BOOMI PLATFORM STREAMLINES CITYCARE PROPERTY'S HR OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Boomi, the data activation company, announced that Citycare Property has streamlined its human resources (HR) and employee management processes using the Boomi Enterprise Platform, resulting in faster onboarding, improved data quality, and increased employee satisfaction.

Boomi Chief Technology Officer, APJ, David Irecki said the project demonstrated how employee-centred integration strategies can deliver measurable operational improvements.

“In partnership with Adaptiv, Boomi is proud to support Citycare Property's workforce modernisation and provide the data foundation that keeps their operations running smoothly,” he said in a statement.

Citycare Property, a New Zealand-owned social infrastructure organisation serving central and local governments nationwide, sought to modernise its HR systems to support business growth and operational evolution.

The company implemented a new Human Resources Information System (HRIS) platform to ensure seamless employee management processes across HR, payroll and information technology (IT) systems while maintaining a unified workforce view.

To support the integration, Citycare Property engaged Boomi partner Adaptiv, which implemented the Boomi Enterprise Platform’s Data Hub and Integration capabilities.

The solution established a unified employee data framework across all platforms, improving the accuracy and reliability of workforce data updates, including onboarding, offboarding, and ongoing HR operations.

All updates are automatically reflected across HR, payroll and IT systems, enabling secure and efficient changes without disrupting daily operations while providing a scalable foundation for future growth.

By centralising and synchronising workforce data, Boomi helped reduce onboarding timelines and enabled new employees to be activated across systems more quickly and efficiently.

-- BERNAMA

Toshiba Starts Shipping Engineering Samples of TXZ+™ Family Entry‑Class M4H Group, Standard Microcontrollers with Arm® Cortex®‑M4 Core for System Control Applications

 

^{Toshiba: TXZ+™ Family Entry‑Class M4H Group, standard microcontrollers featuring an Arm® Cortex®‑M4 core with a floating-point unit (FPU).}


—Standard microcontrollers supporting a wide range of system control applications for consumer products and industrial equipment—


KAWASAKI, Japan, May 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) --Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba”) has announced TXZ+™ Family Entry‑Class M4H Group, standard microcontrollers^[1] featuring an Arm^® Cortex^®‑M4 core with a floating-point unit (FPU). The new microcontrollers are designed for application in small‑scale system control of consumer products, such as air conditioners and washing machines, and in industrial equipment, including multifunction printers and factory automation systems. Toshiba is now providing engineering samples of the new products.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260525857546/en/ 

As modern consumer products and industrial equipment become increasingly sophisticated and diversified, microcontrollers used in system control must deliver enhanced real‑time capabilities and stability, support ease of design, deliver the versatility necessary for long‑term operation, and be flexible enough to support development of derivative products. Toshiba has addressed these challenges by developing TXZ+™ Family Entry‑Class M4H Group for system control applications, with an emphasis on versatility.

The new microcontrollers are designed as entry level products that deliver a set of essential functions. They employ an Arm^® Cortex^®‑M4 core with an FPU, and have a maximum operating frequency of 120MHz—the computing performance and responsiveness required for consumer products and industrial equipment, and they can also handle the core applications of system control, including control logic, interface processing, and timing control.

M4H products support a supply voltage range of 2.7V to 5.5V and, by integrating a high‑speed oscillator with ±1% accuracy, help to reduce external components and improve design flexibility. This suits them for use in consumer products and industrial equipment with 5V power supplies.

The microcontrollers also integrate essential peripheral functions for system control, including a 12‑bit analog‑to‑digital converter (ADC), timers, universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), serial peripheral interface (SPI), inter‑integrated circuit (I²C^[2]), and direct memory access (DMA^[3]). An additional feature is an advanced programmable motor driver (A‑PMD) that supports brushless DC motor control, ensuring flexible use in line with application requirements and system configurations.

Toshiba supports device evaluation and review with provision of engineering samples and a development environment. The company also supports smooth progress from initial evaluation to application development, by providing starter kits, sample software, CMSIS^[4]-compliant drivers, and user environments for major IDEs ^[5].

Toshiba will continue to expand these enablement resources, including documentation, and will further strengthen its lineup of microcontroller products to meet diverse needs.

Notes:
[1]	A standard microcontroller that is not specialized for a specific application, designed to emphasize versatility in supporting power supply conditions and peripheral functions, and suitable for a wide range of system control applications.
[2]	Inter‑Integrated Circuit: A serial communication standard for short‑distance, low‑speed communication between ICs.
[3]	Direct Memory Access: A mechanism that enables direct data transfers between peripheral devices and memory without CPU intervention.
[4]	Common Microcontroller Software Interface Standard: A software standard for Arm® Cortex®‑M microcontrollers.
[5]	Integrated Development Environment: An integrated set of tools required for software development.

