Malaysia’s Plastics Industry Takes Charge: Driving Local Recycling and Voluntary EPR from the Ground Up

Industry representatives from ACCCIM, FMM, MAREA, MPMA and MPRA at a joint meeting to finalise their Budget 2027 submission to the Ministry of Finance, proposing measures to strengthen Malaysia's recycling ecosystem ahead of mandatory EPR by 2030

PETALING JAYA, Selangor, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s plastics industry is not waiting for 2030. Driven by accelerating environmental concerns, while the transition to a circular economy is already well underway, our efforts must be scaled up. As the country prepares for mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste in Malaysia (2025-2035), leading industry players are already taking concrete steps on the ground. From collecting recyclables, educating communities, to building the foundations of a local circular economy, these efforts help to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on imported petrochemical feedstock and crude oil-derived raw materials from the Middle East, whilst developing domestic circular production and consumption practices.

Five industry associations: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM), Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA), Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and Malaysian Plastics Recyclers Association (MPRA), have come together to drive this agenda collectively, combining on-the-ground action with coordinated industry advocacy.

Industry Action on the Ground
MAREA, Malaysia’s first voluntary industry-led EPR initiative, was established in 2021 by ten major FMCG companies committed to improving domestic collection and recycling rates for packaging waste. Since then, MAREA has tested practical approaches to EPR implementation by supporting collection, sorting and recycling partners across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, involving multiple actors across the recycling value chain. Through these projects, MAREA has generated practical insights into local collection systems while supporting community-based communication, education and public awareness initiatives to encourage waste separation and recycling. These on-the-ground experiences contribute to the Government’s data-informed development of Malaysia’s EPR Policy Framework and support the transition from voluntary to mandatory EPR.

Since October 2020, Nestlé Malaysia has been running Project SAVE (Segregate, Avoid, Value, Educate), its flagship voluntary EPR programme and Malaysia’s largest corporate-led household recycling collection initiative, implemented in partnership with seven local municipal councils across nine cities in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kedah. The programme is reaching over 270,000 households on a weekly and bi-weekly basis and has collected approximately 49,000 tonnes of dry mixed recyclables and recoverables to date (of which 32,000 tonnes are plastics). Through these efforts, Project SAVE is helping to strengthen recycling habits among communities through comprehensive CEPA (Communication, Education & Public Awareness) and support Malaysia’s transition towards a more circular economy.

On the education front, MPMA runs The Green Truck, a mobile recycling education programme that visits schools across Malaysia to bring the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to life for students since 2022. To date, The Green Truck has reached more than 40,000 primary and secondary students nationwide, helping to build recycling awareness and habits from a young age.

MPRA has launched the Education Next Generation Programme, aiming to reach 24 primary schools across Peninsular Malaysia by 2027. Since 2024, MPRA and its members have collectively supported over 1,000 education, community engagement and recycling campaign programmes nationwide. Beyond schools, MPRA works with residential communities, commercial premises and public events to promote recycling through education, public awareness and collection campaigns across Penang and the Klang Valley. MPRA also serves as an industry connector, linking consumers, collectors and plastic recyclers to strengthen collection networks, improve plastic recovery and accelerate Malaysia's transition towards a circular economy.

A Shared Opportunity
Waste management and recycling is a shared responsibility between governments, businesses and individuals. These efforts gained fresh momentum following a luncheon dialogue on 11 May 2026, organised by ACCCIM and attended by YB Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance, and YB Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. The dialogue brought together recyclers, manufacturers and major plastic product users to explore how local recyclers could be better matched with large-scale plastic consumers to close the circular loop domestically. The conversation was particularly timely given the ongoing geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East that have affected global petrochemical feedstock supply. The government expressed strong support for this direction.

Building on this momentum, the five associations convened a series of industry roundtables to take stock of where the recycling value chain stands today, identify areas for improvement and map out a way forward together. Discussions covered the practical realities facing recyclers and manufacturers on the ground, from tax considerations under the Sales and Service Tax (SST) framework to gaps in collection infrastructure and opportunities to enhance existing government incentives.

Supporting the Voluntary EPR Phase
As part of this coordinated effort, the five associations have jointly submitted a policy position paper to the Ministry of Finance ahead of Budget 2027, titled “Budget 2027: Accelerating Plastics Circularity and EPR Adoption in Malaysia.” The submission outlines how targeted fiscal measures could help complement industry’s voluntary action and strengthen Malaysia’s recycling ecosystem ahead of mandatory EPR in 2030. Key proposals include:

• Expanding the Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA) with a dedicated Circular Economy and EPR category to support investment in collection, sorting and material recovery infrastructure;
• Targeted SST relief for plastic traders, stockists, collectors, sorters and EPR compliance fees, to ease structural cost pressures across the recycling value chain;
• Extending diesel subsidy (SKDS) eligibility to recycling collection and logistics fleets, including RORO (Roll-On Roll-Off) trucks widely used for recyclables collection, on par with existing landfill logistics support;
• Tax deductions to support circular economy certifications and consumer education campaigns on waste separation at source; and
• An early adopter incentive to reward companies that begin EPR implementation during the voluntary phase from 2026 to 2029, encouraging early action across the supply chain.

The voluntary EPR stage commencing in 2026 is a valuable window for industry to prepare. Getting collection infrastructure in place, raising consumer awareness and aligning the supply chain now will ensure Malaysia is well-positioned when mandatory EPR takes effect in 2030. The five associations remain committed to working closely with the government to make this transition a success, and look forward to continued engagement with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies as the proposals are considered.

About the Signatory Associations
• ACCCIM – Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia is the largest Chinese business organisation in Malaysia, championing the interests of the business community.
• FMM – Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing is the premier organisation representing the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services sectors in Malaysia.
• MAREA – Malaysian Recycling Alliance is Malaysia’s first voluntary industry-led EPR initiative, established in 2021 by ten major FMCG companies committed to driving plastic packaging recycling and circular economy in Malaysia.
• MPMA – Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, established in 1967, is the official voice of Malaysia’s plastics industry, representing 800 members accounting for 60% of the nation’s plastics manufacturers and 80% of plastics production.
• MPRA – Malaysian Plastics Recyclers Association represents Malaysia’s plastics recycling industry, advocating for a stronger domestic recycling sector and circular economy.

SOURCE: Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Crystal Cheah
Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA)
Tel: 03-7876 3027
Email: crystal@mpma.org.my

--BERNAMA

Cambodia's Growing Confidence in Malaysia Healthcare Signals a New Chapter for Medical Tourism

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- When a family makes the decision to seek medical treatment abroad, it is rarely based on cost alone. It is a decision shaped by trust, access to specialised care, confidence in medical expertise and the assurance that their loved ones will receive the best possible treatment. For decades, this trust has anchored Malaysia’s reputation as a the preferred healthcare destination. While our clinical excellence draws patients from across the world including Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, our deepest relationships have naturally flourished within the Asia-Pacific region. Today, within this primary footprint, another regional market is rapidly emerging as an important contributor to the country's healthcare travel industry. Cambodia's growing confidence in Malaysia Healthcare reflects not only the country's increasing demand for quality medical treatment abroad, but also Malaysia's strengthening position as a regional leader in healthcare travel.

