Energy & Technology

Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd officially unveiled a new facility on Tuesday, doubling its total painting capacity at its flagship Kulim complex. The RM300 million facility, named Paint Shop 3 (PS3), is capable of processing up to 50,000 painted vehicle bodies annually under a two-shift operation, bringing Inokom’s combined paint shop capacity to 100,000 units a year, the company said in a statement. “The investment is aimed at positioning Inokom as the manufacturing partner of choice for local and regional automotive ecosystems, while creating employment opportunities and enhancing competitiveness,” it said. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani visiting Paint Shop 3. Inokom, which assembles vehicles for seven brands at its 200-acre manufacturing hub in Kulim, Kedah, is 51%-owned by Sime Darby Bhd. South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company holds a 15% stake in Inokom, while their joint venture, Sime Hyundai Sdn Bhd, owns 5%. The remaining 29% is held by Bermaz Auto Bhd, which mainly assembles Mazda-branded vehicles. Described as one of Sime’s largest manufacturing investments to date, PS3 marks “a significant enhancement to Inokom’s manufacturing ecosystem,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, managing director of Sime Motors’ assembly and strategic businesses. “The facility expands our painting capacity, increases production flexibility and strengthens our ability to support the evolving requirements of our customers,” he added.

ITMAX System Bhd’s latest RM134 million smart city project in Kota Kinabalu is expected to boost the annual revenue run rate of its supply and installation division, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB). ITMAX has accepted the notification of approval as the Universal Service Provider for the Kota Kinabalu Smart City Project from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). HLIB said the project mainly involves a network operation command centre and around 1,500 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, with supply and installation revenue recognised over the first two years, followed by five years of managed services. “Beyond the initial contract period, we see scope for ITMAX to secure a longer-term managed services agreement with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), potentially spanning 15 to 20 years, upon project completion. Coupled with the recently secured DBKL smart street-lighting contract, this award should lift the annual revenue run rate of ITMAX’s supply and installation division towards about RM80 million to RM100 million, by our estimates,” it said. HLIB added that ITMAX’s successful expansion into Sabah, Johor and Penang, beyond its traditional Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) market, reinforces the competitiveness of its smart city solutions. It noted that Selangor is the next key state to watch, with CCTV contracts potentially coming up for tender in 2027-2028 following the award of SIP Phase 2. “As the operator of SIP Phase 1, ITMAX has an upper hand in demonstrating the effectiveness of its solutions. More importantly, some CCTVs installed for parking-payment enforcement under Phase 1 could also support broader surveillance functions, giving ITMAX an existing infrastructure base and a potential advantage when bidding for Selangor’s CCTV contract,” it said. HLIB also flagged Penang as an emerging growth market, after local councils awarded contracts to fully replace around 1,000 existing CCTVs. Overall, the firm maintained its “Buy” call on ITMAX with an unchanged target price of RM6.00. “Over time, we also expect ITMAX to further monetise its infrastructure through smart city applications such as digital twins, traffic impact assessments and analytics, cementing its role as a key enabler of urban digital transformation,” it added.

MN Holdings Bhd’s unincorporated joint venture with Pembinaan Tajri Sdn Bhd (PTSB) has secured a RM122.31 million contract from Tenaga Nasional Bhd to install a new underground power cable system between Tasek Gelugor and Bertam. According to a statement on Monday, PTSB will lead the project, with MN Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary, MN Utilities Engineering Sdn Bhd, handling 80% of the work and PTSB the remaining 20%. Both parties will jointly oversee execution and completion. The scope covers engineering, design, supply and installation of the cable system, along with related works such as obtaining permits and restoring affected surfaces and structures. The contract took effect on Monday, Aug 10, and is expected to be completed within 450 days, or about 15 months from the commencement date. MN Holdings managing director Datuk Clement Toh said the contract strengthens the group’s position in Malaysia’s power transmission infrastructure, amid rising electricity demand and continued investment to improve grid reliability. The group said the award also widens its infrastructure project portfolio beyond the data centre segment, as it pursues opportunities across Malaysia’s power, utilities and energy infrastructure sectors. MN Holdings, which mainly serves power utilities, is also seeking to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market, having secured approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia in July. The group has benefited from rising investment in Malaysia’s power infrastructure, including grid upgrades to support growing electricity demand from data centres, while also expanding into renewable energy projects. Shares of MN Holdings closed up nine sen, or 2.97%, at RM3.12 on Monday, valuing the group at around RM2.09 billion.

