logo
Banks on strong footing

Banks on strong footing

The Star5 days ago
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian banking sector, a bellwether of the economy, faces indirect pressures from mounting global uncertainties induced by the harsh US tariff policies and rising geopolitical tensions.
These headwinds could impact supply chains and lower demand for some industries, potentially resulting in elevated credit risks for banks.
Despite these challenges, the sector, according to banking experts, is still on a strong footing, thanks to its strong capital position, stringent risk governance and the country's proactive move of forming trade partnerships and broadening its export markets.
All these bodes well for the banking sector going forward.
OCBC Bank (M) Bhd chief risk officer Priya Ranjan Sharma told StarBiz the banking sector continues to face headwinds this year, driven by persistent geopolitical tensions and the possibility of 25% reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States. The tariffs would take effect on Aug 1.
'These developments, particularly the strained trade relations between China, the United States, and its regional partners, pose risks to supply chain stability and investor sentiment.
Given the importance of United States as a trading partner to Malaysia, the tariffs may impact export volumes and revenues, placing pressure on the broader economy.
'Malaysia's strategic role in the China+1 supply chain diversification offers some resilience.
'The government is actively working to diversify export markets and stimulate domestic investment and consumption to cushion the impact.
'Structural reforms and increased public infrastructure spending are expected to support growth, though at a more moderate pace, with gross domestic product projections revised downwards,' he said.
Despite these challenges, Ranjan Sharma said Malaysia's banking sector remains fundamentally sound.
Banks are well-capitalised and maintain diversified portfolios which helps limit systemic risk and ensures continued financial stability in the face of external pressures, he noted.
UCSI University Malaysia associate professor of finance and Centre for Market Education research fellow Liew Chee Yoong
UCSI University Malaysia associate professor of finance and Centre for Market Education research fellow Liew Chee Yoong said the local banking sector is expected to face moderate indirect pressures this year from elevated US tariffs and geopolitical tensions, though systemic resilience should prevent severe disruption.
He said while recent US reciprocal tariffs (targeting solar cells and semiconductors) have limited direct impact on core banking activities, secondary effects could materialise through supply chain friction and reduced business confidence.
Liew said export-oriented industries, particularly electronics and commodities may experience weakened demand, potentially elevating credit risks for banks' corporate portfolios.
'Concurrently, escalating South China Sea tensions and US-China tech decoupling could disrupt regional trade flows and investment.
'Nevertheless, the banking sector's robust capital adequacy level with common equity tier-1 capital ratios of about 15%, stringent risk governance, and Malaysia's diversified trade partnerships should mitigate material deterioration.
'Banks remain well-positioned to absorb shocks, though vigilance toward trade finance non-performing loans and working capital stress in vulnerable sectors is warranted,' he said.
In terms of loan growth for this year, Ranjan Sharma expects loan growth to remain resilient.
Growth drivers such as ongoing infrastructure developments and strategic investment initiatives like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone could help support demand, he said.
On the consumer side, he said loan growth is projected to stay steady, underpinned by stable employment conditions and consistent income levels.
Liew said loan growth is projected to moderate to between 4% and 5% this year, down from 5.5% last year, with business loans emerging as the primary engine of growth.
He said net interest margins (NIMs) are anticipated to stabilise or edge marginally higher by 0.5 basis points (bps) this year after compression last year, contingent on deposit competition easing and monetary policy adjustments.
'However, a potential 25bps overnight policy rate (OPR) cut in the later part of the year could reintroduce NIM volatility, initially compressing yields on variable-rate loans before lower funding costs provide offsetting relief.
'Strategic repricing of loans and proactive liquidity management will be critical for banks to defend margins.
'Overall, NIM trends will remain range-bound, lacking significant upward momentum but avoiding steep deterioration,' Liew noted.
A bank's NIM is a key profitability indicator that reflects the difference between the interest income a bank earns from loans and the interest it pays on deposits.
A wider NIM indicates higher earnings for banks.
Ranjan Sharma said NIM across the banking sector is expected to experience some compression following the recent cut in the OPR.
He said additional pressure may arise from heightened competition for deposits as institutions seek to maintain funding stability.
Furthermore, slower global trade, driven by escalating tariffs and geopolitical tensions, could weigh on sector performance, he noted. In particular, he said higher US reciprocal tariffs may dampen loan growth in export-oriented industries, adding to the cautious outlook.
Bank Negara lowered the OPR by 25bps to 2.75% on July 9, describing the decision as a pre-emptive move to secure economic growth.
On profitability, Liew said: 'The Malaysian banking sector's profitability in 2025 is projected to remain resilient, with return on equity stabilising at 10% to 11%, marginally below 2024 levels but reflective of disciplined adaptation to external headwinds.
'This stability will be anchored by three synergistic pillars: diversified revenue streams, operational efficiency, and prudent risk management.
'Non-interest income particularly from wealth management (amplified by the EPF Account 3 rollout), digital transaction fees, and capital market activities will counterbalance potential NIM compression.'
RAM Rating Services Bhd senior vice-president of financial institution ratings Wong Yin Ching
RAM Rating Services Bhd senior vice-president of financial institution ratings Wong Yin Ching said the OPR rate cut will transmit fairly quickly into the real economy, easing household and business finance expenditures. This may limit the rise of impaired loans within marginal segments in the near term, she said.
'That said, asset quality remains sound and is not a major concern, with the banking system's gross impaired loan ratio expected to come in at 1.50% as of the end of this year (end-May: 1.45%).
'Considering uncertainties on the horizon, the banking system will likely experience moderating loan growth this year relative to last year. The five months annualised loan growth for this year stood at 3.5%, compared with 5.5% last year.
'Banks are likely to see only a mild impact on their NIM from the OPR cut. The average NIM of eight selected local banks clocked in at 2.06% and 2.04% in last year and 1Q25, respectively,' Wong said.
Based on RAM's past discussions with banks, she said most indicated that a 25bps cut typically results in a full-year NIM contraction of about 2bps to 3bps.
Wong said the earlier reduction in the Statutory Reserve Requirement from 2% to 1% in May is expected to offer a slight cushion to margins by releasing some funds for redeployment into higher-yielding assets.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Local Companies Urged To Showcase Homegrown Products At DSA & NATSEC Asia 2026
Local Companies Urged To Showcase Homegrown Products At DSA & NATSEC Asia 2026