In 2025, nearly 12,000 Cambodian patients travelled to Malaysia for medical treatment, resulting in RM30 million in healthcare travel revenue. While Cambodia remains an emerging market compared to Malaysia's more established healthcare travel sources, its steady growth demonstrates increasing awareness and trust among Cambodian patients who are actively seeking quality healthcare beyond their borders.

Cambodia's healthcare landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade. As healthcare awareness grows and more patients seek specialised treatments that may not be readily available domestically, demand for cross-border healthcare continues to increase. Today, patients are making more informed decisions by comparing treatment options, specialist expertise and healthcare outcomes before choosing where to receive care.

This changing healthcare landscape presents a significant opportunity for Malaysia. Supported by a network of 91 member hospitals, Malaysia Healthcare offers internationally accredited medical institutions, multidisciplinary Centres of Excellence and highly experienced specialists across a broad spectrum of healthcare services. From oncology and cancer care, cardiology and orthopaedics to fertility and reproductive medicine, gastroenterology, health screening and preventive care, Malaysia continues to meet the evolving needs of international patients through clinical excellence, advanced medical technologies and patient-centred care.

Beyond clinical excellence, Malaysia has also become known for something equally important: the experience of care itself. Guided by the "Healing Meets Hospitality" proposition, Malaysia's healthcare ecosystem embraces values of empathy, compassion and attentiveness that are deeply rooted in the country's culture. Much like the nurturing qualities often associated with a mother's care, patients are supported not only through advanced medical treatment, but also through warmth, reassurance and genuine human connection throughout their healing journey.

This growing trust is one of the reasons Cambodia has become an increasingly important market for Malaysia Healthcare. Recognising the country's long-term potential, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) organised the inaugural Malaysia Healthcare Expo (MHX) Phnom Penh, making Cambodia the first market outside Indonesia to host the consumer-focused healthcare expo. More than an exhibition, MHX Phnom Penh brought Malaysian specialists and healthcare providers directly to Cambodian communities, allowing patients to better understand treatment options, seek professional advice and build confidence before travelling to Malaysia for care.

The decision to invest in Cambodia reflects a broader strategy to strengthen Malaysia's presence in emerging healthcare travel markets across the region. As awareness of Malaysia's healthcare capabilities continues to grow, Cambodia is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the industry's long-term growth. The impact extends far beyond hospitals. Every international patient who chooses Malaysia contributes to a wider economic ecosystem encompassing airlines, hotels, transportation providers, retail businesses and tourism-related services. Healthcare travel has therefore become a strategic economic contributor, creating value across multiple sectors while reinforcing Malaysia's international reputation for healthcare excellence.

This momentum aligns with the aspirations of Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT2026), which continues to strengthen Malaysia's position as a preferred healthcare destination under the "Healing Meets Hospitality" proposition. Through strategic market engagement and strong collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem, Malaysia is well positioned to attract more international patients while delivering meaningful economic impact to the nation.

Cambodia's growing confidence in Malaysia Healthcare is more than a success story for one market. It reflects the strength of Malaysia's healthcare ecosystem and demonstrates that the country's reputation for quality, trusted and patient-centred care continues to resonate across Southeast Asia. As more regional patients choose Malaysia for their healthcare journey, the country's medical tourism industry is not only growing, but also contributing meaningfully to Malaysia's economy, international standing and long-term healthcare ambitions.

SOURCE: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)

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

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

--BERNAMA

GenOptima Launches Results-as-a-Service GEO Infrastructure to Help Enterprises Ensure Outcome in AI Search

SHANGHAI, July 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GenOptima, an enterprise Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) infrastructure provider, announced the launch of its Results-as-a-Service (RaaS)-based GEO solution, designed to help organizations ensure outcome through measurable AI search visibility management as AI-powered search platforms continue to reshape how brands are discovered, interpreted, and recommended.

As enterprises increasingly evaluate GEO vendors based on their ability to deliver measurable AI visibility, GenOptima introduces a closed-loop GEO framework integrating brand intelligence analysis, optimization strategy, AI model training, knowledge management, and continuous visibility monitoring. The solution enables organizations to manage AI visibility across multiple AI search environments through a unified operational system.

Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Shanghai, GenOptima delivers One-stop GEO Solutions through a five-stage RaaS workflow: Brand Info Audit, Content Preference Analysis, Exclusive Strategy, AI Model Training, and Full-Cycle Monitoring. The framework evaluates brand perception across AI platforms, analyzes AI search intent and citation preferences, develops customized GEO strategies, enhances structured AI knowledge, and tracks the Brand AI Visibility Index to support continuous optimization.

The platform is powered by the GEO Expert Model Matrix, featuring 143 benchmarkable capabilities designed to help enterprises ensure outcome through scalable and measurable AI visibility optimization. The framework includes 48 Industry Capabilities, 45 LLM Adaptation Capabilities, 30 Functional Capabilities, 20 Multimodal Capabilities, and 14 LLM Deep Adaptation Capabilities supporting both China and global AI ecosystems through a dual-market, dual-stack architecture. These capabilities enable organizations to adapt to evolving AI models while delivering consistent, measurable GEO outcomes.

To strengthen enterprise GEO operations, GenOptima has developed a Strategic Agent Architecture comprising Gen-Centric Sentinel, Gen-Carto Nexus, Gen-Genesis Forge, and Gen-Cosmos CogniCore, supporting AI visibility monitoring, strategy development, multimodal content creation, knowledge graph management, and compliance.

GenOptima’s RaaS infrastructure supports optimization across 20+ global AI platforms through a Universal Cross-Model Consensus Protocol. Its compliance framework includes data protection, cross-border safeguards, ethical optimization, compliance controls, and transparent reporting with execution tracking and KPI measurement.

By combining enterprise GEO infrastructure, expert capabilities, and continuous optimization, GenOptima helps organizations build measurable, scalable, and outcome-oriented AI visibility strategies for the evolving AI search ecosystem.

Media Contact:
Company Name: GenOptima
Contact Person: Zach Yang
Email: zach.yang@gen-optima.com
Country: China
State: Shanghai
Website: https://www.gen-optima.com/
Singapore Office: 91 Bencoolen Street, #12-03 Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19295c7f-473a-4fd4-862e-d358d9af2a68 

SOURCE: GenOptima

--BERNAMA

RealPage Acquires Cherre, Creating a Trusted AI-Powered Intelligence Platform Across the Full Real Estate Capital Stack

RealPage now with Cherre.

 

Combination connects property-level operations with institutional portfolio intelligence, giving owners and operators a governed, trusted foundation for better decisions and stronger performance.

RICHARDSON, Texas & NEW YORK, July 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- RealPage, Inc., a leading provider of AI-enabled software and data analytics to the real estate industry, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Cherre, a real estate data intelligence company trusted by institutional owners, investment managers, and operators worldwide.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260714560587/en/ 
 

"AI can transform real estate only if it understands real estate," said Dirk Wakeham, President and Chief Executive Officer of RealPage. "Cherre has built the kind of trusted, governed intelligence that institutional owners and asset managers depend on. Bringing that expertise into RealPage means every customer, whether they manage one property or a global portfolio, gets access to a stronger, more trustworthy foundation for their decisions.”

