Rahmat Lim & Partners brings together leading voices on markets, resilience and sustainable growth at Markets & Momentum 2026
On 20 October 2026, Rahmat Lim & Partners (RL&P) hosted its inaugural flagship conference, Markets & Momentum 2026, at the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel. The conference brought together clients from across industries and corporate leaders for a day of discussions on the market forces shaping Malaysian businesses today and the momentum they are expected to generate for the future.
The conference opened with a keynote address by Dr. Ong Kian-Ming, Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University and former Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, entitled “Positioning Malaysia as an Indispensable Middle via Policy & Legal Innovation”. Dr. Ong reviewed the progress of Malaysia’s economy, highlighting strong growth in selected sectors, notably data centres, which are positioning Malaysia as a key data centre hub in Southeast Asia. He also noted that policy and legal innovation would continue to play a role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
The keynote was followed by the first panel session, “Economic Outlook & the Evolving Legal Landscape”, moderated by Chia Chee Hoong, Partner at RL&P. Panellists included Dr. Ong Kian-Ming; Jefferi M. Hashim, Regional Head of CIMB Private Banking; Jeremy Tan, Partner at KV Asia; and Elsa Chen, Partner and Chief Economist at Allen & Gledhill LLP. The speakers shared their perspectives on Malaysia’s economic momentum, the role of FDI and policymaking in driving growth, and regional capital flows from a banking perspective. They also considered what these developments mean for businesses operating in Malaysia. The discussion highlighted how the legal framework works hand in hand with economic policy to help businesses tap into emerging opportunities.
Against this backdrop of opportunity, uncertainty remains. The second panel session, “Building Corporate Resilience in Times of Uncertainty”, examined how businesses can navigate continued global volatility, particularly as pressure on liquidity and operations builds across the region. Moderated by Lum Sher Vin, Partner at RL&P, the panel featured Kuan Mun Leong, Chief Executive Officer of Hartalega Holdings Berhad; Tan Siow Ming, Executive Chairman of Trinitaz Capital Partners and Director of UEM Group Berhad; Pok Tzai Ming, Managing Director and Head of Restructuring at Alvarez & Marsal; and Kwong Chiew Ee, Partner at RL&P.
A key takeaway from the discussion was that businesses need the right tools to identify disruption before it escalates. The panellists focused on three key areas: spotting early vulnerabilities before they become more serious; making difficult decisions under pressure, particularly on liquidity and stakeholder alignment; and establishing the legal and governance foundations needed for long-term renewal.
The final panel session, “The Green Blueprint: Shaping a Better Malaysia”, turned to another dimension of the country’s growth story. With data centres and technology investments rising across Malaysia, the session considered the resulting pressure on resources and national infrastructure, and the implications for long-term sustainability. Moderated by Kelvin Loh, Partner at RL&P, the panel brought together perspectives from renewable energy, infrastructure ratings and the data centre industry. Panellists included Jack Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Business & Asset Management at Solarvest Holdings Berhad; Davinder Kaur Gill, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure & Utilities at RAM Ratings; and Azwar Kamarudin, Associate Director, Government Relations at AirTrunk Malaysia.
The discussion looked at how legal frameworks, green finance and governance standards are shaping the future of infrastructure, and how Malaysia can sustain rapid growth without compromising its long-term interests. The panellists also highlighted that balancing economic growth with environmental accountability is not only a matter of policy, but one that directly affects how businesses operate.
The conference concluded with KOPITALK, RL&P’s interactive roundtable session. Over two rounds, guests joined practice-led discussions at tables of their choice, covering topics including Asset Recovery, Crisis Response, Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions, among other topics.
Across the day’s discussions, a common theme emerged: Malaysia is not only attracting investment, but also building the legal, financial and governance frameworks needed to sustain growth. With the A&G Asia network bringing regional perspectives to the table, the conversations were all the richer for it. RL&P extends its heartfelt thanks to our clients, guests, speakers and everyone who contributed to making Markets & Momentum 2026 a success.
