Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Masan High-Tech Materials: How a Vietnamese Company Is Building a Role in Global Strategic Materials Supply Chains


Table

Masan High-Tech Materials’ (MSR) responsible production approach spans the value chain, from diverse raw-material sources to processing and product quality. 


THAI NGUYEN, Vietnam, Sept 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- As global strategic-minerals supply chains are reshaped, competitive advantage is no longer defined by resource ownership alone. The ability to combine long-life resources with advanced processing capabilities and an international partner network is becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, Masan High-Tech Materials (UPCoM: MSR), a publicly traded Vietnamese strategic materials company, is expanding beyond its mining roots by connecting resources, processing capabilities and international partnerships across the global tungsten value chain.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260910612111/en/ 

When Supply-Chain Capabilities Become a Strategic Advantage

Tungsten is increasingly viewed as a strategic material rather than simply an industrial metal. It is used across a range of advanced technology and industrial applications, including semiconductors, AI infrastructure, batteries, additive manufacturing and defense systems. While demand continues to expand, supply remains highly concentrated, with China accounting for approximately 82% of global tungsten production.

This concentration is changing how competitive advantage is assessed across the industry. Owning a large mine remains important, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. As global supply chains are reconfigured, the ability to connect resources with processing capabilities and end markets is becoming an increasingly important differentiator.

In Vietnam, MSR owns the Nui Phao polymetallic mine, one of the largest operating tungsten mines outside China. Alongside its mining operations, the Company has spent more than a decade building tungsten chemical processing capabilities through Masan Tungsten Chemicals (MTC), with annual capacity of approximately 9,345 tonnes.

This integrated system enables MSR to participate across the value chain, from mining and concentrate production to tungsten chemicals including ammonium paratungstate (APT), yellow tungsten oxide (YTO) and blue tungsten oxide (BTO), serving a range of industrial and technology applications globally.

The distinction, therefore, lies not only in the scale of MSR’s resources, but also in its ability to convert those resources into higher-value products.

Moving Beyond a Single Mine

A key development in MSR’s strategy is the expansion of its growth potential beyond current production from Nui Phao.

On the resource side, MSR is advancing the potential addition of approximately 115 million tonnes of polymetallic tungsten resources at the Nui Phao Expansion and Nui Chiem areas. Subject to completion of the necessary procedures, these resources could provide the basis for extending mining and processing operations by approximately 20–30 years.

On the processing side, MSR is expanding access to external feedstock to improve utilization of its installed processing capacity. This is strategically significant because the scale of the Company’s processing operations does not necessarily need to remain constrained by production from a single mine.

MSR’s long-term commercial partnership with South Korea’s GB Innovation (GBI) provides an example of how this model can scale. GBI owns tungsten resources in South Korea but has selected MSR as its processing partner in Vietnam. The partnership illustrates how MSR’s value proposition can extend beyond its own ore resources, through the processing of third-party feedstock into higher-value tungsten products. It also supports plans to increase tungsten oxide production capacity to more than 8,000 tonnes of WO₃ per year.

Taken together, these developments provide a clearer view of MSR’s longer-term strategy: expanding its domestic resource base while simultaneously broadening access to external feedstock and international partnerships. In doing so, the Company is progressively extending its growth potential beyond production from Nui Phao alone.

Alongside internally sourced resources and third-party feedstock, MSR is also pursuing recycling and circular-economy initiatives as part of its strategy to further diversify raw-material inputs. Over time, the ability to combine internally mined ore, external concentrates and secondary materials could allow the Company to utilize its installed processing capabilities more effectively.

From an Integrated Tungsten Business to a Global Strategic Materials Platform

The economic value of this integrated model is also beginning to become more visible in MSR’s financial performance.

In the first six months of 2026, the Company recorded VND2,202 billion in NPAT Pre-MI, a significant turnaround from a loss of VND216 billion in the same period a year earlier. Net Debt/EBITDA also declined to 2.1x at the end of the second quarter of 2026.

