MHTC AND MAYBANK PARTNER TO BRING MALAYSIA HEALTHCARE CLOSER TO ASEAN CUSTOMERS

Multi-year collaboration combines Malaysia Healthcare ecosystem with Maybank’s regional reach to support a more connected healthcare and wellness journey across ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) today formalised a multi-year strategic collaboration to bring the Malaysia Healthcare ecosystem closer to Maybank customers across ASEAN.

The collaboration brings together MHTC’s medical tourism ecosystem and Maybank’s regional network and customer reach, creating additional ways for customers and families to access healthcare and wellness information, relevant ecosystem opportunities, and supporting services. It also supports MHTC’s broader efforts under its “Healing Meets Hospitality” proposition.

Through this collaboration, MHTC brings together the country’s healthcare expertise, member hospital network, and industry ecosystem, while Maybank supports customer engagement through its regional presence and customer touchpoints. Together, the organisations aim to create a more connected pathway between customers across ASEAN and Malaysia’s healthcare ecosystem.

“Malaysia has built a strong healthcare ecosystem, and the opportunity now is to make that strength more accessible to people across the region,” said Dato’ Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. “MHTC brings the national healthcare mandate, the healthcare ecosystem and the connections across our member hospitals, while Maybank brings an established regional network and trusted customer relationships. This collaboration allows us to extend the reach of Malaysia Healthcare and create a more practical, customer-ready proposition across ASEAN. In simple terms, MHTC opens the destination. Maybank opens the door,” he added.

At the centre of the collaboration is Maybank’s regional healthcare and wellness initiative, a customer proposition that will be progressively developed with MHTC and rolled out across participating markets.

“Across ASEAN, our customers lead increasingly mobile lives, with needs and priorities that extend across markets. With a banking network spanning ten ASEAN countries, Maybank is well-positioned to meet these evolving needs in ways that go beyond traditional banking. This collaboration with MHTC is one example, connecting our customers and their families across the region with Malaysia’s healthcare travel ecosystem. By building partnerships around real customer needs, we continue to bring our purpose of humanising financial services to life,” said Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, Group Chief Executive Officer, Community Financial Services, Maybank.

The collaboration will be progressively activated across selected ASEAN markets, building on initial engagement in Cambodia, with Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore also identified as priority markets. While Maybank’s regional healthcare and wellness initiative is retained as the common platform, activations will be tailored to local customer needs and applicable requirements.

In Cambodia, the collaboration supports Maybank Cambodia’s “Cross-Border Wealth to Cross-Border Wellbeing” direction, expanding its Premier wealth proposition beyond financial wellbeing and supporting customers as their needs evolve across different life stages. Premier clients can access relevant healthcare and wellness information and opportunities through MHTC’s ecosystem.

In Indonesia, the collaboration complements Maybank Indonesia’s Premier Banking proposition by extending the customer experience beyond traditional financial services. Through MHTC’s healthcare travel ecosystem, Premier clients and their families can access privileges and relevant support for themselves and their families’ wellbeing needs.

Across these markets, Maybank will facilitate access to relevant opportunities through its regional customer network, while MHTC provides the connection to Malaysia Healthcare ecosystem.

Please refer here for photo:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uozEQ9KxW5m_gX48Ucuj1-FZ6urYu-IS

SOURCE: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Muhammad Rasydan Bin Ma’at
Head of Unit, PR and Media Unit
Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168
Email: rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my

Name: Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi
Head, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168
Email: shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my

Name: Pang Tun Yau
Head, PR, Content & Creative
Group Community Financial Services
Maybank
Email: tunyau.pang@maybank.com

--BERNAMA

AirAsia MOVE wins Asia’s Best Travel Booking App for the fourth consecutive year

Fourth consecutive traveller-voted win, reflecting MOVE’s expanded travel offerings, enhanced app experience and growing engagement, with monthly active users up 22%, and app journey searches up 14% year-on-year.

GREEN ISLAND, JAMAICA, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) has been named Asia’s Best Travel Booking App for the fourth consecutive year at the World Travel Tech Awards 2026, reflecting its continued evolution and resilience as it adapts to shifting traveller expectations and challenges in the travel industry.

