Common Sens

With Anthropic gearing up for a highly anticipated IPO and a potential valuation of up to US$2 trillion, questions are mounting over whether the extraordinary growth of artificial intelligence can be sustained. In this episode of Common Sens: Market Watch, Wong Shou Ning is joined by Philip See to unpack the excitement surrounding Anthropic’s public listing, the growing competition among AI giants, and the challenges of turning technological innovation into sustainable profits. For sponsorship enquiries: commercial@ksmedia.my

Formula 1 returned to Sepang, but was it worth the cost? Following the recent Bahrain Grand Prix, Wong Shou Ning sits down with Sepang International Circuit CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif to discuss the logistical challenges, economic impact and lessons learned from hosting the race.With Malaysia considering a return to the F1 calendar, they explore whether the financial benefits justify the investment and what the future holds for Sepang.For sponsorship enquiries: commercial@ksmedia.my

Indonesia’s stock market has fallen 38% this year, making it one of the world’s worst performers. Wong Shou Ning explains why: MSCI has proposed downgrading Indonesia to a “standalone” market, a move that could trigger about US$4 billion in forced selling. She also covers the concerns behind the proposal and how Jakarta has responded, including a weekend meeting with Instagram finfluencers. For sponsorship enquiries: commonsens@ksmedia.my

Foodie Media has amassed over 50 million followers across its brands and raised RM41 million through its IPO in 2025. But as artificial intelligence reshapes content creation and advertisers demand more measurable returns, can the company sustain its growth and stay ahead of the next wave of disruption?Shou Ning is joined by Lim Pinn Yang, CEO and Co-Founder of Foodie Media, to discuss the company’s ambitions beyond its IPO. They examine its expansion into content creators, commerce and community events, how AI could transform its business, and the challenges of turning social media reach into sustainable revenue. They also discuss its hiring plans, the need for recurring income, whether Foodie Media’s valuation is justified, and why Pinn Yang isn’t ready to cash out just yet.For sponsorship enquiries: commercial@ksmedia.my

Budget 2027 promises higher spending, more cash assistance and continued fiscal discipline. Yet Bursa Malaysia continues to lag behind its regional peers. Will the government’s latest budget be enough to turn things around? Shou Ning speaks to Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Investment Bank, about the winners and losers of Budget 2027. From consumer stocks and construction to utilities and renewable energy, they explore where investors might find opportunities, which industries face pressure from rising wages, and whether the FBM KLCI can recover before year-end. Imran also shares MBSB’s top five stock picks and explains what’s holding Malaysian equities back. Meanwhile, as worsening haze disrupts daily life across Malaysia, Shou Ning looks at its economic impact and asks whether more needs to be done to tackle this recurring cross-border problem. For sponsorship enquiries: commonsens@ksmedia.my

Budget 2027 promises higher wages, continued subsidies and a stronger middle class. But with a general election potentially on the horizon, is the Madani government making meaningful economic reforms, or playing it safe to avoid upsetting voters?Shou Ning is joined by Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Iskandar Puteri, to unpack the government’s economic priorities. They discuss the increase in minimum wage to RM2,000, why Malaysia’s wages remain stubbornly low despite record investments, and whether the country can afford to maintain its generous subsidy programmes. They also examine Malaysia’s narrow tax base, the government’s fiscal deficit targets, and whether political considerations are slowing much-needed reforms.

Description: Zetrix AI, better known as MyEG, has lost 90% of its share price this year, wiping about RM5 billion off its market value. Once a stock market darling, it now trades at just 7.5 sen. This week on Market Watch, Wong Shou Ning looks at what went wrong, from the reported forced selling of founder TS Wong's shares to the government suspending the company as a collecting agent and MARC placing its sukuk on negative watch. Pankaj C. Kumar, Managing Director of Datametrics Research and Information Centre, explains margin trading from the ground up: how it works, when a margin call becomes forced selling, and whether there should be limits on owners pledging their shares. For sponsorship enquiries: commercial@ksmedia.my

Budget 2027 will be tabled on 9 October. It is the fifth Madani budget and likely a pre-election one. Can the government keep its fiscal consolidation promises while easing cost of living pressures? Shou Ning is joined by Dr Veerinderjeet Singh, Senior Advisor on Tax Policy at KPMG Malaysia, and Nazmi Idrus, Head of Economics at CGS International Securities Malaysia, to preview what's coming. They discuss why the pre-budget statement "doesn't tell you anything", whether a hybrid of SST and GST can work, Malaysia's narrow tax base and reliance on Petronas, and why 6% GDP growth isn't reaching ordinary wage earners. They also cover forecasts for GDP, the OPR and the ringgit, and each guest's budget wishlist. For sponsorship enquiries: commercial@ksmedia.my

Description: Market Watch is our weekly Friday rundown of the events shaping capital markets and corporate life, in Malaysia and beyond. We open the series with the biggest government bond market on the planet. US Treasuries have been sold off hard, sending the 30-year yield past 5.64 percent, territory it has not seen since 2002. The pain has spread, with France, Germany, the UK and Australia all paying more to borrow. Shou Ning starts with the basics: how the US bond market works, and why governments that spend more than they earn rely on bills, notes and bonds to stay funded. Malaysia's debt sits at roughly 64% of GDP. The US is at 122%. Then the bigger questions. What is driving rates up, what does it mean for the wider market, and is there more to come in the final quarter of the year? Guest: Ng Zhu Hann, CEO of Tradeview Capital Sdn Bhd, a licensed boutique asset management firm. For sponsorship enquiries, contact commercial@ksmedia.my

Malaysia is targeting 35% renewable energy usage by 2030, and solar is doing most of the heavy lifting. With policy changes, are we at the edge of a supercycle, or is growth about to plateau? In this Best of Malaysia episode of Common Sens, Shou Ning sits down with Dato' Davis Chong, CEO of Solarvest Holdings Berhad, Malaysia's largest solar company. They get into the new CRESS rates, how LSS6 is a game changer, are data centres driving demand, the Brookfield partnership and Solarvest's regional push, and the long-promised ASEAN Power Grid. They also discuss whether Solarvest can maintain its margins, it's RM5 billion order book target, and whether the good news is already priced in since the stock is up strongly this year. For sponsorship enquiries, email commonsens@ksmedia.my

Welcome to the first episode of Common Sens, a new business show hosted by Wong Shou Ning. We talk money, markets and power, asking the questions that matter so you can make up your own mind.Shou Ning is joined by AirAsia Group co-founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, who faces the collapse rumours, bailout reports and share price slump head on. Tony pushes back hard, lays out his plan for the airline and addresses whether AirAsia can move beyond him.For sponsorship enquiries, email commonsens@ksmedia.my