The economy has come to the point where the ‘Military-Industrial-Media-Entertainment-Network’ is so sophisticated that a hypermedia environment has given birth to a new preferred battlefield. This latest form of “extension of policy by all means” states the ultimate target as the mind, the cognitive reality of individuals and groups. The battlefield is six feet above the ground in the six inches between the ears.

Cognitive Warfare is the latest evolution of conflict. It is a battle space at the confluence of information warfare, propaganda, cyberspace incursions, social media, algorithms, big data and behavioural communications just to name a few. It is the latest threat that businesses within complex global supply chains need to be aware of and be able to manage.
At the same time, the state of international relations globally has come to the point where major direct conflict may be impossible to imagine. The MAD doctrine or Mutually Assured Destruction has permeated into the thinking of long-term planners, so the next option is to attack supply chains. A battle without shooting a single bullet where companies can end up as casualties of war.
Cognitive attacks in the corporate sense of the word are effectively defined as the actions that show up as messages that negatively impact the thinking of those individuals or groups that directly or indirectly influence a business or supply chain. These communications often fall on the heads of corporate communicators but in fact, it goes deeper than the job scope and pay grade of communications teams. The importance of understanding these advanced business threats now falls on the shoulders of board members and C-suites.
The more critical the product or service to a country’s national interest, the more likely that it will end up on the frontlines. Large companies with public ownership are particularly vulnerable to a crisis that can erode value in a matter of hours. The cost of losing a battle in a cognitive war may be directly related to the balance sheets, shareholder value, evaporated public trust or the head of the CEO.
In Malaysia, the most famous example would be the ongoing challenges faced by palm oil giants. The complexity of attacks and planning far outweighs the conventional thinking that “the campaign against palm oil” is just the work of determined interest groups.
The baseline for defence is a well regimented Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programme. This will often be the preferred angle of attack, utilising local interest groups, misinformation and even fake non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on one hand. The other tactic, even more powerful, is the use of indisputable facts verified through credible international agencies with access to international media networks. A new breed of mercenaries exploits gaps in cybersecurity and community engagement with weaponised communications designed to bring companies to their knees.
Corporations are in a digital arms race; it is just that many do not realise it. Having the digital arms in this case is not enough. The organisation needs leaders who understand how to use these assets within the new strategic landscape. It is therefore imperative that corporate decision makers be aware of the threats and how they might play out.
The cognitive battlefield is the mind – the mind of consumers, the mind of voters, the mind of policy makers, the mind of elected officials. The question remains how long can the current batch of corporate leaders continue to bring knives to a gun fight?
Services
Stakeholder mapping, analysis, engagement and communication needs to be detailed to avoid business losses or even worse, a crisis. How can you do this effectively to prevent failure? ...
Data-driven business decisions have never been as crucial, especially in this era. MGBF leverages off, technology, experience and market presence to aid businesses in making accurate decisions. ...
MGBF provides comprehensive strategic advice and results-focused solutions to solve clients' problems in business-government relations so they can focus on their core business. ...
A critical business challenge is meeting the right decision-makers and potential buyers through the best channel and platform. How will you improve your business competency? ...
Upcoming Events
The threat matrix has evolved to include information warfare, cyberspace incursions, big data and behavioural communications. Business leaders need to be aware of these threats to survive. What are you doing as a key stakeholder?
Companies can now live or die based on their ability to generate and manage data. Effectively managing existential challenges is the opportunity that business leaders need to grasp for a sustainable future. Calling for speakers!
Corporations and their leadership often face weaponised information attacks in the media. Understanding these advanced business threats is crucial. Recently completed. View proceedings online.
Special session: Cyberwarfare Waged on the Corporate Sector - Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine Crisis. Corporations are in a digital arms race that many don't realise. How does this relate to your organisation?