Pepper Labs today officially launched 50,000 AI learning opportunities for Malaysians under the AI-Ready Malaysia initiative, marking one of the country’s largest industry-led efforts to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) readiness while strengthening Malaysia’s sovereign AI capabilities and expanding the adoption of agentic AI solutions across government, businesses and communities. YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, delivering his address at the AI-Ready Malaysia Summit 2026, highlighting the importance of making AI knowledge and capabilities accessible to every Malaysian. The launch also coincides with Pepper Labs’ 11th anniversary, underscoring the company’s evolution from a social impact enterprise into one of Malaysia’s leading AI companies spanning workforce development, sovereign AI platforms and enterprise AI transformation. The initiative was officially launched by Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, during the AI-Ready Malaysia Summit 2026 held at Royale Chulan Damansara, bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia and the technology ecosystem to accelerate Malaysia’s AI ambitions. Funded through a regional initiative by AVPN with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the nationwide initiative will provide 50,000 Malaysians, including university students, educators and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with practical AI capabilities that strengthen workforce readiness, business productivity and responsible AI adoption. Launching the initiative, Gobind said Malaysia’s digital transformation must be accompanied by efforts to ensure AI knowledge and capabilities are accessible to every Malaysian. “Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future—it is transforming the way we live, work and do business today. As Malaysia accelerates its digital transformation, it is crucial that every Malaysian has the opportunity to acquire AI skills and participate meaningfully in the digital economy. The launch of these 50,000 AI learning opportunities demonstrates the importance of strong collaboration involving government, industry and development partners in building an AI-ready nation, while ensuring that the benefits of AI are inclusive and accessible to all.” Beyond workforce development, Pepper Labs also announced a strategic collaboration with MyDIGITAL Corporation to bring digital skills training closer to the rakyat, expanding access to practical learning opportunities that empower Malaysians to participate confidently in the digital economy. YB Gobind Singh Deo officially launching 50,000 AI learning opportunities under the AI-Ready Malaysia initiative, marking a significant step towards accelerating AI readiness across Malaysia. The summit also showcased Bisnes.ai, Pepper Labs’ sovereign AI-powered business support platform built specifically for Malaysian micro-entrepreneurs, SMEs and community businesses. More than a chatbot, Bisnes.ai functions as an AI business assistant that helps users generate business documents, quotations and invoices, analyse forms and images, create marketing content, manage customer interactions and provide guidance based on Malaysian regulations, grants and business best practices. Designed with sovereign AI infrastructure, human oversight and auditability at its core, the platform makes enterprise-grade AI accessible to businesses of all sizes. Building on its growing portfolio of enterprise AI capabilities, Pepper Labs also highlighted its expanding suite of over 40 Agentic AI solutions that help ministries and government agencies automate complex knowledge-intensive work while maintaining governance and human oversight. Its AI solutions include intelligent policy and knowledge assistants, parliamentary intelligence, grant assessment and decision support, enterprise document intelligence, project and command centre dashboards, as well as autonomous workflow orchestration that enables AI agents to retrieve information, analyse evidence, generate recommendations and coordinate tasks across multiple business processes. These solutions are designed to transform how organisations access knowledge, evaluate information, monitor programmes and make decisions by reducing manual effort, improving accuracy and enabling faster, evidence-based outcomes while ensuring every recommendation remains transparent, traceable and subject to human approval. Together, they demonstrate Pepper Labs’ vision of responsible sovereign AI that augments people, rather than replacing them, across both the public and private sectors. YB Gobind Singh Deo with industry leaders, partners, K-Youth participants and attendees at the AI-Ready Malaysia Summit 2026, bringing together key stakeholders to accelerate Malaysia’s AI ambitions. As Malaysia accelerates its national AI agenda, Pepper Labs continues to expand its role across the AI value chain, from developing future-ready talent and empowering businesses to delivering sovereign AI platforms and agentic AI solutions that enable organisations to work smarter, make better decisions and accelerate digital transformation. Through strategic partnerships across government, industry and the innovation ecosystem, the company remains committed to building AI that is practical, trusted and designed for Malaysia.

