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A BIG thank you to all our Rakan Usahawan who made the 2025 LEAD Workshop a success!

Special appreciation to MDEC for being our steadfast partner from day one. Together, we’ve gained invaluable insights on the Sharing Economy for Business – and PUNB is committed to championing the national digitalisation initiative side together.
Moving forward, we’re excited to roll out the Digital Maturity Assessment (“DMA”), a powerful tool to help businesses assess their digitalisation level and identify the next steps to strengthen competitiveness.
Let’s drive growth, digital readiness, and global competitiveness – together!

A tariff is a tax that a government charges on imported goods (products brought in from other countries). Usually, a tariff is an added cost on imported goods and services, which is normally passed on to the consumer.

Why Do Governments Use Tariffs?

  • Rescue for the Government – Taxes collected from imported goods and services help fund public services.
  • Protect Local Businesses – Makes imported goods cost more, so customers buy local.
  • Trade Measure – If a country is trading unfairly, tariffs can be used as leverage to negotiate better trade terms.

Example: The Toy Story 

Imagine:

Malaysia makes teddy bears for RM 20 each.

China also makes teddy bears but sells them for RM 15 (cheaper because of lower labor costs).

Without Tariff:

Malaysians buy Chinese teddy bears because they’re RM 5 cheaper.

Local toy makers lose business.

With 20% Tariff:

China’s teddy bears now cost RM 15 + 20% tax = RM 18.

Malaysians think: “Hmm, local bears (RM 20) are only RM 2 more… I’ll support Malaysian-made!”

So, Local toy makers survive. It ensure fairness for local product to compete with exported product.

Good or Bad? It Depends!

Good for: Local workers, factories and governments.

Bad for: Consumers (pay higher prices) and exporters (lose sales).

Think of it like this to in simpler terms:

Tariffs are like a “shield” for local businesses.

But if used too much, they can start a trade war, where other countries retaliate in the same manner by increasing tariffs on your exported products and services.

Quick Summary

Tariff = Tax on Imports
Goal = Help Local Businesses
Side Effect = Higher Prices

What Is Ecosystem Mapping?

Ecosystem mapping is a strategic tool that helps organisations visualise the relationships and interdependencies among various stakeholders in their business environment. It provides a holistic view of how value is created, exchanged and sustained within a network of actors.

Rather than focusing only on direct supply chains or internal structures, ecosystem mapping highlights external connections and cross-industry interactions that influence a business’s performance and opportunities.

Why Is Ecosystem Mapping Important?

  • Strategic Clarity
    It helps leaders understand the broader context in which their organisation operates, identifying key players, influencers and opportunities for collaboration or disruption.
  • Innovation and Growth
    By visualising gaps or underutilised relationships, businesses can uncover new partnerships, products or services that weren’t visible before.
  • Risk Management
    Ecosystem mapping reveals dependencies and vulnerabilities, enabling companies to build resilience by diversifying or strengthening key relationships.
  • Customer-Centric Thinking
    Mapping the ecosystem around the customer journey helps organisations align offerings and touchpoints across multiple stakeholders.

Key Elements of an Ecosystem Map

An effective ecosystem map typically includes:

  • Core Entity (your company or a product/service)
  • Stakeholders (partners, suppliers, customers, regulators, etc.)
  • Relationships (how value, data, resources or influence flows)
  • External Forces (trends, competitors, innovations, policies)

Steps to Create an Ecosystem Map

  • Define Your Objective
    Are you mapping for innovation, strategy, customer experience or risk assessment?
  • Identify All Relevant Stakeholders
    Include both internal (departments, leadership) and external actors (customers, vendors, tech partners).
  • Categorise and Group Entities
    Group stakeholders by their role (e.g., value creators, enablers, distributors, influencers).
  • Visualise Interactions
    Use arrows or lines to show the flow of value, data, influence or capital.
  • Analyse and Prioritise
    Look for key leverage points, bottlenecks or untapped opportunities.

Ecosystem mapping empowers businesses to see the bigger picture, uncover hidden opportunities and design more adaptive strategies. In a world where collaboration is often more powerful than competition, understanding your ecosystem is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an important part of modern businesses. It’s not just about making profits anymore; businesses are expected to contribute positively to society. CSR can include helping the environment, treating employees fairly, supporting local communities, and donating to good causes. By practicing CSR, companies can build a good reputation, attract customers, and improve their long-term success.