"We've always believed real estate organizations can't make confident decisions on data alone. They need a trusted, connected meaning behind it," said L.D. Salmanson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cherre. "The work we've done at Cherre was building toward the moment the industry needed to move from reporting to reasoning. Joining RealPage lets us bring that future to the real asset ecosystem faster, without changing how we work with the clients who trust us today."

Building the Foundation for Real Estate AI

The real estate industry manages trillions of dollars in assets and supports decisions with consequences that extend far beyond a balance sheet: where capital flows, where communities grow, and how the built environment serves the people who depend on it. The industry is turning to AI to make those decisions faster and with greater confidence. But AI is only as reliable as the data beneath it.

Today, that data rarely agrees with itself. A single property can appear as one address in a leasing system, a different unit number in an operations platform, and a separate parcel ID in a tax record, with most platforms treating those as three unrelated assets. As a result, even a basic question, such as why the net operating income (NOI) changed at a given asset, cannot be answered with confidence. The data may all be there, but until something resolves those identities and governs what the data means, no AI can reason across it.

This is the gap now stalling AI across the industry. Models cannot reason across data that does not agree on what it describes. The industry's AI ambition is sound, but the data infrastructure beneath it was built to report on the past, not to support the decisions that come next.

Closing that gap requires a foundational layer that resolves data into consistent identities, governs what it means, and connects it into a knowledge graph that AI can reason across: why performance moved, what is at risk, and where to focus next.

Why RealPage + Cherre is the Answer

For more than a decade, Cherre has been building exactly that layer, at a scale few can match. Its platform resolves more than four billion entities and four trillion dollars in real assets globally into a trusted foundation, sourced and governed in a secure, compliant environment that institutional owners depend on.

RealPage brings deep operational scale across the property lifecycle, serving more than 42,000 customers and 24 million housing units worldwide. For the operator running a single property, that same foundation means more reliable revenue signals, faster lease-up insight, and data that stays consistent across every system already in use. It is the same governed foundation that institutional portfolio-level reasoning is built on. Together, the two companies connect what happens at the property with what matters at the portfolio and fund level, unifying data, trust, and infrastructure across the entire real estate capital stack, spanning all asset classes.

What This Means for Customers

With Cherre, RealPage customers will gain access to a layer of intelligence built specifically to bridge property-level data with portfolio- and fund-level context, connecting operations to the decisions that depend on them.

With RealPage, Cherre customers will gain the scale, resources, and global delivery capacity of one of the industry's largest technology providers, including expanded engineering and deployment capabilities to take customers from data readiness to AI in production, while continuing to work with the same dedicated team and consultative approach they rely on today.

A Commitment to Openness and Customer Control

Cherre's platform has always worked across any property management system and any data source a customer uses, and that will not change. Cherre will remain an open hub where any application or data vendor can connect under clear permissions, security controls and governance standards. RealPage and Cherre are committed to openness and to governance in equal measure, giving customers the freedom to access and use their data alongside the security and protections they depend on. Customers keep every control and protection they have today, plus new enterprise-grade tools for even finer control tomorrow.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to RealPage. For Cherre, Software Equity Group (SEG) served as financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel.

About RealPage, Inc.

RealPage exists to improve the business of living. For more than 25 years, RealPage has powered the neighborhoods people call home, for the capital that enables them, the operators who run them, and the residents who live in them. RealPage is advancing the AI-native platform for real estate operations and institutional intelligence, bringing together agentic AI, advanced analytics, and governed data into one platform. Backed by Thoma Bravo and with more than 8,500 employees worldwide, RealPage solutions help manage more than 24 million units and the institutional portfolios behind them around the globe. For more information, visit realpage.com.

About Cherre

Cherre is the leading real estate data intelligence platform for institutional investors, commercial operators, and real asset owners. Cherre connects, resolves, and governs fragmented data to create a trusted foundation for AI, analytics, and decision-making. Organizations use Cherre to unify information across systems, improve data confidence, and accelerate business outcomes. Cherre powers the data infrastructure behind modern real estate operations. For more information, visit cherre.com.

About RealPage & Cherre

Together, RealPage and Cherre are building the trusted AI infrastructure real estate has always required: governed, domain-specific, and purpose-built to know what every piece of data means, resolve it consistently across every system that touches it, and make it available to AI that can reason on it, so the people making consequential decisions can trust what it tells them. Every recommendation is traceable, every definition is governed, and every data asset stays in the customer’s control. This is the foundation for the next era of real estate AI.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260714560587/en/

Contact

Patrick.Mendoza@realpage.com

Source : RealPage, Inc.

--BERNAMA

GOVERNMENT, BANKING AND INDUSTRY UNITE TO ADVANCE MELAKA’S SEMICONDUCTOR FUTURE

First row (standing), from left to right:
Dato' Khairul Fahmy Ab Jabar, Director Government, Client Coverage, Maybank Investment Banking Berhad, En. Nor Azman Jaafar, Head Communication, Infineon Melaka, YBhg. Datuk Ginie Lim, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Melaka, Mr. Derrick Tanggapan, Director of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Melaka, YBhg. Datuk Mohd Yusof Bin Abu Bakar, Chief Executive Officer, Melaka Corporation (MCORP), En. Adzahar Md Sharipin, Government Relations, Texas Instruments, Puan Ranita binti Abdullah, Managing Director, New Economy and Group Global Banking Sustainability, Maybank, Mr. Tay Kheng Chiong, Group MD/CEO of Dominant Opto Technologies Sdn Bhd and D&O Green Technologies Bhd.
Second row (seated), from left to right:
YB Datuk Khaidhirah Binti Datuk Seri Abu Zahar, Deputy EXCO of Investment, Industry and TVET Development, Melaka State Government, YB Datuk Wira Salhah Binti Salleh, Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Melaka, YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Bin Yusoh, Chief Minister of Melaka, Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, President, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA)
Mr. Eng Seng Meng, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Infineon Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Industry leaders, policymakers and ecosystem partners gather to discuss Melaka's semiconductor ambitions, strengthen industry collaboration and accelerate sustainable growth within Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem.

Highlights:
● Brought together almost 150 participants comprising industry leaders, policymakers, government agencies, financial institutions and ecosystem partners.
● Reinforced Melaka's commitment to becoming a future-ready semiconductor hub.
● Highlighted the strategic direction of the Melaka Semiconductor Strategic Plan 2026- 2035 in strengthening the state's semiconductor ecosystem and long-term competitiveness.

MELAKA, July 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), in collaboration with Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Invest Melaka Berhad, Infineon Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and Maybank, jointly hosted the MSIA Dialogue & Networking Session with the Chief Minister of Melaka on 16 July 2026 at Hatten Hotel, Melaka.

Anchored on the theme "Transforming Melaka into a Future-Ready Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing Hub: Driving Talent, Sustainability and Industrial Excellence", the programme facilitated constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors to discuss the state’s semiconductor ecosystem, industry competitiveness and opportunities arising from the continued growth of the industry. With a semiconductor heritage spanning more than five decades, Melaka continues to build on its established industrial foundation.

Supporting this direction, the ongoing Melaka Semiconductor Strategic Plan 2026–2035 complements Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), with discussions focused on strengthening industry capabilities, enhancing supply chain resilience and supporting high-value investments to position Melaka as one of Malaysia's leading semiconductor and advanced manufacturing hubs.