MOVE has evolved from a platform centered on flights and hotels to a broader travel and lifestyle app built around the full journey. Travellers can book across 700 airlines, over a million hotels, bundled flights and hotels with SNAP!, discover global attractions and experiences through GetYourGuide, and access live entertainment options through MOVETIX. Beyond expanding what travellers can book, MOVE continues to make the journey simpler through ongoing improvements to its booking flows and payment experience, alongside AskBo, its AI-powered chatbot.

This evolution is reflected in growing platform engagement, with monthly active users rising 22% year-on-year to nearly 17 million and app journey searches increasing 14% to 33 million.

Chan Kok Ding, Head of Commercial of AirAsia MOVE said, “Winning Asia’s Best Travel Booking App for the fourth consecutive year is a proud milestone for us at MOVE, especially as we continue to evolve alongside the ever- changing travel landscape.

“Our real measure of success, however, is what we make possible beyond the booking. By bringing travellers, our airline and hotel partners, tourism boards, and destinations together, we aim to turn more travel possibilities into real experiences, creating more opportunities for the wider travel industry and making it easier for people to explore the world.”

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder of World Travel Awards, said: “Congratulations to AirAsia MOVE on this outstanding achievement at World Travel Tech Awards 2026. This fourth consecutive win as 'Asia’s Best Travel Booking App' recognises MOVE’s continued innovation, evolving travel offerings and commitment to creating a seamless experience for travellers. It is a testament to the dedication of the MOVE team and its role in shaping how travellers discover, plan and book their journeys.”

At the same award ceremony, MOVE, as the official booking platform for AirAsia, also secured this year’s awards for World’s Best Low-Cost Airline App and World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Website.

For the latest updates, follow @airasiamove on Instagram and TikTok. Download the app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery for a smooth and enhanced booking experience.

SOURCE: AirAsia MOVE (MOVE)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ryan Chan
Email: loionchanl@movetravel.com​

--BERNAMA

A Bittersweet Farewell to Bayview: Ascott Malaysia Unveils Transformation of Three Beloved Hotels into Distinct New Hospitality Experiences in Penang and Langkawi

A bittersweet farewell to Bayview Beach Resort Penang as it embarks on a new chapter as Ascott Batu Ferringhi Penang Resort

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Ascott Malaysia is embarking on transforming and rebranding three long-established Bayview properties in Penang and Langkawi into three distinct hospitality offerings, supported by an estimated reinvestment of approximately RM210 million and a phased reopening planned from early 2028.
The strategy sees Bayview Beach Resort Penang rebranded as Ascott Batu Ferringhi Penang Resort, Bayview Hotel Georgetown become Oakwood Georgetown Penang and Bayview Hotel Langkawi become Fox Hotel Langkawi. Together, the three properties represent 989 rooms across Penang and Langkawi and reflect a focused strategy of matching the three brands to suit their destinations and respective guest needs.

Ascott Batu Ferringhi Penang Resort will be Malaysia’s first beachfront resort under Ascott’s flagship brand. Set along the golden beach of Batu Ferringhi, Penang’s best-loved beach destination, the resort will be positioned for leisure and MICE travellers. Refurbishment works will cover the lobby, guest rooms, restaurants, swimming pool, wellness and spa outlet, and kids’ club. The banquet facilities, including the 1,000-seat grand ballroom, will also be upgraded, bringing a new level of experience to holidays, dining, meetings and events on Penang’s northern coastline.

In George Town, Oakwood Georgetown Penang will introduce the Oakwood brand’s “Home + Beyond” concept, offering a base designed for modern travellers looking to work and leisurely explore the city’s heritage attractions and food culture.

Fox Hotel Langkawi is the brand’s first property in Langkawi and one aimed at leisure holidaymakers and “bizcation” travellers seeking reliable service and strong local connections. Located in Kuah, the hotel is expected to appeal to style-conscious travellers exploring the island.

Bayview Hotel Georgetown, which operated for four decades, Bayview Hotel Langkawi and Bayview Beach Resort Penang have all ceased operations ahead of refurbishment works. Reopening of the transformed properties is expected from 2028 onwards.