Barnama

timean hour ago

  • Barnama

Local Companies Urged To Showcase Homegrown Products At DSA & NATSEC Asia 2026

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (second, left) visits the exhibition site of the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) as part of his three-day official visit to Istanbul. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED From Mohd Adli Shahar ISTANBUL, July 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies have been urged to showcase their own locally developed products at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2026 Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, as part of efforts to strengthen the nation's defence industry. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the exhibition, scheduled to take place in April next year, serves as a key platform to showcase the country's defence and military advancements, as well as to foster collaboration among various industry players. He added that the products on display could include those developed using local technology or through partnerships with foreign companies. 'I hope next year's DSA will be more meaningful by highlighting the participation of Malaysian companies that are now actively establishing themselves in the defence industry. 'Previously, many local participants were merely representatives of foreign firms. However, we hope that next year's edition will also include companies developing their own homegrown technology,' he told reporters here. Mohamed Khaled is currently in Türkiye for a three-day official visit to attend the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 and to inspect the construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by defence company Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM). In a related development, Mohamed Khaled said several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian and foreign companies were signed during his attendance at IDEF 2025. He said the MoUs covered various areas, including satellite communication solutions, joint development programmes for defence electronic systems, electronic warfare products, and the production of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.

Local firms urged to showcase homegrown products at KL defence expo, says Khaled
Local firms urged to showcase homegrown products at KL defence expo, says Khaled

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Local firms urged to showcase homegrown products at KL defence expo, says Khaled