These results came against a supportive tungsten market backdrop, alongside improvements in operating performance and feedstock availability. They provide an early indication that resources and processing capabilities built over many years are increasingly translating into earnings and cash flow.

According to the Company, MSR today operates one of the largest integrated tungsten platforms outside China, accounting for approximately 21% of tungsten supply outside China. More than US$700 million has been invested in its mining and processing infrastructure.

The combination of long-life resources in Vietnam, more than a decade of investment in advanced processing capabilities, and increasingly diversified feedstock from international partners means that MSR’s value proposition is no longer determined solely by the production profile of a single mine. The Company can participate across more stages of the value chain and serve a market increasingly focused on supply security and diversification beyond China.

The potential addition of 115 million tonnes of resources provides greater visibility over the long-term life of the operation. Advanced processing capabilities create opportunities to capture more value from raw materials. Meanwhile, partnerships such as GBI illustrate how MSR’s processing capabilities in Vietnam can connect with resource owners internationally.

Together, these three pillars — resources, advanced processing and international partnerships — are expanding MSR beyond the traditional mining model and shaping a Vietnam-based strategic materials platform connected to global supply chains.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260910612111/en/

Contact

An Nguyen, PR Manager
Masan Group
+84 28 6256 3862
pr@msn.masangroup.com

Source : Masan High-Tech Materials

Friday, September 11, 2026

Get your points back! AirAsia rewards launches enhanced Points Booking with 50% pointsback until 30 September


Members enjoy greater value with dedicated flight redemption seats available at least 30 days before departure

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- AirAsia rewards, the loyalty arm of Capital A, has launched the Points Booking feature, an enhanced experience with dedicated seat allocations on eligible AirAsia flights at least 30 days before departure. The enhancement gives members greater value and more certainty when planning their travels using AirAsia points.

To celebrate the launch, AirAsia rewards is offering 50% pointsback on all eligible flight redemptions made from now until 30 September.

Members can redeem flights across AirAsia’s extensive network, including both domestic and international destinations. Redemption fares include the flight base fare, taxes and fees, with great value options such as Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru from just 4,980 points (0 points for the base fare + 4,980 points for taxes and fees, valued at RM49.80, and Kuala Lumpur to Pekanbaru from 17,300 points (1,000 points for the base fare + 16,300 points for taxes and fees, valued at RM173).

Shannon Liew, Group Head of Loyalty, AirAsia rewards said, "At AirAsia rewards, we've always believed loyalty should be simple, rewarding and easy to understand. With dedicated seat allocations now available through Points Booking, members can enjoy greater value and have more confidence when planning their trips. We’re excited to offer 50% pointsback until 30 September as part of this launch, giving members an even greater opportunity to maximise the value of their AirAsia points. For example, a Kuala Lumpur–Johor Bahru flight requires 4,980 AirAsia points, with members receiving 2,490 points back after the campaign ends. More importantly, it transforms points earned through everyday spending into tangible travel experiences, rewarding members throughout their earning journey and giving them a clear reason to keep earning AirAsia points for their next adventure.”

The Points Booking feature is available via the AirAsia MOVE app. Members need a minimum balance of just 500 AirAsia points to redeem eligible fares and can choose to pay fully or partially with points, topping up any remaining balance by credit card where applicable. Members are also encouraged to convert their credit card or other loyalty points into AirAsia points to supplement their balance when redeeming Points Booking.

Just follow these simple steps to redeem your next AirAsia flight with Points Booking on the AirAsia MOVE app:

Step 1: Click the "Points" tab in the AirAsia MOVE app.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on the "Fly on Points Booking" deals.
Step 3: Select a destination and a travel date at least 30 days in advance.
Step 4: Use the slider to adjust your points, and tap "Redeem".

Start turning everyday spending into your next AirAsia journey with the AirAsia MOVE app to earn AirAsia points through eligible bank and loyalty points conversions, as well as participating lifestyle partners. For more information on terms and conditions and Points Booking details, please visit this link.