“Bayview has been part of Penang and Langkawi’s hospitality landscape for many years, and we recognise the place these properties hold in the memories of guests and local communities,” said Adrian Chua, Area General Manager, Ascott Malaysia. “This transformation allows us to build on that legacy while introducing experiences that reflect how people travel today. By matching each destination with a distinct brand, we are creating offerings that serve both individual and group traveller requirements.”

The planned RM210 million reinvestment transformation of the three properties, owned by Oriental Holdings Berhad and operated by The Ascott Limited, comes at a time when Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to grow. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in August, the country recorded 21.1 million international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, an increase of 2.5% over the same period last year.

For travellers, business event organisers and industry partners, the transformation will introduce new accommodation options across leisure, extended stays, business travel and events. More information on bookings, facilities and reopening timelines will be announced progressively as redevelopment works advance.

The three refurbished properties will join Ascott Malaysia’s active portfolio of 29 hotels and serviced residences across major cities and urban centres in Malaysia, with additional developments in the pipeline. The new properties support a broader growth strategy of bringing new multi-typology offerings, strategic property conversions and footprint extensions into emerging leisure and business destinations to create the greatest relevance for travellers and local communities.

For more information on Ascott Malaysia, please visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/malaysia

Images:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nFFy4BC1XOZQcLKF8DvvJrEzsj8aLCjd?usp=drive_link

About The Ascott Limited
 
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is driven by a vision to be the preferred hospitality company, enriching global living with heartfelt experiences. With a portfolio of more than 1,000 properties spanning over 230 cities across more than 40 countries, Ascott’s presence spans Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA. Its diverse collection of award-winning brands includes Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood Premier, Oakwood, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Adoor Apartment, Adoor Suites, Fox, Harris, POP!, Preference, Quest, Vertu and Yello.

Ascott specialises in managing and franchising a wide range of lodging options, including serviced residences, hotels, resorts, social living properties and branded residences, catering to the varying needs and preferences of global travellers. Through the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and curated experiences, enhancing every aspect of their travel journey.
 
As a wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott generates fee-related revenue by leveraging its expertise in both lodging management and investment management. It also drives the expansion of funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds.
 
For more information on Ascott and its sustainability programme, please visit www.discoverasr.com/the-ascott-limited. Alternatively, connect with Ascott on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
 
About CapitaLand Investment Limited (SGX: 9CI)

CapitaLand Investment is a leading global real asset manager with a strong foothold in Asia. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CLI connects institutional capital to real asset opportunities through its globally integrated fund management platforms. Operating in over 40 countries, CLI is focused on growing recurring fee earnings, recycling capital efficiently and delivering sustainable long-term value for shareholders through disciplined capital management and responsible investing. For more information, please visit: www.capitalandinvest.com. (Co. Regn.: 200308451M)

SOURCE: Ascott Malaysia

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ab & Artho
Name: Cindy Yoong
Tel: +6016 207 9961
Email: cindy.yoong@abartho.com

Ascott Malaysia
Name: Ng Bee Fong, Country Director - Brand & Mktg
Tel: +6016 221 9878
Email: beefong.ng@the-ascott.com

--BERNAMA

NETBOX LABS SIGNS NVIDIA, GRAFANA LABS PARTNERSHIPS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- NetBox Labs, which develops the network and data centre management software NetBox, has announced partnerships with NVIDIA and Grafana Labs, along with new platform capabilities, at its first NetBox Evolve conference.

“Today NetBox is used by companies like Arm, CoreWeave, Kaiser Permanente and JPMorgan Chase to build, run and grow their networks and infrastructure.

“We are seeing tremendous growth, with more than 90 per cent of the top neoclouds using NetBox to design and scale their AI data centres, and we expect NetBox to power more than 100 GW of AI data centre capacity by 2030,” said NetBox Labs chief executive officer and co-founder, Kris Beevers in a statement.

Under the NVIDIA partnership, NetBox is now a native source of truth for NVIDIA Configuration Manager (NVCM), the network orchestration component of NVIDIA DSX OS. It provides the data that drives automated configuration across NVIDIA-native cluster fabrics.