Applications

• System control units for home appliances and consumer equipment
• Industrial equipment and factory automation (FA) systems
• Office and commercial equipment

Features

• Arm® Cortex®‑M4 core with FPU: operating 120MHz (max)
• Supply voltage range: 2.7V to 5.5V
• Internal memory
  Code flash memory: 256 KB
  RAM: 18 KB
• Self-diagnosis functions for functional safety
• Three types of package, selectable according to mounting area and assembly conditions

Main Specifications

Product group		M4H group
Part number		TMPM4H4FYUG	TMPM4H2FYDUG	TMPM4H1FYUG
CPU core		Arm® Cortex®-M4 - Floating point unit (FPU) ‒ Memory protection unit (MPU)
Maximum operating frequency		120MHz
Internal oscillator	Oscillation frequency	10MHz (±1%)
Internal memory	Flash (code)	256KB (Program/erase cycles: up to 100,000 times)
	RAM	18KB, with parity
I/O port		51 pins	37 pins	33 pins
External interrupt		11 factors, 16 pins	10 factors, 12 pins	9 factors, 11 pins
DMA controller (DMAC)		32 channels	27 channels
Timer function	32-bit timer event counter (T32A)	6 channels (12 channels if used as 16-bit timer)
Communication function	UART	4 channels	3 channels	3 channels
	I2C interface/I2C interface version A (I2C/EI2C)	1 channel
	TSPI	4 channels	2 channels
Analog function	12-bit AD converter (ADC)	12 inputs in 1 unit	10 inputs in 1 unit	9 inputs in 1 unit
Motor control circuit	Advanced programmable motor control circuit (A-PMD)	1 channel
Other	CRC calculation circuit (CRC)	1 channel CRC32, CRC16
System function	Watchdog timer (SIWDT)	1 channel
	Voltage detection circuit (LVD)	1 channel
	Oscillation frequency detector (OFD)	1 channel
Debug interface		JTAG/SW TRACE (4bits) NBDIF	JTAG/SW
Operating voltage		2.7V to 5.5V, single voltage supply
Package/Pin		LQFP64 (10mm×10mm, 0.5mm pitch)	LQFP48 (7mm×7mm, 0.5mm pitch)	LQFP44 (10mm×10mm, 0.8mm pitch)

Follow the links below for more on the new products.
TMPM4H4FYUG
TMPM4H2FYDUG
TMPM4H1FYUG

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba’s microcontrollers.
Microcontrollers

* Arm and Cortex are registered trademarks of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere.
* TXZ+™ is a trademark of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation.
* Other company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

Its 17,400 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and to promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260525857546/en/

Contact

Customer Inquiries
MCU & Digital Device Sales & Marketing Dept.
Tel: +81-44-548-2233
Contact Us

Media Inquiries:
C. Nagasawa
Communications & Market Intelligence Dept.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp

Source : Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

INSTRUQT POWERS LARGE-SCALE AGENTIC AI TRAINING AT GOOGLE NEXT 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Instruqt, the hands-on product experience platform, announced that Google Cloud Security used its platform to train more than 150 practitioners on Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities during Google Next 2026.

The session, branded the Agentic SOC Experience, was described as one of the largest hands-on Agentic AI training workshops held at a major industry conference this year, according to Instruqt in a statement.

Using Instruqt’s platform, participants created dedicated Google Cloud Vertex AI environments, enabling them to build and test AI agents in isolated sandbox settings instead of relying on slide-based demonstrations.

Instruqt Vice President of Marketing, Tyler Crumpler said companies developing AI products must focus on enabling customers to use the technologies effectively through real-world environments and practical applications.

Meanwhile, Google Cloud Security pre-sales engineer, Keith Manville said the platform enabled participants to gain practical understanding of agentic AI tools and workflows through interactive learning.

The initiative reflects broader industry efforts to narrow the gap between AI product launches and customer adoption, as enterprises seek more practical and scalable training methods.

Citing the 2026 State of Developer Adoption Report by SlashData, the company said 92 per cent of practitioners face at least one major adoption challenge, including technology complexity, team misalignment and outdated content.

-- BERNAMA

STONESHIELD CAPITAL TO INCREASE STAKE IN EXOLUM TO 20 PCT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Stoneshield Capital, a European real assets investment firm, has signed an agreement to acquire a 15 per cent stake in Exolum from OMERS, building on its existing investment in the company.

According to a statement, the firm acquired a 4.93 per cent stake in January this year, and once the transaction closes in the third quarter of 2026, its total holding in Exolum will rise to approximately 20 per cent.

The remaining 10 per cent of OMERS’ approximately 25 per cent stake is being separately acquired by a leading global investment firm. OMERS, together with its investment partners, has been invested in Exolum since 2016.

Stoneshield Capital co-founders, Felipe Morenés Botín and Juan Pepa said the firm has followed Exolum’s progress closely as an existing shareholder, including its international expansion, operational performance and growing role in the energy transition.

“Increasing our investment and taking active board representation reflects our conviction in Exolum’s distinctive combination of real assets quality, geographic reach and strategic relevance, and our commitment to supporting management as the company continues to strengthen its position as one of Europe’s leading energy logistics platforms,” said the co-founders.

Meanwhile, OMERS Infrastructure Senior Managing Director and Head of Europe, Luca Lupo said the transaction reflects the quality of the business and the firm’s disciplined approach to portfolio management and capital rotation.

Exolum is a Spanish-headquartered global energy logistics company specialising in the transportation, storage and distribution of refined products, bulk liquids and aviation fuels, while also supporting the energy transition.

The company operates a 4,000-kilometre (km) pipeline network in Spain and a further 2,000 km network in the United Kingdom, alongside 68 storage terminals with more than 11 million cubic metres of capacity serving over 48 airports globally.

Following completion, Stoneshield Capital will assume three of OMERS’ board seats, while the second investor will take the remaining two.

-- BERNAMA

DNeX launches next-gen AI productivity suite to supercharge meeting productivity

DNeX IT CEO Shiraz Ramli: XWHIZ marks a strategic milestone in DNeX IT’s evolution from a systems integrator and national digital infrastructure provider into a creator and owner of sovereign digital intellectual property and scalable AI-driven platforms.

 

CYBERJAYA, May 25 (Bernama) -- Dagang NeXchange Berhad (“DNeX”) has announced the launch of its groundbreaking speech-to-text and productivity platform powered by artificial intelligence (“AI”).