The programme also featured remarks by YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Bin Yusoh, Chief Minister of Melaka, who shared his vision for Melaka’s industrial transformation, highlighting the state’s semiconductor journey and the importance of strengthening investment, industry and TVET development to support the next phase of growth.

Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, stated, “Melaka has come a long way in building its semiconductor industry; today, it has the industrial base, skilled workforce and supplier network needed to compete for the next generation of high-value investments. The electrical and electronics (E&E) industry continues to be a key driver of Malaysia’s investment landscape, attracting RM6.0 billion in approved investments in the first quarter of 2026, the highest among all manufacturing industries. With its established ecosystem and strategic location, Melaka is well placed to capture a greater share of these opportunities. The next phase of growth requires close collaboration between government, industry and the financial sector to deepen supply chains, accelerate technology adoption and help Malaysian companies move up the value chain.

At MIDA, we are committed to facilitating quality investments that build industrial capabilities, drive innovation, and create quality jobs for Malaysians. The New Incentive Framework (NIF) supports these efforts by encouraging investments to develop local talent, strengthen Malaysian businesses and deliver long-term value to the people of Melaka.”

Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Melaka Berhad, said “Our continuous engagement with industry players gives us valuable insights into how investment decisions are evolving and what companies require to grow successfully. Melaka’s semiconductor strength is built on decades of industrial presence and investor confidence, and our focus is to build on this foundation by connecting emerging opportunities with the right capabilities and partnerships. Through this approach, we aim to strengthen Melaka’s position as a preferred location for the next phase of semiconductor growth.”

Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), commented, “Malaysia's future competitiveness will not be determined by manufacturing capacity alone, but by the strength of our semiconductor ecosystem. As we move from 'Made in Malaysia' to 'Made by Malaysia', every state has a role to play. Melaka has already built a strong foundation and is well positioned to become a key driver of advanced technologies, talent development and innovation that will strengthen Malaysia's global semiconductor leadership."

Ranita Abdullah, Managing Director, New Economy & Group Global Banking Sustainability, Maybank, said, "Maybank is committed to supporting Melaka's aspirations to attract quality domestic and foreign investments into advanced and high-tech industries, while strengthening the ecosystem of multinational corporations and local SMEs as supply chains evolve and businesses enhance operational resilience. We are equally keen to support the state's sustainability aspirations and Smart City digital transformation agenda, in line with Maybank's ROAR30 strategy to mobilise RM300 billion in sustainable finance and RM100 billion for the New Economy across ASEAN."

The MSIA dialogue featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Datuk Ginie Lim, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Melaka Berhad, which integrated crucial perspectives from the industry, government, and financial sectors. Mr. Tay Kheng Chiong, Group Managing Director & CEO of Dominant Opto Technologies Sdn. Bhd., shared insights on the growth journey of Malaysian semiconductor SMEs, emphasising the need to strengthen capabilities and meet global customer expectations. Highlighting ecosystem development, Mr. Derrick Tanggapan, Director of MIDA Melaka, outlined how local SMEs can capture higher-value opportunities through strategic investments and partnerships. To enable this growth, Mr. Zulfadhli Bin Marjo, Head of Islamic Transaction Banking Solutions & Innovation at Maybank Islamic Berhad, discussed tailored financing and capital solutions aimed at supporting SMEs as they scale operations through technology, automation, and talent development.

The event successfully brought together almost 150 key industry leaders, policymakers, government agencies, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners, reinforcing the state's commitment to becoming a future-ready semiconductor hub.

For further information on the featured companies, including their respective boilerplates and media contacts, please refer to: https://tinyurl.com/y6nvap68

SOURCE: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Mr. Derrick Tanggapan
Designation: Director, MIDA Melaka
Tel: +606-232 2878
Email: derrick@mida.gov.my / melaka@mida.gov.my

--BERNAMA

DENODO PLATFORM 9.5 OFFERS ACTIVE CONTEXT FOR AGENTIC AI, ANALYTICS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Denodo, an artificial intelligence (AI) data layer company, has announced the availability of Denodo Platform 9.5, advancing its role in providing active context for agentic AI, analytics, and self-service data delivery.

Denodo Platform 9.5 makes trusted enterprise context easier to define, operationalise and reuse, strengthening the platform's semantic and contextual intelligence while simplifying how teams build, manage and share trusted data products across the enterprise.

“Denodo Platform 9.5 helps organisations deliver the trusted active context that AI, analytics, and data consumers across the entire enterprise need to act with confidence,” said Denodo chief technology officer, Alberto Pan in a statement.

New features include an expanded enterprise knowledge graph within the Denodo Data Marketplace, metric views, enhanced reasoning capabilities for Denodo Assistant to streamline data-view development, and expanded connectivity across the data and AI ecosystem.

Denodo Platform 9.5 expands its Data Marketplace with a new 360-degree graph and asset extensions, enabling organisations to define an enterprise knowledge graph with a broader set of data ecosystem assets and the relationships that connect them.

The metric views feature enables organisations to define, govern and reuse business metrics such as revenue, profit, order count and customer value more consistently across reports, dashboards and tools.

Denodo Platform 9.5 also advances the VQL Shell towards a more conversational development experience, with Denodo Assistant supporting an interactive workflow that helps teams create accurate data views faster.

These capabilities help organisations bring more enterprise information into governed AI, analytics, and data-sharing workflows while reducing integration friction and improving performance across distributed environments.

-- BERNAMA

UNIVAR SOLUTIONS NAMED AMONG NEWSWEEK'S WORLD'S GREENEST COMPANIES 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Univar Solutions LLC (Univar Solutions), a global solutions provider of speciality ingredients and chemicals, has been named one of the World’s Greenest Companies 2026 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.

The recognition is based on an evaluation of publicly available data and was conducted in collaboration with Plant-A Insights and GIST Impact, highlighting organisations making measurable efforts to reduce their environmental impact and advance sustainability.

“As a company, we believe it is essential to support customers on their sustainability journeys. We built our Sustainable & Natural Product Portfolio to help provide transparency and clarity as we work together to drive sustainability at the product level,” said Univar Solutions Vice President, Commercial Sustainability, Kelly Gilroy in a statement.

Meanwhile, Univar Solutions Senior Director of Global Sustainability & Social Impact, Dr Liam McCarroll said the company views resource efficiency as both a responsibility and an opportunity to reduce waste, use water more effectively and apply circular economy principles across its operations.

“This helps create opportunities to improve how we work, lower costs, reduce risk, and help our customers advance their own sustainability ambitions through better resource management solutions,” added Dr McCarroll.

Through continued investment in technology, process improvement and organisational engagement, Univar Solutions is progressing towards its 2030 climate goals and longer-term net-zero ambition, while continuing to focus on resource efficiency.

Univar Solutions also received recognition in part due to its sustainable and natural product framework that helps customers evaluate sustainability for ingredients and raw materials. It is designed to help enable productive communication on product-level sustainability.

Newsweek's World’s Greenest Companies 2026 ranking evaluates the top 850 organisations across 28 countries. The ranking is based on over 25 sustainability criteria, including greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, waste generation, and strict adherence to European Union sustainability standards.