DPS Resources Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Shantawood Sdn Bhd, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hangyue Intelligent Electrical Co. Ltd to build a long-term strategic partnership in digital energy infrastructure, data centres, industrial development, and related projects in Malaysia. Hangyue specialises in digital energy infrastructure, covering power supply, distribution, system integration, and data centre colocation. Under the MoU, DPS Resources said Hangyue plans to use its resources, network, and expertise to connect Chinese enterprises with investment opportunities in Malaysia, support project promotion and business matchmaking, offer customised digital energy solutions, and facilitate the colocation of Chinese enterprises at Shantawood’s data centre facility. “The proposed colocation arrangement is expected to run for a minimum tenancy term of 15 years, with an indicative rental rate of approximately US$130 to US$230 per kilowatt (kW) per month, depending on tenant requirements and subject to definitive agreements,” DPS Resources said in a statement today. Shantawood, for its part, will provide accurate legal and operational documentation, manage park investment, coordinate infrastructure and local government matters, and assist with site selection and project implementation. The wood-based manufacturing and rubberwood furniture company said it received a state support letter from the Melaka chief minister on July 30, 2026, and has submitted its application, along with the relevant documents and support letter, to the Data Centre Task Force as part of the approval process. It added that the collaboration also opens a broader platform for both parties to explore cooperation in key industrial areas, including electronics and semiconductors, digital energy and data centres, intelligent equipment and advanced manufacturing, as well as regional supply chain and corporate services. DPS Resources group chairman and founder Tan Sri Sow Chin Chuan said the partnership with Hangyue is aimed at creating a platform that connects Chinese enterprises with investment and colocation opportunities in Malaysia, while boosting the value and utilisation of the company’s assets in Bukit Rambai. “The confirmation of power capacity, validation of water supply and support from the Melaka state government provide an encouraging foundation for us to progress discussions with potential partners and tenants. “While the MoU remains non-binding at this stage, it allows both parties to explore commercial structures, technical requirements and potential long-term colocation arrangements in a disciplined manner,” he said. DPS Resources expects the collaboration to strengthen its data centre development pipeline and support its ambition to play a role in Malaysia’s growing digital infrastructure ecosystem.

The Sabah government will take a 30 per cent stake in two new oil and gas fields off the state’s east coast, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced. He said the state was also in the final stages of acquiring a 40 per cent equity interest in a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility project in Sabah. “The agreement for this partnership will be signed soon. The government will also develop new industrial parks, including in Kota Belud, and a blue economy hub in Kudat to further boost investment in the state and increase domestic economic activity,” he said at Upko’s 32nd anniversary celebration and the opening of the party’s 17th Triennial Conference. Hajiji, who also chairs Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said the move forms part of the state government’s efforts to deepen its role in the oil and gas industry through strategic collaboration with Petronas under the Commercial Collaborative Agreement. He noted that the partnership had boosted the state’s equity holdings in oil and gas exploration and development in Sabah, while opening up opportunities for local companies to participate in the sector. Hajiji said the state government remains focused on strengthening its financial standing and boosting revenue collection as a key pillar of Sabah’s development. Annual revenue has held steady at around RM7 billion since 2022, he said, and is projected to rise to RM8 billion this year. “In 2025 alone, RM7.6 billion in investment value in the manufacturing sector was recorded, almost 208 per cent against 2024,” he said. He attributed the achievement partly to Sabah’s economic resilience amid various domestic and global challenges, which he said has further cemented its position as a strategic investment destination.

NuEnergy Holdings Bhd (NHB) has secured a RM44.5 million contract to undertake mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for a data centre project in Johor Bahru, marking the company’s largest high-voltage project to date. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, NuEnergy said it has accepted a Letter of Award from a China-based construction and engineering company for the MEP works involving a two-storey 265kV/11kV Consumer Landing Station Building for the data centre development. The project is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026. NuEnergy said the contract represents a major milestone in its strategic expansion into the extra high voltage (EHV) and transmission line segment, particularly as demand for supporting infrastructure continues to grow alongside the rapid development of data centres in Malaysia. The company added that the project will further strengthen its presence in the high-voltage infrastructure sector while enhancing its capabilities in supporting critical power requirements for large-scale technology facilities. NuEnergy expects the contract to contribute positively to its order book, revenue and profitability for the financial year ending December 31, 2026. The latest project reflects the company’s efforts to capitalise on opportunities arising from Malaysia’s growing data centre ecosystem, where reliable and high-capacity power infrastructure has become increasingly essential to support digital transformation and cloud-based services.