MGBF In The News
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2022 — Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) ties up with scoutAsia to ensure that businesses are equipped with deeper regional insights. The past two years has seen a massive shift in the way businesses are conducted with digitisation, digitalisation and automation continuously being adopted to improve […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 May 2022 – The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Security Concerns in Critical Value Chains’ was held in a hybrid setting yesterday at the Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The guest of honour was Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, former minister of […]
We live in the age of crisis. At the heart of any crisis is the threat of rapid change. Change too deep or too wide that the current coping mechanisms for an individual, corporation or government are unable to remain resilient. An unwelcome paradigm shift, like the proverbial spider, that […]
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) has released a report following the roundtable on ‘Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector’, which was recently held in Kuala Lumpur. In attendance as guest of honour was Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin. The report recommended several critical development […]
Trade and investment delegations will trickle back over the next few months, but the second half of the year should see considerable return of business travellers. It was learnt that over 50 per cent of international business chambers and industry associations surveyed will consider sending exploratory teams to Malaysia during […]
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2022 – The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector’ was held in a hybrid setting yesterday at the Element by Westin Kuala Lumpur. The discussion focused on what business leaders need to understand, to ensure business resilience and […]
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)’s exclusive roundtable on ‘Addressing Weaponised Information in the Media’ was held in a hybrid setting today at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. The discussion focused on addressing one of the most relevant threats to businesses in the digital economy – cyber threats causing physical and […]
The current floods that have impacted various parts of the country have given rise to an extensive commentary on the response cycles of various stakeholders. It has in turn led to continued crisis communications and statements in the media by agencies and ministries alike. This binary approach to the discussion […]
The formation of a special Cabinet committee to develop strategic measures to safeguard the economy amid the Covid-19 outbreak shows the Malaysian government is serious about creating a balance between the continued safety of the general population and the survival of the economy. In the global context, as many countries […]
Innovation, coupled with a radical departure from contemporary thinking, is required with a possible reality of a prolonged crisis becoming the new reality that people and companies must function through. Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said innovation and resilience from all stakeholders will be required to shape […]
The recent announcement that a committee jointly chaired by senior ministers in charge of security and economy clusters respectively demonstrates that the Malaysian government is serious about creating a balance between continued safety of the general population and the survival of the economy. In the global context, as many countries […]
Innovation, coupled with a radical departure from contemporary thinking, is required with a possible reality of a prolonged crisis becoming the new reality that people and companies must function through. Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said innovation and resilience from all stakeholders will be required to […]
Innovation, coupled with a radical departure from contemporary thinking, is required with a possible reality of a prolonged crisis becoming the new reality that people and companies must function through. Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said innovation and resilience from all stakeholders will be required to […]
The announcement that a committee jointly chaired by senior ministers in charge of security and economy clusters demonstrates that the government is serious about creating a balance between the safety of the population and the survival of the economy. In the global context, as many countries struggle to deal […]
THE Covid-19 outbreak has exposed the citizens of most countries to a dangerous virus. But perhaps more importantly, it has exposed the weaknesses in supply chains of nations.The government should be commended for setting up a task force to maintain critical supply chains as it’s an excellent step to ensure […]
In the last few days, the Movement Control Order (MCO) has awoken many to the fact that supply chains that we assume work without question have now become highly critical.The establishment of a special task force to maintain critical supply chains by the current government is an excellent step to […]
by Gunaprasath Bupalan (YouTube – Emjay Communications, The Malaysia Global Business Forum, News Hub Asia, Property360Digest) The CEO Series 2019 by REHDA Institute is more than a developer’s driven event; it is about the strategy made real, where property and its ancillary businesses will provide balance in social, economic and […]
I am the Managing Director of Lynas Malaysia and I’m writing to you on behalf of our employees and contractors and their families. In recent weeks you may have seen a campaign of false information by anti-Lynas activists. We have always welcomed informed debate, however, the spreading of false allegations […]
I am the Managing Director of Lynas Malaysia and I’m writing to you on behalf of our employees and contractors and their families. In recent weeks you may have seen a campaign of false information by anti-Lynas activists. We have always welcomed informed debate, however, the spreading of false allegations […]
I am the Managing Director of Lynas Malaysia and I’m writing to you on behalf of our employees and contractors and their families. In recent weeks you may have seen a campaign of false information by anti-Lynas activists. We have always welcomed informed debate, however, the spreading of false allegations […]