ISTANBUL: Malaysian companies have been urged to showcase their own locally developed products at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2026 Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, as part of efforts to strengthen the nation's defence industry. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the exhibition, scheduled to take place in April next year, serves as a key platform to showcase the country's defence and military advancements, as well as to foster collaboration among various industry players. He added that the products on display could include those developed using local technology or through partnerships with foreign companies. "I hope next year's DSA will be more meaningful by highlighting the participation of Malaysian companies that are now actively establishing themselves in the defence industry. "Previously, many local participants were merely representatives of foreign firms. "However, we hope that next year's edition will also include companies developing their own homegrown technology," he told reporters here. Khaled is currently in Türkiye for a three-day official visit to attend the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 and to inspect the construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by defence company Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM). In a related development, Khaled said several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian and foreign companies were signed during his attendance at IDEF 2025. He said the MoUs covered various areas, including satellite communication solutions, joint development programmes for defence electronic systems, electronic warfare products, and the production of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. In addition, the agreements also encompassed technology transfer, the development of cyber threat information systems, and efforts to expand market reach into the Indo-Pacific region. "Strategic collaborations like these are crucial in advancing the country's defence industry, as they provide opportunities for the transfer of cutting-edge technology and expertise to local industry players. "Through such efforts, Malaysia will not only strengthen its defence capabilities but also position itself as a competitive player in the global defence market," he said.

Gua group aims to bring legacy restaurants from small-towns in Malaysia to KL
Gua group aims to bring legacy restaurants from small-towns in Malaysia to KL

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Gua group aims to bring legacy restaurants from small-towns in Malaysia to KL