Called XWHIZ, the productivity suite is designed to redefine how modern teams collaborate, enabling workplace meetings to be seamless and productive by automating tedious administrative tasks that follow meetings.

It is a sovereign AI-powered meeting intelligence platform that transforms spoken conversations into structured and actionable outputs including accurate transcripts, concise written summaries, customisable Minutes of Meeting templates, and automatically generated decisions and action items such as assigning task ownership, tracking deadlines, identifying follow-up requirements, monitoring project milestones, and escalating key issues requiring management attention.

XWHIZ goes beyond simple transcription. By leveraging advanced AI, it automatically detects and generates precise meeting minutes, captures critical action items, and tracks overall team productivity.

Built for today’s diverse and hybrid work environments, XWHIZ boasts robust dual-language capabilities, seamlessly transcribing both Malay (including popular accents in Malay) and English with transcriptions that can be translated to more than 50 languages including Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic which are among widely spoken languages globally. Additionally, its cutting-edge speaker-recognition technology identifies individual participants by their unique voice prints, ensuring that summaries and action items are accurately attributed.

XWHIZ, built and deployed entirely within Malaysia, operates as a fully sovereign solution. The platform supports on-premises deployment on customer infrastructure, ensuring that meeting audio, transcripts, and derived insights never leave the organisation's environment. With full Malaysian data residency and a design aligned to the Personal Data Protection Act (“PDPA”), XWHIZ removes reliance on foreign cloud providers for inference, addressing the data governance, regulatory, and confidentiality requirements that have constrained enterprise adoption of overseas meeting intelligence tools.

It is engineered for the realities of Malaysian business communications where conversations routinely shift between Malay and English, often within a single sentence. The platform handles this codeswitching natively rather than treating each language as a separate stream. Its speaker recognition capability supports persistent voiceprint enrolment, meaning that once a participant has been identified, he or she is recognised consistently across all future meetings, with summaries and action items attributed to the correct individual without manual tagging.

To fit effortlessly into existing workflows, the productivity suite features native, seamless integration with the world’s leading workplace tools:
• Video Conferencing: Works directly within Microsoft Teams and will embed Google Meet, Zoom, and other online meeting platforms as part of its product roadmap.
• Scheduling: Synchronises with Outlook Calendar to automate meeting preparation and follow-ups and will also include other popular scheduling systems at a later stage.

A standout feature of XWHIZ is its integrated AI bot. Users no longer need to manually skim through hours of recordings or pages of transcripts. Instead, they can interact directly with the AI bot to ask specific questions about what was discussed, such as, "What did Adam promise to deliver by Friday?" or "Summarise the budget objections raised during the call."

"The launch of XWHIZ represents more than the introduction of a new AI product. It marks a strategic milestone in DNeX IT’s evolution from a systems integrator and national digital infrastructure provider into a creator and owner of sovereign digital intellectual property and scalable AI-driven platforms. Our new productivity suite acts as an intelligent digital Chief of Staff; it listens, organises and captures what matters most. By bridging language barriers and integrating seamlessly across software ecosystems, it enables teams to work smarter, collaborate better and operate at peak productivity,” said Chief Executive Officer of DNeX IT Shiraz Ramli.

“Developed entirely by our in-house technical team, this homegrown solution was purpose-built to deliver seamless operational workflows and empower organisations to achieve maximised productivity, collaboration and execution effectiveness,” she said.

‘For DNeX IT, this is an important inflection point in our growth journey. Historically, our strengths have been built around delivering and operating mission-critical national platforms that support Malaysia’s digital backbone. With XWHIZ, we are now extending that capability into sovereign AIpowered products that can be commercialised and scaled across government agencies, regulated sectors and enterprises, creating stronger recurring revenue opportunities and expanding our growth engines beyond traditional project-based engagements,’ said Shiraz.

She added that beginning in 2026 onwards, XWHIZ is expected to contribute to DNeX IT’s long-term business growth strategy by strengthening its portfolio of proprietary solutions and accelerating the company’s expansion into high-growth areas such as sovereign AI, enterprise productivity solutions, and intelligent automation.

“ASEAN is entering a new phase of AI adoption, where organisations are moving beyond pilots and increasingly embedding AI into everyday operations to drive productivity and efficiency. But as AI becomes deeply integrated into mission-critical environments, the conversation is rapidly evolving from capability to control. In high-trust sectors, the question is no longer whether organisations will adopt AI — it is whether they can do so while retaining ownership of their data, intelligence and digital sovereignty. We believe the next generation of AI leadership in ASEAN will belong to those who can deliver both innovation and trust,” she said.

XWHIZ was designed precisely with these realities in mind. It is sovereign by design - built entirely in Malaysia, operating within Malaysian borders, and ensuring that sensitive information remains under customer ownership and control. For DNeX, this is not simply about productivity enhancement; it is about enabling digital trust, national resilience and technological independence.

As Malaysia continues to accelerate its digital and AI ambitions, DNeX aims to play an increasingly important role as a sovereign technology partner, developing solutions that allow organisations to adopt AI confidently without compromising security, governance or sovereignty.

XWHIZ addresses critical challenges commonly faced by organisations, particularly in producing timely Minutes of Meeting and ensuring highly accurate transcriptions from virtual engagements. In addition, she said XWHIZ is equipped with intelligent analytical capabilities that can review and interpret digital information, helping organisations streamline operations, surface key action items, improve accountability and accelerate the achievement of performance goals.

The new AI-powered productivity suite is currently available, and for more information please reach out to communications@dnex.com.my.