Government-linked investment companies (GLICs) have invested RM1.4 billion in 2025 across four strategic areas aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem and advancing the country’s position within the global technology supply chain. According to the Ministry of Finance’s (MoF) GEAR-uP Progress Report, the investments were focused on scaling Malaysian semiconductor companies, attracting high-value technology transfers, expanding the deep-tech ecosystem and establishing strategic partnerships with global players. The MoF said the growing demand for semiconductors, driven largely by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), has created significant opportunities for Malaysia. While the country currently holds around 13% of the global semiconductor testing and packaging market, it needs to move further up the value chain by developing higher-margin, intellectual property (IP)-driven segments such as integrated circuit (IC) design under initiatives including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Semiconductor Strategy. The report highlighted that GLICs are providing long-term investment support to local technology companies at various stages of development, from early-stage venture funding to public market growth. This approach aims to help Malaysian semiconductor firms expand their research and development (R&D) capabilities, strengthen innovation and compete more effectively in global markets. Beyond supporting domestic companies, GLICs are also working to attract international technology leaders to Malaysia by encouraging high-value investments and facilitating the transfer of advanced capabilities into the local semiconductor industry. The report noted that partnerships with experienced industry players are being developed through initiatives such as the Cambrian Fund, which aims to nurture next-generation deep-tech startups and strengthen Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem. GLICs have also established strategic collaborations with international investment firms, including Chengwei Capital, NRL Capital, InterVest and Ilham Capital, to bring specialised expertise into Malaysia while connecting local semiconductor companies with global supply chains and technology networks. Among the key initiatives highlighted was SkyeChip, a Malaysian pure-play integrated circuit (IC) design company that raised RM352 million through its initial public offering (IPO) on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market in May 2026. More than 60% of the IPO proceeds, amounting to RM212 million, will be allocated towards research and development of silicon intellectual property and silicon products. Meanwhile, GLICs subscribed to 15.5% of the IPO’s cornerstone allocation, reflecting institutional support for the growth of Malaysia’s IC design capabilities. The report also highlighted Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s investment in US-based edge AI company Syntiant, which involves the establishment of a 220,000-square-foot campus in Penang. The facility will integrate advanced micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) processing and AI engineering capabilities under one roof. The project is expected to create 200 high-skilled jobs out of 800 planned positions, support an annual production capacity of 1.6 billion advanced MEMS components, and generate approximately RM118 million in local expenditure as of June 2026. To further strengthen Malaysia’s deep-tech ecosystem, Khazanah is also supporting the Cambrian Fund, which completed a RM105 million second close as of June 2026. The fund aims to support early-stage Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) and deep-tech companies, with plans to mentor and scale around 15 startups. Meanwhile, Khazanah and the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) have committed a combined RM695 million in 2025 into strategic regional deep-tech funds through partnerships with Chengwei Capital, NRL Capital, InterVest and Ilham Capital. These investments are designed to accelerate technology transfer, provide Malaysian semiconductor companies with greater access to funding, strengthen industry partnerships and create new opportunities within regional and global supply chains. The MoF said the continued deployment of strategic capital by GLICs reflects Malaysia’s ambition to evolve from a major semiconductor assembly and testing hub into a more innovation-driven technology ecosystem capable of competing in higher-value segments of the global semiconductor industry.