It is 11am at Kedai Kopi Xiong Wor in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur and tables are heaving with customers. By 12pm, every single available table is taken up and the eatery's signature curry noodles are precariously close to being sold out – as is often the case. What is interesting is that this scenario is a replication of what usually happens on a daily basis in the original outlet in Kuantan, named Teng Haw Coffee Shop (its name in Hainanese). Teng Haw was established in 1966 and is named after the patriarch of the family who first started it 59 years ago. For many Klang Valley denizens who call Kuantan their hometown, the curry noodles at Teng Haw are a must-have on a trip back home and consequently, one of the dishes they miss the most when they're back in Kuala Lumpur. Thankfully a few months ago, a fledgling restaurant group called Gua Group successfully convinced Jayden Ong, the fourth-generation owner of the restaurant, to bring the brand to Kuala Lumpur, where it now sits under the banner of Kedai Kopi Xiong Wor, its Cantonese name. What is even more interesting is that Gua Group's founders – Danial Yik, his sister Mimi Yik and brother-in-law Keanu Subba – are entirely focused on identifying and bringing heritage restaurants scattered throughout the country to the capital city. From left: Keanu, Mimi and Danial are on a mission to preserve heritage restaurants and recipes by providing an opportunity for younger-generation owners to open branches in KL. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star 'I had this thought of 'Isn't it a bit strange that you always have to tell your friend to go to Penang for the best char kuey teow or to Ipoh for chicken rice'? 'So the three of us had a discussion, and we thought, why don't we bring these heritage brands that are tried and tested and have a legacy to the Klang Valley? People love these foods, so why not have the same experience in KL?' says Danial. From those tenuous beginnings rose the kernel of an idea for Gua Group's core mission of building a repertoire of legacy restaurants in the Klang Valley. Driving tradition forward While Danial, Mimi and Keanu are relatively new to the F&B industry, they are not entirely untested, having established a healthy food eatery called Staple Eats just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The three come from diverse backgrounds – Danial studied architecture at the University of Melbourne but left before completing his degree, while Mimi is a political science major. Her husband, Keanu, meanwhile, is a former champion Malaysian mixed martial artist. It was always Mimi's dream to open a restaurant, so Staple Eats became the family's first F&B venture. When the restaurant closed after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the trio realised that the dishes that resonated most with Malaysians were Malaysian food, especially traditional foods that are still made the old-fashioned way. 'A lot of these legacy foods are disappearing. We wanted to keep the legacy alive. I wouldn't say we are like custodians – I don't want to be too presumptuous but I would say that we want to have a hand in preserving local favourites that would be lost to time otherwise,' says Danial. Danial (right) says it was easy to convince Ong to come onboard, and the success of Xiong Wor has shown him that there is a gap in the market for heritage restaurants in KL. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star Part of this impetus was also prompted by the number of heritage restaurants dying out as younger generations are either not motivated to continue the business or have been encouraged by their parents to pursue other less physically laborious paths. 'There is a need for preservation of these dishes and there is a gap in the market to draw more of these heritage restaurants to KL and potentially expand their presence. Like with Jayden, for example, he was actually a mechanic before this as his family wasn't keen on him being in the business. 'So if he decided that he didn't want to continue making the curry mee, we won't be able to enjoy it anymore – nearly 60 years of culinary legacy would end with him. And you find this more and more with like famous chicken rice shops in Ipoh suddenly closing because the owner's son or daughter went overseas,' says Danial. Maiden venture Having discovered their true calling, Gua Group's founders wasted little time in recruiting their first heritage restaurant, setting their sights on a hometown favourite that they grew up with. 'Kuantan is my father's hometown, so I've been going to Teng Haw since I was a toddler. Every trip to Kuantan, we always woke up early to go there. 'It was part of the experience, you know. It was not just about going and eating the food – you also had to wait in line and hope it wasn't sold out,' says Danial. Xiong Wor's curry mee boasts nearly 60 years of fine-tuning and is the key reason Gua Group wanted to bring the heritage restaurant to KL. The process of getting Ong on board was relatively simple and fuss-free. 'Our negotiation was very simple. I said, 'Do you want to open your shop in KL?' He said, 'Yes'.' Once Ong agreed, everything else fell into place relatively quickly. Danial's father believed in his children's vision and invested in the restaurant group and having learnt their lessons with their first F&B venture, it took Danial and his team only three months to put together Kedai Kopi Xiong Wor. 'We were working with Jayden, who is the same age as us and knows his job very well and we had operated kitchens before, so we were very quick to identify what we needed,' says Danial. But turning an age-old restaurant in Kuantan into a city staple was not without its challenges. Even though everything came together quickly, the hurdles and obstacles were presented in different packages. 'The translation from a kopitiam to a restaurant with a different set of cleanliness standards and preparation standards was one of the challenges we faced. 'We wanted to make the restaurant more modern but we also wanted it to be safe and clean, because we find that a lot of kopitiams have been operating for so long that they don't want to change. But luckily, Jayden has been very open to change,' says Danial. Since it opened a few months ago, the restaurant has been perpetually packed. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star Gua Group's business operates on a profit-sharing model. Danial and his team finance the expansion of heritage restaurants like Xiong Wor in KL as well as provide consultancy services. They don't own or buy the recipes from the owners, so the recipes remain with their rightful keepers. 'We don't buy their recipes – they still hold them. What we do is actually empower this new generation of restaurant owners and provide them with a platform or a way for them to see that they can continue with the next generation and preserve these dishes,' explains Danial. Eyes on the future Having established their first heritage restaurant in the Klang Valley, Danial now knows that this model is very viable. 'The success of Xiong Wor has enabled us to confidently continue with this mission because now we know that our model does work. And we can use the first restaurant to convince other businesses who want to continue their legacy and heritage that there is a way to make money and beyond that, to continue the traditional format in a sustainable way,' says Danial. Identifying new heritage restaurants to work with will depend on a few key factors: how good the food is, how passionate the owners are, and the most pertinent part of this equation – is there someone in the younger generation who is hungry for growth and an opportunity like this? Kaya toast is one of the old-school dishes at Kedai Kopi Xiong Wor. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star 'The next restaurants we are looking at are places in Ipoh and Penang. But for this to work, we need to see that the owners believe in the mission, which is to preserve the legacy and heritage. If they're running a family restaurant just for the sake of doing it, we probably wouldn't choose them. 'We're looking for people who inject love into their recipes and most importantly, we require someone from the restaurant to be very active in continuing the mission,' he says. To finance the expansion of these heritage Malaysian restaurants, Danial says Gua Group has to grow more organically. Next in their pipeline is a legacy international restaurant, which the group will be establishing in Kuala Lumpur. 'The international branding is more of an expansion effort. So we need to bring in a bit more income generation so that we can focus on financing our actual mission of bringing in more heritage Malaysian restaurants to KL,' says Danial. As Danial himself is Muslim (his father is Chinese and his mother is Malay), part of his core goal is also to introduce heritage restaurants that are more inclusive and cater to all Malaysians. 'We want to make these restaurants pork-free and alcohol- free because, from a business standpoint, we will miss out on a whole demographic of Malaysians if we don't do this. And the idea is to bring these heritage foods to a wider audience,' says Danial.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store