The Malaysianist

The Malaysianist

When a tycoon blunders

How a self-imposed clause turned a mega-merger into a scramble.

Apr 05, 2026
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Brainjam #17: Who owns the narrative?

Brainjam #17: Who owns the narrative?

Emmanuel Samarathisa
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Mar 9
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Just look at the happy couple. Sunway founder Jeffrey Cheah (left) and his deputy Idris Jala have mounted a defence of the firm’s merger with IJM, in the face of fierce resistance.

I have been inundated with chats and random link drops over Sunway’s bid to acquire IJM.

The deadline is tomorrow.

This is one of the largest deals to come by in recent memory, pitched as a visionary move to create a so-called Malaysian “national champion.”

Instead, Sunway’s RM11 billion takeover bid has devolved into a frantic, eleventh-hour scramble.

The narrative of seamless corporate synergy has been shattered by institutional resistance, accusations of asset-stripping, and a stunning admission of regret by Sunway’s billionaire founder, Jeffrey Cheah.

First, let’s go underneath the boardroom PR that made up the week.

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