On the whole, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become essential for long-term business success. It helps build a strong brand reputation, attract talent, and improve financial performance while reducing risks and fostering innovation. CSR is not just about giving back; it’s a way for companies to do well by doing good. In today’s socially conscious world, businesses that embrace CSR are better positioned to succeed and make a lasting positive impact on society.

Empowering women in entrepreneurship isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s a strategic move that fuels innovation, economic growth and community resilience. Here’s how individuals, organizations and governments can create environments where women entrepreneurs not only survive, but thrive.

 

Empowering women in entrepreneurship is more than a trend—it’s a transformative movement. When women have the tools, capital, and support they need, they create businesses that are more innovative, socially conscious and resilient.

Whether you’re an investor, educator, policymaker or fellow entrepreneur—your support can be the catalyst that helps a woman founder change the world.

 

Workplace conflict refers to any disagreement or tension between individuals or groups within a work environment. It can arise from a variety of sources and can affect productivity, morale and overall workplace dynamics. Handling workplace conflict involves understanding the root cause, maintaining professionalism, and working collaboratively toward a resolution. Here’s a structured approach:

 

Tips for Leaders

  • Foster a positive environment: Encourage open communication and respect within your team.
  • Address issues early: Prevent conflicts from escalating by addressing them as soon as they arise.
  • Model conflict resolution: Demonstrate how to handle disagreements constructively.

In Malaysia, viral trends businesses have transformed the entrepreneurial landscape, driven by social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Recent trends include the exclusive TikTok Shop offerings and the popularity of live stores on social media platforms.

However, is opening a business based on viral trends truly sustainable? And should entrepreneurs go big immediately or start small? Let’s explore the pros and cons of venturing into a viral trends business and the best approach to growth.

 

Starting a business based on viral trends in Malaysia can be highly rewarding, but it requires careful strategy and foresight. Entrepreneurs should capitalize on social media marketing, test the waters with minimal risk, and ensure they have a plan for long-term sustainability. Whether going big or starting small, adaptability and innovation are the keys to lasting success in the ever-evolving digital economy.

A Teh Tarik Session with E-Invoice Talk was held with 25 Rakan Usahawan PUNB Perak and PUNB Officers from the Perak Branch Office on Friday, 20th December 2024, at the Perak Branch Office, Ipoh.
The insightful session on the e-invoice system (MyInvois) provided comprehensive information on e-invoicing benefits, compliance requirements, and practical applications. There was also an interactive Q&A session addressing technical challenges and system integration. Additionally, Rakan Usahawan PUNB had the opportunity to network during this engaging session.
Special thanks to Cik Noor Hasanah Zakaria, Head of Perak Branch Office for the opening remarks and the LHDN team for their informative presentation. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing interest in more detailed workshops. This session reflects PUNB’s commitment to supporting businesses in embracing digital transformation for greater efficiency and compliance.

In today’s competitive business environment, strong leadership is crucial for guiding teams and achieving organizational success. While technical skills and industry expertise are important, soft skills play an equally vital role in effective leadership. Soft skills, which include communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability and conflict resolution, are essential for building relationships, managing teams and fostering a positive work environment. This article explores the importance of soft skills in business leadership and highlights how they contribute to successful management.

Conclusion

Soft skills are fundamental to effective business leadership, as they enable leaders to communicate effectively, build strong relationships and adapt to challenges. While technical skills and industry knowledge are important, it is the soft skills that truly differentiate great leaders from good ones. By developing and honing these skills, business leaders can foster a more collaborative, productive and positive work environment, leading to long-term success for both the team and the organization. Therefore, investing in the development of soft skills should be a top priority for any aspiring or current leader looking to thrive in the modern business world.

Workplace diversity is a growing focus in the modern business world, where companies seek to build inclusive teams that drive both innovation and profitability. A diverse workforce, made up of individuals from various backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, brings a wealth of benefits to a company’s overall work performance. By embracing diversity, businesses can not only enhance their internal operations but also gain a competitive advantage in the global market. This article explores how workplace diversity positively impacts business work through creativity, market adaptability, employee engagement and brand reputation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, workplace diversity offers numerous advantages that significantly impact business work. From fostering creativity and improving market adaptability to increasing employee engagement and strengthening brand reputation, diversity is a powerful asset for companies aiming for long-term success. By making diversity and inclusion a core part of their business strategy, companies can unlock new opportunities for growth and build a more sustainable, innovative, and productive workforce.

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