AirAsia members can also make their points go further during AirAsia rewards’ monthly double-digit campaigns by converting eligible credit card, bank and other loyalty points into AirAsia points and enjoying 100% bonus AirAsia points, subject to campaign terms and participating partners. Follow AirAsia rewards on social media or visit the AirAsia rewards website for the latest news, promotions and campaign updates.

SOURCE: AirAsia MOVE (formerly airasia Superapp)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Karla Ibanez
Email: communications@airasia.com

--BERNAMA

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Resulticks Wins AI Innovation Award At Redington Global Next Summit 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Resulticks Global Companies Pte Limited (Resulticks) has received the Partner's Choice: AI Innovation Award in the emerging category at Redington's Global NEXT Summit 2026, held Sept 2 to 4 in Singapore.

In a statement, Resulticks said the recognition comes as the company deepens its relationship with Redington through a five-year distribution agreement announced this week, targeting a market opportunity of more than US$150 million across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. (US$1 = RM4.05)

Resulticks Global Advisor of Channel Partnerships, Pallasena Viswanath said the award reflects the company’s work in developing AI for enterprise customer engagement, adding that its Genie and RESUL solutions are designed to help businesses turn intelligence into real-time action as the partnership with Redington expands.

Resulticks is a globally recognised provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven audience engagement solutions that helps brands unify customer data, orchestrate communications across channels and make data-driven business decisions through AI-powered intelligence and analytics.

Headquartered in New York, the company serves enterprises across North America, Asia and the Middle East, with additional offices in India, Singapore and Dubai.

-- BERNAMA

PETRONAS PROGRESSES MALAYSIA’S UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENT WITH ESTUARY CLUSTER PSC AWARD AND MUTIARA CLUSTER SEISMIC DATA HANDOVER


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has marked two key milestones in advancing Malaysia's upstream sector with the award of the Estuary Cluster Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and the handover of seismic data for the Mutiara Cluster, supporting continued exploration and resource development efforts.

MPM recently awarded the Small Field Asset Production Sharing Contract (SFA PSC) for the Estuary Cluster to Harvester Energy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Harvester), a wholly owned subsidiary of Harvester Energy Pty Ltd, based in Australia.

Comprising the Lerek, Korbu and Diwangsa fields, the Estuary Cluster is located within the Malay Basin, a proven hydrocarbon province offshore Peninsular Malaysia. The cluster is expected to unlock stranded marginal oil resources through a technology-led development concept centred on a novel shallow-water subsea development approach.

This approach is expected to accelerate first commercial production, reduce capital expenditure and minimise the physical footprint compared with conventional development concepts. It also supports the reuse and redeployment of production infrastructure, in line with PETRONAS’ intent to enable innovative, commercially viable and lower-impact solutions for Malaysia’s small field assets.

Senior Vice President of MPM, Datuk Ir. (Dr) Bacho Pilong said, “The award of the Estuary Cluster PSC reflects PETRONAS’ continued focus on unlocking Malaysia’s discovered resources through innovative and fit-for-purpose development solutions. By introducing technology-led approaches, we are opening new pathways to monetise small and stranded fields that may otherwise remain undeveloped.”

The award marks Harvester’s entry into Malaysia’s upstream sector and reinforces Malaysia’s position as an attractive destination for agile and technology-focused energy players seeking to participate in small field development opportunities.

The cluster was offered through Malaysia Bid Round Plus (MBR+), which complements the annual Malaysia Bid Round (MBR) by providing investors with year-round access to selected upstream opportunities, and technical data through PETRONAS myPROdata. Beyond creating new investment opportunities, MPM is also supporting the progression of existing discoveries towards development by reducing technical uncertainties and enabling more informed development decisions.

MPM has also recently handed over an enhanced 3D seismic dataset to DIALOG Resources Sdn Bhd (DIALOG) for the Mutiara Cluster, located off the east coast of Sabah, marking a significant step towards progressing the cluster’s development towards production and advancing discovered resources in the Sandakan Basin.

Datuk Ir. (Dr) Bacho said, “The delivery of this enhanced dataset marks an important milestone for the Sandakan Basin, representing MPM’s first acquisition of new 3D seismic data over an area with existing coverage. The improved subsurface imaging will enable DIALOG to better evaluate Mutiara Cluster’s resources and support East Sabah’s long-term energy security.”