-- BERNAMA

HEALING MEETS HOSPITALITY COMES TO LIFE THROUGH DR WIRA & SISTER MANJA

Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza, Brand Ambassador of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), pictured with Dr Wira and Sister Manja official plushies, following MHTC's strategic collaboration with Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with MYMT 2026 and VM2026.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) today introduced Dr Wira and Sister Manja, Malaysia Healthcare's healthcare-inspired interpretation of Wira and Manja, the official mascots of Visit Malaysia 2026. Developed in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, the initiative extends the spirit of Visit Malaysia 2026 into Malaysia's medical tourism story, bringing Malaysia Healthcare's brand promise of Healing Meets Hospitality to life while supporting the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT2026).

Originally introduced as the official mascots of Visit Malaysia 2026, Wira and Manja were inspired by the Malayan Sun Bear, one of Malaysia's most treasured native species. Beyond celebrating the country's rich biodiversity, the duo embodies the warmth, resilience, friendliness and welcoming spirit that define the Malaysian experience. These qualities have long shaped how visitors experience Malaysia as a tourism destination. Today, MHTC builds on that same foundation by translating these values into the healthcare journey, where patients are welcomed with world-class clinical expertise, compassionate care and genuine Malaysian hospitality.

Recognising the strong alignment between the values represented by Wira and Manja and the Malaysia Healthcare experience, MHTC has reimagined the beloved tourism mascots as Dr Wira and Sister Manja. Rather than creating new mascots, this healthcare-inspired interpretation extends the story of Visit Malaysia 2026 into medical tourism, illustrating how the same Malaysian hospitality that welcomes visitors also accompanies patients throughout their healthcare journey.

While portrayed as a doctor and a nurse, Dr Wira and Sister Manja do not represent individual professions. Instead, they symbolise the entire Malaysia Healthcare ecosystem, honouring the collective contributions of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, therapists, patient coordinators, caregivers and hospital support teams who work seamlessly together to deliver safe, high-quality and patient-centred care. Together, they embody the values that define Malaysia Healthcare: world-class clinical excellence, compassionate care, multidisciplinary collaboration, innovation and genuine Malaysian hospitality.

Every patient's journey is unique, yet what many remember most extends beyond successful treatment. They remember the reassuring smile before a procedure, the doctor who patiently explained every step of their care, the nurse who offered comfort during recovery, the patient coordinator who continued to check on them after returning home, and the many healthcare professionals whose kindness made them feel at home while receiving treatment in Malaysia.

These moments of empathy, attentiveness and genuine care, demonstrated by healthcare professionals across the country, have become hallmarks of the Malaysia Healthcare experience. They reflect a culture where healing goes beyond medicine, creating an environment where patients feel respected, reassured and cared for throughout every stage of their journey.

"Wira and Manja have become familiar representatives of Malaysia's warmth and hospitality through Visit Malaysia 2026. By reimagining them as Dr Wira and Sister Manja, we are extending that same Malaysian spirit into healthcare, celebrating the people and values that have made Malaysia a preferred healthcare destination. They are not simply characters in medical uniforms, but a reflection of the compassion, professionalism and hospitality that patients experience throughout their healthcare journey,” said Dato’ Suriaghandi Suppiah, CEO of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

With Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza serving as the official Malaysia Healthcare Brand Ambassador, the introduction of Dr Wira and Sister Manja further strengthens Malaysia Healthcare's brand narrative under the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026. While Dato' Sri Siti continues to champion Malaysia's healthcare excellence with her trusted voice, authenticity and influence, Dr Wira and Sister Manja complement that role by bringing the Healing Meets Hospitality promise to life through visual storytelling and meaningful public engagement. Together, they reinforce Malaysia Healthcare's commitment to delivering not only world-class treatment but also a healthcare experience defined by compassion, empathy and genuine Malaysian hospitality.

Dr Wira and Sister Manja will make their public debut at selected Malaysia Healthcare engagements throughout the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026. Members of the public can also meet the mascots at the MH Wellness Fair on 16 July 2026 at Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, where they will have the opportunity to participate in a lucky draw to win the exclusive Dr Wira and Sister Manja plushies as well as MHTC X Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza’s exclusive postcard.

Because in Malaysia, healing begins with hospitality, and hospitality begins with people.

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

--BERNAMA

XIONG’AN NEW AREA JOINS GLOBAL DIGITAL ECONOMY CITIES ALLIANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- The 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference Xiongan Future Digital Intelligence Forum was recently held in Xiong'an New Area, attracting more than 600 guests, including academicians and experts, government representatives, research institutions, university delegates, enterprises and social organisations.

At the forum, Xiong'an New Area officially joined the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance, successfully becoming part of the global digital economy collaborative development partnership network.

This move provides an international exchange platform for the New Area to participate in global digital governance, expand digital cooperation and enhance the international profile of the "Future City", according to a statement.

Two major regional collaborative development initiatives were officially launched at the forum. One aims to establish a Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei collaborative innovation demonstration zone for "AI + Manufacturing", jointly proposed by authorities from the three regions.

The second initiative seeks to integrate education, science, technology and talent development in digital intelligence between Xiong'an New Area and relocated Beijing universities, including Beijing Jiaotong University, the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Forestry University and China University of Geosciences (Beijing).

In addition, nine platform carriers under the Xiong'an New Area Digital Economy Innovation and Development Pilot Zone were awarded licences, covering satellite industrial parks, training bases and Zhongguancun Science Parks.

Concurrently, Xiong'an New Area also unveiled six major digital intelligence platforms and seven categories of independently developed digital intelligence products, showcasing the development of its digital economy.

The forum also featured Digital Intelligence Frontier sessions, keynote speeches and high-level dialogues. Domestic and international experts and scholars presented the latest developments in digital intelligence.

Going forward, Xiong'an New Area will use the forum to strengthen cooperation through the alliance platform, promote innovation and further develop its digital economy pilot zone.

-- BERNAMA

AV ACCESS LAUNCHES ALL-IN-ONE 4K CONFERENCE VIDEO BAR

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- AV Access, a professional audio-visual (Pro AV) provider, has launched the AnyCo V100, an all-in-one 4K conference video bar designed for small meeting rooms and huddle spaces to support hybrid collaboration.

The company said the AnyCo V100 combines video conferencing, presentation functions, a 4K artificial intelligence (AI) camera, speakerphones, laptop charging and network connectivity into a single device.

AV Access chief technology officer, Bill Liao said the AnyCo V100 enables businesses to simplify meeting room deployment by integrating multiple conferencing functions into a single device.

“By consolidating video conferencing, seamless presentations, and essential room hardware into a reliable, one-cable solution, businesses can drastically optimise their workplace AV technology budget and get any meeting space ready in minutes,” he said in a statement.

According to AV Access, users only need to connect a single USB-C cable to their laptop to access video conferencing, screen sharing, internet connectivity and up to 100 watts of charging without requiring additional software or drivers.

The company said the device also features an ultra-wide 4K AI camera with automatic framing, speaker tracking and presenter tracking, as well as XMOS digital signal processing technology for echo cancellation, noise reduction and voice capture.

The product will be showcased at the InfoComm Asia 2026 exhibition in Bangkok from July 15 to 17.

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG SECURES LEAP EAST AS EXCLUSIVE ASIAN HOST UNTIL 2029

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has partnered with LEAP East’s organiser to secure Hong Kong as the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East from 2027 to 2029.