NetBox Labs and Grafana Labs have also released a free, open-source NetBox plugin in the Grafana catalogue. The plugin brings live infrastructure details, such as site, role, tenant, rack, owner and lifecycle, into Grafana dashboards and alerts. According to the companies, it requires no pipeline changes, avoids stale labels and adds no metric cost.

Separately, NetBox Labs’ open-source Orb platform now supplies network flow and packet telemetry to Grafana Cloud users.

NetBox Labs has also expanded its Infrastructure Intelligence Platform. NetBox Designs, now in public preview, provides reusable templates for designing sites, racks and IP plans for large-scale deployments.

NetBox Agents adds pre-built AI agents for tasks including change request review, compliance and data quality management, also in public preview. A fully managed NetBox Platform MCP Server, now generally available, lets customers’ own AI agents query and change infrastructure in plain language.

NetBox Analytics, which has added new ready-made dashboards, and NetBox Visual Explorer will become generally available in November.

-- BERNAMA

HOLAFLY UNVEILS ULTRA PLAN BUNDLING ESIM DATA WITH HEALTHCARE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Holafly, the global leader in eSIMs for travellers, has launched its Ultra Plan, a new subscription tier combining unlimited mobile data, health and wellbeing services, and help with travel disruptions.

Part of Holafly Plans, Ultra is aimed at travellers on the go, such as digital nomads, students abroad and frequent travellers, and is intended to help them look after their health while abroad, the company said.

Ultra was developed after Holafly’s own research found that 47.5 per cent of frequent and long-stay travellers surveyed had delayed or avoided medical care abroad despite feeling they needed it. Separate research by MBO Partners found that 23 per cent of American digital nomads cited travel burnout as a challenge, while 19 per cent pointed to loneliness.

“Being able to work from anywhere does not mean everyday worries disappear. Getting sick, feeling overwhelmed or dealing with a cancelled flight can be harder when you are far from familiar support.

“With Ultra, we are extending our promise of peace of mind, helping travellers stay online and giving them someone to turn to when they need support,” said Holafly Chief Operating Officer, Metin Kastro in a statement.

At 84.9 euros per month, Ultra includes round-the-clock doctor chat, unlimited mental wellbeing sessions, nutrition and personal training support, and online vet advice. (1 Euro = RM4.57)

The subscription also offers unlimited data in more than 160 destinations, unlimited hotspot use and a local phone number for receiving texts, including two-factor authentication codes.

It further provides help with eligible flight compensation claims, luggage protection covering lost, delayed or damaged baggage, and 24-hour human customer support. Ultra joins the Light and Unlimited tiers within Holafly Plans.

-- BERNAMA

CHERY’S ROBOTICS BRAND AIMOGA TO UNVEIL HOME ROBOT AT SUMMIT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Chery Group’s robotics brand AiMOGA will unveil a new home robot at the 2026 Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China.

The robot, designed for everyday household needs, will debut at a launch event themed "Car–Robot Synergy, Real-World Impact", where AiMOGA will also outline its strategy for embodied intelligence, or robots that interact with the physical world.

AiMOGA in a statement said its cumulative global deliveries had surpassed 3,000 units, with its products and services reaching more than 60 countries and regions.

Its portfolio spans humanoid robots, robotic dogs and other robotic forms, which are already used in automotive retail, public information and guidance, smart policing, healthcare navigation and reception services.

AiMOGA products have obtained international certifications and approvals, including CE marking in the European Union and Federal Communications Commission compliance in the United States.

The brand shares a common technology base with its sister brand LUXEED as part of Chery’s wider intelligence strategy and plans to integrate its robots with LUXEED’s smart cockpit to link vehicles with the home.

-- BERNAMA

NOVAAIR DEEPENS LONG-TERM INVESTMENT FOOTPRINT IN MALAYSIA WITH INAUGURATION OF KUL AIR SEPARATION UNIT

From left to right: Ms. Samantha Wong Sze Wing, Chief Financial Officer, Yingde Gases; Ms. Surayu Susah, Executive Director, Manufacturing Development (Resource), MIDA; Ms. Charlene Quek Chah Lim, Managing Director, NovaAir Industrial Gases Sdn. Bhd.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- NovaAir Industrial Gases Sdn. Bhd. (hereinafter referred as to NovaAir), the Malaysian subsidiary of Yingde Gases, has inaugurated its 300-tonnes-per-day Kuala Lumpur (KUL) liquid air separation unit (ASU) at UMW High-Value Manufacturing Park in Greater Kuala Lumpur, strengthening Malaysia’s domestic supply of essential industrial gases for high-value manufacturing and reinforcing the group’s longterm investment commitment to Malaysia.
Commissioned in August 2026, the facility supports growing demand for industrial gases across Malaysia’s manufacturing ecosystem and strengthens Yingde Gases’ presence in Southeast Asia.

Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), said, “Industrial gases may be unseen, but they are essential to the industries powering Malaysia’s next phase of growth. NovaAir’s investment strengthens this critical foundation, advancing the ambitions of NIMP 2030 and the Chemical Industry Roadmap 2030 while enabling stronger domestic supply chains, higher-value industrial activities and skilled employment opportunities for Malaysians.”

Charlene Quek, General Manager of NovaAir, stated: “Malaysia hosts Yingde Gases’ very first regional headquarters outside China. NovaAir aims to forge deep, long-term partnerships with Malaysian local businesses and contribute to Malaysia’s national industrial ambition. The KUL liquid ASU and Alliance Steel project together demonstrate our confidence and sustained investment in this market.”

The KUL liquid ASU produces oxygen, nitrogen, argon and high-purity oxygen for downstream industries including chemicals, electrical and electronics, oil and gas, food processing, steelmaking and new-energy lithium battery production. Its proprietary air separation technology was developed and manufactured in-house by Yingde Engineering, the group’s engineering subsidiary, while artificial intelligence-driven control systems help improve energy efficiency and reduce the plant’s carbon footprint.

By meeting growing demand for high-quality industrial gases, the facility will support technological upgrading across downstream industries and strengthen Malaysia’s position as a high-tech manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

The investment complement NovaAir’s existing operations at the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), where it operates three large-scale 20,000 Nm³/h on-site air separation units for Alliance Steel (Malaysia). Yingde Gases’ largest overseas on-site ASU complex to date, the project supplies high-purity oxygen, nitrogen and argon to support Alliance Steel’s steel-making operations and expansion plans. The Alliance Steel facility holds ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management and Halal certifications.

The inauguration was attended by senior representatives from MIDA and Invest Selangor, alongside key customers, industry partners, contractors, and the management teams of Yingde Gases and NovaAir.

Looking ahead, NovaAir aims to raise the KUL plant’s capacity utilisation to above 90 % within two years. Over the next three to five years, Yingde Gases plans to expands its investment in Malaysia, with the ambition of positioning NovaAir among the country’s top three industrial gas suppliers. From its Malaysian regional headquarters, NovaAir also plan to pursue opportunities in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, while continuing to focus operational efficiency, sustainability and local talent development.

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube channels.

About NovaAir

NovaAir, as the overseas subsidiary of YingDe Gases, has operated air separation plants in Malaysia, Thailand, etc. Its business covers the entire process of industrial gas production and operation, providing the regional customers with premium quality gas applications and solutions. For more information, please visit: www.novaair.co

About Yingde Gases

Yingde Gases is a large-scale professional gas company committed to industrial development, with over 150 gas production facilities in China and abroad, covering various industries such as metallurgy, chemical, electronics, semiconductor, photovoltaic, food, medical and healthcare, new materials, energy and environmental protection. Its market reach extends across China and Southeast Asia. Yingde Gases focuses on on-site gas supply, bulk liquid, MiniBulk, packaged gases, rare and specialty gases, and Yingde Engineering (design and manufacturing of cryogenic equipment including air separation unit). We supply high quality on-site pipeline gases, liquid gases in tanks and cylinder gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. For more information, please visit: www.yingde.com.

SOURCE: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MIDA
Name: Puan Siti Halimaton Mohd. Rejab
Director, Chemical and Advanced Material Division
Tel: +603-2267 6701
Email: shalimaton@mida.gov.my

NovaAir
Name: Ms. Amanda Chu
Senior Legal Counsel
Tel: +603 2774 6200
Email: amanda.chu@novaair.co

--BERNAMA