About Dagang NeXchange Berhad
Dagang NeXchange Berhad ("DNeX") is a global technology company operating across three business divisions: Semiconductor, Energy and Information Technology ("IT"). In Semiconductor, the Group operates a 200mm specialty foundry. In Energy, the Group is engaged in upstream exploration and production in the UK North Sea and Malaysia, alongside downstream equipment supply and maintenance services. In IT, the Group provides eServices for trade facilitation, technology consulting and systems integration, and is the operator of mission-critical national platforms in trade facilitation as well as a centralised financial and accounting system. The Company is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. For more information, visit www.dnex.com.my.

SOURCE: Dagang NeXchange Berhad

​FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Sharifah Kasim Al Edrus
Head, Group Corporate Communications
Dagang NeXchange Berhad
Tel +603 8230 6900 / HP +6013 342 1505
Fax +603 8230 6969
Email sharifah.kasim@dnex.com.my

--BERNAMA

AirAsia MOVE, Intebix, and Solana Foundation collaborate to explore stablecoin integration in Kazakhstan

Photo caption: (L-R) Lim Ben Jie, Chief People and Partnerships Officer, AirAsia MOVE; Talgat Dossanov, Chief Executive Officer, Intebix; Anna Yiran Zhang, Head of Payment Growth, APAC, Solana Foundation at the LOI signing in conjunction with Solana Summit Kazakhstan.

ALMATY, May 25 (Bernama) -- AirAsia MOVE, Intebix, and the Solana Foundation signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore a strategic collaboration which will explore integrating Evo (KTZE), a Tenge-denominated stablecoin on Solana into the AirAsia MOVE platform in Kazakhstan, with the aim of expanding digital payment options and creating a more seamless travel experience.

By combining AirAsia MOVE’s extensive travel distribution network as Asia’s leading travel platform, serving over 17 million monthly active users (MAU), with Intebix’s licensed digital asset infrastructure and Solana’s industry-leading blockchain technology, the initiative aims to explore a real-world application and travel focused use case for Evo stablecoin.

Under this initiative, AirAsia MOVE and Intebix will work together to evaluate the technical architecture, settlement mechanics and regulatory alignment required to pilot Evo on Solana within the AirAsia MOVE ecosystem in Kazakhstan. The initiative paves the way for a more flexible and innovative digital experience, potentially enabling users to use digital assets across AirAsia MOVE’s global travel ecosystem.

Lim Ben-Jie, Chief of People and Partnership Officer at AirAsia MOVE, said, “This initiative reflects AirAsia MOVE’s ambition to redefine the future of travel commerce through innovation and emerging technologies. We are pleased to collaborate with Intebix and the Solana Foundation to explore such an exciting pilot project, made possible through AirAsia Next, the brand and innovation arm of the Capital A ecosystem. By exploring the utility of the Evo stablecoin and its regulatory pathways, we are not only looking at the future of digital payments, but also strengthening our position as one of the most forward-thinking and innovative OTAs in the region. As digital asset adoption grows globally, this could eventually enable travellers from markets like Kazakhstan to seamlessly book flights and hotels on AirAsia MOVE using digital assets like stablecoin.”

Talgat Dossanov, Chief Executive Officer, Intebix, said, “At Intebix, we believe digital assets must solve real-world problems to achieve mainstream adoption. Through this collaboration, we are exploring how Evo stablecoin can create a faster, lower-friction payment experience for travellers while maintaining compliance within Kazakhstan’s regulatory framework. Together with AirAsia MOVE and Solana Foundation, we are building practical use cases that move blockchain technology beyond speculation and into everyday utility.”

Anna Yiran Zhang, Head of Payment Growth, APAC, Solana Foundation, added, “Solana is built for high-speed, institutional-grade applications that require near-instant finality and low costs. We are thrilled to support AirAsia MOVE and Intebix in this initiative. This project exemplifies the real-world impact of blockchain technology in transforming how everyday consumers interact with digital assets through practical, high-frequency use cases like travel.”

The proposed collaboration will focus on ensuring the project meets all regulatory requirements in Kazakhstan. All parties will now begin a formal period of assessment regarding the technical, legal, and commercial feasibility of the project within the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan's regulatory sandbox, with the intent to establish definitive agreements for a pilot phase.

Evo stablecoin was launched by Intebix on Solana, with Mastercard and Eurasian Bank in 2025. It was the first tenge-denominated stablecoin launched within the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s regulatory sandbox for digital assets.

This proposed initiative for AirAsia MOVE, facilitated by AirAsia Next aligns with the Capital A’s mission to deliver smarter, faster and more connected experiences across its ecosystem, strengthening the ability to serve customers and partners with greater efficiency and innovation.

About AirAsia MOVE

AirAsia MOVE (MOVE), is Capital A’s travel platform and voted Asia’s Best Travel Booking App at the World Travel Tech Awards for three consecutive years since 2023. It envisions a comprehensive travel ecosystem, offering affordable, seamless, and personalised travel experiences across Asean and beyond. As a travel platform, MOVE offers over 700 global airlines and more than a million hotels worldwide, alongside a full suite of travel services including airport transfers, travel insurance, duty-free shopping, attractions, live-events ticketing, and more. The platform aims to be a social experience for travellers, evolving into a robust community to facilitate discovery and conversational commerce, complemented by a strong loyalty programme and the AI-driven AskBo chatbot.