LEAP East, the Middle East’s flagship technology exhibition, recently made its Asian debut in Hong Kong over three days ending July 10, attracting more than 25,000 participants, 55 per cent of whom were non-local and 45 per cent local.

“This significant partnership not only demonstrates the global industry’s confidence in Hong Kong but also affirms Hong Kong’s status as the World’s Meeting Place and a hub for innovation and technology, as well as its role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’.

“By bringing together tech and innovation enterprises, investors, research institutions and innovative talent from around the world, Hong Kong is fostering cross-regional and cross-industry collaboration,” said HKTB Chairman, Dr Peter Lam in a statement.

Meanwhile, Tahaluf Chief Executive Officer, Mike Champion said Hong Kong, as the host of LEAP’s first flagship edition outside the Middle East, is the perfect platform to connect Middle Eastern technology enterprises with Asian businesses while creating opportunities for Asian companies to engage with partners across the Gulf.

“I look forward to partnering with HKTB over the next three years to build LEAP East into a premier international platform that brings together global innovation and fosters cross-regional collaboration,” added Champion.

According to Dr Lam, more than 100 major International Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events were held in Hong Kong in the first half of this year, following HKTB's efforts to secure, facilitate and support the events.

“Looking ahead, even more world-renowned international MICE events across diverse sectors such as medical science, food science and technology, lifestyle, innovation and technology, aviation and transport will be hosted in Hong Kong,” said Dr Lam.

The HKTB will continue working with the MICE industry and partners to attract more large-scale international MICE events to Hong Kong, enriching the city's year-round events calendar, attracting more high value-added visitors and enhancing their overall business travel experience.

-- BERNAMA

EARTHDAILY CONSTELLATION REACHES SATELLITE MILESTONE FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- EarthDaily, a global Earth observation company, has successfully established initial contact with EDC-08 following its launch aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17 mission on July 7.

The milestone marks Launch III for the EarthDaily Constellation and brings the system to the satellite count required for commercial operations, expected later this year, according to a statement.

“EDC-08 reaching orbit and establishing initial contact is another important step in the disciplined deployment of the EarthDaily Constellation.

“With eight satellites now in orbit, seven progressing through commissioning, and initial imagery returning from the May launch, the system is performing as expected,” said EarthDaily Chief Executive Officer, Don Osborne.

Like each spacecraft in the EarthDaily Constellation, EDC-08 carries 16 imagers collecting data across 22 spectral bands, providing the system with the spectral depth and imaging capacity needed to support consistent and comparable measurements across regions, seasons and time.

The latest launch follows the deployment of EDC-02 to EDC-07 in May, with the satellites now progressing through commissioning and returning initial imagery that provides an early indication of system performance.

Purpose-built for broad-area change detection, the EarthDaily Constellation is designed to deliver globally consistent, calibrated daily measurement of the planet. Its imagery is designed to work with EarthDaily's automated change detection analytics to identify meaningful changes across wide areas.

As additional satellites prepare for launch, the constellation is advancing towards daily global land coverage, providing a continuous measurement layer to monitor changes across sectors, including defence and security, agriculture, natural resources, climate resilience and infrastructure.

-- BERNAMA

DEWA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL ARM TO EXPAND GLOBAL ENERGY AND WATER PROJECTS

DEWA International launched as a wholly owned independent subsidiary of DEWA to develop global energy and water projects (Photo: AETOSWire)

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced the establishment of DEWA International, its wholly owned independent subsidiary, to develop conventional and clean energy projects worldwide and export Dubai’s successful energy and water infrastructure model to global markets.

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said Dubai has firmly established itself as a leading international benchmark through world-class infrastructure, particularly in the energy and water sectors.

In a statement, Sheikh Ahmed said the launch of DEWA International marks a strategic step towards extending this successful model to global markets and strengthening Dubai’s position as a source of knowledge and expertise in energy, water, sustainability and digital transformation.

Meanwhile, DEWA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said DEWA has powered Dubai’s growth for decades through high performance and efficiency.

“Now, we rank first globally in 13 key utility performance indicators and two regional benchmarks across generation, transmission, distribution and customer service. Our financial strength provides real strategic freedom through sustained revenue growth, strong margins and significant investing capacity,” said Saeed Mohammed.

He added that DEWA International will develop power and water projects using advanced technologies in partnership with leading organisations worldwide, with work already underway to identify opportunities, build a project pipeline and establish strategic partnerships.

-- BERNAMA

SIBS@ASEAN 2026 BANDUNG EDITION STRENGTHENS SELANGOR–WEST JAVA REGIONAL ECONOMIC COLLABORATION

From left to right: Yth. Bapak H. Muhammad Farhan, Mayor of Bandung, Yth. Bapak H. Erwan Setiawan, Vice Governor of West Java, YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin bin Shari, Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor (Chief Minister of Selangor) and YB Tuan Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Executive Council for Investment, Trade & Mobility.

The official launch SIBS@ASEAN in Bandung Indonesia

BANDUNG, July 10 (Bernama) -- The State Government of Selangor (Malaysia) and the Provincial Government of West Java (Indonesia) have officially launched the inaugural SIBS@ASEAN 2026 Bandung Edition on 9 July 2026. Hosted at the Pullman Grand Central Bandung, this milestone event marks a significant leap forward in expanding Selangor’s flagship business platform into the ASEAN region whilst cementing a robust cross-border economic alliance between Selangor and West Java.

Invest Selangor Berhad (ISB) as the organiser of the program, with the assistance from the Department of Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services (DPMPSTP) of West Java Province, and other key partners such as Invest Bandung, Malaysia Chambers of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), KADIN Jawa Barat, HIPMI Jaya, coordinated the two-day regional summit from 9 to 10 July 2026, which aims to unlock opportunities in bilateral trade and investment relations, drive industrial investments, and foster long-term partnerships between the two dynamic economic powerhouses.

Reflecting a powerful and steadily growing bilateral commitment to regional economic growth, the event successfully drew an expanding turnout of more than 400 delegates, comprising 225 delegates from Malaysia and 200 delegates from Indonesia.

Running parallel with SIBS@ASEAN 2026 Bandung Edition is the Selangor Medical Tourism and Education Expo, organised in partnership with Tourism Selangor and Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). The expo features a specialised two-day exhibition showcasing 30 booths dedicated to positioning both regions as premier destinations for advanced healthcare, wellness, and higher education.

Exhibiting Organisations
Sector:Medical Tourism

Featured Exhibitors / Institutions:
Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC), Sunway Medical Centre Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur & PICASO Hospital, Le Meridien Petaling Jaya, Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, MSU Medical Centre, Selgate Specialist Hospital Rawang, Beacon Hospital, Kajang Plaza Medical Centre, KPJ Rawang Specialist Hospital, Monkeys Canopy Resort, Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA), Tourism Selangor and Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS)

Sector: Education
Featured Exhibitors / Institutions:

Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), East West International College, Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Taylor’s University, Universiti MAIWP, Universiti Poly--Tech MARA (UPTM), Kolej Uniti, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), MDIS Malaysia International College, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Universiti Islam Selangor, UCSI University, Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC), Universiti Utara Malaysia and
Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS)

SIBS@ASEAN 2026 Bandung Edition commenced with Welcome Addresses from Yth. Bapak H. Muhammad Farhan (Wali Kota Bandung) and YB Mr. Ng Sze Han (Selangor State Executive Council Member for Investment, Trade, and Mobility), followed by Special Keynote Addresses by the leadership heads of both states;; Yth. Bapak H. Erwan Setiawan (Vice Governor of West Java) and YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin bin Shari (Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor) both underscoring the necessity of collaboration and strategic partnership between the two prime growth areas in the ASEAN region.

