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Monday, October 19, 2026English edition
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The Geopolitician

Country risk, from the local press

Malaysia · Country watch

Haze Drives Oxygen Demand; Sabah Development Advances

Haze boosts demand for oxygen tanks in Malaysia; Sabah shifts focus to development under SMJ 2.0.

· · 4 sources

The picture Mixed

Business conditions in Malaysia are mixed today. The haze has driven up demand for oxygen tanks, affecting retail and public health sectors. Meanwhile, Sabah's development focus under SMJ 2.0 offers opportunities in construction and public-sector projects.

In this briefing Malaysia · Indonesia · Joachim Gunsalam · Pan Borneo Highway · Sabah · Hajiji Noor

Regulation

Nothing significant reported today.

Disruption

  • Retail
  • Public sector

Haze boosts demand for oxygen tanks in Malaysia

a sign on a wall in a building
Zeq Qayong / Unsplash

Demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers has surged in Malaysia due to hazardous haze from Indonesian forest fires, myMetro reports. Manufacturers are struggling to meet the increased demand for these essential items. The haze has been affecting air quality across the region, leading to health concerns and heightened demand for clean air solutions.

Impact Manufacturers and retailers of oxygen tanks and air purifiers see increased demand due to the haze.

Sources: myMetro ↗

Internal tension

Nothing significant reported today.

Safety & health

Nothing significant reported today.

Companies

  • Construction

Sabah Pan Borneo project progress questioned

The Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Joachim Gunsalam, has stated that the figures in the Auditor General's report do not reflect the actual progress of the Pan Borneo Highway project, according to Malaysiakini. Some sections of the project have achieved between 90% and 93% physical progress. The project is crucial for improving connectivity in the region.

Impact Construction firms involved in the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah are affected by discrepancies in reported progress.

Sources: Malaysiakini ↗

Markets

Nothing significant reported today.

Trade

Nothing significant reported today.

Politics

  • Public sector
  • Construction

Sabah shifts focus to development under SMJ 2.0

Sabah is entering a new phase of development with a focus on strengthening its capabilities to advance and prosper, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, as reported by utusan Online. This initiative aligns with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 roadmap, which aims to stabilize politics and strengthen state finances over the next five years. The plan is expected to enhance infrastructure and public services.

Impact Construction and public-sector actors in Sabah will see increased activity as the state advances its development agenda.

Sources: utusen Online ↗

Also today in Malaysia

Sources in this briefing

Sources: each headline links to the original article on the publisher's site.

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