About Intebix

Intebix is a fully licensed digital asset exchange and infrastructure provider operating in Kazakhstan. The company focuses on building regulated blockchain-based financial infrastructure and advancing the adoption of digital assets through compliant, real-world applications. Intebix is the issuer of Evo (KZTE), Kazakhstan’s first tenge-denominated stablecoin launched within the National Bank of Kazakhstan’s digital asset regulatory sandbox, in collaboration with Solana, Mastercard and Eurasian Bank.
SOURCE: AirAsia MOVE (MOVE)

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

--BERNAMA

MIDA, DAIKIN AND SHRDC COLLABORATE TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL SUPPLIER CAPABILITIES THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Image 1: Opening remarks by Mr. Faizal Jalaludin, Executive Director, Investment Promotion, MIDA




SHAH ALAM, Selangor, May 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), in collaboration with Daikin Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and the Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), successfully organised the MIDA – Daikin Supply Chain Programme (Awareness Session), aimed at helping Malaysian suppliers and local SMEs strengthen their competitiveness and participate more actively in global manufacturing supply chains.

Held on 21 May 2026 at SHRDC, Shah Alam, the programme brought together more than 100 participants comprising Daikin’s ecosystem partners such as Daikin Electronics Devices Malaysia, local SMEs, financial institutions and government agencies. The session provided practical guidance on supplier requirements, digital transformation, smart manufacturing and financing support to help Malaysian companies grow, upgrade their operations and better meet the evolving requirements of multinational corporations.

Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, emphasised, "Integrating Malaysian SMEs into global value chains is critical to sustaining our nation's industrial competitiveness. Through targeted vendor development programmes like this, MIDA is helping Malaysian SMEs build the capabilities needed to become trusted partners in global supply chains. When Malaysian companies become part of the global chain, the impact goes beyond business growth. It creates better jobs, strengthens local industries, encourages technology adoption and opens more opportunities for Malaysians to participate in higher-value economic activities."

Speaking on the importance of ecosystem collaboration in supporting industrial transformation, SHRDC highlighted that talent development remains a key foundation in strengthening industry competitiveness and future readiness.

Ms. Teh Sook Ling, Executive Director of SHRDC, said, “At SHRDC, we believe that transformation begins with people. Guided by our tagline, Leading Transformation Through Training, we continue to champion a people-first strategy in supporting industry growth and future readiness. Through SINERGI, we are able to strengthen the support ecosystem by connecting talent, technology, policy makers, industry, and collaboration under one platform — enabling industries not only to transform, but to accelerate transformation collectively and sustainably.”

Ms. Ho Much Jia, VP, Procurement, Daikin Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said, “At Daikin, we believe a strong manufacturing ecosystem is built upon capable and future-ready suppliers. Through this collaboration with MIDA and SHRDC, we strive to support local companies in strengthening their capabilities, accelerating digital transformation and adapting to evolving industry requirements. By fostering closer collaboration across the supply chain, we can collectively build a more resilient, connected and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem that creates long-term value for both industry and the nation.”

The programme featured opening remarks by Mr. Faizal Jalaludin, Executive Director, Investment Promotion, MIDA, and Mr. Sukri Abu Bakar, Director of MIDA’s Domestic Investment Division, both of whom underscored MIDA's proactive facilitation role in supporting scaling companies, including assistance with Manufacturing Licence applications and regulatory compliance.

Due to the strong response, the programme was conducted in two sessions to accommodate overwhelming participation from industry players and SMEs. The sessions featured presentations by representatives from MIDA, Daikin Malaysia, Daikin Electronics Devices Malaysia, SHRDC, Alliance Bank and industry players, covering supplier requirements, smart manufacturing transformation, sustainable supply chain development and financing solutions to support digitalisation. Participants also toured SHRDC’s facilities to gain first-hand exposure to automation, digitalisation and Industry 4.0 applications.

Due to the strong response, the programme was conducted in two sessions to accommodate overwhelming participation from industry players and SMEs. The sessions featured presentations by representatives from MIDA, Daikin Malaysia, Daikin Electronics Devices Malaysia, SHRDC, Alliance Bank and industry players, covering supplier requirements, smart manufacturing transformation, sustainable supply chain development and financing solutions to support digitalisation. Participants also toured SHRDC’s facilities to gain first-hand exposure to automation, digitalisation and Industry 4.0 applications.

The initiative reflects MIDA’s proactive efforts to deepen domestic supply chain capabilities and broaden the participation of local companies in high-value industries. Through targeted initiatives such as the Supply Chain Programme, the Grow Local Great initiative, the Enterprise Growth Platform (EGP) and the #InvestLokal campaign, MIDA connects Malaysian SMEs with multinational corporations, facilitates technology adoption and supports capability upgrading in line with the aspirations of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). These efforts are aimed at enabling more Malaysian companies, especially SMEs, to grow alongside multinational corporations and participate more meaningfully in the country’s industrial development.

Refer this link for contact details and enquiries: https://tinyurl.com/5dujf5sr

SOURCE: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MIDA
Name: Mr. Sukri Abu Bakar
Director
Domestic Investment Division
Tel: +603 2267 3685
Email: sukri@mida.gov.my

--BERNAMA

EMGA ARRANGES US$15 MLN OEEB FINANCING FOR ASIA ALLIANCE BANK

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announced that OeEB has provided a US$15 million financing facility to Asia Alliance Bank (AAB) to support funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs and green projects in Uzbekistan. (US$1=RM3.95)

According to EMGA in a statement, the transaction supports AAB’s efforts to expand sustainable and private sector financing while diversifying its international funding sources.

EMGA Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking, Sajeev Chakkalakal said the financing would support the development of Uzbekistan’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) and green sectors.

Meanwhile, AAB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Umidjon Abduazimov said the facility reflects growing confidence among international development finance institutions in Uzbekistan’s banking sector and economic potential.