The Mutiara Cluster comprises five discovered marginal oil and gas fields, namely Nymphe, Nymphe North, Kuda Terbang, Benrinnes and Mutiara Hitam. Awarded to DIALOG under an SFA PSC during MBR 2025, the cluster is targeting first production by 2029.

The development of the Mutiara Cluster is further supported by efforts to optimise project cost and accelerate the First Gas Date, as well as the sharing of information and technical proposals to advance the cluster’s development.

These efforts are complemented by the ongoing collaboration with Sabah state agencies to foster development synergy and stakeholder alignment in support of Sabah’s East Coast long-term energy growth.

Together, the Estuary Cluster PSC award and the Mutiara Cluster seismic data handover demonstrate PETRONAS’ broader approach to strengthening Malaysia’s upstream proposition by widening access to investment opportunities and enabling resources to progress towards production more efficiently.

Issued by:
Channels and Media Relations
Group Strategic Relations & Communications
PETRONAS

For photos, please access the files here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTHdACJhE8VhXcDMNZgZfymQcmUVypYL?usp=drive_link

Photo captions:

MPM Pic-1.jpg: PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), recently awarded Small Field Asset Production Sharing Contract (SFA PSC) for the Estuary Cluster to Harvester Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Present at ceremony were (from left to right) Senior General Manager of Governance & Strategic Relations, MPM, Nurunnajwa Mohd Aras; Managing Director of Harvester Energy, Christopher Merrick; witnessed by Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, SVP of MPM.

MPM Pic-2.jpg: During the same event, MPM handed over enhanced 3D seismic dataset to DIALOG Resources Sdn Bhd (DIALOG) for the Mutiara Cluster. Present at ceremony were (from left to right) Senior General Manager of Resource Exploration, MPM, Azmir Zamri; Deputy Managing Director, Upstream of DIALOG, Saiful AzuanAbdul Aziz; witnessed by SVP of MPM Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, and Chief Executive Officer of DIALOG, Mustaffa Kamal Abu Bakar.
SOURCE: PETRONAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:​
Name: Hana Nazsulaeeqa Harun
Email: hananazsulaeeqa.haru@petronas.com

Name: Nabil Basaruddin
Email: nabil.basaruddin@petronas.com

--BERNAMA

COMMAND ALKON TO SHOWCASE CLOUD, AI SOLUTIONS AT REGIONAL EVENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Command Alkon, a software and solutions provider for the heavy building materials industry, will showcase its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions at two industry conferences in Australia and New Zealand in October.

In a statement, the company said it will participate in the 2026 IQA National Conference on the Gold Coast, Australia, from Oct 6 to 8, followed by the Concrete NZ Conference 2026 in Wellington, New Zealand, from Oct 21 to 23.

Command Alkon Vice President of Marketing, Lori Allen said the events provide an opportunity to demonstrate how production, dispatch and fleet operations can run on a connected platform, while showcasing the potential of Command Intelligence to support decision-making.

At the IQA National Conference, Command Alkon will highlight its Command Cloud platform, including Dispatch & Scale Ticketing for scheduling and ticketing, TrackIt for vehicle management, and Command Intelligence, its agentic AI offering that enables producers to query operational data and automate defined tasks.

Meanwhile, at the Concrete NZ Conference, the company will showcase Command Cloud's capabilities for concrete producers, including Batch for plant operations, Dispatch for sales, scheduling, delivery and billing, TrackIt for fleet management and Command Intelligence for AI-powered operational insights and task execution.

Command Alkon said the two events will bring together industry participants from the quarrying, concrete, building and construction sectors, providing opportunities to demonstrate its latest technology and engage with customers across the region.

-- BERNAMA

PETSUPER DEBUTS AI-POWERED SMART PET ECOSYSTEM AT IFA 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- PetSuper, a smart pet technology brand focused on intelligent pet care products, made its debut at IFA 2026, showcasing its connected smart pet portfolio and vision for an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered pet care ecosystem.

