World Congress Barcelona #MWC26 titled “Built for More, Bound by Less: The Rise of a New Breed of MNO Embracing AI, Cloud and 5G.” The session will take place at Mavenir’s stand in Hall 2, 2H60 on Monday, 2 March from 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM, featuring Tune Talk CEO Gurtaj Singh Padda alongside industry speakers. The discussion will explore how mobile networks can thrive by combining cloud-native architectures, AI-driven insights and flexible monetisation strategies to differentiate through customer experience rather than price.

  • Ekonomi Malaysia berkembang kukuh dengan sokongan permintaan domestik pada awal 2026.

    Ekonomi Malaysia berkembang kukuh dengan sokongan permintaan domestik pada awal 2026.

    Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM) menerusi penerbitan Sorotan Statistik Ekonomi Malaysia (MESR) Siri 3/2026 melaporkan bahawa ekonomi Malaysia terus berada pada landasan pertumbuhan yang positif pada awal tahun 2026, dipacu oleh permintaan domestik yang kukuh serta prestasi menyeluruh merentasi sektor utama. Penerbitan ini bukan sahaja mengetengahkan statistik terkini bagi Januari 2026 dan jangkaan awal Februari 2026, malah turut memuatkan analisis mendalam mengenai Pelaburan Langsung di Luar Negeri (DIA) dari tahun 2010 hingga 2024, yang memberi gambaran lebih praktikal terhadap corak pelaburan sebenar syarikat Malaysia di peringkat antarabangsa. Dalam konteks global, persekitaran ekonomi dunia kekal mencabar dengan pertumbuhan diunjurkan sederhana sekitar 2.7 peratus, dipengaruhi ketegangan geopolitik, tekanan rantaian bekalan serta ketidaktentuan pasaran tenaga, sekali gus memberi implikasi kepada ekonomi terbuka seperti Malaysia.

    Di peringkat domestik, prestasi ekonomi Malaysia pada tahun 2025 yang berkembang 5.2 peratus menjadi asas kukuh kepada momentum semasa, dengan sektor perkhidmatan terus menjadi penyumbang utama diikuti oleh pembuatan dan pembinaan yang mencatat pertumbuhan memberangsangkan. Pada Januari 2026, Indeks Pengeluaran Perindustrian (IPP) meningkat 5.9 peratus, didorong terutamanya oleh pengembangan sektor pembuatan sebanyak 7.3 peratus serta peningkatan output elektrik. Jualan sektor pembuatan pula mencecah RM169.4 bilion dengan pertumbuhan 7.1 peratus tahun ke tahun, dipacu oleh subsektor elektrik dan elektronik (E&E) yang berkembang pesat. Aktiviti ekonomi domestik turut disokong oleh sektor borong dan runcit yang mencatat jualan RM159.8 bilion, meningkat 7.3 peratus, mencerminkan tahap perbelanjaan pengguna yang kekal kukuh, termasuk dalam segmen runcit, borong dan kenderaan bermotor.

    Selain itu, prestasi perdagangan luar negara menunjukkan perkembangan positif apabila jumlah perdagangan meningkat 9.5 peratus kepada RM245.2 bilion pada Februari 2026, dengan eksport dan import masing-masing mencatat pertumbuhan kukuh, sekali gus menghasilkan lebihan dagangan yang lebih tinggi. Dari sudut harga, inflasi negara kekal terkawal pada kadar 1.4 peratus, manakala Indeks Harga Pengeluar (IHPR) terus mencatat penurunan, mencerminkan tekanan kos yang semakin reda dalam beberapa sektor utama. Dalam masa sama, pasaran buruh Malaysia kekal stabil dengan peningkatan kecil dalam tenaga buruh dan kadar pengangguran yang tidak berubah pada 2.9 peratus, menunjukkan keadaan ekonomi yang masih menyokong peluang pekerjaan.

    Ke hadapan, ekonomi Malaysia dijangka terus berkembang secara sederhana dengan sokongan Indeks Pelopor yang menunjukkan peningkatan tahunan, walaupun terdapat penurunan bulanan yang mencerminkan sentimen berhati-hati dalam jangka pendek. Secara keseluruhan, prospek ekonomi negara kekal berdaya tahan dengan sokongan permintaan domestik, pelaburan berterusan dan kestabilan pasaran buruh, namun risiko luaran seperti ketidaktentuan global, konflik geopolitik dan turun naik harga minyak mentah dijangka terus menjadi cabaran utama yang perlu diberi perhatian dalam memastikan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang mampan.