On the other hand, OeEB CEO and Executive Board member, Sabine Gaber said the partnership aligns with the institution’s priorities of improving access to finance, supporting women-owned businesses and promoting green investments.

AAB is a private commercial bank in Uzbekistan focused on corporate, SME and retail banking services, while OeEB is Austria’s development bank that supports sustainable economic projects in emerging markets.

EMGA is an emerging markets-focused investment banking advisory firm with offices in New York and London. The firm advises financial institutions, corporates and project sponsors on debt and equity capital raising, with a focus on developing economies, including Uzbekistan.

-- BERNAMA

Kays + Kins Announces Grand Opening of First Flagship Store in Malaysia

(L-R) Mr Adrian Cheah, General Manager of Marketing, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Mr. Lee Jia Wei, Founder of GAIAS Home, Mr. Tan Kien Yow and Ms. Karine Low, Founders of Kays + Kins, Ms. Katie Tan, Kays + Kins’ advisor, Ms. Irene Ong, Head of Retail of Kays + Kins

 
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Kays + Kins, the comfort-driven, design-led lifestyle brand for modern families, has officially announced the opening of its first physical flagship store in Malaysia. Located at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the new boutique marks an exciting milestone for the homegrown brand, previously only available online, offering customers a warm and personal space to experience its thoughtfully designed baby essentials firsthand.

Known for its elevated essentials made for practical baby wear, Kays + Kins has built a loyal following through its signature approach to comfort, quality and timeless design. Designed with South East Asia’s warm and humid climate in mind, the brand’s collections feature relaxed, non-body-hugging silhouettes and soft, breathable fabrics that support ease of movement and all-day comfort for babies and toddlers.

The opening of its first physical store brings the Kays + Kins experience to life beyond the digital space, giving customers the opportunity to feel the softness of its fabrics in person, discover the details behind its hand-painted prints, and shop in an environment that reflects the brand’s calm and intentional aesthetic.

“As we grew our brand in Malaysia, our community has always asked for a space where they can experience our fabrics in person and discover for themselves the details that make each piece special, such as the softness of our bamboo muslins and the hand-painted details of our prints,” says Karine Low, Founder of Kays + Kins.

“So with the opening of this physical store, we wanted to go beyond retail to create more personal experiences of the brand. We wanted a space where parents and gift-givers can take their time, feel the quality of our pieces, and find something that is both practical and beautiful for everyday family life,” she added.

At the heart of Kays + Kins is a comfort-first design philosophy. Each piece is created to feel gentle, breathable and easy to wear, especially in tropical weather. The brand’s fabric choices are selected not just for softness on first touch, but for how they continue to feel over time, remaining soft and comfortable even after repeated washes, making them especially suited for daily use.

This focus on thoughtful design also extends to the brand’s visual identity. Kays + Kins is known for its limited, hand-painted prints that are intentionally designed to feel timeless and distinctive, rather than mass-produced. Together with its understated colour palette and refined product styling, the brand offers a lifestyle sensibility that resonates with modern parents looking for baby essentials that are as beautiful as they are functional.

Beyond everyday wear, gifting plays a key part of the Kays + Kins brand experience. The flagship store is designed to support meaningful and even last-minute gifting moments, with a curated range of newborn gift sets, Bamboo Muslin Swaddles, signature two-way zipper Growsuits and Sleepsuits, customisable wooden keepsake boxes with personalised engraving services, and the exclusive Heritage Collection available only in-store. The ideal go-to place for baby showers, full-moon celebrations or simply welcoming a newborn, the store offers customers a thoughtful and convenient destination for gifts that feel personal and memorable.

The boutique itself features a minimalist, earthy-luxe interior inspired by nature, creating a calm and inviting environment for families and gift-givers alike.

While comfort, design and experience remain central to the brand, Kays + Kins also maintains a strong commitment to quality and responsible production. Its collections include GOTS-certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX certified garments, providing parents with added assurance that every piece meets recognised standards for safety and care.

To celebrate its opening, Kays + Kins is offering 20% off the purchase of three items as part of its Grand Opening promotion. Running till 30 April 2026, the promotion is applicable to all products except Bundle Deals.

For further information about Kays + Kins and its product offerings, please visit kaysandkins.com.

About Kays + Kins
At Kays + Kins, comfort always comes first. We design everyday babywear to feel as good as it looks — gentle on delicate skin, breathable, and made to support real parenting moments.

Functionality is thoughtfully built into every detail, from easy-to-wear silhouettes to durable fabrics that move with your baby. Beyond clothing, we extend this same care to gifting — creating beautiful newborn gifts that are meaningful, practical, and made for everyday comfort.

Each season features unique, limited-edition prints, hand-illustrated and released in small quantities, making every piece quietly special and distinctive.

Made with GOTS-certified organic fabrics, Kays + Kins pieces prioritise softness, safety, and sustainability — offering babies comfort, beauty, and care from the very beginning.

Issued on behalf of Kays + Kins by GO Communications Sdn Bhd.

SOURCE: Kays + Kins Malaysia

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tel: +603-2711 9566
Email: hello@kaysandkins.com

GO Communications Sdn Bhd
Name: Amanda Yee
Senior Brand Executive
Tel: +6016 319 2629
Email: amandayee@gocomm.com.my

Name: Choulyin Tan
Chief Operating Officer
Tel: +6016 856 7286
Eamil: choulyin@gocomm.com.my

--BERNAMA

PCG Demonstrates Resilience in 1Q2026 with Strong Plant Utilisation and Improved Earnings

• Plant Utilisation of 97%
• Revenue of RM7.0 billion
• EBITDA of RM1.2 billion

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG or the Group) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of financial year 2026 (1Q 2026), delivering strong plant utilisation rate of 97% and improved earnings against a backdrop of heightened market volatility. The quarter saw escalation of the West Asia conflict which tightened supply, pushing energy and product prices higher.