The event also witnessed the official exchange of memorandum of understanding documents that covers strategic partnerships, driving institutional collaboration across public and private sectors:

1. WBS and The Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS)
2. Wanita Berdaya Selangor, Caregivers Academy International Group, LPK Darmawan Lembaga Pelatihan Kerja and PT Rukun Sahabat Senior Living
3. ASEAN Future Workforce Council (AFWC) with Kadin Jawa Barat
4. Tourism Selangor with Batik Air Bandung
5. Tourism Selangor with Association of The Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA)
6. Universiti Selangor (UNISEL) with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
7. Malaysia Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (MCCI) with Bank BJB

Letter of Intent (LoI) Exchange Ceremony:
1. GreatAsic Technology with Indonesia Chip Design Collaborative Center (ICDeC)

Special Presentations and Industries Insights
· Investment Opportunities and Key Industries: Exclusive presentations highlighted high--potential investment corridors. Key frameworks were outlined by Bapak Dr. H. Dedi Taufik (Head of the Department of Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services of West Java Province) and Bapak Helmy Yahya (Executive Head of the Rebana Metropolitan Management Agency), both shared insights into West Java’s strategic infrastructure masterplans. Complementing this, YBhg. Mej (K) Dato’ Ts. Saipolyazan M Yusop (Group CEO of Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated) presented Selangor's strategic blueprint as key industry enabler and premier regional partner.
· Panel Discussions (ASEAN Supply Chain Integration and Talent Landscapes): The first panel session highlighted the potential of complimentary supply chain ecosystem in the region, and how Malaysia and Indonesia could lead the way, whereas the second panel discussed on the ever-challenging talent cross border movement across the region. Key panellists include Ms Nurdiana Darus – Director Communication, Corporate Affairs, Sustainability, Unilever Indonesia, Dato’ J. Palaniappan (ASEAN Future Workforce Council), Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi – Director of Research Strategy and Innovations, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Mr. Christ Panogari (Innovation Factory) moderated by Dr. Ong Kian Ming (RGE Malaysia/Former Deputy Minister of MITI Malaysia and Ibu Hj. Masrura Ram Idjal, KADIN West Java.
· Financial Landscapes: CIMB Niaga and Bank BJB also took that stage in presenting the business and financial landscape in ASEAN in particularly in the context of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Day 2: Immersive Industry Site Visits
On 10 July, the Selangor delegation engaged in comprehensive site visits across West Java's industrial hubs to explore collaborative deployment across six key economic sectors:
· Aerospace, Rail & Mobility: Delegates engaged with leading strategic transportation operators, regional infrastructure networks, and urban rail projects to explore cross-border infrastructure connectivity.
· Creative Industry: Exploration of innovation-driven companies, highlighting growing regional strengths in digital content production, animation, and creative technology.
· Energy & Utilities: Focus on sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives, highlighting commitments to advancing clean energy and waste-to-energy solutions.
· Property Development: Engagements with key regional planning and development agencies, offering strategic insights into urban planning, township development, and future commercial investment ecosystems.
· Technology: Technical insights into high-growth digital ecosystems, showcasing regional innovation hubs, technology parks, and environments driving entrepreneurship and smart city development.

The successful execution of the SIBS@ASEAN 2026 Bandung Edition establishes a robust blueprint for future sub-regional collaboration. Building on this momentum, the State Government of Selangor and the Provincial Government of West Java invite international business leaders, investors, and stakeholders to further these partnerships at the main Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2026, scheduled from 14 to 17 October 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia.

About Invest Selangor

Invest Selangor Berhad is the Selangor State Government’s investment promotion agency, facilitating business growth and investment opportunities in Malaysia’s most developed and competitive state. As a one-stop centre, it provides advisory services, market insights, and facilitation for local and international investors looking to establish or expand in Selangor— the gateway to ASEAN.

With a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a thriving business ecosystem, Selangor continues to attract high-value investments across diverse industries, reinforcing its position as Malaysia’s economic powerhouse. Since 1999, Invest Selangor has successfully facilitated over 7,069 manufacturing projects, contributing to the creation of 508,316 jobs and securing more than RM256.6 billion in investments.

Invest Selangor also drives the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) and the Selangor Aerospace Summit (SAS), key platforms connecting industry leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs across ASEAN and beyond. Through strategic initiatives, it remains committed to a resilient, sustainable, and innovative economy, reinforcing Selangor as the preferred destination for global investors.

For Selangor investment enquiries, please visit www.investselangor.my

SOURCE: Invest Selangor Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Nur Azyyana Abu Bakar
Email: azyyana@investselangor.my

Name: Maryani Binti Mat Saad
Email: maryani@investselangor.my

--BERNAMA

Liberty General Insurance Wins Digital Insurance Initiative of the Year – Malaysia at the Insurance Asia Awards 2026

From left to right:
Steven Goh (Head of Insurance, KPMG Singapore), Thinagaran Ramasamy (Vice President, Digital, Liberty General Insurance Berhad), Sabri Abd Rahman (Specialist, Digital, Liberty General Insurance Berhad), Nasri Abdul Hamid (Specialist, Digital & Enterprise Solutions, Liberty General Insurance Berhad)

Recognition underscores Liberty's successful digital transformation through the development of its proprietary in-house insurance platform

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Liberty General Insurance Berhad (Liberty) has been awarded Digital Insurance Initiative of the Year – Malaysia at the Insurance Asia Awards 2026, recognising the company's digital transformation through the successful development of its proprietary in-house insurance platform, designed to deliver a faster, more seamless and customer-centric insurance experience.

The recognition reflects Liberty's strategic investment in building and owning its digital ecosystem following the successful integration of its businesses in Malaysia. By transitioning from third-party platforms to an internally developed digital portal, Liberty has strengthened its ability to innovate, enhance customer experiences, and respond more effectively to evolving market needs.

Designed with a customer-first approach, the platform delivers a seamless, mobile-first experience that enables customers to obtain quotations, purchase and renew motor insurance within minutes. Integrated in real-time with Liberty’s core systems, it streamlines the insurance journey while improving speed, accessibility and overall customer convenience.

According to Liberty General Insurance Berhad Chief Distribution Officer, Grace Quah, the recognition reflects the company’s commitment to delivering meaningful innovation that improves how customers interact with insurance.

“Winning Digital Insurance Initiative of the Year – Malaysia is a proud milestone for Liberty and a testament to our transformation journey. By investing in our own digital capabilities, we have created a platform that delivers a simpler, faster and more intuitive experience for customers while giving us the agility to continuously enhance our digital offering as customer expectations continue to evolve,” said Grace Quah.

Ganesan Vaithilingam, Chief Information Officer at Liberty General Insurance Berhad, said that the success of the initiative is underpinned by the robust technology infrastructure developed to support the platform.

