From Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes to equipment leasing, Malaysia’s booming non-bank credit ecosystem is on the verge of a regulatory overhaul. Enter the Consumer Credit Bill 2025 — a key piece of legislation designed to improve consumer protection, clamp down on unlicensed operators, and bring order to an increasingly fragmented sector.

But is the bill striking the right balance? Or could it end up stifling innovation and pushing smaller fintech players out of the market?

In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Lo Khai Yi and Ong Johnson, partners at Halim Hong & Quek, to unpack what the bill means for businesses and consumers. They explore everything from the rise of the Consumer Credit Commission (CCC) to the legal and operational challenges the bill introduces, including licensing hurdles, overlapping regulations, hefty penalties, and the murky future for fintech-driven credit products.

We also discuss whether the bill risks regulatory overreach and how Malaysia can regulate responsibly without sacrificing growth and innovation in the credit space.

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Malaysia is setting its sights on an ambitious goal of 31.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2025 and MATTA thinks pickleball might help get us there. With global interest in the sport exploding, MATTA is launching the Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam 2025, a tourism initiative expected to attract over 1,000 players and 3,000 visitors to Sarawak.

In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, and Oscar Choo, Chairman of MATTA’s Sarawak Chapter, to understand why MATTA is backing this emerging sport as a strategic growth driver. They discuss how pickleball can be a catalyst for tourism dollars, the economic impact of niche sporting events, and Sarawak’s role in Malaysia’s broader tourism strategy.

The conversation also touches on Malaysia’s post-pandemic tourism recovery, shifting traveller trends, and how MATTA is integrating sports tourism into its long-term priorities. Can lifestyle sports like pickleball serve up more than just fun and help boost Malaysia’s tourism economy?

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As AI advances at breakneck speed, the spotlight is often on innovation, automation, and productivity. But behind the buzz lies a growing risk, one that could have existential consequences.

In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Chan Tzu Kit, an AI Risks and Safety Advisor who has worked with leading university groups at Stanford, Yale, and NTU, as well as Malaysia’s own National AI Office. Together, we unpack the less-discussed but critical domain of AI safety, frontier models, and AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).

Tzu Kit explains why he believes we are building the world’s most powerful jet engine, without seatbelts. From deepfake scams to potential loss of control over superintelligent systems, we discuss the real-world risks, global power dynamics, and Malaysia’s urgent need to take AI safety seriously.

We also explore the ratio of capabilities to safety researchers, the gaps in global governance, and why countries like Malaysia must prepare now, or risk being left behind in the AI arms race.

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AI is only as smart as the data it learns from, and in Asia, where adoption is growing fast, that’s becoming a serious issue for businesses.

From scattered data and outdated backups to AI models giving the wrong answers, many companies are starting to realise their systems aren't built to support the tools they’re investing in.

So how do you fix what’s under the hood before problems get bigger… and costlier?

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Hardman, Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific at Hitachi Vantara, about why building smarter, stronger data systems is key to making AI actually work in the real world.

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When hackers targeted Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in a brazen cyberattack, demanding a US$10 million ransom, it wasn’t just a wake-up call for Malaysia’s aviation sector — it was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities lurking in our critical infrastructure. As the government takes a firm stance against paying ransoms and calls for bolstering local cybersecurity capabilities, we speak to Adjunct Professor Murugason R. Thangaratnam, Co-Founder and CEO of Novem CS, to unpack what went wrong, how to prevent future breaches, and what this means for the nation’s digital security landscape.

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As the global workforce decentralizes, countries are racing to position themselves as talent magnets. Malaysia is joining the competition, offering digital nomad visas, competitive costs, and a high quality of life. But beyond the headlines and visa schemes, there’s a deeper question: Are we attracting high-impact individuals who will drive innovation, or are we just becoming a stopover for remote workers priced out of other markets?

In this episode, we speak with Thomas Mathew, Group CEO of TalentCorp, to dive into Malaysia’s evolving talent strategy. We explore whether the ecosystem is truly ready to support foreign professionals, how Malaysia stacks up against regional competitors, and the challenges of balancing the attraction, retention, and repatriation of skilled workers — both local and foreign.

Join us for an insightful conversation on how Malaysia can build a sustainable, long-term talent hub that benefits both Malaysians and global professionals alike.

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Nearly 98% of the population in Malaysia are online, and over 25 million use social media — big numbers that reveal how deeply digital habits are shaping daily life in 2025.

From how we search, shop, and spend, to the growing influence of AI and mobile-first behaviour, the Meltwater 2025 Global and Malaysia Digital Report highlights where consumers are heading.

Joining us to break down the key findings and what they mean for businesses is Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President and Partner of Enterprise for Asia Pacific at Meltwater.

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In this episode, Enterprise explores how travelling has transformed from a luxury activity into a necessity for self-discovery and personal growth. Based on findings from Klook’s latest Travel Pulse research, key insights from the study reveal that 9 in 10 young travelers can't travel as often as they’d like, 92% experience post-travel blues, and 84% have already planned international trips this year.

To explore these trends, we speak with Sarah Wan, General Manager for Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia at Klook, who shares valuable insights on the intersection of travel, therapy, and personal growth.

We discuss the barriers young travelers face, including time, money, and work, which often lead to “wanderlust frustration”. We also explore the growing influence of social media on travel decisions, with 79% booking experiences based on recommendations rather than personal interests.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Foreign investors are pulling back, capital is flowing out, and recently, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng met with CEOs of Apple, Pfizer, and Mastercard in a bid to rebuild confidence. What’s really going on beneath the surface of this latest charm offensive, and what does it mean for Malaysia and the region?

From shifting supply chains to rising geopolitical risks, we explore whether ASEAN nations like Malaysia are ready to seize the moment with insights from Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education.

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Foreign investors are pulling back, capital is flowing out, and recently, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng met with CEOs of Apple, Pfizer, and Mastercard in a bid to rebuild confidence. What’s really going on beneath the surface of this latest charm offensive, and what does it mean for Malaysia and the region?

From shifting supply chains to rising geopolitical risks, we explore whether ASEAN nations like Malaysia are ready to seize the moment with insights from Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.