Key highlights 1Q 2026 vs 4Q 2025

1Q 2026 4Q 2025
Plant Utilisation (%) 97 96
Revenue (RM million) 7,015 6,600
EBITDA (RM million) 1,175 115
EBITDA margin (%) 16.7 1.7
PAT/(LAT) (RM million) 427 (730)
PATANCI (RM million) 401 (754)
PATANCI: Profit After Tax and Non-Controlling Interest
Revenue rose 6% quarter‑on‑quarter to RM7.0 billion, supported by higher average prices for commodity products as well as improved sales performance in the Specialty Chemicals portfolio.
Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) increased to RM1.2 billion, driven by stronger average product spreads and lower operating costs. EBITDA was further supported by higher contribution from the Specialty Chemicals portfolio, reflecting improved sales volumes and the sale of emission rights by Perstorp.
Profit After Tax (PAT) increased to RM427 million, compared with a Loss After Tax (LAT) of RM730 million in 4Q 2025, mainly due to improved operating performance, lower unrealised foreign exchange losses and gain on disposal of investments.

Portfolio Performance

Commodities

During the quarter, the Fertilisers & Methanol (F&M) segment delivered strong operational performance at plant utilisation rate of 103%. Average product prices rose by approximately 18% for urea and 13% for methanol, supported by tight global supply and strong seasonal demand. Segment revenue increased to RM2.6 billion, while EBITDA rose 49% to RM1.1 billion, driven by improved product spreads.

The Group’s Olefins & Derivatives (O&D) segment recorded a plant utilisation rate of 87%, mainly due to planned maintenance activities at the MTBE plant. Segment revenue increased 5% quarter‑on‑quarter to RM2.9 billion, supported by higher average product prices and improved sales volumes. Loss Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (LBITDA) significantly improved to RM91 million from RM600 million in 4Q 2025, driven mainly by higher average product spreads and lower plant operating costs.

Specialty Chemicals

The portfolio recorded higher sales volume, particularly in Intermediates, supported by a rebound in demand following customer restocking activities. Quarter‑on‑quarter revenue increased 17% to RM1.4 billion, driven mainly by improved sales volumes. EBITDA improved to RM198 million, reflecting higher revenue, contributions from the sale of emission rights and value realised from ongoing cost optimisation initiatives.

Mazuin Ismail, PCG Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer said:

“The West Asia conflict reshaped our operating landscape with remarkable speed, creating a more volatile and complex environment. It also underscored the vulnerability of the industry supply chains, given the region’s strategic importance in global feedstock and chemicals supply.

“Our integrated model secures a reliable, domestically sourced feedstock for our gas-based operations in Malaysia through an extensive pipeline network, helping to mitigate the impact of disruptions in global supply.

“The improvement in EBITDA reflects the underlying strength and resilience of our business model, together with our sustained emphasis on operational and commercial excellence, supported by disciplined cost management.

“We continue to undertake portfolio review and rationalisation exercise that ensures our investments, value chain and product offerings are robust and in line with evolving market requirements. During the quarter the Group has divested investments in a subsidiary and an associate resulting in total gain on disposals of RM63 million.

“Our commitment to safe and reliable operations remains unwavering, particularly as we undertake scheduled turnaround activities at several O&D plants in Kertih and the fertiliser plant in Bintulu in the second quarter."

Outlook

The operating environment is expected to remain volatile, shaped by ongoing geopolitical developments, supply chain disruptions and softer downstream demand.

In the O&D segment, prices are expected to moderate on affordability constraints affecting demand from downstream manufacturers. Fertilisers will continue to be supported by global food security priorities and export restrictions in key producing regions, while methanol supply is set to tighten on scheduled regional plant turnarounds. In the Specialties segment, the Group remains cautious given the subdued construction and automotive end markets, while demand for consumer goods is showing modest growth.

Against this backdrop, PCG remains focused on operational and commercial excellence as well as strict financial discipline to sustain resilience and competitiveness through the cycle.

About PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad

PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) is Malaysia's leading integrated chemicals producer and one of the largest in Southeast Asia by capacity. The Group operates a network of world-class production sites across Malaysia, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America with a total combined production capacity 16.8 million metric tons per annum (mtpa).

PCG is involved primarily in manufacturing, marketing and selling a diversified range of chemical products, including olefins, polymers, fertilisers, methanol, other basic chemicals, derivative products and specialty chemicals.

Listed on Bursa Malaysia and backed by more than four decades of experience in the chemicals industry, PCG is established as part of the PETRONAS Group to maximise value from Malaysia’s natural gas resources.

PCG is committed to ensuring that its business practices are in line with globally recognised Economic, Environment, Social & Governance (EESG) standards, as reflected in its long-standing inclusion in the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index.

Further details on PCG can be found at www.petronas.com/pcg

For photos, please click here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XqJ0o_ddplDTsbwKhTRugehub56RQe-t?usp=sharing

SOURCE: PETRONAS Chemicals Group Bhd (PCG)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Gary Khoo Tse-Yau
Corporate Communications Department
PETRONAS CHEMICALS GROUP BERHAD (PCG)
Tel : (6) 012 932 9280
Email : khoo.tseyau@petronas.com

--BERNAMA

AUDIENCERATE APPOINTS RICCARDO FABBRI AS CTO

Riccardo Fabbri, Chief Technology Officer of Audiencerate Ltd. Co-founder and former managing partner of Nohup, recognized by the Financial Times among Europe's leading firms in the sector (2021 and 2022) and acquired by the Havas Group in August 2021. Leads the AI-driven phase of Audiencerate's independent Customer Match infrastructure.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Audiencerate Ltd, a data activation specialist, has appointed Riccardo Fabbri as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven expansion initiatives.