"Building our platform in-house gives us greater control over how we innovate and evolve our digital capabilities. With real-time integration across our core systems, we can introduce new features more efficiently, enhance platform performance and respond more quickly to changing customer and business needs. More importantly, it provides a strong technological foundation that supports Liberty's long-term digital growth," said Ganesan.

Since its launch, the platform has delivered measured business outcomes, including stronger digital engagement, higher conversion rates, growth in online Gross Written Premium (GWP) and improved customer satisfaction.

The Insurance Asia Awards is one of the region’s leading awards programmes, recognising insurers that demonstrate excellence, innovation and meaningful impact across the Asia-Pacific insurance industry.

The recognition reinforces Liberty's commitment to continuously enhancing its digital capabilities and delivering insurance solutions that are simpler, more relevant and more accessible for Malaysians. As the company continues its transformation journey, it remains focused on leveraging technology to create better customer experiences and drive long-term sustainable growth.

For more information about Liberty General Insurance Berhad and its services, please visit www.libertyinsurance.com.my.

SOURCE: Liberty General Insurance Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Haliza Hisham
Vice President
Brand & Marketing
Tel: +603 2619 9971
Email: halizah@libertyinsurance.com.my

Name: Nur Qistina
Specialist
Brand & Marketing
Tel: +603 2619 9873
Email: nurqistina@libertyinsurance.com.my



--BERNAMA

AscentHR Expands Regional Payroll Capabilities With OS HRS Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- AscentHR, a human resources (HR) technology, payroll, compliance, and workforce solutions provider, has acquired OS HRS to expand its regional payroll capabilities across countries, enhancing support for multinational enterprises across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East.

The combined organisation will provide deep local compliance expertise backed by in-country specialists, HR technology and enterprise platform integration, faster regional payroll implementations, and native-language support and responsive customer service.

AscentHR in a statement said the acquisition was completed through a single-stage transaction under which it acquired 100 per cent of the equity share capital of OS HRS Malaysia, OS HRS Japan, and OS HRS India from BREXA Inc.

The company’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Subramanyam Sreenivasaiah said the acquisition marked an important milestone in AscentHR's vision of building a leading regional payroll and workforce solutions platform.

“Together, we are creating a stronger organisation with expanded capabilities, enhanced regional reach, and the ability to deliver greater value to customers across APAC,” he added.

The acquisition significantly strengthens AscentHR’s regional presence and in-country operations across key markets, including India, Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, and Singapore.

The integration, which will be carried out in a phased manner, combines AscentHR's HR technology, managed services, and compliance capabilities with OS HRS' established payroll operations and regional delivery expertise.

-- BERNAMA

EIG'S MIDOCEAN SECURES US$1.13 BLN INVESTMENT FROM PRIVATE DEPARTMENT

Private Department of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Invests in MidOcean Energy and Forms Strategic Partnership with EIG

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- EIG, an institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, announced that its liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, MidOcean Energy (MidOcean), has secured a US$1.13 billion investment from the Private Department of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan (Private Department). (US$1=RM4.07)

The Private Department also established a strategic partnership with EIG, focusing on capital aggregation, investment origination and the development of institutional investment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates and selected regional markets.

EIG in a statement said the investment marks the Private Department's entry into the global LNG sector and the beginning of a broader strategic relationship with the company.

Through the partnership, both parties intend to collaborate on future investment opportunities across the energy and related infrastructure sectors.

“We are pleased to establish a strategic partnership with the Private Department. This relationship combines EIG's global energy investment expertise with the Private Department's regional reach, institutional relationships, and long-term investment perspective.

“We believe this creates a powerful platform for capital formation and investment across the region,” said MidOcean Chairman and EIG Chief Executive Officer, R. Blair Thomas.

The investment further strengthens MidOcean's institutional shareholder base and reflects continued confidence in its strategy to build a diversified, resilient and long-life global LNG platform.

Formed and managed by EIG, MidOcean has assembled a portfolio of LNG interests across key global markets, including Canada, Australia and Latin America, and aims to further expand its global footprint through a disciplined, value-driven investment approach.

-- BERNAMA

Vivani Medical Enters into Agreement with Novo Nordisk to Evaluate NPM-139, a Miniature, Ultra Long-Acting Semaglutide Implant for Chronic Weight Management

Novo Nordisk will conduct a non-exclusive internal evaluation of semaglutide implants prepared by Vivani 


ALAMEDA, Calif., July 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vivani Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VANI) (“Vivani” or the “Company”), an innovative, biopharmaceutical company developing novel, ultra long-acting drug implants, today announced the signing of a new agreement with Novo Nordisk to enable Novo Nordisk to evaluate NPM-139, the Company’s semaglutide drug implant. NPM-139, which utilizes Vivani’s NanoPortal™ platform technology, is under development for chronic weight management. There are no exclusivity provisions for NPM-139, or Vivani’s proprietary NanoPortal technology associated with this agreement. 

Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D., Vivani President and CEO, stated: “The new agreement announced today supporting our semaglutide implant program in chronic weight management demonstrates Novo Nordisk's interest in evaluating our technology and its lead semaglutide application. This agreement reinforces our confidence regarding the market opportunity for our GLP-1 implants under development. We believe that our NanoPortal implants under development, including NPM-139, could address a growing segment of patients who would prefer a convenient once- or twice-yearly treatment option and the peace of mind that treatment could be stopped at any time if that became necessary.”

Separately, Vivani expects to initiate a Phase 1, randomized, first-in-human study evaluating the NPM-139 semaglutide implant, with Wegovy® injections as an active comparator, in mid-2026. The study’s objectives are to characterize the safety, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability of NPM-139 to support the initiation of a Phase 2 dose-ranging study pending successful results of the Phase 1 study.

About Vivani Medical, Inc.

Leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal™ platform, Vivani develops biopharmaceutical implants designed to deliver drug molecules steadily over extended periods of time with the goal of guaranteeing adherence and improving patient tolerance to their medication. Vivani is developing a portfolio of GLP-1 based implants for metabolic diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes. These NanoPortal implants are designed to provide patients with the opportunity to realize the full potential benefit of their medication by avoiding the numerous challenges associated with the daily or weekly administration of orals and injectables, including tolerability issues and loss of efficacy. Medication non-adherence occurs when patients do not take their medication as prescribed. This affects an alarming number of patients, approximately 50%, including those taking daily pills. For more information, please visit: www.vivani.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,” “future,” and other similar expressions that are used in this press release, including statements regarding Vivani’s business, products in development, including the therapeutic potential thereof, the planned development thereof, and its technology, strategy, cash position and financial runway. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Vivani’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Vivani’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including, without limitation, risks of unexpected costs or delays; and risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of products and product candidates that may impact or alter anticipated business plans, strategies and objectives. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statement. There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial, or which are unknown. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties are more fully described in periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including the factors described in Vivani’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 13, 2026, as updated by future filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by Vivani in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of added information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Company Contact:
Donald Dwyer
Chief Business Officer
info@vivani.com (415) 506-8462

Investor and Media Relations Contact:
Jami Taylor
Investor and Media Relations Advisor
investors@vivani.com (415) 506-8462

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2d15b13-32f3-42ba-afed-e1cea67006b1

SOURCE: Vivani Medical, Inc.