Flux Forum 2026 urges Malaysian businesses to remove rigidity as global uncertainty reshapes economy

SHAH ALAM - Malaysian companies can no longer rely on old operating models built around stability and predictability as simultaneous global disruptions continue reshaping the economic landscape, according to speakers at the Flux Business Forum 2026.

Held in partnership with the Malaysia German Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the AICB Centre of Excellence, the closed-door forum gathered business leaders, policymakers and industry representatives under the theme “Competing in an Uncertain Economy: The Cost of Rigidity”.

The forum centred on growing concerns over how global geopolitical tensions, energy shocks, monetary pressures, trade uncertainty and Malaysia’s revised Employment Pass framework are collectively increasing operational strain on businesses.

Delivering the opening keynote titled “Policy and Competitiveness in an Uncertain Economy: Capital, Talent and the Cost of Rigidity”, former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said the current global environment differs significantly from previous crises such as the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zeti argued that what makes the current period particularly difficult is the simultaneity of energy, geopolitical, monetary, and trade pressures — and the corresponding erosion of the policy backstops companies have historically relied upon.

Speakers at the Flux Business Forum 2026 said Malaysian companies can no longer rely on outdated business models amid ongoing global disruptions reshaping the economy.

“The rules-based global trading system, coordinated central bank action and predictable US monetary leadership can no longer be assumed,” Flux said.

The keynote session subsequently set the tone for a broader panel discussion involving senior representatives from various industries, including Jacob Lee Chor Kok from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, AirAsia X chief executive officer (CEO) Benyamin Ismail, Ir Shazwan Khalid from Siemens Energy Malaysia and Marc Appelt from Man Truck and Bus Malaysia.

The discussion examined how cost pressures are increasingly affecting Malaysian businesses, particularly manufacturers facing working-capital constraints and rising operational expenses.

Among the recurring issues raised were the return of fixed costs that companies had previously reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside concerns surrounding localisation policies and operational realities that may not always align smoothly.

The panel also highlighted growing concerns regarding operational friction linked to Malaysia’s revised Employment Pass framework, even before its implementation takes full effect.

The forum concluded with a practitioner case response by Aziz Ayman, founder and CEO of Flux, who argued that businesses must fundamentally rethink long-term cost commitments in an increasingly volatile economy.

“In today's market, the only certainty is change and companies are responding by demanding flexibility in their corporate mobility. The businesses we work with are not making decisions today that lock them in two or three years from now.

“Flux converts mobility Capex into an operating expense, so clients can grow, shrink or swap their fleet as the business shifts.

“The agile enterprise does not own what it can access. In an uncertain economy, access over ownership is no longer a finance choice, it is a strategic one,” he said.

Using corporate mobility as a case study, Aziz described Flux’s operating model as part of a broader shift from fixed-cost structures towards more flexible and demand-based approaches.

Flux said forward-looking companies are increasingly prioritising agility, predictable operating costs and scalability instead of committing to long-term ownership structures that may become liabilities during periods of economic uncertainty.

The forum concluded with a broader warning that businesses that are unable to adapt quickly may face increasing pressure as global volatility continues to affect supply chains, energy markets, labour structures, and investment confidence.