During the five-day exhibition, PetSuper engaged with retailers, distributors and technology professionals from across Europe, demonstrating PetSuper Ai, LitterGo, ViGo, DryGo, FeedView and HydriGo. The products prompted discussions on market development, business opportunities, product innovation and industry trends.

The company said its approach combines smart hardware, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, pet care data and its PetSuperAi platform to connect different aspects of everyday pet care, including feeding, hydration, grooming and litter maintenance.

In a statement, PetSuper chief executive officer and co-founder, Brian Hu said IFA 2026 provided an opportunity for the company to present its vision of moving beyond standalone devices towards a more connected approach to pet care.

He said PetSuper aims to integrate information from different care scenarios to help pet owners better understand their pets’ routines and make daily care more informed.

At the exhibition, visitors were able to experience how LitterGo, DryGo, FeedView, HydriGo and ViGo support litter maintenance, grooming, feeding, hydration and behavioural observation, while PetSuperAi demonstrated the company’s direction towards integrating data from different pet care scenarios.

PetSuper said feedback on automated litter care, feeding, hydration and AI-supported routine observation will inform its continued product development and international expansion.

Following IFA 2026, the company plans to continue discussions with potential retail, distribution and channel partners across Europe and other priority markets.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

College of Radiology Backs Digital-Health Push, Urges Full Integration of Medical Imaging


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, welcomes the Government’s RM1 billion investment to strengthen digital infrastructure across 150 hospitals and 2,000 health clinics nationwide.
 
This investment represents an important opportunity to build a more connected healthcare system and improve the way patients move through diagnosis and treatment. For radiology, however, meaningful digitalisation must extend beyond the electronic storage of clinical notes and written reports. Medical images themselves are an essential part of the patient’s health record.

Every day, large volumes of diagnostic information are generated through X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, mammography and other imaging examinations. To realise the full benefit of the national digital-health investment, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) should therefore be integrated with compatible Radiology Information Systems (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), allowing authorised clinicians to securely access both radiology reports and the relevant images when making clinical decisions.

Such integration can have immediate practical benefits for patients. Ready access to previous imaging allows radiologists to compare current examinations with earlier studies, can reduce unnecessary repetition of investigations and radiation exposure, and can help avoid delays when patients are referred between clinics, district hospitals and tertiary centres.

Interoperability between healthcare facilities should therefore be a key priority. A patient’s diagnostic information should be able to follow the patient through the healthcare system, subject to appropriate access controls and safeguards, rather than remaining isolated within individual institutions.

Improved connectivity also has the potential to narrow geographical disparities in access to radiology expertise. Secure transfer and remote access to medical images can support teleradiology and specialist consultation, enabling radiologists and subspecialists to contribute to the care of patients in suburban, rural and under-resourced facilities without necessarily being physically present at the same location.

As this digital infrastructure develops, cybersecurity and clinical governance must be designed into the system from the outset. Appropriate access controls, audit trails, data integrity, patient privacy, consent where applicable, downtime procedures and clear professional accountability are essential when clinical information and medical images are shared across institutions.

The success of this investment should ultimately be measured not only by the number of hospitals and clinics connected, but by its impact on patients. Relevant measures could include reductions in waiting times and duplicated examinations, faster radiology reporting and referral completion, and fewer delays between investigation, diagnosis and treatment.

A well-integrated digital health system will also provide the infrastructure required for future innovations, including data-driven healthcare and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence. However, technology should remain a means to improve care rather than an end in itself.

The College of Radiology welcomes the RM1 billion digital-health investment and looks forward to supporting its implementation so that it improves diagnostic decisions, reduces unnecessary repetition and benefits patients across urban, suburban and rural Malaysia.

Ultimately, the goal of healthcare digitalisation should be simple: the right image, available to the right expertise, at the right time.

Dr Farhana Fadzli
President
College of Radiology
Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

SOURCE: College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Nordin Abdullah
Email: Glenreagh@gmail.com

--BERNAMA