The appointment marks a dual expansion phase for the Audiencerate–Postel–Microsoft platform serving Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the data platform integrated with Google DV360 for agencies and data providers.

Audiencerate President, Gianluca Leotta said Fabbri brings extensive experience in digital transformation, cloud-native development and media technology.

According to the company in a statement, Fabbri will oversee the development of AI infrastructure integrating first-party and third-party data for its platform developed with Postel and Microsoft for Italian SMEs, alongside Google DV360-integrated solutions for global media agencies.

Co-founder of digital consultancy Nohup in 2004, Fabbri has more than two decades of experience in software development and cloud architectures. He later led the company through its acquisition by Havas Group in 2021.

Under Fabbri’s leadership, Audiencerate plans to accelerate AI and machine learning capabilities for predictive modelling and automated budget and bid management.

The company said its agency-focused platform will also expand the use of advertisers’ first-party data combined with third-party signals to support privacy-compliant audience modelling.

-- BERNAMA

MARQUEE BRANDS TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY STAKE IN ROBERTO CAVALLI

 

Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Marquee Brands, the premier global brand management company, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Roberto Cavalli through a strategic partnership with Dubai-based DAMAC Group.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, after which DAMAC Group will remain a significant shareholder, according to Marquee Brands in a statement.

The acquisition further strengthens Marquee Brands’ position in the luxury and lifestyle sectors, bringing total portfolio-wide retail sales to approximately US$5 billion. (US$1=RM3.96)

“Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury’s defining Italian houses, with a bold creative identity and enduring brand ethos. In partnership with DAMAC, a leader in luxury real estate, we will continue to elevate the Roberto Cavalli experience worldwide,” said Marquee Brands Chief Executive Officer, Heath Golden.

Owned by funds managed by global investment firm Neuberger, Marquee Brands continues to expand its platform through the acquisition of heritage brands, with Roberto Cavalli becoming the 22nd brand in its portfolio.

The partnership is expected to expand Roberto Cavalli’s global reach across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America through new categories, services and experiential offerings.

DAMAC will continue to expand Roberto Cavalli-branded residences and hospitality projects across key global markets, reinforcing the luxury brand’s international presence.

As part of the transaction, Marquee Brands appointed Milan-based The Level Group as its core operating partner to oversee the development, manufacturing and distribution of the label’s women’s and men’s collections, as well as retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS TAIWAN’S UNION EXCELLENT CREDIT RATINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Taiwan’s Union Insurance Company Limited (Union).

The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting Union’s very strong balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

AM Best said Union’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which was at the strongest level at the end of 2025.

Union’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is expected to remain at the strongest level over the intermediate term, supported by partial retention of positive operating earnings, while its regulatory solvency capital to maintain a healthy capital buffer above minimum requirements.

Other supporting factors include a comprehensive reinsurance programme, favourable financial flexibility, and a consistent investment strategy, according to AM Best in a statement.

A medium-sized insurer in Taiwan’s non-life market, Union reported stable operating results in 2025, with a return on adjusted capital and surplus of 11.8 per cent, based on AM Best’s calculations.

The company’s top-line performance has remained stable, despite a slightly lower-than-average premium growth rate in its voluntary motor segment. Union has refined its underwriting strategy to improve profitability while expanding its accident and health, as well as commercial liability, businesses.

AM Best said underwriting profitability improved consistently, with a record low net combined ratio of 91.1 per cent in 2025, while net investment yield stood at 3.0 per cent, including capital gains and losses.

Union’s underwriting portfolio remains moderately diversified but slightly skewed toward motor insurance, with other key business lines including commercial fire, liability, and accident and health insurance.

-- BERNAMA

INTERSYSTEMS AI-NATIVE EHR EARNS EU MEDICAL DEVICE REGULATION CERTIFICATION

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- InterSystems announced that its electronic health record (EHR) solutions have received Class IIa Medical Devices certification under the European Union (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745.

The company said the approval marks what it believes is the first fully unified artificial intelligence (AI)-native EHR to achieve MDR Class IIa certification in the EU.

The certification covers InterSystems IntelliCare and InterSystems TrakCare, validating that the platforms meet stringent EU safety, quality and regulatory standards for medical technologies.

In a statement, the creative data technology provider said the milestone strengthens healthcare organisations’ ability to responsibly scale AI capabilities while maintaining confidence among clinicians, providers and regulators.

“Healthcare organisations are rightfully demanding that AI be more than just an experimental add-on. By securing the EU’s first MDR certification for an AI-native EHR, we are establishing a standard that AI should be at the core of all healthcare applications,” said InterSystems President, Don Woodlock.

Built on TrakCare’s interoperability foundation, IntelliCare integrates AI directly into the platform’s data architecture rather than relying on standalone third-party applications.

The company said the system is designed to streamline governance, reduce clinician workloads and support safer clinical decision-making through embedded "human-in-the-loop" safeguards.

InterSystems IntelliCare includes features such as AI-generated patient summaries, clinical documentation support, conversational interfaces, and intelligent workflows.

The platform also has features such as ambient clinical orchestration capabilities that automatically capture, structure and save clinical data in real time while suggesting clinical documentation and orders for clinician approval.

The company said IntelliCare is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing healthcare information technology systems, leveraging InterSystems’ longstanding expertise in interoperability, integration and healthcare data management.

-- BERNAMA