Qmed Asia today announced a strategic collaboration with Intel to accelerate the development of intelligent healthcare infrastructure for hospitals. As healthcare systems become increasingly connected, critical patient information often remains fragmented across multiple medical devices and clinical systems, limiting visibility and timely clinical insights. Qmed’s Unified Patient Monitoring Solution addresses this challenge by consolidating patient monitoring data into a centralised platform, enabling more efficient care delivery, informed clinical decision-making, and a stronger foundation for data-driven healthcare. (L-R): Dr Kev Lim, CEO and Co-Founder of Qmed Asia; Bikesh Lackmichand, CEO of Leet Capital; James Tan, Director of Health and Life Sciences and Cognitive Cities, Intel;, Dr. Tai Tzyy Jiun, Chief Medical Technology Officer and Co-founder of Qmed Asia; Nic Tai, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of Qmed Asia. As part of this collaboration, Intel has made its Patient Monitoring Hub Reference Implementation (RI) available to Qmed Asia. Leveraging this reference implementation and optimised on Intel Core Ultra platforms, Qmed Asia’s Patient Monitoring Solution brings together continuous patient monitoring, medical device integrations and clinical workflows into a unified platform. The collaboration combines Intel’s scalable reference architecture with Qmed Asia’s healthcare software expertise to help hospitals accelerate digital transformation while establishing a foundation for future AI-enabled clinical innovation. The Unified Patient Monitoring Hub securely aggregates patient monitoring data from connected bedside medical devices into a centralized Smart Ward dashboard. The solution supports vendor-neutral medical device integration, continuous patient monitoring, a centralized Smart Ward dashboard with Early Warning Score (EWS) alerts with scalable edge computing. Through this collaboration, Qmed Asia and Intel aim to accelerate the adoption of connected Smart Ward solutions that enhance clinical visibility, streamline clinical workflows, and provide a scalable, enterprise-ready digital healthcare infrastructure for hospitals across Malaysia and the region. “Healthcare systems across the region face growing pressure to streamline clinical operations and eliminate data silos that delay critical care. By pairing Intel’s robust reference architecture and edge computing power with our deep clinical domain expertise, we are delivering a truly connected Smart Ward ecosystem. This collaboration enables us to provide hospitals with real-time actionable insight, improving patient outcomes, easing the burden on healthcare workers, and accelerating the region’s transition into data-driven medicine,” said Dr. Tai Tzyy Jiun, Co-founder, Director and Chief Medical Technology Officer, Qmed Asia. (L-R): Dr.Sim Hui Xin, Chief Medical Officer of Qmed Asia; Nic Tai, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of Qmed Asia; Dr Kev Lim, CEO and Co-Founder of Qmed Asia; Dr. Tai Tzyy Jiun, Chief Medical Technology Officer and Co-founder of Qmed Asia; James Tan, Director of Health and Life Sciences and Cognitive Cities, Intel; Erica Chen, Solution Manager, Health and Life Science and Cognitive Cities; Health and Life Science and Cognitive Cities, Intel. “Healthcare providers are looking for interoperable and scalable digital infrastructure that can support both today’s operational needs and tomorrow’s AI-enabled workflows. By making Intel’s Patient Monitoring Hub Reference Implementation available to ecosystem partners such as Qmed Asia, and optimizing solutions on Intel Core Ultra platforms, we are helping accelerate the development of connected care environments that improve access to patient data, streamline clinical workflows, and provide a foundation for future healthcare innovation,” said Renu Navale, Vice President, Health and Life Sciences and Cognitive Cities, Intel. The rollout is already underway in hospitals across Malaysia. Qmed Asia says the Smart Ward setup is designed to scale beyond the country, into other healthcare systems across the region facing the same fragmented-data problem.  

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) subsidiary Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL) has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with Japan’s Hokuriku Electric Power Company to negotiate the renewal of a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement. Under the proposed arrangement, PLL is expected to continue supplying up to 0.54 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG to Hokuriku Electric for a further 10-year period beginning in 2028. Petronas said the HoA represents another milestone in the long-standing partnership between both companies, reflecting the trust, reliability and strategic importance of their relationship built over the years. “The HoA marks another milestone in the longstanding partnership between Petronas and Hokuriku Electric. It reflects the mutual confidence built over the years and underscores the continued trust, reliability and strategic importance of the Petronas-Hokuriku Electric relationship,” the company said. The agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, 2026 by PLL chief executive officer Rosdi Ab Rahman and Hokuriku Electric president Koji Matsuda. On the same day, both parties also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic collaboration in carbon-neutral initiatives. According to Petronas, the MoU reflects a shared commitment to developing a more resilient LNG supply chain while exploring opportunities in next-generation energy solutions, including hydrogen, ammonia, renewable energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies. Petronas executive vice president and chief executive officer of its Gas and Maritime business Datuk Adit Zulkifli said the company remains committed to supporting Hokuriku Electric’s energy security, operational resilience and transition towards a lower-carbon future. “Beyond LNG, the MoU on carbon-neutral collaboration underscores our shared ambition to explore new opportunities that can create long-term value for both parties,” he said. Petronas highlighted that PLL has been the sole LNG supplier to Hokuriku Electric since the current LNG sale and purchase agreement began in 2018, providing LNG for the utility’s LNG-fired power generation facilities at the Toyama-Shinko Thermal Power Station. The proposed renewal is expected to ensure continuity of LNG supply beyond the existing contract period while further strengthening Petronas’ position as a reliable long-term LNG partner for Japanese energy companies.